Taylor Scott – Special to The Southern News
Transportation can be tricky to find and hard to afford when you’re a college student on a low budget. Luckily, being a Southern student can also give you some huge perks in the local community. The University Card Office, located in Wintergreen is where students go in order to get their Hoot Loot card. However, the associates at the office do a lot more than just give students a new Hoot Loot card when they’ve misplaced it. They also distribute Upass tickets to students. U-Pass is a great system that our school uses in partner with CT Transit.
It’s understandable that some of the universitys’ students aren’t able to have their cars on campus. U-Pass through Southern, is a way to get rides to just about anywhere in the area. The great thing is, students don’t have to pay to use it.
I stopped by Wintergreen and talked with Nick Carlino, a junior who works in the University Card Office. Carlino shared that the school has a total of 3,000 passes, and they give out up to 1,500 a semester. He explains it’s a first come, first serve system that is very popular in the Southern community. “You have to be a full-time matriculated student in a degree program to be eligible for one.” He also explained that there are posters around campus that advertise this service.
According to Southern’s website, if the student loses their pass, he or she may be eligible to get a replacement card for no extra cost. However, if the student loses it a second time, there is a fee. The system can bring a university student around campus, downtown, or to local malls and shops. U-Pass tickets are only valid for one semester. However, students are able to go back to Wintergreen the next semester to obtain another pass. Students should bring their Hoot Loot card with them when obtaining the pass for identification purposes.
I asked around campus to see if students have had the opportunity to check out the U-Pass system. Nicole Johnson, a SCSU junior was unfamiliar with the U-Pass system. “I have never heard about it before, so I don’t have one.”
Briana Keel, a freshman is planning on getting one soon. She has heard of the advertisements around campus and gained some interest in it.
Meghan Bushwack, a sophomore also thinks it’s a great thing to have on campus. “For people without cars on campus, it’s really great. We’re poor college students, so it’s good to have this kind of thing available.”
U-Pass through CT Transit is a great resource for our campus. It’s also offered at other schools in the area. University of New Haven and Gateway Community College also offer this feature for their students. It is a booming industry in Connecticut, and is great for college students who don’t want to spend all their money on gas. Students can check out the routes of the buses on CT Transit’s website. I also encourage students to check out Southern’s website, which can answer any more questions about U-Pass tickets.
Photo Credit: Hannah Spreckley
