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

I had the honor, if you will, of attending the CSU vs. University of Colorado-Boulder game on Saturday. Let me say that regardless of whether we won or lost, I can truly say that I am proud to be a CSU RAM!

We sat in the CU end zone and had to deal with some very immature CU alumni and fans who were much older and ruder than us. I know that we did nothing wrong, but the fans at Folsom had no respect for us and showed it from the moment we entered the stadium to the moment we left.

I was stunned to see that we couldn’t take down the rival Buffs, but I saw the team after the loss, and I learned everything that I needed to know about being a CSU Ram.

The CSU faithful who were still there cheered the team on as they left the field, and the tears of Justin Holland, who poured his heart and soul out on that field, showed me that we will always have more guts and heart than any of the CU Buffs will ever dream of having. I stand by the fact that I would rather be a CSU Ram and lose every single game against CU than be a CU Buff.

I am able to rest easy tonight after the very tough loss, because I know when I wake up tomorrow morning and every morning after that “I am proud to be a CSU Ram” no matter what!

Justin Oliver

Senior technical journalism major

Last Thursday, the last night of the Republican National Convention, I attended a meeting with the CSU College Republicans. We watched George W. Bush’s speech and talked about how we could help the campaign.

Walking back to my car, I saw an old friend. When she saw me walking with my Bush/Cheney poster, she ran up, grabbed it out of my hands and ripped it in half. She then asked me how I could vote for a man who “hated everyone but the rich.” I asked her if she wanted to hear my reasons, and she said no, but maybe sometime after a few drinks. I guess the only way people can hear Republican blathering is if they’re slightly buzzed.

What I want to know is whether this is what debating with Liberals has become?

When I do talk to Liberals, the main argument is that Bush is stupid/Hitler/the devil. Have any of these people actually talked to a Republican or tried to understand where Republicans are coming from?

The Liberal party preaches a platform of tolerance – tolerance to everyone except Republicans that is.

I remember the days when two people with opposing views could sit down over a pint and talk politics without getting mad or losing respect. It seems the narrow-minded hatred for one man is getting in the way of the old ideals of a rational conversation based on common sense. So if you see my truck, just go ahead and break the windshield and you guys can have the damn sticker. I’ll keep my dignity.

Brian Johanson

Junior, technical journalism

Fort Collins