Once again the university’s “parking problem” has become a scape goat for people too lazy to get out and walk. Now the complaint has turned from not enough parking to parking that is too far from campus.

The approval of a proposal made to the Student Association Mass Transit Board to create a tenth bus route on the Huskie Bus Line would be a mistake—a $12,500 per-semester mistake.

The proposed plan would create a new route specifically designed to transport drivers from west student parking lots only on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Ironically, the suggestion comes from a member of NIU’s Parking Committee—the very same committee responsible for the recent increases which more than tripled the price of student/faculty parking fees.

If such a new route was initiated as a shuttle for drivers with the ability to walk across campus, it should be the responsibility of the Parking Committee to supply funding.

An alternative at a lesser cost might be considered by looking into the feasibility of rerouting the nine existing routes to include the west lots, but only if the costs incurred by the additions were paid by parking fees.

At a time when students are continually asked to pick up the slack left by the rising costs of education, it is unreasonable to accept additional charges for yet another “service” the majority have no use for.