Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern The George-Anne Student Media 2-18-1999 The George-Anne Georgia Southern University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/george-anne Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Georgia Southern University, "The George-Anne" (1999). The George-Anne. 1579. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/george-anne/1579 This newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Media at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in The George-Anne by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Established 1927 Covering the campus like a swarm of gnats The Official Student Newspaper of Georgia Southern University End of the Week Weather mHDii Today Friday Saturday Sunday Mostly cloudy Scattered Windy with a Mostly cloudy with a high of showers with a high of 61 with a high of 66 and a low high of 69 and and a low of 56 and a low of 59. a low of 45. 44. of 41. GOLD EDITION Thursday Battle for lower parking fines wages on February 18,1999 By Chris Brennaman Chambers said that lowering the fines Vol. 71, No. 57 Assistant News Editor would not accomplish very much. The oldest continuously SGA and the department of parking "What is the reason the fines should be published newspaper in and transportation are going head-to- lowered?" Chambers said. "What would it Bulloch County head as the battle for parking fines accomplish? Don't park where you're not Sports continues on GSU's campus. supposed to and you shouldn't have to worry Two years ago the fines for parking about the fines at all." in restricted areas were raised to $25 Keen agrees with Chambers to a certain v per ticket, outraging many students. extent. Now, two years later, SGA President "People should park where they should, Russell Keen and Vice President of but again, what about those with extenuat- Auxiliary Affairs Justin Elder wish to ing circumstances?" he said. revisit the issue by having the fines According to Keen, another problem with lowered. the fine increase is the fact that the parking "The fines are exorbitant," Keen said. and transportation committee who voted on "Most students don't have Mom orDad the increase, was missing three of the four to pay for everything so a smaller fine is student members. Many feel this was unfair. needed." However, Chambers said the students who According to Keen, the fines are were not present were told weeks in advance harmful to students because on a "col- about the vote to decide if fines should be Losing streak lege budget" most students cannot af- increased or not. ford to pay a $25 fine. He said the SGA students on the com- halted Bob Chambers, head of the depart- mittee showed very little interest in the GSU men's basketball ment of parking and transportation, meetings before the vote. He also said the team beat the Citadel feels that, in general, the fines are student members had poor attendance David Koepke 79-63 last Monday. working well at the current rate. .records. AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION: It's happened to the best of us and the fines aren't cheap. Keen said the only reason the students Please see story, "As it was, the fines were accom- plishing nothing," Chambers said. SGA is attempting to lowerthe $25 parking fine in collaboration with parking and transportation. missed the meeting was a breakdown in page 6 "People looked at the fines as a means communication. to buy a good parking space. As it is now, at $25 a ticket, "If you are deciding a matter that big, you communi- Features people are less likely to take parking spaces which are fact. This is not to imply that these people should not be cate with your members and make sure they will be restricted to them." fined, but not so bad." there," he said. "On any committee, you make sure that Chambers said that when the fines were lower, an He said that there are many extenuating circum- you have half plus one present. You can't assume on how excess of 40,000 tickets were issued a year. After the stances many students have to face. others will vote." increase, however, Chambers said the number dropped Keen and Elder expressed a need for an incentive in "The decision had to be made by a deadline," Cham- by more than 10,000 tickets issued. He feels that by order to get students to pay their fines if dropped from bers said. "The students showed no interest in the matter dropping the number so dramatically, the increase has $25. so it was decided." served its purpose. "We feel that the fine should be lowered to $15," Keen Both Chambers, Keen and Elder said that the matter "A fine is for the purpose of acting as a deterrent. Now, said. "If the offender does not pay the $15 within five is in the process of being revisited and that alternatives at $25, people are treating it that way," Chambers said. working days, then an additional $5 will be added to the are being looked into. However, all agree that students Hungry for But Keen doesn't see it that way. fine. Therefore, if a student does get fined, then they will should take note and educate themselves on the rules Chinese? "The fines are unfair in that often times students have be encouraged to pay it promptly. This would also help to and regulations of parking. take care of the current problem that the department of "We really do care; and we're working hard to make Grab a bite at Peking to choose between leaving one parking lot to seek a spot in another or parking in an illegal place," he said. "At the parking and transportation has with collecting outstand- it better for the students," Chambers said. "Parking Chinese Restaurant and current rate, the fine is unfair and inconsiderate of this ing fines." should be a non-event." get your choice of a variety of food Kevin Powell gives keynote address GSU brings part of Southern combinations with their daily buffet. during Black Awareness Month to U. S. troops in Bosnia Please see story, rican American issues to high- hip-hop fans or not, "black his- By Allison Taylor page 12 News Editor light the months events. tory month is for everyone." As he continued to discuss the He said although he is con- Black Awareness Month hit evening topic, Powell addressed cerned with his people's human- it's pinnacle on Monday, as Kevin another key point. ity, "every single day should be Powell, author, journalist, actor "Music is a major part of Afri- black history day. Just like every and poet, discussed the need to can American's legacy, union and day should be Jewish day, and understand the history of the future," he said. "Hip-hop ex- women's day or whatever." country in order to understand presses our hope, our anger and According to Powell, whatever "our legacy, our unity, our fu- connects us with people across you are, you should be proud of ture." who you are. "History is important to Keep in mind that February is "We are all beautiful, Black History Month. GSU is know because you don't know whether you are as black as my sponsoring a number of events to where you are at, or where you honor African American Heritage. shoes, or as white as a hat," he are going, until you know where said. you come from," Powell said as Slavery was another issue Today's Word he opened the evening with his that Powell discussed in terms Tinnitus(tiNltus) n. keynote guest appearance at of the legacy, unity and future Ringing of the ear. the Rusell Union. "If you don't of African-Americans. Source: Weird Words know all aspects of history, how "Slavery built this country," can you call yourself Ameri- he said. "People were ripped can?" Ssrsh TrucKsis Index out of Africa and brought SENDING AMERICA TO BOSNIA: Matt Brown and Major West get According to Powell, there is Announcements 2 through the middle passage to things together to ship to Bosnia. a need to learn the facts of the America without their consent. Classifieds 11 past. This country was founded on By Allison Taylor Camp Eagle in Tusla, Bosnia Comics 11 "A lot of people don't have false ideas and on a notion that News Editor their information," Powell said. contacted GSU. Crossword 11 Africans were not equal." GSU is extending a helping According to Cpt. Kevin "Even straight A students who Powell said that many of the A&E 8,9,12 simply regurgitate information, hand beyond the walls of the Quarles, battalion operations of- historical black leaders of the university community to troops ficer for GSU's Army ROTC, the Only in America 3 don't have their information to- past are not well known to all gether." stationed in Bosnia. ROTC, and Major West, imme- Opinions 4,5 Americans because they are left The ROTC on campus, to- diately contacted Matt Brown, He said anyone can be book out of the history books. smart, but what you need is gether with the help and support director of GSU's athletic mar- Police Beat 2 He made reference to such fa- common sense. of the athletic marketing depart- keting department and asked for Sports 6,7 mous African Americans like Nat ment, is sending paraphernalia his assistance in creating some Powell said that in order for Turner, who lost his life while It is a desire of The George-Anne the country to come together in from GSU's athletic department ' kind of display within the new leading a slave rebellion to free to print the news of Georgia South- the future, society really does to help decorate a new sports and facility.