1-20-11

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Thursday January 20, 2011 year: 131 No. 11 the student voice of

The Ohio State University

www.thelantern.com

thelantern Decisions pile up before snow day called

sports

MIKE HUGHES Lantern reporter hughes.1217@osu.edu

1B

John ‘Hondo’ Havlicek

The Lantern looks back at the Ohio State basketball legend’s career and what he is doing now.

arts & life

While some students pray for heavy snowfall and anticipate e-mails announcing a weekday without classes, Ohio State administrators work frantically to assess the snowfall’s effects. Detailing the fallout of snow and ice in the campus area takes dozens of OSU administrators from offices across the university. Academic Affairs, Transportation and Parking, University Police, Student Life and Facilities Operations and Development, among others, contribute to the decision to cancel class. “It is important that we keep open communication with students and staff,” said Bob Armstrong, director of OSU Emergency Management and Fire Prevention. Faculty and staff from departments across campus suggest a course of action to a senior administrative team consisting of deans and provosts. From there, the administrative team gathers its thoughts and reports to President

continued as Snow on 3A

JOE PODELCO / Photo editor

Taking advantage of a rare snow day at Ohio State, four students took to the “slopes” around Mirror Lake on Feb. 16, 2010. Jonathan Harmon, a fourth-year in electrical computer engineering, sleds down a hill on the east side of Mirror Lake while his friends watch.

On-campus vs. off-campus Proximity, price, parking just some factors to consider This is part three of a three-part series disg cussing the ins and siens i r hosu outs of housing on e 3 t and off campus. Par Part three compares maintenance, parking, cost and population between the two. DYLAN TUSSEL Assistant sports editor tussel.2@osu.edu

5A

New Batman actors

Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy will play key roles in Christopher Nolan’s next Batman film.

online

Patch Adams stops at the Ohio Union campus

Roommates chosen a new way

2A

On campus or off? Where you live can make or break a college experience. Deciding whether making a smaller rent payment outweighs dealing with landlords who don’t fix things that break should factor into your decision. Looking for a place to sleep and shower as long as the price is right — even if the water is cold and the mattress is lumpy? Off-campus options are likely your best bet. But if you prefer to fork over a couple extra bucks — and forgo the extra freedom that comes with leasing your own place — to have a garage where you can park your car, living in a residence hall might be the attractive option. Though many students complain about maintenance issues in their off-campus residences, Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee told The Lantern editorial board Jan. 12 that he hopes to address such issues through greater university involvement in the standards of off-campus housing. But until that goal becomes a reality, students are faced with a decision: spend more for the convenience of a meal plan, speedy maintenance service and a parking spot; or save some money for commensurately worse maintenance response times and increased freedom. The vast majority of students have opted for the latter. Source: Student Housing Legal Clinic, Student Life, Transportation and Parking, Columbus Department of Public Service, Housing Administration, University Residences and Dining Services Graphic: MOLLY GRAY / Managing editor for design Photo: JOE PODELCO / Photo editor

Baker Ha ll West

On-campus housing OSU strives to resolve all service requests within 24 hours. In 2009, 66 percent of service requests were resolved within 24 hours; 82 percent were resolved within 48 hours. OSU has an online service request system for students living in its residence halls.

There are more than 36,000 parking spaces on campus. Several halls have their own parking lots. Yearly parking passes range from about $85-$630, depending on the location of the parking lot.

$$

Residence hall rates range from $1,665-$2,290 per quarter. Students can purchase meal plans ranging from $1,070-$1,665. There is a mandatory $525-per-quarter fee for students who do not purchase meal plans.

About 9,900 students live on campus. Of those, about 5,500 are first-years.

e Avenu n a g i Mich

Off-campus housing Landlords must make all repairs within “a reasonable amount of time,” which generally is up to 30 days. In emergencies, they might have to address the issues sooner. When making maintenance requests, students should put the requests in writing and keep a copy for themselves.

Many landlords do not offer off-street parking to tenants. Most who do offer off-street parking charge a fee for it, but some offer it for free or include it in the rent. Yearly city parking permits, for street parking, cost $25.

$$

Apartments range anywhere from a couple hundred to more than $1,000 per month, not including utilities. A 40-swipe, off-campus meal plan is available for $420 per quarter.

About 46,100 students live off campus.

weather high 28 low 17

Homeless community gaining attention

snow

CORY SHAFFER Lantern reporter shaffer.294@osu.edu

F SA SU M

In less than 48 hours, Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice, went from sleeping in a homemade tent in the bushes behind an abandoned gas station on E. Hudson Street to announcing the introduction to NBC’s “Today Show” at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. His story has started a call for civility and respect among those working with the homeless community around Columbus. Williams’ tentmate is even inspired to find a better life. Columbus Dispatch web producer Doral Chenoweth recorded the now-famous video of

17/11 flurries 22/18 partly cloudy 24/16 mostly cloudy 29/27 cloudy www.weather.com

Williams, which was viewed more than 12 million times on YouTube before the Dispatch requested it be removed. “I think it’s opened a lot of people’s eyes to be a little more human to the homeless,” Chenoweth said. He cited an e-mail from a man in Oregon who said he has walked by a homeless man for five years. Ted Williams “Now he’s going to say hello to him.” Victor Houston doesn’t want to be in a shelter. Houston lived in the homemade tent with Williams for two months, until Williams’ rise to fame left him alone.

“I don’t want to be around people that drink and do drugs,” Houston said. “That ain’t for me.” Houston said he has been getting a lot of attention since Chenoweth’s video went viral, and also a little assistance. “They help me out with food, they help me out with blankets,” Houston said. “They’re gonna help me get up out of here.” Houston said he has been sleeping outside for more than three years. “I don’t care if I’m in a home or an apartment or whatever,” Houston said. Shannon Easter, director of clinical and supportive services at Faith Mission, a Columbus homeless

continued as Homeless on 3A 1A


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