THE BG NEWS
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ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Not sure what Undergraduate Student Government is? Check out page 2 to see things you should know about them.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Volume 93, Issue 5
uncovering
New housing option offered for students
secrets
history’s hidden
Rooms are open to anyone who applies, accommodates family members By Amber Petkosek Social Media Editor
“The archives makes them accessible... I like to say that I make them visible.”
Alumnus digitizes Nixon tapes from Watergate scandal for political figures By Eric Lagatta Campus Editor
Luke Nichter | University alumnus
A
s a graduate student in 2007, University alumnus Luke Nichter began a project that to this day, not even the United States government has undertaken. Nichter, an associate professor of history at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, runs the only website that digitizes and makes available the audio tapes and transcripts from former president Richard Nixon’s administration. “There’s a Nixon for every occasion. Nixon has many different sides,” Nichter said. “[These tapes] help show the complexity of this person.” Since its launch six years ago, nixontapes.org has half a million hits and approximately 2,300 hours spread over 2.5 terabytes of hard drives that contain more than 7,000 audio files, according to the site. Nixon secretly recorded 3,700 hours of his phone calls and meetings across the executive offices between 1971 and 1973, according to the site. A native of Perrysburg Township and Weston, Nichter finished his undergraduate career at the University in 1999 with a degree in business administration. After doing fellowships at the London School of Economics and the
See NIXON | Page 2
Photo pulled from The BG News Archive
The Nixon Tapes in numbers:
—Estimated hours it takes to transcribe one hour of tape: 100 hours —Amount of Hours of digitized tape collection of nixontapes. org: 2,300 —Hours Nixon secretly recorded of his phone calls and meetings: 3,700 —Hours of tape left to still declassify: 700 *information from nixontapes.org
Luke Nichter in a nutshell:
Photo Provided
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
—Where he went to school: He received his bachelor’s degree from the University in 1999. He received his PhD from the University in 2008. —What other jobs he had: U.S. House of Representatives and the British House of Commons. —What he does: Runs the only site that digitizes the Nixon tapes and makes them available on the web. —What he’s going to do: coauthoring a book with Douglas Brinkley about the Nixon tapes to be published in 2014 on the anniversary of Nixon’s resignation.
A new housing option began this year allowing men and women to live together, but it may not be for the reasons you think. The housing is primarily for people who consider themselves transgender, gender neutral, gender nonconforming, cross-dressing people or people who are non-binary, however it encompasses more people, said Tobias Spears, assistant director in the office of Multicultural Sarah Affairs. Waters There are currently about 20 stuDirector of dents living in what is being called Residence gender-neutral housing, said Sarah Life Waters, director of Residence Life. The University has implemented the housing in Founders Hall. Other universities in the state that offer gender-neutral housing are Miami University and Ohio University, Waters said. “It was all by choice,” she said. “We did an application process for our continuing students. Only students who opted in are living within that block of rooms in Founders, we didn’t just put anyone there.” This process started in August 2011 when Spears was appointed as Chair of the LGBT Advisory Board and began to talk to students about what they wanted. “What I found is that many students and faculty that were a part of the board were asking about gender-neutral housing, and that we want to be more inclusive of people who identify as transgender,” he said. “It’s not just about the LGBT community, it’s also about creating spaces for people in general.” The gender-neutral housing could also accommodate siblings or families who want to live together, but do not want to live off campus, Spears said. Waters said it is important the housing was implemented because it is a part of Residence Life’s mission to create environments that make people feel safe. One of the misconceptions Waters saw arise with gender-neutral housing was the idea that people thought they were going to be put in it unknowingly. “We quickly explained that’s not the case,” she said. Waters said she didn’t think gender-neutral housing was not a controversial idea because the students wanted to have it. Senior Danielle Oetjen said she thinks the gender-neutral housing will be mostly positive. “Whenever rules change there is always one negative thing that happens,” she said. There are no first year students living in the
See HOUSING | Page 2
Student Alumni Connection organization wants to rebrand, engage students
FUN IN THE SUN
New semester means new ideas, explanation of group to undergraduates By Kendra Clark In Focus Editor
Members of the Student Alumni Connection may come to the first meeting and find new ideas waiting for them. SAC has been working on the constitution since April and will be bringing the changes up to the general members at their first meeting this Thursday. After the executive chair members of SAC came back from a spring retreat this past March, they came back with a desire to
re-evaluate their constitution to review what they were as a group. “The reason why we are rebranding is because it seems like in years past the organization was stagnant,” said Wade Rhoades, president of SAC. “This is the way it was, why change it? This year, we rewrote our constitution. We are trying to breathe new life into the organization.” SAC is an organization with a main goal to foster interactions between students and alumni. “We host events throughout the year that help the students
IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER After losing its first two games. the BG volleyball team defeated the NO. 13 ranked BYU Cougars in fave sets in the weekend finale this past Saturday | PAGE 3
get face to face with alumni,” Rhoades said. Kelly Basden Lawrie, staff advisor for SAC, said the rewriting of the constitution is about clarifying the purpose of the events they host throughout the year. “We have a lot of alumni who remember the programs,” she said. “People continue to get excited by the SAC programs. With the rewriting, they are continuing to offer the same
See STUDENT | Page 2
STEVEN W. ECHARD | THE BG NEWS
STUDENTS enjoy their Labor Day off by playing volleyball outside of Founders.
