1995_02 Insight February 1995

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Editorial
FEBRUARY 15,1995
EDITORIAL
CSUF gets in gear
with plan to mail
parking permits
Excuse mc? You expect me to stand in that line to
pay $54 for a parking^permit? A decal that offers
only a shot at a parking space and guarantees a
hike to even my closest class? Is that what you're
telling me?
For about the last five years, that is exactly what the administration has expected of CSUF students. Those days are over at
last — we hope.
CSUF parking authorities have finally awakened to recognize
this as the age of convenience.
Beginning with the 1995 fall semester, CSUF administrators
plan to sell parking permits by mail.
Students will have the option of buying a decal or a dashboard
pass, a decal covered in hard plastic. Students may also be given
the option of buying one pass for SI08 to cover both fall and
spring semesters.
The exact procedure for carrying out this revolutionary
convenience-oriented program has yet to be determined.
As you read this, the powers-that-be are working frantically.
They must decide the fate of that little blue slip of paper used to
obtain vital statistics on students and their vehicles.
Should it be included in the registration packet, or some entirely different packet of information? Unfortunately, it's impossible to say how long a decision of this magnitude will be in the
making.
In the interest of fairness, the current mismanagement of parking permit sales is not entirely the fault of the administration.
Permits were sold by mail at one time. As the story often goes,
some dishonest people ruined it for everyone.
A large number of students reported their permits "lost in the
mail" or "stolen." The university had to then replace these permits free of charge, creating a significant drain on funds.
Some students abused the system, and the system fought back.
In regards to the lines students have endured over the past years,
some would say the system won. And as a result, everyone has
been inconvenienced.
Since the old days of selling parking permits by mail, however,
technology has provided a safeguard against this type of theft.
You've all seen those little hand-held computers carried by student parking watchdogs. Yqu know, the ones that allow them to
ticket illegally parked vehicles with the greatest of ease.
As it turns out, the computers can also screen the numbers on
permits to identify those reported lost or stolen. This allows the
administration to crack down on parking permit fraud.
The computers have had this screening capability since September of 1993. Meanwhile, students have battled rain and sunstroke to stand in lines for the simple privilege of handing over
another check to the university.
And what about the students who want their dccals laminated?
That's another line altogether.
Available resources will soon be utilized to return to a system
of convenience — but how soon we do not know. Only time will
tell. In the meantime we will stand in line!
a is
MAIL IT       E-MAIL IT
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Insight
California State University, Fresno
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Managing Editor
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Chief Copy Editor
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Lifestyle Editor
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Circulation Manager
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Jacqueline Tucker
Jefferson Beavers
Sheryl Logue
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Kori Rianda
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Advertising Account Manager
Deborah Smith
Advertising Production Manager
Lorena Campbell
Advertising: 278-3934
Production Assistants: Adrienne Boman, Stacey Dipple,
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and Robert Williamson.
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Students of Paul Adams        Students of MCJ 143
MCJ102W&103
CO
Urn
International Club
Dear Editor,
I am one of the international students here at California State University, Fresno. I have a request to make
to the International Student Services.
Every year, international students
spend a lot of money for the opportunity to attend this school. In exchange,
I would like the International Student
Services to give the international students more information about the services and facilities available to us. It
might be a good idea to organize an
international club for students to go
to when they have a problem or if they
want to meet more people.
Nan Piyasin
Thank You
Dear Editor.
Bless the souls who finally figured
out that we needed help at the intersection of Barstow and Campus
Drive. I want to give a big thank you
to the on-campus police department.
Driving to school was a big hassle because traffic on Barstow would be
backed up to Cedar. It is nice to not
have to wait 10 minutes to get through
the intersection. I'm sure that I am not
the only one grateful, so on behalf of
all driving students at Fresno Stale.
THANKYOU!
Jennifer M. Adams
STAR Registration?
Dear Editor.
Just when us old-time students got
used to registering wilh the STAR system, the powers-that-be have once
again changed the registration process. The STAR system remains the
same, but the add/drop procedures arc
gone. I'm graduating this semester
and have seen many changes at the
university during my six-year stay.
When, on the first day of school, I
entered the Joyal Administration
Building to pick up an add/drop form.
I was both surprised and upset to discover that this was gone. I panicked
because there was one class I needed
to graduate with and I was hoping to
add it.
Well, if the system works it will
make everyone's life a little easier —
that is, if everyone gets the class they
want. I would much prefer this new
system if in fact all the students are
enrolled in the class that they wasted
two weeks trying to get in to.
Chris Hiatt
STAR Headache
Dear Editor,
The changes with STAR registration
arc giving me a headache. I am an
international student paying $4,000 to
$5,000 per semester to attend California State University. Fresno. I did
not know that there would not be any
add/drop forms available when school
started. I did not pay for my tuition
until I received the money from my
parents. By that time, all of the classes
were closed. I just want to say that
changes like this affect everyone, including international students.
