For the first few weeks of the fall semester, students who needed to purchase discount SEPTA tickets had to rely on word of mouth to know to get them from the office of Beth Hagovsky, director of Student Leadership & Activities.
In past years, tickets have been available at the Information Desk on the second floor of the Campion Student Center. Despite recent staffing delays, both the Student Leadership & Activities and the Off Campus Student Life websites continued to direct students to the Campion Information Desk to purchase tickets—even though no one was there.
Hagovsky said staffing changes over the summer that impacted Student Leadership & Activities caused a delay in the hiring of students to staff the desk.
“The person who oversaw our student worker/work study program is no longer at the university,” Hagovsky said.
Denine Super, the long-time administrative assistant for Student Leadership & Activities, was part of university-wide layoffs that took place earlier this year.
Nicole Morse and Megan Azzalina, both hired as assistant directors of Student Leadership & Activities, did not arrive on campus until just before the fall semester began.
“Obviously I was still trying to maintain some level of the process to keep it moving, but to be very honest, it’s a lot of work,” Hagovsky said.
The university sells discounted weekday Zone one and two tickets for $4. The same tickets cost $5.25 at a SEPTA box office, or $6 when purchased on the train. Weekend Zone one and two tickets are sold for $3 at the Campion Information Desk. They are $4.25 at a SEPTA box office or $5 on the train.
During the last academic year, Student Leadership & Activities sold 3,839 Zone one and two tickets, Hagovsky said.
Emily Bogansky ’19 said she struggled to purchase tickets in the first few weeks of school. When she could not find anyone at the Information Desk, she said she emailed Hagovsky to see if discounted SEPTA tickets were still being offered.
Hagovsky directed Bogansky to her office in Campion Student Center.
Bogansky said she tried several times before she was able to find Hagovsky in her office and purchase tickets.
“It’s really frustrating because I was constantly waiting for tickets,” Bogansky said.
David Erfle ’19 said he also tried three or four times to purchase tickets at the Campion Information Desk. He uses the discounted tickets to get to and from his internship in Center City.
“There was never someone there,” he said. “For a while there was no sign saying ‘go upstairs,’ so I didn’t know who to talk to.”
Bogansky, who is an RA, said she was especially bothered about the lack of communication over the tickets. As a “direct line of communication” with her residents, she needs to be able pass along information.
“I think that Student Life has a responsibility to send an email out to students to let them know when things are going to be available,” Bogansky said.
A sign appeared during the week of Sept. 17 directing students to staff members on the third floor of Campion Student Center. The sign was still unclear as to which staff members, other than Hagovsky, could sell tickets.
Hagovsky acknowledged the sign at the Campion Information Desk should have appeared earlier.
As of Sept. 24, students were in place to staff the Campion Information Desk during all shifts. Tickets can be purchased there Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Hawk Cash is currently not accepted as a form of payment, as the machine is broken and the company will not respond to requests for service, Hagovsky added.
