The GO Pass is a subsidized train pass providing eligible students with unlimited use of Caltrain. The GO Pass is currently available for $99.50 to graduate students living off-campus in housing that is not subsidized by Stanford University (students who pick up the pass forfeit the CleanAir Cash). In order to provide these low cost passes, Caltrain requires that Stanford University purchase one pass for every off-campus student at a total cost of over $320 000. The current GO Pass will expire in December 2007 with no funding available to continue the program. 

The GSC has placed an advisory referendum on the 2007 ASSU ballot, in a 12-1-0 vote, to create a student funded GO Pass program for 2008 and beyond. This referendum requests that Stanford University charge all off-campus graduate students a non-refundable quarterly fee equal to the cost of the GO Pass. As this is an advisory referendum, the final decision of whether or not to charge this fee will be made by the Office of the Provost. If charged, this fee will appear on off-campus graduate students’ tuition bills each academic quarter.  For example, if the annual cost of a GO Pass is $108 per person, each off-campus student would be charged $36 per academic quarter.

To continue the GO Pass program for 2008, graduate students should demonstrate interest in the fee by (1) showing overwhelming support for this advisory referendum (defined as 15% of the graduate student population voting to approve this referendum and 66% total voter approval in the ASSU Spring Election) and (2) the Graduate Student Transportation Board collecting signatures from at least 66% of off-campus graduate students requesting this nonrefundable GO Pass Transportation Fee prior to August 31, 2007.

 To continue charging the nonrefundable GO Pass Transportation Fee for 2009 and beyond, at least 50% of off-campus graduate students enrolled during autumn quarter should pick up the GO Pass prior to the end of autumn quarter of that year.  If less than 50% of off-campus graduate students pick up the pass, the GO Pass program should end.  The program should also end if graduate students request to remove the fee via a ballot measure that is placed on the ballot and approved by a majority vote.

 We further request that Stanford University charge this fee for only three years, at which time off-campus graduate students should reaffirm their desire to continue this program via a new referendum.

 Why a nonrefundable fee? 

It would be nice to set up a refundable fee, so that those who want the pass most pay for it. Unfortunately, Caltrain only sells passes at the GO Pass rate if they are provided to all off-campus students; furthermore, Caltrain does not allow the University to charge more than the price of a single pass to the end user. If the fee was refundable, the GSC, which collects fees from the entire graduate student body, would be responsible for bearing the cost of any refunds; even with moderate refund rates, a refundable fee could bankrupt the GSC. Therefore, a nonrefundable fee must be used.

Pro

This advisory referendum makes the GO Pass economically sustainable. If this initiative does not pass, there is no known University or non-University funding to continue the GO Pass program for 2008 and beyond. Although the fee would charge $108 to all off-campus students, with just 10 trips from campus to San Francisco or 14 trips from campus to San Jose each calendar year, the pass would pay for itself. Thus, the GO Pass provides a convenient means for students to access cultural and sporting events and connect to the vibrant life of San Francisco and San Jose. The GO Pass also provides transportation to nearby airports SFO and SJC. Additionally, the GO Pass provides an inexpensive and environmentally friendly means for students to commute to and from Stanford, whether it’s to attend classes or to reach internships or jobs in the Bay Area.

But beyond the benefits to each individual off-campus student, we all gain from promoting the use of public transportation and encouraging graduate students to establish good lifetime commuting habits. Providing the GO-Pass to graduate students will help to reduce the number of cars parked on campus, will help to relieve traffic congestion in the Bay Area, will help to reduce smog in our local community, and will help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the Stanford community.

Voting yes on the GO-Pass Advisory Referendum is a vote to make Stanford a greener place.

Con

This advisory referendum has off-campus students who don’t live near the Caltrain (who likely won’t use the pass often or at all) subsidizing students who chose to live near it (who will use it often). Since a refundable fee isn’t feasible, the program should not continue because it’s not clear that all off-campus students (who will be paying for the program) will benefit.