By Nicole Demouth
This year, the university has cornered us with their creative ideas on how to make up for the millions they’ve blown on Mr. Pitino. To be fair, I doubt that he had a hand in these fundraising crocks, but like all of us, the man wants to get paid. And so, if you have not already felt the pinch in your own wallet, allow me to let you in on the “big” secret.
The Parking Division is offering a purple pass to park at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium (note: an athletic facility), for $70. Most of us are familiar with the green passes which now cost $85. But, we’ve already paid (or will pay) the $25 athletic fee which is now included in tuition, so that more than makes up the $15 difference. Hence, all general parking passes should be $70 and no more. Yet they are not. In fact, it seems that administration and the parking division believe that parking at U of L is so valuable that they’ve taped off the Fourth Street parking lot to make room for what I believe to be dormitories. Little do they know that a good percentage of students would rather ditch class than spend the next six months treating a 9 a.m. coronary. Any sane person would, and I do believe that students at U of L are smart people.
To sum it up, parking and tuition has increased to supplement what we lost to an overpaid coach while we are gaining a building for resident students we do not have and losing parking that was promised to be fixed quite some time ago.
Basketball fans will tell me not to lay the blame on Pitino, and I suppose that I shouldn’t, but I have a really good hunch that I’m right on the money with this one (no pun intended). What makes me laugh is that Denny Crum was bought out for millions after doing a damn good job, and then they bought Pitino for even more with hopes that he would do better. Now, that’s a gamble that is sure to steal Churchill Down fans away for good.
I don’t hate sports and I don’t hate school spirit, but if I were administration, I would want my dean’s list graduates, my doctors, my lawyers, and Arts and Sciences graduates alike to shine the spotlight back on U of L when they’re out making the world a better place – not rely on coaches often mistaken for God.
The last time I checked, the hockey team was purchasing their own equipment and Freedom Hall was coming apart at the floor boards on national television. If I knew that the athletic fee was going towards those two situations or any other stories that seem logical, I would be more than willing to hand a check over. However, no one has thoroughly explained where these little increases are going, which is disrespectful and another notch on the belt for U of L.
One thing is for sure: Mr. Pitino better have one top shelf suit on at every game this season and a record that ends in “- 0”.