FACT VS. FICTION Columnist Dawood Dadfar talks about college expectations versus the reality of college and how the growth of a person change as a whole. | PAGE 4
what do you want to be remembered for as an alumni? “My influence on the VCT program.” Ryan Mills Sophomore, Visual Communication Technology
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
2 Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Fri & Sat niGhtS 10 pm til 2:30 am eric chaSe &
DJ Manny
Saturday
KISSFM
– 3,6,5 Drink SpecialS –
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SAT., AUG. 31 10:50 P.M.
Rodney L. Lewis Jr, 21; and Michael D. Oiler, 22, both of Bowling Green, were cited for disorderly conduct/nuisance party within the 100 block of Troup Ave. Shane E. Bergman, 19, of Bowling Green, was cited for underage possession of alcohol. 11:08 P.M.
Danquis L. Woods, 19; and Lalacamillia Virginia Mesbahi, 18, both of Bowling Green, were cited for open container and underage possession of alcohol within the 100 block of Manville Ave. 11:15 P.M.
Grant S. Chowayou, 21, of Bowling Green, was cited for disorderly conduct/ nuisance party within the 100 block of Manville Ave. Bethany R. SantiagoMeyers, 18, of Bowling Green; John C. Klingerman, 18, of Bowling Green; and Chad A. Shepler, 18, of Bluffton, Ohio, were cited for underage possession of alcohol. 11:44 P.M.
David Lee Amstutz III, 20, of Geneva, Ind., was cited for underage/under the influence of alcohol and open container within the 300 block of E. Merry Ave. 11:44 P.M.
Jamison David Foos, 18, of Walbridge, Ohio, was arrested for obstructing official business, underage possession of alcohol
and littering near Manville Avenue and East Napoleon Road. He was lodged in the Wood County Justice Center. 11:50 P.M.
Rashad Alexander Melroy Thompson, 18, of Gahanna, Ohio, was cited for underage possession of alcohol near Ridge and North Enterprise streets.
SUN., SEPT. 1 12:10 A.M.
Jimell Verquan Woods, 19, of Toledo, was cited for open container and underage/under the influence of alcohol near East Court and North Prospect streets.
Brandon A. Howard, 21, of Bowling Green, was cited for disorderly conduct/ nuisance party within the 100 block of S. College Drive. 12:51 A.M.
Kyle James Cherry, 19, of Perrysburg, Ohio, was cited for disorderly conduct/fighting within the 100 block of N. Main St. 12:56 A.M.
Zachery G. Sturkey, 19, of Bowling Green, was cited for underage/under the influence of alcohol within the 100 block of N. Main St. 12:58 A.M.
12:12 A.M.
vehicle impaired within the 300 block of E. Wooster St. 2:01 A.M.
Jeffrey C. Spain, 21, of Toledo, was cited for open container within the 200 block of N. Main St. 2:12 A.M.
Brandon J. Ishmael, 18, of North Baltimore, Ohio, was cited for underage possession of alcohol at Lot 1 downtown. 9:02 A.M.
Complainant reported that an unknown person stole 50 newspapers from a business within the 1000 block of N. Main St.
Andrew Michael Petrie, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, was cited for open container and underage/under the influence of alcohol near North Prospect Street and East Evers Avenue.
Kevin M. Harris, 22; and Johnte A. McCree, 18, both of Toledo, were cited for open container at Lot 1 downtown. McCree was also cited for underage/under the influence of alcohol.
9:20 A.M.
12:30 A.M.
1:06 A.M.
12:10 P.M.
Michael Pasquale Pavone, 18, of Bowling Green, was cited for littering, open container and underage/under the influence of alcohol within the 100 block of N. Prospect St. 12:31 A.M.
Anthony Michael Russo, 19, of Bowling Green, was cited for disorderly conduct/ loud noise within the 300 block of N. Main St.
Complainant reported that an unknown person stole an iPad from an apartment within the 1000 block of Fairview Ave. The item is valued at $400. 1:44 A.M.
Arzell J. West-Estell, 23, of Toledo, was cited for open container within the 100 block of N. Main St. 1:53 A.M.
12:32 A.M.
A juvenile was cited for operating a
Undergraduate Student Government is voice for undergraduate students By Kendra Clark and Eric Lagatta The BG News
The Undergraduate Student Government is the voice for the student body. They pass resolutions that they view as a reflection of what the student body wants, as well as communicate with the administration to show the student’s point of view. Below are five things students at the University should know about USG. 1. USG is set up similarly to the United States government, where they have a legislative and an executive branch that help pass resolutions for the benefit of the students. The executive branch features the President Alex Solis, Vice President David Neely and Treasurer Ebonee Johnson. The legislative branch features the senators, all of whom represent different constituents such as Greek life and LGBTQ. 2. Solis and Neely, both seniors, began their second term this year, a relatively rare occurrence. They ran unopposed in this past election. 3. USG has a meeting every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Union, where they discuss resolutions and updates at the University. Time is reserved for guest speakers and others who come to lobby. In the past, guest speakers included Rodney Rogers, senior vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost, and Chief Information Officer John Ellinger. To find out when the meetings are, look at www.bgsu.edu/usg. 4. Legislation passed by USG doesn’t actually change current policies. When USG passes a resolution, it’s a symbolic gesture about what the student body thinks. It is then left up to the University to implement a change or not. To pass a resolution, USG must have quorum, or at least 50 percent of senators there to vote. Recent legislation includes one in support of gender neutral bathrooms in the Falcon Health Center, and one against changes to the Union room reservation policy. 5. Senators, along with representing their constituents and bring resolutions to the meetings, have to put in at least two hours a week outside of the meetings. One is in the USG office, where they educate themselves about what is happening in the University. The other hour is to be spent outside of the building where they talk with students to learn what they want from USG.
