THE BG NEWS
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ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Tuesday
FRIENDS, AND NOW, BROTHERS
March 31, 2009
Volume 103, Issue 127 WWW.BGVIEWS.COM
CAMPUS
A bright future
The outlook for computer science majors is beginning to look brighter in these troubled times | Page 3
ALAINA BUZAS | THE BG NEWS
What is a philosopher?
FORUM
Students listen to a panel of University alumni as they discuss possible career paths for philosophy students | Page 3
NATION
REUNITED: Logan Burnside spends yesterday afternoon on the basketball courts with fellow FIJI brother Joe “Howdy” Howdyshell. “We’re just hanging out, enjoying life and riding bikes,” Burnside said. Burnside and Howdyshell grew up together, were separated when they attended rival high schools and were reunited as part of the same FIJI pledge class.
ENERGY
pie
Crosswalks called into question after 1.7% man hits two students 1.4% 5.9% 1.0% 5.9% By Hannah Sparling Reporter
A painter shot and killed eight individuals in a shooting rampage in a nursing home in North Carolina | Page 5
Track team starts with a win
The Falcon track team opened the season on a positive note, winning against both Toledo and Central Michigan | Page 7
On March 3, freshman Evan Dietsch and sophomore Lindsay Blosser were hit by a car as they were crossing Mercer Road. Dietsch, Blosser and Dietsch’s Lindsay Blosser and Evan Dietsch roommate were crossing in front Dietsch pushed Blosser out of the way of the Ice Arena near Ridge Street. of a car while crossing Mercer Road They used the crosswalk and activated the flashing yellow lights the city installed last year. As they started car. She turned around in time to see walking across the street, a brown him fly about 30 feet through the air, 2001 Buick traveling toward them at land on his head and then roll a few 35 MPH didn’t yield. Dietsch pushed times in the street. Blosser out the way; the car clipped Blosser did not get hit fully, but her foot. Dietsch wasn’t as lucky. See CROSSWALK | Page 2 Blosser said she remembers hearing a thud as Dietsch was hit by the
WIND
NATURAL GAS
LANDFILLS
Controversy still brews after city council approved 50-year contract to build coal-fired power plant By Ella Fowler Reporter
the wholesale power supplier and service agency for 122 municipal electric systems in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, A controversial and complex issue is elec- Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. trifying the city of Bowling Green. “It is nothing more than an organiIn October 2007, Bowling Green signed zation created by Bowling Green and a 50-year contract to build a coal power other municipal electric utilities to work plant in Meigs County in Southeastern together and get some of the economies Ohio to be opened in 2013. of scale that large investor-owned utiliSince 2007, several organizations and ties get,” said Maynard, a member of the community members have voiced their board of AMP-Ohio. “Before AMP-Ohio opinions on the issue saying they do not we had to negotiate on our own with utilsupport the city’s decision to sign the ity companies.” contract. Maynard compared AMP-Ohio to a “People want to debate the contract now, co-op, adding they have been working on I wish I had heard from them 18 months Bowling Green’s power supply arrangeago,” said Kevin Maynard, Bowling Green ments for 20 years. utilities director. “Because now is not the In 1988, Bowling Green and 13 other time to back out of the legal obligations AMP-Ohio communities negotiated you have created.” a 20-year contract with Toledo Edison, The BG News took an in-depth look at now called First Energy, for 60 megathe debate surrounding the plant, includ- watts of base load power, which is the ing information about why Maynard says minimal power the city uses in energy. it is necessary and why organizations like In December of last year the contract Ohio Citizen Action say there are other expired, and First Energy did not want to ways to get our energy. renew the contract, Maynard said. Bowling Green then began looking at BACKGROUND other ways to receive energy to ensure The city of Bowling Green is a municipal the 60 megawatts of base load power utility and is overseen by a five-member needed to run the city was maintained. board that is appointed by the mayor and The city of Bowling Green currently confirmed by city council. receives power from various resources, “A municipal utility just means the city including wind turbines, hydroelectric owns it,” Maynard said. “We are not like power, Ohio landfills and other sources. Toledo Edison, which is different because In 2007, coal fired plants made up an estithey are a private investor owned for mated 75.3 percent of Bowling Green’s profit company. We on the other hand energy resources. are owned by the city.” However, Maynard said using renewIn 1981, Bowling Green and other Ohio able resources, like wind turbines and municipal utilities formed American hydroelectric plants, isn’t enough to fulfill Municipal Power-Ohio, which now is the city’s base load needs.
