Editor,
I find it hard to believe that anyone able to pay attention long enough to make it through high school would be shocked that the friends and relatives of big donors get added perks.
There are offices on campus that give donors “free” parking passes every day. All you have to do is donate $1,500 to the U. The President’s/Dean’s Club permits, which are equivalent to “A” passes, are given as tokens of appreciation for the donations.
I do not wish to excuse the actions of the young man (NOT a Huntsman) who started this whole controversy. Such elitism is especially annoying to a person like myself who has had to turn off the heat in my apartment so I can afford to feed my child. In a perfect world, everyone would act responsibly to begin with, and would willingly accept the consequences of their actions? whatever they may be.
The generosity of wealthy donors is what ultimately allows this university to meet the needs of the students. If each one of us was given a choice between giving away free parking to the kids of a few wealthy donors or sitting under a bare lightbulb in a windowless room in some dilapidated building writing a paper on a Coleco computer, only a fool would be so “principled” as to choose the latter.
If you need a scapegoat for anything parking related, look at the person behind the wheel of your car. Alma Allred had one of the toughest jobs on campus before SLOC came in and started taking over. Forget being unable to please everyone all the time. Try being unable to please anyone, ever. Few could handle the pressure he is under with the patience and diplomacy he exhibits.
Finally, if concerns over parking are your biggest problem, please realize how good your lives must be.
Travis Pierson, Junior, Communication, Parking Services Employee