Summer U-Pass: more school, more bus

University Students’ Council approved an undergraduate referendum for the implementation of a spring and summer universal bus pass, or U-Pass, at its Sept. 27 meeting.

A vote is necessary for all students’ union fee changes.

University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union Vice-President of Operations and Finance Steven Heidel said a committee will meet next week to set the voting dates for the referendum, which will likely take place over two days near the end of October.

At least 10 per cent of the undergraduate student body must vote for the referendum to be valid and a simple majority is needed for the spring and summer U-Pass to become a reality.

If the referendum passes, undergraduates registered in the spring and summer sessions will have the opportunity to use the discounted bus pass. The pass will cost $36.26 for each session and be added to the students’ union dues. Students not registered in spring and summer classes will not be charged.

Regularly, a city bus pass for a post secondary student is $75 per month.

A similar U-Pass program is currently in place for undergraduates from September to April. According to the USSU website, undergraduates are charged $73.51 per term — or roughly $19 per month — regardless of whether they activate it or not. Students who live on campus or outside Saskatoon city limits, who hold a disability parking pass for the U of S or who are enrolled exclusively in distance education courses can apply for an exemption.

Students who choose to use the pass may activate their student cards at any time during the semester.

Reid Nystuen, former USSU vice-president of operations and finance, spearheaded the spring and summer U-Pass program last year and spent much of his time in office working with Saskatoon Transit.

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Correction 09/28/12: An earlier version of the story was published and reported that “Students who choose to use the pass must activate their student cards at the start of each semester.” This was not accurate and the Sheaf regrets the error. Students may activate their U-Pass at any time during the semester.

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File Photo: The Sheaf