2009-02-10

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THE BG NEWS Tuesday

February 10, 2009 Volume 103, Issue 98 WWW.BGNEWS.COM

The Honors Learning Community on campus offers a site for serious students in search of quiet study time and deep discussions | Page 3

Finding the money for Fido

By Alexandria Clark Reporter

Columnist Andrea Wadsworth shows how poor college students can balance their budget and keep a loveable pet | Page 4

Death of women ends debate

A woman who sparked a controversial debate dies after spending years in a vegetative state | Page 5

WASHINGTON

NATION

Octuplets’ mother speaks The mother who recently gave birth to eight children speaks about having always desired a large family | Page 9

A look at Obama’s cabinet Despite his media coverage, many University students aren’t very aware of President Barack Obama’s cabinet | Page 10

PEOPLE ON THE STREET

SPORTS

Leading the pack

Men’s basketball has excelled this season compared to last, thanks to three key seniors | Page 6

LOVE OTES By A llison L Repo odge rter

Got a of cr dozen l life-s ème-fille ong-stem d ch ized love ocola roses, a stuff e f l d o w p Phi ink d tes or ev box M ers a roma u Alph nd choc og? Sure en a , their ntics a m a fratern olate, bu girls ity is t the swee ore c r thea rt for eative wa offering Valen y See S tines to woo INGIN Day. G | Pa ge 2

AT BGNEWS.COM: To learn more about the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha and their singing valentines, visit www.bgnews.com.

USG discusses campaign funding surrounding campus election process After heated debate on campaign budget, spending limit remains the same By India Hunter Reporter

Undergraduate Student Government senators debated about the amount of money a person should be allowed to spend on a campaign while running for USG president and vice president at last night’s meeting. During the general assembly meeting, members shared their views on the current spending limit as of now, which is $150 each, or $300 between a presidential and vice presidential ticket. While some senators thought this amount was too low, others felt that the designated amount was fine as is. A heated debate took place for over an hour, highlighting the positives and negatives of the $300 limit. In order to change the current amount a person can spend on a campaign, USG would have to suspend bylaws within their constitution. But suspending the bylaws to raise the campaign spending limit did not sit well with every USG member. “We need to set the tone and stick to what we decided at the beginning of the year,” At-Large Senator Leo Almeida said. “We should be

an example and follow the bylaws we outlined for ourselves and not go back on them.” One senator drew a comparison to the United States Congress concerning this issue. “There is a reason why Congress determines salaries for its members during the previous administration,” Senator Lauren Biksacky said. “We promised to be transparent to our constituents and I believe this is an issue of credibility and time. Some people are putting their individual concerns above anything else and that’s not right.” Off-Campus Senator Rob Emmelhainz believed that raising the campaign spending limit would be a good decision. “If you look at other MAC schools their campaign spending limit is much higher,” Emmelhainz said. “I just think raising it would be more appropriate.” Other senators felt debating the matter shouldn’t be the most important agenda for the evening. “It would be great if we put this much time, effort and energy into other matters concerning the students that we were sworn in to serve, the students we represent,” At-Large Senator April Jackson said. “The period, colon and semi-

What song would you have sung for your valentine?

colon shouldn’t matter, we should be focusing our attention on more important things than this.” Some senators felt raising the campaign spending limit shouldn’t deter potential candidate’s from the main goal of USG. “No matter how much you spend on a campaign it shouldn’t determine how well you represent the student voice,” Almeida said. Other senators agreed that suspending the bylaws shouldn’t impede the job of USG senators. “Bylaws shouldn’t prevent or get in the way of doing our job,” Emmelhainz said. Senator Johnnie L. Lewis agreed. “We should operate the best we can and not let bylaws intervene,” he said. At the end of the debating a vote was taken and the $300 limit still stands. The motion to suspend the bylaws concerning the election guidelines failed. In other business, USG is accepting student trustee applications until Thursday and extended this opportunity to three people present during the meeting. A student trustee is appointed by the governor and attends two meetings a semester and serves for two academic years.

