Parking questions full of complexities, enigmas

Recent debates about parking and bike lanes reveal that campus transportation remains a deceptively complex issue. While intuitively it seems more spaces are the solution to the parking "problem," planners long ago noticed that expanding the supply of parking lots often fails to alleviate congestion. It turns out demand for parking is elastic, since not everyone drives all the time-especially on a college campus. Making parking easier or cheaper actually encourages people to drive when they might otherwise use another mode of transportation.

The recent Campus Transportation Study showed that many people choose to walk or bike or ride Miami Metro, perhaps because driving and finding scarce parking can be comparatively time-consuming. Those decisions are good for the environment and campus quality of life, since fewer cars clog roadways or compete for parking. That's why drivers might actually benefit from bike lanes, because encouraging biking can free up parking spaces for those who really need them. It's certainly imperative that Miami plan a more convenient and sustainable transportation system, but more parking may be not always be the right answer to our problem.

David Prytherch Geography Department prythedl@muohio.edu

Revamp of funding process bolsters McNabb standing

"Honest politician" and "campaign promises" are not only hard to find, they have become an oxymoron within our society. Even in the past several years at Miami University, we have watched the platforms on which we elected several student government candidates crumble. In 2007, we watched as ASG's John Woods was impeached for, among other things, allotting $50,000 for a fashion show and concert. His actions caused student organizations to receive a 52 percent cut back on their requested funds.

Shortly after, Brian Wood took on the responsibility of vice-president of student organizations, and was quoted in The Miami Student stating he was up for the challenge. During Wood's term, I served as treasurer of an organization and the funding process was a nightmare. In attempting to resolve questions about a funding problem, I tried to work with Wood. To my frustration, Brian would never respond to e-mails and was never present for his "required office hours" (as the VP of student organizations is a paid position). Talking with other student organizations about funding, it seemed understanding was lost within the complexity of the process.

As elections, approached for the 2008-09 school year, Jonathan McNabb campaigned against Wood for the VP of student organizations, running on a very ambitious platform. McNabb promised to restructure the funding process to make it more user-friendly, to re-implement funding for spring break trips and to always be available for student organizations to contact.

For the first time since I become involved in the student funding process in 2007, I felt like a candidate kept his promises and exceeded them. McNabb published a guidebook to funding and student accounts, easily accessible through ASG's Web site and has held informational meetings available to all student organizations before the funding cycles to address questions about the funding process. In addition, McNabb restructured spring break funding, making it possible for student organizations holding alternative, service-based spring break trips to qualify for funding aid. Most importantly, McNabb has been extremely accessible when students have questions or need help. He has published his cell phone number and responds in a timely matter to e-mails. These changes have made the funding process substantially easier for students to understand and I would like to thank Jonathan and ASG for their hard work.

As Miami continues to face tough financial times ahead, we need someone like McNabb to continue to use his innovation and creativity to find solutions to the problems we face. Most importantly, in reflecting on his past work, we know we can trust him to go above and beyond and to keep the promises he makes. McNabb is an excellent candidate to become ASG's next president. His loyalty and honor to Miami paired with his good-natured ability to get things done puts him at the top of the list.

Katie Young Youngka2@muohio.edu

'Soul food' actually recognizes rich tradition

As chair of the Black History Celebration Committee, I want to reply to Andrew Goldie's letter regarding celebrating soul food ("Dining services offer shameful history lesson," Feb. 6). Soul Food has an extraordinary history among African-Americans. Even though there are many outstanding African-Americans who we celebrate during this month, it is also appropriate to celebrate multiple aspects of the historical context one of which is culinary history. Culinary characteristics are an important aspect of all cultures, whether it be Indian food, Latino-Hispanic food or various European-based foods.

Soul food was created by the imagination of slaves who prepared savory dishes from the scraps and leftovers given to them by their masters. By mixing various combinations of foods, adding spices and seasonings, frying, roasting, boiling, steaming foods and cooking them over long periods, soul food was created. The slaves used their natural instinct of good taste and flavor to create dishes that are still served in restaurants and eaten in many homes today. Not only did the food provide sustenance for the body, but the meals brought the slaves together in community to converse and share stories of hardships and successes. Today many families still come together for gatherings, special occasions and holiday celebrations where their favorite ethnic foods are prepared and enjoyed. In the 1960s, this style of cooking was labeled "Soul Food."

Granted, the Black History Celebration is more than just soul food. Miami University celebrates Black History for three months annually: January, February and March. There are a myriad of events, discussions, speakers and performances on all three campuses listed on the Black History calendar that honor and inform us about the accomplishments of African-Americans. Fortunately, our Culinary Support Center supports Miami's Black History Celebration by providing a menu to celebrate soul foods. Every person in our community may choose what foods they will eat and soul food is one of those choices.

I invite you to take part in the Black History events and learn about the many facets of African-Americans and their history. As part of the Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality Symposium on Friday, Feb. 13, there will a Town Hall Forum at 4 p.m. Please come and share your views on this subject and let's have an open discussion about it. Hope to see you there.

Juanita S. Tate, PhD Chair, Black History Celebration Committee Office of Diversity Affairs