The BG News 02-08-2012

THE BG NEWS ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community

SPIRITED AWAY

In Focus delves into spiritual discussion and takes a closer look at belief systems on PAGE 4.

VOLUME 91, EDITION 64

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 & THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

Reduce. Reuse. ReStore.

ReStore in Kreischer offers gently used, new items for little or no cost

WWW.BGNEWS.COM

Students create new software

Hand-held application will assist people with disabilities

By Molly McNamara Reporter

For Joseph Chao and his class of 25 students, a semester of work resulted in a hand-held application that impacted the lives of many.

Each semester, Chao, an associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Computer Science, teaches a software development course for both undergraduate and graduate students. In the class, he believes hands-on and real world collaboration with a client is key.

Chao is director of Agile Software Development, a program that is part of the Department of Computer Science. It provides software developing services to individuals and organizations in the community.

“People come to me with an idea of a software they want created but can’t do it on their own,” Chao said.

“I then have them meet with my students to tell them what they want and my students begin work on the software for this client throughout the semester.”

In fall 2010, Chao’s students created an app to help people with cognitive disabilities accomplish everyday tasks. The app is used on hand-held devices to help them view video and

By Alex Alusheff Social Media Editor

Going “green” might not always be considered cheap, but neither is the life of a college student.

One store on campus, however, combines both cost efficiency and green initiatives.

See GREEN | Page 3

See APP | Page 2

Student creates music video University artwork’s origin disputed to raise awareness of abuse

By Danae King Pulse Editor

Video will air on Valentine’s Day at Vimeo.com

By Tasneem Almuhanna Reporter

Debbie Alderman

Since Debbie Alderman’s freshman year at the University, she was the victim of an emotional and psychologically abusive relationship.

Now a junior, Alderman has turned her life around and created a music video about her experience to raise awareness about domestic abuse. The video will air on Vimeo. com on Valentine’s Day. “Valentine’s Day last year was the climax of all the bad stuff that had happened,” Alderman said. “My life got flipped upside down ... and I left him that day.”

Following her experience, Alderman began to write a song

Junior

about it called “The Last Time,” but was told by numerous people that it wasn’t going to go anywhere.

However, Alderman, a telecommunications major, decided to use this as motivation and an opportunity to learn more about video production. She headed to MOH Studios, where she recorded the song, and WBGU-PBS, where she

See VIDEO | Page 2

BGNEWS.COM

CAMPUS

Changes could be coming to general education classes. Visit our website to read how Faculty Senate feels about it.

University students searched for potential internships at the Sport Management Alliance Fair this past Tuesday. | PAGE 3

Faculty Senate recap

Ancient mosaic tiles owned by the University and displayed in the Wolfe Center for the Arts may have been excavated illegally from their original ancient Turkey site.

Stephanie Langin-Hooper, assistant professor of art history at the University, began to research the tiles in order to host a symposium celebrating the mosaics, she said at a media briefing Tuesday in the Wolfe Center.

During her research, which began Jan. 11, Langin-Hooper became concerned when there wasn’t as much detail on the tiles in the University archives

Annual job fair returns

See MOSAIC | Page 3

SPORTS

Slagle scores

Senior Falcon Jessica Slagle was recently named MAC Player of the Week. | PAGE 7

DANAE KING | THE BG NEWS

MOSAIC TILES displayed in the Wolfe Center for the Arts may have been excevated from the ancient city of Zeugma, according to research from an assistant professor at the University. The tiles were originally believed to have come from Antioch and may have been illegally obtained before the University purchased them.

FORUM

Make time for democracy

Columnist Matthew Thacker explains the importance of exercising the right to vote and participate in democracy, even with a busy schedule. | PAGE 4

What is the most random item you have found in a thrift store?

A rubber chicken and stripper heels.

EMILY MIELKE Junior, Special Education

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

2 Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

Remember the Night Relive Fiday Nights with pictures on facebook at

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BLOTTER FRI., FEB. 3 4:07 A.M.

An alcohol violation was reported in Lot G. 11:39 A.M.

A theft was reported in McDonald North.

12:25 P.M.

Criminal damage was reported in Lot K.

SAT., FEB. 4 1:36 A.M.

A drug violation was report-

VIDEO From Page 1 shot the music video.

The music video is about several girls who appear to be victims of abusive relationships, she said. Throughout the video, they end up ripping up signs symbolic of the relationship.

Then they write new signs that say “I am smart,” “I am beautiful” and “I am good enough,” Alderman said.

“The music video isn’t about bashing my abuser or ruining his reputation; it’s just to make sure that people can learn from my experience,” Alderman said.

“It’s not about hurting, it’s about healing, recovery and awareness.”

Alderman hopes to increase awareness of abusive relationships through the video and help those in such relationships realize it is a problem, she said.

Leaving a psychologically or emotionally abusive relationship is hard for both men and women because it can be easy to make excuses and blame other factors, Alderman said.

“My abuser told me that I couldn’t sing or record in a studio because that was his thing,” Alderman said.

“He was the cool person ... but I’m in video production and I’m always trying to do new things ... He said my goals were unrealistic and I should change my major.”

5:29 P.M.

ed in Harshman Dunbar.

2:32 A.M.

An assault was reported in Lot 11.

3:24 A.M.

An ambulance assistance was reported at McDonald North.

3:37 A.M.

A suspicious person was reported at the Technology Building.

An ambulance assistance was reported at Harshman Anderson.

10:07 P.M.

Biochemical hazards were reported at Kohl Hall.

being stopped by Walmart staff. Drown was lodged at the Wood County Justice Center.

SUN., FEB. 5

10:09 P.M.

9:53 P.M.

1:43 A.M.

An ambulance assistance was reported at the Jerome Library.

An alcohol violation was reported at Falcon Heights.

An ambulance assistance was reported at the Stroh Center.

In addition, Alderman worked at a modeling center and would have to regularly dress up, but her abuser would accuse her of dressing up in order to get hit on.

However, his words would soon change, and he would tell her how much he loved her and how he believed she was the one for him, she said.

“My abuser told me that because I wouldn’t give him my passwords to things such as Facebook meant that I didn’t love him ... and that I had something to hide,” Alderman said. “He told me if I left him he would do such and such a thing.”

Victims of abuse must seek help because sticking around won’t make things better, and the freedom that’s gained from leaving “feels so good,” she said.

Alderman encourages victims to head to the University’s Counseling Center, as well as the Women’s Center and the Organization for Women’s Issues. She did, and both were really helpful, she said.

“In my role as a [resident adviser], I’ve had a couple of situations where abusive relationships have come up,” Alderman said.

Junior Carley Toetfer, vice president of the Organization for Women’s Issues, said most relationships usually don’t start as an abusive one. As the relationship progresses, however, the abuser might isolate the victim

Criminal damage was reported at Kreischer Batchelder.

MON., FEB. 6 1:32 P.M.

2:37 A.M.

2:13 P.M.

9:18 P.M.

A drug suspicion was reported at Harshman Bromfield.

from her family and try to lower her self-esteem.

“He makes her feel like she doesn’t deserve more,” Toetfer said. “The abuser often abuses because he grew up in such an environment.”

