Lane Transit District will decide today whether to preserve late-night bus service between the University and Kinsrow apartments.
Representatives for the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents LTD drivers, objected to the service, saying the behavior of drunk students who ride the bus on Fridays and Saturdays threatens LTD employees. In response to drivers’ concerns, LTD representatives said they would ax the route unless students changed their behavior.
In an effort to save the route, members of student government organized a protest this weekend. ASUO Chief of Staff Andrew Plambeck said the idea was that students would show up dressed in formal clothing with highbrow reading matter and ride the bus quietly and politely to combat stereotypes.
ATU executive Brian Pasquali, who was the first to object to late-night service, criticized the turn-out to the protest and ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz, whose office organized support and funding for the route.
“Mr. Katz sent out about 130 e-vites and only 12 people showed up,” Pasquali said. “I think there were more reporters there than protesters.”
On Friday, three reporters accompanied the protest. On Saturday, four journalism students covered the event for a project, while only Plambeck and his girlfriend Michelle Rogelstad rode as part of the protest. However, Plambeck defended the turnout.
“We had what you could call a small but dedicated group of supporters,” Plambeck said. “We weren’t looking to have a ‘gotcha moment.’”
Pasquali sat in a sport utility vehicle near the bus stop to observe students Friday night and said he later rode the bus. He criticized protesters for not staying longer. During the event, protestors rode only the first trip to Kinsrow and back. Pasquali said the behavior worsened after protestors left.
“We had about four people get kicked off, one person puke,” Pasquali said. “It was a pretty typical night.”
Plambeck said the idea was not to ride for the entire night, and fired back at Pasquali for not riding the bus with the protestors.
“I find it kind of interesting and funny that Mr. Pasquali was there and in an SUV and didn’t take the opportunity to ride with us,” Plambeck said.
Plambeck said he was impressed with student behavior both nights.
LTD spokesman Andy Vobora said students’ behavior had improved since Pasquali’s complaints, after which LTD stationed a security guard on the late-night route. He said if security reports were as positive for Friday and Saturday as they were for past weekends, LTD would likely decide to keep the route after his meeting with LTD general manager Mark Pangborn.
Pasquali said he is confident Vobora and Pangborn will take the ATU’s concerns into consideration, though he doesn’t believe the route will be cancelled. If drivers’ concerns are not met, “we will cross whatever bridge we have to,” Pasquali said, though the union is not legally allowed to strike.
The ASUO and University administration established the route during winter term to ensure the safety of students who live in student housing north of the Willamette River. It runs six nights a week from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
[email protected]
LTD to decide whether to preserve late-night bus
Daily Emerald
May 3, 2009
0
More to Discover