Forget parking hassles, drive a motorcycle

While I agree with Brett Berry that PTS' "services" and the parking woes that motivate them are one of the least enjoyable aspects of campus life, trying to simply shrug the burden off onto local taxpayers is no solution. All of the objections to the recently failed "bus-on-rails" initiative still exist ÷ there is no reason to believe that people who don't currently ride the bus will suddenly start if only we spend millions to confine said bus to rails. I have a simple and cheap solution for Brett, a "secret" shared by hundreds of savvy campus commuters ÷ it's called a "motorcycle." Not only is the parking permit only $65 a year, a bike also costs much less to buy, maintain, insure, license and fuel than any car. Open MC spaces abound ÷ so much so that riding is actually a feasible way to get around on, as well as merely to, the UA. If more people took advantage of Tucson's perfect riding weather, there would be fewer emissions, traffic and parking problems overall. The only downside ÷ concern for personal safety ÷ can be a plus when you consider that a few years of motorcycle experience tends to make one a more aware, competent and safe driver overall in any vehicle. On a motorcycle, there is little room for carelessness, and obvious motivation to improve your skill and awareness, which has a positive effect on car driving skills as well. It's much better, easier, faster and personally responsible solution than waiting until the next election cycle to try and convince taxpayers to accept a huge debt that will only slightly improve an already unpopular public transportation system long after you graduate. [Read article]

Some degrees require that students know from the moment they fill out their college applications that they plan on pursuing such-and-such degree.

Programs requiring admission like architecture or pharmacy have everything laid out on a specific timetable ÷ in which case taking the wrong courses could mean taking longer to graduate and waiting longer to streak across the Mall on the final day of classes. Granted, pharmacy actually means two years of a pre-pharmacy major and four years in pharmacy school after completing a strenuous and highly selective admissions process ÷ which is a total of six years, for those who can't add. [Read article]

I've come to the conclusion that the quite possibly the most annoying thing in the world a bad driver. I can't tell you how many times in the last two weeks I've been irritated by a someone doing something stupid on the road. So I've finally decided to write a column about all the little induhviduals out there who are allowed to drive a motor vehicle despite gross incompetence. What follows is a list of the dumbest things you ÷ and I do mean you, even though you think you're a good driver ÷ do to annoy those of us who know, respect and obey the traffic laws. All is not lost, however. Read the following wisdom and right your sinful ways. [Read article]

Last spring, three forces impelled me into active politics: I set out to improve my country in defiance of President Bush's mythical optimism about the state of our union; Senator John Edwards piqued my interest in his presidential campaign; and former mayor and UA political science professor Tom Volgy inspired me to consider him for post-hiatus re-election. I joined the campaign efforts and dove into politics. [Read article]

Question: What do you think can or should be done to improve voter turnout among college students?

"If you're not going to vote, then you're not going to; if you want to vote then you'll be interested. You can't bribe college students with candy or something."

"I think it would help to let college students know how important voting is. We need to impress upon people that voting is very important for our country and for us." [Read article]