Senior Patti Boring is involved with the Cocoon Shelter and Silent Witness Project; both organizations advocate ending domestic abuse.

There are numerous reasons why a victim in an abusive relationship often stays, including financial and security reasons, Boring said.

“In this type of relationship, there is the honeymoon phase, where everything is wonderful, but after a while things change ... the abuse starts,” she said.

Several people helped create Alderman’s abuse awareness music video, including BG ONTV, David Odenweller (the guitarist), models from John Casablanca Modeling Center, University students and two professors from the Department of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Alderman said.

“It’s nice to see the hearts and cupids [on Valentine’s Day] and everybody loving each other, but then there are people who don’t have that in their relationships and have those empty and broken relationships, and it’s important to be mindful of that,” she said.

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Mandy L. Drown, 30, of Bucyrus, Ohio, was arrested for felony theft/shoplifting from p. Drown allegedly selected items totaling $1,343.47 and attempted to leave the store with a full cart of merchandise before

APP From Page 1 picture models as an aid.

The app is called AgileAssyst, though Chao and others worked this winter to create a simplified version, called U-Sync, available on any smartphone.

The idea came from Robert Williamson, at the time an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development. It stemmed from Williamson’s personal experiences with his son.

During his first year at the University, Williamson’s son was hit by a car and life-flighted to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Williamson said.

He was in a coma for three weeks and suffered traumatic brain injury.

Williamson said he spent much of that time researching cognitive prosthetics, a system that prompts what a person does, as well as how and when to do it. Even though Williamson was unsure of what the future held for his son’s life or even his son’s survival, he wanted to be prepared.

What he discovered is a hand-held device would work best, because it could remind users with cognitive disabilities what to do at specific times.

With the idea brewing, Williamson looked for places

Meaghan Alexis Purtee, 19, of Bowling Green, was arrested for drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia. Graig Lamont Gibson, 21, of Bowling Green, was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were arrested within the 1000 block of Fairview Ave.

to create the app he knew his son needed. He struggled for a while until he looked to his fellow faculty members and found Chao.

“I sent him an email out of the blue and asked if he knew how I could create the system,” Williamson said. “I believe in fate and Joe was perfect. He almost immediately wrote me back asking to chat; we did, and the rest is history.”

Williamson’s idea for a disability app was a perfect opportunity for Chao’s software development class to work with a client and create something beneficial, Chao said. Its development would require both time and effort, but would provide students with realworld experience in software development.

Senior Tyler Richey is one student who worked on the app.

“I was very excited to participate in this project,” said Richey, a computer science major. “It was my first opportunity to contribute to a project that wasn’t going to be thrown away at the end of the semester.”

Chao divided the students into groups, each working on a different aspect of AgileAssyst. Williamson met with the groups throughout the semester to check on the app’s progress, like a real-world client.

Though the project became sort of like a part-

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TUES., FEB. 7 12:42 A.M.

Oscar F. Stroede IV, 23, of Bowling Green, was cited for operating a vehicle impaired within the 400 block of E. Wooster St. ONLINE: Go to bgnews.com for the complete blotter list.

CORRECTION POLICY We want to correct all factual errors. If you think an error has been made, call The BG News at 419-372-6966.

time job, often requiring up to 15 to 25 hours of weekly work outside the classroom, the motivation from both Chao and Williamson kept each group focused, Richey said.

The completed app allows someone to set up a daily schedule for a person with a cognitive disability and sync it with a smartphone, Chao said. When tasks should be completed, such as eating breakfast, a reminder would go off with either a text command, video or picture representation of the task.

AgileAssyst is available for purchase through the Android marketplace, but the patent is pending for the app to be available elsewhere, Chao said.

Though students may be done working on it, the software will continue to grow, Williamson said.

He is hoping to distribute the system to anyone who needs it at a reasonable cost and to be able to fund further development.

“Students who worked on this app have changed the lives of the people who use it and the lives of the family members that support them,” Williamson said.

“I am more grateful than words can say when I use this app with my son; I see the faces of the CS students who worked on it in my mind and only wish I could have thanked them more.”

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Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

3

Sports group organizes internship fair Sports Management Alliance helps students meet potential employers, including Cleveland Indians, Cavaliers, Toledo Mud Hens

By Tori Simmons Reporter

Several students crowded the Union on Tuesday in hopes of landing a job with their dream sports team.

The Sports Management Alliance organization hosted its second annual Sports Management Alliance Fair on Tuesday in the Union.

More than 16 professional sports teams and organizations attended for students to meet.

The fair offered students the ability to meet potential employers and obtain interviews. This provided them with opportunities to search for potential internships and practicum requirements from teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toledo Mud Hens, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland State University’s Department of Athletics.

Adam Kuffner, Sports

Management Alliance president, said he hopes the annual fair will help students network and fulfill the major requirement to have internship and practicum experience.

The Sports Management Alliance hosts the job fair to allow students to use leadership skills to network with leaders in the sports management field. It was directed by the students in the organization.

The fair consisted of two parts; the first session allowed students to meet with the sports organizations and the second session was a follow-up interview.

Junior Kelsey Kolhman, a sports management major, said the interview portion of the fair went well, due to the impressions students were able to make on the organizations and how the organizations

interacted with them.

Sport management majors are competing to find work experience in an extremely competitive market, said Bonnie Tiell, a representative from Tiffin University’s Department of Athletics.

“If you are looking for big name companies, your path to getting a job is narrow,” she said.

More athletes and sports fans are looking into the sports management career field as a way to incorporate their interest and a paying job, Tiell said. The expanding career field could impact how easy it is for students to obtain a career.

If a student is open to the market and not just the big name companies, more opportunities are available for sports management jobs, Tiell said.

Sandy White, a representative from the Jamie

Farr Toledo Classic, said she looks for students with experience, volunteer work, and knowledge of golf when networking. The Jamie Farr Toledo Classic is an annual golf event that requires more than 1,200 quality volunteers to coordinate.

Although Tuesday was White’s first time at the job fair, she said she is currently working with multiple University students as interns.

Students in a sports management field should be flexible and available for any event to arise, White said. The students should also expect long hours and working weekends and evenings.

“In sports management [interns, I look for] good MOLLY MCFADDIN | THE BG NEWS personality, very organized, quick thinkers, intuitive CHAD RUTKOWSKI (left) and Dylan Dotson, a senior looking for an internship, and good decision makers,” discuss Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School. Dotson said he hopes to get an internship from Detroit PAL or The Toledo Mud Hens. she said.

GREEN From Page 1

DANAE KING | THE BG NEWS

ANCIENT MOSAIC TILES are displayed in the Wolfe Center for the Arts in the lobby of the Eva Marie Saint Theatre. The tiles were purchased by the University in 1965, although their origin is now disputed. This one is thought to portray Dionysus, a god of Greek mythology.

MOSAIC From Page 1 as she had expected, she said.

Prior to the research, the tiles were believed to have come from the ancient city of Antioch in modern-day Turkey.

Due to the lack of documentation from that site, however, they are now thought to have come from another ancient city called Zeugma, also in modern-day Turkey, according to a press release from the University.

Langin-Hooper worked with Rebecca Molholt, assistant professor of history of art and architecture at Brown University, to further research the tiles’ origin after she became concerned.

