Loyola students may be using the streetcar to get downtown for longer than expected. Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting started with an announcement that Loyola’s participation in Tulane University’s SafeRide program has been postponed because of legal difficulties.
For those students not familiar with SafeRide, it’s a shuttle service run by Tulane University that provides rides for students. The program covers both Uptown and Downtown, and students pay only 75 cents per ride.
Last year, SGA announced that it had worked out a deal with Tulane that would allow Loyola students to use the program. Loyola students were supposed to begin using the shuttles this semester.
However, two days before the semester started, SGA found out that both universities’ attorneys were still in negotiations over liability and financial issues. Anna Hall, SGA president and music business senior, and Nick Poché, chair of the SafeRide committee and drama communications senior, have been trying to clear up the problems. However, it is still uncertain as to whether the issues will be sorted out.
According to Hall and Poché, Tulane pays $48,000 a year to operate the program. Loyola offered to pay $3,500 per semester to join the program, but Tulane refused the offer. Poche said that Loyola increased its offer to $8,000 per year. Hall said Jim Eisemen, vice president of Student Affairs, agreed to split the cost with SGA, putting up an additional $8,000 per year.
Hall said that the proposal has gone back to Tulane’s attorneys and SGA is waiting to hear the results.
Congress also took up three resolutions at the meeting.
It unanimously approved Noah Bychurch, management sophomore, as the SGA executive secretary.
The group also voted to charter two new organizations, Compass and Life.
Compass, proposed by Ryan Richardson, general business senior, is a group of Catholic students educating others about faith, scripture studies and virtue information. Speakers also will be present to promote Jesuit identity. Last year the organization met under University Ministry.
Congress unanimously voted in favor of the resolution.
The Loyola Life organization, proposed by Mary Burckell, is a group of faculty and students who will meet to discuss issues such as abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. Burckell said that at least twenty people already have showed interest in participating. Only one person opposed the chartering of the organization.
Vanessa Castaneda, college of business representative and international business sophomore brought the parking issue to the attention of SGA. Students have complained that more parking permits are being sold than there are available spaces. If students have complaints, they should contact the Parking Committee headed by Crystal Guidry, political science sophomore, and John Yadamec, management sophomore.
Hall said that the parking problem is a perpetual one and that she hopes to get more student involvement in the Parking Committee to help come up with a solution.
Percy Marchand, SGA vice president and management junior, told students that they should be aware that the final day of the SGA book sale was Thursday.
He said that students who sold books should expect their money in about two weeks.
