UWFox Campus Blog

I do not understand why they need reserved parking...

2009-11-11T19:30:43.240-06:00

I do not understand why they need reserved parking spots. This makes no sense to me? Who cares if they have "green" cars? So what if they have money? You’re going to punish those who drive older cars and have us park farther away? The older cars were sold to us then and they do sell those kind of cars now. Yes global warming is an issue that has been brought up to us, but if one person has a "green" they are not making THAT big of an impact. I personally think that those sports are very unnecessary, and make people angry more than anything.

"so...somebody's princess gets a new fuel efficien...

2009-11-11T19:17:03.853-06:00

"so...somebody's princess gets a new fuel efficient car, and gets to park closer.
meanwhile, i'm stuck in my p.o.s. truck in the back of the parking lot.

I appreciate the gesture of rewarding those who invest efficient vehicles, but most of the 20ish year olds with new cars get enough handouts from their parents and don't need any more favors."

Exactly what I was going to say! I wouldn't consider it fair that those simply better off financially reap the benefits of a parking standard I've never seen before. I bought my first car just over the past summer for $450. It's made in 1994. I wont bother to check the excel document.

I believe this new parking enforcement is just a way to show the world how 'in-touch' UWFox is with the environment, and its needs. Also, as an owner of a Prius himself, I'm sure Dean Perry made a big push for this new, reserved parking spot. Discriminatory? I personally think so. You're giving those "fuel efficient" vehicles and their drivers a special "better than you" status. I hate the feeling of being viewed as inferior(as anyone would), but UWFox has now found a way to make the majority of students feel this way. I agree with Rhys in his statement that you did sound pretentious in the post. You made it sound this very way, that those who drive non-fuel efficient vehicles are indeed inferior. To sum up, I didn't appreciate the tone of the post at all.

Rhys is also right in the fact that these vehicle standards are flawed, to say the least. He mentioned the Civic GX which only gets 24 mpg. I have a friend who was fined for parking in a green spot. He had to pay $20 even though his vehicle gets in the mid-30's for gas mileage; that's much better than the Civic if you didn't already note that. That seems terribly flawed from my perspective.

The LEED certification is not important to the campus itself, it's important for how the campus is viewed.

It should also be noted that the green spots are rarely full. Why should more be added? To further aggravate those who can't park in those stalls, and never will be able to because of the inability to afford such a vehicle? Parking gets crowded at UWFox, and there is little need for these spots already. I don't view these spots as beneficial as is, and would be quite frustrated to see even more go up.

I challenge you, Dean Perry, to do 1 thing: Count the number of green-vehicles, and count the number of non-green vehicles. The ratio doesn't need to be counted to be known: very few to very many. Ask yourself: are more of these green spots truly necessary? The answer, I would hope, is evident.

It defeats the purpose to provide green parking wh...

2009-11-11T18:59:09.158-06:00

It defeats the purpose to provide green parking when you are in turn forcing cars who have higher emissions to drive around a lot longer searching for a parking space.
If you are looking for a way to reward those who are green, find a fair way to reward not just those who are wealthy.

Well, I did not mean both. I meant lacking in know...

2009-11-11T18:21:24.176-06:00

Well, I did not mean both. I meant lacking in knowledge. You can't get inside my head to know any differently so you'll just have to take my word for it. Or not.

Now, you are talking to the guy who bought his first car as a college sophomore and paid $125. But that's not fair, because it was a long time ago. So to be fair, I checked the dollar value of 1967 vs. today's. Looks like I paid $805 in 2009 dollars.

As a Madison student I would drive my car to within a mile of campus and then take my bike the rest of the way. I did not want, nor could I afford to pay to park. Fox does not charge for legal parking at all. In fact, we even rent Saber Lanes parking lots for the students.

But back to the point. I challenge you all to do two things:

1. Check that website to see if you car qualifies before you post a reply.

2. Count the number of "green-vehicle" spaces and the number of non-green vehicle spaces.

The LEED certification is important to the campus. It says that we care about doing what we can. All of us can always do more, including me ... and you.

By the way, verbal sparring does not mean I don't like you or don't respect you. It's just verbal sparring.

Ignorant can mean both. The tone of your blog impl...

2009-11-11T17:39:56.058-06:00

Ignorant can mean both. The tone of your blog implied both.