Molholt first suggested the tiles may be from Zeugma

after she researched the geometric patterning of the tiles, Langin-Hooper said.

The patterning matched tiles from a house in Zeugma in color, size, pattern and style, LanginHooper said. Other tiles from the house are in a local museum in Turkey.

The University purchased the 12 tiles for $35,000 in 1965 from an art dealer in New York.

The purchase was pursued by a professor in the School of Art at the time, Hugh Broadley. Broadley exchanged letters with the dealer, which laid out the terms of purchase of the tiles.

There is very little record of the pieces, said Dave Kielmeyer, University spokesperson.

The University isn’t sure why the purchase was made

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but the tiles are a “unique part” of the University’s art collection, Kielmeyer said.

“As far as I know, these are the only ancient art works BGSU has purchased,” Langin-Hooper said.

The University has contacted the FBI and plans to proceed by securing other experts, looking into the applicable laws and regulations regarding the artwork and doing further research, Kielmeyer said.

The tiles are displayed in the floor of the lobby of the Eva Marie Saint Theatre in the Wolfe Center. They are lit from above, covered in glass and encased in a climatecontrolled environment.

Before they were in the Wolfe Center, they were displayed in McFall Center from 1979 to 2008, Kielmeyer said. Prior to 1979, they were in storage.

The campus ReStore, a non-profit thrift store located in the ComptonDarrow side of the Kreischer Sundial, reopened nearly three weeks ago.

It embodies the phrase “reduce, reuse and recycle” while still satisfying a student’s need to shop, said Nick Hennessy, the University’s sustainability coordinator.

Unlike most thrift stores, ReStore offers more than good deals on clothes and movies; it also gives out free office supplies, including pencils, notebooks and binders, Hennessy said. The concept was inspired by similar stores on other college campuses.

“Students like [ReStore] because it gives them the opportunity to shop at little or no cost,” Hennessy said.

Everything in the store is either gently used or brand new, he said.

Sudents can bring in items they aren’t using to trade in for something they need, Hennessy said. Residence halls donate a significant portion of reStore’s inventory as well.

Student ReStore volunteers agree the barterand-trade system attracts students.

“What brings people here is the fact that we’re all poor college kids and you don’t need money to shop here — that’s what attracted me, at least,” said junior Molly Pottkotter, a ReStore volunteer.

Students shoppers also said they favor the bartering system.

Freshman Courtney Sullivan said she traded her old T-shirt for another shirt.

It’s nice when students don’t have to use their own money to get new things, she said.

Sophomore Laura Sprauer said she traded a shirt and shampoo for a Scattergories game.

“The store has got a little bit of everything,” Sprauer said. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Even if students have nothing to trade, they can still haggle down and offer prices on items, Hennessey said.

Some current items of interest in the store are seasons of TV shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Weeds.”

The store still looks to improve its inventory in order to draw in more customers, said junior Andrew Myers, an intern who operates ReStore and trains employees to promote it.

Students can also request items not found at the store, Hennessy said.

When the ReStore debuted last spring, it operated three days a week; now it is open five days a week with extended hours, Myers said.

The limited hours made it hard for students to shop there because it conflicted with their lunch hours, he said. Now the store has more convenient hours — and needs students to know about it.

This past Wednesday, ReStore promoted in the Union, giving away free office supplies to students, Hennessy said.

The promotion went well, but whenever things are given away for free, students

think there will be a catch, so they were wary at first, he said.

Besides promotion, another challenge of ReStore is its location, tucked away on the opposite side of the Sundial’s main entrance.

Sullivan and Sprauer said the only reason they knew of ReStore was because they lived on that side of Kreischer.

They agreed a better location would attract more students.

Space is hard to come by, however, and the store was lucky enough to be granted the space by Dining Services and Residence Life, Hennessy said.

While Hennessy said a more visual and central space would be beneficial to the store, currently the best option to attract students is through promotion, which Myers plans to continue.

“ReStore is worth the walk,” Hennessy said. “You find the most random things in the store and that’s part of the fun — you never know what you’ll find, it’s always different.”

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Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

PEOPLE ON THE STREET “A Rocky Horror Picture Show record.”

COURTNEY EBERT Freshman, Undecided

What is the most random item you have found in a thrift store?

“A pimp hat with a purple feather.”

MATT FRANKS Senior, Geology

4

“Old Mickey Mouse earrings.”

CEARRA RICE Sophomore, Accounting

“Used hand sanitizer.”

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Have your own take on today’s People On The Street? Or a suggestion for a question? Give us your feedback at bgnews.com.

Philosophies offer different conclusions

GROWING UP

ALICIA RIEDEL COLUMNIST

HANNAH SYPNIEWSKI | THE BG NEWS

“I am trying to rip open the inconsolable secret in each one of you - the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism and Adolescence ... the secret that we cannot hide and cannot tell, though we desire to do both. We cannot tell it because it is a desire for something that has never actually appeared in our experience. We cannot hide it because our experience is constantly suggesting it, and we betray ourselves like lovers at the mention of a name.”

I offer you this quote from C. S. Lewis’ sermon, “The Weight of Glory,” in order to attempt to define an idea that has been called by such names as “desire” or “longing,” which is meant in a larger sense than the idea of passing cravings.

I find it striking that while it is also the root of controversy, there is a common thread about this idea of restlessness among very different philosophies.

For example, the Dalai Lama offers a teaching on the four noble truths of Buddhism (You may read the English translation at www. l a m a y e s he .c om /i nde x . php?sect=article&id=380), in which he considers the existence of this desire and

“I find it striking that while it is also the root of controversy, there is a common thread about this idea of restlessness among very different philosophies.”

how it should be addressed.

He explains that, in human experience, there is a grasping at “things as being inherently, truly real” and that this “is the basic source of all our suffering.”

He explains this further, saying, “with the mind that can analyze the ultimate, we must try to determine whether the mind that grasps at things as truly findable is correct or not.

“If it is correct, the analyzing mind should ultimately be able to find the graspedat things ... when you investigate to see whether the mind that grasps at things as inherently findable is correct or not, you find that it is not correct, that it is distorted — you cannot actually find the objects at which it grasps. Since this mind is deceived by its object it has to be eliminated.”

Coming from a different philosophical position, we also see a related argument in Albert Camus’ essay “An Absurd Reasoning.”

Like the Dalai Lama and C. S. Lewis, he offers an explanation of human longing.

He writes that each man “feels within him his longing for happiness and for reason.”

However, just as Lewis and the Dalai Lama noticed, Camus also sees that this longing is not realized in worldly experience.

He concludes, then, that the world is absurd: “The absurd is born of this confrontation between the human need and the

unreasonable silence of the world.”

Yet, unlike the Dalai Lama’s advice that we stop grasping in order to end our suffering (believing that it is our minds and not the world that is at fault), Camus claims that we should cling to this realization of absurdity: “The absurd man thus catches sight of a burning and frigid, transparent and limited universe in which nothing is possible but everything is given, and beyond which all is collapse and nothingness. He can then decide to accept such a universe and draw from it his strength, his refusal to hope, and the unyielding evidence of a life without consolation.”

