[Purple Haize]

Godwin won't be happy...

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/02/world/asi ... index.html

I'm glad someone posted that do I won't be blamed.......
This could be good news for many on the Mountain if he takes over that Empire!

[Hold My Own]

Watch out for those "morning prayers" !!!

More importantly, where is his estate going?

Now that's the best question I've heard today. I hope we see some of it!


"Put your money here and go sin no more!"

[jmdickens]

Godwin won't be happy...

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/02/world/asi ... index.html

I'm glad someone posted that do I won't be blamed.......
This could be good news for many on the Mountain if he takes over that Empire!

Lol. A weird thing for LU, but I guess we will always take the money if Godwin takes over....

[Purple Haize]

Godwin won't be happy...

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/02/world/asi ... index.html

I'm glad someone posted that do I won't be blamed.......
This could be good news for many on the Mountain if he takes over that Empire!

I am laughing out loud. I typed "LOL" but that is for teenage girls who text. So please know that I am laughing. Out loud.. A weird thing for LU, but I guess we will always take the money if Godwin takes over....

Don't even joke about that! Or I may just NAJ you!

[WildernessVoice]

I am laughing out loud. I typed "I am laughing out loud. I typed "LOL" but that is for teenage girls who text. So please know that I am laughing. Out loud." but that is for teenage girls who text. So please know that I am laughing. Out loud.. A weird thing for LU, but I guess we will always take the money if Godwin takes over....

Don't even joke about that! Or I may just NAJ you!

Godwin's enduring thumbprint on LU will be to have fused the business VP position with the Academic Provost position. Those are supposed to be separate so that both ends have an advocate at the top, and differences in interest can be hammered out to the best end for all. True, concern for the bottom line doesn't have to always be at odds with academics--having sound finances is indeed in the best interest of the institution's longevity. But being bottom line driven is different from concern for academic excellence, and the latter should take precedence when it is not a direct danger to the financial health of the institution. The definition of "direct danger" has gotten pretty broad at the moment.

I'm guessing Ben Gutierrez is being groomed for the Provost position as a "team player" and a far nicer face toward the faculty, but since he has little experience outside this institution, it will not give the faculty a much greater voice than they currently have in the Provost's office (read, "none").

On the "young guy" front, I fear Mr. Martin has become the most disliked young face on campus. Rumor has it that there will be another sizable bump to the sticker price of parking for Fall 2013. The ostensible purpose is "to discourage faculty from parking on campus." I think the part about the intention being "to discourage faculty" has succeeded beyond everyone's wildest imagination. I would beg them not to wait until two days before the Fall return to announce it (for the third year in a row), however--would be much better to give us the summer to get over the paddle wack and aid our frame of mind for the return.

[bluedevilflame]

Would it be that big of a deal to build a parking deck for faculty and staff? It's ridiculous to try and discourage them from parking on campus, without them there is no LU.

[alabama24]

Would it be that big of a deal to build a parking deck for faculty and staff? It's ridiculous to try and discourage them from parking on campus, without them there is no LU.

I am fully in favor of a parking garage, but as the chancellor has stated numerous times, the cost would be much greater than adding parking lots further out. Building a parking garage would ADD to the cost of parking, not take away from it. (I still think its a good idea. I hate to see the concrete jungle).

[Purple Haize]

But by adding lots further and further away you get 'urban sprawl.'. There is a point where practicality is needed be considered when looking at a cost analysis. Spending money on a parking garage is a better use of resources IMO then on some of the other things we have spent money on. Having a parking garage is just a no brainer, IMO.

[bluedevilflame]

You go to any college campus around the country and you will see parking garages, and like Duke for instance, they are done in a tasteful way. There are ways to make them look decent enough for the campus.

[alabama24]

You go to any college campus around the country and you will see parking garages,

Nope. Don't you mean "large universities"?

[Purple Haize]

There is a lot of land in Amherst County wecouldbuy and use for parking....

[bluedevilflame]

You go to any college campus around the country and you will see parking garages,

Nope. Don't you mean "large universities"?

Yes I did, I did mean large universities, my bad. Which is what we are in the process of becoming, especially with the Medical School moving forward and the expansion to 20,000 on campus students, we have to build parking along with all the rapid expansion.

[alabama24]

Yeah. I am all for parking garages... but it will mean HIGHER costs. (which will deter more people).

[JK37]

without [faculty] there is no LU.

And without students, there is no LU. I could be mistaken, but I believe the administration's intent with the current parking plan is to benefit students, especially commuters.

At most universities, faculty greatly outweighs students in power and prestige. It's OT the case at Liberty, which seems to be genuinely attempting to make education a service industry on its campus. Service to the students! Doesn't surprise me that some members of the faculty take umbrage with this when they consider the abilities of the counterparts at other institutions.

Striking a balance between the two sides is not easy.

[Purple Haize]

without [faculty] there is no LU.

And without students, there is no LU. I could be mistaken, but I believe the administration's intent with the current parking plan is to benefit students, especially commuters.

At most universities, faculty greatly outweighs students in power and prestige. It's OT the case at Liberty, which seems to be genuinely attempting to make education a service industry on its campus. Service to the students! Doesn't surprise me that some members of the faculty take umbrage with this when they consider the abilities of the counterparts at other institutions.

Striking a balance between the two sides is not easy.

But if you take that line of reasoning then Parking Garages make even MORE sense. If this is supposed to be a great experience for the students, especially commuters, why are there parking lots that stretch on and on? Why not spend the money, we apparently have more then we can spend, and put up some parking structures? It is a great service to both the students, the faculty and the community at large who don't have to see scores and scores of parking lots. Plus, we would have more room to put up structures that facilitate the students. Its a win-win.