While there isn't no Prius available for $50,000, some (myself included) live at or below poverty levels and aren't quite in the position to cough up enough money for a new or newish car. I don't have $22,000+ or the means to fund a new car.
I'm sure that even students that are a bit financially better off than myself aren't quite able to buy a fuel efficient vehicle.
Thanks, though, for the snide aside. Thought you'd be more in touch with the average salary in our current political climate.

Thanks, Rhys. I was hoping this would spark intere...

2009-11-11T17:06:06.496-06:00

Thanks, Rhys. I was hoping this would spark interest. That's what blogs are all about. Indeed words are sometimes chosen to cause people to respond. However, "ignorant" just means "uninformed" not stupid.

I believe most people thought one had to own a Prius or something like that to park there. Now they know differently. And by the way, there is no Prius available that sells for $50,000.

It is true, not many students attending UW Fox can...

2009-11-11T16:58:13.512-06:00

It is true, not many students attending UW Fox can afford "Green Vehicles", so is it smarter to have empty Green Vehicle Spots that no one car park in, or to move those green spots a little further away, and put regular vehicle parking closer to the building. Then the social elite that can afford "Green Vehicles" can still have their own cute little spot reserved for them, while the rest of us minions, who by the way usually get here before the Faculty and Staff in the morning, can get in and out of school in the winter a little bit faster.

First off, I don't know if it was your intention t...

2009-11-11T16:48:08.534-06:00

First off, I don't know if it was your intention to come of like this but your comment, "Based upon the small number of responses, there is clearly a lot of ignorance about what sort of vehicle can park in so-called "Green Spaces" sounds very pretentious. It almost seems like you're stating that the Student body chose to be, in a lack of better words, Stupid. What materials have been presented, what emails were sent, what discussion happened that informed any of the student body about the requirements for being able to park in "Green" spaces? The proper term would be lack of awareness, which could easily be rectified by putting forth some effort to inform (Which I recognize that you're doing now).

You base this off FIVE comments (half of which are in favor of the spots), from the Fox Journal. The other half gave honest, well reasoned responses too. Ignorance isn't the issue here, the issue is that the vast majority of the student body cannot get one these so-called green vehicles (The Honda Civic GX was given a green rating of 57 even though it only gets 24 mpg in the city), and half of us have older vehicles that go past 2000.

Also, just because my hypothetical Civic GX with its ridiculous gas mileage has a higher green score, that justifies me parking closer? Am I better because of it? Hey, if I have Solar Panels on the roof of my house does that mean I get to cut in line the cafeteria? If I use only biodegradable cups, does that mean I get to register for classes before everyone else? The comment you left at the end "Not everyone at Fox has a LEFEV. Those people just need to walk a bit further." is essentially a statement saying "Suck it up and deal with the fact that those other people are better then you." Perhaps I should sit at the back of the bus to campus if I don't own a Green vehicle either.

And finally, I think the school can acknowledge the benefit of seeking out "Green" options, but it seems to just be getting ridiculous, especially with your desire to even further reduce the amount of spots available for normal car use, especially when most of us are lucky to even OWN a clunker.

so...somebody's princess gets a new fuel efficient...

2009-11-11T16:08:57.443-06:00

so...somebody's princess gets a new fuel efficient car, and gets to park closer.
meanwhile, i'm stuck in my p.o.s. truck in the back of the parking lot.

I appreciate the gesture of rewarding those who invest efficient vehicles, but most of the 20ish year olds with new cars get enough handouts from their parents and don't need any more favors.

Rhys raises some good points in his comments about...

2009-11-10T16:23:27.816-06:00

Rhys raises some good points in his comments about the attempt to provide a quick morning coffee service at the Miron Cafe. While, on paper, the location of the Cafe is at a main entry point to the campus building and therefore was expected to have lots of students walking past in the morning, reality shows that the location is not so much a major entrance yet. (Maybe cold weather will change that?)
The idea behind the morning Café was to provide a service to students. If the service isn’t needed, or would be better used at a different location, then we should change what we’re doing now. Since the start of the semester the number of patrons served between 10:30 and noon (the hours recently dropped from the schedule) averaged less than 3 a day. While providing service to 3 persons in 90 minutes is nice, it is not a sustainable business practice.
The campus food service operator agreed to engage in this experiment in service and is committed to seeing through until the end of the fall semester. At that time we will review the program and determine whether and where it will continue in January.
Furniture for the lobby spaces is taking too long to be ordered and arrive. The first focus was on getting the equipment needed to support the instructional programs with activities in the new building. Furnishings were among the second level of priority, which has been addressed recently (ordering stuff and, over time, receiving stuff). All should be in place for the start of the spring semester.

