MSU Parking, Business as usual
This will be my 5th year attending MSU, and every year it seems that Parking & Transportation Services are getting worse and worse. Let’s start from the begining.
My freshman year was the last year that freshman would be allowed to have cars on campus. The next year they banned freshman from the lots and made them park in the NJTransit deck. Even though I had freshman credits, they sold me a parking permit through their online system. Though I was happy with this, it would still be considered an error on their part.
My third year was the first year they banned sophmores as well. Again they sold me a surface permit, but it was for the wrong lot. When I contacted them on the phone they said they could change it in the office, but when I brought it in they actually took it back and told me to expect a refund. That’s right, if I had kept the permit for the lot on the other side of campus I wouldn’t have had to pay another $125 for one semester of NJTransit. They told me that they sold incorrect permits and could only rectify this when people came into their office under false pretenses, and confiscate their illegal passes.
My 4th year was ok until I tried to park on campus during winter break. While I had residence in The Village, I was commuting from home and working at IT. At lunch on my first day, I returned to my car to find a $40 parking ticket. That’s right, I paid the same parking fee as the commuter students, only to have access to fewer lots, even when campus is litterally empty. So I had to park further away. I was still mad but I got to work and I got paid so no big deal.
This year might just be the worst yet. This is a compound of ResLife’s bullshit along with parking services. Because I have lived on campus for 4 years, reslife is forcing me to live in the hotels. I’ve since come to terms with that. And honestly, im looking for an appartment with a few friends so whatever. But, I assumed that because I had my car, I wouldn’t have to deal with the stupid shuttle. I was wrong. As a hotel resident, I can’t apply for a surface permit, and as a senior I can’t apply for a NJTransit permit. WTF?!?
I know they want cars off of the surface lots and off campus but this is ridiculous. But with my job early in the morning and my newspaper responsibilities taking me into the evening, there is no way I could deal within the restraints of MSU’s limited shuttle to the hotels.
And from what I hear, the EPark system also reckognizes first year grad students as freshman undergrads. And good luck calling their office. From what I’ve seen, both as a customer and an IT tech, the clerks at the parking office are content to get paid just for sitting on their ass. I would get fired before I could think about it if I pulled that shit at IT. Even going in to buy a permit, putting money in their pockets, gets a groan and a sigh because they have to get out of their office chair.
I believe that the EPark system was selling permits for a total of 30 minutes before it crashed. I believe that’s a new record. Seriously, with all the money they get for over priced permits and rediculous parking fines, you would think they could afford a system that could hold up to a campus of 16,000 trying to buy permits. Not even printing them out, just confirming them and storing them in a database.
When people talk about the shitty parking here on campus, it’s not just the lack of space. It’s due to the lack of a brain power at the Parking office. Seriosuly, WTF is going on down there???
An actual note entry in one of my calls this morning
Client’s speakers were working fine when I checked the volume. Was able to successfully listen to Van Halen – Beautiful Girls. Sounded fine at lower volumes but got kind of cruddy when I turned the volume up. Might be something broken in the speaker. Client was not present so told his manager he can either apply for a replacement, as this computer is off of lease and the new models have internal speakers, or he could simply get a new pair of speakers. Instructed him how to get to the lifecycle replacement form. Here I am, ain’t no man of the world, NO. All I need is a beautiful girl! AH YEAH! BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!
MCCULLOUGHJ1 6/16/2008 9:19:09 AM
A random update of sorts
So all this week I have been home all alone because my car was getting fixed. My mom and sister were in Syracuse, and I had no way of getting to work, so I had nothing but World of Warcraft, Kamen Rider, and my cigarettes to keep me sane. Finally got my car back today and it’s still acting up. Also, in the course of “fixing” it, my radio reset itself and now I can’t find the security code. Great.
I geeked out for a bit yesterday, and installed ubuntu on the broken PC. I love how linux handles the NIC flawlessly, while windows continues to not acknowledge it, even after running the driver install. Thanks Microsoft! Even got it to share the printer with my Macbook Pro, which is great!