It is by clinging to the realization of despair and maintaining a rebellious perseverance that man finds strength.

In the examples of these three thinkers, we see the recognition of a universal human longing that is not ultimately satisfied by worldly experiences.

The Buddhist claims that our minds must cease grasping at this illogical longing and so cease suffering.

The Absurdist claims that we must cling to this illogi-

cal longing as the reality of an absurd world and live in spite of it. The Christian claims that the longing is not illogical.

C. S. Lewis writes in his book, “Mere Christianity:” “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

He does not claim that we are assured fulfillment, just as one who is thirsty does not necessarily have a glass of water to drink.

Yet, the one who is thirsty may conclude from this thirst that water likely exists and this person will likely seek it out.

These three different philosophies all present a common thread; does your own philosophy share this thread?

Do you have this longing, this desire, this restlessness?

If so, have you concluded that it is illogical?

If these appeals hit home, I invite you to consider that this desire is not illogical, but rather a clue that there is a greater reality beyond our immediate physical experiences.

Respond to Alicia at thenews@bgnews.com

Being busy not excuse to disregard valuable democratic processes MATTHEW THACKER COLUMNIST

Something that is garnering much discussion early on this election season is the low voter turnout in states that have hosted elections thus far.

While some statistics show that voter turnout (compared to 2008) increased in a few of the states that have hosted primary elections in the last month, many states argue that if you subtract the number of non-Republicans voting in the primaries, voter participation is actually down significantly among the party base.

Americans always seem to agree we have the best

country in the world, in part, because of our system of participatory politics.

Which makes me wonder, in a country where citizens are encouraged to participate in the political process, why are people so reluctant to play a part in the very system that they often say is the best in the world?

I think, at least for me, the answer has always come down to complacency and the busy nature of life.

Many times I have gotten so caught up in my own life that I felt I didn’t have the time to participate in the system, or to try to do something for the greater good.

This has been the case with me for years. I have always been a very idealistic person, who is not afraid to rally around a cause in theory.

THE BG NEWS ASIA RAPAI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

210 West Hall Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 | Phone: (419) 372-6966 Email: thenews@bgnews.com Website: http://www.bgnews.com Advertising: 204 West Hall | Phone: (419) 372-2606

I will talk about the validity of the issue and post Facebook statuses telling all my friends how I feel about it, but when it comes down to volunteering my time, I never seem to have extra to spare.

This is not surprising, being that I am married to a University of Toledo College of Law student and a father to a beautiful 3 1/2–year-old daughter, all while being a full-time student.

Still, I feel like I need to do more. And while that may not mean participating more in the political system on a grand scale, I think I can do more where I am at.

I want to be more than a University student, but a member of the University community.

With this in mind, I joined the Undergraduate Student Government as an off-cam-

ALISSA WIDMAN, MANAGING EDITOR MAX FILBY, NEWS EDITOR LAUREN POFF, WEB EDITOR KATIE DOLCIATO, DESIGN EDITOR BYRON MACK, PHOTO EDITOR RYAN SATKOWIAK, SPORTS EDITOR SUZANNA ANDERSON, COPY CHIEF STEPHAN REED, FORUM EDITOR DANAE KING, PULSE EDITOR BOBBY WADDLE, IN FOCUS EDITOR ALEX ALUSHEFF, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

pus senator.

Being a member of a legislative body is certainly a new experience for me, but it is one I think I will enjoy.

The main reason I decided to join USG was that I liked the idea of being able to be a mouthpiece for the student body, and one of 10 representatives for the large offcampus population.

As an off-campus senator, I will focus on the needs of all off-campus students; specifically I would like to focus on the needs of other non-traditional, off-campus students like myself.

While every student at the University has challenges and issues that they deal with every day — and I am understanding and sympathetic to them all — it’s the challenges of non-traditional students who have families and other

“... in a country where citizens are encouraged to participate in the political process, why are people so reluctant to play a part ...”

work commitments that I can best relate to.

As a USG senator, I hope to tap into the talent and determination of all University students. I know the only way that I can be a good USG senator is to listen to your concerns, ideas and advice.

This is why fellow offcampus senator (and fellow columnist) Mathew Davoli and I have organized a town hall style meeting and are inviting all off-campus students to come have a discussion with us and other USG off-campus senators about any issues or problems they would like to see addressed

by their student government.

The meeting will be next Thursday, Feb. 16, from 6-8 p.m. in room 316 Union.

Please come out and talk to your student representatives so we can possibly serve you better.

Maybe if we all participate in our democracy a little more — whether on a larger level or in our school community — we will all be a little more pleased with the end goal that we are able to achieve.

Respond to Matthew at thenews@bgnews.com

THE BG NEWS SUBMISSION POLICY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are generally to be fewer than 300 words.

These are usually in response to a current issue on the University’s campus or the Bowling Green area.

GUEST COLUMNS are generally longer pieces between 400 and 700 words.

These are usually also in response to a current issue on the University’s campus or the Bowling Green area. Two submissions per month maximum.

POLICIES: Letters to the Editor and Guest Columns are printed as space on the Opinion Page permits. Additional Letters to the Editor or Guest Columns may be published online. Name, year and phone number should be included for verification purposes. Personal attacks, unverified information or anonymous submissions will not be printed.

with the subject line marked “Letter to the Editor” or “Guest Column.” All submissions are subject to review and editing for length and clarity before printing.

The editor may change the headlines to submitted columns and letters at his or her discretion.

E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS as an attachment to thenews@bgnews.com

Opinion columns do not necessarily reflect the view of The BG News.

IN FOCUS a

SPIRITUALITY

Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

5

for meaning PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALYSSA GANNON | THE BG NEWS

Residential community explores questions of purpose, existence through discussions about philosophy, religion, personal beliefs

By Bobby Waddle In Focus Editor

When sophomore Scott Brummel first heard of the SEARCH Community this past holiday season, he was going through a bit of an existential crisis.

“I thought everyone had an agenda,” Brummel said. “Everyone wanted to save my soul or to find me enlightenment, and I felt like I couldn’t find an objective way to find answers for myself.”

Brummel, an agnostic who was raised Christian, became the president of the community this semester.

The community itself is in its second semester overall.

It consists of 35 to 40 stu-

dents living in McDonald Hall’s west wing, said SEARCH adviser Michael Brown.

The community launched a student organization, also called SEARCH, which allows about 70 to 80 students to join without living in the community, Brown said.

SEARCH stands for Students Engaged in Active, Reflective, Caring and Holistic learning, and it is an idea that had been in the works for roughly a decade, Brown said. He helped create the program with Carney Strange, a professor in Higher Education and Student Affairs who conceived the idea.

Brummel said the residential component of the community allows discussion to be sparked at

any point of the day.

“We have a lounge that people just kind of meet at and study,” Brummel said. “Just given our nature, these [heavy, existential] questions come up.”

Rene Tricou, a sophomore who grew up as a Baptist Christian, said she believes in spirituality, but not religion, and compared SEARCH gatherings to classroom settings.

“Coming into SEARCH, everyone was understanding and empathetic,” Tricou said. “The idea is to accept [people] as part of yourself and learn from their experiences, along with your own.”

