2008 Woodie Awards
Zipcar program revoked after students "voted with their feet"
Heather Steeves
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
On Aug. 21 the acting president of the student body, with the consensus of the Student Government (SG) executive board, terminated the Zipcar program, a rental-car service on campus.
James Lyons, the then acting president, said the Zipcar program was not utilized enough to justify the expenses, even when SG cut the program from two cars, a 2007 Mazda 3 and a Toyota Prius, to just the hybrid.
"We ended the Zipcar program because it wasn't serving students the way we hoped it would," Lyons said. "We weren't meeting our goals or Zipcar's corporate goals."
Zipcar, a Web-based car rental company, leases vehicles to organizations. Students and faculty can then sign up to use the vehicle for a fee of $7 per hour. The program did not require the driver to pay for gas or insurance. The program is free to the organization if it meets the usage requirements. The University of Maine was not meeting the approximate six hour per day quota. This meant SG had to pay more than $1,000 each month - more than originally allocated by the General Student Senate.
"As of July 2008, Zipcar costs have totaled $11,542.15, which is $3,542.15 more than what was allocated to Zipcar throughout the year and $6,542.15 more than what was originally allocated for the program. These numbers do not include Zipcar costs for Aug. 2008, nor do they include Zipcar program cancellation costs," vice president of Financial Affairs for SG Justin Labonte said.
"Students voted with their feet - it wasn't being used as much as it should." Lyons said 120 people signed up for the program, but most of the participants did not regularly use the service.
Lyons explained that Maine was not conducive to the Zipcar program, which has gained popularity in cities.
Derek Mitchell, the former vice president of Student Entertainment who brought Zipcars on campus, disagrees. Mitchell cited Bates, The University of New England and Bowdoin as examples that Zipcar can work in Maine. "They all have campuses a quarter of our size and they are supporting two cars each," Mitchell said.
James Lyons, the then acting president, said the Zipcar program was not utilized enough to justify the expenses, even when SG cut the program from two cars, a 2007 Mazda 3 and a Toyota Prius, to just the hybrid.
"We ended the Zipcar program because it wasn't serving students the way we hoped it would," Lyons said. "We weren't meeting our goals or Zipcar's corporate goals."
Zipcar, a Web-based car rental company, leases vehicles to organizations. Students and faculty can then sign up to use the vehicle for a fee of $7 per hour. The program did not require the driver to pay for gas or insurance. The program is free to the organization if it meets the usage requirements. The University of Maine was not meeting the approximate six hour per day quota. This meant SG had to pay more than $1,000 each month - more than originally allocated by the General Student Senate.
"As of July 2008, Zipcar costs have totaled $11,542.15, which is $3,542.15 more than what was allocated to Zipcar throughout the year and $6,542.15 more than what was originally allocated for the program. These numbers do not include Zipcar costs for Aug. 2008, nor do they include Zipcar program cancellation costs," vice president of Financial Affairs for SG Justin Labonte said.
"Students voted with their feet - it wasn't being used as much as it should." Lyons said 120 people signed up for the program, but most of the participants did not regularly use the service.
Lyons explained that Maine was not conducive to the Zipcar program, which has gained popularity in cities.
Derek Mitchell, the former vice president of Student Entertainment who brought Zipcars on campus, disagrees. Mitchell cited Bates, The University of New England and Bowdoin as examples that Zipcar can work in Maine. "They all have campuses a quarter of our size and they are supporting two cars each," Mitchell said.
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