Tonight was really the first social interaction I’ve had all week, which was interesting. Photo editing the yearbook will be kind of cool.
Tomorrow I am off to Atlanta for my cousin’s wedding. So follow me on twitter if you care about those kinds of things. By the way, if you don’t have a twitter account at this point (which means everyone but Elyse), then you are officially behind the times. Facebook and blogs are like so 2 years ago. Get with the times already!
I got the new Weezer CD today, along with the bonus tracks (not all of them, only the 4 US tracks and one of the UK tracks). I love how every time they make a new album, I am reminded of how hard they rock! I plan on listening to this while I wait for my plane tomorrow. Apparently they play around with roles in this, with Rivers playing drums on at least one of the songs. Should be interesting.
Other things? Kamen Rider Hibiki has changed my life. No really, it has struck me. I love how a dumb kids show from japan that revolves around transforming super heroes and fighting demons can have such a powerful message in between all that. I think it really has helped me with what I have been feeling lately. If you watch only one imported japanese tokusatsu series, make it hibiki.
What else? Call me sometime? I’m free most weekends, and usually bored. Need to see some old faces this summer
Bomb threat in the Student Center
As I am writing this, I am on the sidewalk with my back on Partridge Hall, live blogging this stupid bomb threat and living off of my cell phone for updates from my paper staff.
I know the police have to take these threats seriously, but this is just dumb. It’s either someone trying to get attention, or someone trying to get out of a final or a meeting. These things just inconvenience us all and waste the time and wear on the patience of law enforcement staff. They don’t want to play hall monitor to you and you don’t want to deal with it either.
Who ever is putting in these bogus threats I really hope you get caught and punished to the fullest extent. This is ridiculous.
RE: Montclair State Citadel Criticism
So I’ve been receiving a lot of flack about my last entry. Unfortunately most of it is about the composition of the pictures, instead of the content. Yes they are over exposed. With all the excitement of the day, and everything, I forgot to take the ISO down from 1600. I can bring the shadows out in photoshop before they go into the paper, but yes, it was bad photography. I admit it, so you can all eat my shorts now. Hindsight is 20/20 folks.
The entry was merely my take on the whole situation. Yes it was excessive, but if they were really expecting something (and not just showing up for time and a half pay) they should have been guarding the 2 entrances that I was able to “infiltrate” successfully. Nobody will ever announce their attack on a school like this. VT was a complete surprise, and so was Columbine and everything else. I really think this was more of a show for the media, than an actual lockdown of campus.
I should have been a primary suspect, because I have a class in the room that the note was left in. So why wasn’t I searched, and why was I able to walk off of campus and back on again with no body stopping me? And the campus IDs don’t mean shit from a glance. They stopped putting the semester stickers on them a few years ago, so now you can’t even tell if the person is a valid student or not. My ID is the same one I first got 4 years ago, who is to say that I haven’t graduated already and was coming back to extract revenge?
Bottom line is, yes it was a lot of force and a lot of guns for a very uneventful day. But the administration knows the campus map just as well as us undergrads, and yet I was able to find big gaping holes in the “stepped up” security. It shouldn’t have happened.
Montclair State Citadel
So today there was a threat against campus. MSC pulled out all the stops to keep the campus safe. Here’s a look at how my day has been so far.
Heres me leaving the apartment. I have my gym bag and backpack, along with my camera and headphones. I hope the cops don’t think my gym shorts are deadly weapons.
Next I walked down Clove Road and onto campus. Heres some cops keeping the Child Care center safe.
No one at the Village or Clove Road though. That makes me feel safe.
Here I am past Checkpoint Charlie The Clove Road Entrance. Nobody checked either of my bags, just an ID flash. I say ID flash because they weren’t checking anything. It’s just a piece of plastic. A piece of plastic that all the alumni keep after they graduate. Again, an overwhelming sense of security.
After that, I walked down to Quinn road to take more pics. Here’s the snipers on top of Bohn.
