Parking

Parking violations are at an all-time high at LU, thanks in part to a new enforcement policy and the daily scramble over parking spots close to classrooms.

Since September, Lindenwood security has issued 205 parking violations across campus, compared with 224 tickets written during fall 2009. In spring 2010, when the new enforcement measures began, 490 were given out.

The university began amping up its parking enforcement last spring to cut down on violators, said Kurt Smith, who became director of public safety and security this year.

“[Dean of Students] Terry Russell and I talked when I came onboard, and one of the issues was a lack of [parking] enforcement,” Smith said.

Smith, hired to the position over the summer, has instituted a three strike policy that gives students a warning on the first offence, then a boot and on the third violation the vehicle is subject to impounding.

“Everyone has really gotten the message.” Smith said.  “We’ve identified places to park.  People just don’t want to go walk that far.”

Smith lists the recently repaved lot across from the Spirit Shoppe and the Cultural Center as usually having open spots as well as Harmon Hall and the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts.

Ana Schnellmann, Dean of Humanities said, “It is my view that swift and consistent ticketing will make everyone happier by making our parking more efficient and transportation more efficient, and I would have to assert that ticketing isn’t unfair given the number of students and faculty I see illegally parked.”

Senior Tiffany Sellech said, “I live on the Heritage side of campus and walk to class because it’s impossible to find a spot if I go to lunch and come back.”

“Last year was really annoying, but this year is just ridiculous,” said Val Krause, a campus resident. “During the week it is nearly impossible to find a spot on campus. “

Along with students many faculty also find issues with parking.

Ed Voss, Assistant Professor of Communication, said “Parking in the Heritage part of campus is really tough. I think they should raise the parking fee and build a parking garage.”

Assistant Professor Erica Blum said, “Because Spellmann is a hubbub it makes it extra hard for everybody. They should make other sections at busy areas for staff and commuter parking and have someone police the area to ticket those people that shouldn’t be there.”

Faculty parking, currently not available at Lindenwood, is present at several area universities.  Maryville University has five separate lots designated for faculty.  Washington University offers their faculty the ability to buy parking passes.  These passes, sold for $1,047, allow staff to park in specified zones during the daytime hours.

Though parking passes are normal for colleges, their costs vary by institution.  Lindenwood’s student parking passes cost $2 for a resident and $3 for a commuter.  Both Maryville and St. Charles Community College (SCC) have parking figured into the total tuition cost.

The public safety offices of Maryville and SCC said they often receive complaints from students regarding parking.  Both said that despite the claims that parking is tight there are always lots at the fringes of campus with spots available.

At St. Louis University the lots are broken up based on distance from campus.  Ann Weinerth, communication director at SLU said that 10 years ago the university built parking garages to accommodated future demand.  Now SLU runs a regular shuttle from the garages to the main campus.  Depending on which lot a student chooses, a parking pass ranges from $280 to $1,410 a year.

English professor Ann Canale  said, “I think people should be encouraged to walk, bike, skateboard, etc. instead of driving to destinations which could be reached in that way…. Commuter students need accessibility to parking near classroom buildings before students who have spaces available near their dormitories. “

 

Revised Parking Article

Since Sept Lindenwood security has issued 205 parking violations.  In the fall semester of 2009 224 tickets were written, in spring of 2010 490 were given out .

Beginning in the spring semester of ’10 and continuing over with new Security Director Kurt Smith, the university has been amping up its parking enforcement to cut down on violators.

Smith said, “(Dean of Students) Terry Russell and I talked when I came onboard, and one of the issues was a lack of (parking) enforcement.”

Smith, who was hired to the position over the summer, has instituted a three strike policy that gives students a warning on the first offence, then a boot and on the third violation the vehicle is subject to impounding.

“Everyone has really gotten the message.” Smith said.

With security cracking down on illegal parking many students and faculty are forced to park in the lots far away from the center of campus such as those by Harmon Hall and the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts.

“I live on the Heritage side of campus and walk to class because it’s impossible to find a spot if I go to lunch and come back,” said senior Tiffany Sellech.

“Last year was really annoying, but this year is just ridiculous,” said Val Krause, a campus resident. “During the week it is nearly impossible to find a spot on campus. “

“We’ve identified places to park.” Smith said. “People just don’t want to go walk that far.”

Smith lists the recently repaved lot across from the Spirit Shoppe and the Cultural Center as usually having open spots.

Along with students many faculty also find issues with parking.

