The real Chain Gang
On the day of the “”College GameDay”” visit and the Oregon versus the UA football game, spirit was all over campus.
The tailgaters, the fans at “”GameDay,”” and the Zona Zoo crew that got in line for the game at two o’clock to get the best seats to cheer on the cats, were thriving with school spirit. While waiting in line, the fans painted their bodies red to go along with the red-out theme.
As time went on, the Zona Zoo members booed and chanted with UA pride as Oregon fans walked by the underpass where everyone waits in anticipation to get let in. Once they were let in, everyone hurried to the seats only to find the first 4 rows were reserved for the Chain Gang. The Zona Zoo crew had been waiting on the game for four hours and they were forced to sit behind the reserved area.
The Chain Gang can come 20 minutes before the game if they want and still get great seats. They didn’t even wear red on a red-themed night. It’s absurd that they get these privileges while the diehard fans get discriminated against because they are not in a certain group on campus.
In a time in America where we are beating discrimination, we promote it by giving certain groups on campus special privileges such as this. The fans that get in line four hours before the game are the real Chain Gang.
Christopher Miller
Undeclared freshman
Semester should end before Thanksgiving
Why don’t we finish the semester before Thanksgiving? It is hard for students to go back to the flow of working and it would be a lot easier for teachers to get their graded work complete and be able to cover all the materials they had planned to finish.
Once students come back from Thanksgiving, it is tougher to get everything accomplished and they don’t really have the motivation to work because in their minds, they have checked-out, waiting for winter break to start. Furthermore, everything will be rushed. To make it easier on everyone, the semester should end before Thanksgiving.
Ashley Heskiaoff
Theater arts freshman
Bike diversion program?
So I guess we all know that the University of Arizona Police Department has been cracking down on bike violations this semester in an effort to improve safety around campus. Recently, I was caught riding through a stop sign at the intersection of Fremont Avenue and Helen Street. Aside from the officer aggressively over exaggerating the matter, I received a $164 civil traffic violation. I was in total awe at the price of the ticket, not only in light of a tight college budget, but because it was on a bike.
As I later learned, UAPD operates with Pima County Consolidated Justice, not the City of Tucson. According to county law, traffic violations are treated exactly the same whether they are on a bike or in a car. So, traffic law violations committed on a bike impose the same fines or offer the same defensive driving school classes that a motorist would receive. And, if defensive driving school is not an option, points are added to your driver’s license — increasing driver’s insurance for a violation committed on a mode of transportation that doesn’t even require a license or insurance.
Seem unfair? Maybe it’s just me, but I feel that the potential implications of traffic violations on a thirty-pound bike seem far less grave than the impending safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists if a multi-ton vehicle were to fail to obey traffic laws. Law is law, and safety for oneself and others around you when on a bike is important, but shouldn’t the repercussions for violations of the law be proportional to the weight of the crime/violation committed?
Traffic violations on a bicycle are treated differently by Tucson Police Department; the Tucson City Prosecutor’s Office offers a free bike diversion program as an alternative to a ticket once per year. Not only is the program free, a saving grace for low-income bike commuters riding around the UA and cash-strapped college students, but it also provides an informative lesson on bike safety and laws that many casual or enthusiastic bikers may be unaware of. This seems like a proportional punishment for violations on a bicycle.
Now, why does Pima County and UAPD not adopt such a program? According to the Tucson Bike Advisory Committee Enforcement chair, Eric Post, “”Mainly, it is a problem between the judges and the prosecutor’s office deciding who is going to make the decision.”” Post also added that, “”The more police officers who request it, the more attention it gets from Pima County.”” Hopefully, if students suggest this measure to patrolling UAPD around campus and, if caught, try to request the program to Pima County judges, a more effective and reasonable bike policy will be found at the UA.
Scott Boncoskey
Political science and philosophy sophomore
