Moesha Facey
Mount students, get ready for an exciting new chapter in your campus life! On August 23, 2024, the Mount purchased three new vans dedicated to student life.
The Dean of Students, Adrienne White, who stands as our strong advocate for students’ needs, was interviewed on this exciting development.
She informed that the initiative for the vans arose from a need she identified among students for more outdoor weekend activities. White said, “When I started to engage with students, I realized there’s not much to do on the weekends. Students don’t have cars, and transportation was our biggest barrier.” On Aug. 23, White had a meeting with President Joyce to voice this need, and “literally the next day,” White exclaimed, funding was secured to address this issue, and the vans were purchased.
“These vans are set to open a world of possibilities for students and give them the campus experience they need and deserve,” White said. The vans will be freely accessible to all student bodies who wish to organize trips and events.
They will also enable the school to host trips for students with secured transportation. White already has some ideas in mind for students with the new vans. She said, “Can we go to a Nats’ game or a Ravens game? How fun would it be to take a group of students up to Ski Liberty? Some students have never skied before. Let’s have some first-time skiers’ adventure.” “The goal is to create lasting memories and unique experiences for students,” White expressed.
In adherence to safety guidelines, students who wish to use the vans must take an online safety course and a behind-the-wheel course. Additionally, students need to present their driving record to public safety and provide a copy of their license. “I want to make sure that students are safe and comfortable driving the vans and being in vans with other students,” the Dean emphasized.
The reservation process for the vans is currently still being finalized but as for now students reserving vans will need to provide details such as who is checking the van out and the destination. “It’s important that the university knows where students are going in case anything happens,” the Dean noted.
Once the coordination is approved, students will receive confirmation to take the vans to their desired location. The Dean informed that student groups are already requesting to use the vans; “It is exciting to get emails from student groups that want to reserve the vans already, for January. And I’m like, absolutely, this is what they’re here for,” White explained.
Mount students are excited about Dean’s efforts to make the Mount livelier for them. Caroline Watson (C’28) said, “It will allow us to have more people go places.” Sadaf Sharifi (C’28) said, “Students could be able to use vans, it is helping a lot more than to be using shuttles.”
White said, “The student voice means everything. I always say, I don’t have a job without students, so I’m happy to advocate and support the needs of students.”
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