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Housing selection system unfair, in need of fixing
Dear Editor,
As a rising sophomore, I was very frustrated with the housing selection process. I currently live in Schoenfeldt Hall, where I planned to live in a suite next year. However, for some reason, sophomores were not being allowed to live in suites, even if they were being pulled in by an upperclassman (as I was).
In Schoenfeldt, a huge number of rooms were set aside for incoming freshmen, so that they had to reopen rooms so current residents could get them. As my turn neared, I saw several current freshmen get suites.
However, when I got there, even though several suites were still open, I was not allowed to get one. The rationale was that those suites needed to be saved for upperclassmen movers, who had lower points that I did. A few hours later they began opening suites up to rising sophomores again.
I honestly do not see the reason for having a point system at all if it doesn't actually make a difference.
I think this entire system was very unfair, and that Residence Life needs to do what they can to fix it and do MUCH better next year!
Patrick Tomassi, freshman, mechanical engineering
Bottled water ban the right choice for UP
Dear Editor,
I wanted to comment on Dr. Robinson's letter about the disposable bottled water sale ban.
He is correct that students should not drink a lot of soda, which is acidic and full of empty calories. However, the statement that "The removal of bottled water will leave students with only flavored drinks as a viable alternative" isn't true.
Bon Appetit will sell stainless steel UP water bottles at a financial loss, to encourage students to drink tap water for free instead of bottled water. They also have my personal favorite, unsweetened iced tea, for those times that something else seems needed.
And of course there is a wide assortment of natural juices, cartons of milk, and other options like coffee drinks. The only thing that would lead students to choose soda that contains high fructose corn syrup and is low in pH would be a poor decision from the options that will be open to them.
If Dr. Robinson wants to come to The Cove, I would be happy to buy him whatever drink he would like from the selection Bon Appetit offers, and we can discuss our mutual dislike for the effects of sodas-that-shall-herein-remain-nameless on human physiology, but whether he can visit or not, UP students need to make good selections for their drinks as well as elsewhere in their lives.
The ban on selling disposable water bottles on campus is the right thing for UP to do in terms of social justice, and the stand UP is taking is against the commodification of something that we and the Catholic Church hold to be a fundamental human right rather than item that the marketplace ought to control.
Steve Kolmes, environmental science professor
Join the team at ASUP
I wanted to thank Andy Matarrese for his column about ASUP last week. I am the current ASUP Vice President and I work hard along with the rest of my executive board and the senators to make your experience at UP as good as it can be.
However, we are only as good as the students who want to be involved. If students do not express their needs, wants and complaints, we cannot do our jobs.
If students want a huge concert then they need to visit the CPB director. Yes her budget is limited, but if you tell Hillary White (next year's CPB director) that you want a big concert, then she has the power to make it happen.
Although, you have to be realistic. As much as Justin Timberlake would be cool to have, we can't afford him. CPB makes profits from the dances, so when you and your friends dressed up and went to Dance of the Decades in January, CPB made $13,000!
That money goes back in their budget. If you were to attend CPB meetings, you could have a say on what that money is spent.
All ASUP money that is allocated has to be spent within the semester. Whatever money is left over will roll into our endowment.
How much money should we give clubs when they do not spend efficiently? Last semester we had $25,000 that wasn't spent and rolled into our endowment. That is awesome that our endowment is growing, but that is $25,000 of tuition money not going to current students.
I encourage everyone to go to our Web site https://pilots.up.edu/web/asup find out who your senators are and tell them your comments and concerns.
ASUP is supposed to be the voice of the student body, but if the student body only complains to each other in The Commons, then nothing will change. ASUP has a lot of power on campus, so talk to us! Our meetings are open to anyone who wants to come, Mondays at 4:30 p.m. in Shiley 301. We also have an office in St. Mary's, please stop in!
Alyssa Schmidt-Carr is ASUP Vice President
