Monday night Student Senate passed a resolution that shows its opposition to the new UW System policy declaring no one under 25 years old is permitted to drive a 15-passenger fleet van.

A UW System memo dated May 20 informed schools of the policy, giving fewer than two months for implementation.

Transportation Safety Affairs chairman Kevin Funk said the resolution was developed because the policy was pushed on schools and it isn’t the best solution to the problem.

The 15-passenger vans are used in part for course-related field trips, spring break trips and club sports.

The UW System memo stated that recent studies have shown the vans to be unsafe under certain conditions so the policy was developed to address the safety concerns.

Student Senate’s resolution said it “appreciates the safety concerns” but “this interim policy will create a new set of safety concerns due to an increased volume of vehicles that will be required to accomplish the transportation needs of UW-EC students.”

Student Services Director Nate Keiser said he supported the legislation because the policy hurts groups that have relied on students to drive the vans.

Sometimes the vans are used for field trips, and with few students being 25 years old or older, there could be pressure on a coach or an organization leader who is old enough to drive long distances that may be exhausting.

The resolution goes on to say the Senate urges the UW System to lift the policy until an accommodating alternative is reached.

No alternative solutions were mentioned, but the resolution stated “the UW System should continue to study alternatives to the 15-passenger van that balances safety concerns with student transportation needs.”

The resolution will be passed on to administrative officials at UW-Eau Claire as well as to the UW System president, Katherine Lyall.