We have an apology from Bruce Van De Velde! Everything’s better now! “[The Athletic Department realized] they messed up and are willing to include us now.” Oh, happy, happy, joy, joy! Sarcasm Alert over … you may now return to your regularly scheduled reader feedback.

Let me get this straight. The athletic director apologizes for hosing the students when he and the University moved the student’s parking lot away from the stadium and “assured” students they would be included in discussions when they decide to hose the students again. That’s a major victory?

So, what exactly has changed since all this started? Nothing. Are the students allowed to park and tailgate near the stadium again? No. We got an apology, which, according to Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill would have been done in June if that’s all we wanted. Is that all we should want, though? Should students be happy that the university is now going to “include” some students in discussions about how the university is going to hose them next time? Do we really believe that, in these meetings, the students’ opinions will matter? If past history is any indication, we’re all screwed.

The university knows there is a complete turnover of students every four to five years. They know that all they have to do is look at these things for the long term and it will go away, because next year’s freshmen won’t know the difference. The university can just slowly phase out the “inclusion” of students in these decisions and, because of student apathy, they won’t know or care that things used to be different. That’s why GSB needed to stand up now and get some major concessions, not some apology that will be forgotten next week. Because if you look at the end of that article, there’s no guarantee the students will even get a student-only lot, only that they will “look into” a student-only lot.

And why should getting our lot back involve making it alcohol-free? According to the University’s own numbers, 55.6 percent of ISU students are of legal drinking age and older. Federally, those students are seen as mature enough to legally purchase and enjoy alcohol products. So, if the National Cyclone Club lots are not alcohol-free, why should the student lots be? If you’re worried about underage drinking, then why punish those who are drinking legally? Maybe those who are drinking illegally should be hit with stiffer fines or penalties.

Chris Pellack

Sophomore

Pre-Business