When I first got here I tried to get to school in the beginning of an hour when classes got out. Now there is plenty of parking behind the stadium.”
— Scott Whitson, junior general business major

drive right when the class changes happen and I park up the street on the lot right next to the car repair shop. It is kind of overflow parking.”
— Amber Galuden, senior theater major

Honestly, after eight in the morning you just go behind the Foy or Meacham, but after 3-4 p.m. you can find parking spots.”
— Aubrey Clark, sophomore history education major

In all actuality, there are no strategies. If you don’t get here before 7:30 a.m. you’re not parking on campus unless you park behind the Foy.”
— Octavius Price, sophomore chemistry major

Parking is like war. There are so many people, the volume is so high of people parking you will be walking five to 10 minutes when parking behind Meacham and Foy. ”
— Kyle Fletcher, freshman microbiology major

I leave my work early and arrive on campus early. I drive around making sure I know where to park so I can get a good spot.”
— Rebecca Johnson, junior early childhood education major

Jess Nobert | Senior Writer

Like most of us right before spring break, the past week has been just as busy. The Winter Olympics, “The Bachelor” and the beer bet across the border are a few of the highlights of this week.

The first story I came across as ridiculous is one most everyone will appreciate. You’ve probably heard the song “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. And like everyone else whose head it got stuck in, I’m sure you’ve always wondered who the song is about?

According to the story on CNN.com, “The man’s first name is David,” she told CNNRadio, “but it could be one of many Davids.”

The story went on to tell of which David is supposed to be the one who is so vain, but Simon’s agent has said it is not record executive David Geffen, who was in charge of Simon’s record label at the time. The ridiculous part, as Simon said no matter who it is, she is still amused the song is so perplexing and is still leaving people curious after almost 40 years. As she told CNN.com in 2002, “It amuses me that I’m still being asked.”

As of press time Monday, March 1, the season finale of “The Bachelor” had yet to air. But in reality, it doesn’t matter which one he picked. The rumor going around before the show was he might choose no one, according to a USA Today story.

I’ve never been much of one for cheesy matchmaking shows, so naturally, I’ve never actually watched “The Bachelor.” Isn’t the point for him to meet a girl, fall in love and live happily ever after?

So far, that hasn’t really been the case for many of the couples, except for Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney, who just got married over the weekend. I only know this because of the story on UsMagazine.com.

The ridiculousness of this story is whether he will give out a rose at all. Isn’t that the whole point of the show? For him to find “love” and give her the last rose and live happily ever after only to break up six weeks later and end up on the cover of Star magazine?

No matter what happens, I’m sure it will be fine. Fans will talk about it for a few weeks, then get back to the rest of the world.

Speaking of the world, remember how for the last two weeks, nothing has been on NBC other than those sports? Well, apparently, since Russia didn’t do so hot, the president is calling for some people to quit their jobs over it.

Though he didn’t mention any names, “Russia President Dmitry Medvedev demanded Monday that sports officials step down over the country’s dismal performance at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver,” according to ESPN.com’s Vancouver 2010 Web site.

In televised comments, Medvedev said if those responsible for preparing the athletes don’t resign, then the decision will be made for them.

The article went on to say Russia has never finished out of the top five in medal standings until now. And as for the Soviets from 1956 to 1988, they were on top all but twice.

“Several Russian politicians have called for Vitaly Mutko, who was appointed sports minister in May 2008, to step down,” according to the article.

We all know the Russians didn’t do so hot in hockey either, but since the gold medal game was between the U.S. and Canada, the leaders of the two nations placed a friendly bet on the contest.

President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper bet a case of beer on the game. Obviously, Obama lost the bet, like I did with my Canadian friends.

According to the AP,

“White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama had a case of Yuengling riding on the game.”

Harper wagered 24 bottles of Molson. The beer battle pitted Canada’s oldest brewery against the oldest beer maker in the United States.

There was no word on where the cross-border exchange would occur. Though I didn’t bet a case of beer — that would be insane since it’s so expensive in Sweden — we did bet if the U.S. won, in honor of the other Jack Johnson, the Canadians would make banana pancakes. But since they were the victors, I had to sing “O Canada” when their team got their gold medals.

