Barsema Hall will be opening its doors today, but the nearly 4,800 business students looking for a quick way to class will find no bus waiting to take them there.

Despite an on-going effort by Student Association Transportation Director Maurice Montgomery, the Student Association has not been able to reach an agreement with the city of DeKalb or NIU.

The 1/10 of a mile stretch of Hillcrest Drive between Garden and Normal roads in question was not built to accommodate buses and the city would need a $60,000 short-term investment and nearly $350,000 long-term. Throughout the summer, various plans were discussed with the city that would enable the buses to travel down a small portion of Hillcrest Drive en route back to DuSable Hall, but city officials argue that frequent bus traffic would tear up the roads.

“If the buses were allowed to drive on Hillcrest, they would tear it up within 18 months,” said Joe Maurer, assistant city engineer, in a previous interview with the Star.

According to the SA, the University knew of the effects that building Barsema on Garden Road would have on the mass transit system before construction began and decided to ignore them. The SA is not willing to spend that much in student fees to repave a city street and has been working hard to find a viable alternative.

The SA then looked to allow the buses to turn around in front of Barsema Hall, but ran into obstacles with the university because NIU will not allow the turnaround to be used. Though the turnaround wasn’t built specifically to accommodate bus traffic, specifications would allow for bus use.

The college of business then decided to implement the backup plan that was in place in the event the building wasn’t completed on time. The plan will keep the business “tool” courses in Wirtz Hall this semester to accommodate for the lack of transportation to Barsema. The plan only will work for one semester until Wirtz is occupied by another department. If there is no bus system there after the fall semester, the business school is looking into alternatives such as lengthening the time between classes.

“The business tool courses in Wirtz for the semester will enable freshmen and sophomore students to be closer to other classes on the main campus,” said William Tallon, associate Dean of the College of Business. When asked about using the turnaround, he responded, “The college supports a bus service to Barsema Hall. If that’s what has to be done, certainly … we want to see something out here; we’re all for opportunities to get the students here.”

The SA and the school of business both cite complications higher up in the university for the delay. The SA claims Dr. Eddie Williams, executive vice president of Finances and Facilities, will not allow the use of the Barsema turnaround, the road that runs behind the engineering building, or the streets that run between Garden and Normal roads, specifically Northern Lane. Dr. Williams was not available for comment.

As an alternative, NIU wants the Student Association to pay them for a shuttle service to the business building, Montgomery said. He added that since the SA is paid for by student fees, not just the business students, they run a mass transit system.

“I don’t think it would be in the best interest of all the students,” Montgomery said. “This service would only benefit business students.”

Maurice does understand the importance of a bussing system to the college, citing the nearly 4,800 students who attend the business school and the 1,700 engineering students who travel the same route, and continues to work toward a solution to the situation.

In the mean time, students looking for bus service to Barsema can take the 3 or 3A buses, which stop on Normal Road, and walk a block west to Barsema. The Campus Circle L and R stop in front of the NIU Health Services and leave a five-minute walk north to the building. Star Poll