A broad view of the campus in photos
WHO’S NEXT?
The campus was alive with a version of ‘The Price is Right,’ the MSU vs. UNC final championship and more
THE BG NEWS April 7, 2009
Volume 103, Issue 132
CAMPUS
WWW.BGVIEWS.COM
Students find lifestyle tools
The Health and Wellness Fair provides students with the proper tools to live a healthier life | Page 3
Anyone ordering a salad at Commons Marketplace’s Salads by Design often needs to decide between favorite toppings, lettuce and dressing. But for the National Association of College and University Food Service, choosing the best was no toss up. This year was NACUFS’s 7th annual “Best in the Business” competition. A panel of judges evaluated different university dining programs across the U.S. in four categories. Salads by Design won the Food Service Application. “This is the first year Salads by Design is up and running,” said Sara Meyer, the marketing and advertising coordinator of dining services. “It won its first year.” According to a press release from dining
FORUM
Guest columnist Jon Halverstadt, a 2006 University alumnus, is concerned about how deeply the BGeXperience program has been cut and the implications of them | Page 4
A good, green start
wins food service award
ALAINA BUZAS | THE BG NEWS
ALAINA BUZAS | THE BG NEWS
ILLUSTRATION BY BLAISE TERRANOVA | THE BG NEWS
University to layoff some hourly employees
A brand new system
SPORTS
Where: Falcon’s Nest When: 2:00p.m.
See SALAD | Page 2
Columnist Justin Playl takes a moment to support President Barack Obama’s plan to use cap and trade policies to eventually decrease the use of greenhouse gases | Page 4
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
By Kate Snyder Assistant Campus Editor
No longer a university on the uprise...
By Kelly Metz Campus Editor
The University announced on Friday that 15 to 20 classified staff — hourly employees — will be laid off. According to a release, Rebecca Ferguson, assistant vice president for Human Resources, said the final number of layoffs won’t be known for several days because classified employees have the ability to move into vacant positions or “bump” other workers in their classification who have less seniority. Those hourly employees who do take the lower position will be offered the same benefits but at a lower pay scale, Marketing and Communications Director Dave Kielmeyer said. “I sat down with Human Resources on Friday night to discuss who has taken the layoffs or who has taken the bumps, and so far it’s a mix,” he said. “There are some advantages for both, but so
The Falcon football team is now in spring training, and the running backs are excited about the new system coach Dave Clawson has devised | Page 7
What special ingredient would you use to create the ultimate salad?
“It has to have plenty of meat. I’m a big guy, I like meat.” | Page 4
ESTABLISHED 1920
USG President/Vice President Results Announced Today:
Salads by Design
Tuesday
TYLER SMITH Freshman, Integrated Social Studies
See Page 14
“I sat down with Human Resources on Friday night to discuss who has taken the layoffs or who has taken the bumps, and so far it’s a mix ... it’s all across the board.” Dave Kielmeyer | Marketing and Communications Director
far, it’s all across the board.” Since last fall, the University has cut about 70 jobs through eliminating vacant positions, attrition, retirements and layoffs. “We’ve worked very hard with the vice presidents, deans and others with budget responsibilities to eliminate vacant positions and taken other steps to try to reduce the number of people affected,” Ferguson said in the release. Faith Olson, Classified Staff Council chair, said she received the call from Human Resources about the layoffs at 6 p.m. on Thursday. She was back in the Human Resources office at 6:30 a.m. on
Friday, offering support to those who were being laid off. “We have known for some time that something was going to happen and that there would be job eliminations, we just didn’t know when they would occur,” she said. “Human Resources has handled the layoffs very professionally and the council has been very supportive during this tough process. “Someone in CSC leadership is at the meeting with the employee and Human Resources when they are being told they will be let go or
See LAYOFFS | Page 2
THIS WEEK’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING: MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY AGREE ON ISSUES (Compiled by Kristen Vasas, City Editor Next Meeting: April 20) Action: A resolution was adopted approving a Community Development Block Grant Citizen Participation Plan for the city of Bowling Green. Vote: 6-0
Action: An ordinance was adopted establishing interim zoning of R-2 Residential zoning for properties on the south side of East Gypsy Lane Road recently annexed by the city. Vote: 6-0
Action: An ordinance was adopted authorizing Municipal Administrator John Fawcett to seek proposals and enter into a contract for income tax processing software, installation, configuration and data conversion for the City Income Tax Division. Vote: 6-0
Action: An ordinance was adopted allowing approximately 20.5248 acres of land owned by the Northwest Ohio Tractor Pullers Association to be annexed from the city of Bowling Green to Plain Township. Vote: 6-0
Reporter’s Notes: City Council President Megan Newlove was absent from last night’s meeting.
For graduating seniors, University’s Grad Fair may be just the ticket By Eric Reed Reporter
Graduating seniors know there is just over a month left. Many of these seniors eagerly cross off each day that brings them closer to the day they get to say goodbye to the University. To help facilitate the graduating process, the University Bookstore is holding its 14th Grad Fair today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Union’s Multipurpose Room. “The Grad Fair is done as a convenience to grads so they can get everything they need and not have to make multiple trips,” said Wendy Schortgen,
assistant merchandise manager for the University Bookstore. The Grad Fair also offers students a 20 percent discount on grad packs, which contain items such as a cap and gown, a tassel, 20 announcements and other graduation-related items. Students can also pick up their graduation tickets at the Grad Fair. “We’re giving away four sets of three extra graduation tickets this year,” Schortgen said. If students feel lost walking into the Grad Fair, they have no need to worry. “I’ll be sitting at the first table,” said Pam Oler, gen-
See GRAD FAIR | Page 2
USG discusses slashed budgets threatening music organizations By India Hunter Reporter
Members of various musical organizations expressed concerns about their ability to exist after having their budget slashed by nearly 97 percent for the 2009-2010 academic year by the Student Budget Committee. At last night’s Undergraduate Student Government meeting, Eric Watts, president of the men’s chorus group the HeeBeeBGs, asked USG members for advice and support on how to handle receiving drastically less funding
next year. The Men’s Chorus went from getting $4,000 for the 20082009 academic year to $110 next year, which will affect the organization’s ability to go on tours. Chris Kulhanek, president of the A Capella Choir, has worries for his organization as well. “Usually we get money in the thousands and the numbers for this year were significantly less,” he said. The central reason why musical organizations received less
See USG | Page 2
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