While the Leader staff understands the Student Association (SA) is required to follow certain SUNY-wide policies, there are still concerns over how the changes will affect the student body. The policy requiring SA to take the lowest bid seems to indirectly imply that money takes priority over student safety.
“It makes me uncomfortable that nothing but price is taken into consideration when making big decisions like this that affect hundreds of students,” said a Leader staff member. “Not to mention the contract is for three years. That’s a long time for students not to have the resources they deserve. Everyone deserves a safe option to get back home to a dorm they’re paying thousands of dollars for.”
Student safety off-campus, especially for those students whose intoxication leads to the decision of driving, has been the focus of much of the backlash.
“I have a feeling that it is going to cause more problems and can result in a death of a student,” said another Leader staff member. “Many students, while drunk, think it is okay to drive drunk.”
For students who don’t have the money to spend money on a taxi or know anyone they can call for help, walking home also comes with its fair share of risks.
“Now that there will not be a ‘drunk bus’ students will have to walk from downtown to campus, even in the worst conditions,” said a third Leader staff member. “During the winter, we all know how Fredonia gets. It is miserably cold, snowy and icy, which are all dangerous risks that students will have to face.”
But even before frigid temperatures come to Fredonia, there is still a concern for students who make the decision to walk over finding a ride home.
“This is dangerous for students walking home who may be too intoxicated,” said a fourth Leader staff member. “They may be easily lured to another’s house or get lost.”
The lowest bidder policy may have been implemented with the intentions of saving the school money, but unforeseen consequences may leave SUNY regretting their decision.
“The school took the lowest bid at the students’ risk, which is not okay,” said a fifth Leader staff member. “The school has a responsibility to look out for the welfare of their students — especially those who live in [on] campus housing and need to get back safely. The problems that arose while the bus was being used during late hours can be resolved, but the problems that may occur due to the lack of safe transportation may not be as easily reversible.”