By Deborah Wilkinson | Staff Writer

For every athlete there are sacred games, and only the strongest of the strong and the best of the best get in. These games are held every four years, in different places and most every country is invited. For an athlete, every day of work and toil is worth that final victory.

These games are called the Olympic Games, and in this Olympiad, the games are being held in Vancouver, Canada. Every sport wants in, and some get turned down year after year, but some return strong.

Skiing, bobsledding and ice skating are time-honored sports that get their share of glory.

Earlier this year, the American speed skating team lost its chief financier, which left the team far from being able to pay for equipment or the dues to get into the Olympic Games. He left the team and their star athletes in peril.

But the team was not lost, for one late night comedian with an inflated ego signed on as chief financier and raised nearly $300,000 for the athletes to finance their trip to Vancouver.

Who would have thought that Steven Colbert, host of the Colbert Report, would be the person to bring the team some light in the darkness? The only term of the agreement was that the “Colbert Nation” logo be on every racers’ thigh.

It turns out it is prime advertisement space; each thigh goes for $100,000 (Colbert must have bundled). Due to his comedy stylings, many people are weary of how he would portray the sport, but he was done a righteous job of shadowing them as the fierce competitors that they are.

As a follower of the Colbert Nation, I see the comedy in sponsoring a group of athletes that skate around in full body spandex.

The jokes are endless, but he doesn’t make them. As a fellow athlete, I, like many of the Speed Skating members, saw the opportunity for him to poke fun and lower the team further than their financing issues ever could have.

Again, I must note that Colbert did not shoot the team down, nigh he rose them up to great heights. He highlighted them in many of his episodes and encouraged them to donate so these great athletes could get the chance they so deserve.

This may be the beginning of sponsorships like we have never seen before, it could be the new trend. This might make advertisements all the more prevalent in sports, or it perhaps provide the much needed funding for all the other numerous sports that hope to be included in the Olympic Games.

For a fact, I can tell you that this “stunt” got these skaters through their rough spot, but I don’t know what exactly Colbert was trying to prove.

Perhaps nothing, for it could well be another ploy in another line of witty spin-offs. So I give Colbert a “tip of my hat,” and to all those doubters and naysayers, a “wag of my finger.”

Megan Ryan
Staff Writer

This is a generation that could easily change this country and restore the prosperity we take for granted. Our opinion greatly differs from the opinion of generations before us.

Constantly, this generation is underestimated and many people feel we lack knowledge of issues at hand.

Not only do we have knowledge of the issues, but more so than ever are we actively seeking change in this country.

Not only is this generation staking interest in political reforms, but also we care about many social issues in this country.

We know from Facebook it is easy to gather people quickly and be quite effective. This generation has used our resources to make people aware of issues we feel strongly about.

APSU students recently gathered against Westboro Baptist Church, who never arrived, and showed their support for Judy Shepard. We are not a generation who is going to stand on the sidelines and let things happen.

There are many people who are critical of young Americans and believe that we have no interest in the important issues that are plaguing this nation .

The Young Americans for Freedom began to fight this idea when they started their organization with just 90 members in 1970, and now its members have surpassed 10,000 according to their Web site (www.WAF.org).

They are now active participants in elections and standing up for conservative issues they believe in. This is a growing trend in America.

Not only are many young political groups popping up everywhere, but we are also seeing an increased number of young volunteer groups. All over, this generation is seeing changes that need to made and we are actively doing something about them.

The issue is not that this is a generation that doesn’t care about its country, but rather we are not being heard.

Hamilton College has conducted many surveys to find out how this generation feels about politics and other important issues regarding America.

One survey conducted by the college found 33.6 percent of students did not believe the leaders of this country are putting value on what this generation believes in.

Active support for issues this generation believes it is necessary for achieving change that we are seeking. This generation is destroying the stereotype that we do not care, and we hope older generations will see this.

This generation has acquired the knowledge and technology to make things happen that older generations did not realize were possible. We are actively reaching out to our communities and doing good for all people.

It is college campuses, who are full of young people, that make the community aware and knowledgeable of the important issues.

I think the young people of America could greatly surprise everyone that has made their mark in the past.

So, time is due that people realize that putting stake in this generation’s opinions and goals is necessary for the prosperity of the future.