Two months ago, the University Board of Regents imposed a 60 day moratorium on discussions between the University and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority on the possible bus "partnership." As the moratorium now comes to an end, the University and AATA will be able to hammer out a final deal.

The regents, however, should be wary of any moves by the University to hand over bus routes to the AATA and must be watchful of further discussions.

At two public hearings last month, representatives from the AATA and University Transportation Services painted the "partnership" as a win-win situation for students and the greater Ann Arbor community.

But is this plan win-win? Has the University been forthcoming with its plans?

Documents obtained by The Michigan Daily though the Freedom of Information Act and from other sources, tell a different story. The University began discussions with the AATA two years ago. But it wasn"t until last month that the University wanted to hear what the public had to say and that was a request from the regents. The answer from University administration: It"s always difficult to decide when the best time to release information to the general public. That"s not a good answer.

In an internal Transportation Services memo obtained by the Daily in February, the University said that it would rather experiment with student bus routes than faculty bus routes. Faculty would not tolerate a decline in service with the AATA, the memo said.

But in the University"s current plan, only three low capacity shuttle routes would be turned over to the AATA. A far cry from a merger, the administration contends. In fact, University representatives have urged the Daily to cease the use of the word "merger" in describing the deal.

Although Phase I of the deal might not look like a merger since high capacity routes like Northwood, Commuter and Bursley-Baits are not going to be touched, what about the future?

According to documents obtained by the Daily, these routes too are being considered to be handed over to the AATA in upcoming years. That indeed looks like a "merger."

Has the University examined all the possibilities of a cooperative "partnership" with the AATA? It seems that more comprehensive studies are needed.

The University contends the approximately 70 percent of the student body that lives off campus would be excellent candidates to benefit from a University-paid unlimited bus pass. But the majority of that 70 percent live within walking distance of campus. Students, for the most part, would not use the AATA to reach campus, and just like now, would rarely want to use an unlimited pass to travel to suburban shopping developments like Arborland, Traver Village or Westgate. For the financially conscience University, that could be a waste of money.

The regents must proceed with caution and should, independently, carefully consider each aspect of the deal. The regents not only must be wary of the financial stability of the deal, but also the mass student oppostion to the cooperative "partnership."