The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Thursday, June 14, 2012
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Stadium debate continues through summer months
BY JOHN SHEESLEY The Rocky Mountain Collegian
The Stadium Advisory Committee meeting on May 30 failed to finalize recommendations for CSU President Tony Frank on whether to renovate Hughes Stadium or build a new one on the CSU campus. Now, come August, the final decision will rest with President Frank. “I know that some people are suggesting – a few have been from the very first days of the discussion– that my mind is made up,” said President Frank in an email to the Collegian. “I’d respectfully suggest that if that were the case, I wouldn’t be spending all the time we’re spending analyzing this to make the best, most informed decision we can.” The Committee will continue to investigate the possibility of building a new stadium through the summer, as well as the ramifications for Hughes if the plan gets the go-ahead. “Over the summer we’re going to be continuing to look at what it would take to maintain Hughes going forward,” said CSU Public Relations Director Kyle Henley. “If there is a go ahead, we’ll be looking at what we’ll do with Hughes. We’re going to take our time and do this right.” Even though the final decision will not be made until Au-
An artist’s rendering of what an on-campus stadium could look like. The architecture firm Populous has been hired by CSU to help design a potential stadium.
gust, there are many chances to voice an opinion on the proceedings during the summer. The Public Engagement Sub-Committee, a facet of the Committee, has arranged open forums with President Frank in August before the de-
cision is made. Be Bold CSU, an organization supporting an on-campus stadium, is continuing their campaign during the break with a renewed focus. “We’re focused on the business community . . . we’re
working with them to communicate their support for the new stadium,” said Tyler Shannon, spokesman for Be Bold CSU. The Save Our Stadium Hughes organization will be active over the summer as
well. “SOSH will have a booth at Nvhhew West Fest,” Bob Vangermeersch, spokesman for SOSH, wrote in an email. “We will continue to have the anti-stadium petitions signed and plan on delivering 7-8,000
signatures to Dr. Frank this summer.” The “Save Our Stadium” and “I Support CSU’s New OnCampus Stadium” Facebook pages are still active, though comments posted there are not reviewed by the Committee or President Frank. “I have not been to these sites and don’t plan to visit them, but I’m frequently updated by people associated with both sides of the issue and both these sites are also linked to the official University Stadium Advisory Committee website, so the information is readily accessible,” President Frank wrote in an email. Emails to the President’s Office and all suggestions submitted through the suggestion box on www.CSUrams.com will be considered. “I think the way the process has unfolded underscores our commitment as a university community to have open dialogue on all issues of shared importance,” Frank wrote in an email. “At the end of the day, I’ll do my best to keep my decision focused on what I think is in the best long-term interests of Colorado State University and our mission to discover new knowledge, apply it for the betterment of our world, and pass it on to the next generation of citizens.” Designer John Sheesley can be contacted at news@collegian.com
Fee increases and construction promise gridlock BY KRISTIN HALL The Rocky Mountain Collegian
Between construction and fee increases this summer, don’t be surprised if parking seems to be getting more difficult. Parking fees will increase Jul. 1. Student commuter passes will cost $234, CSU employee passes will cost $261 and student residence hall passes will cost $303, according to a CSU press release. In order to ease the pain of fee increases, Q, W, X and Z lots do not require a permit during the summer months, according to Amanda Wambolt, the University Parking Services Assistant Director. The fees fund parking lot maintenance and improvements will close parking lots this summer. Over the course of the next twelve months, CSU will lose 657 parking spaces and gain 150, making the total loss of parking spots 1,393 since 2007, and total addition 1,020 spaces during that same period of time. CSU has lost 373 parking spots since 2006 despite an enrollment increase of nearly 4,000 students. With closures and construction everywhere, students like junior business major Madison Puhl, who works at Sweet Sinsations, are finding parking on cam-
MAJOR CLOSURES East Hartshorn and Library lots will close to be reconfigured into one lot, adding 150 parking spaces for the fall semester Aylesworth/Braiden Hall lot will close until August to aid construction. One-half of the Corbett lot will close in August, and the remainder of the lot will close permanently in December. University Apartments lot will also close permanently this summer.
pus confusing. “I don’t even know where I can park, it’s not made very clear to students,” Puhl said, “and even when I find a good spot it seems like I get ticketed for parking in that same spot the next day.” Students are not the only group inconvenienced by the parking construction. With orientation bringing in approximately 4,000 future students registered to attend orientation over the course of the summer, the orientation team has their work cut out for them when it comes to ensuring those new students can find parking. Incoming students and their families are currently asked to park in the Moby Arena lot, according to Amber Bedee, the Student Orientation Assistant Director. “So far things have gone
smoothly,” Bedee said, “The biggest challenges for us are making sure that fami-
lies can navigate their way from the Moby parking lot to campus and making
sure they don’t park in the A spots that require permits over the summer.”
Contributor Kristin Hall can be reached at new@collegian.com
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