The Hofstra University Trolley is controversial. Many dislike its price tag, while others find problems with its appearance or its inaccessibility to the student body; some of us want a ride, and some of us hate that we can’t get one. The trolley, though definitely nice to look at, is better suited as an admissions tool than as transportation for our student body.

The biggest argument for opening the trolley to students is its cost: if our tuition dollars paid for that trolley, why can’t we ride it? Although exact figures are not publicly available, refurbished buses can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, meaning Hofstra’s trolley is likely within that range.

However, that price tag is the strongest argument against regular use. Upkeep of any vehicle is expensive, and upkeep of a custom-made bus is likely even more so. Because of that, minimizing its use is key to minimizing its costs. If the trolley drove regular bus routes, in a matter of years, it would burn more tuition dollars in maintenance than any cool-looking ride is worth. Plus, when used exclusively in admissions, the trolley is a moneymaker. Hopefully, prospective students are drawn in by the trolley, get hooked by the school and commit to becoming tuition-paying students – making back the trolley’s costs and then some.

Ultimately, the trolley’s allure to current Hofstra students implies that it’s attracting prospective students, too. College admissions are a difficult game, especially now, and Hofstra needs every boost it can get to not only stay alive but also continue offering the support it gives its student body. Keeping the trolley out of regular use increases the time it can spend attracting new students and decreases its operating costs, maximizing the amount of money it can make and minimizing the amount of your tuition dollars it takes.