In lieu of the Board of Trustees approving more than 200 new or higher fees, I am dedicating this column to the wallet of my readers. We all know the economy is bad. You'd have to be either really dense or living under a rock not to know how bad things are for most people out there. So what are the trustees: dense or living under a rock?
It's not like college isn't ridiculously expensive as it is.
I know they're not arbitrarily creating new fees because their bank accounts are dwindling down to six digits. I know better than that. Nobody in the administration at OU would do such a thing. But what I think they're failing to realize is they're not really fooling anybody approaching it this way during the statewide tuition freeze.
OK, I know that complaining isn't going to get us anywhere. It's time to get even. They're punching us below the belt so I suggest we hit them where it hurts. The places we can control. For you readers, this is the list of how we can stick it to the man.
The Dining Halls
Like that fruit salad they serve? Enjoy their macaroni and cheese? You don't get horrible stomach cramps from the French Onion soup? Well, take some home with you! Bring some Tupperware with you when you go to eat. Nobody at the dining hall cares enough about their jobs to actually stop you on the way out, so do it at every meal. It'll cost the university some extra money on food, and you won't go hungry. And more importantly, you'll be sticking it to the man.
I also recommend that you finish your flatware set by borrowing some forks, spoons and cups. You'll be able to serve your guests when they come over for dinner, and you'll be sticking it to the man.
Residence Halls
They're always complaining and trying to get you to cut down on electricity and water usage. Why? I'm sure it's not because they want to save the earth, but it's because those things cost money. So leave your computer on all the time, leave the A/C cranked, take 45-minute long showers. You'll be much cleaner and cooler. Your computer won't last too long, but you'll be sticking it to them for sure.
The Classrooms
Have a class you enjoy taking? Think one of your friends will enjoy it too? Bring your friends to class with you! You only have to pay more tuition if you OFFICIALLY go over 20 credit hours, but nobody ever said anything about crashing classes. There won't be any seats for the people who actually registered for the class, but who cares? You got the most out of your money, and MOST importantly, you stuck it to the man.
Now obviously I'm joking. Neither The Post nor I condone scamming the university out of money (or wasting natural resources). But what's fair is fair; they shouldn't be trying to nickel and dime us every chance they get. A graduation fee? Come on, if that's not a desperate last attempt to charge us, I don't know what is.
I'll tell you what though, before graduation day, I'm gonna visit the dining halls with some Gladware...
Stephen Pirovolos is a senior studying political science. If you have any ideas how we can stick it to them e-mail him at sp102805@ohiou.edu.
4 Opinion
Stephen Pirovolos