Here’s Police HQ in lot 22.
There wasn’t much going on at the Quinn road entrance, so I walked north up Valley road. When I walked back onto campus at freeman, I got ID flashed again. This officer on the left was the only person who looked through my bags all day. I just had my camera bag then.
But, then when I walked down to the Newman Catholic center, this is what I found.
NOTHING! I was literally walking onto campus, no bag check, no ID flash. I even walked past these officers, right near the top of the walkway. They didn’t even ask to see anything.
After that I decided to see how well the President’s house was guarded. She makes more money that G.W. Bush you know, and he has the secret service. I’m sure her house had to be on extra lock down.
NOPE! Then I went and took a look at the Montclair Heights train station. Surely, there must be a police presence there.
Sadly no, but wait, whats this? I walked across the street and back onto campus. No cops?
This patrol vehicle saw me, didn’t stop.
As did these guys.
So for the second time today, I’ve walked onto a locked down campus, with no ID flash or bag check. After that, I decided it was time to work my way back to the office. I went up to the top of the Red Hawk Deck. This officer from WPU stopped me and said no one was allowed on 8. apparently 7 is ok though.
Can you see the snipers in this picture?
Here they are!
And to perfectly capture the mood of the day, My roommate Dan…
..Wearing a bullseye.
Heres some bonus pics to make you feel extra safe.
And my favorite. The kid in blue was wearing a Seton Hall shirt. Obviously a terrorist.
HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE DAY!
First Impressions of the new Rec Center
So after 3 years of construction, the new Rec Center is finally open as of yesterday. I went last night to do some cardio, and check the place out. Honestly, my first impression was that it reminded me of Project Graduation, which was at Fairleigh Dickinson Madison’s Rec Center.
The facility is very nice, and comfortable, which is a welcome change from working out in Panzer, which reminded me of my high school weight room. Seriously, the second largest school in New Jersey shouldn’t be similar to my small town’s high school weight room. So this is a very welcome change.
There’s a whole lot of machines, which is a great improvement from 3 treadmills in Panzer. My first complaint however is the lack of televisions. I distinctly remember being promised at least 9 plasma screens with wireless headsets. I don’t necessarily need them in order to workout, but with a busted ipod that I can’t use, I was kind of hoping to be able to watch something while I was working out.
My major concern however is of course, vandalism. It’s only a matter of time before people start stealing the free towels, and wipe down bottles, making the gym experience crappier for the rest of us. And I expect to see the number of police reports containing the words “stolen from an unsecured locker in the rec center” to skyrocket.
But really, it’s a place that I can definitely see myself spending a lot more time in once I get a gym bag together. Which is probably better than spending my off time playing WOW in the Montclarion office.
An open letter to all who use the University Hall main elevators
The main elevators in University Hall run from floors 1 – 7. The main staircase runs from floors 1 – 4. Why is it that some people see the need to take the elevator from 1 – 2? Seriously? It’s one floor. There’s even a landing on the main staircase halfway up, so you can catch your breath. 3 and up I can understand, that’s a lot of stairs, but 1 – 2? COME ON!
I mean, if you have a broken leg, or a rolling backpack, I can understand. But half the time I see people who are perfectly capable of climbing stairs just waiting at the elevators, only to take them one story up! I mean I tend to be a lazy guy, but I know when it’s appropriate to take the elevator, and when it’s not.
Also, why is it that some people wait like 3 minutes for an elevator to take it 5 – 4? Or 5 – 3 even? Gravity is working with you people! Going down the stairs is just like walking, only when you are done, you’ve descended in vertical space!
The Rec Center
“
Monday, March 24th at 8:00 AM!!
We greatly appreciate your patience, and we’re sure you will find it all worth the wait! We’ll need your continued patience as we get up and rolling because we are not going to have a break-in period. That’s because we didn’t want you to wait another day longer than necessary to use the facility.
The highlights of the recreation center include two stories of fitness and weight training equipment, a pool, two racquetball courts, main and auxiliary gyms, and plenty of room to relax before or after a workout or between classes. Access to the center is free to all current students with a valid ID.
