Minimum Wage Debacle

     Besides the fact that a federal government regulated minimum wage is a joke, let's talk about Michigan's raise.  Now, getting paid $6.95 versus $5.15 is a good thing, however, it is not helpful at all.  First of all, the cost of living demands that we get paid more than this in order to have all the basic necessities.  Unfortunately, a national study proves you need to be making $9 and upwards for that to be happening.  Go figure.  While wages have stagnated, the cost of living skyrocketed.  Joy of joys, people do not understand this.  There are people out their in working poverty who are making minimum wage.  The great thing about minimum wage is that it is not the least amount of money needed to get by.   It is a ploy developed during the New Deal to regulate wages.  They thought having a federally mandated minimum would solve the problems they were facing.  They were wrong.

     Why?  Well, having a minimum, in theory, is an excellent idea, however, in praxis it just doesn't work.  One of the great reasons for this little problem is the fact that the government refuses to raise it even though it is PROVEN that people cannot get by on minimum wage alone.  You have to love the irony of that, because we all know that a good portion of some (if not ALL) congressmen are definitely getting paid way over the minimum value.  Hell, there was a congressman who refused to take a certain job on because he swore to help the people, not take a vow of poverty, and that was for a job that made slightly over $200,000 a year.  Vow of poverty my ass.  You can definitely live more comfortable with that much money a year than you can for, oh lets say $11,000 which is roughly what federal minimum wage gets you.  Heaven forbid you make only 20 times that amount.  People are such freaking idiots!  I am doing my research paper on minimum wage so when I figure out just how the government calculates it and decides how and when to raise it, I will let you know.  It really is a fascinating topic.

*AC Update: the door that never locks has now been fixed.  The mold problem is still ongoing though I have been told that the college might be looking into it now.*

Black and Green

     Mold.  That's right mold.  It is invading our living spaces and getting people sick.  You could say that it's just this craptastic Michigan weather, you know it changes every five minutes, but that is not it.  When you are perfectly healthy until you move back into a resident hall where no one else was ill until they moved back in as well, you know that something is wrong.  Well, the Chi Omegas, ASAs and Alpha Phis are all in a pickle.  Their halls are filled with mold.  Some have black mold others have, I think green.  Girls have already been to the hospital this year due to mold related illnesses.  It is bad when every year you get sinus infections and bronchitis due to deplorable living conditions.  The funny part is that the college does nothing to the sorority houses.  Uh, hello, they are part of our campus.  It is not right that they should be marginalized because it is not a major part of campus.  Sororities do help bring people in, as much as I hate to admit that.  And most of the girls, or at least some, are pretty decent people.  Is it right that their needs get ignored?  Especially when most of their problems directly effect their health and safety?

     They have always had mold, but apparently the administration has not cared to take care of that potential health problem.  I think they might be looking into find a way to get rid of it, but not in both halls, just half of one.  Makes you feel loved by the administration, doesn't it?  Besides the mold problem these girls had showers caving in and sewage flooding their building.  Why has AC done nothing so things have gotten as bad as they have?  Well, for one they never close down either hall or strive to do major improvements in the summer.  Herrick and Lowry are generally untouched.  If the halls belonged to just the sorority and not the campus, it would make sense that campus would not interfere, but that is not the case.  The college just doesn't give a damn.  At least that is how it appears when these girls are turning up sick and (like last year, although they finally fixed the problem like in April) have human waste floating in their basement.

     I would say I am glad I am living in my hall instead, but I can't.  One door has no lock, which was supposed to be taken care of the second week of school, but here we are a month later and no lock.  There is the door that only unlocks for certain people and the revamped bathrooms suck.  Taking a shower is interesting because one shower has no water pressure really and another one gets hotter than Hades and there is really no way of cooling it down.  I have no idea how the handicap shower handles because I have never used it, but it was only after our water was shut off and turned back on that these problems began to surface.  Really, it's ridiculous.  And I won't even get started on the paint job.  The first floor is relatively okay, but I here the second floor is hideous.  Needless to say I avoid it now that I am living on the first floor.

**Upon receiving tests back, it has been determined that mold and mildew are present, but not black mold**