University of Oxford, he then returned to the University from 2004-08 to receive his Ph.D in policy history. Before taking his current position in Texas five years ago, Nichter worked in the US House of Representatives and the British House of Commons. Besides digitizing the National Archives’ releases, his site, which began as a doctoral dissertation, adds context and references to other sources, he said. “The archives makes them accessible,” he said. “I like to say that I make them visible.” This undertaking attracted the attention of prominent political figures included in the tapes. Former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld, former National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former president George H.W. Bush are some of those who have reached out to Nichter about his site. He has even been an authority for Hollywood. In “The Butler,” directed by Lee Daniels, John Cusack portrays Nixon. Both Daniels and Cusack sought Nichter’s advice for how to
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Things to know about student government
NIXON From Page 1
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$3 Pitchers/Beer! $6 Pitchers/Mixed drink! 3 for $5 Vodka Bombs!
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127 n. Main St. Bowling Green h clazel.net h facebook.com/clazel
BLOTTER |
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Luke Nichter
University alumnus, digitizes Nixon tapes take on the role. Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal where he tried to cover up his involvement in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters. The latest tapes released by the National Archives and Records Administration in August are approximately 340 hours and 140,000 pages of documents covering April 9 through July 12, 1973— up to the Watergate period of the Nixon administration. Since it takes approximately 30 years for White House documents to be declassified, this information is new fodder for historians, Nichter said. “There are a ton of unanswered questions, even today,” he said. “I’ll be learning from these tapes for months and years.” As will other historians, or anyone, interested in Nixon’s presidency. Right now is the best time to access that info, since this was the last big release, said Benjamin Greene, assistant professor in the history department.
“We’re at the stage where we’re at the end of the Nixon era,” he said. And while presidential recordings aren’t a new thing, Nixon was the only one with voice-activated recordings in seven different rooms, Greene said. “That’s what makes his recordings so rich,” he said. “You get a sense of the individual that’s not always flattering.” A prominent moment in the newly-released tapes for Nichter is when Nixon spoke with Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev on the eve of a week-long summit in Washington, D.C. The t wo Cold Wa r riva ls are talking about family and vacations, he said. “The only two leaders in the world capable of destroying the world … [and they’re] talking like old friends,” he said. An additional 700 hours of further tapes have yet to be declassified, according to Nixontapes.org. Up next for Nichter is a book on the Nixon tapes. Slated for Aug. 9, 2014, the 40th anniversary of Nixon’s resignation, it’s a collaboration with historian Doug Brinkley. “Nixon had a lot of shortcomings and a lot of achievements,” Nichter said. “These new tapes capture both those shortcomings and those achievements.”
Michael T. Kuntz, 22; and Sean S. Muscaro, 21, both of Bowling Green, were cited for failure to maintain a litterfree premise within the 100 block of N. Prospect St. Complainant reported that an unknown person entered a locked vehicle and stole and iPod within the 300 block of W. Evers Ave. The item was valued at $250. 1:24 P.M.
Complainant reported that an unknown subject had put cottage cheese on the hood of a vehicle and scratched the word “suck” on the roof within the 900 block of S. Main St. The estimated damage is $100.
HOUSING From Page 1 dorms, Waters said. However, no students were turned away if they applied. Luke Grabski, the president of VISION, said having genderneutral housing will effect the perception of the University. “It show s t hem t he University itself is willing to provide that safe space,” he said.”[The University] is willing to go out there and do things that not a lot of universities haven’t done yet.” Returning students may think about the housing in a different way, Grabski said. “It may open up their eyes,” he said. “They may not have realized there was a need for gender-neutral housing.” Spears said the main con-
STUDENT From Page 1 signature programs, but with innovative twists that better meet the needs of our alumni and our current students.” Several years ago, there were two separate organizations: one focused on the ambassadors and the other on programs. Those two organizations merged to become Student Alumni Connection in 2005. “What Wade and the other [executive] board members are doing is really cleaning up the language and the constitution left over,” Lawrie said. “They are really thinking critically about what the organization does, who they are, are they meeting the needs of current students and alumni?” For Ashley Hillis, vice president of marketing for SAC, the rewriting of the constitution was to help set goals to spread the word of SAC. “A lot of people don’t know what SAC is or what we do,” Hillis said. “We want to get our word out there on campus. I think SAC in the past has struggled with their brand. This past year or two all they have been about was their events like Beyond BG.” Rhoades shared these feelings with Hillis as well. “With Beyond BG, it’s very well attended but the students who attend don’t know the meaning behind it, what it’s for,” he said. “We want to remarket our events to bring out that meaning the event has.” Sophomore Hailee Greenlese is a member of SAC and knows
10:47 P.M.
Tyler Preston Schmid, 20, of Bowling Green, was cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia within the 2000 block of E. Napoleon Road. 11:28 P.M.
