Public money shouldn’t fund private enterprise

The student Safety and Security Council voted to give Buzz Rides, a for-profit company, $15,000 in student fee money. This appropriation of student funds to private enterprise is unethical and violates Student Congress’ financial regulations. Student Congress should redirect this money to the non-profit SafeWalk.

Student Congress asserts that money from student fees should go toward organizations that solely benefit students. Section 331 of Student Congress’ financial regulations prohibit student money going to organizations when a) it promotes individual gain or b) goes beyond immediate operational needs.

A for-profit organization’s business model is simple: Take in more money than it spends, and divide the excess among investors. That’s how Buzz Ride works. They receive funding above their need, which is then used for personal gain.

Buzz Rides means well by offering late night rides to students, but private companies also provide this service. Students can take a taxi or tax-supported Chapel Hill Transit home. The taxi is for-profit and charges users for its service, while the bus is a government-operated service. If Buzz Rides continues to operate under a for-profit business model, then it should compete with the taxis. But it must not continue receiving both private and public funds.

Last week, Student Congress indicated there wasn’t room for two late-night transportation services in the budget. SafeWalk keeps students safe in numbers by hiring people to escort students, both on and off campus, to their houses. Student Congress cut its funding—essentially declaring a death sentence.

The service differs from Buzz Ride in that it’s a non-profit, was created by Student Congress in 2010 and provides a service that doesn’t exist elsewhere in Chapel Hill. No private company exists that walks students home after dark because private companies wouldn’t profit from this business. Students would likely risk walking alone rather than directly paying someone to escort them home.

SafeWalk’s mission is aligned with Student Congress’ financial guidelines. It provides a beneficial service that’s not provided elsewhere. Using student money for SafeWalk makes sense.

UNC and Chapel Hill have reported several acts of violence over the past year. It’s reassuring for Student Congress to support services that protect students against assaults and criminals. But supporting the pocketbooks of a private company is senseless.