TUESDAY
THURSDAY
CAMPUS
P2
Share the Road event promotes bicycle safety on campus.
ARTS&LIFE
P3
Gateway opens up for a free concert.
HUMANS OF OSU
P9
Learn the candid thoughts of a fellow Buckeye.
SPORTS
P8
Get a summary of what to expect on both sides of the ball this season.
The student voice of the Ohio State University
Thursday, August 25, 2016
thelantern.com
@TheLantern
Year 136, Issue No. 40
Parking prices on the rise Political clubs Examining the first five years of the CampusParc contract with OSU
look to impact 2016 election
ALEXA MAVROGIANIS | PHOTO EDITOR
EILEEN MCCLORY | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
Source: Ohio State records. NICK ROLL Campus Editor roll.66@osu.edu When Ohio State and CampusParc struck a blockbuster deal to privatize parking operations, the private investment company agreed to terms setting the percentage it could increase prices and fines each academic year. Pricing data released by the university show in each of the last
five years the company regularly met, or in some instances exceeded, the 5.5 percent annual increase initially agreed to in the contract signed five years ago. The most expensive student pass, CG, went on sale in July for $858.48 for a year-long pass. Last year the same pass was $813.52, and in 2012 it cost $693. According to documents detailing parking pricing for each year since the 2012-13 school year —
when CampusParc was awarded access to OSU’s parking in a $483 million, 50-year deal — prices have increased each year in almost every category available to students, faculty and staff. The only variation to this was between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic year, when one pass, the West Campus E pass stayed the same, at $299.52. Parking passes are not the only CAMPUSPARC CONTINUES ON 2
North Campus basketball courts closed to public NICK ROLL Campus Editor roll.66@osu.edu The newly completed construction of the North Residential District has left large amounts of North Campus changed, including the basketball courts. The old basketball courts were open to the public and did not require a BuckID to swipe in for access. Now, four new, fencedin basketball courts are available for use, but only after entering through the North Recreation Center — which requires a BuckID or a paid membership. “We feel that it’s important for Recreational Sports members to have complete access (to the courts),” said Ohio State Office of Student Life spokesman Dave Isaacs. Isaacs said the BuckID-only court design came from the bottom up. Isaacs said OSU got feedback from Recreational Sports mem-
bers that they weren’t always able to use the courts because large amounts of players not affiliated with the university could make the courts crowded at times. Members, Isaacs said, included students, faculty and staff. Kell Shorter, facility manager for the North Recreation Center, said the open courts also presented logistical problems. “There were no accountability factors, there was no swipe data,” Shorter said. “Our courts aren’t for the community, they’re for students.” Isaacs said there’s a balance that has to be struck between OSU and Columbus. “Ohio State is still part of the Columbus community, but since members are paying for the facilities, we thought this was more fair,” Isaacs said. The Recreational Fee assessed in tuition for this school year was $123. Isaacs said there were no immediate plans or designs to imple-
ment similar changes to the South Campus basketball courts on East 11th Avenue. Kody Barth and Taylor Broderick, who were playing basketball on the South Campus courts Sunday afternoon, said they were not too concerned about the changes. “I’m a student, so I don’t mind,” said Broderick, a third-year in finance. “It sucks though.” Barth, 20, who does not attend OSU, was not too concerned that space would become a problem at the South Campus courts. “I’ll play anywhere (in Columbus),” he said. Broderick added that there could be a silver lining for the South Campus courts now that the North Campus courts are BuckID-only. “I prefer more people playing (on South Campus),” Broderick said, “It could bring more competition.”
@_stopdropnroll_
Third-year Vice President of Ohio State College Democrats Levi Griffith (left) stands with other club members and a Joe Biden cut-out at the Involvement Fair on Aug. 21. ABBY VESOULIS Lantern reporter vesoulis.3@osu.edu With less than 80 days until the 2016 presidential election, students across campus – and across the political aisle – eager to get involved in politics are in good hands. Ohio State has more than 1,200 student organizations, and multiple are devoted to the upcoming political climate and election — including OSU College Democrats, OSU College Republicans, Students for Trump and Turning Point USA. The campus chapter of College Republicans is actively recruiting new members in light of the election. “This election has affected our membership positively,” said Laurel Lesley, a second-year in marketing, and the director of communications for College Republicans. “We have had more interest than ever in our club, and especially in our nominee.” The club — which endorses Donald Trump, the GOP nominee
“This election has affected our membership positively ... We have had more interest than ever in our club, and especially in our nominee.” Laurel Lesley Second-year in marketing Director of communications, College Republicans
— discusses current events, hosts election watch parties, invites local conservative politicians to speak and plans an annual professional development trip in the nation’s capital. “Our club is very pro-Trump and pro-Republican, and, therefore, we support the Republican Party and all the principles they hold,” Laurel said, despite some chapters of the club, such as the one at Harvard University, refusing to endorse the Republican presidential candidate. College Republicans’ political opposite, the College Democrats, is also recruiting students passionate about politics. “We are working so hard to elect Hillary because she will fight for us,” said College Democrats president Jake Vasilj, a third-year in history and political science. “She brings strength, compassion, leadership, competence and experience to the table in a way that Trump simply cannot.” Within OSU College Democrats, the Buckeyes for Hillary caucus is focusing specifically on uniting Democrats and getting Clinton to the White House. “We had a hard-fought primary. I was honored to help fight for Hillary in that primary alongside people who were fighting for Bernie,“ said Spencer Dirrig, chair of Buckeyes for Hillary and second-year in political science and economics. “And now we are coming together to support Hillary because she is our nominee, and we are excited to make sure she becomes the first female president of the United States.” Students have other political organizations to choose from as
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