The sound of loose change rattling in a pocket is a refreshing feeling for many college students as prices of education rise.
Imagine the feeling of having money coupled with the despair of losing your change down a McKinley Avenue drain. The Ball State University student body might experience the latter feeling in the wake of a recent budget crunch by the Muncie Indiana Transit System.
The proposed budget for 2007 is $6.9 million, while the current budget is surprisingly $500,000 less. The squeeze has prompted a proposal by MITS to charge students the standard 50 cent fare per ride.
The public transportation system saves students the headache of trying to find a parking spot on campus or having to find other means of transportation around the city.
Sure, a whole bottle of Tylenol would do the trick, but it's much easier to jump on the bus and ride stress-free.
In addition to the services MITS provides throughout the week, its trolley system saves students from having to scramble around traffic at Scheumann Stadium in an attempt to arrive at a Ball State football game.
Should students literally be thrown out of the exhaust pipe because of high gasoline prices and rising health care costs? The resounding screams of "no" can be let out by all of you faithful MITS bus riders.
The suggestion of employees to shoulder some of the health care costs was also proposed as a way to save the taxpayer.
One of the goals of the transit system's mission statement is to provide high quality transportation that meets the needs of the community, while minimizing costs to the user and taxpayer.
Now, bring up the debate of community versus university. Some Ball State students use the system to venture into the city to complete course volunteer work, or because they simply want to get involved in the community.
The main focus here is penny-pinching students who want to do service in the community, but might be forced to pay for a previously free service.
The Ball State campus provides MITS with plenty of riders, as four routes are connected to campus and the surrounding areas of Muncie. I've been on a few MITS buses where only standing room was available, and the slightest push on the brakes could send 10 to 15 people spilling towards the back.
Could the word "Funcie" be coming out of more people's mouths?
The additional cost of worrying about transportation isn't something students need. The stress of classes, finances and relationships is enough to send any person into a daze.
I understand that 50 cents is a relatively minimal cost to be chauffeured around the city, but it's an expense that doesn't need to be placed on students.
The service is priceless, and it would be a shame for a budget scare to "nickel and dime" students trying to get by with what could be their only hope of getting around or involved in the community.
The 300-person increase in this year's freshman class makes it imperative to keep the service running smoothly and free of charge. The sound of change rattling in your pockets or the feeling of a job well done in the community should continue to keep students boarding MITS.
Write to Dan at daladig@bsu.edu
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