No vacancy?

With the visual arts building practically vacant these days, why not help out a department in desperate need of new facilities? No one should have to work or take classes in a building that was supposed to be torn down seven years ago, but the women’s studies department does just that. Let’s take advantage of a newly available building and help some sistas out.

Safety first

The University’s residence hall security systems show inconsistencies that need fixing. With some dorms requiring students to swipe ID cards, scan hands and show a desk clerk their IDs again, others have lax standards with no desk clerks or ID checks. As long as the University requires students to live in dormitories, it needs to provide each resident the same satisfactory level of security. With recent budget cuts, the University may not have the money to pay desk clerks 24/7 in every residence hall, but it could increase the price of dorms – people are willing to pay for safety.

Two of a kind

It’s known around campus the Athletic Association brings in more dough than the University. However, people need to realize they are two separate entities with distinct budgets, and it is not the Athletic Association’s responsibility to bail out the University. In fact, many of the donations the Athletic Department receives are from people specifically donating to athletics, not academics.

Let’s be tactful, not tacky

At an open forum with students, University President Michael Adams expressed concerns about KA’s with guns, noted unskilled faculty are fairly easy to come by and said “you have to work pretty hard to get arrested here.” Really? Adams should be addressing campus issues with the common sense of a man chosen to lead the flagship university of the state.

Overheard in Athens

A case filed by students charging the Athens-Clarke County noise ordinance is unconstitutional reached the Georgia Supreme Court this week. These two students saw a law they find unfair, and instead of complaining, did something. They say the ordinance should not apply equally to all areas. It’s great students are making their voices heard.

Web site’s juvenile, pass it on

A new gossip site has pervaded Athens, but the University is one campus we wish would stay juicy-free. Even though the Internet provides a clock of anonymity, there still are ways to find out who dishes what. Let’s remember that we’re in college, not high school, and show some maturity.