tl20020829-004 "Police campaign encourages cautious driving Phoenix TUPD attempts to Slow down speedy drivers with traffic safety campaign Jenny Lehman The Towerlight The Towson University Police Department (TUPD) has imple-mented a new ""Traffic Safety Campaign"" in response. to numerous coniplaints last semester about peo-ple failing to follow campus speed limits. As part of the campaign, a sign-board displaying the speed of pass-ing vehicles will be erected at vari-ous points throughout campus, including outside the parking garages and on Cross Campus Drive. This project began Wednesday and will continue throughout the semes- ter. Officer Frank Pakaski began the semester working on the board dis- play. ""The signboard was donated to Towson and since I have been radar certified, I thought this would be a good way to help educate drivers on how fast they are going,"" Pakaski said. Robert Novak, the administrative and technical services commander for the TUPD, said the department's goal with the campaign is to help drivers become more aware of their driving habits. We hope that when drivers look at the signboard and see the speed they are going, they will begin to Lisa Johnson The Towerlight The TUPD is warning students to be safe about their driving and parking habits. Students should not accept rides from strangers in exchange for parking spaces. It is also suggested that students use the escort service. slow down and realize they are trav-eling too fast,"" he said. In addition to the signboard, offi-cers will also enforce the new cam-paign by issuing more warning notices and traffic citations to driv-ers who violate the speed limits. ""The campaign's purpose is not for us to give out lots of tickets,"" Novak said. ""However, if we find people are not slowing down and not obeying the speed limits, then that is what we will have to do."" The TUPD officers also encourage drivers to be extremely cautious in the parking garages, especially when driving around corners. According to Novak, many drivers do not realize the speed limit in the parking garages is five miles per hour. He says most are traveling 30 or 40 mph. Novak also wants to stress that individuals should never accept rides from strangers in exchange for a parking space. ""Many people accept rides from people they don't know and it's a very unwise thing to do,"" Novak said. In addition, the TUPD advises pedestrians to remember to look both ways before crossing the street and to use the shuttles buses or the escort service when traveling alone See TUPD, page 10 Chevy Chase Bank starts second year in Union Lisa Johnson/The Towerlight Michael Hood, David Schott, BlaMe Gerber and Karen Spark hold a meeting outside of the University Union branch of Chevy Chase Bank. University branch acquires 200 new student accounts with the beginning of school year Sarah Breitenbach The Towerlight This fall marks the second year that Chevy Chase Bank has been the sole provider of on-campus banking. It has been more than a year since Chevy Chase, which, according to its Web site is the largest in the Washington met-ropolitan area, entered into an agreement with the University that permits them to operate a branch in the Union and exist as the only independently operated campus ATMs. In previous years Allfirst and First Mariner ATMs have been available on campus, but their con-tracts expired and were not renewed. The State Employees Credit Union also has an ATM on campus and offers accounts to students at most Maryland universities and col-leges. Chevy Chase has also been declared the bank-ing provider for state institutions. According to Ellen Stokes, associate vice president for university market-ing, Chevy Chase entered a bidding process with the state of Maryland in order to gain the position it now has. ""As a state agency, if you are going to have a bank facility of some sort on your campus, they will See BANK, page 10 ""We've just been fortunate they've jumped in with two feet here and are really becoming more involved with campus."" Ellen Stokes associate vice president, University Marketing Games raise TU spirit Sarah Breitenbach Jenny Lehman The Towerlight Greek, resident and commuter students gathered on Burdick Field Tuesday evening for the first ever Phoenix Games, sponsored by housing and residence life and the University Residence Government (URG). Organizers say between 500 and 700 students turned out to partici-pate in unifying activities such as a banner contest, the ""late for class dash,"" vortex games and human foosball. Newell had the best representa-tion with more than 20 people dressed in tiger ears and paint. They won several events including the banner contest. Barry Evans, assistant director for housing and residence life, explained that the games were an attempt to bring students together in an on campus atmosphere and promote school spirit. ""The idea of the event was to hopefully bring together commuter, Greek, and resident students in one place,"" Evans said. Junior Lori Scheps, the secretary for URG, said the games were very successful and she hopes to do it again in the future. ""The games brought a lot of stu-dents together and show school spirit,"" she said. ""We plan to get feedback from students who partic-ipated in the games so we can make improvements for the next time."" The event was set up as a prel-ude for other student life events that will be occurring all year. Evans called it a ""tone setting"" event that hopefully will encourage students to participate in more campus-based activities. ""This is hopefully the foundation for a new tradition at Towson,"" Evans said. ""I want the people to have an opportunity to really feel good about their school."" While the games themselves had a good turn out, the after-party in the Potomac Lounge was not as popular. Evans stressed that students too often look to off-campus entertain-ment for their fun. He explained that gathering in great numbers with a lot of school spirit is a reme-dy for those searching for a good time. Junior Yvonne McConville, a community center worker in Tower B, said she enjoyed watching peo-ple join in the Dance Shake Down and the Mammoth Booty Call. ""It was fun to watch people learn a dance routine, taught by the TU dance team,"" she said. en lb laserright August 29,2002 "
