CFA meeting covers bus routes, construction and readership program

Discussion and consideration about new bus routes, the ongoing construction of the Gaughan Multicultural Center and the collegiate readership program highlighted Tuesday night's Committee for Fees Allocation meeting.


The meeting marked the opening of presentations from campus institutions and student service agencies. The two organizations that presented were the Nebraska Unions, which includes the collegiate readership program, and Transit Services.

Student ridership on campus buses has increased overall by 7 percent from 2006-2007 to 2007-2008 while ridership on the StarTran Route 24 increased by 13 percent and usage of the night van increased by 10 percent.


Dan Carpenter, director of parking and transit services, and Steve Taege, business center manager for university services, told CFA members about a possible change in the City Campus bus route. The shift would alleviate traffic congestion in front of Henzlik Hall, moving the stop to the corner of 16th and Vine streets, near the University Health Center. The current route overlaps itself in two major areas and takes 30 minutes to travel to East Campus.


"Henzlik is a time-killer," said Carpenter; several members of the committee voiced their agreement.


"It's a farther walk, but it would cut 10 to 15 minutes off the route to make some of these changes," he said, adding any route change will occur after a campus-wide discussion.


Carpenter addressed CFA's concern about sustainability and energy usage.


"Where most of our expenses are is electricity," he said. There are about 800 light fixtures in the parking garages, which "are great for security but do use a bit of energy." He said transit is examining the possibility of LED lights, which consume less energy but could cost up to $1,000 a fixture.

Transit requested $396,086, which is 30 percent of their operating budget. Last year, CFA approved a one-time cost of about $16,000 to add another StarTran 24 route. Without that spike in costs, the budget request is about the same as last year.


The Nebraska Union is requesting $3,586,478, a 2.9 percent increase of $99,850 from last year's request. In addition, debt services for the multicultural center's construction would increase $12 per student per semester, from $38 to $50.


Brian Koll, president of the union board and a senior finance and marketing major, said the increase can be attributed to the operating budget of the Gaughan Multicultural Center when it opens second semester next year.

A Union employee detailed both the progress of construction on the multicultural center and on several structural adjustments the Union made in order to be in compliance with fire marshal regulations.


The collegiate readership program is requesting $21,644, or an 8.2 percent increase from last year.


"The Union administers the student collegiate readership programs for ASUN," said Charlie Francis, director of the Nebraska Unions. "Last year, CFA made the decision to spend less and use reserve funds."


Gregg Jablonski, assistant director of the Nebraska Unions, said the market's hostility toward newspapers has meant three of the papers – Lincoln Journal-Star, New York Times and USA Today – have increased their prices. Jablonski said USA Today had agreed to a three-year contract that would increase the price of each paper by 1 cent, locking the price and saving students money. Thus, the budget request reflects not only the move away from reserve funds but also the increased prices.


"We recommend keeping some money in reserves in case readership goes up a bunch or price increases," said Francis. "But it really is your decision."


Brian Coburn, a junior biochemistry major and CFA chairman, agreed.

"With the state of newspapers, safe is better right now," he said.


kiahhaslett@dailynebraskan.com