Mars Bigby thered_planet@hotmail.com
Every day I open the paper and read about another quick-fix fiasco perpetrated by the enlightened Mr. Wendler. When students were being struck in the crosswalks, we immediately were hit with a 5 mph drop in the speed limit. I don't know about the rest of you, but it doesn't seem to me that the minor drop in the speed limit will translate to safer sidewalks. Maybe enforcing the limits would have been a better plan. What happens if the accidents continue? Will he ban driving on campus? You know, like he wants to do with alcohol.
To date, Mr. Wendler's most enraging quick-fix plan is this tuition hike. He wants to raise tuition a total of 18 percent to combat state budget cuts and declining enrollment. This may work for next year, maybe even the year after, but is he going to keep raising tuition to keep pace with the rate at which enrollment will be dropping? When it gets to the point where we are paying the same rate as a student at the University of Illinois, why would we come here?
When SIU loses one of its largest selling points, the bargain, what's going to happen? The University is a business. As any successful business knows, customer relations are key. Who are your customers, Mr. Wendler? Is it the residents of Turley Park? Nope. Is it the Carbondale city government? Nope. Is it the police force? That's a Hell Nope. We are, Mr. Wendler. You know, the students. And I don't know if I have to tell you this, but we aren't happy. As students, we have to deal with a community that seems unwilling to recognize that Carbondale is here because of the money we bring to the area. We get shoddy service and shoddy goods, and we get them with bad attitudes.
We have a Financial Aid Department set up in such a way that students with two semesters left to finish are considered ineligible for financial aid because they aren't finishing quick enough, and only one man gets to make that decision. Never mind that the student already owes $25,000 or that it's much easier to get a job and pay the money back with a degree than without one. Never mind the fact that when the student takes his place in society as an alum, his attitude toward giving to SIU will be less than generous. How about taking the $300,000 and using it to help 60 ineligible students finish their degree, thus you'll have 60 happier customers.
We have to deal with tow truck drivers of questionable moral fiber laying in wait for unsuspecting students to leave their cars in the wrong place for a few seconds ... literally. Or who will tow drivers' cars from their own places of residency. Even when they are caught in the act, the student still has to pay, even when the tower is in the wrong. How about you take the $300,000 and pay 6,000 towing fees. Another 6,000 happy customers.
We have to deal with a police force that arrests us when we are waiting for food on the Strip. They mace us in the back as we walk away, and in general, overstep their bounds whenever possible. It's really too bad the people with amiable personalities and a touch of customer relations are not running the show. How about you take that $300,000 and bail out the 3,000 kids who shouldn't be in jail anyway? That's 3,000 happier customers.
I chose SIU five years ago because it has a beautiful campus, in a beautiful area, with down to earth people, and a laid back atmosphere. I chose SIU because it had everything the other schools had to offer at a great bargain. When people ask me what I think now, I tell them I made a mistake. What do you think will happen to enrollment if you ask the other 20,000 or so students the same question? Save our money Mr. Wendler. If you want to make things better, make your customers happy.
Don't Get Me Wrong appears on Tuesday. Mars is a senior in university studies. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
