A group of student leaders briefly came together Sunday to discuss the issues on the Thursday to Saturday late-night bus route.
During the week, the 79x route runs between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., serving more than 1,000 students, many of whom live in the Kinsrow area. Although this route has only been in place since the first week of winter term, problems have already arisen that may cause its termination.
In order to ensure the continuation of the route next year, the University and community are starting to collaborate and come up with solutions to curb bad student behavior, making rides more safe for passengers and drivers.
At the meeting, student leaders discussed the behavior changes necessary to keep the route. One way to change this is to shape campus norms and culture, the students said.
“We need to make this an invested student issue,” ASUO Chief of Staff Andrew Plambeck said.
Student leaders from Greek Life and residence halls came up with possible solutions: pamphlets, posters, flyers, publications, student monitors on routes, surveys, door hangers, and continuing campus and community awareness and involvement. Student leaders plan on meeting in the near future to discuss the progress of the issue.
Complaints by LTD bus drivers on the 79x include vomiting, excessive use of obscenities, taunting the bus driver and inappropriate movement. So far there have been no reports on physical contact. In response to these complaints, on both Friday and Saturday night at 11 p.m., a group of students dressed in formal clothing and rode the bus respectfully. Participants in this event noticed that many riders not involved followed their example and rode the bus quietly.
The University is already decades behind some other major universities in terms of late-night bus services. OSU already has a successful late-night bus route called the Beaver Bus.
“This is an essential service, and if cut we’re back 50 years,” said ASUO Transportation Coordinator Nick Schillaci “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep this service.”
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