Economics fails to fuel argument

Travis Henry didnât do his homework for his column ãFees feed studentâs frustrationä (The Metropolitan, Sept. 12, 1997). So, I have no problem calling him what he said he isnât ÷ ãan environmental-polluting, sports-bashing homophobe.ä

The crux of his argument was economics. He cites fees for three programs he said he will never use and shouldnât have to pay for. Those were the bus pass, athletics and the fraction of the activity fee that goes to Gay
Lesbian Bisexual Trans Student Services.

But his argument is just a rant, and he uses stereotypes I will not repeat in this piece.

Iâll just stick to the facts.

The bus pass fee is $11.50. The athletic fee is $18. The maximum activity fee is $36. This activity fee is divvied up among several Metro and tri-institutional departments, including Student Publications, Student Activities, Legal Services and GLBTSS, which gets funding from all Auraria schools.

Metro gave $29,000 to GLBTSS. Approximately 17,000 students are enrolled at Metro. That means Metro students contribute about $1 each per semester to that program.

So Travis is quibbling about approximately $30 per semester. He could save that by leaving his Ford Escort at home for a couple of weeks and riding the bus.

Next, he said the vote on the bus pass was ãpoorly planned, barely advertised and inconsistent.ä

What does he want? News flashes beamed straight to his home?

He said he read about the athletic teams in The Metropolitanâs sports section. If he looked at the news section, he could have found ample stories leading up to and reporting the results of the bus pass referendum. The Metropolitan has been reporting on this issue since 1995.

Travis should also know that Auraria has only 6,500  parking spaces, some of which are reserved for permit parking. So the money he kicks in each semester for the bus pass fee is added security that some people will ride the bus and leave his precious space open, so he can pay up to $5 a pop to park.

Travis also said he wants ãpromotions, advertisements and special eventsä to attract him to Metro team sports.

The day before Travisâ column came out, the annual ãAthletics Jamboreeä attracted students to contests, athletes, coaches and other athletics personnel. Beside that, the school has marquees and/or bulletin boards in the Central Classroom, the Tivoli and on the Events Center, flashing the dates of such events.

And Travisâ point about GLBTSS was ãlow downä like the title of his column.

ãDealing with these people is hard,ä he said, ãbecause they are easily offended and rarely talk rationally.ä

Well, Iâm offended, Travis, because you are so ignorant. Youâre whining about less than $2 for this program. But youâre willing to pay up to $5 per day to park, plus whatever you pay for car insurance, gas, emissions, etc.

Metro promotes diversity. If you donât like that, perhaps you should choose another school.

If you have a point, then make it with real facts.

If not, shut up.

-Claudia Hibbert-BeDan