There are a few things that won’t be available right away (we are still waiting for clearances on the pool and the snack bar) but most of the building will be open and waiting for you to come over and have a good time.
So bring your MSU ID and all your energy and take a tour of the building this week!”
So I’m thinking tomorrow night when I get out class at 8. I’m going to go on a health spree these last 2 months, and the rec center is only going to help. Anyone else interested in getting a schedule going?
1/30 SGA Meeting, Live on Ustream
Tune in to mattmccullough.net/live today around 2:30 for the live broadcast. It will most likely suck, as all I have is my built in isight on my macbook pro, But it’s something if you are interested.
There is NO right to be heard
_MG_2968
Originally uploaded by Matt McCullough.
I have come to the realization that there is a right to free speech, but there is no right to be heard.
That is to say that as a free American, you have the right to say whatever you want. This is outlined in the constitution that our country is governed by. If you hate a specific group of people, you can say that you hate them. If you think that god does not exist, you can say that god does not exist. But NOWHERE in the constitution does it say, that people have to listen to you.
Pictured is a group of people that were on campus yesterday called “Operation Outreach”. They came to preach their Christian beliefs, such as the love of Jesus and why homosexuality is wrong. And of course this created a lot of people on the sidelines, yelling at them and asking them why they hate gays.
What these people didn’t realize is that these people can say whatever they want, but that doesn’t mean it is the truth. The truth is whatever you believe, not what someone else is saying. By arguing with these people, you grant them the right to be heard. By simply acknowledging that your beliefs are true, you can ignore them and take away their ability to be heard.
It is this reason that companies spend so much money on marketing departments and commercials. The right to be heard does not exist, and if people do not want to buy your product, there is nothing you can do but make it more enticing to the people that will grant you their ears and eyes.
Create your own truth, or find one that best fits you. But the right to be heard does not exist. You can speak your truth like these people did, And maybe some will listen. But speaking is not the same as being heard.
Significant Improvements with campus internet.
We have not only begun campus upgrades of network utilities, But I have also optimized my TCP/IP settings with a piece of windows freeware called TCP optimizer. Below are the new results, and compare them with the results in my old post below. The difference is almost 100x!
Network issues on campus
The claims that our campus’s networking hardware is near it’s end is starting to become visible. I’ve always had crappy internet when I lived in Bohn Hall. But this is getting out of hand.
The Thursday before spring break I was questing in World of Warcraft with Rhiannon, when all of a sudden I was disconnected from WoW. It was late so I didn’t think much of it, but I later learned that WoW was completely inaccessible from the MSU network. Yet I had no problem playing from home.
Now that I am back on campus, I tried to play again in Russ on Sunday night. I was able to play fine, but yesterday was a different story. I could login for a few moments, but every player and list wouldn’t load.
Sure the games are bad. I’ve heard issues about Asheron’s Call from my lab parter, to people calling the Helpdesk with issues in Star Wars Galaxy. But recently its begun to effect me at work.
Yesterday I had a call where the solution was to download a 20MB file from the Novell website. At 10 mins+ per download to 8 computers, you can imagine that it took up more time just waiting for the file to download than it should have.
Another call I had yesterday, I received an [all students] email from a client who’s computer I was working on. Upon closer look, I noticed the email was timestamped at 9am, and I received it at 4pm. (It’s a series of tubes!)
Here is how MSU’s Wireless Broadband Network clocks in with a test from Speedtest.net
Pathetic. Watching the download speed it didn’t even tick above the 256k mark, the Very first mark!
I know MSU finds itself in a financial table vice at the moment, but this is ridiculous. The MSU ISP should be considered a utility at this point, because it is vital to the operation of this campus. And speeds like this are just embarrassing and are hurting the university as a whole.
Roomate(s) needed
Let it be known that I am in need of a roomate(s) for the 2007-2008 school year. I am most deffinately looking to live in the village, building and room is irrelavent at this point.