Stroh Center referendum completed, but not over yet Even though the votes have been counted and USG’s resolution has been upheld, some students are still concerned By India Hunter Reporter
After two days of competition with the finest rugby teams in the Midwest, the rugby team won its second Midwest Tournament crown | Page 7
mistake. The issue was resolved, according to Chief Administrator Even though the Stroh Center Brandon Sallad and President referendum vote is over, dis- John Waynick. cussion continued during last “The issue was a clerical one for night’s Undergraduate Student which I will completely take the Government meeting regarding blame for,” Waynick said. the voting process. Despite the technical error, Two complaints were filed by Sallad said it didn’t affect the students concerning the online meaning of the resolution. vote. One complaint was about The second complaint dealt the word “fully” being included in with another technical problem the resolution. which caused the online voting The resolution that appeared See USG | Page 3 on the ballot said “... the Undergraduate Student Government, representing the Don’t forget to vote for your next USG Student Body of Bowling Green representatives this week. Get informed State University, is fully supportive by reading about the candidates’ ...” The word “fully” was amended platforms at www.bgviews.com out of the ballot but appeared by
See COAL | Page 6
Obama demands for new concessions from GM, Chrysler
SunDial succeeds in reducing waste through Green Dining Initiative
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
By Becky Tener Reporter
Where do you think most of Bowling Green’s energy comes from?
TRAVIS COOK Senior, Theater and Film
“Hamsters.” | Page 4
9.0%
Slicing up the
(MARKET)
Columnist Marisha Pietrowski discusses the unusual ways schools are finding to survive during the economic crisis | Page 4
HYDRO
(BELLEVILLE & NYPA)
(City of Bowling Green Utilities Department)
NUCLEAR
Painter kills eight
SPORTS
75.3% (MARKET)
ESTIMATED BOWLING GREEN 2007 ENERGY RESOURCES
DIESEL
Schools find ways to beat rising costs
Rugby wins tournament
COAL
A suspect in the SunDial’s Green Dining Initiative was busted last month. Freshman Keith McBrayer was found using a glass plate, real silverware and eating in — he was caught “green-handed.” McBrayer was participating in the Sundial’s Caught Green Handed: The Green Dining Initiative to help make the dining hall more environmentally friendly. He was one of over 100 students who won a green water bottle for being caught making greener choices. McBrayer said he usually tries to use real plates and silverware so he thought it was exciting to be rewarded for doing it. “I don’t want to be wasteful,” he said. “So I try to make better choices.” Eliminating waste and finding ways the University can save
“I was happy to see how many creative ways the employees tried to educate people as they came through the lines. Because learning firsthand is the key.”
David Espo The Associated Press
Nick Hennessy | University Sustainability Coordinator
resources and money is why the Green Dining Initiative was started, said Nick Hennessy, the University’s sustainability coordinator. He said he helped the SunDial make some changes to be more environmentally friendly by using more recycle bins, encouraging students to eat in and use real plates and silverware. “They made great progress,” Hennessy said. “Once people knew what the procedure was, there was a clear change.” Hennessy said he was surprised how quickly the staff and students
embraced the initiative and took it seriously. “I was happy to see how many creative ways the employees tried to educate people as they came through the lines,” he said. “Because learning firsthand is the key.” One of the ways employees persuaded students to choose the greener option was in the food lines. After they said what they wanted, the employees would ask,
See SUNDIAL | Page 2
CARLOS OSORIO | AP PHOTO
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama asserted unprecedented government control over the auto industry yesterday, bluntly rejecting turnaround plans by General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, demanding fresh concessions for long-term federal aid and raising the possibility of quick bankruptcy for either ailing auto giant. Obama took the extraordinary step of announcing the government will back new car warranties issued by both GM and Chrysler, an attempt to
GM: General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner talk in a news conference.
See GM | Page 6
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