SGB to talk transportation policy during finals week

By: Lori Stover and J.D. Thrasher / Staff Writers

Posted on 20. Apr, 2009 in Uncategorized

At the next general body meeting, Student Government Board will give revisions on the highly controversial transportation policy.

Jumpstart, a service organization that strives to improve children's literacy, said the policy would prevent the organization from making appointments with local schoolchildren. The service organization said it disappointed the children it usually teaches by not showing up to scheduled appointments.

'To [the children], their favorite person isn't coming in. It's a blatant disregard to students,' said Kaitlin Clark, a Pitt senior and Jumpstart coordinator.

Clark said at least two sessions were canceled because of a new University transportation policy.

Eli Shorak, associate vice chancellor for business and overseer of the University's vehicle rental fleet, said the primary changes in the new policy are the age requirements and duration and length of trips, all prompted by concern for student safety.

'The University continually monitors rules and guidelines, especially in the area of student safety, and improves upon them when possible,' said Shorak.

Although the University might have put student safety as a primary concern with the policy, student groups and advisers seem to be growing increasingly impatient.

Richard Teaster, director of the Men's Glee Club, Pitt's oldest extracurricular activity, said because of the new policy his group was forced to make a drastic decision.

'We will no longer use the Pitt Transportation office for any of our travel needs,' said Teaster.

The Glee Club had to take five vans. Teaster said he had to rely on the 21-year-olds of the group to drive four of the vans, while he drove a 12-passenger van. This whole ordeal made it 'very awkward and difficult.'

The new policy requires a driver of a maximum of seven people to be at least 21 years old and a driver of eight or more people to be at least 25 years old.

The new policy also requires an adviser to accompany the group on trips of 250 miles or more one way, but some clubs that take extended trips, like the Pittsburgh Intercollegiate Snowboard Team, don't have an adviser who participates in the organization, said club member Bryan Cain.

Also, because SGB won't fund anyone who isn't a student, advisers would have to pay for the trip themselves.

'They're not going to fork out a couple hundred bucks out of their own personal fund [to go on a trip with college students],' said Cain.

Shorak said the actual adviser didn't have to be present on long trips. Authorizing advisers, coaches, supervisers or other approved administrators can accompany students.

A Jumpstart member said the group contains no one older than 24 and only a few older than 21. Of the eight teams that make up Jumpstart, one doesn't have anybody older than 21.

Also, the club holds leases on five 12-passenger vans, which the club can no longer use, he said.

The oldest Jumpstart member, 24-year-old Joe Casanova, said the new policy would force the club to ask for more funding.

'Am I paying to just have a bunch of vans sitting in a garage?' he said.

Some students expressed grievances that there would be competition to rent the few University vans available for 21-year-olds.

Shorak said that at the time of the last SGB meeting (March 17) on the policy, the University had 14 sedans, six minivans and 12 larger vans available for rental.

'The University is currently reviewing its fleet, and indications are that additional minivans will be needed and purchased in the near future,' said Shorak.

Some groups at the meeting said they hadn't received any formal notification of the changes.

Susie Culhane of the Outdoors Club said the group still hadn't been informed, but she found out through a member of the club who participated in an Alternative Break trip that had to change because of the policy.

Pitt spokesman John Fedele said the University posted the new guidelines online and will review them with students as they request rental vehicles.

Shorak said students should not have been surprised by the policy.

'I understand that Student Affairs shared the new guidelines with student leaders and continues to work with them on implementation. The Department of Parking, Transportation and Services has also worked with students and departments to assist with the implementation and encourages student groups and others to call for assistance,' said Shorak, who added that the policy became effective after necessary internal approvals, which included approvals from Student Affairs.

At the last SGB meeting discussing the policy, a few students speculated that the University chose to change the policy to lower insurance costs, but Fedele said the University didn't take insurance costs into account when considering the change.

'Improved student safety was the primary reason for our review and the new guidelines and criteria,' said Fedele.

While researching the new policy, the University referred to a review of college transportation by the United Educators, he said.

The review cites statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to say that younger drivers account for a disproportionate amount of accidents on the road. Drivers 15 to 20 years old make up 8.5 percent of the population but cause 14.6 percent of all fatal crashes, said the review.

SGB President Kevin Morrison said he felt uncertain of the amount of money, if any, the University saves in respect to the new policy.

'It is my understanding that the policy was in place to protect the liability of the University in the event of an accident, rather than to save money,' said Morrison.

He added that monies are allocated throughout the fiscal year as long as there are requests that coordinate with the purpose of a given student organization.

'There is currently no cap on transportation expenses exclusively. Transportation is an expense that is included in both the competition and conference caps. However, other expenses such as lodging and registration also fall under those caps,' said Morrison.

The board plans to present a comprehensive report of how students use Fleet Services, the University automobile rental service, and how the new policy will negatively affect student groups, he said.

'This isn't an example of administrators trying to kill student groups,' he said.

During the initial meeting with SGB to discuss the transportation policy, student organizations and the board came up with recommendations to amend the new policy. Some recommendations were: Eliminate 12-passenger vans and replace them with eight-passenger vans, eliminate passenger registration at time of contracting van rentals, allow Jumpstart to utilize personal vehicles, lower prices for eight-passenger vans and allow vans to be rented for portions of a day at lower rates than the full-day rentals.

Additionally, the attendees want to enhance communication between advisers and Fleet Services, receive compensation for canceled contracts because of new travel policy and have administrators identify differences between seven- and eight-passenger van rentals and under which portions of the new policy they fall.

Shorak said the new policy will be 'in effect going forward,' and this may be updated to 'further improve student safety.'

The new policy presents student organizations with the opportunity to adapt and compromise. The compromising is said to be under way between SGB and the University.

'We intend to meet the administration halfway,' said Morrison.

Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey told students at the meeting that her office would do everything possible to make the new policy work for groups.

'Even if we have to take people off regular projects and say, 'No, you're a driver today,'' Humphrey said her office will provide drivers to get Jumpstart members to elementary schools for the larger trips.

She also said the University intended the changes to create a safer environment for students traveling. While the changes do not reflect a reaction to any specific occurrence or accident, she said the University has received reports of immaturity on trips.

The University received one report of a van swerving through lanes while a passenger held up a sign that said, 'Blow Me,' said Humphrey.

The new policy aims to curb this kind of behavior, but if it continues, Humphrey said she would have to start referring students to the Judicial Board.