Stillwater residents plead with OSU regents about expansion plans

LANGSTON, Okla. (AP) _ About 100 people plead with Oklahoma State University regents about a plan to purchase homes for an expansion of athletic facilities. <br/><br/>The residents -- including many from

Saturday, December 3rd 2005, 6:35 am

By: News On 6

LANGSTON, Okla. (AP) _ About 100 people plead with Oklahoma State University regents about a plan to purchase homes for an expansion of athletic facilities.

The residents -- including many from Stillwater -- asked the Board of Oklahoma A&M Colleges Friday to stop the school's proposal, which is part of a 20-year master plan.

The board is expected to consider that plan at its January 27th meeting in Muskogee.

Tamara Colbert-Maschino says her mother's home -- which is in the planned acquisition area -- has been paid off for years and she wouldn't be able to find a comparable house if forced to sell hers. She recommended OSU use land it already owns to expand the campus.

And Rob Barnes estimates he'd lose at least $2.5-million in rental-property profits if OSU buys the 100 acres it has in mind.

Mayor Bud Lacy, who also is an OSU professor, said many in Stillwater consider OSU an uncaring beast.

Regents Chairman Burns Hargis told the crowd the board values the city and wants to be fair.