It cost an estimated $16,460 for an Ohio resident and $23,768 for a non-resident to attend the University annually — not including the costs of books, health insurance and personal expenses, according to the Office of Admissions Web page. With today’s strained economy students are counting their dollars even more closely and should also be monitoring the status of the $838 billion stimulus package disclosed by House Democrats last month. The rescue funds are not only meant to boost the economy by creating jobs, improving healthcare and expanding renewable energy, but by also making higher education more affordable. Some faculty staff members are pleased with the stimulus plan because it will help the University. Micheal Zickar, chair and associate professor for the psychology department and an advisor for College Democrats, said the stimulus plan will be a step in the right direction to exiting out this crisis. “The economy is in as tough a shape as it has been since the Great Depression, and there is no magic cure for what is happening,” Zickar said. “But I am happy that President Obama has been thinking about how to solve the

immediate crisis as well as down the road.” Zickar said the stimulus plan will not only help make college affordable, but it will create a successful economy. “Making college affordable is going to be extremely important for the long term success of our economy, or else we won’t be able to compete with the increasingly highly educated workforces of China, India and the rest of the world,” he said. Part of the stimulus plan focuses on increasing the maximum amount of Pell grants to $5,100. Eric Bucks, associate director of student client services and scholarships for the financial aid office, said he is excited that affordability for college expenses will increase. “There are 4,991 students that are Pell grant recipients this academic year,” Bucks said. “The Pell grant goes to the neediest families; so assuming that they are eligible to receive the maximum of what the Pell grant has to offer will be great for them.” Bucks said if the Pell grant maximum increase is approved, a lot of aid will be given to students of need. The total aid varies depending if a student qualifies for the maximum or the minimum, which can range from $500 to $5,000.

See EDUCATION | Page 2

CHARLES DHARAPAK | AP PHOTO

FIST BUMP: President Barack Obama bumps fists with an audience member as he arrives for a town hall style meeting to discuss his economic stimulus package, yesterday.

White House-backed stimulus bill narrowly passes in Senate, despite strong Republican opposition By David Espo The Associated Press

The vote was 61-36, one more than the 60 needed to move the measure toward Senate passage WASHINGTON — An $838 bil- today. That in turn, will set the lion economic stimulus bill stage for possibly contentious backed by the White House negotiations with the House on narrowly advanced in the a final compromise on legislaSenate yesterday over strong tion the president says is desRepublican opposition, and perately needed to tackle the Democratic leaders vowed to worst economic crisis in more deliver the emergency legislation for President Barack Obama’s See STIMULUS | Page 2 signature within a few days.

University to break ground on Wolfe Center this April By Colleen Fitzgibbons Reporter

KENDALL MEYERS Freshman, Business

“‘My Humps’ by the Black Eyed Peas.” | Page 4

Stimulus plan focuses on economic revival Rescue funds make higher education affordable amongst other economic improvements

Frat erni ty se lls si ngin g va lent ines

WORLD

FORUM

CAMPUS

It’s study time

ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community

PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING

NEW ART BUILDING: Department of Theater and Film will receive a new theatrical arts building, called the Wolfe Center for the Arts, after raising the necessary funds of $40 million.

During the month of April while students walk to their classes and prepare for finals, the University will start preparing for the new theatrical arts building, the Wolfe Center for the Arts. Sherideen Stoll, the Vice President of Finance and AdministrationandtheUniversity’s Chief Financial Officer, said the official ground-breaking for the center will take place in April, but the actual construction will not

start until sometime this summer or fall. But, before all the construction takes place, bids from contractors need to be established. Bob Waddle, associate vice president of Capital Planning, said that since the building is being state funded, the bidding goes on to a Web site at the State Architects Office where contractors from all over search for offers on a regular basis. Waddle said once a contractor shows interest, Capital Planning gives them a month to put together

their bids and then the University has to do background checks and receive final recommendations from the architects and take those recommendations to the state for the release of funds. Stoll said the overall funding for the Wolfe Center will be $40 million. “We are grateful, absolutely grateful for the state capital dollars that have been made available to make this happen,” Stoll said.

See THEATER | Page 2

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2009-02-10 by BG Falcon Media - Issuu