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The Student Voice Since 1903
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BRIEFS >News Peace Corps turns 40 In 1960, John F. Kennedy challenged college students to make a difference. Forty years later, the Peace Corps includes 64 UCO alumni who have volunteered around the world. v Page 4
>Sports UCO track The track team wrapped up their indoor season at the Oklahoma Christian Invitational. v Page 6
>Features
Islam holiday nears
Approximately 300 Islamic students at UCO will celebrate Eidul-Adhia March 6, marking the close of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
BY SARAH ROBERSON
Staff Writer
U
CO issued Commons residents with valid parking permits a refund check, but did not issue any reimbursement to dorm residents. Some students are unhappy about the decision. "Because of the inconvenience resulting from the construction of the Commons II Project, all students currently residing in Commons I with a valid UCO parking permits shall receive a [$25] check refund," said President Roger Webb in a memorandum issued to residents of the
Commons on Feb. 16. Plans to issue the refund checks came after a process of steps by administration to address parking issues, and Webb made the final decision to make an adjustment fee for Commons residents, said Dr. Bill Wiseman, director of university relations. "We could never do construction without some inconveniences," Webb said. "At the same time, it's the price you pay for improvement." Jennifer Woods, a West Hall resident, said, "This reduction was not issued to West and Murdaugh residents who must use the same parking lots as the Commons [and] who pay the
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DAY IN HISTORY. In 1949, Ripley's Believe it or Not made its premiere on television with Jack Palance as host.
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1, 2001
Commons residents get $25 parking refund
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THURSDAY • MARCH
5
Hoops for a cause ... Mitch Rainwater (left) of the Edmond Fire Department practices his shooting skills with his co-worker, Jason Egelston. The two are preparing for a fund-raiser game March 3 which will raise money for a plane-crash memorial to be placed on OSU's campus from the UCO and Edmond community. The event will be held at 6 p.m. at Hamilton Field House and costs $3.
An empty parking spot, like this one near Thatcher Hall, can be hard to find during the afternoon. UCO administrators recently issued residents of the Commons apartments a $25 parking refund due to construction on the lots near their apartments. PHOTO BY MOLLY MATHIS
same amount for parking as do often give up their parking spaces to Commons residents. Commons residents." Woods said, "We forfeit a Construction of Commons II, a new apartment complex, good number of parking spaces currently limits parking on- to Commons residents, making campus. Some Commons us have to walk even farther to residents feel that the parking West and Murdaugh Halls. I will refund due to this construction not stand to see Commons residents receiving parking should be equally distributed. "I think it's a wonderful id e a reductions while other campus [the refund]," said Laura Hunter, residents are not granted the same right." a Commons resident. Woods believes "But I think it is that all students completely unfair to "We could never living on-campus only give it to the have the right to Commons residents." do constru ction receive the refund Some university without so me checks as they all officials believe that share the same the greatest impact inconvenie nces. At parking lots. of the construction is the same time, it's "Commons people most directly are not the only ones affecting Commons the price you pay suffering," Hunter residents. said. "We felt it was a for improvement." According to small, voluntary Wiseman, UCO has gesture," Wiseman a more-thansaid. "[We feel] the —Dr. Roger Webb sufficient number of most severely UCO president parking spaces per impacted were the student ; in Commons students. It's hard to figure out where to comparison to the national target number. draw the lines." "We have 48 parking spaces Funding was not available to reimburse all parking residents, per 100 students," Wiseman said. "The national target is 45 spaces Wiseman said. "We couldn't have afforded per 100 students." University officials state that to do it [issue refunds] for all students," Wiseman said. "It [the their goal is to have 50 spaces for construction] was a hardship for every 100 students in the future. Do you have trouble parking? the whole university and Let us know how you feel about community." Students who are angered by this story. Visit our website at this decision believe that they www.thevistaonline.com . •