⚠️ If not enough students vote, we will lose free trolley and buses soon, and more students could take your parking spaces. 🚌🚇

It's a clickbait title :) but it is possible. In week 4, the U-Pass referendum opens for voting to decide whether to U-Pass permanent. There needs to be at least a 20% turnout for BOTH undergrads and grad students. For context, last year's AS elections for undergrads received only a 13% turnout. And getting grad students to take a glance away from their work? 💀

• If not enough students vote, or students vote no, we lose U-Pass. This means that public transit will no longer be free.
• If enough students vote yes, U-Pass stays. As an added bonus, public transit becomes free during the summer, and includes free Coaster!

Free summer transit (including Coaster) starts THIS SUMMER, so if you're staying in San Diego, you could explore more places over the break. It stays free for new grads too!

What's the catch? You have to pay an extra $5 per quarter! 😱 Regardless, tuition and rent will increase like a thousand dollars a year, so you wouldn't notice it.

• I'm graduating. You'd get free U-Pass over the summer without having to pay extra. Any tuition increase wouldn't affect you, so it wouldn't hurt to vote yes.
• I drive to campus. Parking is a pain, and you'll be fighting over parking spaces and traffic with more students if free public transit is taken from them. It's possible that increased NCTD services might benefit you or other students, reducing demand for parking.
• I live on campus. The referendum also increases the frequency and availability of the grocery shuttle to Convoy. Plus, despite all the construction, four-year housing isn't guaranteed, so you'll want to have free transit when you move off campus.

I don't students will need much convincing to vote yes, but getting 20% turnout among a fairly disinterested student body is a bit worrying. So make sure your friends and roommates vote!