Ed Voss, Assistant Professor of Communication, said “Parking in the Heritage part of campus is really tough. I think they should raise the parking fee and build a parking garage.”

Assistant Professor Erica Blum said, “Because Spellmann is a hubbub it makes it extra hard for everybody. They should make other sections at busy areas for staff and commuter parking and have someone police the area to ticket those people that shouldn’t be there.”

Faculty parking, currently not available at Lindenwood, is present at several area universities.  Maryville University has five separate lots designated for faculty.  Washington University offers their faculty the ability to buy parking passes.  These passes, sold for $1,047, allow staff to park in specified zones during the daytime hours.

Though parking passes are normal for colleges, their costs vary by institution.  Lindenwood’s student parking passes cost $2 for a resident and $3 for a commuter.  Both Maryville and St. Charles Community College (SCC) have parking figured into the total tuition cost.  At St. Louis University the lots are broken up based on distance from campus.  Depending on which lot a student chooses, a parking pass ranges from $280 to $1,410 a year.

The public safety offices of both Maryville and SCC said they often receive complaints from students regarding parking.  Both said that despite the claims that parking is tight there are always lots at the fringes of campus with spots available.

“I think people should be encouraged to walk, bike, skateboard, etc. instead of driving to destinations which could be reached in that way.  We’re an educational institution and need to balance concerns for environment, for health,  for finances, for convenience and for necessity. Commuter students need accessibility to parking near classroom buildings before students who have spaces available near their dormitories. “ said English professor Ann Canale.

Smith predicts that after Christmas break there will be a new surge of violations, which will renew concerns over the parking situation.

Is parking exclusively a Lindenwood problem?

Of all the complaints heard from students parking has to be one of the most frequent.  Open spots are sought as if they were some precious treasure.  Many days students are forced to resort to parking in distant lots far away from the center of campus.  But is this an issue unique to Lindenwood?

Parking problems seems to be synonymous with universities.    The public safety offices of both Maryville University and St. Charles Community College (SCC) said that they often receive complaints from students regarding the parking situation.

At Maryville parking is “tight” but they have outer lots that are always open.  This is quite reminiscent of Lindenwood which always has spaces open by the Shreidegger Center or Harmon Hall, though they require students to trek from the distant edges of campus.  At SCC the problem is too much “green space” causing the lots to be farther away than most would like.  Lindenwood too has plenty of grass and trees in old campus, but few are going to advocate paving it over to build a lot.

Lindenwood has no faculty lot, neither does SCC.  Both institutions deal with parking on a first come first serve basis.  Maryville does have separate faculty parking, and not just one lot, but five.  One thing all three schools have in common is that parking passes are either included in tuition (Maryville and SCC) or available for a menial fee (Lindenwood).

So it seems most schools have parking troubles.  It is a necessary evil caused by rising student populations and those that rather drive than walk.  The best method to remedying the situation is debatable but what is not is that without some decisive action being taken parking is only going to get worse.

 

Know Your Genres

I’m going to break off from my weekly album reviews to post what I hope will become the first in a series of articles to educate you the reader about the convoluted world that is music genres.  The musical ocean is filled to the brim with them: some are legitimate, establishing a fine basis for categorization and documentation purposes, some are specific to a ridiculous degree, serving in a roundabout way to mock the very thing they describe and still others are just plain stupid, made up by gimmick bands and people who listen to too much music.  Come with me as I attempt to guide you through this dangerous, and often pretentious world.

*Note: Below the descriptions I have included lists of bands that are currently active in the respective genres.  All explanations are the author’s opinion. Few of these terms have a well defined definition or boundary.  Feel free to comment and disagree.

Folk Punk:

Folk punk combines the spitfire intensity of punk music with the instrumentation of country/folk.  Lyrics often possess the same themes as punk, but performers may have nothing more than an acoustic guitar.  Marked by an independent spirit and a do-it-yourself aesthetic folk punk has enjoyed a steady rise in popularity since the mid 2000’s.

Further listening: Defiance Ohio, Frank Turner, Paul Baribeau, Andrew Jackson Jihad

Twee

The adorable offspring of the recently popular “indie” genre. For a group to be twee their sound needs to be pop oriented and feature a certain accessible sweetness. Many of the best acts feature lyrical themes that could be described as wide eyed and optimistic; the bad acts present a mindset akin to a 13 year old girl describing a crush.  If a recording features any combination of: toy piano, ukulele/mandolin or xylophone then is it probably twee.

Further listening: Belle and Sebastian, Noah and the Whale, Los Campesinos!

