By Christian Wiloejo

Fordham University is located in one of the most prominent cities in the world. With a campus located in the Bronx, on Fordham Road, and another in Manhattan, on 60th Street near Lincoln Center, Fordham University created an inter-campus transportation system for students called the Ram Van.

Many students at the campus in the Bronx want a convenient way to go into the city. The Ram Van transportation service is the solution.

However, the quality of the Ram Van is not as good as expected. The vans they use are old fashioned, not maintained properly and lack comfort. Students are given tickets for Ram Van rides to classes at opposite campuses or college-credited internships.

However, other students who want to use this service have to pay a fee of $3.50 per trip.

Considering the amount of money we have to pay for tuition as students, the trip to the city should be free, or at least cheaper than the current price. This is especially relevant to international students like me, because many can not receive any scholarships, unlike a large number of our peers.

According to USAToday, “Nationally, regular unleaded gasoline currently averages about $2.12 a gallon, down 46 cents from just four weeks ago and $1.01 cheaper than year-ago levels.” As gas prices go down, the price of a Ram Van ticket should do the same.

There is no reason for Fordham to keep the price of its intercampus transportation as high as it is currently.

As more and more students want to travel between the Bronx and Manhattan, Fordham must realize that intercampus transportation is something it has to prioritize.

The necessity derives from the fact that having both a traditional campus and a close proximity to the city is part of Rose Hill’s allure. Fordham consistenly reminds us of this through their repetition of “New York is my campus. Fordham is my school.” How can we enjoy our campus, as the slogan states, if our limited budgets as students prevents us from exploring it?

Furthermore, considering that there are better transportation options that students are able to use, such as the subway and the Metro North, the university should try to make the Ram Van the best possible method of transportation to and from Manhattan by improving the quality of service. The Metro North, in comparison to the Ram Van, is much more comfortable and the price is not that much different.

Looking at that alone, the Metro North is a better option for students to use to go to the city.

Considering all this, the university should consider making the Ram Van free for students. If that is not possible, due to the high cost of operating the Ram Van service, Fordham should at least make the price of tickets cheaper. Fordham Univeristy is one of the most expensive colleges in the United States and should share the wealth from the profits gained from students’ tuition.

If Fordham refuses to step up its game when it comes to intercampus transportation, it could lose its appeal of having the best of both worlds.
Prospective and current students alike could be turned off by the high cost and lackluster quality of the Ram Van in its current state. Indeed, it should be a top priority.