THE BG NEWS
GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL The 90’s game Pokemon is making a comeback with students. Check out the Pulse to read how these fans are still catching them all. | PAGE 3
ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
VOLUME 92, ISSUE 47
Outside grants key for research Michael Ogawa
By Eric Lagatta Reporter
Vice President, Research and Economic Development
When Ron Scherer, professor in the communication sciences and disorders department, is not teaching, he is likely conducting research. Scherer’s current research involves using computers to simulate human speech. “If you can match how a human produces sounds, you can help predict outcomes of behavioral intervention when you have to change how a person speaks,” he said. His findings could be applied to any field where someone may want to understand how the voice works. Scherer could not do this research, however, without external funding from the National Institute of Health. Some professors on campus, like Scherer, require external funding — meaning funding from organizations outside the University, which professors apply for through grants — for their research. This is why University President Mary Ellen Mazey, along with a cabinet of administrators, decided to set the goal of almost doubling external funding for research to $30 million every year at a strategic planning session this past summer. Mazey emphasized the intrinsic quality of research at a university as the main reason for this goal. “Certainly universities are looked on today as not only a place to educate students, but a place to discover knowledge,” Mazey said. Research defines a university
because it goes beyond reading a textbook into actually experiencing the subject firsthand, which leads to a deeper understanding, said Michael Ogawa, vice president for research and economic development. Ogawa and his office are in charge of much of the coordination and planning to reach the $30 million goal. “The two missions of a university are to teach students and also to create knowledge … what we call research,” Ogawa said. “When professors are engaged in the creation of knowledge, it makes them better teachers.” Scherer said his research has indeed influenced the way he teaches his classes. The courses he teaches always include aspects of his past and present research, he said. “My research always is on my mind when I am teaching my courses,” he said. Scherer emphasized the importance of research to any university in advancing knowledge. “It’s important for the general vitality of the research world,” he said. “A university is a place where research ideas flourish.”
EXAM TIPS
With this week being the last week of classes for the semester, The BG News is offering up a daily exam tip for students to get prepared before their first big final. This issue’s tip is to take advantage of office hours. With the last week of classes and the semes-
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a fix with a kick Some students struggle with caffeine addiction, attempt to reduce daily intake By Geoff Burns Reporter
If freshman Kelly Kerstetter doesn’t have her daily two cups of coffee, she starts to get headaches. “I tried to reduce my caffeine intake over Thanksgiving break and I feel like the first couple of days it was really difficult and I started getting headaches,” Kerstetter said. Caffeine acts as a stimulant drug and can make a person more alert and energized, but consumed in heavy amounts over time can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, drowsiness, flu-like symptoms, irritability and depression, Faith Yingling, director of wellness said. “It’s so easy to forget that caffeine is a drug,” Yingling said. “Some people are caffeine sensitive and some people don’t have a problem with it.” Yingling said college students typically consume most of their caffeine from coffee, energy drinks and from soda — and as a result, sleep deprivation occurs. “If people have caffeine within six hours of going to sleep, it can affect them,” Yingling said. “It increases your awareness and it makes you energized. It’s the most commonly used mood-altering drug in the world.” Kerstetter said she feels dependent on coffee and has a routine of drinks she consumes in a day, such as drinking coffee after her morning classes, a soda with dinner and a second coffee later in the day.
See CAFFEINE | Page 10
SYMPTOMS OF CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION When consumed in heavy amounts over time, caffeine can cause the following symptoms:
See RESEARCH | Page 10
#3 Take advantage of everything being offered
Friday, December 7, 2012
— headache — fatigue — drowsiness — flu-like symptoms — irritability — depression
ter ending, make sure you take advantage of everything being offered to you. The Learning Commons on the first floor of the Jerome Library offers students the chance to work with other students and tutors. This Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Learning Commons is offering an SOS event, aka “Study on Sunday.” The Learning Commons will offer students the chance to get math and statistics help, tutoring based on different subjects, writing help and ways to unwind. Take advantage of this opportunity and other ones to make sure you’re studying the right ways and releasing the stress that comes with every semester’s end.
Paranormal activity served up above SamB’s Some employees believe third floor of restaurant is haunted By Tara Keller Pulse Editor
KATIE LOGSDON | THE BG NEWS
STUDENTS CIERRA HENDERSON and CJ Walton light the candle for Ujamaa, which means cooperative economics in the seven principles of Kwanzaa, at the 16th Annual Kwanzaa dinner Thursday. The dinner was hosted by the Black Student Union.
CAMPUS BRIEF
Students celebrate Kwanzaa
Students and faculty gathered to celebrate Kwanzaa at the 16th Annual Kwanzaa Dinner, hosted by the Black Student Union in the Union Ballroom Thursday night. The event included dinner and performances, such as the singing of the Black
ALASKA BOUND
National Anthem, dances, a poem, the Greek Unity Step, a song, the seven Principles of Kwanzaa, the lighting of the candles and the calling out of ancestors. Senior Tiffany Smith, president of the Black Student Union, coordinated and planned the event. “We had the dinner to celebrate the only recognized holiday that recognizes African American/African culture,” Smith said. “It has become a tradition for us to have it every year.” The dinner wasn’t the only traditional
The Falcons will make their farthest trip of the season as they travel across the country to Fairbanks, AK. The Nanooks are 6th in the CCHA and the Falcons are 11th. | PAGE 6
part of the evening. “The Greek Unity Step is where different Greek organizations come together to step together, which they only do that here at Kwanzaa,” Smith said. Before coming to the University, Smith had never celebrated the holiday. “I didn’t know about Kwanzaa until I started college,” she said. “My family still celebrates Thanksgiving and Christmas, but with my family when I become an adult I would like to celebrate it with my family.”
Sandy Daum has worked at SamB’s Restaurant for more than 20 years and when she works late nights alone, she sometimes catches herself looking over her shoulder. The third floor of the restaurant is rumored to be haunted and Daum believes the rumors. “It’s rumored there was a murder on the third floor,” Daum, a manager at SamB’s, said. “I’ve heard people who’ve said they’ve seen ghosts and I believe them.” The alleged paranormal activity has even caused past employees to quit. One employee was vacuuming late one night, when he looked up and saw the ghost of an old woman. “He ran out and didn’t come back,” she said. “He always felt like he was being watched.” The sensation of being watched is a common occurrence at the restaurant, Daum said.
ADVENTURES IN ENGLAND
Guest columnist Hannah Bealer recalls her experiences while studying abroad in Europe and explains how the trip and the semester has changed her for life, for better or for worse. | PAGE 4
Although Daum has never seen a ghost herself, she did have an experience she thinks may have been paranormal. One night, Daum was standing in the kitchen alone and all of a sudden, all the pans fell down. “I still don’t know what it was, but I’d love to debunk it myself,” she said. Daum wasn’t the only person interested in debunking the SamB’s haunting. The paranormal research team, Toledo Haunted Occurrences Research, went to the restaurant in 2009 to investigate the claims. Director Bryan Sayre said he and his team set up cameras and sound equipment in the restaurant once it got dark. “After a half-hour, we could hear something moving,” Sayre said. “We heard plain as day something being drug across the floor.” The team’s sound equipment also
See SAMB’S | Page 2
IF YOU WERE A GHOST, WHERE IN BOWLING GREEN WOULD YOU HAUNT? “The bathrooms of Uptown. It’d be hilarious to scare drunk people.” Kaneesha Douglas Senior, Criminal Justice