Gray's grievances

Lawsuits have become a part of our everyday lives. McDonald's has been sued for selling coffee that was "too hot" and selling food that "makes you fat." \nDue to various tort actions, warning labels with absurd disclaimers have become commonplace. One brand of dog shampoo carries a warning: "Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." Yet, there are still some people who seem to rise above the rest of society and not take their complaints to civil court.\nWednesday, April 1, former IUSA Student Body President Bill Gray was hit by a campus bus. The collusion left him with a gash on his leg and a very bad headache. Luckily, he avoided serious injury. Unlike others in his situation, Gray is not planning to sue the University. Instead, the soon-to-be-graduated senior is asking for four hours of court time at Assembly Hall to play a pick-up basketball game with his friends.\nWe at the Indiana Daily Student support Gray in his request. Gray has every right to ask for a greater form of remuneration from the University. While the campus myth of getting free tuition if you are hit by a bus is false, Gray still has a strong legal case if he were to go to civil court. Yet Gray is not hungry for money. In the Friday's edition of the IDS he stated, "I am definitely not out to grab money from IU."\nThe University is naturally afraid of setting a precedent that may lead future students to make similar odd-ball requests. Then again, how often does a student get hit by a bus? Kip Drew, a lawyer in the University Counsel's Office, noted to the IDS, "I have been here 10 years and don't remember this (a student getting hit by a bus) ever happening." \nGray has been an upstanding member of the IU community during his four years on campus. He served on various campus judicial boards during his freshman and sophomore years. During his junior year, he served as the IUSA Student Body President. He has been on the Dean's list every semester and will be pursing his juris doctor at Harvard Law School after graduation. Gray has also won several intramural sports championships. \nWe can think of no greater precedent the University could set than to recognize and reward high-achieving students for their accomplishments. We just hope a collision with a bus is not the premise for recognition in the future. Let Gray play ball and set an example of high achievement for future generations of students to follow.