Brian A Ferber, 21; and Perry M. Fraylick, 21, both of Bowling Green, were cited for disorderly conduct/nuisance party within the 200 block of Troup Ave. Kyle Andrew Grassel, 23, of Bowling Green, was cited for disorderly conduct/public urination.
MON., SEPT. 2 12:55 A.M.
Dustin Lamon Cody, 22, of Bowling Green, was arrested for criminal trespass within the 100 block of N. Main St. He was lodged in the Wood County Justice Center. 2:40 A.M.
Michael P. Mercer, 32, of Bowling Green, was cited for open container within the 100 block of E. Wooster St.
CORRECTION POLICY
We want to correct all factual errors. If you think an error has been made, call The BG News at 419-372-6966. ONLINE: Go to bgnews.com for the complete blotter list.
“It shows them the University itself is wiling to provide that safe space.” Luke Grabski | Student
cern is how students feel while in their rooms. “I think that a part of creating inclusive communities is allowing people to be safe and feel safe,” he said. Spears said when people look at a college student they look at a ‘holistic’ student, which means they look at every aspect of a college students life— not restricted to academics. “It’s not just about you going to school,” he said. “It’s a lso about feeling safe where you live.”
“The reason why we are rebranding is because it seems like in years past the organization was stagnant ... This is the way it was, why change it? This year, we rewrote our constitution. We are trying to breathe new life into the organization.” Wade Rhoades | President only a little about the change in the constitution. “I definitely think it’s a good idea to get us more known,” Greenlese said. She said she likes the fact the executive board started the change but has a little worry. “They definitely should have gotten started on it before the year starts,” she said, “but not too far so I can’t have my voice heard about it.” Greenlese’s concern doesn’t stop her from looking forward to the rewrite. “I’m just excited about us all being on the same page and getting it done,” she said. Their first meeting is Thursday, Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Mileti Alumni Center.
SPORTS
BIG CATS Tuesday, September 3, 2013 3
TAKING THE DOWN
LINDSEY BUTTERFIELD bumps the ball to set up an attacking play for the Falcons.
ANTHONY MALINAK | THE BG NEWS
MADELINE GARDA and Ashley Dunn celebrates the victory against the No. 13 ranked Brigham Young University Cougars.
ANTHONY MALINAK | THE BG NEWS
danielle tonyan and a teammate blocks a spike from a BYU player during the Falcons’ victory Saturday.
BG volleyball team defeats nationally ranked BYU in five sets following two losses in weekend tournament By Noah Jones Reporter
One point was all that separated the Falcon volleyball team from a new notch on a historical season. The score was 14-8, BG led Brigham Young University, ranked 13th in the nation, in the fifth
and final set to 15 points. The student section roared and Freddie and Frieda urged the stadium to be louder. After four straight points by BYU, it happened. Libero Ashley Dunn bumped a pass to outside hitter Paige Penrod,
and Penrod slammed the ball off the foot of a BYU front row defender. The Falcons beat No. 13 BYU, the first defeat of a ranked opponent since the American Volleyball Coaches A ssociat ion rankings began in 1982. The Falcons had made
ANTHONY MALINAK | THE BG NEWS
a comeback, after falling just short of winning in the first two sets, BYU entered the third set looking confident, but Head Coach Danijela Tomic had other plans.
See VBALL| Page 5
BG VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Vs. Marquette Loss 3-1 Vs. No. 25 Creighton Loss 3-0 Vs. No. 13 BYU Won 3-2
Quarterback battle more apparent in Tulsa victory ETHAN EASTERWOOD SENIOR REPORTER
Now that the aftermath of the Tulsa victory has calmed down, BG Head Coach Dave Clawson finds himself in a quarterback conundrum. The three-year starting quarterback in Matt Schilz found himself anxiously pacing the sidelines this past Thursday following the coaching staff donning a flat billed hat, instead of dodging linebackers and finding receivers. This was all part of a designed rotation that ended with unexpected results. Going into the game, redshirted sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson and
Schilz shared reps during practice as both fought for the starting job. The job was expected to be handed to Schilz regardless of preseason performance, based on experience alone. Going into the Tulsa game, Johnson had seen little playing time, zero starts and absolutely nothing consistent outside of practice. Whereas Schilz had ridden the waves of success and failure for the past three seasons. The design was to let both quarterbacks see some playing time against Tulsa. Schilz got the expected start and Johnson was to come in a few drives into the game. The two were likely expected to rotate throughout the game, keeping the defense on its heels. This was a brilliant deci-
sion for Clawson to make, as both quarterbacks have their strengths and weaknesses and Johnson needed to be ready during the post-Schilz era rapidly approaching. Schilz did nothing wrong in his first two drives against Tulsa. He looked shockingly poised in the pocket and didn’t make any forced throws I am so frequently used to seeing. He made smart plays, read the defense well and he helped first year running back Travis Greene get acclimated to the position. In the past few seasons covering Schilz’s highs and lows, I was impressed to see him play so calm and not be rushed by the defenses. It looked like he was ready to have a good game.
See BATTLE | Page 5
matt Schilz was the starting quarterback against Tulsa but only played the first two drives.
STEVEN W. ECHARD | THE BG NEWS
FORUM
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
PEOPLE ON THE STREET “I want to be a big name in my major.”
What do you want to be remembered for as an alumni?
