Students should know the plans to develop a mobile app still are in place. But MSU and CATA have a previously held agreement that allows MSU, not ASMSU, access to route and schedule information through a GPS feed.

Essentially, the app can be created, but ASMSU can’t create it. Instead, the app has to be created by collaboration between MSU and CATA.

ASMSU did its due diligence in investigating into whether or not such an app could be
created for a reasonable price at the beginning of the year.

However, in that investigation, ASMSU appears to have ignored the most basic aspect of the project; the fact that they couldn’t develop the app without the university.

ASMSU should do a much more thorough job of investigating what it can and cannot do for students before announcing large projects.

Yes, the mobile app still is a great idea that would benefit a lot of students, and ASMSU deserves some credit for bringing the idea to student’s attention.

However, promising this app at the beginning of the year and then being shut out of discussions later belies ASMSU’s over-eagerness to attempt projects they might or might not have the capability to complete.

At the beginning of this year, ASMSU was making progress from the forgettable job it had done in the past of representing students. By taking small steps to regain the trust of students, ASMSU was rebuilding its relationship with the student body.

This mobile app was pushed heavily by ASMSU as something it could do for students by fall 2012. But its inability to claim the mobile app as its own developed project takes away some of the positive impact the app could have had.

Being directly involved in the development of the app looks better for ASMSU than just having the app available.

Nothing is wrong with ASMSU being willing to do more for students. That’s its purpose as undergraduate student government. And ASMSU does deserve credit for spearheading a project that would positively impact the lives of students.

However, it should know — and if it doesn’t know, investigate — the feasibility of what it’s trying to accomplish before going out on a limb.

No matter which organization ends up taking responsibility for the app, as long as it arrives in the time frame ASMSU laid out, students will be happy.

And making the lives of students easier should be the main goal for both student government and the university.

ASMSU should contemplate ideas to better the lives of students; that’s its job. However, it has a responsibility to students to evaluate which programs and developments they can attain and move toward them.