Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
At their weekly meeting last night, members of Student Council passed a resolution stating their committment to the efforts to save SEPTA. The text of the resolution is reproduced below.
Whereas the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) provides vital benefits to workers, school children, senior citizens, businesses, and the environment; and
Whereas SEPTA is especially vital to the operations of Swarthmore College; providing students, faculty, and staff with convenient transportation, and drawing prospective students and faculty to the College;
Whereas SEPTA is confronted with a budget deficit of between $62 and $65 million that will lead to a 20% reduction in services and a 30% to 40% fare hike ;
Whereas SEPTA receives one of the lowest levels of dedicated funding from state and local government of any public transportation system in the United States;
Whereas members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, members of the SEPTA Board, and Governor Ed Rendell have offered fair, sustainable solutions to the current funding crisis, including HB #22, which establishes a dedicated funding source for public transit in the Commonwealth of Pennyslvania ; and
Whereas Swarthmore College endeavors to be a responsible member of the larger community,
Be it resolved that the Student Council of Swarthmore College supports the implementation of a dedicated funding source for SEPTA that will prevent any service cuts or fare hikes; and
Be it further resolved that the Student Council of Swarthmore College calls upon the Office of the President of the College to review its position towards the enactment of a dedicated funding source for SEPTA.