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SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY > VOLUME 90, ISSUE 07
PTS tries to correct parking issues on campus
BY JESSICA VOORHEES
NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
The first few weeks of the semester produced the most difficult parking situation in history for WKU, as many commuters were unable to find parking anywhere on the main campus, said Jennifer Tougas, director of Parking and Transportation Services. Tougas said she was aware parking would be difficult before the beginning of the school year.
“We made adjustments for the fall knowing we didn’t have adequate parking for commuters,” said Tougas. PTS limited commuter permit sales this semester due to the expected increase of cars on campus from students who live in the new Kentucky Street apartments. Dennis Cain, PTS transportation analyst, said that out of more than 200 new apartment residents, 150 bought permits. These students park at the Adams Street Lot, allowing
JAKE POPE/ HERALD
A student drives down the spiral after parking in Parking Structure 1 on Monday.
no overflow parking there for commuters, which was available in years past.
“We expected that,” Tougas said. “When we limited commuter sales for parking we
were trying to make it easier, but we had more housing students than expected.” Tougas said the university experienced an eight percent increase in students living on campus this year, which caused an increase in students having cars on campus as well. Tougas said this came as a surprise because she had been observing a steady decline in housing permits for the past eight years.
SEE PARKING PAGE A2
Students, faculty discuss Islam and parallels to Christianity BY LEAH BROWN AND TREY CRUMBIE NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM A room of students and faculty had an open discussion about Islam and politics Monday. The discussion was a part of a series called “Pizza and Politics” hosted by the political science department, which will be ongoing throughout the semester. Diplomat-In-Residence Michael McClellan and Soleiman Kiasatpour, associate professor of political science, led the discussion. There are more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide which is about 25 percent of the world’s population, Kiasatpour said. Kiasatpour also stated that there are many manifestations of Islam, which can lead to misconceptions, such as people believing that all Muslims hold the same beliefs.
SEE ISLAM PAGE A2
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Dawson Springs senior Crysta Hicks, (far left), smiles as she watches Caden Plemons (second from left), 8, and Ella Kate Nelson (middle), 9, pretend to be airplanes during WKU Literacy tutoring at the Buddy House for Down Syndrome on Thursday, Sept. 11. The student group assists in reading skills for school-aged children with Down Syndrome.
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Louisville senior Whitney Reed (right) and Caden Plemons, 8, point to a card labeled “to” and sound out the word during WKU Literacy tutoring at the Buddy House for Down Syndrome on Thursday, Sept. 11. Reed studies special education at WKU, and has been volunteering at the Buddy House for Down Syndrome for three years.
WKU Best Buddies chapter continues to grow, advocate BY LASHANA HARNEY NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM Founded to foster friendships with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the WKU chapter of Best Buddies continues on in its sixth year on campus. The chapter held its first meeting of the school year on Sept. 10. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver. There are chapters nationwide and worldwide. The organization intends to expand global volunteer movement to create an inclusive environment for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD. Chapter president and Bowling Green senior Katherine Devine said she’s happy to be a part of the organization. “It’s really cool to be a part of something where you are having so much impact in many different parts of the world,” she said. The Kentucky chapter of Best Buddies was established in 2009. WKU’s chapter, formed in the same year, began when the Best Buddies state college director for Kentucky approached Host Site Coordinator Jane Tichenor and Faculty Advisor Leisa Hutchison.
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