[JK37]

Exactly.

[alabama24]

And without students, there is no LU. I could be mistaken, but I believe the administration's intent with the current parking plan is to benefit students, especially commuters.

You are right. Here is what the Chancellor said:

Charging more for parking spots close to DeMoss is likely to encourage more faculty and staff to park in the cheap lots at Green and East and ride the free bus. If that happens, there will be more spaces for commuters near DeMoss. Commuters generally do not come to campus and stay from 9 to 5 like employees do. They generally leave when their classes scheduled for the day are done. That means they park in a premium space for an average of 3 hours compared to 8 hours average for most staff. If a space is only occupied for 3 hours instead of 8, that means it is available for someone else to park in it for the other 5 hours. That means more turnover and more people being able to park near the academic core.

The reason there is a minimal charge for the satellite lots is to help cover the school's cost for free bus rides, shelters and new parking lot construction. The fee doesn't come close to covering the actual cost to the school but there are other free options available to employees so it is only fair to ask those taking advantage of the free busses, shelters and parking lots to pay something.

[alabama24]

Here is his thoughts on a parking garage:

The parking garage question comes up a lot but every traffic engineer who has looked at our campus reaches the same conclusion -- our campus road system is near capacity and could not handle the daily traffic that a large parking garage near DeMoss Hall would generate. That means any parking garage would be built on the perimeter of campus, probably in Campbell County across from the airport. That happens to also be the location of a new 1100 space parking lot that is under construction now and will be complete by the time school opens. It will have a shelter so employees and students can wait out of the weather and busses will run at 8 minute intervals. I never have seen how a parking garage located some distance from campus would be that much of an advantage over a parking lot in the same location. One advantage, of course, would be that the student or employee would be sheltered from the rain when walking from the car to the bus stop but the question is whether the additional cost of a parking garage (5 to 10 times as much per space than a surface parking lot) is justified when Liberty owns 7000 acres and has plenty of space for satellite surface lots. Parking garages are usually only built when there is a shortage of space.

[JK37]

I had forgotten the traffic impact as stated by the chancellor, and it sounds right.

[thepostman]

I understand the traffice aspect and the cost, but I also think parking garages on the perimiter of campus right of the highway is something that could be done, the road system in those areas could much more easily be converted to handle the traffic then right on campus.

By doing this you provide fewer areas for parking and can get even more people away from the center of the campus and some of the larger parking lots can become more green space.

That is my take on it, but I completely understand JFjr's stance as well. He is much smarter then I, and has some pretty smart people working for him.

[Hold My Own]

On the "young guy" front, I fear Mr. Martin has become the most disliked young face on campus. Rumor has it that there will be another sizable bump to the sticker price of parking for Fall 2013. The ostensible purpose is "to discourage faculty from parking on campus." I think the part about the intention being "to discourage faculty" has succeeded beyond everyone's wildest imagination. I would beg them not to wait until two days before the Fall return to announce it (for the third year in a row), however--would be much better to give us the summer to get over the paddle wack and aid our frame of mind for the return.

I'm not sure that's a fair statement. I'd be surprised if any of them even know who he is. I would assume for those that do happen to know who he was they are smart enough to "not kill the messenger" I would hope at least.

[TDDance234]

Some of you aren't happy with anything.

[WildernessVoice]

On the "young guy" front, I fear Mr. Martin has become the most disliked young face on campus. Rumor has it that there will be another sizable bump to the sticker price of parking for Fall 2013. The ostensible purpose is "to discourage faculty from parking on campus." I think the part about the intention being "to discourage faculty" has succeeded beyond everyone's wildest imagination. I would beg them not to wait until two days before the Fall return to announce it (for the third year in a row), however--would be much better to give us the summer to get over the paddle wack and aid our frame of mind for the return.

I'm not sure that's a fair statement. I'd be surprised if any of them even know who he is. I would assume for those that do happen to know who he was they are smart enough to "not kill the messenger" I would hope at least.

Trust me, all of them know who he is--he was brought up to explain the damage before a captive audience. For the last two years running, the Chancellor has seemed surprised or unprepared for the parking announcements, which can only mean it's a co-labor of the afore mentioned Vice Chancellor/Provost and Martin. If it's solely coming from the VC/P, then he needs to man-up and take the heat for it, not send Martin out to carry the water.

I guess I'm still smarting a year later from Martin's comment last year that "spaces given to the faculty are costing the university $600 each, which could be money given to the Endowment..." To me, that's a misunderstanding of the primary purpose of administrative bureaucracy--the primary purpose should be coming alongside the faculty to help them do their job, not seeing the faculty as an obstacle in the way of the administration's job. And to make the handicapped, who desperately need to park near their workplace, pay $400 for the privilege of a handicap space is beyond the pale.

The timing of the announcements have been particularly egregious--two days before faculty return. And having happened two years running, it kinda makes you dread coming back, not look forward to it. What's next? $1000 spaces? Rumor has it, there will be a sizable bump next year. If true, make the announcement in May, not August. We need time to heal.

[bluedevilflame]

I still think parking garages are a much better use of land than sprawling parking lots. A garage could fit over a 1,000 parking spots in a much smaller area. I just don't get it, it could save land that we could use for further expansion.

For example: VTech built a parking garage a few years ago that fits 1,200 vehicles
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/ ... -new-spots

[Purple Haize]

I still think parking garages are a much better use of land than sprawling parking lots. A garage could fit over a 1,000 parking spots in a much smaller area. I just don't get it, it could save land that we could use for further expansion.

For example: VTech built a parking garage a few years ago that fits 1,200 vehicles
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/ ... -new-spots

I think a powerful and attractive member of this board already posted this sentiment