Every University relies on a healthy dose of school spirit in order to counteract the 8 o’clock classes, pop quizzes and term papers that make up the majority of a college experience. School spirit creates a camaraderie among tens of thousands of students, faculty, alumni and community members; a camaraderie based upon green, yellow, and the knowledge that in the end, we’re all just Duck fans.
Although we were under the impression that school spirit was in no way lacking, it seems that the Student Senate would disagree. At the beginning of this summer, during a meeting of the Summer Senate Committee, the majority of Senators expressed interest in adding a bike rack to campus with a large, decorative metal “O” right smack in the middle of the rack
Riders would be able to lock their bicycles on either side of the “O,” yet a good portion of the rack would be unusable.
There is simply no need to showcase the classic University of Oregon symbol on a bike rack; especially if it were to cut back on very necessary campus bicycle parking.
Luckily, in a meeting Wednesday night, Student Senators agreed. The ASUO Senate Bike Rack Committee decided that instead of adhering to the original “O” plan, they will invite students to submit potential bike rack designs. The winning design will be produced and situated on campus.
Considering the fact that $2,500 in student money will be put toward the construction of this rack, it is commendable that Senate members have chosen to look back toward students for artistic and structural input.
It is still important however that the Senate not forget functionality when evaluating the design contest entries; interesting artwork on campus is important, but so is catering to a large demographic of bikeriders. For instance, the campus could very much benefit from another covered area where students can park their bikes. Come winter, we are positive that the campus community will be immeasurably more pleased with a dry bicycle seat than it would with, say, a metal “O.”
Judging rack design entries based on usefulness as well as appearance is key to ensuring that student money is not being put toward a purely decorative item. Furthermore, depending on the price tag of any proposed design, when making their final decision Senators ought to keep in mind that important question of functionality.
UO doesn’t need pretty yet useless bike rack
Daily Emerald
July 5, 2006
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