THE BG NEWS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Wednesday February 28, 2007 Volume 101, Issue 111
IN FOCUS
OPINION
NOT NEWS
CAMPUS
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
The journey of an artist isn’t a short one Student artist brings “A Whole Other World” to Union to show work | Page 3
Are people losing touch with sarcasm? Letters to the editor, a favorite section to humor columnist | Page 5
SPORTS WEB EXCLUSIVE PEOPLE ON THE STREET
By Tannen Gliatta Reporter
The countless billboards, commercials and flyers tell us that the University is all about YOU. Student Voice is the latest project that aims to provide a dialog between students and faculty and staff. Student Voice is a monthly documentary newsstyle program that will be on the University’s Web site and made into DVDs.
Students are videotaped as they answer questions about various university topics. Documentary director, Matt Fredericks, hopes the episodes will showcase student concerns, ranging from class size to parking. “The goal is to improve dialog and understanding between faculty and administration and students,” Fredericks said. Telecommunications instructor and advisor Lori Liggett
agrees. “We as a faculty will get a better understanding of students’ thoughts and feelings, which could ultimately lead to better teaching practices,” she said. Student Voice aims to shorten the unavoidable generation gap that exists between students and faculty. “Students grew up on computers, MTV and MP3 players, so they have a different perspective on the world, technology
and their education than their professors,” Liggett said. Videotaping students discussing how they feel about local and world issues makes Student Voice a program that not only will be useful and effective now but in the future. “It is an oral history or a time capsule of students right now. Imagine if there were these types of interviews done dur-
See VOICE | Page 6
Trying new way to de-stress for midterms Satisfying the senses, personal wants can help reduce tension during test time or anytime | Page 4
In-depth look at computer security Wi-Fi, passwords, safeguarding your information are issues students need to know about | Page 7
Class of ‘07 showing court how its done
WEATHER
Giving students a voice
Women’s basketball team plays final game tonight | Page 9
SHAWNDA HESS | THE BG NEWS
TOP: Marcus Bedinger, DeAnna Patterson, Dan Bryson, LaRiche’ Jones, Joshua Jones and Courtney Cleveland from the College of Musical Arts presented a black history program for the students at Ridge Elementary School in Bowling Green. BOTTOM: Students at Ridge Elementary clap their hands along with the performance.
Celebrating Black history through song By Ella Fowler Reporter
Happenings of on- and offcampus rooms Learn about the overnight guest policy in dorms and what changes can be done, as well as the apartments offered through on-campus housing If you could give anyone an honorary BGSU degree, who would it be?
NICK VASKO Freshman, Pre-law
“Da hell wit college degrees.” | Page 4
TODAY Cloudy High: 40, Low: 31
TOMORROW Rain/ Thunder High: 46, Low: 30
The voices chime together in a melody “Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd, for the old man is a-waitin’ to carry you to freedom, follow the drinking gourd.” These are the words to the chorus of a song titled “The Drinking Gourd” and was sung to a group of elementary students by Courtney Cleveland, DeAnna Patterson, LaRiche’ Jones, Marcus Bedinger, Joshua Jones and Dean Bryson, students of the
College of Musical Arts. These six students have traveled to five schools, including Ridge Elementary where this performance took place yesterday, to help celebrate Black History Month. All six students participated and came up with a performance that was geared toward helping elementary kids understand Black History Month and the important figures who have impacted the African American community. “This wasn’t my idea, and
Vision, the University’s GLBTQ student organization, celebrated National Freedom to Marry Day yesterday. The event was supposed to occur on Feb. 12, the recognized day, but the snow days prevented the event from occurring. In 1997, Evan Wolfson, a civil rights attorney, founded National Freedom to Marry Day to spread awareness about the rights that same-sex partners lack. It has since developed into a week long observance and gained the attention of international media. Beijing held their first protest for marriage equality this year. “This day started as activism to push for the right to marry for GLBT individuals,” said Derrick Daggett, Vision vice president. Vision’s idea for their celebration came from graduate student Jonathan May, who participated in a similar event during his undergraduate years. Vision “married” consenting adults of any orientation at the Union tables. Upon the completion of their vows, the
By Molly McCabe Reporter
