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4 September 20, 2007The CurrentIn BriefDrinkingAgeMothers Against DrunkDriving continually fightsto maintain the currentdrinking age, while otherorganizations are workingto lower it to 18. Someargue that it is unfair toallow people to go off towar and yet deny themthe liberty to drink. Theircompromise is to suggesta more thorough alcoholeducation.Many people referback to the Vietnam Warwhen 29 states loweredtheir drinking age andsubsequently lost federalhighway funding. Manystates shy away fromreopening the debatefor fear of again losingfunding. The Star said notto plan on voting on theissue anytime soon.Cell Phonesand DrivingThe new legislation inCalifornia has outlaweddrivers under the ageof 18 to use their cellphones, lap tops orpagers while driving. InWashington a similarbill has passed and theticket is a DWT, DrivingWhile Texting, with finesreaching 100 dollars.The introducer of thebill said his reason forproposing such legislationwas, “Year after year, carcrashes are the numberone cause of deathamong teenagers.”Currently Missouri hasno legislation banning theuse of hand-held or handsfree devices.Parking is your problemParking complaints prevail,security cracks down and it’sup to LV students to fix theproblem, arrive early.by GREG FARLEYDrivers arrive at Longview everyweekday around 9 a.m.,frustrated that they cannotfind a parking spot infront of or near the buildingwhere they attendclasses. It is a spectacle tosee people drive aroundintently searching for anavailable spot.According to aLongview public safetyofficer, who spoke on thecondition of anonymity,one logical alternative tobeing late every day wouldbe to arrive on campus atleast 15 minutes early inorder to secure both sanityand a parking spot. Astudent named Lindsey,who said she is accustomed to campuslife, agreed, saying that she arrives at 8:30New flags fancyup CampusDanielle Hays/The CurrentNew flags on campus, put up thissummer, add decoration and color.Bulldozers take what little room is left in the C Lot.current@mcckc.edua.m. for her nine o’clock class. A studentnamed Nick said that with his long commute,he arrives even earlier.Another alternative is to park in theD Lot, where 90 new parking spots havebeen added at the Rec Center.“It is approximately a five-minutewalk from the D Lot all the way to thebuilding at the far end of campus (High-Tech & Automotive building),” said thesecurity officer. “If you are arriving fiveminutes before class, you already do nothave much time to be picky about whatparking spot you get.” He added that manypeople burn up gas and time, almost aslate as 25 to 30 minutes after classes start,simply because they are wishing for a veryconvenient parking spot.Parking across the street has beenseen as another interesting option. “Theparking over in the D Lot or across thestreet is not the most convenient alternative,but that five-minutetime bubble is your bestbet if you are runninga little bit late,” he said.“You can buy back the gasyou have burned, but youcannot buy time.”The officer said thatsecurity is going to comedown harder on parkingviolations such as parkingin stairwells and in thefaculty parking lot, nowthat the semester is backin full effect.“They should waiveparking tickets for thenext year until constructionis done,” said JessicaNealy, who wonderedwhether the college issues tickets in orderto raise funds.Abby Huff/The CurrentTie dye me up,tie dye me downby ABBY HUFFThe Jamaican vibe was alive atLongview on Tuesday the 11 th andWednesday the 12 th for a Career Counselingevent sponsored by Monster.com.Students gathered in front of the CampusCenter and created their own art ontheir shirts. Aprons, t-shirts and paintwere provided and the students weregiven information on how to care fortheir new shirts. The tie-dye colors wereto represent what career goal is right forstudents.Following the tie dye is a Campusto Career presentation on Thursday the13 th . This presentation is to help studentsplan their goals throughout college andthereafter. Anyone who made a tie-dyeAbby Huff/The CurrentLV students participate in tye dye.shirt and wears it to the presentation receivedfree food.