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Show OPINIONS 12.07.2009 Door of oppdrturOftucloses by Jessica Burnham "If UVU decides to support the proposal, it will be a major statement from our but another may open at Utah Valley University institution." "My impressions of BYU's decision to discontinue its WRI? In a word: denial. In a picture or icon: head in the sand," said Peggy Pasin, coordinator of UVU's Women's Resource Center. There has been a good deal of criticism circulating with regard to the discontinuation of BYU's Women's Research Institute (WRI). Skepticism prevails, considering that the only given explanation for its dissolution is that by streamlining the current program, it will miraculously be strengthened. Those directly and negatively affected by this decision have many valid . concerns, such as how this move will affect the outside perception of LDS attitudes about women, seeing as . how no U.S. university has '.' closed its women's research center in over 20 years. "The explanation of ^eamlining is a non*«* . answer; whether or not it is intentional, it sends a message and leads people to an inevitable conclusion," said Shannon Mussett, associate professor of Philosophy and Gender Studies coordinator at UVU. BYU students and friends circulated a petition with hopes of replacing the WRI with a "women's research council," which would be a more unified and collaborative entity, although they are still waiting fora response. But what is the status of women's research on our own campus? UVU has the Women's Resource Center, maintained by the devoted Peggy Pasin, and this year the university and other sources have sponsored the Women and Education Project (WEP) headed by Dr. Susan R. Madsen, associate professor of management. With only one small resource center, and a two-year women's research project, will we be able to create an environment in which real work on women's studies can be done? It is only natural to be suspicious of the long-term effectiveness of these meager, though noble, undertakings. Although the WEP will be undoubtedly effective, sustained women's research is needed for optimal results, and since it seems BYU is now far less concerned with these endeavors, where does that leave the women of Utah? Coincidentally, a few days prior to BYU's controversial announcement, a proposal for the UCWEL (Utah Center for Women's Education and Leadership) began developing at UVU to extend the concept of the WEP further than two years. If funded, the center would begin performing research on women's issues in Utah next fall, acting as an educational resource by developing intervention strategies including peer mentoring, career explora- tion and summer bridge programs, and encouraging leadership development through offering exposure to established leaders in many fields. 1 "Everyone we've talked to supports the idea, but when everything is laid out, is there enough funding to support it?" Madsen said. "This is a really challenging time since the institution's funding has been cut and because of the economy. If UVU decides to support the proposal, it will be a major statement from our institution." "Whether or not something like this could grow effectively into a center with a broader mission remains to be seen but it is certainly worthy of consideration," said President Holland about the proposal. Funding aside, the UCWEL could provide a significant resource that would fill the hole left by the "streamlining" of BYU's WRI. Some of the best comments on UVUReview.com 1 • • i i 1 i ' * And for the record, I like going to a wacky school and I'm fairly certain I'm not the only one. Want to go to a school where people are boring? Get better grades and transfer to the zoo. Oh, and I am that student with Facebook up on his laptop and I am the back-row peanut gallery. Know what else I am? An "A" student. Life gets easier when you loosen up a little. Relax. It's all good. "Concealed weapons pose a threat to campus" You say that if a concealed weapon permit holder is asked why he or she carries that they will obviously answer, "Because it's my right"... It's your right to shave your head and glue multi-colored playing pieces from the game "Sorry" to your skull and go around singing "tip toe through the tulips," but people don't do that and if they did it would not be "because it was their right." "Troubled bridge over Utah Lake" Hey Joshua, are you retarded? "Laptops: Distraction or learning aid in class" 1. The class is boring. You could pass it in your sleep. 2. You didn't get there soon enough. 3. Did I mention that you could've been sleeping? "Donner-Galbraith saved by concert" "Joe the Plumber, come to plumb" Hey $%*&, I mean @#$%*, it's not your school, you just pay to use it. You get what you pay for. punx boycott! punx boycott! get together and boycott! Punx! Punx! Punx! • ' - photos by Al MITTON/UVU Review Paved paradise Opinions writer "Perception is our duty" i : ALEXSOUSA t%J: - • •1 Val Peterson is a busy man. I'm unannounced and uninvited, occupying the only free fifteen minutes he has today. "So," Peterson said, "you think there's a problem with parking?" "No," I tell him, "but everyone else seems to think so. I just park and keep my mouth shut." What I don't tell him is I'm one of many I see every morning who are inclined to park off campus and endure a 10 minute walk to class to avoid the fee and the fight. The truth is that students don't have it as bad as they think. Val Peterson is the Vice President of Administrative and Legislative Affairs and oversees campus parking as one of his responsibilities, and he's all too happy to print off some statistics. The most expensive parking pass goes for $80, a no-holds-barred extravaganza offering two semesters' worth of parking in prime spots. Students at the U pay $125 for the same benefits and at Utah State they're forking over an outrageous $182. Among our sister institutions. Salt Lake Community College is the only one that has a cheaper A-list parking pass, ringing in at $30. We offer three parking options and are the only school that has free parking. We even offer a shuttle that passes by every 10 to 15 minutes to ferry students to and from campus. A new parking master plan includes three proposed parking structures. The setback is that a raised parking structure, like the ones planned, costs about $15 million. A recent survey on campus showed that students were not willing to pay an additional $50 to cover the cost. Since the school has yet to pay off the last parking lots built, the master plan is a vision for the not-too-near future. - Administration isn't in much of a hurry though. A weekly count, held at peak hours, shows over 850 empty stalls. Still, some students refer to the parking pass as a "hunting permit" for the daily pursuit of the elusive open stall. I "Places are available as long as! students are willing to make a . short 10 minute walk." Peter- ; son says. I think back to my ; truck parked 10 minutes away,, free of charge. \ Of course, the parking * fee doesn't just cover the ; cost of the stall; many other utilities are offered. Unlock- ; ing doors and jump-starting ; cars are daily responsibilities for employees of parking services. Permit fees pay for the clearing of ice and snow. The lines here begin to blur as the fees also go to pay for the clearing of ice and snow from sidewalks — a benefit that the parking-stall poachers, such as myself, and the ever-aware and eco-friendly bus crowd enjoy even without paying for it. ; "Do you think there's a ' problem with parking, Val?" I ; asked. ; "The only problem with ; parking is that every student • wants the stall right next to ' class," Peterson answered. • "How do you feel about ; valet parking?" I asked. He iaughs; he thinks I'm : kidding, Parking won't be changing • anytime soon; the daily hunt • will persist. Until the administration stops laughing, we'll keep walking. Happy trails. |