The Wood County Historical Museum plans to take a historical look at the fur and featherful fashions of Native Americans. Richly Dressed, Handsome in Appearance is part of a monthly curator series that looks at early Native Americans in the Maumee Valley and their styles of dress. Tonight’s program will allow guests to take a look at the different styles of dress of the Native Americans in Northwest Ohio during the 1790s. According to Randy Brown, museum curator, the extensive collection was donated by John and Diane Baer, life long collectors of historical pieces. A large portion of the pieces showcased in the exhibit are originals or very detailed remakes. Some of the most distinct pieces include blankets made by the natives, a top hat made of beaver and weapons including an original flint lock pistol. The exhibit includes pieces from pre-European influence as well as pieces from post-European invasion. “The exhibit tries to look at the positive aspects of the European and Indian relationship, like the trade that occurred between the two groups,” Brown said. Janet Rozick, historic programs specialist for the Toledo Metroparks, will be speaking about the Indians of Northwest Ohio. The speech, along with a slide show, will “engage guests with vast amounts of sources that document why Natives Americans dressed the way they did, how they made their clothing and what different accessories they used. Experience how style affected native lives through trade and interaction with Europeans and Americans,” according to the Wood County Historical Museum’s Web site. Other portions of the series include a presentation on “Life in the Great Black Swamp,” given by Brown, where he will discuss the hardships and ways of living
SHAWNDA HESS | THE BG NEWS
See SCHOOL | Page 2
Couples say ‘I do’ at Freedom to Marry Day By Erin Rechin Reporter
Native American fashion exhibit
FACTS OF MARRIAGE People in same-sex relationships not only can’t marry those they love, but they also can’t receive the same benefits as those in heterosexual relationships ■
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3.1 million people are living together in same-sex relationships in the United States 38 states have legislation banning marriage between same-sex couples More than 1,000 federal protections are afforded to married couples in the United States
Source: Washington State University, www.thecenter.wsu.edu
couples received marriage certificates and exchanged rings made of rainbow ribbon. The ceremony came complete with a bouquet and wedding photo and was sealed with a kiss. “I think everyone should have
See MARRIAGE | Page 6
See WOOD | Page 2
Sherwin and Slatkin receive Univ. honorary degrees for achievements By Laura Lee Caracciolo Reporter
Recipients of honorary degrees at the University must be prominent in a particular area and have a strong connection to BGSU. Martin J. Sherwin and Maestro Leonard Slatkin are the most recent individuals to be awarded an honorary degree at the University. Doug Smith, vice president of the University of Advancement, describes a holder of an honorary degree as “an individual that has distinguished themselves in their professional life and has a meaningful relationship with the University.” There is a committee of disciplined University faculty members who nominate highly recognized professionals to receive an honorary degree. Gary Hess, a distinguished research professor, is one of the many people who recommended Sherwin for the award. “He is an outstanding historian whose books on the development of the atomic
Martin J. Sherwin
Maestro Leonard Slatkin
Awarded honorary degree at the University
bomb and the physicist Robert Oppenheimer made major contributions to the understanding of American nuclear policy and the politics of the nuclear issue,” Hess said. Sherwin is a professor at Tufts University, a renowned author and the founding director of many programs at various colleges. “I am honored to become an alumni of BGSU and pleased because the degree will bring me back to BG, which I visited as the producer and host of the Global Classroom Project over a decade and a half ago,” Sherwin said. According to Slatkin’s Web site, he is an American conductor and music director of the National Symphony Orchestra. He has directed many other symphonies and
Awarded honorary degree at the University festivals and has performed opera in the United States and around the world. Slatkin has also been nominated for over 50 Grammy awards and has won five of them. Emily Freeman Brown was one of many who recommended Slatkin for an honorary degree. Slatkin was a mentor and advisor to Brown in 1989. Brown now directs the Orchestra Program on campus which thrived from Slatkin’s teachings, making him responsible for the growth of the program here. “Sherwin and Slatkin are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their respective field,” Smith said. “Those individuals being honored by BGSU brings distinction and prestige to the University as a whole.”
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