Thumbs up to NUCorp –

– for enhancing NU’s capitalist drive. The nonprofit student-run business offers grants to student entrepreneurs to set up new businesses on campus. NUCorp received a grant last January but is now completely self-sufficient, free of administrative influences. Props to offering a grant to NU Mixology, a group offering a two-day bartending class at Tommy Nevin’s Pub. While 18-year olds in Illinois can be bartenders, a word to the wise: until you get your license, make sure you’re out by midnight.

If that doesn’t work, another recipient of a NUCorp grant, Chicago Unzipped, will give NU students a guide to drinking outside the confines of E-town. Cheers to that.

Thumbs up to Local 681 –

– for accusing Northwestern of stinginess after contract negotiations haven’t gone as they’ve hoped. Members of the union, mainly buildings and grounds employees, are renegotiating their 2000 contract with NU and are complaining that the university isn’t offering large enough wage increases.

They are rejecting the university’s offer of raising some hourly wages by 75 cents. We think that the ever-increasing cost of living, coupled with inflation, justifies a solid hourly wage increase. But whatever the specifics, it was a good idea to protest at Ryan Field during Saturday’s football game against Wisconsin.

It was also smart to hand out a flier that read, “Ever wonder how Northwestern University spends all that money? Not on fair and equal pay for staff!” They’re right. We can surely find the money to raise these employees’ wages by more than 75 cents an hour.

Thumbs down to ASG (Again) –

– for not rallying against the liquor ordinance before the Evanston City Council voted on it. Now the Associated Student Government and student group leaders are scrambling for an amendment that would allow student groups permits to hold bar nights. They should have been fighting all along to stop the ordinance banning people under 21 from bars after midnight.

ASG President Patrick Keenan-Devlin said he had assurances it wouldn’t pass. But he didn’t consider what an endorsement from the police commissioner would do. Both aldermen in the two wards that contain Northwestern rescinded their assurances after police comments.

Clearly Keenan-Devlin wasn’t as tapped into the council’s pulse as he should have been. And it’s unwise to trust assurances from the Evanston City Council, given its history of considering students to be second-class citizens.

Thumbs down to CTA –

– for playing with our minds yet again. The Chicago Transit Authority has proposed yet another fare increase, the second in three years, raising bus and train fare to $2.00 to those who do not switch to the Chicago Card, a credit card-like tool which cannot be purchased at CTA stations.

For too long the CTA has attempted to strike fear in the hearts of Evanston commuters, threatening to cease the Purple Line express and cut back on Purple Line hours. Now we’ll be 25 cents poorer everytime we venture out of Evanston.

While this seemingly minimal increase won’t make a dent in most students’ pockets, Evanston’s low-income residents will feel the impact.

With many low-income residents lacking automotive transportation, buses and trains provide a valuable service to those who would otherwise be unable to venture more than walking distance.

Hopefully this increase will solve the CTA’s budget problems. But that seems impossible, given the agency’s history.

We don’t want to hear “doors closing” to our link to Chicago.

Highs and Lows reflects the opinion of The Daily’s editorial board.