ChelseyS.

=Contested Public Space=

A contested public space I have observed is University of New Mexico (UNM) parking spaces. I have come across some complaints about the parking spaces, in fact, some UNM students are struggling to pay for parking spaces. Most of UNM students live on campus, and others live off campus; however many of these students do not have a credit card to pay for the parking meter. What can be the result of making this public space into free parking, if possible? University of New Mexico has a decent size campus; furthermore, there are parking spaces all around the campus, such as, Yale building, west side of Dane Smith, Visitor parking, southeast of UNM parking lot, etc. These parking spaces are mainly around the main campus area, so if you were to look at a map, you can see that there is parking spaces that goes around the main campus. Every one of these spaces cost money, whether you are paying with a credit card at the parking meter, or either have a parking permit. A parking permit you also have to pay, but it just depends which parking lot you would mainly be parking your vehicle everyday. All the parking lots, are owned by UNM Parking and Transportation Services, which is located on the southwest parking lot of the main campus. There are plenty of students who despise or loathe the parking headaches surrounding the campus. One student, in particular, has formed a website called freecollegeparking.com; in fact, this story was also a featured story on Eyewitness News 4 and was posted on their website on October 11, 2011. Groups of students who want to take advantage of locating free parking will surely log on for valuable information. Another website of interest is called college prowler.com, here students and non students post/share their views of UNM parking, whether they are positive or negative. There are only a few groups out there who have expressed their views of UNM parking. One person, actively chose to create and build a website to assist fellow students in finding free parking. With this one person’s perseverance, the information provided will be useful and beneficial to all students who just want to be on time to class. This person can easily form into a group of students to show support and to show cause of needed free parking. The other website provides a “a place holder” for those groups of students who want to be heard. A place for students to voice their concerns and comments without the fear of being ridiculed for voicing opinions. It provides insight into students’ lives who are not only dealing with parking issues, but who are dealing with the added expense of college life. Parking, should not be an added stressful student dealing with class deadlines, projects, tests and not to mention political fallout. Both groups voice their opinions of how difficult it is to find free parking spaces. Both express anger and unfairness, especially to those not so fortunate students, who cannot afford to pay the added cost of attending college. Tuition hikes are bad enough, then to have to pay for high rates for parking. Additional parking is needed. Free parking is preferred, if not free, parking should be provided at a discounted rate for those students who are financially stricken by today’s economy. Furthermore, of support is the rate of a parking ticket. As I read on the website listed; as well as other websites, the parking ticket fees can get outrages. I believe both groups would support more areas for free parking. Free parking structures would be welcomed, or as I had suggested, at a reduced rate. I do support the groups that have a concern about campus parking. It its difficult to find parking, in addition, rates for permits are expensive when you are already paying for high tuition, textbooks, gasoline, food expenses, vehicle maintenance, etc. Can parking permits be provided to students at a discounted rate? I would encourage school administration to look at this area for those students who are in the same financial burden as I am. I believe the future for public parking will remain the same. Regardless of groups trying to make a change, politics seem to always play a major role in any decision making. I do not think that present and future conflicts for free parking will be resolved. Parking is a money making method for the University and the city of Albuquerque. The conflict will always be in favor of the University and/or the city.

