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Show UNIVERSITY Journal PACE ) 5 Thursday, February 26, 2004 EDITOR Carli Warr, X 586-548- 8 Either the Athletic Department is recklessly allowing the baseball team to travel in unsafe vans or the players are just whining that they dont ride in luxury. According to an article in the University Journal Monday, the SUU baseball team travels to away games in a caravan of vans. Players have said they think the vans are not as safe as a chartered bus. . We agree with their concerns. Having a coach drive back from Las Vegas late into the night is hardly a replacement for a professional driver who is accustomed to 3 a.m. road . conditions. However, we give the benefit of the doubt to the Athletic Department for wanting the optimal circumstances for its own players. It seems improbable that if it were possible, the Athletic Department wouldnt send its players in buses, which aside from safety issues look more professional. We encourage the department to search for ways to provide the safest transportation for SUUs athletes within the financial circumstances. We recognize the monetary shortages burdening the university. If SUU was a larger school, like some in the northern regions of the state, then it would be reasonable to demand a chartered bus. Unfortunately, SUU is not, and it must make do with what resources it has. Aside from rumors of close calls of accidents while traveling to games and other activities, the Motor Pool provides safe vehicles which are well maintained. Although the buses may be safer, the vans are not unsafe. We encourage the Athletic Department to pursue ways to make the transportation as economically safe as possible. Coaches should not be fraught with driving vehicles. They were hired to coach just like the athletes were meant to play, not drive. It couldnt hurt to ask if community members, possibly retired professional drivers, would like to volunteer their time to drive the team to its games. We don't blame the players for being concerned with safety issues, and we recommend they continue to monitor the idea of getting a bus. A bus would not only improve safety conditions, but would improve team unity, which is important for any roup who must interact continually. We hope that acquiring a bus for the baseball team to use is in the works. The opinion expressed above is the collective perspective of the University Journals editorial board. The editorial .fpoard meets every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. in Room 176C of the Sharwan Smith Center. To put it simply, hate SUU student housing! What does a student have to do around here to get officials to address ongoing maintenance problems? I have lived in Building F of Manzanita Court for the past two months. I literally take cold showers every day despite my repeated requests to the resident adviser, hall director and the director of housing to fix the problem. I am exiting the shower with icicles for extremities rather than working body parts. I thought living on campus would be a good I can idea because of its unique location walk to class and not fight for parking, and it includes paid utilities. I had no idea that I would be sacrificing my comfort and feeling in my appendages for what thought was a good deal. Living on campus is like my childhood if I want a experience with the Bey Scouts hot shower, I have to boil my water. Its a good thing I took survival training. Now, back to the subject of walking to my classes. By doing so. I have to trample through the mud. Why? Because the grass has mysteriously disappeared, and the sidewalks are missing sections of cement! (Check by my building.) Lets not forget the outdated advertising on the housing Web page. About the volleyball courts: there arent any. My hunger for volleyball remains upappeased, thanks to the new Ecclcs Living and Learning Center (which, by the way, is overpriced). The purpose of this column is to address my concerns with campus housing and to let students know that living on campus is not all its cracked up to be. I am sure living on campus has its positive points, but my experience has proven otherwise. I paid my rent in advance for the semester and deserve prompt completion of maintenance requests. Its not fair that 1 am required to fulfil my contractual obligations, and yet housing officials can be lax on fulfilling theirs. My advice, friends, is to avoid campus housing and research your options before you sign your soul away to crappy service! Authors note: After threatening housing officials with a lawsuit, I am happy to report the shower has been fixed. 