“I want to help the Spanish Learning Communty grow and be here for it.”
Taylor Hawes Junior, Visual Communication Technology
Corey Collins Sophomore, Engineering Technology
4
“As the best RA that BGSU has ever seen.”
“I want to be remembered for helping people learn Spanish.”
Evan Lewellen Junior, Spanish Education
VISIT US AT
BGNEWS.COM Have your own take on today’s People On The Street? Or a suggestion for a question? Give us your feedback at bgnews.com.
Molly baldwin Senior, Early Childhood Education
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
“
University smoking ban pointless To whom it may concern,
MAN,
THAT REALLY
Rips MY
shorts
”
THEBGNEWS PRESENTS
FALCON SCREECH WHAT IS FALCON SCREECH? Falcon Screech is a special addition to Wednesday’s Forum section. Submit your 100word rant anonymously at bgnews.com or you can tweet your screeches AT @falconscreech or WITH #falconscreech.
To the girl dancing in the Founders lounge, this isn’t the gym. I hate river dancing and you’re distracting drivers and everyone who can see you through the window. -GET A ROOM Why must school be tomorrow? All I want to do is lay in bed and watch movies with my boyfriend. -SENIORITIS My hall already smells bad and we don’t even share the floor with the guys! What’s going on with this?! -#smelly The fact that the Dial doesn’t open until 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. is now a problem. -#wantstoeat School again already? I’m already bogged down with work and it’s week two. -#fallbreakhurryup I planned meals and cooked. I hate being an adult. -CHILDHOOD COME BACK Hey, I love your new kitten. He’s adorable. But does that mean you get to put down my cats? No. Do you get to criticize my pet knowledge? No you don’t. I’m trying to help you, since my cats were here first, and they’ve been through a lot. I’m trying to prevent your kitten from getting hurt. Don’t make digs at me. Oh, and also, don’t treat your kitten like he’s porcelain. Trust me; a little roughhousing will be just fine if you want your kitten to grow up normally. -#petproblems I love that the Dial sells the same milkshakes as some Speedway gas stations. “f’real,” more like unreal, as in fake, as in the stuff they serve at dramatically inflated prices in dining halls on campus. -#SnappleApple
THE BG NEWS DANAE KING, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 210 West Hall Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 | Phone: (419) 372-6966 Email: thenews@bgnews.com Website: http:// Advertising: 204 West Hall | Phone: (419) 372-2606
This email is in reply to the column entitled, “Smoking ban will infringe on students’ rights,” which appeared in the Aug. 30, 2013 edition of The BG News. I f ully support t he opinion which the columnist ex pressed in their recent article on the looming smoking ban at the University. I am a non-smoker, so technically the ban does not
Misuse of gender pronouns dangerous for LGBT growth I am quite bothered by the incredibly disrespectful way the columnist handled the gender identity of Chelsea Manning. The line I am specifically referring to is this, “Since his conviction, Pvt. Manning
affect me at all. But I fully agree that the smoking ban is an infringement on students’ rights. Smokers should not be inconvenienced simply because some other anonymous people find it offensive or because the University wants to project a “green and clean” image. Yes, second-hand smoke is bad for you. So, the University should simply enforce the State of Ohio statute prohibiting smoking in front of entrances. Also, the University should provide smokers with places where they can engage
in their habit away from entrances. Then, if students are concerned about second-hand smoke, they can simply avoid the designated smoking areas. This policy which I have just described has been implemented at Kent State University at Tuscarawas with runaway success. Also, the columnist rightly brings up the issue of unintended consequences. Generally speaking, I believe most smokers are pretty considerate when it comes to realizing that others might not appreciate their second-hand smoke.
This policy very well might undercut any such consideration that had previously existed as smokers rebel against this new draconian university policy. I think campus demonstrations and student activism against the smoking ban are inevitable at this point. As we all know about public demonstrations, they are difficult to manage and can quickly escalate into something undesirable or even tragic. Furthermore, the euphe-
has now declared that he is Chelsea Manning but that is another column for another time.” Whether gender identity is something the columnist is well versed in, or something that the columnist has personal beliefs about, there is a way to handle a situation respectfully and disrespectfully, and his comments, as
well as incorrect usage of pronouns (using “he” as opposed to “she” throughout the article) is not the way to welcome transgender students to both our campus, our community and our country. The columnist should really consider taking a Women’s Studies class, checking out one of the many LGBTQ groups on
campus, or even checking out FORCE, the feminist organization on campus. Whatever your own beliefs you should not feed into outdated prejudices and wrong ideas towards the trans community and instead be open and welcoming to people of all identities.
