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Algonquin College students vote on U-Pass
By Eddie Ameh
Early childhood education student Emily Langan says she voted yes because she will save money PHOTO: Eddie Ameh/The Gridlock
Algonquin College students are voting in a week-long referendum to accept or reject the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) system.
If they vote to accept it, students will pay a one-time discounted transit fare at the beginning of every school year.
“After seeing it positively affect students of Carleton, U-Ottawa, St. Paul University and even universities in Manitoba and British Columbia, the Universal Transit Pass system would be a great way to provide affordable and accessible transportation to our full-time students,” said Mackenzie Campbell, vice-president of the students’ association.
Vice president of Algonquin College Students Association, Mackenzie Campbell, said students will save more than 50 per cent on transportation fares if they vote yes for the UPass PHOTO: Eddie Ameh/The Gridlock
Campbell said that two years ago OC Transpo put an age cap on student monthly passes, so students over 18 no longer qualified for student passes.
Since then Algonquin students over 18 pay almost $100 a month for a bus pass, almost twice the cost of a U-Pass. “The students who take the bus on a regular basis will be getting about 50 per cent discount average from the regular adult monthly pass,” Campbell said.
In the first 24 hours of the week-long vote more than 25 per cent of students had already voted — a figure Campbell said is very encouraging.
Kyle Waddell, a first-year student, said he voted in favour of the U-Pass because it will help him save a lot more money. “With the U-Pass, you pay at the beginning and you just show your pass. And it’s cheaper.”
Student Marleigh Cheaney said the U-Pass would help students because they have other expenses including rent and books. “I think this would be a great opportunity to help students save a little extra money,” she said.
Emily Langan, a first-year student, said a U-Pass will be more convenient and cheaper, especially as it comes with the tuition fees. She also said that public transit is her only means of transportation.
“I think it helps me because I don’t have a licence to drive,” she said. “I think it will save me money because Presto passes are almost a $100.”
Campbell said he expects an overwhelming endorsement of the U-Pass. The student’s association embarked on massive publicity, decorating the student common area with fliers and posters.
“We usually have six TVs in our student common building, which usually have our events and everything on them. But this week, it’s all about the referendum and votes, and it seems to be working so far,” Campbell said.
He said there were groups such as the Revolution Students Union, who are on a ‘yes’ campaign, urging students to vote.
The referendum will continue until Nov. 21. If students vote yes, the U-Pass won’t be available until the fall of 2015.