<p>To Leviathan08:</p>
<p>Hey man, thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>“Also, thanks for retelling us why UCM is building the new dorms - as if we haven’t read the email, and as if we aren’t smart enough to know the purpose of a dorm.”</p>
<p>No need to get nasty man. Honestly, I’m trying to handle this in a mature manner. Remind me, who came to your aid when everyone was getting on you in the thread below?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-merced/499448-list-greivences-loves-2nd-year-uc-merced-student.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-merced/499448-list-greivences-loves-2nd-year-uc-merced-student.html</a></p>
<p>See posts #15 and #19 if your memory needs refreshing. No need to attack a friend, especially one who has stood up for you in the face of opposition.</p>
<p>“In my previous post, I knew the reason why they were building new dorms; however, I see my point was unclear. In that post, I meant UCM’s choice to build new dorms on our only parking lot is valid; the school needs more dorms. Isn’t that a valid reason?”</p>
<p>Yes, you told us about the shrimp. Congrats on that breaking news. Want a cookie? Not building somewhere to save a species no matter how small is great and I commend UC Merced on their willingness to save the environment…but as if they had a choice. </p>
<p>It seems like I was the one who was unclear in my post. I’ll try to break things down for you. I don’t dispute their choice of building on the parking lot. That was probably the only available piece of land where construction could have taken place. In this sense, yes, it is a valid reason. It’s a “duh” reason. More kids coming in, you gotta have more dorms.</p>
<p>I am angry at the readiness (or lack of) that UCM has decided to alert its students about the parking situation. College is a big undertaking in anyone’s life and to have all the information is of paramount importance so the proper decision can be made. I can’t speak for other students but I can say for myself that one of the main factors in my choosing UCM was because it is driving distance away from my home. I thought I could come home on the weekends on a regular basis to help out my family but now seeing that this isn’t possible, I might have been better off going to UCR as many of my friends are in that area of California.</p>
<p>Just stop and think about it for a second from someone else’s perspective. Think about it from Arian19’s viewpoint or Sephorazn18’s situation. Those dudes (I’m assuming you both are gentlemen) now have to take the TRAIN to get to school. This issue may not seem that important to you Leviathan08 as you have told me your Aunt lives 5 minutes away from UCM and it doesn’t seem to affect you as much as others so take into consideration the anger I feel toward UCM at withholding this information. I wish a relative of mine lived close to the school but that is unfortunately not the case.</p>
<p>“However, telling us this information was indeed late in the registration process; I agree. But, your post displays anger and frustration as if UCM did this on purpose. The case your present, surely does make it seem as if UCM did this intentionally; nonetheless, I’m sure we can both agree: that’s just speculation.”</p>
<p>It’s not speculation, it’s reasonable inference. I have had the privelage of being on my high school’s mock trial team and one thing I have learned is that if there is motive to a great extent, it can be most likely reasonably inferred. Speculation entails the chance of something possibly happening but in our situation, it actually did. </p>
<p>“I already knew the tedious process that’s needed in order to build in a city; thanks for the explanation though.
Your father should be outraged; so was mine. But, instead of being ****ed off at UCM - without any actual evidence as support to your claims- you (we all) should try and find a solution to this problem as soon as possible. I’m willing to work with whoever wants to find a way to protest against UCM’s decision.”</p>
<p>You’re quite welcome for the explanation. If you already knew the process, then you would have already known that UCM delayed their release of this information. If you have already known the process, you also would have known that withholding such information screws up college/family plans.</p>
<p>You’re right, I don’t have any evidence to support my claims except my father’s MIT (that’s the Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology for clarification) Civil Engineering degree and basic common sense. It can be reasonably inferred that UCM withheld this information for quite some time as, since you know the process so well, it takes a number of months before actual construction can begin. </p>
<p>““More money does = more students” this is the only reason I could think of as well as to why UCM would screw us over. But, as I previously stated, any incoming freshman who are really ****ed off could choose not to attend UCM; of course, this would cost and is inconvenient, but they can.”</p>
<p>This is not only ignorant but just plain stupid. Would anyone in their right mind, after spending the $300 housing application fee, $70+ for orientation, and the countless hours planning with parents and filling out applications, pay another $100 so they can leave? This is the main point of what I’m getting at. It is quite suspicious that UCM were to withhold this information until now, a point where many, if not all, students would not want to leave due to the hassle. The option is out there, sure, but just because you can doesn’t necessarily mean you will.</p>
<p>This is exactly what UCM is banking on. We can’t leave so they can treat us however they want. We’re stuck and they know it.</p>
<p>“Your interpretation (you call it a translation) of the text is clearly your own interpretation driven by anger and frustration.”</p>
<p>Well yeah, I just got screwed over. My college plans basically went down the drain and it turns out I’ll have to stay in Merced for the weekends I planned to go home and visit friends. I apologize if I’m human and feel the emotion of “anger”. </p>
<p>“I “interpret” this excerpt as saying , “Attention, we know many of you are going to be extremely disappointed with our decision; as a result, we are going to search and find another place for you to park (it will even be cheaper). Once we find out how we are going to handle this situation we will let you know. Please be patient and calm, we will find a place for you to park.””</p>
<p>Glad to see you have an opposing viewpoint. I don’t dispute it since that’s basically what it says on paper. Lol. Nothing everything on paper is what it’s crocked up to be. Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.</p>
<p>“My point is, as you should know, text can be interpreted in many different ways. Although, I believe my interpretation to be correct, yours may be.”</p>
<p>Ok. I think I learned this in the 5th grade.</p>
<p>“I mean think about it: Would UCM really want to screw over the few kids who attend their school? I don’t think so because that would destroy their reputation for a long time; as we know: news travels quickly.”</p>
<p>At least to me, the answer is yes. UCM is thirsty for new enrollment and actually has tried to dissuade students from transferring out. The user Detox informed of this through a private message.</p>
<p>Correct me if I’m wrong but what reputation? UCM is currently trying to build one. How do you build a reputation? By actually having students.</p>
<p>“Think about this: once UCM finds parking for us, they are going to give a spot at a discount rate; just by doing this shows they know what they are doing is messed up.”</p>
<p>Awesome! Now I get to park somewhere off-campus, thus voiding most of my reason for bringing a car in the first place! This is great!! Thanks for your initiative UCM!</p>
<p>I plan on using my car to get out of Merced and to visit other cities, not just to go back home. </p>
<p>"Although I don’t think they are “walking all over us” - there’s no proof of this -, I agree if we don’t resist this time, next time their decision might be worse.</p>
<p>I say: Let’s just wait and see this “alternative parking”, and if it still doesn’t meet our needs, let’s protest."</p>
<p>You’re entitled to your opinion and I will fight to the death for your right to express it. However, there is proof that UCM has basically walked all over us. If they were considerate enough, nay, COMPETENT enough, they would have alerted us earlier at a time when we actually could have made the choice to go to school somewhere else. </p>
<p>But noooooo, they waited till we were locked in to deliver us this crucial news. If that’s not screwing someone over, then I don’t know what is.</p>
<p>You’re a good guy Leviathan08 but you have to realize that I am entitled to my opinion as well, however differing our opinions may be. If I come off as brash or rude in this post, I sincerely apologize and it is not directed toward you personally in any way. I am still angry at UCM for their decision and have a right to feel so.</p>