Students encouraged to vote yes to JETS

SGA Vice President Quan Poole is doing his part to help Jonesboro retain its public transit system, JETS.

The future of JETS is up to voters, who will decide on Nov. 4 whether the city should continue funding or phase out the three-year-old program. If voters approve, the system will become permanent.

Poole invited Pamela Alexander, a JETS spokeswoman, to speak to the SGA Tuesday and explain why JETS is so valuable to the city. Alexander told SGA members several heart-wrenching stories of community members whose jobs and well-being were saved by JETS. She told the story of a 41-year-old single mom who wrecked her car in an accident but, because of JETS, was able to keep her job across town.

Alexander and Poole explained that JETS is also essential for ASU students who don't own a car.

"Our international enrollment is growing, [and] we represent international students," Poole said, "so we took it upon ourselves to publicize it a little bit more, make people a little bit more aware."

Poole also explained that previous SGA administrations fought hard for this transit system. Therefore, he feels responsibility to help make it a permanent fixture in the community.

Since JETS' implementation in 2005, Jonesboro has spent $130,000 on the program each year. That money is then supplemented with federal grant money.

Alexander said that voting "yes" for continuation of the program would not be voting for higher taxes; it would simply ensure that $130,000 goes back into the program.

Poole said he realizes not all ASU students are registered to vote in Craighead County, but he hopes to make those who are, aware of the situation.

In other business Tuesday, the SGA swore in four new senators to fill vacant seats in the senate. Morgan Fincher, a sophomore mathematics major from Jonesboro, filled the non-traditional senate seat. Ashley Hall, an English graduate student from North Little Rock, filled the graduate student seat. Brielan Smiechowski, a senior Biology major from Canada, filled the international student seat, and Dieresha Smith, a sophomore criminology major from Morrilton, filled a senator at large seat.