2 The Voice, For Students, By Students | Febmary 22, 2012 | issuu.com/fsuvoice | send news tips to the editor; thevoice.fsu@gmail.com
Cannpus Parking
By OanM L Pratar
Voice Stc^
Parking Fines & Vehicle Boots
Vehicle Boots
Any vehicle parked on University owned oi- leased property w/hich has three out
standing parking violations w/ill be subject to havirrg-a.wheel boot placed on the ve
hicle. The wheel boot will stay on the vehicle until the'TPsail^, Staff, Student, or
Driver of said vehicle pays outstanding fines or makes arrangern&nlijA^h the park
ing enforcement staff at the University's Police Department. —
Notice of Outstanding Parking Fines
The Traffic Division will send monthly email notifications to each Faculty, Staff, and
Student with a valid email address of outstanding parking fines. If you believe you
may have outstanding parking fines, please contact the traffic office at 910-672-
1726, Monday—Friday from 8:00am to S:00pm.
Collection of Outstanding Parking Fines/ Transcript hioids
Effective March 1, 2012, any parking fines which have not been paid within 30 days
shall be forwarded to the NC Department of Revenue for collection. Such collection
action may include garnishment of wages and/or retention tax refunds.
A transcript hold shall be placed on the account of any student with at least 3 out
standing fines.
Reduction Offerr-Outstanding Parking Fines
Individuals who have outstanding parking fines will be eligible for 25% reduction in
the amount owed if fines are paM^inJull on or before February 28, 2012. This offer is
applicable only if the individual has a current University parking permit. Individuals
who do not have a current University parking jg*rrrit must purchase a permit before
taking advantage of the offer.
Note: The 25% reduction only applies to outstanding parking fines thdt were due
before the issuance of this bulletin.
“It happens every year,” said Fayetteville State Universi
ty traffic enforcement supervisor John McKoy, when asked
about the recent campus-wide bulletin warning against using
counterfeit parking permits.
While most students comply with the policies on campus,
McCoy said there are always a few who believe they can get
over on the system. The number of violators usually consists
of two or three each semester, but traffic enforcement has
never pursued the matter as aggressively as now.
McKoy suggested that traffic enforcement’s response to il
legal parking shouldn't be blown out of proportion, but the
consequences are very serious. According McKoy, violators
may receive a boot until the illegal permit is surrendered and
could be considered ineligible for a parking permit for one
calendar year. In addition, any employee or student found to
have violated this ordinance shall be subject to disciplinary
action and the payment of a civil penalty.
However, McKoy said he understands the hardships of
today’s economy put a clear strain on any student’s budget.
“People are trying to get over on tough economic times,” he
said. As most students know, permits start at $25 per semester
while gated area permits cost up to $175.
McCoy says the majority of violators are commuter stu
dents, but even faculty members liave been found in violation
of the parking permit policy. Nevertheless, McKoy said stu
dents are getting better at duplicating permits. Many will use
off campus resources to construct the forgeries.
However, students fail to realize traffic enforcement offi
cers have an eye for spotting fakes, McCoy said. FSU changes
permit designs every September. In addition to their training
to identify a fake, the officers have hand-held CPUs to check
registration on the spot. McKoy said many students underes
timate the capabilities of Fayetteville State’s traffic enforce
ment.
Students come into the Department of Police and Public
Safety and argue they have the proper permit or pretend they
didn’t know the DPPS was the only issuing office on campus.
However, when McKoy says, “Ok, bring in the permit and
let’s see it,” the students begin to get sheepish and don’t want
to produce it for inspection.
McKoy mentioned the craziest traffic violation occurred
when a student was late for class. “(The student) pulled into a
handicap spot with no handicap sticker and ran into the build
ing. . .and lefl the vehicle running!”
Sadly, students occasionally attempt to cause confh>ntations
rather than take responsibility for their actions. Often times
people look to blame traffic enforcement for delays, “It’s part
of the job to have thick skin,” McCoy said. “Sometimes we
get cussed out when people have to wait.” Additional traf
fic due to construction projects and recent refund checks can
make parking difficult as well.
Most tickets can be avoided. Residential students should
leave their vehicles in the assigned areas until 5 p.m. UPA stu
dents fall in the same category, since their permits only allow
parking in UPA until 5 p.m.
“If you have a citation, come and pay it as soon as possi-
ble,” McKoy said. “Our office will express possible leniency
if the issue is dealt with in a timely manner. It’s not going to
go away.” McKoy said students have attained over $1,000 in
fines due to late fees.
So if you hear any students wanting to sell their parking
pass, don’t fall for a cheap alternative, or you may find your
vehicle booted and yourself on a trip to the Department of
Police and Public Safety.
CIAA
Tournament:
By Charles Branch
The time has come once again to lace up
the sneakers and get ready for the CIAA
Men’s and Women’s basketball tournament.
This year, Fayetteville State’s men basket
ball team stands 8-15 as of Sunday Feb.. 19
overall coming off two wins against St. Au
gustine’s and Livingstone, with four games
left until the showdown in Charlotte comes.
While the Fayetteville State’s women team
sits 11-13 overall before facing Barber-Scotia
on Feb. 16. Both teams have had their fair
share of ups and downs this season but both
will be looking to send a big message come
tournament time.
The Voice had a chance to speak with the
men’s basketball head coach, Alphonza Kee,
and asked him a few question regarding the
CIAA tournament. Coach Kee, who is in his
second year as FSU’s men’s basketball coach,
said “we will continue to take it one game at
a time while we continue to improve game
by game and day by day” when asked about
what the team is focusing on to win the CIAA
tournament. The coach continued to say “We
have gotten better every game whether it was
a win or loss.” Coach Kee hopes to keep the
upward progress going entering the CIAA
tournament week, but only time will tell if the
Broncos will be able to bring home their first
tournament championship in recent memory.
And the Lady Broncos hope to repeat the suc
cess of the 2009-2010 season.
The CIAA tournament is set to take place
Feb. 27 - March 3 at the Time Warner Are
na in Charlotte, NC. Bowie State Bulldogs,
Chowan Hawks, Elizabeth City Vikings’,
Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls, Lincoln Li
ons, Livingstone Blue Bears, St. Augustine s
Falcons, Shaw Bears, Virginia State Trojans,
Virginia Union Panthers, and the Winston-
Salem State Rams will join the Broncos in
Charlotte for the big dance. The Broncos
hoped to defeat Shaw University after they
ran, through the tournament last year taking
home both the men's and women's trophy.
But, we know for sure that win, lose, or draw
Bronco pride will be in full effect in Charlotte
come Feb. 27.