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""ti 0) ~ C ~ ' T • H C E me 9/Issue 5 Alpena Community College }f ebruary 2000 What's Inside Parking: a major issue at ACC Concern shown over parking at VLH Lumberjack basketball teams facing tough com-:- petition this season. See Page 7. "Nunsense" delighted audiences. See Page 6. Y2K Preparation preventec;l the disaster that never materialized. By Josh Helsel Features Editor Many students have been upset when arriving at Van Lare Hall and not being able to find a parking spot. Students have expressed frustration over this issue. "I feel there is a real need for add.itional parking spaces for students," ACC student Marie Pollard said. "With sometimes limited time spans between classes, it is difficult to be to classes on time." What can be done to solve this issue? Don Witt; director of facilities management, sees only two solutions to this prob- lem: 1. increase the size of the existing VLH parking lot to accommodate students who have classes there at a cost of about $3,000 per parking spot. 2. Park in the Besser Tech Center (BTC) parking lot and walk to VLH. The walk takes ab6ut four minutes. Witt does not believe the lot will be expanded any time soon. instituted if extra funds become availiable. _It may be hard to justify funding additional park- ing spaces in the VLH lot when there are empty spaces four minutes away." Student James Motley doesn't agree with Witt's con- cept. "I believe the parking lot should be extended," Motley said. "It may cost, but it would be more practical. The parking lot would be safer. People wouldn't be parked on the side of the road waiting for a park- ing spot." Witt feels that only a few students are left with out a park- ing spot and it is usually due to last minute arrivals. "Often, during peak times when arriving oh the last minute, students will not be able to find a spot and park in faculty spots," noted Witt speaking of the trend that's been noticed by parking attendents. During peak times approxi- mately 160 students attend classes in Van Lare Hall, while VLH supplies only 107 student See PARKING on Page 3. r11ulO oy Amy Wallot . See Page 4. "To eliminate the conges- tion immediately, I recomend solution number two," he said. "Solution number one could be ACC parking control, Terry Szczesniak patrols the park- ing lot looking for students parked in unauthorized zones. Don't let this. happen to you . . Trustees adopt Legislative Action Plan By Stacey M. Zbytowski Cont,ributing Writer Bringing attention to Michigan's community col: leges is one goal of the Legis- lative Action Plan adopted by ACC Board of Trustees at the Jan. 20 meeting. The seven-point plan was · proposed because of two years of changes in state government with more change on the way. The plan's main role is to pro- vide information to govern- ment leaders about how state appropriations and grants af- fect ACC and other community coll~ges. The trustees instructed ACC President Donald New- port to oversee implementing the plan. The seven priorities are as follows: friendship building, workforce development, op- erational funding, categorical ACC's Homecoming will be Feb. 5 against Schoolcraft . . Homecoming king and queen will be announced during half-time of the men's game. The court is (L to R) Women's Basketball, Joe Maupin and Melissa VanStedum; Cross Country, Mike Kenney and Angie Boutell; Polemic, Tris Coffin and Amy Wallot; Softball, Joe Case and Stacey Gagnon; Student Senate, Chip Redker and Beckie Filipiak; ACC Players, Chris Person . and Liz Visger; PTK, Andrew Zbytowski and Carrie Taratuta; Dance Team, Dale • Saranen; missing Men's· Basketball, Gary Greenwood and Katie Konicek. funding, performance goals, local tax support, and federal support. Newport explained that friendship building is a way to "get state-wide information through all 28 community col- leges" within Michigan. ACC's operating funds come from three major areas, 51 percent from state legisla- tive appropriations, 32 percent from tuition, and 17 percent from property taxes levied in the college's service area. These three areas support the college like a three-legged stool, he said. Without the· funding from the state, the other two legs must grow to support tbe stool, increasing tuition or property taxes and undermining the overall stability of the college, he said. The action plan calls for a 3.5 percent increase in operat- ing funds from a variety of sources, including local taxes and state appropriations. Newport says he supports the plan and is eager to begin work on something that will ultjmately benefit students. "This is our drive, to focus our energy for students," he said. "We have our marching orders - to slay dragons." Tickets may now be appealed) i AmyWallot Co-Editor ACC'.s Parking Lot Ap- peals Committee now gives students the chance to appeal their parking tickets. The committee was formed this year after a mem- ber of parking control three years ago brought up the idea. Last year Donald Witt, direc- tor of facilities management, brought the idea to Student Senate, and this year it was implemented. Student Senate members make up the committee. They meet once a week to disscuss the appeals. Based on the rea- son the student gives for mak- ing the appeal, they approve or revoke the ticket. "It's important to give stu- dents, with a valid explanation, a chance to appeal their tick- ets," said Beckie Filipiak, a Student Senate member. All students must register their vehicles to park at ACC. According to Terry Szczesniak of parking control, tickets are not the only reason students have to register. If stud~nts leave their lights or there is' a problem with their car, they can be tracked down and informed. The most common tickets given out are for parking ~n staff parking and for students parking in the NRC parking 1qt. Unauthorized staff parking o~- curs most often in the VLH parking lot. "Parking at VLH is al;l timing," Szczesniak said. lle encourages students to park i~ the BTC p·arking lot. "It's ~ four minute walk from the middle of the BTC parking 1qt to the front door in VLH." Tickets must be payed be~ fore students can receive their report card or transcript Tick- ets cost $10 or $25 for park: ing in handicap zones. Students can pick up an appeal form from BTC ·101. After their case is reviewed; a copy of the appeal form with the decision is mailed to the student. A new student? Photo by Heidi Sku!>e , This 30-foot lumberjack statue serves as a mascot and puts fear into incoming competitors. See story on page ~- · ' ,