Drone

The topic of drone often sparks heated debate as to what actually classifies music.  Drone “music” features long, drawn out pieces that are more concerned with establishing tone and mood than adhering to any set time signature or structure.  It many times is performed by simply sustaining a certain note or chord for an extended period of time, allowing the performer and audience to experience an unrelenting wall of sound.  Drone often falls into the category of “noise” music due to its lack of form.

Further listening: Sunn 0))), Pulse Emitter, Josh Burke

Chill Wave

Chill wave’s can be described as a cross between low key electronica and the airy relaxing pieces constructed by bands such as My Blood Valentine.  Artists often utilize ample amounts of delay and reverb as well as samples and synthesizer sweeps to achieve an airy or hazy tone.  The dominant themes of chill wave usually revolve around a reminiscence of childhood and…well…chilling.   After an explosion of popularity in early 2009 the market was quickly saturated.  Currently few bands would willing embrace the classification.

Further listening: Washed Out, Toro y Mori, Neon Indian

Crabcore

An abomination of the scremo genre, which was an abomination of the emo genre, which was an abomination of music as a whole.  Its name is derived from a move performed in a music video by Attack Attack! where their bassist squats down to demonstrate emotional intensity, but instead just ends up resembling a crab.  Of the three levels of genre necessity I listed in my opening paragraph this one would be classified under “just plain stupid.”

Further listening: Attack Attack!

Album Review: Mixtapes

Whether it stems from the inevitability of illegal downloading or from a more fundamental do-it-yourself esthetic more and more bands are choosing to release their music for free download under creative commons licensing.  This may seem like a good thing, bands are free from evil record labels and fans don’t have to pay $12 for a cd or be made a criminal by the RIAA, but when you cut out the middle man often quality controls goes as well.  In short, free music does not equal good music.

On a different note:

Creating engaging and intelligent pop-punk is difficult.  The genre as a whole was beat and left to die by the shameful emo movement of the early to mid 2000’s.  With all the terrible music produced in the aftermath it became easy to forget that before the walls came crashing down bands like New Found Glory and the Get Up Kids were putting out music people over 20 were in no way ashamed to listen to.

So where do these two independent ideas converge?  Meet Mixtapes.

Mixtapes (yes there is no “the” in the name) are a pop-punk band from Cincinnati, Ohio.  In 2010 they released a full length album titled Maps and an ep Thought About Growing Up.  Released independently as totally free downloads only a few months apart, both records showcase a unique blend of the classic upbeat punk motifs with some of the catchiest tunes this side of mainstream FM radio.

Maps has only one song that clocks in at over 2:30 minutes.  It all comes across youthful and immediate.  Duel male and female vocalists give every track a conversational and jubilant feel.  Mixtapes are not above throwing a little piano when a certain emotional tug feels necessary but for the most part this is a straight up four piece rock band.  As mentioned earlier, fans of late 90’s early 00’s emotional punk/hardcore will likely be pleased.  Think the aforementioned Get Up Kids if they added a female vocalists…and way more hooks

For music that sounds so damn happy closer examination reveals lyrical motifs that deal with everything from crippling loneliness to isolation in the face of the an indifferent world that’s not always kind to new comer 20 something’s.  It is imperative to note that unlike the despised emo bands of the past Mixtapes are not wallowing or dwelling on those themes.   Instead they come across as the work of lifelong introspective musing whispered to an old friend.  They don’t want pity but rather personal identification.

In the face of all of this Mixtapes emerge as a band for the reluctant but hopeless optimist.  “I guess I’m happy but it feels weird to say it” is offered up almost as if in a candid moment of reflection on Thought About Growing Up closer “Sprinkles.”  On the full length Maps we get the line “No motivation I’m just happy to be” in the breakneck and criminally catchy 44 second “The Mixtapes Misplaced Missed Takes.”  Mixtapes expertly walk the fine line that can cause some similar artists to fall into trite bubblegum territory.

The result is two works destined to get stuck in cd players and rack up play counts into the hundreds.  Both releases together clock in at a little over 25 minutes and are endless relistenable.  Suited to any mood you may be in, experiencing Mixtapes is like watching fireworks, there is an excitement while everything is burning bright and crackling ecstatically.  But it all ends as soon as it began and your eyes fall back to the ground and everyone around you.  Mixtapes assert that the smoke left behind is just as important as when everything was illuminated.

