n In recent weeks, The Daily Free Press published several articles concerning the Student Union and its plans for the upcoming year (“First Union meeting draws record 70,” Sept. 19, p. 1).

These articles include the formation of new committees and several ideas that the Union is hoping to implement on campus.

In one article, The Free Press mentioned that the Student Union was looking into the possibility of getting T Passes for all Boston University students. Initially, it seemed as though this would be a great idea. Students would no longer have to pay to ride the T and it would be a lot easier for everyone.

By even considering the T Pass idea, however, they obviously did not take into consideration the monetary aspects of implementing such a program.

Boston University already offers a discounted T Pass to students — a deal BU has worked out with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority — at a cost of about $150 per semester. Most students do not ride the T enough for the pass to even pay for itself.

For an undergraduate student population of just over 16,000 students, the total cost of such an idea would be just under $5 million per academic year. Maybe the Union has a budget the student body underestimated.

Instead of proposing such sensationalistic ideas as free T Passes, the Student Union should focus its efforts on something useful, cheap and simple that students would use.

The Union could work for something as easy as increasing the number of power outlets in the George Sherman Union and Mugar Memorial Library, where a lot of students study and bring their laptops. Improving student lounges to be a more effective would also be a beneficial use of the Student Union’s budget.

Chris Jordan

COM ‘ 09