THE BG NEWS Wednesday February 7, 2007 Volume 101, Issue 96 WWW.BGNEWS.COM
NATION
Murder charges for astronaut Lisa Nowak faces murder after attempted kidnapping | Page 11
Wal-Mart not female friendly
NOT NEWS
Company faces lawsuit for discriminating against female employees | Page 11
Winter’s finally here. Horray! With winter finally making a comeback in BG, there are people still wearing shorts | Page 8
CAMPUS
Brett Holden compliments students
Ethics of the faculty New officer questions violations while being questioned himself By Alexandria Clark Senior Reporter
Some faculty members raised questions to the new ethics officer about the consequences if they misbehave. The University adopted the code of ethics and conduct for accountability and transparencies for all departments. “Dr. Paul Schauer, a professor at the College of Business, agreed to be the ethics officer part time to assist in certain issues,” said Sidney Ribeau, president. The ethics officer is responsible for investigating alleged violations of the code of ethics
and conduct from the students, faculty, staff and trustees. “I’m not out looking for issues; you come to me,” said Paul Schauer, associate professor of accounting and ethics officer. Schauer said he was chosen for the job because of his 20 years in public accounting. “I am willing, I am fair because I can look at both sides and I’m independent because I am a tenure accounting faculty member,” Schauer said. The process for a person to go to the ethics officer to investigate a matter is simple. “In order to initiate my investigation, you have to have the
matter in writing, and it must be in great detail,” Schauer said. Also based off of the content included in the report about the matter, will decide whether the investigation will go into effect or be referred to another office. “For example, in this past week’s newspaper about fraud in the library, that type of matter shouldn’t reach my desk,” Schauer said. “It should be handled in another office or branch.” But even though the duties of the ethics officer are clear in the area of consequences for the students, some faculty were unsure of their consequences.
“What you just said are your responsibilities contradicts what the policy says is your responsibilities,” said Michael Zickar, professor in psychology. In addition, Zickar asks what would happen if a faculty member gets drunk and his/her misbehavior makes the newspaper. “Would that type of matter fall under your jurisdiction, even though that matter would fall under a personal conduct and not a University problem,” Zickar said. Although the question was directed to Schauer, Ribeau
See ETHICS | Page 7
Don’t let the bed bugs bite
Master Teaching Award winner tells BG students the future is up to them | Page 3
Need a break? Stop by for a monthly forum
New outbreak of the insect has people questioning why, finding little bloody parting gifts BED BUG FACTS •Bed-bug calls to pest control services has increased 500 percent in the past five years from Ecolab Pest Elimination
Students can swap ideas about important issues affecting them | Page 3
By Erin Rechin Reporter
A blood-sucking parasite creeps out of its hiding spot and prepares itself for a feast. After piercing the skin of a sleeping host and injecting an anesthetic so as not to wake the victim, the offender has its fill and returns to its lair — just another day in the life of a bed bug. Until recent-
Spotlight on basketball player Kate Achter
SPORTS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Tough, rough point guard gives her all for the team and the game since she was young | Page 9
ly, the problem of bed bugs seemed to be under control. Reports of outbreaks have sparked the scientific community to question why these critters are experiencing a resurgence after laying low since the 1940s. “Only the bed bugs know why their numbers crashed, and they aren’t telling us,” said Richard Pollack, Harvard entomologist. One hypothesis is the increase in insecticide production used in World War II worked well keeping bed bugs at bay. The insecticides contained DDT, which has since been outlawed. “The current methods of control are just not as effective,” said Rod McPherson, branch manager of Terminix in Maumee.
See BUGS | Page 7
Sisters tear up the tennis courts with individual skills
WEATHER
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
OPINION
The Jakupcin’s play with heart, serve up spirit as they play together and sparately on the tennis court | Page 9
Stealing is stealing, even over the Internet People who use sites such as Limewire to download free music are breaking copyright laws | Page 4
Should schools begin teaching science in kindergarten?