See LETTER | Page 6
Linda Tomajko
Obama promises change, College offers growth, change, doesn’t come through reflection for students Meagan Ward COLUMNIST
Happy Labor Day, or is it a Happy Labor Day? You might have noted P resident Oba ma’s recent speeches and appearances to universities attempting to push for lowering higher education costs. This month, Obama began a bus tour pushing for lesser tuition costs. What Obama and the mainstream media have failed to report on is the actual state of the nation. With a national deficit of $17 trillion, an underemployment and unemployment crisis and a failing political infrastructure in Washington, Barack Obama chooses to stay silent on the nation’s debt. He has decided it is best if he focuses on making higher education less costly, so all citizens can have the opportunity of going to a university and receiving their degree. This would be
ALEX ALUSHEFF, MANAGING EDITOR ERIC LAGATTA, CAMPUS EDITOR ABBY WELSH, NEWS EDITOR KENDRA CLARK, IN FOCUS EDITOR SETH WEBER, WEB EDITOR MATTHEW THACKER, FORUM EDITOR ALEX KREMPASKY, SPORTS EDITOR GEOFF BURNS, PULSE EDITOR DYLANNE PETROS, COPY CHIEF LINDSAY RODIER, DESIGN EDITOR STEVEN W. ECHARD, PHOTO EDITOR AMBER PETKOSEK, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
great, if only there were actual jobs for college graduates. Ones who work so diligently to acquire their degree and want to put it to use in the workforce have devastating odds against them. The entire notion of one getting their degree is to learn and put what they have learned to use to acquire a job. Nonetheless, it doesn’t seem to matter if you pay $1 or $90,000 in tuition. Economists project that the economy is making it harder for recent graduates to find work requiring a degree, which in turn forces most to settle for jobs that are far lessskilled positions to make ends meet. The underemployment rate is 56 percent of graduates right out of college, which only drops to 40 percent of graduates at the age of 27. Graduates get their degrees and ask themselves, “where are the jobs? ” Wouldn’t you
See MEAGAN | Page 6
davood dadfar COLUMNIST
One week down, 15 more to go. About three years ago this time, college possessed an endless amount of freedom and adventure to me. And for most people it always will. University allows students to escape the confines of their homes and immerse in a new environment. Most of us who utilize our surroundings such as on-campus housing, student organizations and networking are able to reap the benefits that a university like BGSU has to offer. Yet for some reason, now that my days on this campus are numbered, I feel different and so do most of my friends who are about to graduate. College suddenly isn’t about going to parties, hitting on girls or spending hours philosophizing about the world. It’s about making sure you end up where you want to be in
life. The most incredible thing about college is the growth and change in character you incur. In fact many freshmen who attend this University will come here to discover that in one semester, they either don’t want to pursue a degree in their current major, want to move to another school or just don’t want to go to college. Others will face hardships that go beyond comprehendible as they try to discover who they are and how they fit into society. The most challenging part of that is that no amount of guidance can help you find who you are. At the end of the day it’s safe to say that as members of society we haven’t put enough emphasis on the purpose of college. Un iversit ies t hese days have migrated into becoming more of an experience driven opportunity than a consumer oriented business. This
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SPORTS
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Tuesday, September 3, 2013 5
SPORTS FOOTBALL SCORES brief FALCONS FINISH AROUND MIDSECOND AT EMU AMERICAN CONFERENCE
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THE BG NEWS SUDOKU
The men’s and women’s cross country teams both placed second at the Eastern Michigan Triangular Aug. 31 in the season opener for both teams. The men finished with 47 points right behind Toledo who finished with 52, as the women finished with 40 points second to Toledo who finished with 46 points. The men were led by Greg Black who finished fifth and Jason Salyer who finished sixth. The women were led by Emma Mirwaldt with a fourth place finish and Mackenzie McMillin right behind her with a sixth place finish. Both cross country teams will be back in action Sept. 13 when they host the Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener.
SPORTS
SUDOKU To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved. Just use logic to solve
brief
SOCCER FALLS IN OVERTIME
The BG women’s soccer team lost their home opener this weekend against Butler University 2-1. Ashley Garr scored the Falcons lone goal early in the second half which gave them the lead until Butler scored off of a free kick to tie the game up about 10 minutes after the Falcons took the lead. Butler’s Kelly Mahoney scored the game winner in the 99th minute with a header off of a corner kick. The Falcons will continue their season with a game on the road at IUPUI Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
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matt johnson took over the quarterback position during the first quarter against Tulsa and led the Falcons to their first victory of the season.
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59 - 9 51 - 28 VBALL From Page 3 “Our philosophy is swing,” Tomic said. “At the end of the match we have to swing and be aggressive. We started making better choices too.” Lindsey Butterf ield led the team with a .290 attack percentage, and Penrod led the team with 16 kills. Multiple freshmen saw playing time this weekend, but Jelena Sunjic made the biggest impression with 12 kills and three blocks. The Falcon front row became a brick wa ll, and Kaitlyn Skinner and Danielle Tonyan were the tallest columns, as they combined for 16 total blocks. The Falcons had 64 kills all night and four fa lcons reached double digits. “The first two sets, we were going through the motions a lot— making plays but just spinning in mud,” Penrod said.
Between the 2nd and 3rd set Tomic and team captain Butterfield had a talk with the team about their effort on the court and how the team needed to respond more aggressively, Penrod said. “After our defensive mind changed that’s when everything started clicking because we started getting good balls and touches, getting good sets that we could convert into kills,” she said. The Falcons played three games this weekend against Marquette, 25 Creighton and 13 BYU. Despite the losing the first two matches, Tomic said she was proud of the effort given by her team. “I think they performed well,” Tomic said after the game against Marquette. “They performed point for point, I am just very proud of our team, this was fine high quality volleyball and I told our players we have nothing to be ashamed of.” BG lost the match 3-1.
