This past week, students may have noticed a bare, white bus streaking across campus, picking up students and hauling them away.
Although this bus is stripped completely of Southeastern’s logo, it is the official new member of the Lion Traxx fleet. The Student Government Association (SGA) passed the legislation for the purchase of this bus after increasing concern for students who were forced to miss the bus due to lack of space. The new bus will be able to hold roughly 70 people, which is about twice the capacity of the current Lion Traxx buses.
“The Lion Traxx, this semester, have been moving about 1,800 students a day, so the increase in size was much needed,” said Gary Prescott, director of shuttle services.
According to SGA President Branden Summers, the cost of the new bus was about $140,000, and students who often use the Lion Traxx system seem to think that the money was well spent.
“I think that it’s an awesome addition to Southeastern’s campus,” said Emily Randon, freshman kinesiology major. “I live in the Greek Village, so a lot of times I’m turned away, and I have to wait for the next bus, and sometimes even the next bus after that.”
Summers said that SGA is also considering expanding the Lion Traxx system so buses can pick up students off campus as well. “We’d like to go to off campus apartments. In the two-mile radius you have thousands of students that commute every day, taking up parking spots. If a bus was to pick them up, that’d save parking spots, save the students money, gas money and ticket money.”
According to Summers, though the university is struggling with budget cuts, student concerns are still important, and he asks that students continue to offer ideas for improvement. “If there’s any problems whatsoever, or anything you’d like to see fixed, we’re here working for the students, so please come in and just talk to us. We’re students, you’re students. We’re all here to help out for the common good.”
It has been confirmed by both Prescott and Summers that the naked bus will be painted, as well as equipped with security cameras and an advertising television, within the next few weeks.