Auraria students will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum to extend the RTD bus pass program contract, which expires at the end of 2003.

The RTD bus pass program was originally passed in 1995 by a student vote, according to Jeff Stamper, assistant director of the Tivoli.

“Every time the contract comes up, the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board goes back out with a referendum to extend it,” Stamper said.

The student vote, which will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 21-22, will be done through a system of ballot boxes. These boxes will be located in three separate buildings, one location for each of the three schools on campus.

Metro students will vote in Central Classroom in the main hallway. CCD students will vote in the South Classroom main lobby. UCD students will vote at the first information table near the deli in North Classroom.

One restriction for the voting is that students need to show their student IDs, which many Metro students have yet to purchase. Some of these individuals have not done so because they drive to school instead of taking the RTD.

“I would like to enforce that the student ID is for a lot more than riding the bus to school,” Stamper said. “It gives you access to computer labs and fitness centers on campus, and it can also be used in the library.”

Stamper said he understands the concerns of many Metro students who do not believe they should have to pay a bus pass fee as part of their regular tuition, because not all students take advantage of the bus system.

However, he said that the RTD bus pass program was originally passed by the students as a way to tax themselves, and has remained that way through several votes.

Agreeing with Stamper was Robert Haight, student board representative to SACAB for Metro. He said that the bus pass program is a service the average student uses, which is the same at any college.

“It is a great service for students who don’t drive to school as a way to commute to the campus,” Haight said. “It also helps alleviate our parking problem.”

He added that for students opposing the referendum, this is also their chance to vote it down.

“If the majority of students vote against it, this program will be denied,” said Haight. He pointed out that the program has passed every time it has come up for an extension.

For those attending Metro without student IDs, Stamper said there might be a way around this pothole if you still wanted to vote.

“I’m sure if you show up with a picture ID and a current class schedule at the voting stand, chances are they’ll still let you vote,” Stamper said.The current bus pass fee, as part of every student’s regular tuition, is $20 every semester. According to Stamper, AHEC is unsure of the exact cost of the bus pass under the new contract if students vote in favor of it. What they do know is that it will not exceed $24 per student per semester.

The bus pass includes free local/limited Denver bus service, free light rail services, express and regional routes, and a $2 discount on the SkyRide service to DIA, all with a valid student ID.
These services exclude non-regional routes, such as in Boulder or Longmont. The pass excludes any special services, such as the Bronco Ride, Rockies Ride, and the Cultural Connection Trolley.

Stamper, showing his personal approval of the program, said, “I very much encourage the student population to go out and vote on this because it is a great deal.”