Letters to the editor

Voter turnout reflects result

As a campus institution, the SGA is fighting to remain relevant. The point of student government is to advance the issues and concerns of the student body; however, it has degenerated along the way into an ego-driven popularity contest that few students are willing to bother with any longer. Consequently, there is an ever-dwindling pool of ethical or interested potential candidates from which to draw. And why would they be interested? It’s not as if they can make a difference, because compared to other governing student bodies, JMU’s SGA is a paper tiger.

It has all the trappings of a corrupt African government in exile, but none of its political potency. The SGA has the officers, but not the ambition to achieve its aims. The institution is the exclusive property of the intellectually effete suburban aristocracy, a chummy get-a-long gang comprised of the weak-minded sons and daughters of mediocre middle-managers. It has no real control over university affairs. Does it manage JMU’s budget, does it approve any of the programs of study, does it have a say in the hiring or firing of professors? No. It is unlikely to possess the audacity to behave as anything more than a ticket punch designed to perpetuate the status quo. The point isn’t whether we wanted Wesli or not; it’s whether we wanted honest, relevant student governance. It doesn’t look like we’re likely to get it either. Everyone gets the government they deserve, JMU included.

Ethan Hunter
senior, history

Column lacks hard evidence

After reading countless Letters to the Editor, I have become increasingly annoyed at the lack of substance included in political opinions, which feature social and economic fields. The inclusion of numbers is imperative in these articles, especially those regarding economic issues.

Matt Keenan’s recent letter against the Latin American Free Trade Agreement was yet another that left me undecided. He says that, under NAFTA, thousands of Mexican farmers have lost their jobs due to the trade agreement. How many thousands? How much money has this caused the Mexican economy to lose? Is that answer greater than the amount of money saved by Mexican consumers who buy the cheaper American products? Finally, what financial projections have experts made regarding the potential impact of LAFTA?

I do not wish to voice my opinion as to whether or not LAFTA should be rejected. I would be ignorant to do so, as I do not yet know the exact economic implications. If you wish to convince me you are correct, show me dollar signs. In the meantime, I will have faith that the involved governments are doing what’s best for their people. They are the ones crunching the numbers, after all.

John Schulte
sophomore, economics

Don’t forget June elections

It starts as early as August, the political buzz around campus begins to build and build until it reaches the height of its fury in November. This November holds the election of a new Virginia Governor and House of Delegates. We as JMU students should be concerned who these representatives will be, regardless of whether or not we are native Virginians. We have already seen in past years how decisions in Richmond have affected this campus. But why am I talking about this now?
For many of us Virginians, waiting until November to choose the best candidate will be too late. This year in Virginia there are six Republican and six Democratic primary challenges, some in Northern Virginia counties such as Fairfax and Loudoun, which contribute to a large portion of the JMU population. In some of these counties, such as Spotsylvania, there is no Democratic challenger for November — meaning whoever wins the Republican primary will win the seat.
Primary campaigns traditionally struggle because they are always plagued by low voter turnout. This means that we, as concerned voters, should work even harder to talk with our friends and family about the candidates and the issues in order to make the most informed decision. Virginia’s primary elections will be held June 14. Don’t find yourselves in November realizing that the candidate you really liked lost in the Primary back in June. Find out who’s running, who’s being challenged, and who will best represent the future of Virginia and JMU.

Welford Orrock
junior, philosophy

Commuter parking should go

A modest proposal — JMU’s parking services finally managed to slap me, a resident of campus, with a $25 ticket for parking in a zone reserved for commuters during the day. The $25 fine is hardly worth writing to The Breeze about, but the larger issue of residential parking is. The simple fact is that JMU desperately needs more residential parking. According to the parking services Web site, JMU has 2,320 residential parking spaces. This number is misleading, however, because — as any resident of campus knows — most of these valuable spaces revert to commuter parking between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The remainder of these spaces are mostly either at the lot across Port Republic Road or on the east side of I-81 — a fifteen-minute walk from where most upperclassmen live on campus. What must be done to combat this serious problem? The obvious solution is to ban the ever-growing commuter student population from parking anywhere on campus. Why should commuters who live in a city with an excellent free bus system be an undue burden on the limited parking situation on campus? Most commuters live within easy walking or biking distance of campus. Not only would my plan combat the problem of parking on campus, but it would also encourage a healthier college lifestyle. Upperclassmen residents of campus unite! Write your class representatives and petition the board of visitors. Join with me in demanding the removal of parasitic off-campus vehicles.

Mark Ehlers
senior, history