Posted on 11/23/2005 8:26:13 AM PST by Osage Orange
A sad display by OSU
By Tamara Colbert Maschino
My mother recently received a letter that has shattered her belief in the justice of the world. For more than 50 years, my family has owned a home in Stillwater that has been the center of my mom's universe, a home where she raised children, a home that has provided shelter and comfort in our family's lives. A home she has recently completed remodeling and lovingly cared for with the hopes of staying in it for the rest of her life.
A short paragraph in a cryptic certified letter stated, "The Oklahoma State University Foundation has hired Cinnabar Service Company to assist them in acquiring land, and improvements for the proposed Master Plan, expansion of the existing campus." My mother, a senior citizen, called me with questions. She didn't understand what the letter meant. She was justifiably upset. The letter didn't contain any information on what was happening to her neighborhood.
I began to research and discovered that our beloved home was on a list to be acquired to build a sports complex. Is this how the city of Stillwater and Oklahoma State University reward its longtime residents and senior citizens, by depriving them of the homes they have worked hard for? How callous a method of informing residents. It's appalling.
The speed of the acquisition timeline is truly frightening to our family. Is OSU in the business of tossing seniors out of their homes? My mother purchased this home with my father when she was 21. She is now 77. She has lived in that house for 56 years and raised three children there. She had tears in her voice when she asked me how could they condemn her home when it's so well maintained.
My family was in Stillwater for the OSU homecoming activities and the football game. My mother prepared an early Thanksgiving dinner for my brother and me and we had a wonderful family weekend. I couldn't have believed that could have been the last Thanksgiving meal our family would ever enjoy in our home. Will this also be our last Christmas in our family home?
An official with Cinnabar Services told me the timeline for taking my mother's home and her neighbors' would be by June 1, and that OSU has this right because of eminent domain.
Where is my mother going to move? She's a senior citizen, she never expected to be forced from her home at this stage in her life. I am disgusted by this. Shame on you, city of Stillwater, and shame on you Oklahoma State University. If you're a homeowner in this large affected area, now is the time to say no, we will not be leaving our homes.
Unconstitutionality squared - the government shouldn't be in the education business to begin with, and to then exercise eminent domain based on that, for a sports complex no less? Abominable.
After all sports do so much for the "public good".
Couldn't agree more...
ooops...
NO. The bill of Rights does not establish rights of freedom from federal government only. Rather it establishes an umbrella of guarantees that extend to all citizens and are the basis on which states can join the union. Thus the justice department can and does enforce the rights against cities and states who violoate them.
Well, the bottom line is that OSU's acquisition of your grandmother's house will mean more revenue for them.
When you're packing all her stuff to move out, just remember all the good lefty programs that all that money will be sent too - things like grants for research into dog bites and stuff like that.
And how did you come to this conclusion? Crystal ball, gut feeling, or just pulling it out of you butt. I will take the same assumpative attitude that you took with her, you are probably a loser.
I have no evidence of that but the statement holds as much water as your previous statement.
Double zikes!.....
Which is why I said: "with what may or may not be a legitimate use of e.d."
Apparently there are those who feel it is a legitimate use. I do not have enough information to make that assessment.
You have to understand that the OU and OSU football teams, thanks to Barry Switzer and various "alumni", are semi-pro teams with a school in the same town. I could make a reasoned estimate that 70% of OU "alumni" have never ever actually been to a class on campus.
Angry_White_Man_Syndrome (my husband) is a student at OU.
OSU probably could have gotten away with this even before Kelo because it's a public university so the sports complex could be seen as in the public interest.
The States case just took a huge hit, IMHO.
> our beloved home was on a list to be acquired to build a sports complex.
Once more... jocks and their sycophants acting like thugs.
Sigh.
When was the last time a university tried to take peoples homes to build a new physics department?
As for the 14th Amendment (which statists always run to next), the intent was not to incorporate the Bill of Rights. This is evidenced by the fact that none of the original 10 Amendments were incorporated to the states until the early 20th century
If I said what I had originally written, it wouldn't sound very nice. I would be accused of just being a Sooner fan.
That said -- this is crap. The President they hired from Texas Tech they should send packing. Wonder if this is why the Athletic Director quit this fall?
Will make this short -- at OU they have built some of their athletic facilities away from the Main Campus like baseball, basketball, soccer fields. Why does OSU have to have the Athletic facilities all in the same area? The town of Stillwater is surrounded by vacant land for miles and miles. What a way to pay back the citizens of Stillwater for increasing their tax for the OSU athletic facilities -- take their homes.
Maybe what this OSU President should do is concentrate on the academic side for awhile and spend money there. There are four big guns in the Big 12 with large fan/donor bases -- OU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Nebraska. The other eight schools do not have the same type of base and some concentrate on other sports.
OSU President wants OSU in that upper echelon but he doesn't have either the donor or fan base to support. Even with the renovation to their football stadium which they had to stop due to lack of funds it will still only seat a little over 50,000. Couldn't believe when the people of Stillwater voted to increase taxes for athletic facilities.
Love football and am a season ticket owner for OU football games but I would never have voted to raise taxes to fund the athletic program. I did donate to the Reach for Excellence Campaign for OU academics along with their Athletic Donor campaign but that was my choice.
I'll bet you a bucket of pin oak acorns...!! (g)
FRegards,
Yes......I noted that.
My "for crying out loud" statement....was a general one. Not meant as a response directly to your post. Sorry for that misunderstanding....
FWIW-
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.