Kwantlen students send U-Pass message

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      On March 10, Kwantlen Student Association director of operations Reena Bali and staffer Ben Newsom delivered a sweet treat to the Metrotown offices of TransLink.

      “I am bringing this chocolate pass on behalf of the student association to present to [TransLink CEO] Ian Jarvis because it’s a sweet deal,” Bali, a third-year human-resources student, told the Straight. “It’s a sweet deal because it not only benefits students, it also benefits the local transportation authorities, educational institutions, as well as the municipalities.”

      The KSA wants the U-Pass program expanded to its school and is pushing a student transportation expansion program that would see the provincial government subsidize U-Pass programs to the tune of $10 per student per month. The group has already dropped off a chocolate U-Pass for Premier Gordon Campbell and another for Transportation Minister Shirley Bond at their respective offices.

      Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s student population of 18,000 and its location—at campuses in Langley, Surrey, and Richmond—would determine how much each student would pay under the KSA’s proposed plan, according to Newsom. Based on his experience negotiating for a U-Pass at Capilano University, Newsom said he thinks Kwantlen students would pay between $25 and $45 a month.

      “That’s a significant discount for the students,” Newsom said.

      A rival proposal from student unions at Douglas College, Emily Carr University, UBC, and Vancouver Community College calls for a “One Pass” rate of $25 across Metro Vancouver.

      In their 2009 election platform, the B.C. Liberals promised to bring the U-Pass to all students in the province this September, though no funding was committed in the recent budget.

      Comments

      25 Comments

      tc

      Mar 11, 2010 at 8:45am

      kwantlen students association is such a scab organization. $45 dollar upass?! no! join the call for a $25 pass!

      Evil Eye

      Mar 11, 2010 at 12:28pm

      The U-Pass is bankrupting TransLink, why not just lower the fares and do away with the U-Passes altogether.

      sd

      Mar 11, 2010 at 12:29pm

      This is a great deal and even a better way of presenting it, making it a sweet sweet deal. Good job ksa. Hope things workout your way

      NRSN

      Mar 11, 2010 at 1:55pm

      I workable plan that gives students a fair deal sounds like a good idea to me!

      L&T

      Mar 11, 2010 at 3:51pm

      $25 dollars for only students attending institutions in metro Vancouver! One-Pass? Too bad the CFS doesn't seem to care about the rest of BC.

      student

      Mar 11, 2010 at 5:23pm

      From what I know, the STEP program seems to be a fair U-Pass program that would benefit ALL post-secondary students in B.C!

      17 9Rating: +8

      give me a break Ken

      Mar 11, 2010 at 9:58pm

      Come-on, Ken, everyone knows that the UBC U-Pass was initiated by UBC to chase students off campus so that UBC could build luxury condos rather than residences. Maybe Kwantlen just isn't in Point Grey and TransLink can't get in on the take to profit from scamming studnents with the B-Line.

      kck

      Mar 11, 2010 at 10:21pm

      shouldnt have the so called national student movement play a active role in getting kwantlen its well over due upass? or are they only there to eat students money? COME ON!

      Ken and Judy Listen Up

      Mar 12, 2010 at 1:23am

      I'm willing to pay whatever it takes to provide quality and affordable transit for students who need it the most. I certainly am not prepared to see TransLink skim our tax dollars to pay for its lousy management and then see TransLink operate stinking diesel buses on trolley bus routes like it is on the B-Line route.

      Chocoholic Girl

      Mar 12, 2010 at 7:24pm

      If only getting a UPASS was as easy as getting a chocolate bar. The sooner everyone gets a UPASS, the sooner every student will be happier. Cut us students some break - we already pay so much for textbooks (which professors admit are overpriced more than they should be) and courses, the least you can do is promote a green environment by encouraging students to take Transit. And what better way to do it than to offer students a good rate for UPASS, let alone let EVERY institution have a UPASS option.