Brown cited a recent national research project that revealed about 75 percent of students coming to

Religious, spiritual knowledge can provide positives for all people BOBBY WADDLE IN FOCUS EDITOR

When people ask me about religion, I often tell them that I simply don’t think about it — I prefer to live my life in the moment and worry about the spiritual realm later.

In proclaiming my agnosticism, however, I am still taking my own stance on what may be the most important question ever asked: “Why are we here?”

That question is something we can’t escape. No matter how hard we try, we ascribe meaning to many things, whether they are actions, beliefs or objects. We tend to hold things to be sacred, either to ourselves, the grand scheme of the universe or in the eyes of a higher power.

And if you believe nothing is sacred, think again. That alone is a belief you live by, and it affects the course and meaning of your everyday life.

I place a lot of value in maintaining good relationships and having good experiences.

Everybody dies at some point, but I want to make the most of the time I have by treating people with respect

while refining and utilizing my talents.

I am not religious, but religion certainly helped me develop my values when I was younger, since I attended a small Catholic school not far from our local Taco Bell.

While there, I became familiar with the story of Jesus Christ and appreciated the sacrifice made on the cross and the selflessness it took.

Even more, it taught me the value of making little and not-so-little sacrifices for other people.

Most importantly, our school had a church, and with that church came a community I remain close to. The shared religion brought a group with different backgrounds together, and it is enough to keep them close.

Even though I changed my beliefs later, my bond with the community remains — because I like the people, and a lot of these people will tell you their good qualities come from following Christ’s example.

I can’t see anything wrong with that, and it is why I figured a story examining some of the religious groups on campus would be interesting; it is a great way for students with common backgrounds to establish friendships.

However, it does not always take religion to bring people together.

There is a growing atheist move-

ment that allows people to bond over their skepticism, and the presence of a club on campus is a reflection of that.

Naturally conflicts can rise between religions and philosophies.

I always found the debate between religion and science fascinating because I was brought up to believe they answered different questions.

I despise violent conflict, and a fair number of religions have a history of it. While this may deter some people from pursuing one, it is important to realize that opinions and natural human selfishness fuel a good deal of conflict.

In fact, people often use religion to justify their own misdeeds. It is a disservice to the religion to do so.

More than anything, I think spirituality provides an interesting discussion. Everyone’s personal beliefs are different, even if they may follow the same faith.

This section does not have a story on every religion, though I wish there was room for that.

It is my hope the section addresses many of the values, conflicts and rewards of having a formal religion as well as a more personal, self-constructed belief system.

Ultimately, it all comes down to what works for you.

Are you fulfilled?

campuses self-identify as spiritual, and almost 50 percent show interest in developing their spirituality and asking questions.

It can sometimes be challenging for students to address these questions at public universities, where students may feel pressured to keep these questions inside, Brown said.

“SEARCH is our way of saying … you don’t need to check these questions at the door,” Brown said. “The goal of the community is spiritual and religious literacy.

“If you think about it, world perspectives are shaping politics, social issues, relationships [and] families,” he continued. “To not have a basic understanding of some of these perspectives, I feel like it’s really edu-

cational malpractice. We’ve got to be able to have these conversations, even within a public institution.”

Brown emphasized SEARCH is not a religious club, but rather a community that engages students’ personal questions about their purpose and existence.

“This is not a community that is about answers,” Brown said. “It’s for students that have sacred perspectives as well as secular perspectives, as they wrestle and think about and ponder the big questions of life.”

Brummel said many college courses can teach skills, but they don’t touch on existential questions

See SEARCH | Page 6

Spiritual beliefs can have psychological pros, cons Beliefs can help people create meaning for their lives

By Bobby Waddle In Focus Editor

When Kenneth Pargament decided to start researching psychology and religion, he did not receive the most support from the psychological community.

“The field tended to take a negative view toward religiousness,” Pargament said. “[Sigmund] Freud, for instance, talked about religion as a defense against anxiety. Religion was often linked in the minds of many people in mental health to psychopathology, but that picture has changed in the last 25 years. The research has shown some pretty consistent links between religious involvement and health and well-being.”

Pargament, a professor in the Department of Psychology, researches the aspects of religion and spirituality that can be helpful as well as harmful to people.

“We think of religion and spirituality as a double-edged sword,” he said.

Carney Strange, a professor of student affairs in the College of Education and Human Development, teaches a course about the “spiritual dimensions of student development.”

This involves looking at questions of purpose students have during college and whether their viewpoints change over time regarding these questions. These can include wondering about job prospects, whether people depend on the student and whether the student is a worthy human being.

“I teach in a graduate program where people are working on master’s [degrees] to become student administrators,” Strange said. “My goal is to help them understand this dimension of students as they go through the college experience.”

The idea of an afterlife can often help answer questions like these, Pargament said.

“I think beliefs in the afterlife also respond to the basic need for transcendence and continuity in life, the need to feel that our lives matter,” he said.

Studies, particularly some the Department of Psychology has coordinated, show people often turn to faith during times of stress, such as illnesses, mortality and frailty, Pargament said.

“Generally, I think religion is

See PSYCH | Page 10

IN FOCUS

WWW.BGNEWS.COM

Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012 6

Group Science, religion can complement each other despite history of conflict examines

By Alissa Widman Managing Editor

University professor John Laird bridges two worlds some perceive as destined for conflict.

To Laird, a practicing Christian and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the key to understanding their compatibility is asking the right questions.

“I’m a Christian as well as a scientist, and I think the two are clearly compatible,” he said. “Science focuses on the mechanics of how things work, and religion asks questions about purpose, moral issues and what is right.

Those are questions of why, rather than how.”

Keeping the right questions in mind is sometimes difficult, Laird said. This often results in some people “seeing conflict where none exists,” creating tension and debate.

“I’m sure there are Christians who clearly see a conflict with science,”

Laird said. “Likewise, I’m sure there are scientists who would claim belief in a God is fundamentally incompatible with science. Mine isn’t the only view, which I recognize ... but in my experience, even people who don’t agree with me on questions of religion are certainly very tolerant of my beliefs.”

To some, however, comprehending science and religion’s compatibility isn’t so black and white.

Michael Bradie, a professor of philosophy of science, epistemology and logic, noted that since the times of early scientists like Galileo Galilei, science and religion have been marred by conflict.

“There’s a historical division when people believe things on only faith, when evidence isn’t considered,” he said. “At that time, churches were still endorsing earth-centered cosmology.”

Bradie has published sev-

YOU SAID IT!

eral articles discussing the relationship of biology, evolution and religion during his years at the University.

His findings: conflicts between science and religion are still possible today, depending on an individual’s beliefs. Fundamentally, however, nothing in science says a God’s existence is impossible.

“Stephen Gould, a preeminent evolutionary biologist [and self-proclaimed agnostic], once said the role of astronomy is to tell how the heavens go, and the aim of religion is to tell us how to get there,” Bradie said. “He didn’t see any fundamental conflict between the two.”

Brian Rutter, a graduate student studying biology, shares a similar view, although it is rooted in his Roman Catholic upbringing, which emphasizes faith and reason working together.

