THE BG NEWS Wednesday January 14, 2009 Volume 103, Issue 80
CAMPUS
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No thanks, keep it
President of Miami University turned down $68,000 in order to help the school | Page 3
FORUM
The end of the road for Bush With President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration coming up, columnist Levi Joseph Wonder looks back at the Bush administration and Its legacy | Page 4
WASHINGTON
NATION
STATE
Source of salmonella found
Home for ethnic organizations Leo Almeida
By Ella Fowler Reporter
A group of 10 to 15 students are hoping to change what they believe to be a glorified student cafeteria space into a place promoting diversity and unity. The Ethnic Student Center Committee is trying to implement an Ethnic Student Center on the second floor of the Union in what is now the Multicultural Lounge. “If approved, we would change the lounge into the Ethnic Student Center,” said Leo Almeida, a coordinator for the Center. “The Multicultural Lounge was put there for multicultural organizations and students, but right now it is glorified cafeteria space.” The group hopes the Center will promote a sense of diversity on campus and allow students a
Ethnic Student Center Committee coordinator space of their own to discuss different cultures and ethnicities. “The values behind [the Ethnic Student Center are] unity, promoting diversity, being open minded and welcoming everyone,” Almeida said. Almeida went on to stress the overall goal of the Center: promoting unity between multicultural and ethnic organizations. “I was supportive of the concept that upper class students did need to meet more regularly in terms of being able to work collectively with [each other],” said Bettina Shuford, former
director of Multicultural Affairs and Initiatives at the University. “[That means] having a structure that would give [ethnic organizations and groups] the opportunity to collaborate more and be more effective on campus.” If the Ethnic Student Center was approved by the University, Almeida and Higginbotham hope smaller organizations would have a home. “There are smaller organizations that don’t get a lot of recognition [on campus], like the Caribbean organization,” Almeida said. “We want them to have a home on campus and a place to go.” Almeida added he wants the Center to be a place where organizations can come together and ensure they aren’t doing multicultural events on the same day through a calendar posted in the
Blaze burns two apartments during break By Kristen Vasas City Editor
Center. “The whole idea [with the calendar] is we are already minorities, we are already small in numbers, so why would you [keep] another minority group from supporting your events?” he said. “We are hoping to put smaller groups together to create bigger events.” Karina Higginbotham, a sophomore co-committee member, emphasized the importance of other schools, like Ohio State, Michigan State,Western Michigan and Ball State’s ethnic centers. “There are so many other schools who have ethnic student centers,” Higginbotham, a nursing major, said. “We have a women’s center, a lesbian/gay research center and I think it is necessary
The cause of a fire that destroyed two units at a 21-unit apartment building last Monday has been declared undetermined according to the Bowling Green Fire Division. Bowling Green firefighters were called to Foxwood Manor Apartments on 7th Street and South College Avenue after a resident who smelled smoke alerted them to the blaze. Because a majority of the residents living in the three-story, wooden-framed complex were students, many of the units were uninhabitated at the time of the fire due to winter break, Bowling Green Fire Capt. Tom Sanderson
See CENTER | Page 2
See FIRE | Page 2
o n s t n h o e c l b a all F
The outbreak of salmonella that has sickened over 400 people has been sourced to bacteria-laced peanut butter | Page 5
Suspect on the run
A suspect for the deaths of a woman and her four children is on the run in Oklahoma | Page 9
Working on a new diplomacy Hillary Clinton, preparing for her upcoming position as secretary of state, has plans to revitalize American diplomacy | Page 6
Falcon forward flying on ice
SPORTS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Forward Dan Sexton has been a major asset to the hockey team with his lighting fast speed | Page 7
nd women roll into MA a n e m C pl h t o ay B By Andrew Harner Sports Editor
Curt Miller’s basketball team is on a 13 game winning streak, but you would never know it talking to him or his team. “We have not talked about it one time in the locker room,” Miller said. “Urban [Meyer] may have won 13 games and won a national championship, but 13 games does nothing for us.” “When we got to MAC play, we started over and told ourselves we were 0-0,” sophomore guard Lauren Prochaska said. What you might find out from a conversation with the coach or his players is the team has won its first two Mid-American Conference games, defeating MAC power Kent State and Ohio. But unlike Michael Jackson’s famous line “A, B, C. It’s easy as one, two, three” going one, two, three won’t be as easy as the ABCs for the Falcons. Miller and his squad (13-2, 2-0 MAC) definitely are not taking the MAC winning streak lightly going into tonight’s game versus a tough, defending MAC champion Miami (10-5, 2-0 MAC) team. “We look at them as one of the clear cut favorites,” Miller said. “[They are] someone you have to go through if you think you are going to win a championship.”
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By Andrew Harner Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team (8-6, 1-0 MAC) will face another challenging early season MidAmerican Conference foe when they travel to Kent State (7-7, 0-1 MAC) tonight. In the MAC opener, BG defeated Buffalo, a team that has the best overall record in the MAC East division. Now, the Falcons will take a trip east to face a test from Kent State at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. “Every game on the road, all year long, now that we’re in MAC season, is always a huge test,” BG coach Louis Orr said. “Nobody is going to give you anything.” Not only is Kent State not going to give up much despite a mediocre .500 record, there are several other factors that will give the Falcons some challenges. The Flashes won the MAC championship last season and played in the NCAA tournament, but most importantly, return three starters from that title run. The big game experience the Flashes bring is something Orr addressed as one of the biggest challenges in the game in a very simple sentence. “Tradition doesn’t graduate,” Orr
ENOCH WU | THE BG NEWS
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ETHAN MAGOC | THE BG NEWS
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
Residents must clear sidewalks or get covered in fines What is your New Year’s resolution, and have you broken it yet?
JESSICA BRINCK Sophomore, Applied Health Science
“No, and it’s to find a sexy man.” | Page 4
By Craig Vanderkam Web Editor
For Bowling Green residents, failure to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks could result in the city plowing them with fines. Under Section 98.03 of the City’s Codified Ordinances, Bowling Green citizens have certain requirements related to snow and ice removal. According to Public Works Director Brian Craft, these guidelines are in place to protect RACHEL RADWANSKI | THE BG NEWS the public, specifically pedesSNOW ARMY: The University complies with the city guidelines by keeping trucks with ploughs trians needing to use the sideattached at the ready for any snow removal. walks.
“The purpose is to allow people the ability to go down the sidewalks without risk of falling and injury,” Craft said. “If you don’t get [the sidewalks] clear, it becomes hard to walk down the sidewalks.” The ordinance requires homeowners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering their property within 24 hours of the conclusion of any snow or ice storms. Failure to adhere to the ordinance may result in a civil infraction citation, or even a criminal citation for a minor misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of $100 per violation.
The city has taken many measures to ensure people know these policies. A flyer was sent out with utility bills in November explaining snow removal guidelines and consequences for failing to remove accumulated snow on sidewalks. A public notice had also been placed in both The Sentinel Tribune and The BG News explaining the ordinance. “I think in the last winter and this winter more people are becoming aware of this policy,” Craft said. Junior Daniel Persons says
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