SINGING AND SOLIDARITY
THE BG NEWS ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 & THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012
VOLUME 91, EDITION 67
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Hatching a plan Chick-fil-A attracts controversy as possible food option on campus this fall By Max Filby News Editor
Students may have thought it “flew the coop” earlier this semester, but now Dining Services is “rehatching” the possibility of replacing Wendy’s in the Union with Chick-fil-A. Throughout the next few weeks, Dining Services will work with the Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate Student Senate to determine whether Chick-fil-A will be included on a student survey as a possible option in the Falcon’s Nest next fall, despite being removed from the list in January for being considered “anti-gay.” “I’m awaiting guidance from those two groups,” said Mike Paulus, director of Dining Services. “Just guidance to let me know where we’re going.” While Paulus hopes a decision will be made in the next few weeks, in order to make it, USG senators and administrators
See CHICKEN | Page 2
CHICK-FIL-A TIMELINE November 2011: Dining Services presents results of possible businesses to replace stores already located in the Falcon’s Nest in the Union.
January 2012: Issues regarding possible “anti-gay” activity within Chick-fil-A are presented to Paulus and the Dining Advisory Board. The Dining Advisory Board votes to remove Chick-fil-A from a list of possibilities to replace restaurants in the Union.
United Methodist Student Organization hosted its weekly ‘ARISE’ event Tuesday. See photos on PAGE 3.
February 2012: Paulus receives feedback both in favor of and against Chick-fil-A. Paulus meets with USG and GSS presidents to discuss whether to include Chick-fil-A on a survey to be distributed to students concerning Union replacements.
Tweet #Chickfila @The_BG_News to let us know what you think about Chick-fil-A possibly coming to campus.
New shuttle route stops at Stroh University to offer shuttle services to basketball games starting Saturday By Dominic Binkley Reporter
Beginning Saturday, the University’s shuttle service will take students to and from the Stroh Center for home basketball games. The shuttle service will begin one hour before game time and run until one hour after the game completes, said Mary Ellen Gillespie, associate athletics director for external relations. The route is about 15 minutes long. Parking Services designed the route with four stops at locations to minimize walking distance and maximize student pickup, said Aaron Kane, manager of parking and shuttle services. One shuttle will make stops behind Centennial Hall, Founders and Falcon Heights before dropping students off at the Stroh Center entrance, said Aileen Berry, vehicle operations supervisor. The purpose of the service is to make things more convenient for students, Gillespie said. “Some of the student feedback that we got is that they don’t want to make the walk, and I can understand that in the cold weather,” she said. “So if it helps students and is a service that people can collaborate on and provide for students, then we’ll make sure that
See STROH | Page 2
College Democrats kick off ‘Obama for America’ initiative on campus Members started their campaign on Tuesday to re-elect Obama in November, plan to recruit voters with registration, outreach By Bryan Warrick Reporter
Nine months from Tuesday, voters w ill decide the next president of the United States of America. Tuesday night, the University’s College Democrats started campaigning in favor of President Barack Obama. The organization hosted the “Obama for America” campus kickoff event in 206 Olscamp. More than 20 students attended the event to get information about the initiative. The goal of the program, as part of the “Greater Together/
Young Americans Initiative,” is to make a difference in the swing state of Ohio and to help ensure the president’s re-election this fall, said Coleman Howes, a 2010 University graduate and political organizer who helped coordinate the event. “Wood County is a swing county in a swing state,” Howes said. “Our county is purple and we can have a large impact on the rest of the state.” The different activ ities the organization w ill ta ke part in for “Oba ma for A merica” in the upcoming months include voter reg ist rat ion, out reach, volu nteer recr u it ment a nd
BGNEWS.COM
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Jerome Library goes Vogue The Jerome Library acquired an archive of Vogue magazine, dating to 1892. Check out our website Thursday to read more.
phone bank ing, according to a press release from the College Democrats. Another major focus of the program is to encourage students to have more enthusiasm for the democratic process. “It’s always important for students to get involved,” said senior Danni McConnell, College Democrats president. “Students take for granted the impact they can have on the political process and the impact that it can have on them.” Students can gain experi-
See OBAMA | Page 2
ALYSSA GANNON | THE BG NEWS
DANNI MCCONNELL (left), senior and president of College Democrats, converses with fellow member sophomore Colleen Ryan after a group meeting. The group met for the ‘Obama for America’ campus kickoff event Tuesday evening in 206 Olscamp to rally support for the president’s re-election.
SPORTS
FORUM
The BG tennis team has one senior, Jessica Easdale, who will leave a legacy with the Falcons. | PAGE 6
Columnists Matthew Thacker and Meagan Ward express differing opinions on Obama’s contraceptive initiative. | PAGE 4
On and off the court
Contraceptive controversy
Where would your dream shuttle take you? Any bar downtown.
BEN HOFECKER Freshman, Undecided