BATTLE From Page 3 As stated before, I felt that the switch was a good move and against a team that USA Today ranked 26th in the nation and a way to never let the Golden Hurricane defense get comfortable. Johnson statistically didn’t have the greatest game but the result stood strong with a decisive 34-7 victory. He threw for 151 yards an interception, and no touchdowns but he facilitated a consistent offense that nickel and dimed its way down the field. He allowed the running game to find holes, and he wasn’t scared to make
“They performed point for point, I am just very proud of our team.” Danijela Tomic | Head Coach The Creighton match went similarly, The Falcons were able to be competitive with the Blue Jays, but lost in three straight sets. “[Creighton] played better at the end of each set,” Tomic said. “We have to learn to go full sets.” Amid the craziness the victory over BYU brought the Stroh, coach Tomic walked over to Butterfield and Penrod, hugged them and said, “Welcome back.” The Falcons will return the court this weekend when they compete in a tournament at the University of Notre Dame.
a sprint either. He ended the game with 50 yards rushing on the ground, including a clever juke move, ducking under a linebacker’s tackle. Statistically it wasn’t a great game for anyone on the field aside from the defense. Kicker Tyler Tate connected on two field goals, showing his naysayers from last season, that he could kick, and running back William Houston had three touchdowns on just 29 yards rushing. Johnson proved that he could rally his team and win under gritty circumstances without needing an immaculate quarterback rating. The result was the blowout win— an almost shutout. The aftermath leaves Clawson
with a decision. He alluded to Johnson getting the start against Kent State this Saturday, but was adamant that both quarterbacks would see playing time this season. With Kent State being such an important game, I would expect to see Johnson start the game but Schilz to come in for a few drives until either commands the game. As far as Johnson goes, he showed some promise but he will need to be consistent as a loss or victory against Kent State could have MAC East title implications. But it is reassuring knowing the veteran Schilz can come in to make some plays in need be; no matter how inconsistent he has been in the past.
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FORUM
Davood From Page 4 is good in theory because students can’t purchase an education, and in fact one is never guaranteed to you. What you pay for is the journey and the key to open more of them in the future. The most ignorant thing to do is to leave this school feeling like you got robbed. The experiences you gain, the people you meet, the memories you make at the University will one day
Meagan From Page 4 think that Obama would want to focus on job creation with such stunning stat ist ics u nwaver i ng college students? A perfect example of job creation to aid the nation was laughed at by Obama. The Keystone Pipeline project would not only create vast natural resources but lead to around 2,000 construction jobs. Jobs that would spinoff, as projected by financial analysts are between $250,000 to $550,000. When confronted about job creation for the Keystone Pipeline Obama chuckled and told the US
be invaluable to you if they aren’t already. The simple lunch gatherings you have with your friends, the study sessions, and the late nights you spend watching TV will be remembered as the part of the happiest times of your life. W hile college no longer to me possess freedom a nd adventure, it still represents a pivotal point in my development, and arg uably ever yone else who engages themselves. The important thing is to keep going strong. If I could give one piece
this construction project would create around five to 20 jobs. This clearly cannot be someone dedicated to job creation. As recent graduates with degrees and all citizens struggle to find work, Obama is on a bus tour [make note the bus was made in Canada] urging lower tuition which he hopes will encourage more citizens to get degrees. If you asked any individual in with common sense they would note this is to the contrary. Obama counts on college students to stay silent and unaware. Essentially, he views college students as idiotic, asking them to accept the false notion he attempts to sell stu-
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of adv ice to i ncoming freshman it would be that persistence will always prevail. So go out, take the initiative to challenge yourself and grow, because after these four years you will most likely be shaped into the person you’ll be for the rest of your life, and in case you ever lose hope, know that your fellow falcons will be rooting for you all the way.
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dents on irrelevant talking points, actions and policies he wishes to push. Is your president not the individual who is put in place to serve the nation? He clearly does not care if a graduate can get a job in their related field, or are unemployed or underemployed. College graduates and college students must not be deterred and mislead with all the false narratives given by Obama, but keep their eyes on the real issue— It doesn’t matter how much your tuition costs if you simply can’t get a job with your degree.
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1 Use an updraft, say 5 Pacific veranda 10 Shoe site 14 "__ la Douce" 15 Mission attacked by Santa Anna 16 "Betsy's Wedding" director 17 Alfred E. Neuman expression 18 "I can't believe ..." 20 See 56-Across 22 Winner of a record 82 PGA tournaments 23 Cheer from Charo 24 Bring down 28 Top 30 Book between Micah and Habakkuk 31 See 56-Across 38 Id checker
Chorus from adoring fans Hatch of Utah Nitrogen compound Unger player "This skull hath __ in the earth ...": Hamlet 6 E'en if 7 __ passage 8 Knock the socks off 9 Eastern segment of the Louisiana Purchase 10 Purse 36 Real end? 11 Unoriginal 37 Commercial sign 12 Tribute in verse 42 Targets of many 13 Word with flung searches or reaching 43 Unexpected pleasure 19 Sumatran ape 44 Marshy wasteland 21 Put in a word or two? 45 Red in the face 25 Win by __ 49 Fanfare 26 Ancient Mesopotamian 50 Van Gogh's "Starry kingdom Night Over the __" 27 Buffing board 51 Nighttime disorder 29 Flat-bottomed boat 53 Dramatic device 31 Brought forth 54 Frankincense 32 Ancient or myrrh gathering place 55 Black-ink entry 33 Towers (over) 57 Lights-out signal 34 Conciliatory offering 58 Inferno 35 Advice after an 59 Rub the wrong way injury, perhaps 60 Word of feigned innocence 61 Subtle assent 39 Get up 40 Comparative suffix 41 See 56-Across 46 Mail at a castle 47 SSA IDs, e.g. 48 Discrimination 49 Gay Nineties, e.g. 52 Catherine of "A Mighty Wind" 56 Some slogans, and what 20-, 31- and 41-Across are? 59 Response to an awkwardly timed call 62 Whiff 63 Bed or bar attachment 64 Discussion group 65 Actress McClurg 66 "__ these days ..." 67 Signal to a runner 68 Negative impression?
