The Facts: The Red Terror bus service transports students from campus to football and basketball games and is a very popular service.
Our Opinion: Operation of the Red Terror should be passed from Student Government to Transportation to ensure stability in the future.
The Red Terror game day bus service — which takes students from campus to football and basketball games — is the only way many student fans can attend events at Carter-Finley Stadium and the RBC Center. Student Government – which operates the Red Terror buses – is trying to get N.C. State Transportation to take over operation in the future.
This would be a positive change because of the very nature of SG’s internal operations. Unlike a campus department, Student Government changes hands every year. Putting inexperienced people in charge of a serious task like the Red Terror is a risky strategy. The current administration has done a good job of managing the buses but they wisely recommend the takeover by Transportation to ensure future stability. According to SG, this year the Red Terror program is on budget and without any serious incidents.
This leaves a more fundamental question: why does Student Government have to provide funds and operate the Red Terror buses in the first place? SG started the bus system because students demanded a game day transit system and Transportation was not willing to take on the task. When Student Government implemented the Red Terror about five years ago, it was projected to be cost-effective enough for SG to run one bus from its treasury. The program has proven to be effective and popular.
The funding for the Red Terror comes from both Student Government and Athletics. Last year, Athletics claimed it has an operating reserve of $1,175,000. While times are tough for every department on campus and Athletics surely will find ways to wisely use the reserve, it still could lend more of a hand with the Red Terror. With such funds at its disposal, you would think it could spare $14,000 to transport direct financial supporters to its games where they spend money on drinks, food and memorabilia to support its programs.