Bus, class hours clash

Every day, EWU students such as myself use the STA to travel between Spokane’s bus plaza and the school’s Cheney campus. Though the availability of bus service is adequate, the last chance to catch a ride home from campus in the evenings leaves at 9:17 p.m.

Upon completing my registration for summer quarter this week, I realized that my senior capstone will be scheduled until 10 p.m., much later than the bus is willing to wait.

“The course scheduling time, 4:45 p.m. to 10 p.m., is the required time schedule for night classes in the summer,” Communication Department Chair Patricia Chantrill said. “The times vary slightly for courses taught during the regular academic year, but the ending time is at 10 p.m. then, too.”

This situation forces bus-riding students to leave almost an hour early from these classes, which may have a negative effect on their grades and quality of education.

For a “commuter college” such as EWU, which lies a considerable distance from the nearest major population center, a great number of students rely on STA to get to and from class. EWU and STA should work more closely in the future to avoid scheduling classes that fall outside of STA’s hours of operation.

Rishi A. Saez

Spokane