“Often when there is conflict, there is an abuse committed on one of the sides,”

he said. “Scientists observe the world to find out things about nature, but it’s beyond the scope of science to fix a meaning to what’s observed ... similarly, to use the Bible as a source of natural history is an abuse of scripture. This is when conflict arises, and when bad science and bad theology meet, it isn’t pretty.”

Evidence of science and religion’s compatibility is available to those who are willing to do the research, Rutter said.

For example, the Big Bang theory — often a point of religious and scientific debate — was proposed by Georges Lemaitre, a Roman Catholic priest and physicist.

Such research is essential for young scientists grappling with inner conflicts during their early careers, Laird said, referencing his own experiences.

“During high school and on to college, I often wrestled with how Christianity and

science fit together, and that was something I had to deal with,” Laird said. “I gave it serious thought, and talked to both Christians and scientists while doing research.”

Although a religious lifestyle isn’t for all scientists, Laird said he now knows he isn’t alone in his beliefs.

He is a member of the American Scientific Affiliation, an organization of Christian scientists who seek to “integrate, communicate, and facilitate properly researched science and theology in service to the Church and the scientific community,” according to its website.

“I’m comfortable with their compatibility, my career and my personal beliefs,” Laird said.

“Religion is personal, but that’s what’s unique and good about it — conversation is useful, even when there’s conflict, and we all have something to contribute to the conversation.”

The BG News asked our Twitter followers and Facebook friends whether science and religion were compatible. Read our most interesting responses below.

@ABlackSocrates: “Yea, they’re incompatible as religions. Yes, I just said science can be a religion.”

@Sam_U_Aint: “Science and religion are only

incompatible to people with minds too small to hold both.”

Mikey Stewart: “Yes, because religion was a way

to prove what we didn’t understand about the world.

They’re incompatible because as we learn more about science we disprove more about religion.”

Rolf Ritchie: “ ‘God is then just an ever shrinking

pocket of scientific ignorance.’ — Neil Degrasse Tyson.”

SEARCH From Page 5 and who people are. He said religions seem to be popular for this purpose, but the group does not favor religion over other forms of thinking, such as science and philosophy.

“We’re kind of meeting the needs of our environment,” Brummel said. “If America was a country where we relied more on philosophy or we relied more on science, I think some of our questions would reflect that.”

To ensure students have an opportunity to voice their opinions, the group will come up with an existential question every week, with multiple meeting times and locations to accommodate class schedules.

“These are not … religious questions, necessarily,” Brown said. “They’re spiritual questions about otherness and encounters with difference, the meaning of life.”

Brummel said the group uses texts from different religions to improve spiritual literacy during the discussions and to make sure scholarly perspectives are applied to the discussions.

He defined spiritual questions as questions of meaning, purpose and how “we orient ourselves to this thing

skepticism Secular society seeks to build awareness across campus

By Tyler Buchanan Reporter

One might be surprised to find a secular society on a list of campus spiritual organizations.

Among 16 other groups, from student ministries to a variety of religious practices and organizations, the Bowling Green Secular Society provides a spiritual community from a non-religious perspective.

While its members actively promote the idea of secularity, a separation from religion, they embrace the community aspect of BGSS as a group discussion of faith and spirituality.

BGSS strives to “promote awareness and build community through the advocacy of science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values,” according to the group’s mission statement.

Many of the group’s members identify with a variety of spiritual labels and work toward awareness and acceptance of their ideas.

Atheism is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a disbelief in the existence of deity.”

On the other hand, an agnostic is “a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality is unknown and probably unknowable,” according to MerriamWebster.

Joseph Bochinski, a member of BGSS and a gradu-

See SECULAR | Page 10

called existence.”

Both Brummel and Tricou said conversations rarely get heated, despite the wide range of perspectives in the community.

It is possible to meet great friends through the community, Tricou said.

Since the group is relatively new, it is looking for wider representation, and Brummel said the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths are represented to a degree.

“Unfortunately, we don’t really have much of a representation on the Eastern religions, or even very skeptics or atheists, so those are things we are looking for in the community,” Brummel said.

The community brings in people to speak, including a Buddhist professor and a Jewish professor, Brown said.

The group is also planning to bring in an Islamic graduate student as well as someone to speak about the connection ALYSSA GANNON | THE BG NEWS between spirituality and the KRYSTEN ABEL, sophomore (right), discusses her beliefs on science and religion while Emily Freese, sophomore, listens during a SEARCH meeting in the Union. environment. ures: For Tricou, the “ultimate rtment Feat y of our Apa an M religion” is love; she emphas Carport sized the importance of ditioning n o C Air community. shers Dishwa lss e Disposa g a “You should love every Garb rs e ry /D Washers thing that you come into oute Shuttle R On the contact with, because in essence we all started out in the same place if the Big 1045 N. Main St. Bowling Green, OH 1 Bang theory is really where 419.353.5800 it’s at,” she said. “We are all here communing together.”

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SPORTS

Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

SLAM

7

DUNK

SLAGLE

Senior Jessica Slagle leads women’s basketball in breakout season

By Michele Wysocki Assistant Sports Editor

There hasn’t been a game she hasn’t started this season.

It’s a statement that was contradictory in seasons past, but senior Jessica Slagle has made a name for herself in the 2011-12 season.

After three years of sitting the bench behind starters like Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius, Slagle’s name has never left the starting lineup.

“Despite not playing a lot in the past three years, I’ve had a front row seat to things on and off the court,” Slagle said.

Now that she is on the court, Slagle has hit many milestones during her 23 games played so far this season.

The Falcons closed out January with a two-game road trip Slagle dominated — she led the team in points in both games, earning her career high of 22 points against Ball State.

“I’m just thankful I’ve had good games,” Slagle said. “The team has been playing well and I can’t take all the credit; we are getting wins on the score board.”

In the overtime game against Central Michigan, Slagle’s late bucket gave the Falcons a short-lived lead that eventually led them into overtime. She was also the first one to fire in extra minutes, leading the Falcons a 77-72 victory.

Combined, Slagle averaged 20.5 points, and led BG in assists with 4.5 per game and three steals on the road.

Slagle received the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week award for the first time in her career for her efforts against Ball State and CMU. She said she never dreamed of earning the award before.

“Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius, the greats here, got it, and frequently,” Slagle said. “I kind of put it on the back burner ... It’s not something I set sight on, but I am honored and humbled.”

Associate head coach Jennifer Roos, who has been taking head coach Curt Miller’s place in his absence, said Slagle has waited behind some great players — Prochaska and others — and it has turned into an unbelievable performance.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less of [Slagle], and what she has been able to do has helped elevate our overall team play throughout the season,” Roos said.

Slagle is the only senior on the team this year, since the Falcons graduated six seniors and 6,000 points last season — Prochaska being one of them.

She is also a tri-captain, along with the only returning starter from last season, Chrissy Steffen, and redshirt junior Danielle Havel.

“There is a different team dynamic now, and aside from starting, and getting more minutes, being a captain has been a big transition,” Slagle said.

As the lone senior and a tricaptain, Slagle said there is a little more pressure on her, mostly from Miller, but in a good way, because she likes to be challenged.

She also said it is important for her to serve as an example — a role model.

“Being looked up to is one of the most important things because every player should want to leave a legacy,” Slagle said. “I can only hope they remember me for my work ethic and passion.”