Teenage Domestic Violence
Teenage domestic violence is the most emotional experience a teenager does not want to go through while in a relationship. The person can go through depression and possibly lead to suicide. Most of their feelings are hidden from everyone, it is hard for them to speak up and try to get help from someone they trust. What can we do to stop the violence? Teen dating violence can be physical, sexual, and emotional during the relationship. The abuser can either be a woman or a man, however, women are more likely to become the victims. People believe when they see an abusive relationship between two couples, they try to stay out of their problems. People do not want to get in between the argument, if so, then they get involved in their relationship. People will not get involved until the victim says they want help from someone, but the only problem is when that time comes, it may be too late. An abusive relationship between two people, can be easily seen from their closest friends and family. Signs can include depression, bruises on parts of the body, falling behind on school work, eventually dropping out, changes in mood swings, and being isolated from others. Victims who are involved in this situation, may tend to try to stay in the relationship, because they believe the person will change overtime. Depending on which partner is the victim, they both go through a cycle, and this cycle helps family/friends know whether that particular person is in trouble. The cycle involves three phases: Tension building, crisis/explosion, and honeymoon. During the tension building stage, the abuser begins to become angry with the victim, and waiting for the right moment to strike. The crisis and explosion is where the abuser begins to attack the victim, this could be verbal, pushing, hitting, and other ways they could attack. The victim tries to do their best to calm down the abuser and will do whatever it takes so the abuser is pleased. The last final stage is the honeymoon phase whereas the abuser apologizes, showers the victim with gifts, and making the victim believe that they can change. On the other hand, the victim begins to feel bad about themselves for what they have caused, and yet, they are mainly the ones who apologizes for whatever upset the abuser. Once this stage comes to an end, then it goes back to where it all started to the tension building. Its hard for the victim to leave the abuser because it can create more tension and will make the victim think its all her/his fault. Sometimes the abuser will try to have more control over the victim and will convince them to stay in the relationship. In my personal experiences, I have been in an abusive relationship for a couple of years in high school. From my side of the story, it wasn’t easy trying to get away because I felt like he had control over me. I was afraid to talk to my friends, especially any other guy, it just created an extreme jealously. It was mainly verbal abuse instead of physical but, if it would get physical, there would be pushing and bruising on my arms; due to grabbing and yanking. The bruising, I had to hide it from my friends and family, and it was hard for me to tell anybody. All the abusing made me feel like no one actually cared. So depression came down hard on me, I could not focus on schoolwork, grades started to drop, and worse part was trying to attempt suicide a couple times. The only way I could get out of the relationship was for him to break up with me, even if I tried, the abusing would get more intense. So it finally came to the end of the relationship which he ended it, but came back for another chance; my answer was no. I deserve better than what I had to go through those two years. In conclusion, teenage domestic violence is slowly increasing. More and more of these are starting early as middle school. The way we can put an end to this is if we convince teenagers to speak up, or else it is going to get worse. Only one in four teenagers report any kind of abuse in a relationship each year. It does not seem as much because there are probably more teenagers out there afraid to tell anyone what is really going on. Just like my story I never told anyone until after it was all over. I could have told someone right away but it never happened. Everyone in a relationship should not let one person be in control of everything. We need to all treat each other equal and not be so controlling, because even though it makes you seem like you’re the boss, you have to think about how that other person feels. We should not be forced to do something we do not want to do.

Should Report Cards Be Based On Letter Grades?
Report cards can have two different sides; these two sides, it can be a reflection of a child’s abilities and not reflecting a child’s abilities. Grades can reflect a child’s abilities on how well they understand the subject. On the other hand, grades cannot reflect a child’s abilities due to the fact that they may have a learning disability. These children may not know how to complete their assignment, and may turn it in late which can affect their grades in class. Every child has different abilities on how to complete their assignment, and they each have different learning methods. The first side is grades can reflect off a child’s abilities. There are children in this stage who may understand the subject, and they can complete the assignment right away. The only problem is do these children really understand about what they may be writing about? Teachers in elementary and possibly middle school may believe a child, who is paying attention and fulfilling the work, may succeed throughout the rest of the school year. Besides the point about the children probably not understanding the subject, the point is children can have ways to achieve the good grades they need in school. The second side is grades cannot reflect off a child’s abilities. There are many children who have learning disabilities, and these children are much different on how they learn about the subject. Children with learning disabilities may not know what to do with their assignments; in addition, they may have to take a different teaching method, which may also take longer to complete the assignment. If these children with learning disabilities were placed in an ordinary school without the help of special ED teachers, they would not succeed. Homework would be turned in late or not done at all. However, in the article “Grades Not Full Gauge of Talent” a young girl named Sandra Cisneros, was known as a daydreamer by her teacher. She did not perform well in school until later in her adulthood; she became “a great and celebrated writer.” Comparing the two sides, children have different abilities on how they can perform their school work. Children can achieve good grades, but sometimes the information may not stick with them. On the other hand, there are children with learning disabilities, these children just need more time to complete their assignment or it may even come to them in their adulthood stage. Grades should not have a purpose because everyone is different. Besides a grade scale, we should just have a passing or no passing grade. Letter grades should not be that important, and not have to be based on a child’s abilities or performance.