1 - 1 - Thumbs Up Thumbs Down students who dont attend Mardi Gras Friday. To STAB for extending Mardi Gras until 6 a.m. so students i. To ;; can get the most of their money and party 'til the break in " of dawn. ' students who didnt vote the Democratic primary To Tuesday and those don't get involved with the election their service fundraiser for multiple sclerosis. To Power 91 for process. UNIVERSITY J 4OtftHRN Luke Rennells is a photographer for the University Journal. He may be reached at Irenneilstff suuournal.coni. Election Day is right on our doorstep. In nine months, we will elect a new president, as well as a new Utah governor. Indeed, now is the time to contemplate the political upbringing of our hungry society, meaning we are hungry for governmental solutions for a lot issues. There are a wide range of political issues that our new leaders need to consider during this coming election. One is the economic status of our country. Another is education. A third is our countrys foreign affairs, such as the stabilization of an Iraqi government. As concerned SUU citizens, we need to accept the fact that we have an obligation to take part in the political arena. In other words, if we want our voices to be heard by the electoral candidates, we should participate in all the political meetings and conferences on our campus. Several times, gubernatorial meetings have been conducted on SUUs campus, allowing a number of candidates to speak about their agendas. But it was discouraging to see that there were only a few students who came and participated in the discussions. This is a wake-u- p the next time we have candidates come call, folks to SUU, we should not take that opportunity for granted. What benefit, then, can we have by participating? Our in voicing our status quo contributes an participation overwhelming amount of understanding in our hungry society." Our participation will also help us generate personal knowledge in the fields of political, social and educational demands, as well. Our participation in all aspect of politics requires personal responsibility for the common good of our society. Folks, lets buckle down and be part of the politics. It doesnt really matter whether were big fans of democrats, republicans or libertarians. But w'hat matters most is ihat we give our time to participate in all ot SUUs political meetings. Christine Lewis is a staff writer for the University Journal. She c an be reached at clewissuujaiirnal.com. Ut&H UNIVERSITYVCEPAR tlTYfUT Are you concerned about safety when traveling in a vehicle? DIRECTING STAFF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: 0 Editor Tyler Johnson News Melissa Nielsen Associate Editor Associate Editor Opinion Carli Warr 586-775- 9 586-548- 8 Editor Katie Allen Sports Editor Matthew Lust, Photo Editor Katnna Joslin, 2 Web Editor Alex Eagar, 3 Copy Chief Liz Bowler, Ask. Copy Heather Darata. 5865488 2 Graphics David Paystrup, Ad Designer, Andy Sullivan, Christian Ross, Meg Cady, Senior Staff Writers: Dana Bartholomew, u. Advertising Manager Evan Wtlcock Operations Manager John S. Gholdston t 1 The Unnersits Journal is published every Monday and Thursday of the academic year by and for the student body of Southern I tah Umversitv It is advised by professional faculty and staff in the umversitv Communication Department The views and opinions expressed in the Journal are those of individual wnuis and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of the Umurun Journal editorial board letters to the editor must be letters must include the same information as typed and include the author's name and phone number those otherwise submitted Only the name will be printed Names will noi be withheld under any circumstances The editor reserves the right to edit letters for length and taste Letters should be limited to wotds and a m Tuesday for inclusion in a.m Friday for inclusion in Monday editions or by must be submitted by Thursday editions Submission of a letter docs not guarantee publication Grievances Any individual with a grievance against the Journal should direel such problem first to the editor if unresolved, that grievance should then be directed to the operations manager Any grievance not resolved at lhat level is referred to the Journal Advisory Council The Journal is distributed free of charge to individuals for 25 cents each tlic first copy Additional copies may be 'Unneruty Journal SUU Sharwan Smith Center. Room 176C Mail address imicrtf) Journal Cedar City. Utah 84720 FAX (435)586-548- 7 address joumalsuu edu 'St PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER PLEASE RECYCLE THIS COPY 2004 SUU University Journal r purchased tor ?5 W Center Russell Winn Freshman Criminal Justice Richfield Not as much as a driver, only when Im a passenger. David Stoll Freshman Business Centerville Yes, too many people drive drunk. Aaron Grimshaw Sophomore Communication Columbus, Ohio Lola Ross Sophomore Spanishsociology Salt Lake City Yes. Seat belts aie good. Wear them. People I dont know that are driving scare me the most. Not at all. Ive been in two accidents and never been hurt, so I consider myself invincible. Sophomore EnglishGerman Magna Only when the person whos driving is angry. |