THE BG NEWS Tuesday
Making a difference with gifts
February 27, 2007 Volume 101, Issue 110 WWW.BGNEWS.COM
CAMPUS
USG increases academic standards
Faculty and staff donate money to the University to contribute to student success
Legislation was passed last night boosting GPA requirements | Page 3
By Samantha Johnstone Reporter
For many students the University has become a new home. For faculty and staff, BGSU has become part of their family. Yesterday, at the Family Campaign Volunteer Breakfast, faculty and staff members celebrated this extended family. The Family Campaign, started in 1999, gives these faculty and staff members a passionate way to contribute to the University.
Warehouse in Toledo hosts art exhibit The gallery was created as a city-wide effort to boost the economy | Page 3
WORLD
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Assassination attempt on Iraqi vice president Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite leader, narrowly escaped a bomb blast in Baghdad | Page 5
Robin Veitch, fund-raising assistant, said it is a positive way for faculty and staff to get involved and participation has been growing every year. “It’s giving back to the family,” Veitch said. According to Michelle Banks, director of annual giving, the campaign has raised over 7.2 million dollars toward various buildings and scholarships. “It was created as a way for faculty, staff and retirees to give back to the University,” Banks said.
“We’ve been able to do a lot of great things with scholarships.” Linda Dobb, executive vice president, said the Family Campaign has been an incredible success story. The Wolf Center for the Collaborative Arts, the Union, The Sebo Athletic Center and additions to the library are just some projects the Family Campaign has given back to the student community. “People give in their jobs passionately,” Thomas Gorman, inter-
im assistant director to Academic Enhancement, said, “but they also really care enough about students to contribute to their success.” From donating time grading test papers to donating money for a new golf clubhouse, Dobb said supporting this campaign has meant supporting students in and out of the classroom. “Passion for the institution has to encompass many things,” she said. “Passion takes all different forms and shapes.” In fact, faculty, staff and retirees
A war between sexes
SPORTS
After a loss to MSU, the team rebounds with a win over Butler | Page 7
Baseball starts strong in Tennessee Winning two of three on the road, the team owes their victories to great hitting | Page 7 JORDAN FLOWER | THE BG NEWS
PILLOW FIGHT: Sydney Jones (left) and Matt Hakel pillow fight for gender supremacy during yesterday’s attempted flashmob. About 40 people showed up for the mob in which men and women divided by the Black Swamp Circle cheered on their matching gender. Hakel was declared the winner after Jones dropped her pillow.
Flashmob hits campus By Theresa Scott Reporter
STATE
Ohio Supreme Court to hear traffic violation A debate over a $100 speeding ticket is reaching the state’s highest court | Page 6
Parents fight to represent son in court
WEATHER
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
Courts debate whether parents of disabled children can act as their lawyers | Page 6
TODD FARREL, Freshman, Business
“Nope, I didn’t do much Sunday night.” | Page 4
TODAY Flurries High: 37, Low: 24
TOMORROW PM Rain/Snow Showers High: 41, Low: 32
See CAMPAIGN | Page 2
City to install flashing lights at crosswalk By Kelly Day Senior Reporter
Tennis ends non-conference play at home
Did you watch the Oscars on Sunday night?
are encouraged to contribute to the specific programs that they care the most about. These specific donations given to the University make the campaign slogan, “Give to your Passion,” literal. Many Family Campaign participants have gotten very creative with their contributions. Veitch said some departments produce money through dress-down Fridays and one director even hired a masseuse for those who
JORDAN FLOWER | THE BG NEWS
WATCHING AND WAITING: Members of the BGSU Flashmob gather in front of the Union to prepare for a one minute pillow fight, which was the group’s debut event. Over 700 students belong to the group, which was started on Facebook by Joe Coleman, a student at the University.
At exactly 5:47 p.m. yesterday, mayhem broke out in front of the Union. At least that was the case for 40 members of BGSU Flashmob and the 100 or so confused students passing by. Yesterday afternoon a group of students assembled in the Black Swamp Circle and participated in the University’s first organized flashmob event. The mob was led by the creator of the group Joe Coleman. Soon after afternoon classes let out Coleman directed sophomore Sydney Jones and Matt Hakel, a Bowling Green High School student, to step into the middle of the busy crossing and have a pillow fight while other members of the group cheered them on. After approximately one minute of fighting the group disbursed just as quickly as they assembled, leaving passing students amused and more than a little confused. Inspired by similar groups across the country sophomore Joe Coleman and his friends decided to take it upon themselves and form the first flashmob group on campus; using only Facebook and word of mouth the group rapidly grew from 10 to 725 members.
