October, 2002

John Iannone, ed.,
Graduate Assistant

Happy Halloween!

Inside this Issue

"Free Marco!"
Summer Internships
Take the Shuttle!
Ask the RA
Shuttle Facts
Talk Back to the ImPACt
Parking Permit Reminder

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"Free Marco!"

Letter from the Editor

“Free Marco!” Ha! That’s the flyer I saw on campus the day after the UCF Future published it’s article “SGA President Arrested.”

‘Student leaders and greeks are targeted by the campus police.’ Huh? Really? I know if I interfered in a police traffic stop—and I didn’t go away after being warned repeatedly—I’d be arrested too. So would you. So would President Hitt.

Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. But this was the wrong example to publicize if anyone wants to make that point.

Marco Peña was arrested. Witnesses at the scene say he was warned repeatedly to leave, and told he would be arrested if he did not. He didn’t go away, and we know what happened next. This leaves no room for pity in the situation, and it really destroys the case about ‘targeting’.

The Future is not only distributed on campus, but also to numerous locations in the surrounding area, such as Waterford Lakes. How does this make UCF look? Our SGA president got arrested for disorderly intoxication, and instead of saying ‘yeah, I was wrong’, it turns into an issue of unfair targeting.

If you’re not doing anything wrong, you don’t get arrested.

As an alumni of the school, I care about UCF’s image. Now this debate is being held in the public arena, and no matter what the verdict, it makes our school look bad.

Marco wasn’t arrested because of SGA, or being greek. He was arrested because he interfered with the police. Everybody makes mistakes, and it sounds like he meant well while he was interfering. The real problem is that the issue is now hurting the image of SGA, greek organizations, the police, and UCF. Everybody loses in this game.

I expect more from our student leadership. So should you. Being elected to student government is a responsibility, not a shield. If you mess up, admit it, apologize, and move on.

What do you think? E-mail: [email protected]

John Iannone
Editor

Summer Internships... Now?

Asha Jamila Hendrieth - Aries Office Assistant

The rush to find summer internships usually begins in January. We wait until the holiday season is over, and then calmly return to school assuring ourselves that positions are available because all of our peers have been doing the exact same thing we have been doing-nothing!

My fellow scholars, I beg of you - get started looking for those summer internships now! I know that it's tough enough just trying to figure out how to get through this semester with passing grades, but trust me, getting started now will save you a lot of hassle in the future.

You may even want to look at it from the GPA perspective. Let's say you find yourself performing poorly this semester. Things are not up to your usual high standards. If you can get your application in before your grades are released, your application will be judged based on the higher GPA you received last semester.

I used to wonder why they offered self-defense for men and women at UCF...then I went to the spring Job and Internship Fair. Take it from someone who knows, you will have to compete against many qualified students and unforeseen obstacles to snag an internship. The sooner you get started, the better. Don't make time, or the lack of it, one of those obstacles you have to face.

Here are a few website references to make your internship application hunt a little easier:

careerbuilder.com nab.com studyvec.com parc.xerox.com bgskymind.com cdsintl.org vwnyc.org

You can also visit any major search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, or Altavista. Simply type in your degree, followed by ‘internship’, and watch the offers come pouring in.

Good luck on your search for the perfect internship!

There are over 39.000 students at UCF, and only 12,500 parking spaces.

Do the math, and you may just meet Sarah on the Shuttle soon!

Parking Tip #2 - Take the Shuttle!

Sarah Kernan - Building 12 RA

It’s Monday morning. You’re cruising along in your car… window’s up, hair blowin’ in the AC, favorite CD blaring through the speakers. You turn the corner and all of a sudden you see it. You catch your breath which seems to have been stolen by the beautiful sight before you. “Can it be?” you ask yourself…

What lies before you is not one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It’s not even the hottie from French class. What is it? A piece of asphalt. Not just any piece, but an UNOCCUPIED piece. Suddenly all of the common courtesies of driving are thrown out the window. Old ladies, new friends… even mothers are now all on the same level. It’s every man and woman for themself and if you don’t get this spot now, the circling will once again begin!

There are over 39,000 students at UCF and roughly 12,500 parking spaces. That’s including the piles of dirt we all love to drive on. According to the UCF website, spaces close to the buildings are full by 10 am. They’re full even earlier than that on Mondays and Wednesdays. And who schedules a class before 10? We also must not forget the “parking crunch” present every day from 10 am until 2 pm—during which it’s not even safe to walk on campus!

