PUBLISHED: 10-19-98

Letters to the Editor

I have noticed the new artwork in the paper this year.

Marcus Jenkins
Staff Writer

Dear Chronicle,

I have noticed the new artwork in the paper this year. I find it interesting that you all have found someone to write comics. I just hope this year the Chronicle will continue to keep Columbia informed on campus news.

As a former staff writer, I keep a close watch on how the news is presented. I do commend you on your choice for the new and improved sports section. Last year there was not enough coverage for sports. I get tired of seeing an opinionated sports column and not enough news about what is really going on with sports.

Since there are no sports at Columbia, it is probably hard to get students interested in reading a sports section in our school paper. This should be the time to report on teams that do not get the attention they deserve from the Sun Times and the Tribune. I suggest extended coverage of the Chicago Wolves and the Chicago Fire, even though soccer is not that popular in this city.

To be honest, I don’t understand why Columbia has not tried to have some sports, and that comic strip that was in the first issue (The Fantastic Adventures of Columbia College’s Imaginary Athletic Program) really brought that out. It seems weird for a school that has been around this long to not have any sports. At least intermural sports would help. Considering how much we pay for tuition, Columbia should have those kind of activities.

Dwayne Ervin
Senior, Print Journalism

In response to last week’s article, “Servers too often get stiffed,” I say “Amen!” As a full-time student, I also choose to wait tables to earn my living. Waiting tables is great because the hours are flexible, you meet a lot of interesting people and you always have cash in your pocket. What many guests that I serve don’t realize is that I get paid just $3.09 an hour to serve them, and whether or not I’m able to pay for rent, tuition and groceries depends on how much they tip me (if they tip me at all).

Many people are unaware that it actually costs me money to wait on tables. As Ms. Boisvert pointed out in her article, servers are generally required to claim ten percent of their sales as “tips earned” for tax purposes. So, for example, if you and your friends ring up a $50 tab, the government assumes you tipped me five dollars. In addition, I am required to tip out a percentage of my sales to the people that serve you. One percent of my total earnings goes to the food runner who brings you your food, another one percent goes to the busser who takes your dirty dishes away, and one percent goes to the bartender who makes all your drinks. So on your $50 tab, I owe $1.50 in tipouts and get taxed on $5 of income, regardless of how much you tip me.

Many times, guests will ring up a substantial tab (for example, $63.19), and leave $64. How insulting. What’s worse is when they say, “Thanks! You were great,” upon handing me a dollar tip on a $96 tab. And still worse is when guests are unbearably demanding and rude, and don’t tip at all! Being rude to your server is not going to do anything to enhance the quality of service your receive.

So the next time you dine out, remember how much time and effort you’re saving by having someone serve you, and ask yourself, “How much is this worth to me?” Everybody throw in an extra couple of bucks, and if nothing else, be polite! After all, what goes around, comes around.

Mike Aparicio
Junior, Journalism

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