Progress Report

Pass: Ohio University students and administrators educated other students about the time-change disturbance that resulted in a "riot" a few years ago. By taking out ads and passing around fliers, officials hoped students would know the history and what could happen to them if they chose to repeat their actions this year. The efforts were rewarded by a large crowd of people that congregated Uptown and yielded no arrests.

Pass: Congress is looking at making it a criminal violation not to wear seatbelts. Current laws require drivers, front-seat passengers, passengers weighing 40 pounds or less, and passengers riding with a driver between the ages of 16 and 18 to wear their safety belts. Not wearing seatbelts would be punishable by a $100 fine. Legislators expect 70 percent of current drivers to buckle up if the law is passed, causing fewer injuries and deaths from accidents. Airbags are not enough to save people from injury or even death. Everyone needs to buckle up when they go on the road, and this law would help ensure that.

Fail: Miami University is beating OU in the Recyclemania 2001 contest. OU students are complaining that it is too much work to recycle and some aren't even aware the contest is still going on. Where are all the environmentally conscious people now? During the last three weeks of the competition, OU plans to promote the contest by posting banners and talking to students in residence halls. So stop complaining about how hard it is to separate your paper from your cans: recycle and participate. Even The Post is recyclable.

Pass: The Ohio Consortium for Advanced Communications Technology, a group of universities and businesses led by OU, is poised to take control of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite from NASA. NASA officials had planned to decommission the satellite during fall when they decided to use the money for other projects and to test Internet technology. OU and the other consortium members will use the satellite as a learning tool for students and other researchers.

Homework: The Ohio Success Express bus made a stop at Athens High School to give local students information about Ohio's opportunities for higher education. It encourages students to look at their options in colleges and universities, especially in Ohio. Organizers also address other student issues, including money, grades, a variety of college programs and where to study. While this is a great idea, the group needs to do a little homework and recruit university students to ride along to help with the presentations and discussions. Then the people who ride the bus would be better suited than high school students to speak with parents.

Fail - The Ohio athletics department released little information about candidates to replace former men's basketball coach Larry Hunter, who was fired March 15. The athletics department needs to provide this information so students and the university community understand the process and options in filling coaching positions. In the future the department should be more willing to provide this information.