Taking a stand against RPS

There are countless problems with Residential Programs and Services.\nIf you're a first-time resident of an IU dorm, you have no choice but to spend a minimum of $2,390 on a meal plan. For returning residents, a meal plan costs a minimum of $2,080, while on average, room and board costs $3,000 to $4,000.\nThen there's the parking, a problem throughout much of Bloomington, especially on campus. If you're a dorm resident and want to obtain a D permit for your car, you have no choice but to spend between $93.60 and $118.00 for an academic year, and even then it's difficult to find spots. \nA 2001 study conducted by former IUSA Student Body President Jake Oakman, Vice President of Administration Jeff Wuslich and member Ben Piper compared dorm convenience stores to local groceries. They found the price for 30 items in the Willkie C-store totaled $108.40, while the average outside total was $63.95, showing RPS obscenely inflates its prices.\nNow, people will always complain about costs; it's inevitable. But families definitely feel the crunch whenever it comes to paying for their children's room and board, meal plans, etc. on top of an already pricey tuition rate.\nAnd it's about time someone took a stand.\nCooperative Opposition to Residential Programs and Services (CORPS) is a new IU student organization whose mission it is to "give students a unified voice against the unjust practices of RPS in order to obtain an acceptable and eventually quality living/learning environment at Indiana University."\nThe great thing about this organization is that anyone can be a member, and he or she can stand up for the issues that he or she feels strongest about.\nJunior Ethan Ax, founder of CORPS, said this concentrated effort will hopefully greater contribute to RPS reform. "People always thought that RHA or IUSA could handle some of these issues," Ax said. "While I think that both those organizations do a wonderful job and I'd like to work with them, I think CORPS allows students to be a part of an organization that specifically tackles a single issue, which allows us to be more effective."\nAx said he hopes to build stronger ties with administration and to arrange meetings to discuss conditions upon gathering more information and receiving more support. Students who feel the pressures of dorm life as a result of monetary strains or sincerely feel changes should be made should support CORPS in its efforts to assist IU students. \nOther proof that there are problems with RPS? Bob Weith, director of Residential Operations Administration, told the IDS even he thinks there are troubling issues.\n"I tend to agree that it (high prices) is a problem," Weith said. "I think it is tough on a number of students, but we are willing to make accommodations." Weith's and other administrative figures' accepting the problems is a major step and will hopefully make it easier for CORPS to attack with success. \nIf CORPS succeeds in its goal to build stronger ties with RPS, IU trustees and other administrative officials, it will hopefully be a stepping stone to not only lowering costs and bettering conditions for on-campus residents, but improving student/staff relations for whatever future campus issues come to light.\nOur only problem?\nThe organization wasn't founded sooner.