Students should practice respect, on and off campus

Recently I was invited to participate in a panel to discuss the university's response to concerns regarding student conduct in neighborhoods.

The university and the community expect that UA students, wherever they are, will be respectful of property and people ÷ the same expectation they hold for non-students. Generally, students living off campus are good neighbors. But a large weekend party that becomes disruptive can cause neighbors to generalize that all off-campus students will cause disorder if not controlled. They want the university to "police" student behavior in neighborhoods.

But that's not realistic. The bottom line is that students who live off campus are private citizens who are subject to the same laws, regulations and codes as non-students who live in off-campus neighborhoods. The Tucson police have jurisdiction there and recent police activity suggests that Tucson police will aggressively enforce city code violations.

Each of us can do something to ease neighbors' concerns. Students who live away from home have a responsibility to their new neighborhoods. Most students understand this responsibility and behave in ways that support the quiet, cleanliness and safety of their communities. They have learned to do the following:

Respect property.
Keep noise to a minimum.
Inform nearby neighbors of plans to have a large party.
Alert the hosts of early signs that a party could be getting out of control.
Help friends understand that large, unruly parties will be red-tagged and assessed a hefty fine.
Help with cleanup after a party.
Work with the neighborhood association to improve communication.
Increase self-awareness of the effect of one's behavior on others.

The University of Arizona has a long history of trying to exist in harmony with adjacent neighborhoods. The recent proliferation of high-density housing near campus increases the potential for problematic situations. This new reality makes it more important than ever that we demonstrate mutual respect. As citizens of this community, we all have a responsibility to model and nurture civil behavior.

Saundra Taylor
senior vice president for Campus Life

Problems can be solved if we look out for each other

In response to the article on Sept. 17 titled, "Purse thief hits campus," I would like to thank the young woman mentioned who attempted to intervene in the purse-snatching. Kudos to you. It is all too often that individuals remain apathetic to the woes of others. Perhaps if more people took an interest in coming to the aid of their fellow man we would no longer need to debate whether or not having a gun on campus makes a person safe. Maybe we could stop looking over our shoulders, and start relying on one another. Just a thought.

Nick Jackson
physiology junior

UA football hits bottom with 'untalented' players

Way to go, Wildcats, for finally being so bad at football that you have gone all the way to number 10 in the nation · that is, on ESPN's Bottom-10 List. It is just great cheering for a team with unpracticed, undersized and untalented players. It's even better cheering when you know that the UA won't fire John "Crybaby" Mackovic ÷ because they are still paying off "up-the-middle" Tomey ÷ and know that the university would rather build a new dorm than build a respectable football program. The funniest part is knowing that the only way that the UA can put 40,000 butts in the seats is by offering the faint promise of winning tickets in the basketball lottery.

I thank God that TBS wasn't stupid enough to have the boz in the studio for another nationally televised UA beat-down. The only solace I take from this season so far comes from knowing that the UA athletics program has finally caught up with the Duke athletics program ÷ both carry a tradition of crappy football and stellar basketball. Now if the Bluehairs would only die so that the UA could have a real student section.

Anthony Raveling
UA alumnus

Football team problems start with coach Mackovic

Coach John Mackovic sucks. In my time at the UA, I saw the Wildcats play under Dick Tomey and watched them lose. And as I continue to watch them play under coach Mackovic they continually lose by more and more points. My question to coach Macky is, "What the hell have you guys been doing?" Coach Mackovic always has an excuse for why the Wildcats lose the games, but the real reason for their losses is that they have no leader.

A great coach motivates his players to play their heart out and play with high energy at all times. Our non-existent football team has a lack of energy, but more importantly, a lack of a true leader. And with all this said, our university pays this man, our leader, over $800,000 per year to lose. We don't even pay Lute that much money, and he produces winning teams every year. At least coach Mackovic can show some more emotion on the sidelines to give our fans a hope that he cares. The UA needs to bring in a young coach who can light the fire up the asses of our players and bring a winning tradition to this football team. The time for Mackovic needs to come to an end.

Aaron Vill
UA alumnus

PTS not concerned with justice, only with money

I read with interest your article on Parking and Transportation Service's interest in "cracking down" on students who try to save money on parking. From my experience, PTS is not into justice ÷ its goal is making a buck. Not long ago, I parked in the garage near the campus bookstore, ran inside to make a purchase and hurried out again, knowing that the first fifteen minutes of parking are free. When I got to the cashier, she deliberately went slowly ÷ and I mean maddeningly slowly ÷ with the several people ahead of me, then charged me $2 on the rationale that I had been there sixteen minutes by that time. I would say that PTS is about the pettiest bunch of souls on campus.

Mimi Klaiman
UA law student