In 1999, I began my first year of high school. Born and raised in Charleston, I naturally attended Charleston High School. On my first day, I wandered around the school looking for my locker. I found it in the basement.

The first thing I noticed was the lack of a ceiling. There were no ceiling tiles. The school had started a remodeling process the year before and, because of budget cuts, the project had been stalled. The construction would not be completed until my senior year.

For two years, I suffered through water dripping on my head, exposed wiring and numerous floods.

This was, and is, the reality for students at schools throughout Coles County. Simply put, in a county like ours, funding to repair schools does not come easily.

That being said, I was absolutely sickened by the recent comments made by some of the leading members of the student senate. Most sounded like nothing more than the whiny, pithy complaints of selfish adolescents.

In effect, the tax swap would increase sales tax in Coles County by 1 percent, which would go toward maintenance in Coles County schools.

This tax swap will not tax only students. The tax swap will not absolve property owners from paying property tax. It would simply require students to take on a small amount of responsibility and payment toward the community that is their home for nine months out of the year.

Scott Lambert, student vice president for academic affairs, said, “I don’t think we owe anything to this community, because without this school, this community would be nothing.”

How dare you. As a Charleston resident, Lambert’s statement could not offend me more.

Mr. Lambert, this town was here nearly 100 years before Eastern and I promise, if the school disappeared tomorrow, we would still exist.

Do not think for a second that the members of this community, who go out of their way to give price discounts to Eastern students, who provide, to the best of their abilities, the student body with any type of need or want it could desire, will ever view this school as a benevolent giver of life, without whom we would be lost.

This is my home, this is where I grew up and this is where my family lives. Who do you think you are to make such outrageous statements?

Worst of all may be the comments of Student Body President Michelle Murphy.

“This tax increase is permanent. Our residence here is not,” she said. “Don’t vote for this to affect people after you leave. It isn’t our place.”

By that logic, Ms. Murphy, it is also not your place to tell people what to vote against.

How can you live here for four years and feel absolutely no sense of responsibility?

Members of the student senate, your comments make me sick. Like it or not, this is your home, too. You don’t get to enjoy luxuries and run the streets at night like you own this town without having to pay the piper at some point.

From a product of Coles County School District No. 1, please vote for this tax swap today.

And to those who made the comments about owing nothing to Charleston, keep your damn money. We don’t want it. And as an Eastern student and a Charleston resident, I’m disgusted that you hold your positions. You do not represent me.

David Thill is a senior journalism major and can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].