Hi Dean! Rhys Kuzdas here, as you stated that sin...

2009-11-06T12:51:42.924-06:00

Hi Dean! Rhys Kuzdas here, as you stated that since anonymity may cloud whether certain comments come from the student body or not, I figured I should go ahead and set an example. About your comments on the Miron Cafe "Had more faculty, staff and students patronized it, they would not have cut back service.” I would have to say that had more consideration taken place about its actual placement on this campus in regards to student traffic, then perhaps it would actually have received more patronage. Also, the idea that cutting back service hours to only the early morning is nothing more than a vicious circle of self-cannibalization which will even reduce student and staff use further. Also, the fact that you can't even eat in certain parts of the CAC coupled with its barren surroundings makes it even more inconvenient and undesirable for students. This might be a harsh criticism but it seems the only consideration which was taken into account when the Cafe was built was its ability to service theater performances, acting more like a Cinema booth then an actual Cafe for the student body. Which if that’s the case, then that’s fine, but it cannot be considered a secondary source for food or drink on campus for the benifit of students, nor should it be considered a boon which we are ignoring.

In response to the previous question, I have only ...

2009-11-06T10:10:49.039-06:00

In response to the previous question, I have only one thing to say: Dean, thank you. Who needs classes, which should be covered by adequate IAS funds, when we have this awesome, gigantic, empty building that we can now hang in? Also, extra kudos for having that ugly furniture that SA bought to be moved in. I can now wile away my free time sitting down and listening to my lone solitary voice being echoed back. What's more, I’m thrilled that I won’t have to be hassled by the coffee shop to purchase a drink or pastry because, with great visionary foresight, it was decided to be closed down during any normal operating hours. I’ll be sure to make sure my sister comes to UW-Fox to experience these amazing facilities and larger class sizes, but I don’t know that I’ll be able to convince my brother, seeing as he has Agoraphobia. Once again Dean, I am amazed at your ability to understand the needs of the student body, and address them so expertly. I thank you so very much.

Ive heard rumors that there are gonna be a lot of ...

2009-11-06T09:39:16.196-06:00

Ive heard rumors that there are gonna be a lot of classes that their trying to cancel in the spring. Is this true? And if so, why?

Thanks dean Perry

Speaking of hypocritical, I don't understand why t...

2009-11-05T19:46:04.359-06:00

Speaking of hypocritical, I don't understand why there are two Prius' being driven to school...do the two cancel out to one Tahoe?

Yes, I would ave to say that I too have the same q...

2009-10-27T16:08:02.758-05:00

Yes, I would ave to say that I too have the same question after attending one of the events called "Smashing the Green Ceiling." They were saying all the good things UW Fox is doing for the environment though most of it seemed hypocritical.

Dear Dr. Perry, Thanks for having the oppertunity ...

2009-10-27T13:54:45.313-05:00

Dear Dr. Perry,
Thanks for having the oppertunity to ask you questions. I was unable to make that. I am an A.N.T.S. and find it hard to attend any function over the noon hour. I am always working on homework. Please don't assume all students at Fox behave as ones from that day. Some of us do have manners and wouldn't just take the free pizza and run. While others may not be rude either, but hungry. :0)
P.s I do have a question, I would have asked had I been able to attend...
If we as a campus whole are trying to be as "green" as possible why were there hoses all over the lawn of the new CAC? I do understand a lawn needs to be watered regularly to establish a proper root system. However the run-off was excessive. I find this a waste! Is there a better watering system that can promote healthy water usage?

Is the blog on furlough?

2009-10-25T16:15:30.331-05:00

Is the blog on furlough?

Times are truly tough. However, people still see...

2009-09-08T18:50:37.983-05:00

Times are truly tough.

However, people still seem to have no problem looking a gift horse in the mouth!

Thank you, Gary for offering some perspective. Fr...

2009-08-25T22:44:44.674-05:00

Thank you, Gary for offering some perspective. Friends who own small businesses have offered similar comments, reminding me that their decrease in business and income has meant that they had to work more hours, not less to compensate.
Supply and demand for available labor is often a more important factor in determining wages and salaries than is a degree earned. We've had a pretty good run for the last 20+ years, now we need to tighten our belts a little.

