To the editor:
In this age of fiscal crisis, it is nice to know that we have an agency at CSU with its eye on the bottom line. As public universities move to become for-profit businesses, University Parking Services has led the way in making money.
Unfortunately, many students do not have any money, and for that parking services has developed an innovative solution: simply tax any money the student earns at his or her job. For example, my roommate recently received a ticket at CSU for parking at the back of an empty metered lot. The fine was low ($14,) but he had no money.
So, for fear of a lien on his credit report, he took out a “payday loan” at over 11,348 percent interest. I was concerned for him, because he weighs 108 pounds yet is 6 feet tall and has no money for food– let alone any money to pay his mounting medical expenses (he’s very sick.) He told parking services about his ordeal, but the employees told him there was nothing they could do.
Parking services has very good prospects: As the housing shortage becomes more acute and students are forced into the outskirts of Fort Collins, more people will drive, causing even more overcrowding in parking lots (CHA-CHING!) It’s nice to know that parking services is already thinking like a business, even with its own PR campaign (the “stamp out hunger” program.) I hope parking services can save my friend.
Richard Maxwell
Senior, management major
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