Student Government Association and Muncie Indiana Transit System put a lot of effort into the east-of-campus shuttle trial that ran for the eight weeks before Spring Break. Now that the trial has come to an end, there is still no sign of support from the university - despite the trolley's success.
Now it's the university's turn to put some effort into The Loop, for the good of the students.
During the trial run, more than 13,000 riders used the service, at an average of about 44 people an hour. Ridership averages peaked at more than 66 riders an hour during the last two weeks of the trial.
Still, Ball State University administrators feel supporting this resource is not within the mission of the university. They've made it clear since the beginning that Ball State will not financially support The Loop.
However, meeting students' needs - financially or otherwise - should be the university's primary mission. Students used The Loop, and they would like it to continue, so the university should do anything in its power to provide this resource to students on a permanent basis.
And today, the university and students have the opportunity to negotiate a feasible plan for continuing the service. SGA and several administrators - including President Jo Ann Gora - are meeting to discuss final possibilities for the university to support the trolley.
The suggestions would run The Loop for either six weeks, two periods of six weeks or all year. And it would only cost the university about $6,000 to $25,000.
During today's meeting, the university should consider the overwhelming student support of the trolley and students' need for this type of service. Even if administrators continue to deny financial support for The Loop, the least they could do is help SGA find the money to keep The Loop running. Reaching out to local businesses or holding a fund-raising campaign could easily raise the money to bring The Loop back, and SGA would be much more successful in that effort if it had the university's assistance.
But with or without the university's support, SGA should continue to look for ways to revive The Loop. After several thousand students showed enthusiastic support of the trolley, there's no reason to let it disappear because of a simple lack of cooperation.
If the university doesn't collaborate with SGA on this issue, it's blatantly leaving students out in the cold.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
