1989_01 The Daily Collegian January 1989

              Monday. January 30. 1969
The Daily Collegian
Opinion
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-.LETTERS
Lack of discretion by campus officers?
To the Editor,
Recently, after dropping my son off at
the Campus Childcare Center, I returned
to my car to see a "Parking Officer" issu¬
ing Dckets :o those of us who had parked
over the ten-minute limn in the white
zone. Looking behmd my car. I saw
another car parted in the red zone.
Knowing this to be wholly illegal, I
waited to see if the officer also ucketed
my car. To my surprise, she looked right
at it (in the red zone) and left without
issuing a ticket.
I went directly 10 the "Police
Headquarters" to see why the officer did
not ticket this car. I spoke with Sgt.
Silva who informed me the owner of the
car in question had asked the officers'
permission to park in the red zone. He
then went on to explain laws can
occasionally be bent if an officer sees fit.
I am a paralegal, and that was something
new tome.
I later called the chief of campus
police, a Mr. Anderson. He told me that
the California Vehicle Code explicitly
allows an officer to "bend" laws at their
discretion.
Well, after looking op various codes
applying 10 die parking of a vehicle at a
marked red curb, I found nothing 10
indicate this taw was 10 be enforced only
at an officers discretion. In net I bad ques¬
tioned a parking officer about some issue
and was told I could never park in a red
zone.
I looked at a copy of CSUF Parking
Regulations and Ordinances, the one
available to all the campus population
and  saw   that  under  Ordinance  Two
BLOOM COUNTY
"parking is specifically prohibited at all
limes in any time zone marked with a red
curb." This is wholly contradictory 10
what the chief told me.
I think everyone on campus should be
aware of any special circumstances thai
apply so we may all be able to "bend" the
rules as SgL Silva told me.
There are times when an officer must
be allowed to make decisions at their dis¬
cretion, when "Hot Pursuit" or when split-
second decisions are needed. But when
concerning something as simple as a
parting ticket, the penalty must be dealt
out to all, fairly. If we allow officers to
make exception to the rules, we are in for
big trouble. Will an officer allow their
personal views to let them decide who
gets a "break" and who doesn't?
Will their decision be based on what
kind of of car you drive? What if they
decide by the color of the skin you have?
What if their decision is based on your
gender?
No, Chief Anderson, I don't believe the
enforcement of laws, as in Ibis case,
should be dictated by the whims of an
officer. The law should be fairly applied
to all or not at all.
If there are any more special times that
the student body is allowed 10 "bend* the
rules I'm sure we would all appreciate a
public notice so that we all may enjoy
thebenefits,
Sincerely,
Laura Robttschek
P.S. If it is not hazardous to park in a
red zone, why is it a red zone at all?
by Herlce Breathed
New semester,
new Collegian
Donnell
Alexander
In the back pages of Rolling Stone
magazine and Roger Ebert's Home Video
Guide, lurks the perfect metaphor for the
relationship between publications and
their audiences.
Tor most people," a friend of mine
said to me recently, "they decide who
their favorite critics are based on whether
that writer likes the same stuff they do,
not on whether that person is a good
writer or has something to offer."
Do you like the Daily Collegian}
Probably not It's probably too liberal. Or
too conservative. Or too boring (The
stories have no relevance to my life as a
student, man.). Or too sensaaonalistic.
Or too plain wrong. And you probably
hate the Subterranean Jungle. No, you
can admit it. I really don't mind.
My mom occasionally calls from
Sacramento to see exactly bow the
newspaper is going. I look across the
newsroom at the hate mail that
sometimes sits on the managing editors
desk and recall arguements I've had with a
cross section of the CSUF community
regarding the Collegian's content and
worth.
"It's going all right, mama," I say.
"We are whipping some serious ass."
At that point, my mom expresses her
dissatisfaction with how I go about
saying things, about my lack of
diplomacy.
The Collegian  is earmarked for
change. Mostly because the people who
run the show arc angry young punks or
vory talented or, in a few cases, both ol
these.
But also, expect something diiterent
because Fresno is staring at a fork in ils
road and, as the local university dady
newspaper, this publication plays a small
but meaningful role in what the city
becomes. Whether this place evolves
from being a sleepy, mean-spirited town
into a cruel monsuosity is kind of a big
deal. And we think the Collegian can
provide a different perspective on Fresno's
Among the items to look for is a new
Monday opinion column featuring noted
figures in both the Fresno and CSUF
ccfnmimities. Referred to by those in the
know as "Anything Can Happen Day,'
the column should provide fresh views on
issues both critical and humorous.
This semester's Collegian will also
contain a larger number of lengthy
features. In detail, these stories will
spotlight issues froughl with controversy
and introduce you to people who don't
often make it into the paper.
Sports sections have, historically, been
sexist, staid and resistant lochange. Here
and now, the most successful CSUF
athletic programs on a given day will be
guaranteed top billing.
Conventional wisdom places men's
sports (baseball, mens basketball, etc.) in
higher regard than women's athletics,
ostensibly because male sports are more
"popular".
But, it must be asked, how can anyone
know women's athletics' mass acceptance
potential if these sports aren't granted
equal opportunity in the press?
Finally, the newspaper will attempt to
remain graphically adventurous and the
Subterranean Jungle entertainment
section will keep jousting at, uh,
whatever it is it jousts aL
In short, things will keep hopping.
While this is not completely attempt
to warn you about what you are about to
see, this is partially an effort to explain
that newspapers exist to inform and
enlighten, and enlightenment rarely sits
around reinforcing everthing you already
beleive in. This is an announcement thai
we will piss you off. quite likely more
than once m the comrflj; months.
But keep those cards and letters
coming. It lets us know that you're alive.
WeT let \ou know that were alive
And, ^.s always, have a nice day.
Donnell Alexander is editor in chief of
ihe Dady Collegian.
Reader
Response
to the Daily Collegian Is welcome. Please
s'- r id letters of no more tbu 250 words to:
The Dally CoUegtan, Keals Campus
Building California State University.
Fresno, Fresno, CA. 93740-0042. Letters
must be signed and have the au thor's
name, address and phone number.
theDaily Collegian
Editor in Chimt— Donnell Alexander
Hews Editor- Kim Kasabtan
Sport* Editor- Jennifer Rome
MA Manafar- Susie Tombs
SUIT Artirt-David Hughes
Majuurjng Editor- T. James Madison
Copy Editor- Lee Passmore
Graphics Editor- JoAnn Baltau
Photo Editor- Ttaor Swift
Ad Production Mcr. - Kelly to*
iMaiiasyri^RandyHergeriroeder
Staff Writers - Mary Beth Alexander, Sytvta Castro,    Rob Evans   Steve
Kltttttz.  Mike KlingbefJ.  Steve Lasnky, AMa^UeT Johanna Munoz. Jeff
Pennisl, GayTaguchi
Sports Writers   Steve Fountain. Mark Garcia. Marcus Musacchto
Photographers - Kurt Hegre, Mark Mirko, Steve Prtrude
AdTttTtjaaasj RepresenUtrre* - George Hutcheson. Missy Karabtan, Konley
KeUey. Ken Pappanduros. Dave Spencer
Distribution   DesmondKhong Circulation   MakChinKxw
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