I am mostly a morning person, but I try to be quiet. I shower in the mornings so I don’t really tie up the bathrooms when people are awake. I am a pretty sound sleeper once I can get to bed. Also, I work for IT, so I can lend my computer fixing services when needed.
Please comment or contact me somehow if you are interested. I am probably going to spam this to everyone I know.
The Montclarion Sucks!
First off The Montclarion is a bunch of pieces of paper that magically appear on campus every week. So what you really mean to say is that you dislike the writing in The Montclarion.
And if that is so, hey good news! The Montclarion is for students, BY STUDENTS! So if you have a fucking problem, then do something about it. If you care enough about something, then you will take it into your own hands.
Also, write a letter to the editor. Just because I contribute pictures and articles doesn’t mean that I am the suggestion box for the newspaper. If you have an opinion, then send it to where it belongs.
But if all you can do is whine and complain about it then keep it to yourself. Because unless you have something to do about it, you are just making noise pollution.
The Official MSU Podcast??
As I was walking back from a call this afternoon, and idea dawned on me. Instead of having this already dusty blog as an “unofficial podcast” of MSU, we could form an orginization with the SGA and make it “official”.
I realize there would be alot of work associated with it, which is why I probably wouldn’t do it. But it could be plausible.
Whatever the case, this podcast idea is already stale. We need to put some life into it. Any ideas??
Keeping my Major
So I’ve came to the conclusion that I will be keeping my CS major. Dr. Deremer pretty much sold me on it.
Despite the difficulty of the major and future employment, I think I would be happier with types of jobs I could get the CS degree, as apposed to the IT degree.
The Unofficial voice of MSU
So I finally gave this phantom podcast a home to one day reside. the address is http://msupodcast.wordpress.com/.
It’s still a work in progress, but now that there is a site for it, that means we are only that much closer to recording an episode.
Also, i am quite proud of the custom header. Not that it was that difficult with the Custom header wizard built into wordpress. But it looks very professional.
Thoughts of changing my major
So I have been having some serious thoughts about changing my major. Right now I am a CS major, but the further I get into it (Especially this Software Enginering class) , the more I think to myself “this doesnt feel like something I want to do for the rest of my life”.
However, the more and more I work at IT, the more it feels like something I enjoy doing. Which is why i am having some serious thoughts of changing to an IT major, and a CS minor.
So far I have made 5 semesters twords my CS major. I can put that into a CS minor so that its not totally wasted, and if / when I declare an IT major, I will already have 2 core classes down.
I have yet to talk to my advisor about this, but I am already convinced that it’s what I want to do. Once i can actallytake classes twords my major that I enjoy, I could actually step up my course load.
What I will most likely do, is register on Friday with CMPT 285 which would finish the CS minor, and CSIT 110 which would start the IT major. So whan / if I make the switch, I will be all set.
MSU and Rave in the headlines again x2
Yup, we are making news again for our rave wireless phones.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/big-brother-gives-out-free-cellphones-186467.php
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/msu-cellphone-gps-tracking-part-duex-186884.php
It’s old news but I guess someone is finding it interesting. Also, GIZMONDO!!! Instead of using Syracuse University pictures in your stories, MSU pictures can be found right Here 
Bamboozle 2006 + Spring Semester Recap + Some Blog Update
Well Bamboozle 2006 was this weekend. This was the first year they switched to an outdoor venue, due to the sheer size of the crowd there. I was always quite fond of Asbury Park, not only because of its historical and nostalgic feeling, but because it was on the beach, and we could get Nelly's pizza afterwards 
Saturday was nuts. Saw most of the bands on our list. At Armor for Sleep though, some girl fell down in the pit, and it looked like she was having a seizure. The Medical tents were getting alot of action this weekend. Then Fall Out Boy was packed because everyone who came that day pretty much came just for them. If you look at the pictures, they are small and blurry because it was dark, and we were a Long ways away from the stage.
