THIS WEEKS
WEATHER:
81 | 64 WED
THE BG NEWS
79 | 64 THU
81 | 66 FRI
HAPPY BADGER
81 | 70
Check PULSE to read about how the Happy Badger brings in fresh, organic food
SAT
| PAGE 3
SUMMER WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2013 Volume 92, Issue 104
ESTABLISHED 1920
A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
www.bgnews.com
CITY BRIEF
Former Councilman leaves, new member appointed
City council discussed and held a nomination for a new council member at its meeting on Monday night. A total of six people each gave a three minute presentation to the council and audi ence members to secure the position of the Fourth Ward. First Ward coucil member Daniel Gordon said the position includes the remaining six months of Greg Robinette’s term from now GREG ROBINETTE FORMER COUNCILMAN until December, as Robinette took a leave of absence from council because of his active duty in the Army Reserves. After a 5-1 vote from city council members, resident Robert Piasecki was nominated to fill in for Robinette for the remainder of the year. “It’s exciting; there were more candidates than expected,” Piasecki said. “It’s interesting to see so many people interested in the council [decision].” Gordon said the length of the term for the Ward positions are two full years, while the At-Large positions are four years for each active city council member. There will be a final nomination for the full position of the Fourth Ward in November.
STATE BRIEF
Speed limit increases on six highways
The Ohio Department of Transportation recently passed legislation permitting speeds to increase on certain sections on Interstate 75 from 65 to 70 mph, which was put into action July 1. The final decision to put the discussion of change into action was released to THERESA POLLICK the public in May, said Theresa Pollick, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICIER public information officer for ODOT. There were six total interstates which increased speed limits totaling 570 miles out of 1,332 miles of interstate highways in Ohio. Interstates that were all changed to 70 mph include: I-70, I-71, I-75, I-76, I-77 and I-90, according to the ODOT press release, which was available in May. Speed limit changes on I-75 begin just outside of Toledo going south until just north of Dayton. It does not include Findlay or Lima, according to the press release. ODOT made 317 new signs that were placed right before the speed change in order to alert everyone, which totalled a cost of approximately $8,287.19, according to the press release. The money came from the state’s transportation budget bill. The signs that were replaced throughout the interstates were: eight “Reduced Speed Ahead” signs, 48 brand new speed limit signs and 261 sign pieces, which will overlay the current “65” number with the new speed limit number, according to the press release. The interstates which were selected to up the speed limit to 70 mph are “outside urbanized areas,” according to the press release.
Mistakes
EMILY REITH | THE BG NEWS
Academic Honesty Policy will undergo revisions after nine years By Michelle Black Reporter
After nine years of the academic honesty policy being enforced by the University, revisions are just around the corner. The purpose of revising the policy will be to create fair consequences among students who have chosen to be dishonest when engaging in their academic work, said David Neely, vice president of the Undergraduate Student Government. The academic policy expects students to be honest when conducting their academic work by not plagiarizing or cheating. If students are caught doing so, consequences could include expulsion, suspension, having to withdraw from a course or many other results, according to the Academic Honesty Policy on the University’s website. Neely said he has been tackling the revision process with the president of the organization, Alex Solis. “We’ve been working on it for a little over a year,” Neely said. “It’s very out dated.” The current policy can be challenging to understand and read. “The procedure to appeal a case as a student isn’t the easiest,” he said. “We’re trying to make sure students are well represented and get a fair trial in a case when they’re faced with plagiarism.” The new policy will not only result in fair punishments after
being academically dishonest but will include positive outcomes allowing students to learn from their mistakes. “The policy has no learning outcomes to it and it punishes people for being academically dishonest as opposed to ever having a learning outcome,” Neely said. Neely’s main goal is to make revisions to the policy, allowing students to be treated fairly depending on how dishonest they were when doing their academic assignments. “The same procedure and punishment are applied to those who plagiarize one line or those who plagiarize an entire paper, which is unfair to students,” he said. Senior Anthony Cornwell agrees that the policy can result in harsh punishments that shouldn’t always take place. “I believe it’s fair for students to have [different consequences] because sometimes students may forget to cite the smallest thing,” Cornwell said. “Things like that should result in points being taken off of an assignment rather than getting kicked out of school.” Despite the revisions creating fairness, he believes the current policy should stay the same. “I don’t think it should be revised,” Cornwell said. “Some things just should be left the same and untouched.” However, senior Cathryn Winters See HONESTY | Page 2
New regulations might limit work for students
SERVING UP FUN
Changes to University policy limits students from working more than 28 hours a week By Zach Knapp Senior Reporter
Students who work on-campus are beginning to be limited to 28 hours of work a week in an attempt by University employers to sidestep health care coverage requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly refereed to as Obamacare, mandates that employers with more than 50 employees are required to provide health benefits for employees that work at least 30 hours-a-week or else they must pay a fine. According to the United States Department of Labor, employers do not have to offer their full-time employees health benefits until January 1, 2014, but are required to evaluate which employees fit the basic requirements for full-time employment in 2013 before getting the benefits. SAMB’S SERVES residents at the Lunch in the Park event on Friday, June 28.
CONNOR ROSE Check out the photo spread of local high school student and singer Connor Rose who performed at City Park June 23. | PAGE 5
ALYSSA BENES | THE BG NEWS
Dawn Chong, director of Student Employment Services, acknowledged the difficult situation student workers have been put in due to the new requirements in a Student Employment Services press release. “After reviewing government updates, regulations, and consulting with other Ohio universities, we have decided to limit the total number amount of hours students can work on the BGSU payroll each week,” Chong wrote. “We understand that this decision will mean a loss of hours and income for some of our students, but BGSU, like many other colleges around the nation, are left without a reasonable option at this time.” The “28 hours-a-week” limit went into place on May 12. Further restrictions have been placed on international students, who are not permitted to work more than 20 hours a week during the school year, according to the
See HOURS | Page 2
NEXT WEEK IN SPORTS FEATURES WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ACADEMIC HONESTY? Read SPORTS for two briefs about Falcon hockey player Ralfs Freibergs and the ROTC’s Mountain Man Marathon win this year | PAGE 6
“Academic honesty is under enforced and the University needs to crack down on it.” Rebecca Cull Graduate Student, Biology