THE BG NEWS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Wednesday February 14, 2007 Volume 101, Issue 101 WWW.BGNEWS.COM
CAMPUS
Deciding between an A and an AUniversity officials ponder over changing letter grade system, though nothing is official | Page 3
Authors bring foreign views Asian-American authors asked to speak, offer advice to aspiring writers, all students | Page 3
NOT NEWS
Men’s secrets to the remote are truly revealing Women need to watch for signs of when their men steal the remote. Men need to watch, stop doing it | Page 6
Dealing with road rage today
OPINION
Learn to tell apart the different rage drivers, what to do about them | Page 6
Learning to cope with a fictional character’s death People need to calm down about which Harry Potter character dies | Page 4
WEATHER
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
WEB EXCLUSIVE
SPORTS
Seniors work at winning streak Ladies’ basketball take lead in longest home winning streak | Page 7
Love is in the air, only a click away Check out our Web site for Valentine’s stories about love, romance and whatever else people have to deal with on Feb. 14 How did you spend your snow day?
BLIZZARD Snow emergency declared
Closing was first in years
By Holly Abrams Editor-in-Chief
By Kristin McKissic Reporter
Wood County was under a Level 3 snow emergency as of press time late yesterday evening following an early morning Level 2 snow emergency that led the University to cancel all classes and nonessential operations. During a Level 3 emergency all roadways are closed to non-emergency traffic. Essential employees traveling to work may be excused but all other traffic is subject to arrest. In lieu of the weather, campus maintenance crews worked to fix a failed main water valve affecting the water supply in 16 buildings on the east side of campus. The break was part of a central water line on campus and caused low or no water pressure in the buildings, including several residence halls, according to Teri Sharp, University director of media relations. Most water supplies were fixed around noon, Sharp said, but a manual cleaning of all toilets in the buildings had to be completed before water flow was restored. “Because they were able to isolate the problem, it resulted in low water pressure in other areas,” Sharp said. For some affected residents, the water loss was manageable. “It’s a welcome change from a fire drill,” said Nate Demiter, senior, who lives in
While it is rare for the University to close because of the large resident population, there are plans in place for when hazardous weather calls for a close. The University Severe Weather Policy outlines conditions needed to close campus, valuing the safety of students, faculty and staff. “We have a severe weather policy, and it takes quite a bit. We would have to be in a dangerous area for the University to close,” said Linda Dobb, executive vice president. The University usually doesn’t close unless the Wood County Sheriff’s Department declares a Level 3 emergency. “We monitor road conditions closely, and also take account of cold, wind chill, snow accumulation and other factors. Road conditions are, however, the primary consideration,” said Mark Gromko, interim provost. According the policy, if hazardous weather occurs, classes are be canceled and nonessential areas on campus are closed. Services that remain open are essential to students, such as “preparation and serving of meals to students, provisions of lighting and heating to University buildings, law enforcement and public safety and snow removal from parking areas and sidewalk.” “The Provost’s Office is where the decision is made with severe weather,” said Lesa Shouse, secretary in the office
TOP: The snow drifts began pilling up with the wind all day, in front of campus buildings, some in front of cars trapping them in Lot 6. MIDDLE: Drifts began pilling up with the wind all day, some as high as 4 feet were found on campus. BOTTOM LEFT: The Union at lunchtime during a snowstorm may be one of the emptiest places on campus. PHOTOS BY JORDAN FLOWER | THE BG NEWS
BOTTOM RIGHT: Sledder Adam Masters is drug by driver Brain Hansen in front of in front of the Delta Chi fraternity house. PHOTO BY ASHLEY FOGLE | THE BG NEWS
See BLIZZARD | Page 2
See CANCEL | Page 2
University has plans for emergencies Luke Sommer Freshman, Computer Science
“Today I’m hanging out with friends, going to the Rec and hanging out with friends some more .” | Page 4
TODAY Snow Showers/ Wind High: 18, Low: 1
TOMORROW Scattered Flurries High: 19, Low: 7
By Megan Schmidt Senior Reporter
When water pipe break occurs on campus — such as the ones which cut off water supply to Kohl, Kreischer and Harshman residence halls during yesterday’s snow emergency — someone has to plan how the University will react. Bryan Benner, associate vice president for administration, is that man. Benner helps determine how other University officials will deal with crisis situations at BGSU. “If we lose water supply to half of the residence halls, someone has to figure out how to provide services for these
“Our No. 1 concern is always student safety.” Dave Heinlen | Safety and Health folks,” Benner said. One role of Benner’s job is to ensure the University’s emergency response plan, a document that outlines the way campus offices and departments should respond to a crisis or disaster situation, is up to date and effective. But severe winter weather isn’t the only urgent situation for which the University must prepare.
The emergency response plan has been under constant review for several years, sparked by national catastrophes such as hurricane Katrina and 9/11. “After Sept. 11, we developed a crisis plan that’s still in effect today which allows the president of the University to basically pick up the phone and say, ‘Let’s get a response going,’” Benner said. Most University departments have existing procedures for dealing with smaller crises — for example, an injury at the rec center can usually be handled by its staff, Benner said.
See SAFETY | Page 5
Snow, freezing rain hit Ohio hard, 9-year-old dies after tree limb fall By Rachel Hoag The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Snow and ice storms crippled most of Ohio on Tuesday, killing a 9-year-old girl struck by a falling tree limb, shutting a manufacturing plant, postponing court hearings and halting most operations at an Air Force base. A foot or more of snow fell in the northwest, and snow turned to freezing rain in central and southern counties. The storm, part of a system dumping snow across the Midwest and New England, produced the state’s heaviest accumulation of the winter, which was mild until a
few weeks ago. Natalie Fossier was walking her dog about 2:20 p.m. in her front yard in Clermont County’s Miami Township in southwest Ohio when the ice-coated evergreen branch — a foot wide at its base and at least 20 feet long — snapped and fell, taking several other branches with it, township Fire Chief James Whitworth said. A neighbor heard her scream and ran outside, but the girl had stopped breathing and had no pulse. Neighbors and firefighters administered CPR but she was declared dead at Bethesda North Hospital.
VISIT BGNEWS.COM: NEWS, SPORTS, UPDATES, MULTIMEDIA AND FORUMS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
See OHIO | Page 5