Clarify Village policy

The "village people" are causing a ruckus on campus.

No, the Student Programming Board has not scheduled the infamous 70s group for the concert in the Grove series. Instead, the crowded living conditions of some inhabitants of efficiency apartments in the Village are causing some students to question how housing can overlook this rule violation.

Most residents realize that the one room apartment upon signing the lease that an efficiency apartment is designed for one person or a married couple with no children. But before placing all the blame for the violations on the international students occupying these apartments, one must remember that housing is supposed to conduct a search each semester of these apartments.

Whether or not housing conducts a thorough search of the efficiency apartments is the first of many questions that students should be asking. One question that comes to mind is why are the conditions in the village so deplorable that the semester's rent of $1,350 (approximately $270 per month for five months) is considered one of the worse bargains in town? Another question is how long has housing closed its eyes to these blatant lease violations?

Also, housing needs to address how to handle situations like the current one in the village. As of September of this year, there is no plan in the M-Book outlining the punishment that one will receive for violating his efficiency apartment lease. Until there is a definite policy outlining punishment, many students are going to continue to violate the efficiency apartment rules.

Housing director Bill McCartney has big plans for Ole Miss. In fact, he has convinced numerous people on campus that the $80 million Phoenix project will be the best thing to happen to Ole Miss since the 6 p.m. power walk. However, unless he and his staff sit down and rectify the problems that old administrators faced or created, the state of housing at Ole Miss will continue to have more questions than answers.

Debates a good idea

If the televised debates between presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore won't be real enough for you, you'll now have a chance to see the candidates right here on the Ole Miss campus.

Well, almost. Representatives of Ole Miss organizations College Democrats and Youth for Bush and of the Freedom Hills Green Party of North Mississippi will stage a debate of their respective party's candidates. The debates are a wonderful service provided to Ole Miss students. Students will have the opportunity to hear debate on the major issues in the campaigns.

Be sure to attend the debates on Oct. 3 and 17, and when you see Keith Wright of the Green Party, Robert Foster of the College Republicans, and Tori Danson of Youth for Bush, be sure to tell them thank you. Without these student organizers, there probably would be no student debate.