Barometer The Daily
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 • OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
DAILYBAROMETER.COM
VOLUME CXV, NUMBER 80
PAGE 8
SPORTS
8 – Who’s dating who 7 – Couple trivia
NEWS
2 – Key demand dropped in the payroll tax cut standoff
ATHLETIC COUPLES: Who’s dating who in OSU athletics.
FORUM
3 – Opinions on Valentine’s Day
Day of Love? By Gwen Shaw & Photos By Neil Abrew The Daily Barometer
In the midst of midterms and cold weather, Oregon State University students still find time to celebrate the lovely — and yet so dreadful to some — Valentine’s Day occasion. While some couples make reservations at restaurants and go all out, some choose to relax and spend the night together after a long beginning of the week.
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My wife and I are going out to dinner this weekend. Scott Hoots senior in business
After [my boyfriend’s] midterm and my chapter meeting, we’re just going to cuddle up and I’ll make him dinner and he’ll rent a movie.
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Alex Knapp, junior in general science, pre physical therapy Monica Marcus, junior in bioresource research
Stephanie Herdeck, junior in new media
See DAY OF LOVE | page 2
New TAPS system helps manage limited parking vice provides students and faculty n Online Transportation, Parking the opportunity to obtain their parkService hope to provide ing permits without going into the TAPS office, thus allowing an escape convenience, organization from long lines and bothersome paperwork. By Amanda Antell The Daily Barometer The inconvenience of strenuous Oregon State University’s Transit paperwork is no longer necessary, and Parking Services has started a and TAPS encourages students to new online service that allows stu- contact them directly with questions or complications. These were dents to obtain parking tickets. In order to make the current sys- the main reasons the system was tem more manageable, the new ser- established.
John zhang
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Exceeded time limits and lack of parking spaces are just a few of the issues that have resulted from the removal of parking lots.
Today’s the Day!
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We figure that all restaurants are going to be really busy on Valentine’s Day, so we’re going to go out to dinner tonight and again on Wednesday. We’ve been together for over four and a half years, so were not getting presents or anything.
The online system essentially lets staff and students buy parking permits, pay tickets and traffic fines and ask questions on the TAPS website. Visitors must go through the “conference” link on the TAPS website, as it has not been set up for non-OSU students at this time. Other reasons given were the increased amount of students, and parking spaces that continue to dwindle. Little by little, parking lots are bowing out to the construction of new buildings or dormitories. When students were asked directly about the new system, they were actually pretty positive. “It’s helpful, more accessible and less isolated than the current location of TAPS at Adams Hall,” said M. Tonga Hopoi, ASOSU president. Combined with an increased student population and less parking space to work with, not to mention the chaos involved in the parking process itself, TAPS found the new online system necessary. The parking situation isn’t expected to get any better due to the goal for OSU administration for the student population to reach 35,000 by 2015. “It’s a very tough situation, so we’re really hopeful for this new system,” said Hank Kemper, TAPS Supervisor. Kemper has worked for 25 years at OSU, all of which have been in the TAPS department. Kemper states See TAPS | page 2
Valentine’s Day with pride n
Pride Center features activities for those celebrating in nonconventional manner By Annecy Beauchemin The Daily Barometer
All last week, up to today’s holiday, the Pride Center is taking a more inclusive approach to the holiday with their “Reclaiming Valentine’s Day” event. When ads, television and other media keep portraying happy heterosexual relationships around this holiday, it can be difficult for those in other types of relationships, from monogamous to polyamorous to single, and even including those of many genders and sexualities, to feel like it is a holiday for them, too. Amanda Wood, Pride Center activities coordinator, describes Reclaiming Valentine’s Day as “getting away from the idea that Valentine’s Day is for a Caucasian man and woman in a relationship.” The event, she says, is less about protesting Valentine’s Day than about opening it up to more people and taking the emphasis back away from consumerism, focusing on all the different forms love can take. “Getting away from the Hallmark idea of it,” Wood said. From 2 to 4 p.m. today, the Pride Center is offering food and craft supplies for any who want to visit
john zhang
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Decorations at the Pride Center welcome participants. and make a card for anyone they love, whether it’s a significant other, family member or even friend. Card supplies have been available to use longer so that everyone has time to finish theirs. “People have been coming in throughout the last week,” Wood said. Instructions are also provided to make other gifts at home for loved
Don’t forget to make sure your Sweetheart gets the perfect surprise — see page 5.
See PRIDE | page 2