In an effort to reduce the costs of maintaining Off Campus College Transportation, a student-run organization under the Student Association, the SA is considering handing over its control to Binghamton University officials.
The OCCT has been independent of the administration since its creation in 1970. Currently, students create schedules, select destinations and fill all management and driver positions for the bus system. Due to increasing costs, however, the possibility of removing the organization from the SA and putting it under the administration’s jurisdiction has been introduced.
‘Costs go up year after year,’ said Fiona Peach, assistant to SA President Mike Schiffman. ‘It’s very hard to find that money within Student Association. [So] we’re talking about the possibility of transferring some of the burdens of OCCT under the administration.’
Peach stressed that no decision has been made, as the SA continues to hold meetings and discuss the possible changes with the OCCT Board of Directors and the administration.
‘The SA has to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance for the OCCT buses,’ she said. ‘If the OCCT were to go under the administration, some of the insurance would fall under SUNY’s umbrella insurance, which would cost nothing to students.’
The SA, Off Campus College and a portion of the semi-annual $19 student transportation fee fund the OCCT.
OCCT owns 11 blue bus shuttles that carry students daily to the University Plaza, Town Square Mall, Oakdale Mall and the Innovative Technologies Complex among other locations.
Peach said that some students have expressed concern over the loss of autonomy that might come with the change. But she was convinced that students will retain their influence over OCCT.
‘Nobody wants it to take it completely away from the students,’ she added. ‘The administration and Board of Directors agree it needs to have the same type of student input. Ideally the OCCT will continue as a student-run service without having to shoulder some of the heaviest costs.’
Elaine Liu, OCCT’s service manager and operations coordinator, said she is confident that the culture and history of the transport would not be affected by any possible change in management.
‘I think the plan is a very positive thing,’ Liu said. ‘It’ll be a good change for students and the University because it’s such a big operation. It needs more consistency.’