Download Maps

Download Thought About Growing Up

Mixtape’s Myspace

Album Review: Papa Bear

Mark Anderson aka Papa Bear has everything it takes to warrant throngs of fans and massive tours.   Currently though, he has none of that.  What he does have is Confusion and Pastime, an album that’s brass heavy with layers upon layers of acoustic guitar.  It all falls comfortably in the blurred area between folk punk and pop-singer songwriter. 

It’s essential to note that at the time the album was recorded Anderson was only 18.  Confusion and Pastimes comes off as a love letter to friends and the scene that bred him.  Songs bounce back and forth between engaging storytelling and little bits of wisdom that make Anderson seem wise beyond his years.  Every track exudes a youthful optimism and you can practically see him grinning all the way through.

Anderson’s voice is nasally without being bratty, rough without being abrasive.  He reminds you of that guy in coffee house just waiting for his chance to break.  Confusion and Pastime is that guy getting his marching band friends together and recording an album.  It’s a record that encompasses everything great about basement shows and hometowns.  A kid on the brink of adulthood contemplating the past but with one foot planted firmly in the future.

“Oh You Poor Mathematician” rides a steady crescendo of horns and looped guitar plucks before it all explodes and rains down just as Anderson sings “The clouds keep rolling in getting darker and darker.”  The song revolves around a sorrowful horn that moans as the band weaves in and out.  It serves as a fitting introduction to the musical world of Papa Bear.

Everything is just a build up though to album standout “Please Just Don’t Forget Them” which gives Anderson and his backing band a chance to stretch their legs.  The piece, dripping again with horns and hooks, shows you the full capabilities of the Papa Bear group and what happens when everything falls into place.  If it is a sign of things to come then Mark Anderson certainly is a musician to keep your eye on.

The album as a whole suffers from quiet mastering and the obligatory slow jam “Sleep”.  Both are easily forgivable when examining the work in its entirety and realizing what an accomplishment this is for such a young guy.

Still virtually unknown outside the Denver area Papa Bear has all the potential to gain a massive following.  It’s inevitable that a more polished release will eventually come.  But every great group has to start somewhere and that’s exactly the purpose of this hidden gem.

Preview

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Arranging and changing

Proper arrangement and navigation are crucial if we hope to take LindenLink from merely functional to useful.  To do this properly every little detail needs to be justified and scrutinized.  We don’t want any wasted space or any unnecessary clutter.  Hopefully these suggestions will help to define the distinction.

I like how all the individual disciplines involved are listed on the very top above the logo.  But as we move down the banner, where the rss icon is now, there also should be included those for Facebook, Twitter and whatever else we’ve decided to join.  Prime placement of these links is essential to maintaining a connection with those who have visited in the past.  Putting a weather widget up here would be great as well.

On what I am going to refer to as the main navigation bar “blogs” should not be first.  Blogs are a great way to entice students but they are in no way the central function of the site, as the current placement suggests.  Simply moving it to the back of the line should solve the issue.  Besides what is currently there, it may be helpful to include a broad “Student Services” tab that has links to sites such as Lionmail and Blackboard.  There also needs to be a few encompassing links for topics of interest, i.e. “Sports.”

The Blogroll needs to have all the default links deleted and replaced with both student blogs and other sites of interest.  Here would be a good place to include links to sites such as Lindenwood’s homepage and STL Today.  In the large white space to the left of the Blogroll it would be great to have a widget where people could access a live stream of 89.1.

Simplicity is what the current page has going for it.  It’s important that we consider what elements are necessary for optimal functionality and what are merely excess and can be buried deeper in the site.  Sticking to broad navigation links and including the most in demand content up front will save visitors time and gain us more traffic.

Album Review: The Body

In the interest of full disclosure I should begin by saying that, though I keep up with new releases, I usually am in no way a metal fan.  Sure, wailing on a your axe is cool and double bass sounds great shaking my car doors but the whole mystic of the genre usually leaves me less than impressed.  So with that out of the way I want to tell you about the astounding new record by doom metal band The Body All the Water’s of the Earth Turn to Blood.

All the Water’s is not an album that everyone will like.  It is at times both a challenging and unnerving listen.  It coalesces the best of doom metal while simultaneously dabbling in very non metal things such as samples, choirs (all right, choirs are kind of metal) and lush orchestration.  While only seven songs, no one is getting short changed here, all together clocking in at around 45 minutes.

First thing you will probably notice is the cover: robes, check; creepy location, check; wait, are they holding guns?  No one ever said that subtlety was The Body’s strong suit.  Those two creepy dudes on the sleeve are members Lee Buford and Chip King, yes all this noise is masterminded by two guys from Rhode Island.

