But head honchos at Texas A&M don’t agree.

The University, in attempts to cut $60 million of their budget campus wide, is hoping to remove $82,000 from their budget first by leaving the dormitories sans TP.  Yep, that’s right. Texas A&M is not stocking dormitories with the one thing we really need on a Sunday morning (after extensive partying, the discovery of cheap vodka and the obligatory late night burrito).

Associate vice president for communications, Susan Sherylon Carroll says, “We looked at what areas can we cut and not negatively affect our students’ academics, and it was that.”  Really, Susan Sherylon? You really think not having potty essentials to clean up shop isn’t going to negatively affect all of the students who are consuming DORM FOOD? (And speaking of food, if they’re taking away TP, can you imagine what sort of cuts they are making with the grub? Um, ew.)

I have a firm belief that not being able to wipe (or sprinting to buildings where they can) is going to affect any students studying rituals and academic performance. 

Let us brainstorm.  I’m sure there are a ton of other things they can remove from the life of a college student that is not going to negatively affect their academic performance (or force them to drip dry….).  How about all of those fancy ‘University’ magazines they send out to families, that weird salad nobody eats in the caf, the inflated salaries of the worst professors on campus, gas expenses for those little maintenance cars that push people off sidewalks on the way to class, or the vice president’s assistant salary?

We’re in a recession, I get it, but there’s got to be a better way for universities to cut their losses than by taking away students’ rights to wipe. I mean, if we’re already stooping this low, what’s next? Shower curtains? Indoor plumbing? Charging for office hours? Come on!

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like sexting!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

I know what you’re thinking – no, I’m not talking about really active senior citizens, I think they’re great (go Betty White!) - I’m talking about those people who hang around undergrad for 6 or 7 or 10 years “finding themselves” without ever actually bothering to get a degree. Well now, with the budgets for higher education getting slashed left and right, some states have decided it’s time for these super-seniors to get moving.

On one side of the coin, this seems like a good idea. I’m all for finding yourself and making sure that your degree is right for you. I’m also all about living the dream (read: college life) for as long as humanly possible. But some people, like that 25-year-old guy everyone on my campus knew, start using these ideas as a way to avoid going out into the real world and growing up.

I admit, it’s scary out there (what do you mean they’re going to turn off my power?), but it’s just one of those things we all have to face and if I have to live out here in the great-big-scary, then I think it’s only fair that they join me. And the states have it right on one point – these people are sucking up resources that others could be using to get an education. Not only are they skipping out on adulthood, they’re actually making life harder for others just by taking up space and money. Buck up, make a decision and get your diploma already!

But, there’s also an element to this idea that just rubs me the wrong way – should schools or the state be able to tell you how long you can take for your education? Many of these super-seniors are paying part or all of their own tuition, and if you’re willing to pay, shouldn’t you be able to hang out as long as you want? Also, you run into the problem of people who change or do double-majors. These things can take more time and it’s not really the state or school’s place to tell you that you can’t change what you want from your future or explore your options. As long as you’re willing to deal with the consequences of being that creepy old chick at the frat parties (or, you know, spending a long time on your education, whatever) then who are they to tell you that you need to hurry up?

So what do you think? Is it time for super-seniors to get a move on and stop hogging all the funding? Or should they be allowed to pull a Van Wilder and do things at their own pace, how ever long that takes? Duke it out!

There is no doubt that in some way or another, every person out there has been affected by the economy. Between businesses getting shut down, people getting laid off, or the millions who are losing their homes, the list of disasters seems endless. But we, as college students, are not immune.

We all know that there have been some crazy budget cuts for colleges, but did you know what that means for you? Any idea what might be coming next for your school?

Just ask the cheerleading team at Florida International University. Oh wait, never mind. You can’t, because as of this week, they do not have one. That’s right. The nationally recognized cheerleading team, currently ranked fourth in the country, has been eliminated as part of an effort to cut 1 million dollars from FIU’s athletic budget for the coming school year.

Pete Garcia, the director of the university’s athletics departments, said, “The economy has forced us to make some very tough choices. Unfortunately, FIU athletics is neither immune to the current economic conditions or to the fact that the university, in general, has had to cut prominent programs across the board.” And the pom pons aren’t the only thing to which the FIU students have to say goodbye, because the marching band is also being cut. The school has also eliminated degree programs, increased tuition by 15%, and has been laying off staff as a result of their $35 million budget gap!

FIU is certainly not the only school out there that has been forced to make drastic changes. Schools in Arizona aren’t doin’ so hot either, as the three state universities face a 30-percent reduction in state aid (more than $300 million dollars!). ASU is considering laying off 2,500 employees, doubling tuition, and shutting down one, or maybe even two, of its campuses. “We could eliminate the nursing school, journalism school, the law school, and the engineering school and still not meet these cuts,” Michael Crow, president of ASU stated.

Awesome.

These situations are truly awful and the consequences of them are even worse. With program cuts, students will lose the privilege of what college is all about: having the opportunity to study whatever you want. And as far as the athletic department cuts – well, for many schools, the sports, the spirit, the screaming is what brings the students together and eliminating part of this department eliminates the community aspect of college life.

BUT, life isn’t about moping. We just have to know that these things have to happen, and hopefully they are for the best. Sometimes it takes sacrifices to make things better (or, you know, keep things afloat). So, it may not be easy or ideal, but it IS an important life lesson: learn to adapt.

See, they can’t cut everything.

Last night’s episode, the second of the cycle, “keeps our Earth good,” (thanks, Mila) with a green-friendly van for the girls. It takes the girls to their new house, where half of the models manage to fit into one bathtub.

Tyra continues Awareness Crusade 2007 with the photoshoot, an anti-smoking campaign, where Mila laughs at chemo and everyone points out Heather’s awkwardness even though she’s really not acting in any abnormal way.

In fact, she’s made the first intelligent comment of the episode, when she says that the bitch-fighting between Bianca and Lisa is giving her a headache.

Next up is a shopping spree at…Old Navy. Um. Budget cuts, Tyra?

The pick on Heather-athon continues, with Jenah’s comment that Heather doesn’t know what’s trendy. I didn’t realize that a symptom of Asperger’s is bad fashion sense, but hey, what do I know? Oh, and Ebony forgets to put on pants.

Then the girls come home, where the girls continue bashing on Heather, except for Victoria, who, in her own snooty way, is growing on me. Sure she kind of feels like she’s better and smarter than the other girls, but, well, I’d probably feel the same way.

Mila was sent home, which became obvious when they had her talk about how excited she is to stay in the house and continue the competition. Why must you toy with my emotions so, ANTM?

Heather is called up to get her photo first, which…eh. Pity callout? It just seems like they’re having a ball in the editing room, showing us montages of Heather alone in various rooms with dramatic background music. I’d keep to myself too if I was in the house with the likes of Bianca and Ebony.

So far, I’m loving Lisa the stripper and Victoria the Yale snoot.

Who do you think is the frontrunner so far?

Next episode: My favorite episode of every cycle—makeovers! I’m predicting a freak-out from Bianca when she has to part with her weave, and am crossing my fingers that they don’t give Janet long extensions. Who will Tyra scold for crying over a new short ‘do?

Tune in next week for the new episode on Wednesday and my recap Thursday morning!