After hearing concerns from students about the dangers of crossing Mercer Road, the City will install new crossing signs by the Mileti Alumni center. The signs will have continuously flashing amber lights, which are run by solar power — part of the city’s efforts to become more environmentally friendly. The purpose of the signs is to make drivers more aware of the crossing and will be installed as soon as the weather conditions are right. For many students, like junior Jay Alexander, the new signs are a long-time coming. Alexander has been parking in the parking lots east of Mercer for the last three years. As an art major, the commuter lot near the ice arena is the closest to the art building. For Alexander, crossing the busy street to get to campus has been a constant frustration. “The cars don’t stop at all. They don’t slow down,” he said. “You’ve just got to put your head down and go, and just hope for the best.” Undergraduate Student Government SenatorTom Bethany decided to advocate change after “seeing other people run like deer across the road on a daily basis.” Bethany helped write legislation for a more effective crosswalk last year, and said he worked with City Council representative Gordy Heminger every week to make sure the issue didn’t disappear. Though there is a crosswalk at the location already, drivers often fail to notice it and pedestrians can wait a long time until it is safe to cross. The new signs are meant to attract more attention and slow cars down near the crosswalk.
See FLASHMOB | Page 1
See SAFETY | Page 2
‘Massage’ doctor works out students’ knots High prices cause Dining Services By Janeen Morgan Reporter
Even though many students are not aware of the “massage” doctor on campus, there is still time for muscles to be manipulated and maneuvered. Since January, Dr. Peter Bainbridge, an osteopathic doctor, has been working in the Student Health Center cracking every nook and cranny out of students’ backs. Spinal manipulation is a form of manual therapy, which involves movement of a joint past its usual end range of motion, according to an article by Norman Broadhurst, associate professor at University of South Australia. The therapy known as spinal manipulation is considered as not a specific adjustment, as opposed to others as very specific adjustment. Bainbridge works in the morning with these therapy appointments, and in the afternoons, he sees regular patients.
Spinal manipulation deals with the muscles and joints. Some of the common places where people have issues are the neck, shoulder blades and even the back, Bainbridge said. Bainbridge clarified the difference between a M.D. physician and osteopathic physician. “The difference is that an osteopathic physician has a background in muscles whereas a M.D. physician doesn’t,” Bainbridge said. Since the back is a common area of pain for people, the suggestions he gives could help even at home. “Whenever people have any problems, I like to send them home with some exercises to reinforce the exam I did and to make them better,” Bainbridge said. People usually think of older people when they think of back problems, but nowadays younger people are having them as well, Bainbridge said. “People have issues with their backs, but now even younger people are starting to have problems,
Peter Bainbridge Osteopathic doctor at the Health Center so you never know,” he said. Three places important for people to work on if they should have back problems are: Cervical (starting at the base of skull to top of spine), Dorsal (middle of the spine) and the Sacra (waist part of pelvis). Bainbridge will be on campus through the rest of the semester. If an appointment is needed to be made, students can call the Student Health Center and make a regular appointment. These appointments last about half an hour. There is no additional cost to see Bainbridge. Practicing medicine for over 15 years, Bainbridge also operates his own private family practice in
See THERAPY | Page 2
to switch sushi companies By Kristen Zenz Reporter
Quality over quantity. University Dining Services chose just the opposite when they declined to renew their sushi contract with local restaurant, Uraku, and signed with national company, Okami. On Feb. 1, sushi from Uraku located at 1616 E. Wooster St. was replaced with sushi from Okami, a common sushi vendor for colleges across the country. According to Amy Hoops, purchasing coordinator, Uraku raised their prices very high making it illogical to continue business. Instead Dining Services chose Okami, home to “The Robot” a high-speed sushi processing machine designed specifically for Okami to produce 20,000 packs a day. “I would like to continue to provide the dining services with sushi but they did not accept my price changes,” Day Jung, owner
of Uraku, said. Prices were raised anywhere from 7 cents to 14 cents per unit completely as a business decision in order to cover increases in labor due to new minimum wage laws and material costs, Jung said. Jung also attributed the raise in price to compensate for the lack of volume the University was ordering. “The University would buy 300 rolls per day two to three years ago but recently it was only 150 or so,” said Jung. Opposed to Okami whose sushi comes from Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston, Uraku sushi was picked up at 8:30 a.m. by the University. Hoops is aware “everyone prefers a fresh product, but cannot get a fresh product at this time.” “We are researching for a fresh product hopefully in the fall,” she said.
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See SUSHI | Page 2