FIrst off, let me preface this by saying I hate goodbyes. So, with that in mind I won’t make this one. So lets call it a year in review.
When the fall semester began, my goal was to make The News Argus more news oriented. I feel like we’ve done a pretty good job of covering issues relevant to students from an objective point of view.
Years from now, when we think of the 07-08 school year, we’ll think of the word “Change.” The change started at the top, with the additon of Chancellor Reaves.
From the day Reaves was introduced, he’s had to battle the perception of him as an outsider. Personally, I think he’s done a pretty good job. Reaves was brought to WSSU to raise money and improve the school, not to be everyone’s best friend. Remember, he took a huge pay cut to come from the University of Chicago to come here. He’s got the school headed in a positive direction.
Another issue that came up this year was the increase in athletic fees. Although I applaud the Student Government Association for being vocal in their opposition, but I have to disagree with them on this one.
As a student, I hate to see tuition prices increasing, but as a sports fan, I’m willing to pay a little extra to see higher quality athletics.
Basically, college athletics is all about money. Without money, colleges can’t offer scholarships and other incentives that will allow them to compete for top talent.
Look at it this way, my cousin who goes to Louisiana State University (LSU) has to pay an athletic fee but still has to buy tickets to go to an LSU football game. Looking at it that way, it seems like we get a pretty good deal. Free entrance to basketball and football games, or any other sporting events that tickle your fancy.
Another issue the Argus tackled this year was parking. Of course the parking problem was not unique to this year, but the way we tried to cover it was. Instead of our usually opinionated gripe over the lack of parking spaces, we took an objective look at the parking situation and let the facts speak for themselves. Specifically the fact that the university makes money by selling more decals than there are available spaces, and that even those students who had decals were being issued tickets because there were no more (legal) spaces left.
Those are just some of the things that stick out in my mind. The other things, like the Circle City Classic and students getting involved in politics, will forever be entrenched in my memory. Now I leave you with my parting words.
Seek the truth. You might not always like what you’ll find, but at least you know what you’re up against. I’m out.