University cars

need a tune-up

This past weekend I had the joy of gallivanting

across the rolling hills of southern Wisconsin

with my fellow Project Wildcat

counselors for our midterm camping trip.

We played in the sun, hiked through the lush forests

and slept under the stars beside a crackling campfire.

Everything was perfect.

Everything, that is, except for the transportation.

My group drove in a university vehicle which we

checked out from Motorpool, just as we’ve done several

times before. At first glance, the van appeared

to be a decent form of transportation, but it only took

a few stop signs to figure out that the brakes were

weaker than Cake’s indoor performance in Patten

Gym last Dillo Day. Though we emerged from the

weekend all in one piece, there were one too many

instances of screeching into a stoplight that made us

doubt the quality of our vehicle.

Student groups use these vehicles almost every

weekend. They are the cargo holds of our

athletes, volunteers and campers. The least they

could do is put some safe brakes on them.

To add insult to injury, the process required to

get certified to drive these vans is rigorous and

time-consuming. Club sports drivers must attend

a 7 a.m. seminar and all drivers must take an intensive

computerized test through NU to pass. If

drivers are taking the time to ensure they can

drive safely and responsibly, according to university

standards, then it’s only reasonable that the

university should take the time to beef up their

vehicles.

– Meredith Laitos

Deputy Forum Editor

NU lifestyle is

too expensive

Screw you EAC, Einstein Bagels, and any bar

I have ever visited. Norbucks, I’m breaking

up with you. And all you cute little on-sale

tops at the Gap, we’re through.

I’m not totally sure how this happened, but I

overspent this quarter. Like whoa. Thank goodness

I’m going to Latin America in the fall, because if I

were going to Europe I’d have to spend my whole

time knitting shirts to sell and crying over the exchange

rate.

I’m still in shock from my trip to the bank earlier

today. I thought for a minute that someone had stolen

my money. Or that the IRS had taken out their anger

on my debit card. Or that they had mistaken me for

someone else. But no, I’m broke.

NU already takes so much of our money, it’s easy

to rationalize spending a little bit of money a lot of

places. A coffee a day doesn’t seem so bad, unless, of

course, it’s a $4 coffee from Starbucks. And it’s three

times a day. Minimum.

But then, I need my coffee. I’m not one of those

people who carefully prepares papers ahead of time,

stays in to do my reading the days proceeding its due

date or cooks for herself. I just don’t have those skills. I

am proud to be an over-caffeinated procrastinator,

but it was much more fun to be one with at least a

moderate amount of disposable income.

I know I get to go to NU and hang out with other

rich college students for four years. I get that I should

just curtail my spending and stop complaining. Or, I

should just take up lifeguarding at SPAC again. That

paid OK. But the thing is, I like my life. And this is a

firing squad, so I get to complain.

So goodbye coffee, and buying drinks at bars or

wherever else I go. Goodbye movie rentals and dinners

out. I won’t see you for a while.

– LIz Coff in-Karlin

Assistant Campus Editor