THE BG NEWS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Tuesday
September 25, 2007 Volume 102, Issue 27 WWW.BGNEWS.COM
CAMPUS
UAO keeps campus alive with events From movies in the Union to homecoming events, the University Activities Organization keeps Falcon spirits high | Page 3
Coming to America Iranian President Mahoud Ahmadinejad visited Columbia University where he was questioned about his human rights record | Page 3
Solving the world’s problems
FORUM
The United Nations General Assembly meets this week, but are its most powerful members doing all they can? | Page 4
Master your coursework, don’t just consume it Associate professor Keith Bernhard gives advice on how to make the most of your education at the University | Page 4
SPORTS
BG men’s soccer team scores early in Sunday’s game Falcons dominate over Wright State with a final score 2-0, due to a strong performance from junior goalkeeper Paul Shoemaker | Page 9
FALCON PRIDE Comparing school spirit What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to support BG at a sporting event?
Jeremy Washington Junior
“Arrived. You know, that pretty much sums it up.”
“I drove my three cousins in the Meredith car, in the Alten Sophomore pouring rain, to see the Falcons play at Brown’s Stadium.”
Mindy Pressnell Junior
By Hannah Sparling Reporter
School spirit and pride are important on any college campus. So how much spirit does the University have, and how does it match up to other universities? Well, it depends who you talk to. Sophomore Veronica Croucher who attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University last year highlighted some of the major differences between the two schools. The Bowling Green spirit is much more prevalent and noticeable, Croucher said. More people wear University T-shirts or sweatshirts, or have Bowling Green pillows or blan-
kets than at Mount Vernon. “It is evident that students here have more pride,” Croucher said. Melissa Spirek, an associate professor of journalism at the University, attended graduate school at Purdue University, and also noticed differences in school spirit. “The difference between Purdue and Bowling Green is the broad geographic support and depth at Purdue,” Spirek said. “There is a deeper commitment [at Purdue] that I don’t see here in the same way.” Spirek attributed the differences in part to the geographic differences See PRIDE | Page 7
“Freshman year, I went to the Homecoming football game when I had mono and slept through the entire game.”
“I made fun of UT at a party.” Scott Andrews Junior
PEOPLE ON THE STREET WEATHER
DYLAN THOMPSON, Junior, Social Work
“Janis Joplin because she led the world in rock and roll.” | Page 4
TODAY P.M. Thunderstorms High: 87, Low: 65
TOMORROW Mostly Sunny Showers 86 Low: 63 High: 73, 52
By Kristen Vasas Reporter
At 10 years old, most boys are still wrapped up in video games or competitive school-yard sports. Politics and human issues are usually far removed from their world. Unless that 10-year-old boy is Johnnie L. Lewis, now the 20-yearold president of Undergraduate Student Government. Politics became Lewis’s gift and passion when he was only in the fifth grade. “When I was 10 years old, I entered an international speech contest,” he said. “That’s when I knew politics and law were going to be my life.” In that speech, Lewis focused on Johnnie L. his future plans and outlined his life Lewis from that moment, President of mentioning that USG he hoped to go to Harvard University on a full scholarship and be president of the United States by 2028. “Obviously, Harvard didn’t happen,” he joked. “But I’m happy with where I ended up. I’m glad to be here.” During his high school years, his interest in politics only grew stronger. While enrolled at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Lewis founded his own publication, CT Expressions, because the high school offered no extracurricular programs. “The experience I had with that led a lot up to now,” he said. “It taught me leadership skills, and that’s what makes me who I am.” Lewis also discovered the Michigan Youth and Government Program while still enrolled in high school. “Through this program, Johnnie was able to mimic national governors and presidents,” said his mother, Turesa, who chaperoned the program for three years as a mentor. “The students involved were able to write and pass bills just like at the national level.” Lewis was involved with the program all four years of high school. During his freshman year, he served as a secretary and during his sophomore year he was a senate reading clerk. In his junior year, he served as a workplace committee chair and as a senior, he ran for governor but lost to a girl from an opposing high school. Political programs and international speeches were not the only factors influencing Lewis on his journey. Throughout his life, his
See LEWIS | Page 2 JORDAN FLOWER | THE BG NEWS
Plan B brings diversity to downtown What world leader, dead or alive, would you like to speak at the University?
Politics remain a passion for USG president
Two University alums recently opened the new urban club on Main Street By Alexandria Clark Reporter
Two recent BGSU graduates have come up with a plan to give minorities and students another option. Rather than go out to a club and have their styles and tastes judged, they can try Plan B, literally. Plan B is a new club that opened in the downtown area across from Key Bank. Isaiah Lawson and William Bibb, who were both members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. before graduating last year, opened their club on Aug. 23. “How I came up with the name is awhile back, I’ve been part of a Greek organization for the last four years and every time we had a plan A, such as planning icebreakers for students, the school wouldn’t follow up or there would be regulations,” Lawson said. “And I would wish we had a plan B to back up what we couldn’t do.” Bibb agreed that the club was created for minorities to have a place to go to and not be
“We wanted to have Plan B for minorities to have a first option to go out to a club and not have to conform into others standards in order to get in.” William Bibb | Co-founder of Plan B judged. “We wanted to have Plan B for minorities to have a first option to go out to a club and not have to conform into others standards in order to get in,” Bibb said. Plan B is different from other clubs in on the Main Street strip because they only accept college ID’s and there is no dress code, which means students can come in with their baggy clothes and chains hanging from their necks. “We aren’t into stereotyping what looks like a gangster because gangsters don’t go to college, they don’t take the ACT or SAT, and they don’t have an e-mail address,” he said. “We don’t prejudge because college kids look different and Plan B
is here for students to come in and socialize.” Lawson said a lot of his principle ideas come from his professor who inspired him to change things that he didn’t like. “I remember my professor, Dr. Love, who is retired now, said “If you see anything unjust make it just,” he said. And even though Lawson has a degree in political science, not business, it correlates with his master plan of making things just in the Bowling Green community. “There isn’t a lot for minorities here, such as there is no reggae night but there is country night,” he said. “If I choose
See PLAN B | Page 2
Save money by reading the fine print on apartment leases By Samantha Johnstone Reporter
“This is a residential lease. Each tenant should read this lease carefully. Each tenant should not sign this lease until each tenant understands all of the agreements in this lease,” reads the agreement signed by students living in Cooper Beech Townhomes. But even after reading their leases in full, some students feel they are ending up with less than they bargained for. University senior Zach Stoddard said he lost nearly his entire security deposit because his landlord charged fees for what he believed were small damages. Along with the $13 Stoddard was given back, he and his roommates received an itemized list of the deductions that totaled about $775. Carol Bowers, the property manager of Copper Beech Townhomes, said most students read their leases in full and still don’t know the charges they face. “It’s not that they don’t know it’s going to come out of their security deposit, it just doesn’t tell the exact
Extra charges add up ■ Lost key - $5 ■ Late rent fee - $5 per day ■ Failure to pay rent in one
check - $10 per additional check ■ Lockout after office hours - $20 ■ Failure to return parking permit - $25 ■ Lock change - $100 ■ Early utility turnoff - $100 ■ Noise violation - $200 ■ Beer keg - $600 ■ Occupancy violation$800 ■ Fire alarm misuse - $1000 ■ Source: Copper Beech Townhomes
amount,” Bowers said. Because of a hole in one door, Stoddard said he figured they would get deducted for the damage. Instead, he was charged $450 for three doors. “I’m pretty sure they’re not charging you what it costs them,” he said.
See LEASES | Page 7
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