THE BG NEWS
A DATE WITH DESTINY?
Omega Phi Alpha hosted a speed dating event to recruit new members Tuesday night. Check out the online album at BGNews.com
ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Volume 93, Issue 12
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State funds dwindle for University Anti-abortion group President Mazey outlines 10 keys to success during State of the University address By Eric Lagatta Campus Editor
Tuition, enrollment and University funding were some of the main topics University President Mary Ellen Mazey covered in Tuesday’s State of the University Address. “Simply put, the current operating model for higher education and Bowling Green State University is unsustainable,” Mazey said to an audience of approximately 400 in the Donnell Theatre in the Wolfe Center. “With student debt on the rise, we can-
not afford to continue to raise tuition to cover our costs.” Tuition was raised two percent this year, but Mazey said she wants to reverse the trend by lowering costs and increasing revenue. Under the State Share of Instruction, the formula used to distribute the bulk of state money provided to Ohio’s public universities, 50 percent of University funding is based on the total number of students who graduate. University SSI has declined 30 percent “in recent years,” while it has gone up as much as nine percent for other universities,
Mazey said. To remedy this, the goal, said Mazey, is to retain students while growing enrollment, whether the students are traditional, international, out-of-state, adult or transfer. Mazey outlined 10 keys to addressing these issues, all related to the strategic plan. Among these keys are innovative programming, new community partnerships, co-ops and internships for every
See STATE | Page 5
packedracks?
sparks conversation, student protests Created Equal believes in age discrimination, aims to raise awareness By Dylanne Petros Copy Chief
An abortion education group hosted an exhibit in the Union Oval, drawing student interest and protest. Created Equal has been touring around the country for 2-and-a-half years going to different college campuses to talk to students about abortion. The organization puts pictures on display of aborted babies so people who walk through campus can easily see them. “[Our goal is] to raise awareness on contemporary age discrimination which is abortion,” said Mark Harrington, the executive director of Created Equal. The argument of age discrimination is that babies are aborted because they are just babies and cannot speak up for themselves, Harrington said. “Babies aren’t developed because they are younger; we are discriminating based on age,” he said. “Every reason for abortion is they are younger. They aren’t as developed as other people. We don’t discriminate based on age.” To get people to stop and talk to them, the Created Equal volunteers offered brochures and asked people’s opinions on abortion.
See ABORTION | Page 5
Alyssa benes | THE BG NEWS
Sophomores Caleb Smith and Nancy Kohn lock up their bikes in front of the College Park Office Building.
ALYSSA BENES | THE BG NEWS
SOME BIKES are locked illegally and could be taken by Campus Operations.
Improperly parked bikes can be removed by University By Dominic Binkley Reporter
Costs keep city council off campus
Future meeting aims to attract students By Alex Alusheff Managing Editor
Some students’ bicycles locked to structures other than bike racks on campus might have their locks broken and be taken— but not by bike thieves. University police and Campus Operations are working together to stop students from locking their bikes to objects such as trees, poles and benches. The issue came up earlier this month when a bike was locked to a handicap door button at the main entrance to the Wolfe Center, making it difficult to press the button, said Capt. Tim James of the University police. “[That’s] when folks finally said we’ve got to do something about this and get the police involved to see how we can remedy the situation,” James said. Both the student handbook and city law require bikes to be locked to only bike racks. Failure to do so can result in the removal of the bike at the owner’s expense. If an improperly-locked bike blocks people from walking or entering a building, then Campus Operations might cut the lock and give the bike to University police, who store it in
The lack of student attendance at city council meetings encouraged First Ward Council Member Daniel Gordon to bring meetings to them. “It’s about reaching more of an audience and be as inclusive as possible,” Gordon said, who initially pushed for the Oct. 7 meeting to be hosted in the Union. “If we have it on campus, students can see what we’re doing and speak up.” The idea spawned from Gordon’s community improvement meetings, hosted before council meetings, which focused on issues on the east side of town. The only thing blocking the city from scheduling a meeting or two on campus this year is the added cost. Government officials and visitors would have to pay to park at the Union lot to host the meeting on campus as well as have to pay to rent a room and audiovisual equipment, said John Fawcett, municipal
See BIKE | Page 2
See COUNCIL | Page 2
alyssa benes | THE BG NEWS
A packed row of bikes on the racks outside Falcon Heights on Tuesday.
Speaker stresses importance of social skills in college
PILING IN THE PIT
Challenges students put themselves in make them more complex, capable in future By William Channell Reporter
Roughly 75 students showed up to the Union Ballroom on Tuesday night for the University Center for Leadership’s “Leadership Safari,” where speaker Ryan Penneau discussed the importance of “showing up.” During the presentation, Penneau told stories from his life, connecting them to his lessons in being an effective leader. “Are you willing to sacrifice complacency for who you can become?” Penneau asked the audience. The recurring message of the speech was the discomfort and benefit of being ripped away from your
comfort zone. “You’re not just here to get a degree,” Penneau said. “Don’t be scared that something bad can happen if you take a risk.” Penneau said his message could boil down to either “show-up,” or “destroy your comfort zone.” ”It’s the challenges that make you more complex, more capable than you are right now.” Penneau said. Students in attendance had good things to say about Penneau. “I like that [Penneau] had a lot of energy. It was really helpful if you’re one of those people who are stuck in a shell,” said freshman Zoe Shuki. Freshman Alexa Busbuy enjoyed the presentation as well, and found Penneau to be engaging and funny.
BG SHUTS OUT PENGUINS The volleyball team won its match against Youngstown State in three straight sets, giving the team its second win of the year. It will be back on the road this weekend for the Louisville Invitational. | PAGE 4
“I thought he had a really good message ... he presented his information clearly, and pushed you to go with it,” said Busbuy. Assistant Dean of Students of the Center for Leadership Jacob Clemens said the school was very excited to get Penneau to speak. “We had great recommendations from a lot of colleagues,” said Clemens. “Many universities said he was phenomenal.” Clemens said that Penneau also assisted with the Center for Leadership’s staff training program for a day, which made a “huge difference.”
See SAFARI | Page 5
WRECKING BALL
Alyssa benes | THE BG NEWS
STUDENTS LINED the sidewalk outside Pita Pit for free pitas on Tuesday afternoon.
Columnist Olivia Smith talks about Miley Cyrus’ creative choices in music videos, asking people to stop picking on celebrities and start focusing on real matters. | PAGE 3
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PITA? “I love them all because pitas are awesome!” Sophia Li Junior, Nursing