[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: College Students with BM
As a graduate of subject institution, Lehigh Univ. ( BSEE'68) and in today's
time frame, the owner operator of a BMW -- I would offer the following
comments and observations.
(Way)back then, freshmen were not allowed cars (at least on campus with the
knowledge of the administration). Of course , back in those dark days, the
university was not co-ed either! (but that's another topic). As a parent with
significant experience, the concept of donating the car to the University as a
consequence of the student's failure to concentrate on studies sounds like a
"logical consequence". I further concur with the action on the assumption
that such a donation from the family to the University was (most probably)
within the financial means of the family and of direct benefit to the
University.
My observation then, and through the years to the present -- is that the
student body at LU is generally composed of academically selected individuals,
and many of them from families and backgrounds readily able to support a
sudent at one of the nation's more selective and expensive private
universities. That is not to say that there are numbers of intellectually
able but financially limited students (they even had at least one student who
was both intellectually, academically, and financially limited! I know him
well) Many of my fellow students had their own cars on campus after their
freshman years. These vehicles ranged from a Rambler to an assortment of
various year MGA/B models, an older Jag, a new Chrysler Newport, a new
Mustang, motorcycles, etc. I (and many others) walked. Some I recall got
their vehicles the "easy" way, and others, earned them.
My own philosophy is that students need to concentrate on studies - and thus
if a vehicle is NECESSARY to commute and/or once the student has already
demonstrated that he is capable of maintaining good marks, then a family
vehicle will be made available for his use. He will be responsible for minor
and routine maintenance (oil change type stuff), his own gas, and when on
summer break, his prorated share of the insurance costs for that vehicle.
This obviates him having to divert time and concentration from studies to work
for $$ necessary to procure and maintain a vehicle and thus he can concentrate
on his studies. This has worked well so far for the first 2. When they have
finished their undergraduate studies, they are free to buy the car from the
family at a fair price, or to go and buy whatever vehicle they can afford or
desire, on their nickel!
Me, I had to wait until '89 when I found my first BMW, a 3rd hand '83 528e
with 105K miles. The grand rational was that the oldest was halfway through
his jr. year in high school, would very probably need transportation while in
college, and that we had more chance of affording an additional vehicle then
as opposed to once we started paying college costs. By purchasing this
vehicle I had just located at that time, the VW diesel rabbit I was then
driving would become available for the soon to be college student! :-) The
fact that I "graduated" to a BMW was, of course, incidental and or accidental!
:-)
Harvey
'86 5283 128K miles.
'83 528e KIA at 135K miles.