I definitely understand about not being able to appropriate funds in the budget for buses, however...

I can't even fathom the thought of having any of the collegians drive themselves and their guests to and from the event. It's probably because hey -- that's my name on those damn contracts and if anything unfortunate happened, that was MY ass on the line. Chalk it up to "something I never really understood and thought was unfair when I was a collegian...but it all made sense once I became the responsible chaperone and advisor on duty."

Buses don't have to have the plush seats and air conditioning. My chapter's used the campus shuttle buses in the past and when finances were tough, they chartered yellow school buses that didn't break the bank.