Prorations

or 

Another Way that Blackburn College Screws Us Out of Money that We Don't Have

     So, today I opened up my mailbox, hoping for a post card or a package waiting slip or some money, any or all would have been more than acceptable. However, instead of any of these happy surprises, I pulled out a proration notice. For those of you who do not know, Proration is when the school bills the entire floor of your dorm $50 for some discrepancy, presumably caused by one person who refuses to fess up, for example: vomit on the restroom floor, urine/feces in places that urine/feces do not belong, blood on stairs, in hallways/bathroom, etc. The fifty bucks is split evenly among the residents of that floor. In the case of Jones Hall, Second Floor, someone got vomit on the toilet seat and left it there for someone else to deal with. Rude, yes, but that's kind of why we have Campus Services.

Reasons that Proration is total BS:

• Student Life only prorates the whole floor if the perpetrator doesn't fess up, which would never happen because if they admit to making the mess they have to pay the entire $50, as opposed to just a portion of it if they keep quiet.
• As mentioned above, that's why we have CS. It is their job to clean the campus, including the dorms.
• Proration money is given to the CS worker who found, reported, and cleaned up the mess. This leads to warped system because, theoretically, a CS worker could walk into the Jones Bathroom, urinate or vomit on the toilet, report it to the RD, then clean it up and we, the residents, would get charged for it.
• The fee is split among the residents of that floor, so floors with more residents have to pay less than floors that have empty rooms (like 2nd floor Jones).
• Proration is a concept available only in the Campus Services department. I work in Snack Bar, and if some jerk spills his or her smoothie all over the floor or leaves a ridiculous mess on their table (which they frequently do), I just have to clean it up and move on, no complaints and I don't get paid any extra.

    In conclusion, I find proration to be a totally ridiculous concept, operated on a warped system. If they are going to charge someone because of "Excessive Mess," then they need to send a sample off to a lab and find out whose it is and charge that person, instead of squeezing college students for more money that we don't have.

Letter to Jones Hall House Council

To the members of the 2010-2011 Jones Hall House Council:

It has come to my attention as a Jones resident, that some of the ladies in our building seem to believe that the front “patio” area and stairs were installed for use as their own giant ash tray. Not only is this rude, but it makes Jones as a whole look trashy. It would be my proposition to put in place some sort of ash tray or cigarette butt receptacle in order to contain waste and preserve the cleanliness of an area that we all share, and is often a prospective student’s first view of Jones Hall.

This brings me to my second point. Every morning when I leave for my early classes, I get up, get dressed, grab my textbooks and head downstairs. Upon reaching the front door, I take a deep breath, hold my nose, and plunge into a sea of toxic chemicals and airborne particulate matter. That is my long-winded way of saying that I really hate having to walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke every time I leave Jones. I respect the smokers’ right to give themselves lung cancer, but I would rather they not take me down with them. Also worthy of note: Illinois state law requires smokers to stay at least 30 feet away from the doors of public buildings, a practice which if often ignored by smokers who sit directly around the corner from the door. I would propose a designated smoking area, far enough from the door that those of us who choose not to smoke do not have to be subjected to the hundreds or poisonous chemicals contained in secondhand smoke.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely:

Larra K Brogdon, Jones Hall 202

Give me your thoughts and/or feelings. Does this sound mature and reasonable? Is it well written? Anything else you can think of. Thanks!

The College Adventures: Day 44

     Ah, fall. Yes, it's that time of year again, when the first hints of gold and orange begin to touch the trees and the air has a crisp, chilly quality that makes me feel energized and happy. I walked a different route to my dorm today just to enjoy it. My southern room mate thinks the weather is far too cold; but being the doll that she is, obligingly sleeps with approximately 64 blankets when I suggest sleeping with the window open.

    I had my first official critique in my Basic Drawing class today, and I got so much great feedback from my class mates and instructor. I was over all pleased with how the piece turned out, and my instructor was impressed that I had taken the time to mat it.

    I really love how the darker eye came out. For larger photos, see my Facebook Photo album entitled, "Art - College Edition."

    Well, I think that about wraps up my thoughts for today. I wish you all well. Go enjoy this fabulous fall!