Whatever I Want

Published: January 24, 2011

Most columns have themes. Most columns have focus. Mine does not.

Why? Because I do what I want.

This semester, I’m going to write about whatever crosses my mind. I don’t like being confined to a certain topic, and since I’m the opinion editor, I intend to express my opinion. That’s the power of the press.

According to Dictionary.com, a la mode means three things: 1. According to the prevailing style or fashion, 2. Braised with vegetables in wine and 3. Served with ice cream. I am none of the above; I just thought it would make me sound sophisticated.

I’d like to introduce myself, but we all know you can’t really “know” a person unless you’re friends on Facebook. (That's not an invitation to add me.)

Let me brief you: My profile picture is of my boyfriend and I (he made me), my last status was about picking up my friend from a bar before noon (Cole) and my about me is a quote by Marilyn Monroe (because I’m classy).

That’s pretty much all you need to know about me – no one cares about the important stuff like the fact I’m a journalism major with a minor in political science, I’m graduating this May and I invented the Snuggie in the fourth grade.

This week I begin my final semester at Cal State Fullerton, and while my peers are celebrating, I’m trying to keep my food down.

I am absolutely terrified of graduating.

Graduating college means entering the real world, growing up and functioning as a working member of society – all things I’d rather do later. Facing the reality of finding a job in this economy makes me want to stay in school. I’m not too willing to give up freeloading off my parents (who’ve threatened kicking me out of the nest for the past three years…for the record, I’m still living there.)

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The typical college graduate has virtually no assets and about $23,000 in debt -$20,000 in student loans and $3,000 on credit cards.”  On top of that, the average job search takes about five months, according to the U.S. Labor Department – and unemployment rates have increased since then. How about we stay in college till it all goes away?

I understand that receiving a diploma is a huge step in our adult lives, but I’m not ready for it. I’m comfortable here where I discuss and observe the world beyond the classroom, not partake in it. Am I alone here?

College is my bubble, and until the mess outside is fixed, I’d like to stay here.

My Beef With Parking

Published: January 31, 2011

Cartoon by Sean Lefler

I’ve decided to start parking in President Milton Gordon’s garage.

I’m sure he’d understand my frustration. See, I’ve probably spent a year of my life waiting for a parking spot.

It’s safe to say I spend more time trying to get to class than I spend inside the classroom.

When parking starts affecting grades, shit gets real - it should not be this hard to get to class.

According to Fullerton.edu, 35,590 students were enrolled in the fall semester of 2010.

According to the Los Angeles Times, nearly 95 percent of those students arrive every day by car. That’s 32,031 students driving to school.

According to our school website, there are 11,090 parking spots including the new structure in Lot E.

I’m not great with numbers, but 11,090 parking spots for 32,031 commuting students sounds a little off. Where do the other 20,941 cars go? Either President Gordon can’t count or he just doesn’t care.

The CSUF Budget Report lists under the university revenue budget (for the fiscal year of 2009 to 2010): Parking fund $8,319,000; Parking fines and forfeitures $1,393,000.

I stared at the budget for a while, examining charts and graphs, looking up words I’ve managed to avoid my entire college career like “revenue budget” and “expenditure report.” (Side note: 68 percent of the reason I chose my journalism major is to avoid math classes. Don’t ask how I calculated that, just accept it.)

So I pulled out my calculator and attempted to understand the budget in the simplest way possible. If a parking permit costs $220 and there are 11,090 of them, the school should be making around $4,879,600 per academic year from selling parking permits alone.

Since the parking fund is listed as $8,319,000, the school is selling over 15,600 parking permits (per academic year) for spots that do not exist. How thoughtful.

The LA Times reports our school collected more than $1.275 million in parking tickets from students, visitors and even faculty members.

Where is the money going?

According to the school website, 38 percent of the total revenue was allocated to operating expenses (including department employee salaries and benefits). How about using the money to create more parking spaces? Light bulb.

The school website also suggests alternate means of transportation. Examples: carpool or take the train. Then take the bus from the train station to school… meh. Too difficult.

I want to be able to drive from my house which is only 15 minutes away, find a parking spot in five minutes, then get to class on time. Is that too much to ask? I shouldn’t be jumping hurdles and passing obstacle courses to get to school every day. It’s ridiculous.

What can we do? Stop buying parking permits! Buying one does not guarantee a spot.

My solution: walk, don’t wait. I park in the neighborhoods around the campus and take the 15 to 20 minute walk to class; it’s faster than circling the parking lots and it saves $440 a year.

I also see people parking along Commonwealth Avenue, taking bikes out of their trunks and cycling to school.

At this point, if I can’t find a parking spot less than a 15-minute walk away from campus, I just turn around and drive back home. It’s getting old, I’m over it.

And after I park in President Gordon’s garage, we can carpool to school.