Strangely enough, this article appears on top of another piece, entitled "University sends bid invitations for new bus system." While I will give credit to the University for utilizing privatization to save some money, as opposed to the highly inefficient government-run CATS (Capital Area Transit System) bus program, there is one glaring issue.
Why, if the University fears substantial budget cuts that will cause the whole system to collapse and ruin all of our lives, are they still going forward with a plan to expand and upgrade bus services? This will surely cost LSU boatloads of money... no, excuse me, taxpayer dollars.
As a former member of the current Student Government's Executive and Senior Staffs, I understand that it was an important initiative for them to get a new bus system in place. Certainly, there have been tons of complaints about surly and downright reckless drivers, inadequate service and inaccessibility of buses. There is no denying that there should be improvements to the bus system. But at what cost?
Is it worth purchasing a new fleet of buses that include GPS devices when they are threatening us with our school losing accreditation and, as Chancellor Martin woefully explained, the school "fall[ing] back to where we were eight or 10 years ago"?
This is just another example of the mismanaged priorities of our school. Even though our bus system needs improvement, is now a time to worry about TomTom directing us to the Bell Tower?
I hope that this attempt at privatization will result in saving money. But, I fear that won't be the case. You see, what I expect to happen is that the money saved by using a private service will not be put in a lock-box, but instead, spent to purchase more buses or heaven only knows what else, for fear of not being allotted that money in future budgets.
Please, LSU... prove me wrong. I beg you. I'd love to be wrong in exchange for the safeguarding of the interests of taxpayers and students.
