UNK’s Student Senate has partnered with UNK Global to create transportation for international students. The van transportation will start from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Parking Lot 13.
Hernan Varges, a student senator, along with Chance Bell, the assistant vice chancellor of UNK Global, had the idea to get international student transportation started again.
“The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of UNK Student Senate led this initiative, along with Dr. Chance Bell of UNK Global to identify and address barriers that our students face from an inclusion and belonging standpoint,” Vargas said.
In the past, transportation was available for international students until budget cuts and staff reductions diminished the program to zero. After speaking with a variety of international students, Vargas saw an evident need for transportation for students who cannot bring a car or come from larger cities that would use public transportation.
Vargas then approached Bell to create a bill to allocate funding from the Student Senate. Senate Bill 2024-11 was passed, which granted Bell, Vargas and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee $1,500. The money will be spread out anywhere from 10-15 weeks to use for UNK van reservations, mileage, refueling and drive payment.
The vans fulfill both long and short-term goals established by UNK Global and the Student Senate.
“In the short-term, we hope it helps international students get what they want and need with the potential to build a sense of community,” Bell said. “But also in the long-term, we hope to partner with a group in the community to create a public form of transportation for students.”
Bell and Vargas are in the works to figure out winter and summer breaks to keep the program going.
Madisyn Simms, a student at UNK from British Columbia, Canada, will be using the transportation once it starts.
“I have been studying in America for four years without a car, and in my first year, it was a big concern about how easy it would be to get a ride or find a way to stores around town, especially when I was still building friendships and scared to ask people for a ride,” Simms said.
Now, with a program such as this, Simms, along with students who cannot find a ride, can access Walmart, Target and other grocery stores and restaurants without worry or charges.
Transportation to stores such as Walmart and Target is necessary for students who do not have a car, especially in winter. Bell and Vargas understand that need.
“I hope people realize that it is not as easy as one might think to walk to the grocery store to get the things they need,” Bell said. “The restarting of this program is a step forward with UNK to see the Student Senate recognize the need to connect with international students and learn about their cultures. They need to feel welcome within our community.”
Students can contact UNK Global or the Student Senate for more information about the transportation.
