THE BG NEWS
COULDN’T FIND ONE OF THESE THIS WEEKEND? Find out what some of your classmates were doing instead of studying this weekend. Read the latest citations in the BLOTTER on Page 2.
ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Monday, December 10, 2012
VOLUME 92, ISSUE 48
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Board approves police contract By Danae King Campus Editor
STEVEN ECHARD | THE BG NEWS
S.O.S.
KELSEY KLEIN, a Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies major helps Freshman Breann McDede with her writing skills at the Learning Commions on Sunday afternoon.
sending out an
Learning Commons hosts ‘Study On Sunday’ event to help students prepare for exams By Eric Lagatta Reporter
W
ith finals starting today, Sunday students could do more than study at the University Library — they also relieved some pre-exam stress. The Learning Commons and the Jerome Library hosted an event called Study On Sunday that, in addition to a study and tutor space, provided students with popcorn, pizza, coffee, cookies and even therapy dogs throughout the day. The purpose of the event, which ran from noon to 10 p.m., was not only to provide students with extended studying hours, but also to help them relieve the stress that comes with studying, said Mark Nelson, the director of the Learning Commons. Two dogs even made an appearance at 3 p.m. for students to interact with. “They’re just kind of big lovable dogs
FACULTY BRIEF
Faculty members protest at Board of Trustees meeting
The faculty association hosted a different kind of festival at 12:30 p.m. Friday. The carnival featured morale speakers and information about the contract between the association and the University. An audience of more than 60 members learned about the contract’s progress from the point of view of the association. At the Board of Trustees meeting following the festival, members of the association chose to hold up support signs, Association President David Jackson said. “We don’t have to agree with him,” Jackson said. “We must behave that way this time only.” At the meeting, President Mary Ellen Mazey said she is pleased with how the negotiations have gone. “If you look at the timing, we are probably well within the
that help calm people down,” Nelson said. “Our thought bringing them in here was, ‘It would be a good distraction for students to come pet them.’” Another one of the events, called “Ride the Falcon,” allowed students to photoshop a picture of themselves into a picture of the falcon at the Stroh Center, appearing as if they were riding it. All the food and drinks were free for the students and Vito’s Pizza even donated 20 pizzas to the event. Nelson said the staff has also met the challenge of longer hours. “They’ve really embraced it as well,” he said. John Maddrey, a graduate assistant who tutors students in math at the Learning Commons, said he sees many first time students come at the end of the semester for some extra help. “So far today, what we’ve experienced is
time from of what it takes other universities,” Mazey said. Junior Cat Tomanski has been supporting the association since it unionized and agreed with its demonstration at the board meeting. “It’s a good idea the faculty association took his advice,” Tomanski said. “Being there with the signs was enough of a protest.” The association will be turning in its first set of four factfinding briefs the week of Dec. 17 to a mediator after entering into arbitration, or fact-finding, with the administration on Nov. 15, said Candace Archer, lead faculty negotiator. The mediator, Rob Stein, will then read briefs from both the administration and the faculty before a hearing where both sides will report, Archer said. On the administration side, Stein is also working with Pat Pauken, lead negotiator for the University. “We’re developing a really good relationship with him,” Pauken said. “He plays a really good role and has a good relationship between both parties.” Having Stein there is positive for both sides, Pauken said. “I feel better about it,” Pauken said. “I’m happy where things are and we are moving along.”
FALCONS SPLIT IN ALASKA Falcon Goalkeeper Andrew Hammond led the hockey team during its weekend trip to Alaska. The Falcons won their first game 3-2 before falling to Alaska Fairbanks in a second game shootout. | PAGE 4
students who need help correcting a quiz or help correcting a test,” Maddrey said. “People normally expect us to be extra help.” The Learning Commons is an ideal place for studying because of its proximity to any resource a student might need, such as a textbook, computer or just a guiding hand, Maddrey said. “So many people just don’t even know where to start,” he said. “Having these kind of events really gets you on the right track to studying.” Joshua Vossler, coordinator of Library Instruction, emphasized the important role the library plays in facilitating students’ studying efforts. “Especially for first year students who can feel isolated while away from home ... it’s good to do what we can to foster a sense of community,” he said, “to remind people that there’s some light in the world.”
The police union and the University finalized contract negotiations Friday at the University’s Board of Trustees meeting. The board went into executive session and came back only a few minutes later with the announcement. The two parties negotiated using interest-based bargaining, which means they discussed each party’s interests instead of their positions, said Rebecca Ferguson, chief human resources officer. “The parties mutually work Monica together to achieve what is necesMoll sary,” Ferguson said. “I am really Director of really proud of these police offiPublic Safety cers and this chief of police that got this done.” This is the second time the two parties have used interest-based bargaining; they also used it a year ago to negotiate a short-term contract, said Monica Moll, director of Public Safety. “With interest-based bargaining, it takes a lot longer,” Moll said. “It’s the opposite of positionbased bargaining.” The bargaining started out by each side making a list of issues, many of which were the same, Moll said. The parties then ranked the issues and tackled the easiest first, in order to build momentum, Moll said. Each party then stated why it was interested in the issue and discussed the options for fixing the problems. The sides ultimately ended up with the same goals, Moll said. The contract was negotiated for the period of July 1, 2012 to July 30, 2015. The union’s previous contract had expired before this one was completed, Moll said. The union will get a raise, but it’s not an across the board raise, Moll said. “[We’re] trying to bring officers up to the same rate,” she said. Dispatchers will be on a three year pay plan and officers will be on a five year pay plan, Moll said. “[The pay] is tied to training and competency,” Moll said. “[They] must achieve benchmarks to get the next pay increase.” For officers, there will be a seven percent average pay increase, Moll said. Detective Sean Beavers was present when the board made the decision and he said he’s absolutely happy with it. Beavers is also the vice president of the union and was on the bargaining team. In addition to the pay increase, the negotiations also helped the union to establish a more efficient
See BOARD | Page 2
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER | PART 1 OF 3
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN | EXAMS
Check your schedule
Get what you need
Grab a morning pick-me-up
Not sure when your first exam is this week? Be sure to look it up early to make sure you can get there on time and get the seat you want. The first exam period is today at 8:30 a.m. Make sure you know when the rest of your exams are this week by checking out the schedule at BGNEWS.COM.
Some exams require Blue Books, Scantron forms and Number 2 pencils. If you’re missing something, make a quick stop at SBX Bookstore, or Beat The Bookstore on Wooster Street or stop into the University Bookstore in the Union or grab one from the vending maching in the University Library.
You might not have enough time to cram for your first final and eat breakfast but make sure you digest something before sitting down at your desk. Stop by Dunkin’ Donuts at The Oaks anytime after 6 a.m. or Starbucks in the Union anytime after 7:30 a.m.
SUBSTANCE OVER CELEBRITIES
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BREAK FROM STUDYING?
Forum Editor Stephan Reed points out the flaws in mindless, everyday conversation and suggests we talk about topics that truly matter every once in a while. | PAGE 3
“That’s a hard question because I don’t study.” Rick Sexton Sophomore, Philosophy
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