Sundial in How to survive a hot-air Movie review: confinement, balloon crash, page 11 Once upon a time in page 7 Mexico, page 14 Volume 48, No. 2 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point September 18, 2003 ·New policies change student parking habits By John Larson SGA President Nicholas Crawford, those that have been forced to park in NEWS REPORTER "and most of the complaints we are LotQ." Recent changes to the UWSP hearing are from those that are not able With the new multi-pass system, parking policy have changed the way to park at the lot they wanted to." most students are content to move students park on campus. Rather than Most of those that are unhappy quickly into spots in Lot J, with Lot P hearing complaints about there being with the change to the parking system being the preferred parking spot for no parking available, the Student have said that they have to leave for those living in the Debot Quad dorms, Government Association (SGA) and class much earlier to get the parking leaving the less desirable Lot Q for UWSP Parking Services are hearing spots that they want. those that are not able to get to the complaints from the student body "There have been some seniors other lots quick enough. about not being able to get the parking who are unhappy about being forced to SGA and Parking Services have spots that they want. park in Lot Q as they did not get to noted a drop in the parking waiting list, Recent changes to the Campus other lots sooner," said Stephanie Lind, down to 160 names so far this semes­ Parking Policy include raising the Student Life Issues Director for SGA, ter, due in part to attempts not to over­ annual fee from $57 to $91.50 to offset "and there has been some comments sell the available parking spaces and the loss of auxiliary funds from made in some classes." the increase in annual parking fees. statewide budget cuts that are needed SGA plans to send out a question­ Parking services also credits the drop to maintain parking facilities. Also aire to all students to get a feel about in the waiting list to "a strong effort at new this year are the Hunting Parking how they are adjusting to the new park­ Freshmen Orientation to make parents passes that allow students to park their ing arrangements. and new students aware that we have a vehicles at Lots J, P, and Q at their dis­ When contacted for comment, parking shortage," an effort that may Photo by Patricia Larson cretion. Parking Services issued a similar com­ have made some new students question Just don't park at K-mart: This year hunting per­ "We are receiving some com­ ment saying that, "the only complaints if they really need a car to get around. mits allow students to park in lots J, P, and Q at plaints this year from students," said that we have received so far are from See Parking Polley, page 2 their discretion. K-mart s lot, however, is prohibited. ,Intramural field renovation comes under fire Student regent State agrees to university request to ,unaware of BOR test soil quality meeting on raises By Andrew Bloeser By David Cohen NEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR For students making use of the intramural fields at UW­ When the Board of R_egents approved pay raises Stevens Point, the renovation project taking place this fall to for 14 UW System administrators earlier this month, eliminate drainage problems came as an answer to long-standing UW Student Regent Beth Richlen was uninformed of complaints. the teleconference. "Up until it started to rain, the fields would be fine," said A resolution drafted by the Associated Students Mitch Lamberg, a 23 year-old UWSP student. "But if it rained, of Madison in opposition to the raises includes a state­ there was standing water that wouldn't go away. There would be ment from Richlen stating, "I didn't even know [the patches of grass that would get washed out and the footing was BOR] were having a meeting over the phone and had horrible." no idea there was a meeting taking place." The $800,000 overhaul of the fields was designed to change The statement came during the aftermath of a that, but as the project continues, the UWSP Building and statewide reaction among student leaders and state Grounds Department has raised questions over whether the qual­ politicians who feel that this pay raise is ill-timed due ity of the soi I used on the field will cause the drainage problems to budget cuts, which have raised tuition. to subside. Criticism also came from student leaders and law­ A sample of the sand intended for use on the field, taken by makers alike over the lack of publicity before the vote, the Building and Grounds office, revealed that it provided less conducted as an emergency meeting without all the than half of the necessary percolation, or allowance of rainwater board members being included. The meeting was held to pass through the soil for drainage purposes. two days before a regularly scheduled meeting and "In my mind, this doesn't meet the qualifications," said Chris allowed for the vote to be done without being dis­ Brindley, the Building and Grounds Superintendent. "And that's closed to the public. the issue we're dealing with, both with the contractor and with It is believed that the Board of Regents made this state oversight." decision in order to keep administrators who may Specifications called for six inch per hour percolation rate, Photo by: Patricia Larson leave the system due to frustration over the budget which would allow students to use the field within one hour of cuts. receiving six inches of rain. An independent analysis of the soil, Come hell or high water: An employee of Dakota Nicholas Crawford, the current president of UW­ sought by the Building and Grounds Department and conducted lntertek Corps. clears the way for piping used in the Stevens Point's Student Government Association, has by an undisclosed Kansas-based testing agency, indicated that the drainage system of the intramural fields, currently expressed dissatisfaction about the negative publicity percolation rate of the soil used was approximately 2.5 inches per under renovation to improve the conditions of the playing surface. that the BOR's discreet action has generated. See Intramural field, page 2 See Regent Unaware, page 2 Inside Columns www.uwsp.edu/stu/org/pointer 'i. Letters and Opinion -4 Outdoors -11 Musings from Mirman -4 Wild Matters·-11 nu;:-~k Features -6 Arts & Review -13 The Man's Take -10 Mr. Winter's ·n ~ POINTER Sports -8 Comics -14 As I See It -10 College Survival Guide -14 online The Pointer News Office:(715) 346-2249 The Pointer Business Office: (715) 346-3800 The pointer Advertising Office: (715) 346-3707 Page 2 September 18, 2003 f . ' UWSP The Pointer Intramural field from page 1 ~wo arrested for Lot Q vandalism . ~~re~~~~ Policy hour. Students should also be aware Brindley also added that because the sod that K-Mart i.,; now towing vehi­ used on athletic fields reduces the rate of perco­ cles parked on their lot overnight lation, an initial rate of2.5 inches per hour could and ticketi."l.g some cars that are lead to the occurrence of the same "swamped" left on their lot for more than a few field conditions that spurred the renovation. hours. "These fields are supposed to be some of the When reached for comment, best in the Midwest but that's not what we seem management at K-Mart stated, to be getting," said Nicholas Crawford, President "Our lot is only for the intended of the Student Government Association, who use of our customers." noted that student fees will pay for the project. Students should also be aware Concerns from the Building and Grounds that the City of Stevens Point does Office motivated university administrators to offer overnight parking for $24 per request that the state conduct its own sand sam­ month at Lot 2, the drawback pling, whileCrawford successfully lobbied to have payment on the fields halted until results being that the lot is located across can be confirmed, by an additional independent the street from the CenterPoint test if necessary. Mall. If analysis indicates that inadequate sand The location of this lot is not within convenient walking dis­ has been applied to the fields, Crawford stated Photo by Patricia Larson the university's next move would entail deter­ tance for most students ·and can be On the case: Stevens Point police made two arrrests in connection with the acts of van­ mining whether responsibility rests with contrac­ difficult to get to during the winter dalism committed in Lot Q and the surronding area. No charges have yet been filed. tor Dakota Intertek Corps. or with state over­ months. sight, under the supervision of Terry Cook of the Two men were arrested this week by matched the description of one of the want­ Department of Administration. Newswriters the Stevens Point Police Department in ed vandals. When police searched his A sample kept by the Building and Grounds connection with the massive amount of home, they found clothing matching that of Wanted office also indicated further disparities between vehicle damage which occurred on and which the vandal was reported to have been the sand provided by Dakota Intertek Corps. and around campus last weekend. The men, wearing- a red-whit-and-blue baseball cap the sand called for under the specifications.