I would like to tell why I believe the Ball State University Police Department is part of the New Rome, Ohio, Police Department. (Check out www.newromesucks.com if you want to know what I mean.)
On my first day here I received a ticket for illegal parking. I had parked next to Shively Hall in a red lot. I did not know the parking procedures, so I went to Parking Services, where a woman there got out a map and explained campus parking. She circled where I could park.
I went and parked, and for a few weeks everything was OK, until one day I went out to my car and found another ticket. I was a little angry; I had parked in a lot that Parking Services had indicated.
When I explained this, they said that my permit was not for that lot. As for who circled the map, the woman's only response was that I had the wrong person. I appealed -- one of the stupidest things I could have done, because at Ball State (in case you have not realized), you are a number (I am #17779). My appeal was denied.
I went to pay the ticket, expecting to pay $20. Wrong -- it was $30. The reason: More than 10 business days had elapsed since the ticket was issued. I didn't pay the ticket because the appeal letter did not get back to me within 10 days. This entrapment is wrong.
The ticket I disagreed with the most involved towing my car the night before Homecoming. Apparently, this school is more worried about reaching an attendance limit than guaranteeing student parking at the stadium.
I was an hour late and my car was gone. Towing a student's car the night before Homecoming does not exactly inspire school spirit. Ball State is currently up in arms over attendance at football games. If the Cardinals do not meet the new NCAA attendance limit next year, they will revert to a Division 1-AA football team -- a catastrophe that would damage the reputation of this school.
Last semester I read a magazine's description of Ball State -- a large number of commuter students creates a parking problem, so you should "expect one or two tickets." This is important because it shows that the current administration knows this is a problem.
Why don't they do anything? They're making money.
I have only described three of more than 10 tickets I have received since January 2002. I've dreamt that administrators do swan dives into a pool of $20 bills.
I had a realization: This needs to be stopped, and I need to help stop it.
So many students complain here, but do nothing. I think it is important to do something. When it becomes less about enforcing the rules and more about making money, we need to start contacting representatives.
I have written letters to the Mayor of Muncie, all nine members of the city council, the Indiana House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Governor.
I hope that it makes a difference.
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