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mism of the “University community” policing the new policy is laughable and potentially dangerous. What honestly engaged college student has the time to be running off to the administration every time he or she sees someone breaking the smoking ban? By the time someone responds to the alleged violation, the smoker and the evidence [if he/she is smart] will have completely disappeared. Moreover, enforcing this policy puts students and university officials in a potentially dangerous or at least awkward situation of confronting the smoker. From personal experience, I can say that getting between a smoker and his/her nicotine fix could wind up being a very unpleasant experience. And what about potential backlash that students who report violations could face from smokers who consider them as “tattle-tales” or even “university-planted moles.” To say the very least, the University administration must reconsider this policy direction. We are a democracy and pride ourselves on democratic compromises. Why not let the University students decide? Put the issue up to a campus-wide vote. We’re all adults here, and as the columnist so rightly pointed out, “we are all capable of making our own decisions.”
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Help Wanted ATTENTION dance students! Looking for student to provide dance instruction to female teen. Contact: sjsmetz@bgsu.edu
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Looking for music student for private in-home violin lessons for teen. Contact: sjsmetz@bgsu.edu
Part time art instructor needed! Montessori School of BG, K-7th grades; approx 8 hours/wk. Send resume & letter of intent to: 515 Sand Ridge Rd, BG, OH.
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2BR apt avail Aug, $490/mo. 419-409-1110 or 419-352-4456. www.rutterdudleyrentals.com
Roommate needed to share furn house close to campus, flex lease option, $300/mo + shared utils, pets ok, call 419-308-7763.
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Within the ecosystem of storing, sharing and advancing knowledge and skills, students possess a central position. Everything revolves around them. With approximately 18,000 students, Bowling Green State University is one such ecosystem with over 300 registered student organizations. Student organizations in the university setting are the hubs for social transition and acculturation. In my three years of being involved with several student organizations, I have acquired a fair amount of exposure to their inner workings and activities. In this article, I want to draw the reader’s attention to a potentially alarming trend. This trend pertains to the scarcity of candidates that contest for leadership positions in student organizations across the campus. Involvement in at least one student organization is believed to increase the retention of students, mainly freshmen. Student organizations provide a sense of community for its members. They strengthen the voice and opinions of an individual student by providing constructive avenues for sharing and developing. It is difficult to elaborate the importance of student organizations in a university, but one should in no way undermine their significance. With the establishment of a student organization comes the necessity of electing leaders. Leaders that can drive the organization to accomplish its mission and to make a commitment to uphold the University’s core values,
select University members about the reasons for this scarcity of contesting candidates, interesting insights were revealed. The professional nature of the student organizations and the expectation to appear professional are daunting and expensive. Majority of the positions are unpaid and demand five to 40 hours of work every week. Being a leader pushes individuals to come out of their shells and be outgoing, which for some can be exhausting. Students are either selfproclaimed over involved or under involved. This perceived polarization discourages them from applying for leadership positions. Due to the close ties with the higher administration and faculty, student leaders face estrangement. All the above are the possible dissuading factors for the scarcity of candidates for leadership positions. Unfortunately, the trend points out a general apathy towards advocacy and governance. What it leads to is the University losing out an opportunity for furthering and fostering its vision, mission and core values through student organizations. Students also lose out on precious opportunities of honing their leadership skills, which can be an important ingredient for success in life. Oddities in social trends, like these, communicate an aspect of shift in societal fabric that can have implications in the future. Problematizing these shifts is a first step towards deconstruction and comprehension that will likely result in a proactive participation from students in applying for leadership positions.
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Arpan yagnik COLUMNIST
foster shared governance, create a social safety net for the members and provide an agency for student voice. Along with all these responsibilities there are also several privileges that a student leader receives, which in its entirety makes the experience valuable. Historically, the seats of power, responsibility and privileges have been contested with persistent force and zest. There are numerous incidents where individuals have gone to great lengths to acquire such seats of power. However, the trend observed at the University is quite the contrary and is therefore thought provoking. As an observer and an active thinker I not only make note of the trends and major shifts but also present them. The two prominent student government bodies at the University, namely Graduate Student Senate and Undergraduate Student Government, elect their new leaders every year. Last year the chosen leaders were the only candidates that ran for the position. The candidates simply had no opposition. Such instances of unopposed candidacy have also been observed in numerous other student organizations. Student organizations like World Students Association, India Students Association, Latino Students Union, Latino Dance Association and some Greek chapters have seen the same phenomenon of single nominations. I, myself, have gone through this process of singular nomination two years ago and was elected as the president of ISA. A cynic may feel that this increment in the disinterest in leadership positions is disconcerting but I feel that realistically too it is worth problematizing if not more. In my conversation with
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More students should apply for leadership positions to hone skills
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