Sunday, Mike and Danielle came with us, so we could each go to bands we wanted to see. The guy from Emanuel had strep throat so that was kind of dissapointing. At Underoath, the crowd was fucking nuts. The pits kept forming, and the crowd surfers kept comming. One hit me directly in the back of the head, and sent my hat flying. And some stupid girl picked it up and threw it, because Throwing stuff IS SOOOOO COOL. Anyways, i spent the rest of the set watching it being thrown around until the end when i found it on the ground amoungst ripped up posters and other crap.
Method Man got an awesome crowd response. I stuck around for a while before Mike and I went to see a band he wanted to see, Fall of Troy. Then VAN STONE!!!!! BEst preformance of all weekend hands down!! THey are an 80's Metal Revival / Theatric Joke Band. Meaning they like to use props during their songs, and make the whole things funny. I ordered the CD yesterday morning off of their website, so I can give it out once it gets here. In the meantime, check out their Myspace, or their Website.
Panic! At the Disco was a little dissapointing for me. I have always loved their CD, But their live perfomance and their CD performance were very different just because the CD version is so post produced. Maybe I was just expecting too much, or I didn't stick around long enough. H.I.M. Was also dissapointing. The guy just stood there and sung, and didn't move around at all. I was also dissapointed that he was wearing a suit and tie, because if you are familiar with his videos and CD covers, he usually doesn't.
A.F.I. and Taking Back Sunday closed the night, and they were Awesome! Mike was dissapointed that A.F.I. Played mostly only their latest CD, but I didn't mind. Then Taking Back Sunday was amazing. Then one kid from the audiance climed the Parking Sector lamp post thing that lets you know where you park. He got so far up, i was sure he was just going to stay there and make the Fire Dept. get him down. But he got down ok, only to be arrested lol.
A great weekend. Check the Pictures.
As for the end of the semester, I was officially finished Yesterday. But I stil have one more shift to work tonight, and then I can pack up and move out. We leave for Orlando on thursday, so i have a day to relax and chill out. I will probably spend it going to the mall anyways, because I need new shoes, but i didnt want to get them before Bamboozle lol.
And a quick blog update, I added a module for My Bloglines Blog Clips. So now you can check out the stories that I find interesting. ALso if you haven't noticed yet, My URL is a direct link to the About Me page. I figure that it would be nicer to have a kind of cover page for people who stumble across my URL on Myspace or Facebook and such. If you want a direct link to the blog, you can find it here. RSS feeds shouldn't be affected.
Good Eye Sniper
If there was ever a song that meant summer, this would be it
A short list of what stands between me and summer
- Computer Science
Project 3Project 4Last Assignment- Final Exam
- Calculus
Test 3
Extra Credit
- Final Exam
- Religion
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Taoism
- Shinto
MythologyFinal Test
2 1/2 weeks
A Day in the Life of Matthew
After Elyse did the same thing, I tried this out.
Basically I took pictures of everything throught my day, and added descriptions and notes on Flickr.
Enjoy
Fall 2006 Schedule
- CHEM-120-11 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
- MR 02:30-03:45PM RI 114
- F 01:00-03:50PM RI 333
- MATH-221-01 CALCULUS II
- TR 09:35-11:15AM RI 116
- PEGN-275-01 BEGINNING KARATE
- T 06:30-08:40PM UN 4002
- MATH-106-01 CONTEMP APPLD MATH FOR EVERYONE
- MW 11:30-12:45PM RI 273
- CMPT-371-01 SOFTWARE ENG I:ANALYSIS & DESIGN
- MW 05:30-07:10PM RI 114
At the moment this is what my schedule looks like. Yes i am taking "Beginning Karate" And yes, it is in University Hall. Dare i say it? Flipping Awesome?
Everything else is in Richardson. But at least i got into chemistry with Whitener.
This makes for a busy schedule. Put on top of this, work at OIT (Considering jumping to tier 4 Yikes!) and potentially technology liason (sp?) for The Normal Review, and you have the ingredients for a Hectic Fall 2006 Semester.
But im out of Bohn Hall for Sure!!!
