NY State of Mind: Don’t Forget Your Shuttle Bus Manners

Quinnipiac prides itself on having 3 separate campuses, main campus (correctly known as Mount Carmel), York Hill and North Haven. Although in the past, both junior and senior residents have been allowed to drive down from York Hill to main campus, recently Quinnipiac installed the rule that only seniors can drive down to campus before 5 pm leaving the juniors to take the shuttle down to class.  Although it’s not a bad as many people make it out to be, as the busses fill up with students, there are a couple of rules of etiquette I think many QU students need to remember when riding the shuttle.

1. Can you hear me now?-Being that many students are shuttling it down from York Hill, please refrain from talking on your phone while on the shuttle.  It’s completely understandable that your mom calls and you quickly pick up the phone to tell her that you need to call her back, but I don’t need to hear you arguing with your boyfriend over the phone, or about how much work you have to do. Newsflash: we all go to school and have tons of work, and I really don’t care about your boyfriend problems. Save it for your common room.
2. “Mini-me, move down the bench”-Hate to break it to you, but those seats on the bus can actually fit 2 people, not just you and your book bag. There is no reason for you to take up the entire seat. Kindly place your book bag in your lap and move over so that everyone can sit. Remember, we’re all in this together and there’s no need for you to hog both seats.   
3. Remember what your mama taught ya-When walking off the shuttle, please mind your manners.  The bus drivers drive the same route every day and yes, sometimes they may be a little late, and may not stop exactly where you want them to, but remember to say ‘thank you.’  It’s a simple two words and you can say it as you’re walking off the bus.  Even if you don’t think they can hear you, it never hurts to be kind.
4. P-D-No- As you and your fellow Bobcats are traveling back from a night in New Haven and “transfer” from the New Haven shuttle to the York Hill shuttle, please refrain from eating your guy pal’s face.  No one wants to see that, especially when the only thing a lot of us want to do is go to bed after a night out.  There’s no need to show everyone that you are bringing someone home, believe me, we get it.
5. Take your trash with you-When traveling between campuses, sometimes you need to take your food with you, totally understandable, but please remember to take your garbage.  No one wants to sit in the shuttle with a bunch of wrappers underneath him or her and you’d be just as angry if it were you who had to sit in them.
6. Hey Freshman, walk to North Lot- One of the most frustrating things is walking out of class at 6:15 and seeing a bunch of students all waiting for the shuttle. What’s even more annoying, is figuring out that majority of them are freshmen and sophomores going to a sporting event at TD Bank. Instead of taking the York Hill shuttle, go to North Lot and take the direct shuttle from there. The athletic department arranges for shuttles to take the underclassmen directly to the game from Mt. Carmel. It’s extremely frustrating for juniors and seniors who actually live at York, to have to wait for another shuttle when the first one fills up with underclassmen who don’t even live there.

At the end of the day, by following these simple rules, being forced to take the shuttle will result in a happier ride for everyone.  Although right now it may not be the ideal situation, keeping your chin up and a smile on your face is the best option for you. Just remember, we’re all along for the same ride.