If ASMSU has its way, MSU will finally be getting its own safe ride program to get students home safe after a night of drinking.
As The State News reported last week, MSU is currently the only school out of 14 in the Big Ten that does not have a safe ride initiative. But ASMSU has allocated $57,000 toward the implementation of such a program, which could begin as early as next fall.
In theory, the idea seems like a no-brainer, and long overdue. However, if the program actually gets its wheels turning, it will end up costing significantly more than the original $57,000 price tag, and with ASMSU’s history of planning initiatives without following through, the entire plan needs to be looked at with discretion.
First of all, the initial negotiations would team the program up with a popular ride-sharing service, which cannot currently be named because plans are not finalized.
But ride-sharing services have recently come under fire in the state of Michigan because of legal issues, which are still unresolved.
If such programs become illegal under Michigan law, that would obviously and quickly squash the potential for this type of a safe ride program in East Lansing.
Other questions have arisen as well. If the program is only offered to MSU students, would friends or family visiting in town be allowed to receive a ride with said MSU student?
And how would East Lansing taxi services be affected by this change?
It doesn’t take a business degree to understand that it could significantly hurt their businesses.
But behind the questions is one bottom line — ASMSU has a reputation for pitching and planning bold initiatives without coming through.
The student government’s bike share program has gone down as a well-documented flop. Originally, the program called for 40 bikes in ten different locations on MSU’s campus.
But the final result, at least as of now? Eight bikes at one location.
If legal issues are hurdled, enough money is allocated and the program is modeled after other successful safe ride programs at universities around the nation, the idea could literally help save lives.
But if not, the proposed safe ride initiative could end up just being another seldom used but expensive program in which undergraduate students are ultimately left to foot the bill.
