{"id":402,"date":"2014-12-02T13:05:09","date_gmt":"2014-12-02T18:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/gridlock\/?p=402"},"modified":"2014-12-02T16:25:10","modified_gmt":"2014-12-02T21:25:10","slug":"summer-u-pass-for-carleton-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/gridlock\/summer-u-pass-for-carleton-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer U-Pass for Carleton students?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shannon Moore<\/p>\n

\"Carleton<\/a>
Carleton students wait for the bus in the fall semester. Currently their U-Pass runs from September to April. (Photo \u00a9 Shannon Moore)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Carleton students could soon be getting their summer bus rides on the cheap.<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s student associations and administration are considering the summer U-Pass option as they re-negotiate their contract with OC Transpo. Their current agreement is up for renewal this academic year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had our first meeting with OC Transpo and we\u2019re starting to re-negotiate,\u201d said Maddy Porter, the vice-president of student issues at the Carleton University Students\u2019 Association.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in the process of asking if it\u2019s a possibility, how much it would cost, and how many students would actually benefit,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re fighting for it, because students have approached us saying that it\u2019s a really good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students currently pay $376.00 for the U-Pass, which is included in their student fees and allows them to travel on OC Transpo from September to April. When the school year ends, students who are enrolled in summer classes are required to pay for a full-price monthly pass, costing $100.75 per month.<\/p>\n

There is a discounted \u201cstudent\u201d monthly pass costing $80.25 per month, but it is only available to students between the ages of 13 and 19.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that the summer U-Pass is a great idea,\u201d said Carleton graduate student Mary Ritchie. \u201cI\u2019ve spent three or four summers now in Ottawa as a student, and haven\u2019t had a discounted bus pass.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to pay full price rates and it costs way more money than students can afford,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Kaitlin Milroy is a vice-president for CUPE 4600, a union that supports teaching assistants and contract workers on Carleton\u2019s campus. She said the school has a responsibility to provide affordable options to students, considering the high cost of the regular monthly pass.<\/p>\n

\u201cOttawa has some of the most expensive transit in Canada,\u201d she said. \u201cGood transit systems need public investment, not greater individual-per-ride costs. These can be prohibitive and cut deeply into the pockets of those who depend on accessible transit the most.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the summer U-Pass, she suggested providing students with different options based on their individual needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cA 12-month pass is an excellent idea. In fact, I think there should be two options for students: semester passes and year passes, and they should all be cheaper than they are now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Porter could not provide information as to the potential cost of the summer U-Pass, or confirm whether or not it would be included in the annual fees that Carleton students pay.<\/p>\n

However, some students are stressing the importance of an opt-out alternative for those who do not travel to campus during the summer months.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would love a U-Pass during the summer,\u201d said Carleton graduate student Emilie Hurst. \u201cMaybe an optional one, though, because I know that a lot of people aren\u2019t here during the summer, and couldn\u2019t actually take advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the current objective is to extend U-Pass coverage for students enrolled in summer classes, Porter doesn\u2019t discount the possibility of also making it available to students who are living in Ottawa but not enrolled during the summer months.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re looking at students who are enrolled in classes, because we don\u2019t know how many students stay in the city,\u201d she said. \u201cBut if there were enough students that came to us and said they want one, even if they aren\u2019t going to school, then we would fight for that too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the ones that advocate on behalf of it. We want to make sure that everyone has it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Algonquin College students recently voted in favour of implementing the U-Pass on their campus. That contract provides students with a full-year pass.<\/p>\n

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