Once you get pass how The Body seem to embrace esthetically every cliché  known to metal, you find a record that is anything but.  The first track is a 10 minute epic which begins with a good five minutes of nothing but choral chant-singing.  Though beautiful it soon becomes obvious that the choir, like an ominous cloud, begins to hang low and threatening, building to an uneasy crescendo before thundering guitars chug in to dispel the little remaining sense of peace…and we’re only at track one.

The album’s centerpiece, “Empty Hearth” is a shockingly experimental and a devastatingly frightening listen.  After beginning with an inaudibly sped up, looped vocal sample, drums and guitar crash in with cataclysmic force.  The song builds and builds to a fever pitch until, out of nowhere the track cuts and chops into silence.  Seconds later everything returns only to cut out again.  The effect (besides checking to see that nothing is skipping) is that the song is fracturing and imploding under its own weight.  All while that eerie voice in the background repeats, and repeats and repeats.  It’s enough to make you flip a light on.

Unlike most metal albums that carry the title “doom” All the Water’s is one of the few that earn it.  It is a cerebral album for those looking to go beyond the preconceived confines of the genre.  The Body are the sound of the world crumbling beneath our feet while simultaneously being blown into space.  The album doesn’t glow in the fire, it smolders in the decay.

Preview

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A little design guidance

When looking for guidance on how to construct Lindenwood’s news site it may be best to check out the competition.  After spying on our rivals we can borrow the best bits of each while retaining a little personality of our own.

The Missourian is the University of Missouri’s official j-school publication.  So as you’d expect the front page is news overload.  I do like the most recent stories streaming on the side.  In an age of instant news this timely delivery could be what sets our site apart.

There are some odd choices but over all I like the design and layout of the Washington University student paper.  It doesn’t appear as formal as most, which could be good or bad depending on the intended tone.  I find the layout simple and attractive.

The Maneater effectively integrates all the hot sites of the moment.  There is an emphasis on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other things that can make a site relevant for today’s audience.  I also like the Maneater’s navigation panels.  Between the options on top and the extensive list on bottom locating a page is simple and easy.

So with the competition sufficiently pillaged we now have plenty of do’s and dont’s to keep in mind.  Easy of navigation and web 2.0 integration is a must, but having too much crowded in should also be a concern.  These three sites should be great guides as we move forward.

Lindenlink: let’s do this right

Lindenwood is rolling out a new website that’s purpose is to integrate all the current modes and schools of communication on campus into one concise source.

This is a fantastic idea but for it to truly become a source of information to students, it needs to be executed correctly.  Just a few simple points, taken into consideration, could make “Lindenlink” a flagship feature of the university, made to last well into the future.

The points:

1.  K.I.S.S. Rule

In every design class I’ve taken the first day has consisted of a few things: initial roll call, the syllabus being broken down ad nauseum and the essential rule of good design: Keep it simple stupid (K.I.S.S.)

Noisy, crowded, over stimulating websites disorient, confuse and repel the very audience they are trying to gain.  The site should feature a few select headlines then appealing, simple links to the additional content.  No need to throw everything on the homepage.

You don’t have to look far to find this principle put into action.  I went no further than the WordPress home page.  Though this exact style would probably not be applicable it’s nice how they give a synopsis, an interesting photo then the article link.  Simple and inviting.

2.  More than just LU news

This may be hard for us in the business of communicating the latest going-on’s of Lindenwood to stomach, but the fact that President Evans just attended a ground breaking for a new building on one of the satellite campuses, is not exactly the kind of thing that turns a website into someone’s home page.

BUT if Lindenlink integrated, say, an RSS feed from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, an active and funny comic section, as well as links to Lionmail and other relevant portals it may just begin to be seen as a one stop shop for the latest in Lindenwood updates, news and entertainment.

3.  What the kids want

The current version of the website is, well, safe.  TOO safe.  This is a college campus.  Now I know Lindenwood is not exactly known for the cutting edge, but there is no reason why we can’t push the envelope a little.

Bold, simple designs (there’s that K.I.S.S. thing again) and a clean layout can make a website scream youth and excitement.  Less IS more.

Here is a website I found that exemplifies this idea: Subdued.net.  High contrast, unflashy text.  With a little modification something like this could be made to integrate all the relevant content while not putting our audience to sleep.

So there you go.  Three simple, totally applicable ways to make Lindenlink something that could last well into the future.  This attempted convergence is a great learning tool for all the programs involved.  I just want to see it done right.