The Shuttle Bus Committee Wednesday night discussed recent vandalism of the Panther Express as well as strategic plans for the system’s future.

Ronnie Deedrick, committee chair, said four or five windows were smashed by vandals in a shuttle bus last week.

Dean Johns, a representative for H & H Transportation, said the vandals “just take their fists and bust out the windows.”

Deedrick said the windows were broken during a late night route, and the committee will look for ways to curb vandalism on the shuttle bus.

During the late night route many students use the shuttle bus as an alternative to drinking and driving, Deedrick said. “It’s safer for the student [to ride the shuttle bus] rather than walking home drunk,” Deedrick said. “It is living up to its expectations.”

Zarmaine Gardner, a senior history major, said the shuttle bus is an “efficient and trustworthy means of transportation.” “Students without cars have an opportunity to use the buses to get to where they need to go on and off campus,” he said.

The committee has also been working to accomplish goals of a strategic plan, surveys and route assessment.

Deedrick said the committee will be taking surveys to get students’ opinions because they want to get a feel of what students want.

“About 1,000 students use the shuttle bus everyday,” Deedrick said.

Johns also noted the high turn out.

“The students are packing the buses early in the morning…as early as 7 a.m,” he said.

The Shuttle Bus Committee meets every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Student Activities Center in the University Union.