THE BG NEWS socialBINGE
FALCONS ROLL ALONG
The Falcons extend their win streak to six games by defeating the Ohio Bobcats 26-14. BG now controls its own destiny toward winning the MAC ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community championship. | PAGE 5
Friday, November 9, 2012
VOLUME 92, ISSUE 36
Undecided major common for freshmen
Interests, general education classes affect area of study By Alissa Widman Senior Reporter
Freshman Ben Zauski plans to make a living someday by using statistical analysis to forecast the future. So when analyzing this year’s incoming class, the statistics major isn’t surprised he is an outlier in the data set. “Very few people go into mathoriented fields,” Zauski said. “It’s not one of those majors you can switch into easily.” Zauski is one of three statistics majors out of nearly 4,000 freshmen who started attending the University this fall. He’s got a knack for numbers and hopes to apply it to actuarial science, assessing risk in insurance and finance industries. “It’s an area that’s projected to see a lot of job growth,” Zauski said. “It definitely takes a numbers person and since that’s what attracted me to it, I’m sticking with it. I’m very happy with it.” The University offers freshmen more than 200 majors to choose from when they send in their applications. But like statistics, dozens of majors claim only a few freshmen each fall, said Gary Swegan,
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Survey points to positive social effects from binge drinking in college environment By Alicia Wodarski Reporter
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ew research suggests that the effects of binge drinking are not totally negative. Carolyn Hsu, a professor of sociology at Colgate University in New York, recently presented a paper on a survey she and her colleagues conducted. The paper is in the process of being published. The survey was distributed at a college in the northeast region of the U.S. It asked students questions regarding their drinking habits and their social satisfaction. The survey found that students who binge drink are more likely to feel satisfied with their social life. However, binge drinking does not bring the same kind of social satisfaction for all students. Low status students [students of minority groups] gain particular social benefits from alcohol that high status students [students of dominant social groups] do not gain. “Low status students who engage in binge drinking seem to be able to access some of the benefits of social satisfaction that usually goes with high status,” according to an email from Hsu. “And conversely, high status students who decide not to binge drink seem to lose some of the benefits of social satisfaction they should expect from their high status.” While both high status and low status students report higher social satisfaction, low status students gain the extra benefit of being able to feel that they are a part of the high status group.
See DRINKING | Page 2
See MAJORS | Page 2
Student remembered for sense of humor, dedication to family, passion for teaching
RUNNIN’ FOR CHARITY
By Eric Lagatta Reporter
KATIE LOGSDON | THE BG NEWS
MEN’S CHORUS member Anthony Meluch dashes out of the hot tub to chase a rubber duck across the Union Oval. Every fall the Men’s Chorus hosts the Hot-Tub-a-Thon fundraiser where members of the Chorus take turns sitting in a hot tub located outdoors for 50 straight hours.
DRESS UP DOWNTOWN Some bars downtown don’t allow certain kinds of clothing like gym cloths and pajamas. Check out Pulse to learn what to wear and what not to wear this weekend. | PAGE 6
2013
SPRING
Junior Roderick Bartlett always saw himself as a role model and a leader, leading to his desire to be a middle school teacher. It began when he grew up in Detroit, Mich., watching his younger sister, and continued when he began working at a daycare before he came to the University. “He was very excited about that,” Lucretia Bartlett, his mother, said. “He’s always been loving kids.” Bartlett, 21, died in his Falcon Heights room Oct. 15 after suffering an asthma attack sometime during the weekend. A middle childhood education major, he was always someone kids could look up to. “As far as him being a teacher, I always saw that in him because he loved teaching kids and had a lot of patience with them,” Lucretia said. Senior Rachel Woods was Bartlett’s best friend. Woods said they spent time together almost every day. “He was literally like a brother to me,” she said.
Roderick Bartlett Died Oct. 15
They met during her freshman year through a mutual friend and began bonding, despite being opposites, Woods said. What did bond them, however, was their senses of humor. “We both crack a lot of jokes,” Woods said. “We’d spend every day pretty much hanging out, watching reality TV shows and making fun of them.” Woods said she will always remember Bartlett’s distinctive laugh. “It was big, it was loud, his teeth and everything, and he’d clap too,” she said. Woods said Bartlett was always there to listen to her when she needed an open ear. “He was kind of my advice person,” she said. “He was one of the few people I could open
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See BARTLETT | Page 2
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE ELECTION OUTCOME? “I was very pleased; Obama was a better candidate.” Tiara Smith Sophomore, Exercise Science
The election may be over, but politics never sleep. This week columnist Paul McKenzie explains how politics effects our lives everyday and encourages people to be more invested in politics and dedicate time to serve the country. | PAGE 4
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up to and get close to.” Bartlett was like that to everyone, she said. Lucretia said her son was always a people person. “He loved people, he loved helping people, he loved youth,” she said. “When he asked you how you were doing, he really wanted to know how you were doing.” Bartlett likely would have taught either social studies or English, Lucretia said. Roderick, who began developing more appreciation for writing once starting college, was always articulate, she said. “He always loved to correct people when they were speaking, you know, as a joke,” Lucretia said. “I’d just roll my eyes at him like: ‘whatever.’” Timothy Murnen, associate professor of English and Education in the School of Teaching and Learning, met Bartlett this semester when he became a student in Murnen’s teaching for middle grades class. “I was just getting to know him,”
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