Technique Article on the Reck's Search for a New Garage

Rodzilla

Rodzilla

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The front page article in today's issue of the Technique is a pretty well-written article on the Reck's current search for a new garage. In case you didn't know, the Reck is currently housed in a garage provided by the Administration but due to renovation plans it will have to move in the next year and a half.

Here's the article - http://nique.net/news/100204
 
Does anyone else think it's asinine there isn't a nice, permanent garage on campus provided by the AA for the Wreck? There should be some sort of garage/show place for it, where it can be safely stored and admired by visitors during the week.
 
They can use my garage...

I would park half a mile away if it meant I could walk into my garage and see the Wreck every morning...
 
The Wreck should be put on display somewhere on campus and provided sufficient space and equipment for maintenance.

The AA should step up financially and the school should provide the space to make it happen.
 
Rodzilla said:
The front page article in today's issue of the Technique is a pretty well-written article on the Reck's current search for a new garage. In case you didn't know, the Reck is currently housed in a garage provided by the Administration but due to renovation plans it will have to move in the next year and a half.

Here's the article - http://nique.net/news/100204
Click to expand...


This happens every five years. The AA tries it whenever they think the last students who stopped it or solved the problem are gone, and I'm sure they are eager to try it with a new administration.

If the various student groups don't work together, I'm sure the AA will succeed.

The Ramblin' Wreck is student owned, student maintained, and a member of the student body. This ticks a lot of people off. The list starts with the Alumni Association, which once tried to take control of the wreck. They now have an imitation wreck.

These are the main factors at play here:
1) Funding for the ramblin wreck traditionally came from several sources, including the AA (this includes funding in kind, like free rent). Right now, budgets are tight and managers must do more with less. And it is hard to do much when you cannnot call for a command appearance.

2) The Wreck is a well-known symbol of the Institute. When something happens to that symbol, such as an actual wreck, people take note. They ask questions. When the wreck was nearly destroyed, a lot of people wondered why the AA or the Institute did not pay for insurance. Ringing phones and heated emails don't make any manager happy.

3) The AA is resistant to student control. The new administration also has its own views, which the interested can learn about from seeing how it dealt with students at UC-Boulder. Their relationship with the Greek system there is highly instructive. Students rarely know how to kick the administration in the balls and get their way. This is probably a test case in many ways. Either students have to pay for everything themselves--no free rent--or turn over some control to the AA. If students have good leaders, they'll brow beat the administration into backing down.

------------------

If the major student players (Reck Club, SGA, Greeks, band, minority groups, and student publications) call the administration's hand openly and frequently, they'll win. This EXACT same thing has happened AT LEAST twice before.

If they try to work things out quietly, they'll lose and they will lose badly. Of course, they'll pat themselves on the back and enjoy being administration lap dogs. This Technique article is a good first step.

The administration should be happy if students push back on issues like this. Those responses will prevent the new admin from doing anything that truly alienates alumni and hurts donations.


In short, the administration will never allow the Reck to have a showcase on campus and a nice garage unless they can control the Reck. And anyone who thinks the reck should not be controlled by the students is worse than a U[sic]GA fan in my mind.

The best situation is for an alumnus (or alumna) with a long record of giving to step up and rectify the situation. Otherwise, this story will keep repeating itself until the admin gets lucky and finds student leaders without brains and spines.
 
TechSBP said:
This happens every five years. The AA tries it whenever they think the last students who stopped it or solved the problem are gone, and I'm sure they are eager to try it with a new administration.

If the various student groups don't work together, I'm sure the AA will succeed.

The Ramblin' Wreck is student owned, student maintained, and a member of the student body. This ticks a lot of people off. The list starts with the Alumni Association, which once tried to take control of the wreck. They now have an imitation wreck.

These are the main factors at play here:
1) Funding for the ramblin wreck traditionally came from several sources, including the AA (this includes funding in kind, like free rent). Right now, budgets are tight and managers must do more with less. And it is hard to do much when you cannnot call for a command appearance.

2) The Wreck is a well-known symbol of the Institute. When something happens to that symbol, such as an actual wreck, people take note. They ask questions. When the wreck was nearly destroyed, a lot of people wondered why the AA or the Institute did not pay for insurance. Ringing phones and heated emails don't make any manager happy.

