Enforcement of parking tickets enrages alumnus
Two years ago I was a student at Miami University. In that time, there were many ups and a few downs about the culture and campus surrounded by small-town America. As many of you students have come to realize, parking in and around Oxford has become a continual problem. After leaving Miami more than two years ago, I never thought that I would have to deal with the parking police again. Almost comically, I have once again been proven wrong.
About two months ago, my parents-from whom I moved away from some time ago-received a notice saying that they were being sent to a collection agency if a sum of $33.00 was not remitted to the Oxford Police Department for an unpaid parking ticking from March 10, 2006. I was immediately contacted about said ticket; after vehemently denying said allegation I contacted the Oxford Police Division of Parking. They informed me that, indeed, I had an unpaid parking ticket and if payment was not sent to them immediately, my parents would be held accountable and their debt sent to collections.
While all of this has been going on, I have been unemployed and struggling to survive on the measly savings I have accumulated after only two years removed from my alma mater. While this isn't relevant to my unpaid ticket situation, it makes me believe that I will never again set foot again in Oxford. After all the money, hard work and diligence, this is how I am repaid? My response is: "No, señor!" While I don't hold the university accountable for any of this grievance, I do hold them accountable for the treatment a former student endured during my tenure there and ever since. I cannot recall how much money the OPD and the Miami University Parking Division sucked out of my wallet, but to let this continue to be an issue ... to me, that is a very disturbing trend and something that may prove to be unforgivable. It's no wonder that the relationship between the town of Oxford and Miami University was and continues to be strained about many issues.
If, for nothing else than your knowledge, I feel it is prudent to inform the readers that the money they will enviably collect from me will probably be less than the fee it will cost them to pay the collection agency. And, all this will come as a penalty to you who-those that live in town and pay taxes. Way to go, Miami, you've dropped the ball once again.
MU '06 GRad
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