ALEX HAGGERTY, Freshman, Early Childhood Education
“Yeah, because you’ll learn it in first grade anyway.” | Page 4
TODAY Scattered Flurries High: 18, Low: 5
TOMORROW Flurries High: 20, Low: 4
•Female bed bugs can lay up to 12 eggs per day from Ohio State University Department of Entomology •Bed bugs are mentioned in Ancient Greek texts from uky.edu
ILLUSTRATIONS BY GENEVA HODGSON | THE BG NEWS
Flu in full force; time to get vaccine By Holly Abrams Editor-in-Chief
With the recent frigid temperatures, some may start rethinking that annual flu shot. And fortunately, there is still time left to get vaccinated. While the weather does not directly cause influenza, there is a correlation, said Dr. Glenn Egelman, physician-in-chief at the Student Health Center. “The cold weather keeps people indoors, windows closed and in close, tighter quarters which helps the spread of infection,” Egelman said. Flu season typically spans from October to as late as May of each year, with the peak months in January, February and March. Although area experts say this season has been mild thus far, there is time to take preventative measures. “It appears that it is running very late this year, but it’s still appropriate to get vaccinated,” said Janet DeLong, director of nursing services for the Wood County Health Department. The Student Health Center has not documented any cases of influenza so far this year. But the Wood County Health Department has reported 16 cases of influenza or flu like illnesses, which is slightly above the 14 cases reported last year at this time. The flu was at its worst locally during the 20032004 season with 603 cases diagnosed in Wood County alone. “There is much greater vigilance now that we’ve increased our surveillance for all diseases,” DeLong said. “I think our reporting [on flu cases] continues to get better and better.” Looking at national statistics, kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio is currently “seeing sporadic” flu activity. Across the border, Indiana is at the worst level of influenza activity, coined “widespread.” “It’s coming our way; I expect it to hit in the next couple weeks,” Egelman said. According to Kristopher Weiss, as spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Health, this season there have been 1,623 reported cases of influenza or flu-like illnesses, and 10 labs confirmed flu cases in the state. This has amounted to just slightly over 1 percent of medical doctors reporting signs of
See FLU | Page 7
Travel policy for organizations in talks By Molly McCabe Reporter
Student organizations that wish to travel next school year may find the process a little more extensive. Faculty, staff and students of BGSU have been meeting since early this school year to come up with a proposal for an undergraduate student travel policy. Currently, BGSU does not have a travel policy; instead, the University has a travel notification form. The form is only for those student organizations that would like to receive Student Budget Committee funding. This form can be found in the Office of Campus Involvement. Faculty and staff of the Office of Campus Involvement and Office of Student Life, along with other faculty and students have been meeting regularly to come up with a travel policy that will
“The policy terms are very reasonable and the best interest of the students is at the forefront...” Kari Rood | Senior possibly go into affect in fall 2007. Kari Rood, senior, along with other students, are serving on the committee for the proposal of the travel policy. “Two of us were in attendance every time this committee met and made decisions about the policy,” Rood said. According to Jill Carr, interim assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students as well as chair of the travel policy committee, the reason for the poli-
cy is to ensure students’ safety and accountability. BGSU is the only state university in Ohio that does not currently have a travel policy, said Carr, adding they’ve evaluated other universities’ policies to form their own. Comparable universities like Ohio University, Miami University and Kent State all have implemented some sort of travel policy whether it’s simple or complex. Kent State’s Travel Policy can be found on their university’s Web site. It states, “Authorization for instate travel will be made by the office of campus life. Authorization for out-of-state travel will be made jointly by the Office of Campus Life and the vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. In addition, all outof-state travel must be approved by the provost. Authorization will
See TRAVEL | Page 7
BG community band creates more than music By AJ Utendorf Reporter
Even though it was their first meeting, the musicians assembled in the Bowling Green High School band room hushed to silence as their director, Nick Ezzone, stepped up to the podium. “We are making history,” he told them in his opening words. A giddy excitement held over the night, beginning with the members signing in and greeting old friends. Those assembling their instruments often called hello and waved happily to those coming in, whom they knew from other musical experiences. Ezzone greeted those he knew by name and those he was just meeting, all with a friendly shake of the hand. The band, he said, is impor-
tant to parents, teachers and students. He stressed that people pay money for music early in the learning stage: instrument, lessons and more. Why put the horn away when school is over, Ezzone said. He described the community band as an “extension of band,” a way for the whole community to keep playing their instruments no matter what the age. So who plays in this band? Everyone is allowed. Approximately 70 faces of all ages from all places made up the half-circles surrounding the director. High school students, retired and current band directors, parents and community members all have interest in playing their instruments, no matter how long
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See BAND | Page 7