Penn State's Graduate Student Association is working on an initiative to offer unlimited on- and off-campus CATA bus services to students for a fee of $5 per month.

Called "Ride for Five," the offer is currently available to faculty members who agree to not buy parking permits.

"The incentive is to stop people from driving and parking in the core of campus," CATA General Manager Hugh Mose said. "CATA sells the monthly passes for $40. The university subsidizes $35."

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) would like this service extended to all graduate and undergraduate students.

"Once you have this pass, you can ride for unlimited times," GSA President Raghavan Balaji said. "Considering gas prices and congestion, this is a good idea."

Proposed by the prior GSA under past president Brian Borawski, Balaji said the idea was discussed last year but will be feasible in the very near future.

"We should see some results soon," Balaji said. "We have the endorsement of various officials. Our support has increased tenfold, and we are ready to make a move. Last year, there was the idea, but there wasn't the gumption."

CATA Service Development Manager Eric Bernier said CATA is ready to comply with GSA's initiative, given university approval.

"We will fully support their efforts, but they have to convince Penn State of that," he said. "They pay the fare so the people don't have to pay a fare. When I went to school it cost a dime to ride the loop."

After talking to Eva Pell, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school, Balaji said he was told to get the support of undergraduates before further pursuing his initiative.

"We are going to conduct polls using our own funds," he said. "It is important that we make students aware of what we are doing."

Some students agree that the idea would make their lives much easier.

"Trying to find exact change -- it's such a pain" Danny Brawner (senior-Italian) said.

Balaji said his discussion with Mark Wardell, the associate dean of graduate student affairs, Philip Burlingame, associate vice president of student affairs and Pell was productive in the financial planning process.

Wardell, Burlingame and Pell could not be reached for comment before press time.

"They thought it was a very good idea," he said. "There's a lot of work involved, so this may take a few weeks."

The university currently pays $1.4 million dollars for the operation of the blue and white loop, which is offered for free. GSA's addition to the free services could cause a raise in the student activity fee if approved, Balaji said.

"I'm guessing it could be an additional fee within the student activity fee," Balaji said. "But it might be possible to channel some extra money and still keep the fee low."

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) may also join in the effort to get the CATA initiative approved.

"USG is willing to look into any and all initiatives that we think will better Penn State," USG President Nick Stathes said. "Right now, we are learning about whether this is feasible and whether it's something that will gain undergraduate support."

Though the free busing would be new to on-campus residents, various apartment complexes in State College currently offer the service to tenants. After GSA's near dissolution last year, Balaji said he is convinced this week will mark his organization's return for student advocacy.

"One of the reasons we almost disappeared was because of mindless idealism on the part of the previous administration," Balaji said. "We are back, and we are back with vengeance."