How do you avoid this dreadful yet common scene? Simply this… take the shuttle! Knight’s Krossing provides four shuttles that run from 7 am until 10 pm with two extras coming in to help during peak hours (late morning to mid-afternoon). This priceless mode of transportation is exactly that… FREE!

Last year, UCF Residence Life and UCF Parking Services worked together to create the free shuttle service. We were not sure it would work, but we all figured that if this was to be a true campus community, we needed accessible transportation to bridge the Alafaya gap. Judging by last year’s ridership and the fact that the University has added shuttle service to three nearby apartment communities this year, it’s been a success!

Speaking from personal experience, the shuttle is a great thing. No longer do you have to wonder if you will ever be able to find a parking spot. No longer will you have to listen to a full CD on the way to school or the same song the radio plays over and over…

There is no bigger waste of gas than the one spent circling the same parking lot ten times. And nobody likes a stalker (you know, when you creep along in your car behind someone following them to their space).

The answer to your time wastin’, gas drainin’, space searching is to get on the shuttle and arrive to class on time. Just as a warning, you don’t want to leave too early, because you may actually arrive before your professor!

Ask the RA!!!

Shemika Dickerson - Building 17 RA

Hey all, it’s here. A monthly column where you, the resident, get to ask the question you’ve always wanted to ask your RA, but didn’t want them to know it was you asking.

Dear RA,
I like my roommate but he has a pet. I really don’t care that he has the cat, but I don’t want to be charged if the pet is found. Can all the people in the apartment be charged if a pet is found or will the person it belongs to be charged? I don’t have that type of money.
-Petfully broke

Dear Petfully,
Wow, this is a common question. No, you can not get in trouble for your roommate having a pet. It is in your best interest to report the pet though, because any damage done in the common area will be split between the roommates unless you can prove it wasn’t your fault, which could be a long, agonizing procedure.
-RA

Dear RA,
Can I get in trouble with the law if my roommate is selling drugs out of our apartment?
-Drugged and Confused

Dear Drugged,
Yes, Yes, Yes. You do have an obligation to report illegal activities you know about. If discovered, the police may arrest anyone in the household until the situation is resolved. However, if you roommate is selling drugs, you should be worried more about armed robberies, home invasions, and other related crimes which very often come with the sale of drugs. Unlike the police, criminals don’t ask for ID, and anyone in the apartment may find themselves the target of a retaliatory crime. If you find yourself in this situation, please report it to your RA or the police immediately. It’s the surest way to keep yourself out of trouble!
- RA

If you have any questions that you would like to anonymously ask, please e-mail us at [email protected] or drop them off in the Phase II office in the drop box. Thank you.

Shuttle Facts

The Knight’s Krossing Shuttle Service:

• Consists of six shuttles on-peak, and four off-peak.
• Is available free of charge every 15 minutes from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
• Is funded jointly by UCF Parking Services and UCF Residence Life
• Carries 1500 residents daily (over 30,000 per month)
• Results in 400 less cars parked on campus daily!

Talk Back to the ImPACt!

Here are some of our reader responses from last month’s editorial, “Is it Discrimination?”

“Did that really happen? It made me want to cry.” - Katie

“I know what you mean. My friend tried to go on a cruise last month and they wouldn’t let him because he’s not 21!” - David

We researched this one. It’s true! To take a cruise on most of the major lines, you have to be 21. If you’re not 21, you have to be accompanied by someone who’s over 25! Uh, what? The hotel is worried about a 24 year old, but cruise lines aren’t worried about a 25 year old?

Just to throw another log on the fire, most rental car companies won’t let you rent a car if you’re under 21, and if you’re under 25, they charge you an extra fee—usually about $10 per DAY!

I guess we’re not supposed to take vacations...

Parking Permits!

Towing is in effect again! If you have not yet come to the office to get a new red decal, now is the time! All you need to bring to the office is an ID and your license tag number. Of course, permits are limited to one per resident. Don’t forget to tell your guests to park in visitor spots, and remember to always park properly. The towing company can tow any car without a permit, or, any car with a permit which is parked over the line, parked in a handicapped spot, or disabled. To retrieve your car, you will need to pay a $100 fee, not to mention find a way out to their location on Colonial Drive without the benefit of your car!