The auction process for an old van owned by the Government of the Student Body has begun after a bill approving the purchase of a new van was passed Wednesday.

GSB is discarding a 2000 Dodge Caravan because of depreciation standards. The van will have more than 75,000 miles when the new van arrives.

GSB President Sophia Magill said it is important to keep the fleet up to date.

“The reason we have vans is to provide student organizations the chance to rent vehicles,” Magill said. “We need to be able to provide these services; it is for the best interest of the students.”

David Strom, manager of ISU transportation services, said the Department of Transportation in Ames will handle the auction of the van GSB will be discarding.

“The auction will be open to the public,” Strom said.

These auctions usually take place twice a year. The next one will be June 4, at the Department of Transportation site, 1020 S. 4th St. There will be approximately 30 to 35 vehicles from Iowa State for auction at that time, Strom said.

The two other regent schools, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, will also send vehicles to the auction along with other various state agencies. The auctions usually include more than 200 vehicles, he said.

The bidding process for the purchase of a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan will begin in October. A six-month period will follow for the accepting of the bids.

The current GSB fleet of vehicles includes nine vehicles.

Peg Highland, clerk for campus organizations, said the GSB fleet is almost constantly checked out.

“Every weekend, the nine vehicles, for the most part, are out all the time,” Highland said. “There have been times when we have not had enough vehicles.”

The use of the vehicles slows down during the summertime, she said. Not as many organizations need transportation during the summer because of fewer students attending classes.

In order to use GSB vehicles, the renter must be a registered ISU student. The vehicles must be checked out for conferences, competitions or other businesslike events, Highland said.

A fee is charged for each day the vehicle is rented, but once a certain mileage is reached, the cost of the vehicle is computed by mileage, she said.