One player who looks up to Slagle is Logan Pastor.

Pastor is a freshman point guard who has had sporadic minutes, due to her and Slagle’s interchangeability.

When Slagle is in the game, Pastor takes it as a learning opportunity. Slagle does everything you could ask for in a senior, he said.

“I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned, from Jess Slagle especially, is leadership,” Pastor said. “She is an emotional leader — leader by example ... she has one of the best game faces on any player I’ve ever seen.”

Slagle said she has been challenged her whole career.

Early on in her career she tore her ACL, Roos said, and then sat the bench behind talented players. Now that she is finally getting some consistency in her routine, Slagle has become comfortable with her role.

“I’ve been pushed this year more than ever and I’m getting results,” Slagle said.

Pastor said nothing gets to her.

“She’s hard-nosed every game — tough, and she just keeps at it no matter what,” she said.

TONY CLEETON | THE BG NEWS

SLAGLE STATS

23 11.8 74.3 4.4

14

Games played Points per game Free throw % Rebounds per game Jersey number Baseball

Former Falcon comes back to campus Jon Berti, former baseball player for BG, talked with the althletic department about his career at BG and his first professional summer with the Vancouver Canadians.

Hockey

Web-exclusive interviews Coach Chris Bergeron and player Ted Pletsch talked after their loss against Notre Dame. Find it on the BGNEWS.COM Sports page.

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SPORTS

8 Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

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THE BG NEWS SUDOKU

SUDOKU To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved.

Just use logic to solve.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DIRECTOR OF RUGBY ROGER MAZZARELLA

FRANK VIANCOURT, sophomore club rugby player, looks to pass the ball off to a teammate in a game against Army earlier this season.

Rugby’s Viancourt named Defensive Player of the Year

By Max Householder Reporter

The BG rugby club has plenty of good defenders.

None are as passionate and as well rounded, however, as sophomore Frank Viancourt, who was recently named team Defensive Player of the Year at the rugby banquet this past weekend.

Viancourt is technically sound on the defensive side of the ball, with much of the credit going back to his wrestling days in high school.

Viancourt, who is from Parma Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, also played football. He said he learned a lot from those sports that carried over to rugby.

“Wrestling taught me great skills that I use in rugby for tackling and rucking,” Viancourt said. “The wrestling moves I would drill in winter transferred over into

my game covering the pitch.”

Frank would also spend what little free time he had playing rugby for a local rugby club called the Parma Blackhearts. While there, he was taught the position of flanker, which he currently plays for the University.

Although rugby at the high school level can be much different than at a program like BG, one thing that is the same is the desire to win, Viancourt said.

“We had a winning tradition at Parma, and that attitude of improving each week and being the best is something that is much in place here at BG,” Viancourt said.

With the “second season” approaching, the Falcons have their sights set on nationals, and in order to compete they must play good team defense.

That is where a player like

#2

Frank Viancourt, with his hard-nosed defensive persona and a desire to lead, comes in handy.

“Frank is a type of player who is very defensiveminded,” said coach Tony Mazzarella. “He plays much like a linebacker in football with the ability to make tackles in space. Basically, he’s a typical flanker in that he is physical with everything he does.”

Although Viancourt is not the most gifted athlete on the offensive side of the ball, he has made improvements, which have allowed him to play A-side full-time this year.

Frank said the reason for his push to A-side was the seniors on last year’s team pushing him to get better and never quit.

“If I did not hit someone hard enough or was slacking, flankers Dan Grime and

Captain Nick Viviani would yell at me to ‘eat somebody,’” Viancourt said. “This pressure to step up my level of play helped me find a spot on A-side for spring and I was glad they pushed me to do it.”

The Falcons have made their living by being a well balanced team full of great tacklers on defense and athletic players on offense. But with losses like the 60-12 loss they suffered to Davenport on Oct. 29, a lot of moves have been made to improve defense.

With a better emphasis on defense this spring, Mazzarella said he has hopes of closing the gaps on the defending national champions in Davenport.

“The Davenport game really gave us a sense that our defense needed a lot of fine

See RUGBY | Page 9

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BG hockey shows improvement in split with Irish

By Matt Nye Reporter

T he BG hocke y tea m cont i nued it s i mprovement w it h a not her w i n la st we ekend a ga i n st Not r e Da me. For a y ou n g t e a m , t he s e resu lt s ca n be big for con f idence.

“I think our confidence is good,” coach Chris Bergeron sa id.

“The results let our guys know we can play with anyone. We just have to conv ince them that a lot of our games came down to two or three negative plays that lost us those games. In the last month or so we have been on the positive side of those plays.”

Carpenter is Back Freshma n Ryan Carpenter had a big weekend aga inst t he Fig ht i ng Ir ish.

He recorded an assist in Friday’s game, giv ing him the lead in assists on the team with 11.

In Saturday’s w in,

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Freshman hockey player leads team in assists with 11 C a r p e nt e r s c or e d t wo goa l s, w h ich pushed him past Bryce Williamson for the lead in goals with eight on the season. The t wogoal night snapped his 15-game goal drought dating back to Nov. 19 against Miami.

Getting Familiar with Ranked Teams The Fa lcons are in last place in the Central C ol le g i at e Ho c k e y Association with just 19 points, trailing leader Ferris State by 41.

However, the Falcons have played ra n ked teams well this season and especially of late.

Starting back from the series against Western

See HOCKEY | Page 9

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SPORTS

9 Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

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BG men’s basketball looking for third win in a row

By Ryan Satkowiak Sports Editor

TOM NEPOMUCENO | THE BG NEWS

SCOTT THOMAS, BG forward, throws the ball in from the sidelines. The Falcons are 11-11 overall, looking for their third win in a row against Ball Sate.

RUGBY From Page 8

HOCKEY From Page 8

tuning before we would be able to compete with the best teams,” Mazzarella said. “We need more of an emphasis on being aggressive defensively and that’s where Frank excels.”

Viancourt, a sophomore, will be with the program for a few more years and can continue to improve, which should in turn allow him to help the team improve.

With good offense from Max Narewski, also a sophomore, and defense led by Viancourt and Ed Luther, the rugby program has a solid foundation laid for the future.

Michigan, the Falcons close the regular season w it h f ive consecutive series against nationally ranked teams.

For t he rema ining three series they play No. 19 Northern Michigan, No. 6 Ferris State and No. 4 Michigan. Playing this type of competition can really give BG some confidence heading into postseason play.

Three straight wins has been an elusive feat for the BG men’s basketball team this season.

Frankly, getting two consecutive wins has been difficult enough. The Falcons did that in their third and fourth games of the year by beating Austin Peay and Detroit.

However, the team did not put up any sort of winning streak again until this past Saturday by defeating Northern Illinois.

Riding a two-game MidAmerican Conference winning streak, the Falcons will look to extend that streak to three Wednesday night as they take on Ball State in Muncie, Ind. Not only have the Falcons won consecutive games, but they have done so in convincing fashion. In both games BG won by 25 points, defeating Western Michigan 72-48, and Northern Illinois 65-40.

It’s that momentum, particularly on the defensive end, that coach Louis Orr hopes the team can ride to a third straight win.

