I know exactly how Jeff and Mindy Halberg feel about their undeserved $20 parking ticket (“Unfair Treatment,” Jan. 15).

I, too now know the cruelty of NIU and its parking division. I, too received an undeserved $20 parking ticket. My crime: unloading my car (by myself, mind you) the first day the residence halls opened this semester.

I live in Neptune East and unloaded my belongings at the entrance by the housing office. You would think there would be more than two or three legal parking places in this area (bus turnaround).

But because of our university’s illogical planning there is none of this and there is not even an unloading zone area. And, so I got stung for unloading my car, by myself, for a period of 20 minutes.

I parked in a no parking zone but it was the only logical place to park in order to unload a month’s worth of belongings. Keep in mind that there were about 20 cars fighting to get into the two or three legal spaces at that time.

I guess NIU thinks I and other residents should throw our things on the curb, leave them unattended to be later stolen, as we search for a legal parking space “miles” from our residence hall.

Or, maybe NIU wants me to park in the visitor’s parking lot and drag my luggage, fish aquarium and stereo, among other things, a half block in the snow to Neptune East.

I guess this logic would appeal to NIU. Many of you reading this probably think I am just complaining over spilled milk and that this happens to everyone.

But, unless more of us voice our worthwhile opinions, like the Halbergs, NIU will continue to wrongfully slap parking tickets on our windshields.

I did appeal my parking ticket so hopefully this letter will not hinder the decision by the parking appeals committee. And, like the Halbergs, I will continue to appeal ‘til the sun shines no more.

Kathleen Schrank

Graduate Student

Communication Studies