NIC: New car raises eyebrows

Driving through the North Idaho College campus, I noticed a security vehicle in one of the parking lots. It was very a new Subaru XV Crosstrek compact SUV. I first noticed this vehicle last year. The Crosstrek was introduced as a 2013 model so this one isn’t very old. The base model starts at $21,000, according to the Parker Subaru website.

Why does the college need a brand new or nearly new vehicle for its security fleet? You might ask why I am bothered by this. I am a student at NIC and one thing we regularly hear of is the continuing need to raise tuition. Prices are going up on everything and tuition goes up too, but seeing brand new security vehicles that are usually parked isn’t good money management, in my opinion. Granted, I don’t know if the car was purchased at a discount or if it might have been donated.

I submit that it would be better to purchase reliable used vehicles for campus use instead of new or nearly new. Reliable used vehicles are plentiful. They do not suffer from drastic depreciation right after purchase. Most importantly they do not give the student body (even if I am the only one who noticed) the impression that money is being wasted on new cars. It also concerns me that a “security” vehicle spends so much time parked and not patrolling, but that is a topic for another letter.

JASON WOOD

Coeur d’Alene