Pia Buranamontri
Campus Construction
Dear Editor,
I am a student here at Fresno State,
and I have a concern. I was wondering why all of the construction is going on now, while classes are in session. Why not fix the obviously
needed ground during one of the
breaks, instead of redirecting student
travel routes and in turn making it an
inconvenience to us. the students, who
arc essentially paying for .this construction to be done. If someone
would explain this to me, I would be
a much happier person. Oh, by the
way, I live in the dorms. Baker Hall
to be specific, and the construction
has ruined half of the residents' routes
to class.
Ed McKcancy
Hockey Team
Dear Editor.
The Fresno community is very supportive of the California State University. Fresno sports programs. With
all that CSUF has to offer its students
and surrounding community. I do not
understand why it promotes some
sports and not others.
I just recently found out that CSUF
has a hockey team. If the CSUF students arc so willing to support the
Fresno Falcons, why wouldn't they
be willing to support their own
school? We just need to know when
the team is playing.
When I tried finding out when the
team played, no one could answer my
question. Neither the school papers
nor The Fresno Bee has this information available to its readers.
Although hockey has its ups and
downs, it has become very popular in
Fresno. I am sure that if the hockey
team knew how much students enjoyed the sport and students knew
when the games were, the hockey
team would have a crowd to fight for.
Nancy Sinner
Tuition Increases
Dear Editor,
When is the next tuition increase and
will I be able to afford it? Is there ever
going to be a day when college students won't have to stress over these
questions? I'd like to believe there is,
but unfortunately 1 don't sec these
problems being solved anywhere in
ihc near future.
When I started my college education at California State University.
Fresno in the fall of 1990,1 was paying just over $400 a semester in tuition. Now as I'm approaching my
graduation in May. that same $400
isn't even half of Ihc payment. I shudder to think what my sister and brother
will have lo pay for the same education in the year 2001.
It seems in the light of the past election, everyone has been so quick to
criticize Clinton's ideas for a new
America. But let me tell you that tax
breaks and incentives for college education sound pretty good to mc. If
things don't change, who's going to
be able to afford college anyway?
Nikki Dohn
INSIGHT welcomes all
letters to the editor.
We reserve the right to
edit for brevity. Every
effort will be made to
preserve the writer's
point of view.
Why is it that.
Construction on campus
starts when school starts?
"All of the construction was supposed to
be done during the winter break," according to Nancy Rodriguez, secretary for Facilities Planning. Due to all of the rain, the
construction crews were forced to postpone
the work until the end of January.
As for the purpose of the construction,
Rodriguez says that most of the sidewalks
are being changed in order to bring the campus up to the code set by the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
?
Some instructors require up
to nine books for one class?
Professor Jean Pickering teaches
English literature courses and has nine
required paperbacks for her class. Although nine books docs sound like a lot,
Pickering believes that the books arc
needed in order to explore different
kinds of writers.
Pickering says that cost is something
that she does consider when deciding
what books to use. "These are the cheapest I can get and still get the coverage."
SPEAK YOUR MIND
What do you think about the changes with STAR registration?
OPINION
What's up
at Insight?
/ \   gets off to a fresh start, so
JL   \.docs Insight.
For our first issue we thought ii
would be a good idea to let you in
on some of our ideas, goals and
expectations. As a weekly publication, the Insight staff will bring you
news stories, features and ci
ment that will
keep you up to     I
date on campus
activities and the ■
Fresno community.
It is the vision
of Insight to
become a proactive voice on
campus. We
plan on taking
an editorial
stance on Jacqueline
important issues   -rlT^.trC.I>
facing us all.        ^^iY,
The editorial       M""*"* Editor
page will not
just be a page where we talk to you
— it will be a place where students
can communicate concerns about a
variety issues.
We are introducing a "Why is it
that ?" section on this page. This
idea was developed to answer
student and faculty questions about
serious, comical or puzzling campus
Russell Biggers-scnior
"I think it makes it easier
just because you can call in
and push a few buttons and
either add a class or drop a
class."
Scott Edwards-senior
"1 think for freshman and
sophomores it doesn't give
them much of a chance to
get a lot of their classes.''
Ann Delay-sophomore
"It's a lot easier than
having to stand in line. My
only problem was not
being able to gel through."
Tenaya Yarbrough-junior
"It might be easier on the
teachers, but it's harder on
the students."
Lori Lasek-junior
"I know people who have
had problems because the
teachers will let them add,
but STAR registration
won't."
Way Ion Gipson-senior
"I think that they're good
because it facilitates the
process of students adding
and dropping classes."
The Lifestyles section will feature
a weekly calendar of events to let
you know about activities on and off
campus. This section will also
highlight issues and concerns
regarding campus life.
The Sports section will focus on
in-depth stories about outstanding
athletes and coaches making their
mark at CSUF.
Since our primary mission is to
serve the campus community, we
welcome any input and comments
you have about the newspaper.
Access to Insight has been made
easier wilh the help of the
university's e-mail system.
Letters to the editor arc a vital
part of any newspaper. It is very
important that students and faculty
have the forum to express their
opinions and concerns for a wide
audience.
Insight will be published 12 times
during this semester. So, pickup an
issue every Wednesday and find out
what's up at CSUF.
i