Nearly 25 percent of students will be left without public transportation to and from campus with the termination of the Blue Loop.
Students living on the east side of campus, including Kinghorn Hall, can no longer catch a ride on the specially marked campus shuttle buses that run down Neely Avenue, Linden Street and Riverside Avenue.
"I think that there should be a loop that runs this way year-round," Kinghorn resident Delia Welsh said. "I pay roughly $8,000 to attend this university and they can't even provide me with transportation."
The Blue Loop is put in place during the winter months by Ball State and the Student Government Association to help with the transportation to and from campus in the cold weather.
Welsh said she rides the Blue Loop approximately 10 times a week, and it comes in handy when the weather is bad.
Whitney Hamblin, SGA vice president, said the group can only afford to sponsor the Blue Loop from January to March, but through reconfiguring the SGA budget she believes there would be enough money to run the shuttle year-round.
The newly elected SGA slate, Catalyst, plans on keeping the Blue Loop as is. However, Catalyst treasurer Megan Gish said the slate's platform points "are not limiting."
"Students can voice their opinion and bring the idea to SGA," she said.
Gish noted the large percentage of the student body able to use the Blue Loop as a reason for its value.
To propose an idea with SGA, students should contact an SGA representative that is either on the senate or on the slate. To get the idea passed and put into action, SGA will need to see student support and student advocacy.
There is no loop set to run toward the east side of campus to accommodate those living in Kinghorn, Studebaker West Complex or Studebaker East Complex in the near future, Gish said.
Sophomore psychology major Jessica Bush said she wishes there was a year-round shuttle service to these residence halls.
"I would love to not have to walk back to my dorm after dark or in bad weather conditions. I don't see any cons about the idea, just pros," she said.
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