“If you look at our statistics defensively, over the last four games, we’ve held our oppo-

nents under 40 percent field goal shooting,” Orr said. “On the offensive end, we’ve been efficient. We’ve been shooting the ball better and trying to cut down on our turnovers.

Overall, we’ve just played better basketball.”

Orr noted the team’s practices of late have had an added intensity to them. Part of that reason is due to a sense of urgency from the upperclassmen, he said.

“The upperclassmen set the tone, there’s no question about it,” Orr said. “They understand now that [the practices] help make you better.”

While the Cardinals are second place in the MAC West, they’ve had less success than the Falcons in conference play.

After starting the season 8-4, Ball State has posted a 4-5 record in MAC games.

Perhaps most disappointing for the Cardinals is that they started 4-1 in the league, but are in the midst of a fourgame losing streak.

While Ball State boasts a middle-of-the-pack offense, it is one of the best defensive teams in the MAC. The Cardinals lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing

59.5 points per game, and have the second best field goal percentage allowed, at 39.5 percent.

The Cardinals do have several offensive playmakers, led by forward Jarrod Jones. The 6-foot-9 senior is third in the league in scoring at 16.8 points per game.

Additionally, he averages 8.7 rebounds per game.

Point guard Randy Davis is one of the premier passers in the league, sitting second in the conference with 5.6 assists per game. He sports a phenomenal 3.8-to-1 turnover-toassist ratio, by far the best in the MAC. “What you see with them is what you get,” Orr said.

“Solid defensive team, mainly a man-to-man [defensive] team. Their point guard, Randy Davis, is a guy you have to deal with; he’s tough and competitive. Jarrod Jones is a big guy, as good as any big guy in our league.”

For the Falcons, the game marks an important stretch of game to finish out the season.

At 5-4, the team is sixth in the MAC, but fifth in the East Division, three games behind division-leading Akron.

Wednesday night’s game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.

put goals on the scoreboard all season long.

This puts considerable pressure on goalie Andrew Hammond and the defensemen to keep the team in the game.

T he Fa lcon s a re cu r rent ly on a f iveg a m e p o w e r-p l a y g o a l d r ou g ht .

Si nce scor i ng fou r goa ls aga inst Mia mi o n N o v. 19, B G h a s n’t hit t he f o u r- g o a l ma rk since.

The Falcons have been held to one goal or less in 11 of their 16 games, NATHAN ELEKONICH | THE BG NEWS including back-to-back shutout games against MARCUS PERRIER, BG defenseman, slaps the puck down the ice against Notre Dame. BG split games in South Bend with a loss in the first game and a win in the second this weekend.

Alaska-Fairbanks.

Goals Coming at a Premium BG has struggled to

Men’s and Women’s basektball Mid-American Conference standings East Team

Men’s basketball Record

Entering play Tuesday

West

Women’s basketball West East Record Team Record

Team

8-1

Team

E. Michigan

Record 5-4

Bowling Green

10-0

E. Michigan

8-2

Ohio

7-2

Ball State

4-5

Miami (Ohio)

7-3

Toledo

8-2

Buffalo

7-2

W. Michigan

4-5

Akron

4-6

C. Michigan

4-6

Kent State

6-3

Toledo

2-7

Kent State

4-6

Northern Illionis

4-6

Bowling Green

5-4

C. Michigan

2-7

Ohio

3-7

Ball State

3-7

Miami (Ohio)

3-6

Northern Illinois

1-8

Buffalo

2-8

W. Michigan

3-7

Akron

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10 Wednesday, February 8 & Thursday, February 9, 2012

SECULAR From Page 6 ate teaching assistant at the University, said his views as a humanist and naturalist come from a lifetime of skepticism and personal reflection.

“The last few years of high school, going into college ... really solidified my world view into a semi-coherent whole,” Bochinski said. “In high school my interests in biology, chemistry and psychology began.”

Attending church services in high school, Bochinski said his science classes often contrasted with his church leaders, leading him toward his current views.

“The educators had better evidence and cooler stories,” he said.

BGSS represents a growing number of secular student organizations on campuses throughout the United States.

Similar groups exist at The Ohio State University, Kent State University, Michigan State University and many others.

PSYCH From Page 5 especially well-designed to help people come to terms with their finitude, their limitations [and] the fact we can’t control everything,” he said.

Sammy Hitchcock, a junior in the SEARCH Community that Strange advises, said her Christian faith helps her through all aspects of her life, such as school.

“I have to have faith that I am doing as much as I can to pass my classes or pass a test,” Hitchcock said. “If I don’t [pass], then I have faith that it is going to work out regardless.”

Hitchcock said she prays not only when she is stressed,

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While members of these groups identify themselves as humanists, agnostics, atheists or countless other labels, their desire for a shared community liken them to any other campus spiritual organization, regardless of faith.

“Fellowship is a human word and everybody needs a sense of fellowship,” said Blair Scott, founder of the North Alabama Free Thought Association, in an NPR interview in 2009. “It’s why firefighters hang out at the firehouse with each other. That’s why police officers hang out with each other.”

The emphasis on the social aspect of community, regardless of purpose, faith or belief, is an idea many in secular groups throughout the United States can relate to.

“The purpose of Secular Society, to me, is just getting out there with like-minded people and ... getting comfortable with your beliefs,” said Seth Nonnemaker, a BGSS member who describes himself as an atheist.

Although Bochinksi said he feels most are not accepting to his views, he

does not see disagreement as disrespectful.

“I am nearly a First Amendment absolutist,” he said. “The most important thing is how people treat others who disagree with them, not how people treat the ideas themselves.”

Nonnemaker, however, said he often feels marginalized.

“I would say I am absolutely not treated fairly by others ... they say they hate me, ‘[atheists] should die,’ ‘[atheists] are going to hell,’ I’m ‘just not that well educated,’ or I’m ‘just lost,’” Nonnemaker said.

“Yet once I start to defend my position they beg me to have some respect,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an atheist, Christian or Muslim ... respect is earned.”

As members of BGSS seek to legitimize their views on spirituality and religion, the organization’s mission statement works toward expanding acceptance throughout the local area.

BGSS encourages “opportunities for educational outreach and skeptical inquiry throughout the community.”

but also when she is happy.

“I don’t really pick and choose which parts I apply faith to,” she said.

Nonetheless, Hitchcock said she understands religion is not going to solve all of her day-to-day problems.

“People expect that God or spirituality and whatever they believe in is going to be given to them because they ask for it,” she said.

“That goes back to the grand scheme of things where if one door closes, another one opens.”

When it comes to scientifically proving the existence of a deity, Pargament said it is wise to take an agnostic point of view.

“We can know [God exists] as individuals, we can have

our own personal belief systems and affiliations, but as scientists we have no device to measure God’s existence ... [or] nonexistence,” he said.

“There is no ‘God-ma-tron’ out there.”

When it comes to atheists and agnostics, Pargament said there are different kinds, with some people not caring about the existence of a deity and others expressing passion toward their disbelief.

He pointed out that all people put faith into some kind of personal belief and into things that cannot be measured by sight.

“I don’t think so much the issue is faith versus the lack of faith,” he said. “I think the critical thing is, ‘what do we put our faith in?’”

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