Stranded students miss crucial exam as bus leaves early
Several first-year arts students from University College Cork (UCC) were left stranded close to the campus after the early morning bus to the exam venue, several miles away, left early.
They missed their 9am exam — their first on day one of the 2007 end of year exams.
The Students’ Union (SU), which organises the exam bus service, confirmed that the parent of at least one affected student had complained. However, it is understood that several students missed the exam.
The SU hires two 30-seat buses to ferry students from a stop on the Western Road to the Neptune Stadium exam centre in Blackpool before every test during exam season.
The buses leave at 8.15am for 9am exams, and up to 45 minutes before the noon, 2pm and 4.30pm exams. But both buses were full shortly after 8am yesterday and they left the Western Road stop early.
When other students turned up to get the 8.15am bus, there was no one there to tell them the buses had already left.
Outgoing SU president Richie Morrisroe said it was a very unfortunate occurrence and he apologised to students affected. “But we can’t guarantee seats on the buses. The bus leaves when it’s full,” he said.
He said he has been in contact with the bus operator to make sure it won’t happen again.
The driver has been asked to remain at the Western Road stop until 8.15am to inform people that there won’t be any other buses.
Mr Morrisroe said having an exam centre up to five miles from UCC’s main campus was far from ideal.
“We don’t think it’s a good idea. We made representations to college authorities but it’s difficult to find a venue to house up to 300-400 students,” he said.
He warned students that if the bus isn’t there by 8.20am from today on, students should make their own way to the venue by either the number eight or number three bus, or by taxi.
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