The Division of Student Services is again offering a shuttle to Newark Liberty International Airport for students travelling home for Thanksgiving break.
According to Karen Van Norman, associate vice president and dean of students, the University provided shuttle service last year to a total of 14 students at Thanksgiving and eight students at spring break. Since the shuttle did not receive enough demand for service at the beginning of winter break last year, it will continue to run this academic year for only Thanksgiving and spring breaks.
The cost of the shuttle is $22.09 and will depart from Duffy Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
“I hope students find this as a convenient and cost effective service,” Dean Van Norman said.
California-native student Abigail Gunther said the shuttle service is a good idea.
“I haven’t taken it but as an out-of-state student I think it’s a really great resource,” Gunther said. “One of an out-of-state student’s biggest concern is transportation when moving so far from home.”
Sophomore Ellen Juracek said she used the service last Thanksgiving break and appreciated having it available.
“I think it’s a nice service for students that don’t know anyone with a car or can’t find someone to take them,” Juracek said. “It is also half the price of what taking a taxi would cost, which is a plus.”
While some students believe the shuttle service lived up to Dean Van Norman’s expectations, Sophomore Amy Gabriel was not as pleased.
After using the shuttle once last Thanksgiving break, Illinois resident Gabriel said the shuttle times that were offered left students either sitting in the airport for hours waiting for their planes or were cutting too close to when flights were taking off.
“The only time I could take that would give me enough time to make my flight caused me to need to miss class and wait in the airport for eight hours,” Gabriel said.
This year, Gabriel plans to pay her friends to give her a ride to Newark Airport.
Juracek is also opting out of using the shuttle service this Thanksgiving break in favor of getting a ride from a friend. Despite the shuttle service being less expensive than hailing a cab, Juracek wishes it was cheaper than the $22.09 service and processing fee.
Although no shuttle service will be provided at the end of Thanksgiving break for students returning to campus, information on alternative options can be found on the Eventbrite website used to purchase your shuttle ticket at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shu-airport-shuttle-tickets-13961281569?ref=estw.
Leah Carton can be reached at leah.carton@student.shu.edu.