3) The AA is resistant to student control. The new administration also has its own views, which the interested can learn about from seeing how it dealt with students at UC-Boulder. Their relationship with the Greek system there is highly instructive. Students rarely know how to kick the administration in the balls and get their way. This is probably a test case in many ways. Either students have to pay for everything themselves--no free rent--or turn over some control to the AA. If students have good leaders, they'll brow beat the administration into backing down.

------------------

If the major student players (Reck Club, SGA, Greeks, band, minority groups, and student publications) call the administration's hand openly and frequently, they'll win. This EXACT same thing has happened AT LEAST twice before.

If they try to work things out quietly, they'll lose and they will lose badly. Of course, they'll pat themselves on the back and enjoy being administration lap dogs. This Technique article is a good first step.

The administration should be happy if students push back on issues like this. Those responses will prevent the new admin from doing anything that truly alienates alumni and hurts donations.


In short, the administration will never allow the Reck to have a showcase on campus and a nice garage unless they can control the Reck. And anyone who thinks the reck should not be controlled by the students is worse than a U[sic]GA fan in my mind.

The best situation is for an alumnus (or alumna) with a long record of giving to step up and rectify the situation. Otherwise, this story will keep repeating itself until the admin gets lucky and finds student leaders without brains and spines.
Click to expand...

I'm a member of the Ramblin' Reck Club and could answer any questions some people might have.

1. The Reck is maintained by Reck Club and we receive zero money and help from the AA.

2. We are not asking for money. We have ways of earning money. We just need a place that is acceptable to house the Reck on campus. It is really a pathetic situation if you think about it.

3. We would like everyone out there to make it known to the school and AA that this in unacceptable and that they need to put forth an effort to house the Reck in an appropriate facility.

4. We appreciate all the support we can get because taking care of the Reck is not always easy.
 
theDude47 said:
1. The Reck is maintained by Reck Club and we receive zero money and help from the AA.

2. We are not asking for money. We have ways of earning money. We just need a place that is acceptable to house the Reck on campus. It is really a pathetic situation if you think about it.
Click to expand...

When you get space, rent free, you are receiving help and money. When you ask for a place on campus you are asking for money and help. Usually, when you beat people with a stick and they finally give in and do the right thing it is best to show some gratitude.

It is pathetic, but there is no way you should be surprised by this.

All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again.
 
theDude47 said:
I'm a member of the Ramblin' Reck Club and could answer any questions some people might have.

1. The Reck is maintained by Reck Club and we receive zero money and help from the AA.

2. We are not asking for money. We have ways of earning money. We just need a place that is acceptable to house the Reck on campus. It is really a pathetic situation if you think about it.

3. We would like everyone out there to make it known to the school and AA that this in unacceptable and that they need to put forth an effort to house the Reck in an appropriate facility.

4. We appreciate all the support we can get because taking care of the Reck is not always easy.
Click to expand...

I would be interested in your description of what would qualify as an "appropriate facility." How much would it cost to build from the ground up? Can any existing spaces/structures be used? Where are some good locations on campus? What specific solutions do you favor??
 
Why not just build the garage into the plans for the Clough Building? I guess that isn't the easiest thing to do, but from what I understand the plans are not finished and this would be a more permanent idea. Also, areas near the Burger bowl might be perfect for building a small garage.
 
why not build a temporary shelter in one of the parking decks under the Wardlaw center or Klaus? You can just section off a lower part of the garage and build a temporary garage surrounded by barbed wire, mines, and night-vision cameras.
 
TechSBP said:
When you get space, rent free, you are receiving help and money. When you ask for a place on campus you are asking for money and help. Usually, when you beat people with a stick and they finally give in and do the right thing it is best to show some gratitude.

It is pathetic, but there is no way you should be surprised by this.

All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again.
Click to expand...

When I said that we receive "zero money and help", I meant in the maintenance and upkeep of the car. We can't simply go and buy a large garage on campus. We are glad the AA is currently helping us shelter the car and wants to find us another place to store it, we just want to find a garage that the Reck deserves and will be there for a long time to come. We appreciate all the help we are getting from the alumni and fans out there.
 
Isn't the campus, land and facilties, owned by the State of Georgia but, under charter to the school, administered by the Institute? Of course you need to play nice with the school but couldn't Sonny, although a ugag educated veterinarian (seriously, a schooled vet) possibly give the club some help?
 
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