Washington College currently runs a shuttle to Annapolis Mall, New Carrollton Station and BWI airport for students' needs on the weekends. However, in recent months, many students have been asking that other destinations be added to the shuttle route.
Freshman Sara Wuillermin noted that while the college advertises a close proximity to cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., students without their own transportation are out of luck getting out of Chestertown and to these places on the weekends.
Wuillermin, with the help of Kat Bennett, brought the resolution before the SGA, saying that the current shuttle service does not adequately provide students with transportation to these areas.
Reid Raudenbush, the Plant Director in charge of the campus's construction, renovation and repair, said that the whole concept of running a shuttle was designed for students without automobiles to make it convenient for them to go to Annapolis or New Carrollton.
The question at hand is whether the resolution is asking for a shuttle to Baltimore or Philadelphia instead of Annapolis and New Carrollton, or if it is to be in addition to the current shuttle system.
Raudenbush said that out of the college's five vans, only one is reserved for the shuttle, making it difficult to provide for additional shuttles.
WC also hires drivers, which would be another complication if additional routes were used.
Raudenbush said that he and Louis Stetler were more than willing to talk to the people behind the resolution.
Wuillermin's proposition was that the shuttle would run every first and third weekend to Annapolis, the second would go to Philadelphia, and the fourth to Baltimore.
Sophomore Crystal Rivell said, "It's a good idea because there is nothing in this town that pertains to college students."
Kat Bennett said that the resolution passed unanimously in the SGA, but that, if necessary, a petition would go around for students to request additional routes for the shuttle.
Senior Steph Williams expressed her enthusiasm for the resolution. "I would take it! I don't have a car."
The shuttle has been running for two years on a first come, first serve basis and costs students five dollars. One of the college's five vans is used to transport students. It is estimated that approximately five hundred students used the shuttle last year.
A van leaves from the CAC on Friday afternoons, traveling to Annapolis Mall and New Carrollton. Another shuttle leaves on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., followed by another at 4 p.m. The last shuttle of the weekend leaves from the CAC at 4 p.m. on Sundays. The schedule can be found posted on the web.
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