Things will get better and in the meantime, let's be thankful for what we have--particularly those coming back from a three month break. There are plenty who would trade places.

I was directly involved with the election and the ...

2009-08-23T15:16:21.143-05:00

I was directly involved with the election and the vote counts (I was the election commissioner).

As a Student Association, we were actually pleased by the turnout of votes, which exceeded that of the previous election noticeably.

The minimum of 75 votes was not met because the votes cast were nearly split equally between three candidates. Such a close race between three is rarely seen, let alone at UW Fox Valley. I was very pleased by the campaign all three ran.

While a larger voter turnout would have been nice, we actually were quite above average turnout compared to other state schools.

I know this comment is a bit late, but I hate to see the results painted as poor student participation when the strong campaigns made by the candidates actually made it otherwise.

For those who didn't know, the reelection did meet the minimum 75 votes to elect an officer.

-Kevin Johnson, former SA Senator

Dr. Perry: I do, actually, understand that the sa...

2009-08-22T00:10:34.217-05:00

Dr. Perry:

I do, actually, understand that the salaries at Fox are not at the level that the general public may think. These salaries are in fact public knowledge, if one knows where to look, and I have. I'd have to agree with you that no one is getting overpaid at Fox, and I do appreciate the effort, professionalism and skill that they show.

In fact, I have been taking classes at Fox for about 9 years now. I've a fair amount of familiarity with the facility and the people - both are first class.

At the same time, and I do mean this with all respect, it's been really tough out in the business world the last year. I've already been on furlough myself a number of days this year. For the second time in 35 years of working, I've had to claim unemployment benefits. But I'm one of the lucky ones - I still have my job. I wasn't one of the 45 people who were walked out the door two months ago. I'm not my friend X, who now counts himself lucky that he has found a job as a night stocker at Walmart- third shift and no benefits, but at least it is something. I'm not my friend Y, who is being forced into early retirement 4 years earlier than he had planned. I'm not one of the Mercury Marine workers in Fon du Lac, who will find out in a couple of days if their jobs are history. I'm not one of the thousands of people who lined up at the Oshkosh Truck job fair last month. I'm not any of these people - yet.

The furloughs that the state employees have been assigned are not excessive compared to what many in the outside world are experiencing. The fact that they scheduled over non-instructional times is simply common sense. I didn't have any choice when I had to take mine, either. Frankly, the UW system faculty has been affected to a very minor degree compared to what a lot of my friends, coworkers - and myself - have experienced.

I do indeed hope that things improve, for the staff at Fox as well as for every one else in this situation. This recession and the job/economy fears are tough on everyone - all workers and their families.

Dean Perry, I see no reason to question the good s...

2009-08-18T07:25:51.160-05:00

Dean Perry,
I see no reason to question the good sense, or disinterestedness, of most of this. The problems arise in the seventh paragraph, especially its first two sentences: “President Reilly is our Fall Convocation speaker. I hope people will be civil to him, unlike the fiasco that is going on with health care reform.” It is noteworthy that the Dean of one of the more obscure campuses of the UW System should suddenly discover, two weeks before the visit of the President of the UW System itself, the manifest goodness of “civility” being shown to speakers on that campus.

But the second point is even more worrying than the first. Once again, Dean Perry, your ideological predisposition is obvious. Once again, it is clear that you are unaware of that predisposition. A reasoned defence of a view is one thing. A blithe and oblivious acceptance is another.

On the national level we are to learn, after eight years of virulent anti-Bush rhetoric, and some months of vile anti-Palin gibes, that professional politicians are now to be listened to with courtesy. The dissent previously represented as the highest form of patriotism can now confidently be identified as the product of Astroturf “racist rednecks” and “bigots,” carrying “swastikas and symbols like that.” On the local level people who previously remained silent through public behavior of sustained loutishness now ask for public “civility.”

MDA
M. D. Allen
Professor of English
University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
(Posted by FoxWeb Team)

http://kajong.mybrute.com fisrea

2009-07-11T12:21:11.632-05:00

http://kajong.mybrute.com

*fisrea*

This is useless no new posts in months. Must be v...

2009-07-10T17:24:28.871-05:00

This is useless no new posts in months. Must be very busy over at UWFox that nobody can post anything new...sad.

