One more fee

Like most Americans, I am in huge amounts of debt. Forgetting credit cards and a car loan, I have just about $55,000 in student loans. But I'm not worried. Thanks to the great innovative thinking of the IU board of trustees, I have figured out who will pay for my massive amounts of debt: you.\nNow, I am sure many of you owe similar amounts of money for your education or various other life expenses, but I don't care. I got myself into the red, and now it is your job to get me back in the black. Sound fair?\nThe trustees say yes. To save the IU athletics department from millions of dollars in debt, they have decided to charge all students on the Bloomington campus a $30 annual athletics fee. That fee will raise $1.15 million in the first year, an amount that puts the athletics department well on its way to being debt-free. And they didn't even have to consolidate loans or file bankruptcy.\nI'm not asking for $30. Adding in my credit card and car debt to the student loan total, I figure I just need two bucks from each of you and all will be clear. Just think, for less than you will pay for a cheap drink, you can help me from ending up in the poor house. Still doesn't sound fair?\nYou are probably saying "no." And I agree with you. Many of you are not my friends (to your disadvantage) and have never met me. You don't use my "friendship services" and are not obligated to pay for them. Moreover, you haven't caused my debt and should not be expected to pay for it.\nMany of you are likely repeating that "no" in response to the new athletics fee. Some of you don't use the athletics department's services. That is, you don't go to sports games nor do you participate. More importantly, you haven't caused the debt.\nIt was the athletics department that decided to fire personnel before the end of their contracts. Was it really necessary to fire a football coach with a 5-6 record (Cam Cameron during the 2001 season) and hire one with a 2-10 record (Gerry DiNardo during the 2003 season)? Even after we fired Cameron, we still had to pay his contracts. \nThe athletics department claims that much of the debt stems from lackluster attendance at Memorial Stadium during football season. It must have been a surprise to IU athletics when the football team didn't perform well and few students attended the games (Sarcasm Meter -- HIGH). \nI love football, and I hope before I leave Bloomington I will get to see the football team have a great season. I applaud the massive win last Saturday. Moreover, I am confident that new Athletic Director Rick Greenspan will prove to be a great addition to IU athletics.\nStill, students didn't cause the athletics pitfalls of the past. We didn't make the hiring and firing decisions. We didn't unnecessarily renovate Memorial Stadium last summer. And most importantly, we didn't rely on a sport that has been extremely unlikely to provide anything but a financial burden.\nBut the trustees don't care. Almost all Bloomington students will be paying the fee to bail out the athletics department. So, since the Trustees are imposing the athletics fee, I will be imposing the Adam Maksl fee. Expect your bill in the mail soon.