Letters to the Editor

Parking report card skewed

The editorial “Ups and Downs of Campus Growth” (Aug. 31) presented an incomplete and inaccurate picture of student parking improvements. The writer failed to include the fact that in recent years most of our campus parking improvement funds have been spent on adding student parking.

The campus administration, starting with Dr. Welty, realizes this is necessary because of our growing student population. A major expansion of student parking from 1998 to 2001 doubled the spaces in student Lot Q and added many spaces in the new sections of student Lot V. In 2004, in cooperation with the Save Mart Center, we added nearly 2,000 student spaces in that facility’s north lot. During this time faculty and staff parking spaces have remained virtually unchanged.

We are now constructing a small lot for the new Student Recreation Center and expanding student parking in lots A and J near Science and Science II, Peters and Conley Arts buildings.

At any time of day, there is always a place to park on campus. Most of these spaces are on the north and east sides of campus, the only two directions in which the University may possibly expand, and they are on the perimeter. The reason is that our park-like campus, a designated arboretum, is an oasis in a busy city. The campus master plan makes it a pedestrian-friendly place where the learning can take place in a pleasant and relatively quiet atmosphere. That’s why we maintain a “perimeter parking” plan rather than “strip mall” approach.

Unquestionably, accommodating our increasing campus population is a continuing challenge. This fall, a new Parking Task Force – which includes students – will take a look at our facilities, systems, policies and procedures. If you have an idea, your voice will be heard. I will be happy to report to you the committee’s progress.

David M. Moll
Director
Office of Public Safety

Staff shortage and budget cuts reason for campus woes

I would like to comment on the editorial that ran on August 31.

First I would like to ask this misinformed person, “How do you suggest we get the money to do all these repairs and remodels?”

Unbeknownst to you we are severely understaffed and underbudgeted for these projects you have mentioned in your article. Did you also know that most positions are not filled when employees leave or retire?

The work load is then placed on those remaining. Most renovations and new construction is paid for by bonds that are passed by voters.

I’m positive that students who are enrolled at CSUF do not want to see another fee increase and I’m sure that employees, who have not seen a pay increase in the past three years, want to avoid any unnecessary increases as well.

All of these things you speak of are cosmetic problems, with time, money and manpower these things can be remedied.

Yes, we pay for parking too. Even when we’re sick, on vacation or on disability leave monies for parking come directly out of our paychecks.

Parking is bad for everyone on campus; maybe you have some suggestions for this problem. You might want to check out the cost of installing new parking stalls and look for a location to place them.

It is easier to sit back and criticize what is being or not being done, than to pitch in and help with finding reasonable solutions.

I’m sure that the custodial department has some extra spray bottles and cleaners if you would like to lend a hand.

Shirley Simonian

Store Keeper

Plant Operations Warehouse

EDITOR’S NOTE: After our Aug. 31 editorial, a Plant Operations staffer cleaned off the bird droppings on the Martin Luther King Jr. statue in the Peace Garden. The McLane building and University Center remain uncleaned.

Looking beyond looting

After the initial attack of Hurricane Katrina subsided we were bombarded with horrific images coming from New Orleans and other areas. There was outpouring support and sympathy for those who lost loved ones and every single possession they owned. Some of that sympathy, however, turned to anger when news began emerging of people looting.

Looting in itself can be a difficult concept to define. What exactly is looting? Is it looting when desperate people take food, water and necessary supplies? Does that mean it is only considered looting when non-necessary items such as electronics are taken? The question that was foremost in people’s minds was, “How can they do that?”

It seemed incredible that with all the death and destruction surrounding them that people could be that opportunistic. We have since learned that the areas hit the hardest were among the poorest in Louisiana.

They did not have the money or resources to flee the city when the hurricane struck and were left with absolutely nothing in the aftermath.

The 2004 U.S. Census reported that 37 million Americans are living below the poverty line. The amount of children living in poverty rose to 17.6 from 16.7 percent in 2002. This means even before the hurricane struck there were a significant amount of people who were barely surviving from day to day. If people felt that they were not being helped out before the disaster, what makes them believe that they will be helped out afterwards?

Maria Macias
Senior, Sociology and Chicano Studies