THE BG NEWS
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ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Monday, March 30, 2015
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 81
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Mini Marathon raises $6,721 Event focuses on getting high school students involved By Cameron Teague Robinson Editor-in-Chief
Ziggython may still be a few weeks away, but Sunday afternoon the Dance Marathon atmosphere was alive in the Union. Mini Marathon started at 11 a.m. and at noon the event was going full force. The music was f lowing throughout the second floor of the Union, kids were running up and down the inf latables, people were playing video games and even more people were dancing. The only break from the games came when the miracle families came up to the podium and told their stories. For Erin Cassin, who is the co-high school engagement chair, hearing those stories is what makes it all seem real. “If we didn’t have that it would be hard to wrap your mind around why you are there,” she said. “It would almost be ‘Why am I getting involved?’ Then when you hear what they have to say it just really puts things into perspective.” Renee Erskine, spoke on her daughter who was standing right next to her. Her daughter, Regan, is diagnosed with Carnitine deficiency, autoimmune deficiency and ulcerative colitis. All three have
Years College of Musical Arts celebrates centennial anniversary Saturday afternoon By William Channell Managing Editor
Walking through the halls of the College of Musical Arts Saturday afternoon, it was obvious something was being celebrated. The building was filled with music as it usually is, but this was different. A building of musical improvement and study was, for one afternoon, turned into a space of musical celebration as the CMA marked its centennial anniversary. A common thread throughout the events was the importance of the faculty to the longevity of the college. “The faculty, in turn, attract good students,” said Robert Thayer, who was dean of the college from 1983 to 1993. “The role of a good student is to challenge the faculty, so that the dynamic of the quality faculty and the talented and ambitious students is what makes for a good institution.” This ability for professors and instructors at the college to mold potential students is why men’s chorus member Dean Moore believes the CMA is still here. “Honestly, singing now and singing back when I was a freshman in college, it’s night and day,” Moore said. “That’s what each of the faculty members does for each of their students; they make you go that extra mile to be better.” Celebration throughout the day was laid back and easy. The doors to Bryan Recital Hall were open, the sound of a student and faculty jazz combo inviting people to come in and listen for a bit. In one area on the second floor, iPads were displayed where those passing by could make their own music. Videos of the Falcon Marching Band throughout its history were being shown in Kelly Hall. These events revealed a contrast between traditional and contemporary musical ideas. While within the past few decades, the college has become known as a hotspot for contemporary innovation, Moss said there’s a balance. “New music is a very important facet of what the college does and I think does very well,” he said. “There’s many prongs to all of this, and we also are very active and have a wonderful theory … history and composition programs.” The college’s origins go back to the establishment of the Department of Music in 1914. Ernest Hesser served as the department chair and the
See MUSIC | Page 2
See MARATHON | Page 8
New program designed to help students cope with stress
FOOD FOR THE SOUL
GRIT sponsored by the Counseling Center helps prevent overwhelmed students By Natasha Ivery Reporter
ERIC BURGASSER | THE BG NEWS
STUDENTS TAKE part in a Soul Food cook off held by the Black Student Union and NAACP Sunday night in Harshman.
FALCONS ROUT UT
A new program called GRIT sponsored by the Counseling Center can help prevent students from being overwhelmed with the amount of work they have. GRIT is defined as “persevering in face of adversity/struggle and being resilient,” said Anthony Rivera, clinical director and psychologist at the Counseling Center. The GRIT program is fairly new, with the very first GRIT week held last semester. Each GRIT week has a different theme and lasts for one week. “This semester our theme is the acronym GRIT,” said Rivera. “Monday was get roaring in ten, Tuesday was get real in ten, Wednesday was get resilient in ten, Thursday was get recharged in ten and Friday was get rolling in ten.” Each day of GRIT week had a different activity to target different areas of how “gritty” students are. “There was a new concept each day.” said Patricia Helyer, student assistant and advocacy specialist at
COMMON SENSE
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Go to: mybgsu.edu 1. SELECT > student center 2. SELECT > enroll 3. SELECT > add
See GRIT | Page 3
ARE YOU ATTENDING THE USG DEBATE? WHY OR WHY NOT. “Yes, I’d like to know more about what’s going, on campus.”
Columnist Geoff Howes talks about the short comings associated with turning to common sense to describe life. He explains that imagination is more valuable in this regard, as it requires more thought. | PAGE 4
The BG softball team swept rival Toledo in its home opener over the weekend. The Falcons’ quick starts helped propel them to their first two MAC wins of the season. | PAGE 5
the Counseling Center. “We think it’s important for students to tap into their strength and perseverance but relaying that outside of athletics and more into literal strength.” GRIT week was designed after the Counseling Center staff found new research that said peoples’ knowledge level is irrelevant to success. “We read about a college in Michigan that is changing their admissions requirements about SAT’s and GPA because that doesn’t determine how smart a student is,” Helyer said. “After that, we found more research that said your level of knowledge doesn’t lead to success; it’s about how hard you work. You can achieve success through hard work and determination.” Monday’s GRIT week activity began with roaring, which had students write down a negative thought, shred it and replace it with a positive one. Tuesday was real, with students taking a survey about taking off the ‘masks’ they show to the world daily and being chal-
Rachel Turnwald Sophomore, HDFS
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R E G I S T R AT I O N Start Dates
Questions? 419.372.4444 April 2
March 30 Graduate Students Non-Degree March 30 Graduate Students March 31 Seniors B
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Juniors
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Freshmen
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