Hello all, I appreciate all of your support in reg...

2009-05-11T08:08:00.000-05:00

Hello all,
I appreciate all of your support in regard to the issues surrounding our recent election. Do I think that there is an obvious problem with the way things were handled, yes. Am I disappointed with the result, no. I am grateful to have had the opportunity in participating in such a stimulating process.

Note: Let's leave the hypothetical out of the story shall we? It is what it is.

To clear up any rumor as to the way things were handled I will state my version of the chain of events:
In the middle of the election a set of rules were made which changed the way that candidates were allowed to campaign. As a result many campaign materials were to be removed. In addition there were other rules that were made which prevented specific issues from becoming a problem to other candidates, students and staff. One of the rules was that in order to put up a table a candidate must do as usually required and get approval from building and grounds. However in addition to this, with the new "guidelines" one would be required to get some sort of "approval" of the communications director. Unfortunately our previous communications director was unable to continue their duties and Emily Irvine (SA's treasurer and Acting President) also became the acting communications director. This is where the confusion unfolded. I had produced my new campaign materials and sought her personal approval of their statement in a conversation between her and I. I filled out my request form for the table and submitted it to SA's adviser, Jeff Kuepper. I proceeded to do what I understood to be the newly enacted process for campaigning and contacted building and grounds 5 days post turn in of my request form to Jeff Kuepper. On Monday April 27th building and grounds set up the tables for me. I assembled my materials in the middle of the student union and showed the commissioner of the election committee (the head honcho of the new "guidelines") what I was working on and got a thumbs up if you will for my efforts. At approximately 10:00 A.M. that Monday I set the boards on my 2 tables. It wasn't until the next day at about 11:00 A.M. (one hour after the polls opened) that I was informed that I was missing the "official" seal of approval from the acting communications director Emily Irvine. I see the suspicious actions surrounding all of this as do the many who have conveyed your concern to me.
As someone who was in the SA office for a month straight trying to learn what I could, I overlooked something as trivial as getting someone to say the words "yes, this is okay". Yes it was my fault, however I do think that the way the entire election was handled was somewhat improper. That being said, I do not blame anyone for what happened other than myself. They did a fantastic job given their circumstances.

Looking back on the series of events surrounding our recent SA election, for which I will never forget, I say this: WOW. I am honored to be in the presence of such a dedicated, participatory campus. I am grateful to have earned the esteem of my classmates in carrying out the simple task of commanding attention where attention is required. Often it is difficult to stand up for what you believe is right when you can feel the glare of the masses bearing down upon you. When you can set aside your fear and see the bigger picture, taking the first step is a breeze. From there perseverance makes anything possible. I would like to thank all who voted in the election for making your voice heard. As promised, you made a difference. I would also like to thank Dean Perry for his participation, as well as give much due credit to Jeff Kuepper and SA for their hard work and long hours in pulling this election together and making it the most vibrant this campus has seen in years in spite of the many challenges faced. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to get to know them.
One thing I will remember in pertinence to this election and of my campaign are the poignant words of Mahatma Gandhi:

“Be the change you want to see in the world”.

UWFox Campus Blog

I do not understand why they need reserved parking...

"so...somebody's princess gets a new fuel efficien...

It defeats the purpose to provide green parking wh...

Well, I did not mean both. I meant lacking in know...

Ignorant can mean both. The tone of your blog impl...

Thanks, Rhys. I was hoping this would spark intere...

It is true, not many students attending UW Fox can...

First off, I don't know if it was your intention t...

so...somebody's princess gets a new fuel efficient...

Rhys raises some good points in his comments about...

Hi Dean! Rhys Kuzdas here, as you stated that sin...

In response to the previous question, I have only ...

Ive heard rumors that there are gonna be a lot of ...

Speaking of hypocritical, I don't understand why t...

Yes, I would ave to say that I too have the same q...

Dear Dr. Perry, Thanks for having the oppertunity ...

Is the blog on furlough?

Times are truly tough. However, people still see...

Thank you, Gary for offering some perspective. Fr...

I was directly involved with the election and the ...

Dr. Perry: I do, actually, understand that the sa...

Dean Perry, I see no reason to question the good s...

http://kajong.mybrute.com *fisrea*

This is useless no new posts in months. Must be v...

Hello all, I appreciate all of your support in reg...

http://kajong.mybrute.com fisrea