With spring break just a few short weeks away, many students are scrambling to find sufficient transportation to and from Gambier. Due to the efforts of Kaya Karibi-Whyte ’23, those from the New York City area will now have a viable option: the Kenyon Shuttle U Home.

According to Karibi-Whyte, this shuttle costs $90 for one-way trips and $170 for the round-trip journey. The bus will board at the Post Office starting at 7:20 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, and arrive at New York Penn Station by 5:15 p.m. On the return trip, the bus will board at 8:20 a.m. on March 15 for a 9 a.m. departure. In addition, the shuttle will take two 15-minute stops along the way on both trips, one in DuBois, Penn. and another in White Haven, Penn. Students will have the option to be let off at either one of these destinations.

A New Jersey resident herself, Karibi-Whyte was frustrated by the hassle of finding efficient, reasonably cheap transportation back home.

“I wanted to get home for fall break, but it was so much effort and expense,” she said. “I heard from upperclassman that there used to be a bus a couple of years ago that would take kids to the New York area, so I was like ‘okay, we should definitely do that.’”

Karibi-Whyte then contacted the company that is in charge of shuttle services at Oberlin College. “I gave them information about dates and times, and they were willing to work with us,” she said.

Despite receiving many responses to her initial interest email, Karibi-Whyte says that not a lot of students are buying tickets, which is worrying because the shuttle system needs at least 25 people in order for it to operate.

“I can’t send out [all-student emails] because it’s a business,” she said. “I think 25 is doable, it’s just about getting people aware of it early enough. I’ve been trying to send out targeted emails to certain people, and speak to people when I see them. I have some posters going up as well.”

If all goes smoothly, New York City will not be the only destination for future break periods.

“Ideally, if we can get enough interest, we want to start sending these shuttles to D.C. and Chicago,” Karibi-Whyte said. “I’m also working with [Assistant Director of Housing Operations] Jenn Bermudez to try to get the service on the transportation page on the Kenyon website.”

For more information, contact Kaya Karibi-Whyte at karibiwhyte1@kenyon.edu, or go to www.kenyoncollegeshuttleuhome.eventsmart.com to book your ticket.