Students seeking change from IUSA

With IU Student Association elections quickly approaching, students are beginning to think about what they want IUSA to do for them. From parking to alcohol, housing to dining, students see much room for improvement at IU.\nHousing is a major concern of students. Graduate student Theodore Hu, resident of Eigenmann Quad, said the policies of the Residential Housing Association need to be addressed, with more student input considered.\n"It is ridiculous how much we are being charged for room and board," he said. "I am charged an arm and a leg for a room that is very small, and I don't think that's fair."\nDining facilities and the food are also major concerns that students want to see addressed by IUSA. Freshman Adam Steer said the quality of food offered is a contributing factor for many students deciding whether or not to live on campus after their freshman year.\n"The quality of the food offered is atrocious," he said. "If IUSA were to impress upon RHA that the students will not accept the sub-standard fare that we are offered any longer, then more would choose to live on campus. I know that I can't eat this food for one more year, let alone three."\nFreshman Kim Curtis is also concerned with dining. She said she wants to see more options offered to students.\n"I would really like to see the Teter cafeteria opened again," she said. "I wish there were more dining options available on campus."\nAs many students with parking tickets can claim, the parking system at IU is a confusing system of zones, exemptions and tickets. Sophomore Jamie Petersen said she wants IUSA to approach the University with a more reasonable parking system.\n"I believe that IU should try to focus on people without permits illegally parking, rather than students with permits parking in the wrong zone," she said. "I got a ticket because I ran into a building for less than a minute to drop off an assignment. I also got a ticket for spending the night at my sorority because the lot behind the house is a C zone starting at 7 a.m. I paid my parking fees, so don't charge me any more for something that I don't feel is wrong."\nPetersen also has problems with how much the tickets cost students. This year IU is expected to make $1.9 million in parking tickets.\n"Thirty dollars for a parking ticket is a little ridiculous," she said. "Most city parking tickets are $10 to $15, and they're a lot easier to appeal. We're broke college students, and they are charging us a ton! I would love to see parking ticket costs lowered."\nThe IUPD blotter clearly shows that alcohol is a major issue to students. Freshman Kirk Mravinac said he would like to see the University adopt a reasonable alcohol policy.\n"I would like IU to be a semi-wet campus," he said. "If you're over 21 then you should be able to drink. Also, if you bring somebody to the hospital for drinking, you shouldn't get in trouble for being a responsible person."\nMany students in the greek system would like IUSA to encourage the administration to give the system more independence. Junior Maggie Brozio, member of Alpha Gamma Delta, views independence as a constructive way to improve the system from within.\n"I believe that the greek system should be self-governed to a greater degree," she said. "IUSA should emphasize to administration that we are adults and capable of governing ourselves."\nBrozio believes that increased independence is not an invitation to violate University policies. \n"I don't believe that this would be a free-for-all," she said. "It would be a constructive way for the greek system to improve itself at IU."\nStudents have a clear idea of where they want IUSA to lead the student body. The task is left to the Kirkwood, Steel and Synergy and tickets to address the student needs.\nStudents can vote Feb. 26 at www.indiana.edu/~iusa.