Western Front - 2005 March 8

              ESTERN FRONT ISSUE 16
VOLUME 132
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY • BELLINGHAM, WASH. • WESTERNFRONTONLINE.COM
Possible park-and-ride fix
Grant may fund
lot improvements
BY MICHELLE ACOSTA
6*>—^""The Western Front
Western hopes to receive a $2 million
grant from the federal government to
improve parking conditions at the park-and-
ride lot on Lincoln Street.
James Shaw, director of public safety
and University Police, said the Federal
Transit Authority approved a federal
appropriation of public funds set aside
for construction and maintenance on
the park-and-ride. He said the grant is
still pending until the FTA approves the
project proposal and signs a contract for
the park-and-ride.
"The grant hasn't been formally approved
and, until a contract goes through, it is just
an agreement," Shaw said.
Shaw said the Western staff presented a
proposal for park-and-ride funding to the
board of trustees, and the FTA agreed the
grant would be an appropriate way to fix
environmental and maintenance problems.
He said some of the funds would be used
to mitigate environmental issues, such as
the open stream that possibly could cause
salmon bearing at the park-and-ride lot.
"As far as the holes and pavement go,
it's all a maintenance issue," Shaw said.
"It's all part of the development plan, and
we plan to fix it as we go."
Shaw said maintenance and renovations
will take place once project assessments
are complete and the grant is received. An
environmental report will be conducted to
assess any other environmental issues, he
said. .
Shaw said the park-and-ride is being
developed by Western in three phases
and is in its first phase of improvements.
The first phase includes two emergency
phones, more lighting and a bus shelter,
CHRIS HUBER/The Western Front
A commuter drives over potholes and through puddles in order to exit the
Lincoln Creek Park-and-Ride.
Shaw said.
"The second phase will focus on
smoothing out the pavement," Shaw said.
ShawsaidWesternhopestoreceivethe$2
million grant from the federal government
to take care of the environmental issues, but
needs $12 million altogether to completely
renovate the park-and-ride.
"By the time we reach the third phase
of the park-and-ride, we plan to begin
constructing a deck to accommodate more 1
parking," Shaw said.
Shaw said the goal was to create
an alternate access to Western. He
see PARKING, page 8
Western planners
debate waterfront
usage proposals
BY KATHRYN BEENIZE
The Western Front
Western's waterfront planning committee issued
pre-proposals March 1 to continue its involvement
with the progress of the waterfront property
• development.
The Western planning committee released
pre-proposals for prospective organizations
that possibly could be located at the waterfront
site in the future, said Lynne Masland, director
of University Communications and committee
member.
"I think it's an absolutely wonderful opportunity
for Western and the community," Masland said. "I
think, through the process that will come from
receiving proposals, we'll have a much better
idea of what would be good for Western at the
waterfront site."
Western President Karen Morse appointed
"a committee in spring 2004 of faculty, staff,
students and administrators to collaborate guiding
principles for the development of the waterfront
area, said Buff Schoenfeld, executive assistant to
the president.
The committee is accepting the pre-proposals
from individuals, departments and groups that
have an interest in a location at a waterfront site,
she said.
- Schoenfeld said the pre-proposals will provide
many, ideas for > future use of the waterfront
property.; One pre-proposal has been received sos
far, suggesting an area for Western alumni to have
houseboats.
v "It just demonstrates how much imagination
can be stimulated," Schoenfeld said. "Western
has a large input, but we are still early on in the
visioning process."
Many of the proposed ideas and their planning
will depend on the funding available, Schoenfeld
said. She said funding from the federal and state
government or private investments should be
available.
'There are all kinds of variables, especially
see WATERFRONT, page 7
'Bridge to Terabithia'
author gives insight
BY COURTNEY WALKER
The Western Front
The award-winning author of "Bridge to Terabithia,"
Katherine Paterson, spoke at Western's second annual Bond
Children's Literacy Conference in the Performing Arts Center
Saturday. Paterson, along with three other well-renowned
authors, spoke of courage, inspiration and patience in speeches
they gave at the conference.
Paterson, also the author of "Jacob Have I Loved," Nina
Laden, author of "The Night I Followed the Dog," Avi, author
of "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" and Janet Wong,
author of "Good Luck Gold," told personal stories and shared
the different experiences they had as writers.
see CHILDREN, page 8
Pool crowding causes Complaints
BY CRYSTAL OBERHOLTZER
The Western Front
Western's student senate will vote on a
resolution tonight mat may. limit the Wade
King Student Recreation Center's ability
to rent its pool to outside parties, said Karl
Geisler, chairman for the Student Senate of
the Associated Students of Western.
The proposed resolution stems from
complaints the student senate received
about the pool being overcrowded during
weekday afternoons when the Bellingham
School District swim-team practices there,
graduate senator Joel Gibbard said.
"Every time a large group rents that
pool, it is inaccessible to other students,"
see POOL, page 7
AMANDA WOQLLEY/The Western Front
Team Dolphin practices in the Wade King Recreation Center
Monday night.
CHEAP CARS
Bellingham residents bid for
discount cars at local auto-auctions.
FEATURES, PAGE 9
A New Jersey casino's ban on weight
FLYING DISCS
A closer look at one of the
most popular games at
Western.
SPORTS, PAGE 15