Wednesday November 2, 2011 year: 132 No. 30
the student voice of
The Ohio State University
www.thelantern.com
thelantern $375M parking lease not yet set in stone
sports
Thomas Bradley and Kaitlyn Lyle Campus editor and Lantern reporter bradley.321@osu.edu and lyle.42@osu.edu
5A
Big Ten quest begins
The women’s soccer team takes on Illinois Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten soccer tournament.
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While the prospect of leasing out the parking assets at Ohio State to a private vendor is an option at this point, officials say that the decision has not been made yet. Geoff Chatas, chief financial officer of the university, told The Lantern Thursday that the proposal is now in the second phase of a five-phase plan. “We’ve had spirited dialogue so far (with students and faculty), this process is just beginning, a lot of people thought that this decision has been made,” Chatas said. Chatas said phase one of the plan was an initial analysis of parking assets at the university, and a rough estimate of vendor minimums. He said there were really two options when it came to investing in the core of the university — leasing, and selling. “We spent the last year looking at various options,” Chatas said. “Selling assets that are a core part of our campus is a tricky one.” Chatas said after analysis, the university decided that a lease of parking operations would be the best way to go forward. “How about if we look at the option of leasing
brittany schock / Asst. photo editor
The Northwest Garage on Ives Drive is one of the several parking assets the university is considering leasing to an outside vendor. the operations of the parking garages and all the parking operations,” Chatas said. “What if we go out and find out if there are investors who are willing to enter in a long term relations with Ohio State to run the parking and to pay us up front for the ability to do that.” While Chatas would not discuss specifics on the level of interest, Chatas told The Lantern there is a considerable level of interest.
“This accomplishes two things. It gets us the funds up front, which we can then reinvest in our students and our faculty,” Chatas said. “It allows us to structure a transaction with an operator that will give us flex and will allow us to make certain things happen over time.” Chatas said the decision to lease the parking assets, rather than selling them, gives the university more control of the situation. Chatas said they have negotiating powers with snow removal, repainting lines and routine maintenance. Phase one of the five-phase plan also calls for approval from the Board of Trustees for the university. The Board approved the analysis and approved movement to phase two on Sept. 9. Phase two, which officially ends Wednesday, was the issue of a Request for Qualifications. The RFQ called for all eligible vendors to submit interest and to be a part of the bidding process. The final day to submit for the RFQ is Wednesday. The university has formed a group called the Parking Advisory Group, to assist Chatas in the decision-making process of the parking privatization idea. The group consists of Chatas, who will chair the group; Christopher Culley, general counsel for the
continued as Chatas on 3A
$171M dorm renovation continues to rise Thailyr Scrivner Lantern reporter scrivner.2@osu.edu
New Nelson
6A
Lukas Nelson, son of famous country singer Willie Nelson, is scheduled to perform with his band, Promise of the Real, at the Lincoln Theatre Wednesday at 8 p.m.
campus
Bicycle theft, robbery on campus
2A
The three-year South Campus High Rise Renovation, costing $171 million, will continue construction throughout this year and into next, causing both relief and frustration for students. Park Hall and Stradley Hall are scheduled to be complete by May 2012 of this year, said Scott Conlon, director or projects. After students move out of Steeb Hall, Smith Hall and Siebert Hall in June 2012, construction will begin on these residences, which will be closed for the 2012-2013 academic year. The late-night construction is something students have found to be their biggest issue. Chris Isaac, a first-year in biology who lives in Smith Hall, said sounds of a jack hammer working on surrounding buildings sometimes wake him up at 4:30 a.m. “Some days I don’t have class until 2:30 and it’s just annoying,” Isaac said. Although Issac said he feels the updates are necessary, he is not sure he would have picked to live on south campus had he known construction would be like this. “One of the advantages we’ll have (next year) is that we’ll be adding buildings as well,” said Fred Fotis, assistant vice president for the Office of Student Life. “When we shut down the (next three buildings) to do the renovations at the same time, we’ll have new beds in the connector buildings and we’ll have (dorms) from the Hall Complex.” The connectors between Park Hall and Stradley Hall, which will be open for the 2012-2013 academic year as well, will create an additional 180 beds, The Lantern reported in October 2010. By adding connections between the buildings on south campus, housing felt they could add more beds and lounge space, Fotis said. Park and Stradley, formerly freshman-only dorms, might now house second-year students also, Fotis said. He also said that moving learning communities is also under discussion. A decision will be made once the buildings are complete. “The buildings were built in the 1960s and hadn’t really gone through any kind of renovation since then,” Fotis said. “We knew that in the transition to semesters, there was a need for more air-conditioned space.”
continued as Construction on 3A
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Emily Tara / Lantern photographer
The current phase of the South Campus High Rise Renovation that connects Park Hall and Stradley Hall adds 180 beds.
Celebrating 73 years of Block ‘O’ spirit Alli Murphy Lantern reporter murphy.840@osu.edu
weather high 66 low 46 mostly sunny
TH 58/42 F 56/35 SA 60/44 SU 59/46
pm showers sunny partly cloudy few showers cody cousino / Photo editor
www.weather.com
Block ‘O’ student section cheers on the OSU football team against Wisconsin Oct. 29, 2011. OSU won, 33-29.
Ohio State recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of Script Ohio and the Block “O” student organization is just two years shy of this milestone. Block “O” was started in 1938 by Clarence ‘Clancy’ Isaac Jr., a former Buckeye head cheerleader. There have been numerous changes to the organization in its 73 years, but at least one thing remains the same: its devotion to OSU athletics. Michael Falcon, a fourth-year in finance and Block “O” treasurer, said he enjoys the atmosphere created by OSU students at sporting events. “Being loud and being crazy and not holding anything back, that’s the best part about being a student at Ohio State and being a part of Block ‘O,’” he said. Tim Collins, a third-year in sociology and psychology and Block “O” president, said he appreciates that Block “O” and the student section have the possibility to affect the outcome of a game. “My favorite part about Block ‘O’ is probably just the feeling of satisfaction
that you get knowing that you and other students at a game, a football game, soccer game, basketball game, made a difference,” he said. “You always hear about home-field advantage, there’s a reason for that.” Derrick Black, a fourth-year in marketing and logistics and Block “O” vice president, also welcomes this opportunity. “If you’re loud and crazy, you can change the game,” he said. Occasionally, coaches have thanked Block “O” for swaying the game in their favor, Collins said. The organization has about 2,500 members, making it the largest student organization on campus. Students can join either by purchasing Block “O” student section tickets or by signing up and paying a fee. The fee for joining the group is $10 annually. Block “O” members have the possibility of attending two OSU football away games this year — at Purdue University and University of Michigan. Forty members with the largest number of “Blockie points” are invited to pay a fee to join the 15 Block “O” executives on a bus and attend the away games, Black said. Members can
continued as OSU on 3A 1A