Western Front - 2006 February 14

              THE WESTERN FRONT TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 14,2006
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY An independent student newspaper serving the campus community since 1970. ISSUE 11, VOLUME 136
Vikings grab
late victory
State denies
money for
park and ride
BY JEFFREY LUXMORE
The Western Front
A grant advisory committee for
the Washington State Department
of Transportation recommended the
state Legislature refused Western a
$3.1 million grant to purchase the
Lincoln Creek Transportation Center,
said Theresa Smith, a planning
manager at the department.
Western signed a three-year
lease in 2004, and has the option to
purchase the land before the lease
expires in 2007, according to minutes
from an Oct. 7 Western board of
trustees meeting.
The lease gave Western the ability
to convert the former drive-in theater
in 2004 into a park and ride. Western
can purchase the land after the Federal
. Transit Administration approves the
site for development following an
environmental assessment.
Western hired David Evans
and Associates of Bellingham to
determine the impact of the park
and ride on local animals, plants and
Lincoln Creek.
The Lincoln Creek Transportation
Center is located one mile from
campus, which caused the committee
to deny Western's proposal for the
grant, Smith said.
Lincoln Creek does not
significantly reduce congestion
on 1-5, a primary focus of the
Regional Mobility Grant Program,
affiliated with the Department of
Transportation, she said.
The 2005 state Legislature
allocated $20 million to the two-year
grant program. The program's goal is
see FUNDING, page 4
CHRIS JOSEPH TAYLOR/THE WESTERN FRONT
Western senior guard/forward Grant Dykstra goes up for two of his game-high
26 points Saturday night against Seattle University. After trailing by five points
at the half, Western fought back to win 91-90. Western travels to No. 5 Seattle
Pacific University, who lost Saturday at the University of Alaska Anchorage,
for a regional showdown on Thursday. See full story on page 8.
JARED YOAKUM / THE WESTERN FRONT
The former Samish Twin Drive-In theater is now home to the Lincoln
Creek Transportation Center. Western has the option to purchase
the land before the lease expires in 2007, but the Washington DOT
has proposed Western be denied a grant to purchase it.
City council approves same-sex partner benefits
BY HEIDI SCHILLER
The Western Front
The Bellingham City Council, in a
7-0 vote, approved same-sex domestic
partnership benefits for city employees,
Feb. 6. The benefits are part of a negotiated
contract with two of the city's nine unions.
The medical and dental benefits for
employees' same-sex partners are part of
a larger contract that actually costs the
city less than the previous benefits plan
by increasing employee payments toward
health and dental care, councilman John
Watts said.
"It's one small step, but it's a significant
step," he said. "Especially for those
involved."
The policy will not cover opposite-sex
domestic partnerships because a legal option
exists for them to marry and therefore gain
coverage, while same-sex partners do not
have that option, Watts said.
Larry Antil, Western's managing director
of elementary education self-sustaining
programs, said Western's same-sex domestic
partner benefits are an immense help.
His partner of 15 years did not have health
insurance for several years until Western
offered benefits.
The two must sign a declaration of
partnership every year.
"Its kind of humorous and kind of sad,"
he said. "You have to remember what day
see PLAN, page 3
GOING TO GHANA
Anew sociology class presents
an opportunity that Western has
never offered.
FEATURES, PAGE 6
HORSING AROUND
Western's equestrian team trains
for the regional competition at
the end of the month.
SPORTS, PAGE 9
BOOKS, NOT GUNS
Bush should honor his promises
and increase educational spending
instead of defense spending; ^
OPINIONS, PAGE 11
WEATHER
Wednesday^ Sunny
\ ^ H £ W I X W : 2 3
^Thursday: Sunny
Hi: 38 Low: 22
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