During the fall and spring semesters, hundreds of students rely on the regional transit stickers to transport themselves to and from school. During the summer, however, students are not given the stickers, and they have to find alternative means [of transportation].
All that a student needs to do to obtain a sticker during the full semesters is to take his or her student access card to admission and records. Public Relations Officer Kristie West said the district does not provide stickers during the summer because of the cost.
"It isn't cost effective," West said. "About 15,000 students enroll during the fall and spring semesters and only about 5,000 students enroll during the summer."
The issues have raised concerns for students who plan to enroll in summer school. Some of them fear that they may not take summer classes if they do not find cheaper means of transportation.
"If I don't find anyone to give me a ride during the summer, I may not come to school because I am broke," said Obaro Okoro, a 19-year-old undecided major. "My other option is to take online classes, which most likely I would."
Like Okoro, Khini Willie,19, said not having the bus pass may interfere with her plans to attend summer classes.
"I'm still looking for a job right now, and I cannot afford $85 for monthly pass," said Willie. "If I don't find money, I will think about alternative means of getting to school or not go to school this summer."
Adrian Harrell, 30, said although he can find other means to transport himself during the summer, he is disappointed because it would help if he and other students get the ticket.
"I'm very disappointed, because there are a lot of people who do not have cars during the summer," said Harrell, a Human service major. "The bus ticket would help greatly."
Aldrick Wright, 22, a culinary arts major said summer is like every other season, and the school should be able to provide transport services for its students like it does during the other semesters.
"I don't see why they won't get stickers during the summer," said Wright. "The summer is like every other season. I wonder what makes it so special."
Wright said he could use the stickers during the summer to save him some money. "I will pay $1.50 to go and come everyday, but if I had the sticker, the money will be in my pocket."
Twenty-six-year-old Robert Johnson agrees.
"It's expensive to pay for transportation during the entire summer semester," said Johnson. "But if I had the sticker, I would be able to save some money."
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