Yes, it’s the Christmas time again, and in the spirit of the season, the Student Association Mass Transit Board is asking for handouts.

The results of a Huskie Bus survey printed in about 17,000 Northern Stars show that a whopping 80 percent of those surveyed would be in favor of an increase in the bus fee from $29.04 to $34.80 per semester for full time students.

Sure, saying 80 percent of the survey respondents is impressive, but only one-twentieth of the surveys were returned. Now, that’s hardly an adequate sample of a 25,000-student university. How can that survey even be considered? And it doesn’t stop there.

Forty of the surveys returned were from SA senators. And the results still supported an increase? Goodness, how surprising.

In addition, the board projected a $36,000 deficit for Fiscal Year 1991; needless to say, a hefty sum. But upon “a little closer analysis,” the board was found that a slight boo-boo was made in overestimating chargeable credit hours, said David Pack, mass transit adviser. The board now expects to face a $50,000 deficit.

The mass transit board claims that boosting the student fee will help alleviate their current deficit and allow for expansion of certain services.

Before the fee study process gets underway, the mass transit board needs to reconsider their options and make sure they have explored all avenues. SAMTB will need to prove that better money management is not the answer to its budget problem.