For the past three years I have had no problem obtaining a parking pass at UBCO. This year I find that I am about No. 900 on the parking wait list. The notice from UBCO regarding the parking crunch was sent out by e-mail on Aug. 27. By midnight that day, all parking spots were spoken for. If you happened to be at work, too bad-so sad.

We see the UBCO administration back-slapping each other with glee, celebrating 700 new students, 100 new international students, and a new student building costing $3.5 million. With all the transportation difficulties, a fancy new building is not something I’ll ever have time to use.

Take the bus you say! That’s a great idea if you’re commuting from the Kelowna side. Twice a week I have 8 a.m. classes. From Kelowna there are six buses arriving at UBCO prior to 8 a.m. Unfortunately, I live in Vernon where we are the poor relations. Someone with a degree or two, hopefully not from UBC, decided that our first bus from Vernon will arrive at UBCO at 8:11 a.m. Figure a quick washroom stop after being on the bus for nearly an hour, and you’re at least 20 minutes late for class. That’s over 10 hours missing class time per term. In addition, I have one evening class per week. The last bus to Vernon departs at 4:30 p.m., whereas buses depart from UBCO to Kelowna until 11:45 p.m.

But, I have found a solution. I get up in Vernon sometime in the middle of the night, drive to Orchard Park mall, park, and catch a Kelowna bus back to UBCO. This works for my evening class as well.

I use the word solution with plenty of sarcasm and my fond wish that someone from UBCO administration loses his job.

The Aug. 27 notice about parking was supposed to be sent out mid-summer. I took classes all summer at UBCO and could have applied for parking at any time had I known about the parking crisis.

I’m told from the Student Union staff that there are 400 fewer parking stalls than previously existed, due to construction. Perhaps UBCO needs someone to act as a parking advocate, instead of someone whose focus seems to be parking ticket revenue.

I notice that every piece of bare dirt along UBCO’s roads is being used for parking on an increasing basis by desperate students. I can only imagine how long it will take for the “talking heads” to decide that a plethora of “No Parking” signs will resolve this obviously ‘unacceptable situation’.

I wonder what that the chances are that one of the fortunate parking pass holders will be a willing car-pooler, and have a schedule compatible with mine?

D. Williams

Double Standard

In retrospect, I think this letter should have been addressed to the crown prosecutors who will be examining evidence for a possible five criminal charges regarding the sex trade.

Although I do not know their names, I feel with much confidence that the long-deceased ladies who founded the Women's Liberation Movement had read the article in The Morning Star, regarding the RCMP sex trade sting, they would have rolled over in their graves.

It is difficult to find words for this letter, as the dumbfoundedness of the double standard regarding "tears" for the men arrested and the "hard line" for the women is so ridiculously blatant, and unfortunately, even in today's society, doesn't come as a surprise.

Although the RCMP verbalized compassion in the article and talked about resources for women, the women are being criminally charged, regardless of the mention by the RCMP that the intent was not to put them in jail.

The RCMP mention that because of concern regarding the men's (johns') actions resulting in a criminal record, they have been offered John School as an alternative to being prosecuted. It would be interesting to know why the ladies were not offered an alternative.

It is mentioned in the article that the prostitutes are troubled people with, in many cases, limited resources.

The men are profiled as individuals that have means (seems they can pay the ladies and are described as owning vehicles) and are out looking for some entertainment.

It seems to me that these ladies should be the individuals receiving the grace and "way out." It seems to me that if there is no buyer, there is no service.

It is also interesting to note that the "red zone" where these ladies have been banned from by the RCMP as a result of their sex trade criminal charges, is an area where many of the prime social resources available to them can be accessed.

J. Ross