ASUA to survey golf cart riders

Students tired of walking to class in the blazing heat can hitch a free ride today with the start of the program "Roll With a Senator."

Associated Students of the University of Arizona senators will be driving students to class starting today in a golf cart from noon to 2 p.m. every Wednesday of the semester, said Sen. Patrick Cook.

Students who participate will be encouraged to take a survey to give input on ASUA, but the survey is completely optional, Cook said.

"We wont refuse someone a ride if they don't take the survey," Cook said.

Cook said the senators will look for students who don't know where their class is or who appear too tired to walk and will chaffeur groups of one to three students. The golf cart seats five people, including the driver.

Executive Vice President Erin Hertzog said the program is intended to get the word out to freshmen who have no idea what ASUA stands for and educate them on what's going on in the university.

"It's a simple and easy way to reach students," Hertzog said. "Students will appreciate the free ride, be receptive to the senators, and give feedback that the senators need."

The event is sponsored by the senate, but it is aided by the program SafeRide, which loaned out its golf cart and trained the senators who will be driving, Cook said.

Four or five senators will be participating in the project all year, two of which will each take an hour-long shift to drive the cart, Cook said.

Cook said he added the project since last year when it first started by including surveys and giving out candy and water.

The program was discontinued two weeks after starting last year because the senator leading it was preoccupied with a family emergency, Hertzog said.

Cook said some people within ASUA were initially concerned about the success of restarting the program, but now everyone seems "very excited" about it.

Cook said he hopes Roll with a Senator familiarizes students with their student government through the semester.

"I've had a few students come (to our office) and ask questions, but a lot of people aren't familiar with what a senator does or what ASUA does," Cook said.

David Stewart, a pre-business freshman, said students will participate if they can get a free ride, and he is an example of a freshman who has yet to learn about ASUA.

"I really have no idea what they're doing because I've only been here for a week," Stewart said.

Andrea Thompson, an engineering freshman, said she thinks the program is a good idea because it will get students to learn about ASUA when they wouldn't choose to otherwise.

"Students are going to want a free ride anyway," Thompson said. "It's a good way to tell people face to face."