The Unknown Studio

I received an email from Geoff yesterday explaining the ongoing harassment he’s had to suffer since he graduated from our alma mater, the University of Alberta, in 2003. It begins: “So ever since graduating back in like 2003, I keep getting notices from the U of A that I owe a $5 library fine. I chuckled at this folly until this week, when I decided to take action and sent the following to their online appeals system [...]”

I wish to appeal my $5.00 late charge at the Sci Tech library. I don’t have any excuse for this charge; rather, I am appealing because maintaining this fine is costing you too much.

I apparently incurred this fine in 2003, which is also the last year that I attended the U of A.  In the 4 and a half years since, I have been receiving a quarterly statement in the mail reminding me of this grim financial burden. Each time you mail me this notice, it costs the University 52 cents. By now, the U of A has spent $9.36 of some poor student’s tuition money on my $5.00 fine. And this is solely on postage. What about the cost of the printing, the envelope, and the lost time required to administer your relentless collections juggernaut? Surely you are now pushing the $15.22 mark, depending on how well you negotiate your bulk paper discounts.

And all of this is to say nothing of the toll that your oversized envelopes and reminder slips take on the environment. For shame, Library Services. Your actions speak louder than the students in Rutherford South.

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