Controversy on graduation location continues

by Nicole Klimas managing editor

The school year has only just begun, but the time has come once again for the school to begin the plans for commencement in May. May seems a long seven months away, yet in actuality the time will fly by and the graduates will soon be proceeding down the aisle to receive their degree. The question remains, however, where will graduation be held this coming May?

Colleen Murphy, senior class president, and the senior class board are hoping to convince the school to once again move graduation exercises to the lawn be- hind the mansion.

According to Murphy, she has heard a lot of complaints concerning last year's graduation both from last year's graduates as well as current students, and she does not want this year's graduation to turn into the fiasco that it was last year.

At the urging of Dr. Robert Bonfiglio, vice president for student development, Murphy has written a letter to President Antoinette Iadarola hoping to schedule a meeting with her to discuss the possibilities. Murphy has also seen Dr. Iadarola in the Dixon Center and has requested an interview in person. As of Tuesday, Oct. 20, Murphy had not received a reply from Dr. Iadarola. one of the suggestions was that the students only be allowed to have a certain number of tickets. Each member of this year's senior class will only receive four tickets for graduation, whereas in years past students could invite as many people as they wanted. Last year, however, that proved to be a mistake when at least two reported fights broke out over seating.

"We will not settle for having graduation inside," said Murphy.

The next step in the fight to have graduation outside is a senior class petition.

According to Bonfiglio, last year's graduation was held in the Dixon Center because last year's class was asked their preference and they wanted it to be held inside with the air conditioning.

Graduation inside is also more practical than having it outside because of the unreliability of the weather.

The Dixon Center could, however, be used as a backup if the weather is bad, said Murphy.

"We are willing to take extreme measures in order to have our graduation outside."

According to Bonfiglio, last year's graduation was "okay."

Suggestions and changes were made after the graduation and

According to Murphy, the battle to have graduation outside is not only for her senior class but for the underclassmen, who will one day have to take on the fight themselves.

Price of parking tickets increased, money goes toward college budget

by Paul Moser sports editor

The prices of parking tickets have increased by at least ten dollars per violation this year in an attempt to deter violations which were prosecuted in record numbers last year.

According to Rich McErlean, director of public safety, "Last year the department of Public Safety wrote more parking tickets than in any previous year. This is an effort to reduce traffic violations this year."

When the numbers of tickets began to rise towards the end of the year, McErlean decided to resort to stricter methods. At the end of the year McErlean presented a request to Dr. Robert Bonfiglio, vice president for Student Development, requesting a raise in parking ticket prices, which Bonfiglio authorized.

As it stands now, there are two prices for violations in parking-$25 and $35-and there are more expensive fines for moving violations. If one is found guilty of a moving violation, they may be subject to a fine of up to $100.

McErlean said that as of right now, "It is too early to determine whether or not the increase has had an impact, but we're hoping the increase will reduce traffic violations."

When a fine is received, it is automatically charged to the stu- dent's college bills. When a student receives his or her tuition bill there will be a fine, if one is accumulated, with "parking ticket'' labeled as the offense. Students must pay that fine almost the same as library fees are paid, in the business office, to avoid the withholding of grades at the end of the semester.

The money received from the parking tickets goes to the bottom line of the college's budget in a miscellaneous revenue category, according to Stephen Lightcap, vice president for finance and administration.

'The only thing counted on as revenue by the college are the parking permits, not the tickets," Lightcap said. Permits are currently $35 for the year and an extra $5 for the sticker.

1998-89 VehlcleRegulations

Parking Violations

Violation

Registration violation

Parking in a restricted zone

Parking next to the houses during snow stonns

Blocking entranceramps,driveways, dumpsters: doorways

P~"onFciifflt]m"'roadways

Littering

Parking on grassor unpaved roadways

Parking in a fire zone

Parking in a handicapp¢<1space

Blocking a handicapped space or crosswalk

Double parking

Violation

Moving Violations

Driving without an operator's license

Driving an unregistered vehicle

Driving an uninsured vehicle

Driving an uninspected vehicle

Driving in excess of the 15 mph speed limit

Failure to stop at stop signs

Reck.less driving

Turfing (plus costs)

Driving under influence of drugs or alcohol

Fine $25 $25 $25 $25 =-:c-~$25 $25 $25 $35 $35 $35 $25

Fine $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 $75 $75 $100