Students prefer riding in the warm confines of the Undergraduate Student Government/Panhellenic Weekend Loop to trekking home in the cold.
George Engelmayr (freshman-chemical engineering) rode for the first time Saturday morning and enjoyed the experience.
“I think it’s great in the winter because I don’t really feel like walking in (snow),” he said. “It might not be as important during the summer because most people don’t mind walking back.”
Joyce Leahy (sophomore-architectural engineering) of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, 2 Hastings, took advantage of the $2 pass and plans to use the service as long as the party she attends is close to a stop.
“We don’t have to worry about the 35 cents when we leave (the party),” she said. “It’s kind of neat with all of these people in here.”
Weekend Loop Driver Joe Davidson of University Fleet Services said last weekend was the busiest so far.
Safety rider USG Town senator Paul Yacisin said he was unsure if he supported the weekend loop at first but is now in full support of it.
“I’d like to get a third van if we could,” he said. “Actually, I think the University should be putting up the money for this.”
That is an option the weekend loop sponsors are looking into.
“A third van is something we’re considering,” said Fraternity senator Mike King. “We have to weigh it in costs versus benefits and take it from there.”
For now, the weekend loop will continue to operate with two vans, meaning some people may be left in the cold waiting for the next ride.
Nittany/Pollock senator Lisa Fields, who along with King made the weekend loop a reality, said there is not a lot of extra money for a third van because it is not a profit-making enterprise.
“I’m sure we’re going to look into getting other sources of funding for it,” she said. “If there’s the demand, we’d love to have as many vans as we need.”
Fields rode the weekend loop the first weekend but said it was not very successful because canning for the 1993 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon kept people away.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “There were a lot of parties this weekend, and it’s really the first big weekend since it started.”
Informational fliers were placed in the mailbox of every woman in the dorms last week. Megan Weaver (freshman-music and art education) said the service was beneficial.
“Walking from here to East is a long way,” she said. “There’s a lot that can happen between here and there because it’s dark.”
So far there have been no conduct problems aboard the weekend loop, Davidson said. The weekend loop is still in its trial period, but the sponsors will have to wait until the weather improves to see if the positive response is maintained.