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???

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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?