For the first few weeks of school, GSB has been focused on student tailgating at home football games.

At its core, this issue is really about political process. When the leaders of the athletic department made a significant change in parking policy over this summer, they did it in a way that excluded a genuine student voice.

In appearance, their actions this summer demonstrated they wanted their particular solution and felt the best way to do it was to not truly include the opinions of other relevant parties in the dialogue.

What GSB is trying to do now is to bring students back into that process.

The issues of money, alcohol, safety and proximity to the stadium are secondary to this debate.

The ability to debate is what is important, and that is sorely lacking at the moment. The ISU administration needs to consult GSB when changes to a significant part of student life on campus are proposed.

The GSB resolution that we supported to open Lot S-4 to general admission parking is hopefully a way to look out for students’ interests while restarting a dialogue, one in which students have a legitimate voice and are genuinely considered.

Hopefully, in the future, students will become a real part of the process in determining policies that affect their lives at Iowa State.

Dan Christenson

Graduate Student, Political Science

GSB Graduate College Senator

Jason Stonerook

Graduate Student, Political Science