playing the field:
THE BG NEWS ESTABLISHED 1920
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see what the softball team has lined up this season in the Sports preview on page 9
A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Friday
VCTO hopes to ‘capture’ memories
February 13, 2009 Volume 103, Issue 101
CAMPUS
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Who’s line is it, anyway?
The University’s improv groups, Bad Genetics and Plastic Shatners, performed in the Union last night | Page 3
FORUM
Star status and accountability Forum columnists have taken to debating, and this week, Forum Editor Kyle Schmidlin and faculty columnist Phil Schurrer debate whether prominent figures should be held to a higher a standard after making bad decisions | Page 4
It’s all Greek to her
Columnist Alison Kemp continues to write from her travels abroad, this time as she explores Greece | Page 4
PULSE
Singles’ Awareness Day On Feb. 14, while couples celebrate Valentine’s Day, some single people are celebrating Singles Awareness Day possible | Page 7
SPORTS
Rolling with the wins
By Michelle Olmstea Reporter
a rk City has always been Performing in New Yo Noe. dream of singer Maria a this dream will become ys, da ort In just 10 sh reality. in an industry showNoe will be performing ll ret club called “Don’t Te case at the famous caba . 23 Feb. Mama” in New York on t, online and the publicis it t ou ab t ou nd fou “I d an ge pa e my YouTub Michael Martinez, saw d. sai e sh ,” rm rfo pe d me to t liked it, and so he invite ture showcase; you ge nia mi a be to ing “It’s go
By John Buckingham Reporter
See SINGER | Page 2
T E R A B CA st University vocali
After men’s basketball’s win against Toledo on Wednesday, women’s basketball continues their own winning streak by defeating Toledo last night 70-53 | Page 9
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to take
baret club a c s u o m fa in rm , will perfo C Y N to t n le ta r e h
Election fever turns into community ‘progress’ New organization Progress BG hopes to continue the work started through Obama’s campaign
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
By Hannah Sparling Reporter
Do you think public figures should get in trouble when they break the law?
LIZ FILIPPI Freshman, Psychology
“I don’t think people should be treated differently because they have money.” | Page 4
President Barack Obama’s election campaign inspired hundreds of Wood County residents to get involved in the political process by making phone calls and knocking on doors, and many aren’t ready to stop. Bowling Green residents, many of them former volunteers from the Obama campaign, joined together in mid-December to form Progress BG, a group devoted to continuing what was started during the campaign, said Maria Simon, one of the group’s organizers. “We worked hard to get him elected, and we’re going to work hard to get this country moving in a positive direction,” Simon said. “I think people just got way too engaged to now just sit back and watch it on the news.” There are about six core orga-
nizers of the group, but there is no official membership to Progress BG, other than the Facebook group, which now has 129 members. The group also has no official ties to any politician or political party. There is a larger group of the remnants of the Obama campaign called Organizing for America, but Progress BG actually formed about three weeks before OFA. Roger Shope, another core organizer, said Progress BG is not part of OFA and will probably remain separate. “Our goal is really to get people together and get them educated and involved,” Shope said. “The minute we begin to define what this group stands for or doesn’t stand for we begin to alienate people.” Shope said Progress BG is open to all people no matter what their political party or whom they support. It is not about supporting
While Valentine’s Day can be an expensive holiday, the Visual Communication Technology Organization is doing its part to provide students with an inexpensive and thoughtful way to celebrate the holiday. Today, VCTO is holding their first Valentine’s Day photo shoot starting at 11 a.m. in the Union. For $3, students can get their picture taken [as a couple or with friends] and will receive two printed copies along with a digital copy. Treasurer Andrew Rincardi said in the five years he’s been attending the University, he’s never seen another group put on a photo-themed event geared toward the holiday. “We’re reaching out and trying something different,” Rincardi said. “We’re here to help the students.” In addition to events such as the photo booth, VCTO offers technology and professional career building workshops which are open to anyone who may be interested. This is VCTO’s first major event of the school year and the group has plans to incorporate their ideas in a similar photo shoot for “Sibs and Kids” weekend, President Andrew Snowden said. Even with 25 active members, Snowden said VCTO welcomes any student interested in photography, technology, video and print media. While VCTO has many upcoming planned events, right now they are concerned with the success of today’s photo shoot. “It will be a fun picture,” Snowden said. “It’s convenient for [students] to get a custom picture for the holiday.” All the fees VCTO collects from the photo shoot will be used to fund a trip to a print convention to further the organization’s knowledge in the field of technology. “[The photo shoot] is a way to use things we’re good at for the students and to promote VCTO,” he said. Sophomore Zach Ober, who plans to get his photo with his girlfriend today, is glad an organization like VCTO is making a gift very affordable for his student budget. “[The photo] will make a lasting memory for me and my girlfriend,” Ober said. Snowden hopes this photo
See PHOTOS | Page 2
PHOTOS PROVIDED PROGRESS BG
DRIVING FOR CHANGE: Several members from Progress BG took several days scanning the neighborhood for unwanted food. The group tries to make change from the ground up.
a political candidate or working toward the next election or even working to push policies, he said. It’s more about locating needs in Bowling Green and meeting them. Justin Marx, another organizer
for the group, said Progress BG is mostly made up of Democrats but not by rule. “Anyone can join,” he said. “We
See PROGRESS | Page 2
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A SHOT OF LOVE Valentine’s Day photo booth:
$3 include two 4x6 photo copies, a digital copy and custom text ■ Friday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. ■ The Student Union ■