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Show s f No room at U of Wisconsin Skinner Q&A University housing turns away 700 students Continued from page 3 Nick Penzenstadler Badger Herald (U. Wisconsin) 8312007 MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsins Ogg Hall opened in late August in the midst of a battle at the Capitol to secure funding for more housing projects at (U-WIR- E) state-of-the-a- rt, $28-milli- on UW. Meanwhile, nearly 700 freshmen were put on a waiting list this fall with the closure of the old Ogg Hall and its 950 beds, according to UW Housing Director Paul Evans. UW is the only Big Ten school unable to guarantee students on campus, and has housing for all first-ye- ar struggled to keep up with growing attendance numbers. It puts us at a competitive disadvantage, looking at Illinois, Michigan, Iowa or Minnesota, Evans said. If we cant offer it, maybe theyll go somewhere else. The biennial state budget will determine whether the University can break ground on ambitious housing plans on the Lakeshore to add 500 beds by 2012. The Senates version of the budget currently includes the but the Republican-controlle- d Assembly has removed the projects. Republican state Rep. Jeff Stone said the passage of go-ahe- ad, the budget with the housing plans would further the financial burden on students for an initiative not directly linked to academics. Were encountering an era with limited resources were running up the credit cards of the state in order to bond for these facilities, Stone said. The private market will build housing we dont need to spend money. I think it ought to be the last priority, and we should be focusing on academics. Although modern, Evans said he doesnt believe the new buildings fit the luxurious label being negatively fit to them by some lawmakers. They are certainly nice, but they still have tile floors and similar furniture, Evans said. The luxurious part is the academic side with two classrooms, and the two tutoring rooms (in Ogg). said hes disapRep. Gordon Hintz, pointed the Assembly removed the dorm program funding from the budget but is hopeful it may still reenter the budget before it reaches the governors desk. I think some of my colleagues are a little out of touch, Hintz said. If were competing with other universities for the best students, we need to keep our flagship campus up to date to promote the best learning environment possible. One student who was faced with finding alternative living arrangements was incoming freshman Stephanie Braun. When Braun was accepted to the University, she assumed she would receive an dorm room, but when she still hadnt heard from UW Housing in June, she called and was told she was placed on a waiting list and should have received an I just wish I had ample warning, Braun said. I just was upset that no one contacted me. I had nothing on paper. Im still bitter it wasnt handled very well. Braun said she then had to take an emergency trip to Madison to search for housing, and eventually found a vacancy in a private residence hall. According to Keri Robbins, director of University Housing Marketing, of the 700 students on the waiting list, a large number find spaces during the late summer months. Around 300 students sign housing contracts and then decide to attend a different university or live off campus, freeing up spaces, Robbins said. They also can count on handfuls of students getting homesick or leaving the University early in the year. There are also 75 students who get placed in expanded housing where lounge or study areas are converted to rooms to hold four people. Evans said UW is in the process of analyzing other options in case the new project funding is denied in the final budget this year. At one point, he said, they considered saving one of the old Ogg towers. But that idea is no longer on the table with demolition in process this fall. on-cam- . m r IS1 1 ' ail. f&fgl W A & J " , i-4 J W m Wj 2007 Reunions Continued frontpage 11 Genesis After 40 years, nearly 20 albums and vast commercial and critical celebration, the most surprising omission from the legacy of Genesis is the discord and venomous loathing that plague many bands and inhibit successful reunions. Far from dysfunctional, this Phil Collins-le- d progressive rock contingent boasts more congeniality than the Brady Bunch. This isnt the most natural en- VOLUME XII: ISSUE 2 12 Card. Weve gained the support of Local First Utah. Weve also started to make sure theres a constant representative in the Sugar House community council. The community sees us as a great asset. Q: What challenges you face this year? A: I think every year the challenges are pretty much the same. One is making sure students are satisfied with the cost of tuition, books, etc. Another is getting people involved, especially commuter students. Weve created an ad hoc committee to cater to commuter students by planning some activities during the day instead of only at night. Q: What do you hope to accomplish? A: I developed a three-fol- d mission as I was running. The first is to strengthen community relations. Were the best institution to work with because the community sees us as Utahs locally owned and operated college. Second is to make sure students are involved through different avenues. I think we could be more supportive of athletics and plays, etc. Third is to be more involved in academics so students have a voice in class and major selection so they have some degree of control over what they want to learn. Q: In what areas did last years student government succeed? What areas do you plan to improve? A: I feel a little biased because I was always really involved, so from my perspective student government was always effective. But I think we should be trying to understand that you cant appeal to everyone. There are so many opportunities if youre willing to make the effort if something you want isnt set up, you can start setting it up yourself and get funding from the school. I really want to instill that sense of pride in the college. vironment for us, but we do get on really, really well, admitted Collins at their Nov. 7, 2006 press conference for their Turn It On Again tour. We just had two weeks in New York, and it was 50 percent laughing well, 25 percent laughing, 25 percent playing and 50 percent hanging around. It was great fun. Their harmonious rapport begs the obvious question: Why the 15 year absence? We just sort of felt that now was the kind of right time to have a go, really ... we kind of brought it up every time we sat down and sometimes we talked together to talk about it ourselves out of it and we just decided that this was as good a time as any to sort of actually do something, Collins remarked. The lineup for their Turn It On Again tour includes original members Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks as well as long-tim- e supporting musicians Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson, but talks with original members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett to perform Genesis 1974 concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway live on tour stalled, though future plans were not ruled out. The U.S. leg of the Turn It On Again tour commences Sept. 5 in Toronto and includes three dates in Chicago from Oct. 4. 2-- SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 |