IUSA puts promises in motion

In their campaign, they promised us "Beer and Books." Now they plan on acting on their promises.\nIU Student Association president Casey Cox and his staff are entering the fall semester with enthusiasm after a summer of planning out ideas such as a bus for drunk students, an online book exchange and scholarships available at football games.\nIUSA does not stop working when school lets out in the spring. Over the summer, the student government started fulfilling campaign promises made in last spring's election.\nSpearheading late-night safety concerns, IUSA has submitted proposals to expand the night bussing program, also called the "Midnight Special."\n"With the 'drunk buses' we want to decrease the number of students walking on campus after dark and especially keep them from drinking and driving," IUSA Congressional Secretary Alan Grant said. "Hopefully anyone out late at night will want to take the buses, drunk or not."\nThe proposal included an increase in the number of night buses and their running hours and a new route that runs east to apartments near College Mall. \nIU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm has endorsed the "Midnight Special" plan, as well as several organizations, including the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, the IU Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.\nStudents looking for the drunk buses should search for the Midnight Special logo at regular bus stops.\nA new Web site has been launched offering IU students a chance to buy, sell and trade their textbooks. \n"This is the first comprehensive student book exchange at IU," Cox said. "We wanted to crack down on the monopoly TIS and the IU Bookstore have on campus."\nThe site, www.buyiu.com, is a free service. In addition to the book exchange, the site features course guides and a campus forum.\nIn addition, IUSA is making efforts to increase support and enhance the experience of students at IU athletic events. They will be co-hosting a tailgate at two yet-to-be-determined games and giving away a $500 scholarship at every home football game this year, with the exception of Indiana vs. Illinois on Nov. 8.\n"We want to create incentives for students to go to football games and enjoy themselves," Cox said.\nThe scholarships will be raffled off during the games to students who bring their valid student ID and fill out a registration card at the booths by the gates outside the stadium.\nLater this year IUSA plans on addressing student seating at assembly hall.\nTo increase convenience around campus and ease parking fines, IUSA also plans to advocate for drop boxes to be installed outside the main library. \n"We will not stop until the student voice is heard in the form of a drop box," Student Body Vice President Grant McFann said.\nIUSA has planned a meeting for students interested in participating in student government for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in their offices on the third floor of the student activities tower of the Indiana Memorial Union.\nMcFann said he thinks students will actually benefit from the ideas generated by IUSA.\n"This year we're going to make things more fun, more safe and more convenient for IU students," McFann said.\nContact staff writer Jake Rossman at jrossman@indiana.edu