THE BG NEWS Wednesday May 6, 2009
Volume 103, Issue 153
CAMPUS
WWW.BGVIEWS.COM
Student taught, self learned When running away isn’t an option, learn kempo karate as self defense from student Matt Maurer | Page 3
FORUM
Cell ban, what could have been
The staff at the BG News feels the ban could still work, but as a secondary offense instead of a primary | Page 4
Boo, swine flu
Columnist Josh Whetherholt traced the start of the swine flu to an American company who will likely not see negative repercussions from the virus | Page 4
GOING GREEN
NATION
No more vacations The Center for Disease Control and Prevention no longer suggests schools with potential outbreaks of swine flu close | Page 6
Eco-friendly contest
The National Electrical Contractors Association is sponsoring a contest to invent ways to help universities go green | Page 5
WEATHER
PEOPLE IN THE NEWSROOM
SPORTS
Tennis team says goodbye The Falcon tennis team is losing three outstanding seinors in Stephanie Menoff, Libby Harrison and Kelsey Jaakupcin | Page 7
Warm weather welcomes crime By Ella Fowler Reporter
As temperatures rise and graduation looms, more students are apt to commit crime. AccordingtoSociologyProfessor Stephen Demuth, there are two dominant theories for why there are seasonal variations in crime. Routine activities theory and temperature aggression theory both explain the relationship between warmer weather and an increase in criminal activity, Demuth said. “[Routine activities theory] says crime is a rational thing. What happens is when weather becomes nice, more people are out as potential victims,” Demuth said. “People leave their doors open, windows open. People get out and interact more, so their is more opportunity for crime.” Demuth added the routine activities theory usually contains three components — a motivated offender, a suitable target and no protectors of the target. During the warmer months, there are more targets due to the increase in people who are outside and who leave their windows and doors open, Demuth said. “The other theory is what is
FREDDY HUNT Senior, Editor-in-Chief
“To cut back on paper costs, we installed a bidet in the newsroom.” | Page 4
TOMORROW Mostly Sunny High: 82, Low: 60
“There are so many different variables and it is hard to determine trends.”
nuisance party, Hetrick said. Since August 2008, there have been 17 total nuisance violations including civil and criminal citations and warnings. “I think that [Nuisance Party Regulations] have curtailed a lot of the big parties in the past,” Hetrick said. “They don’t get as huge as they used too.” The weekend of April 24, the weather spiked to the high seventies and because of the warm temperatures, students and community members flocked downtown. Due to the increase in people, the Bowling Green Police Department brought in three off-duty police officers. “We had to call extra people in because the sergeant that was working saw the mass crowds downtown and thought we better have some more people to keep people out of the roadways and address any issues that might come up,” Hetrick said. Despite the crowds, the weekend remained calm, as was this past weekend. And though Demuth said the weather may play a factor in crime, the age of defendants, or
See CRIME | Page 5
Nuisance Party Regulations:
A nuisance party is defined as a social gathering or party which is conducted on premises within the city and which, by reaons of the conduct of the persons in attendance, results in the violation of one or more of some of the following conditions or events occurring at the site of the said party of social gathering, or on neighboring public or private property: disorderly conduct; illegal open container; outdoor urination or defection in a public place, unlawful sale, furnishing, dispensing of consumption of beer or intoxication liquor; sale or furnishing of beer or intoxication liquor to an underage person; possession or consumption of beer or intoxication liquor by an underage person.
Penalty:
Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor; for a second offense committed within six months after the commission of the first offense, the person shall be guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor. Source: Bowling Green Police Department
University student runs Bowling Green election issues: Both turned down for city council seat By Kristen Vasas City Editor
Senior Rob Emmelhainz always had a passion for community politics, even from a young age. Watching his father, who worked as a pastor, interact with the neighborhood in a beneficial way impacted him greatly. “He was always willing to listen to anyone in the community,” Emmelhainz said. “I wanted to see that in myself.” In an effort to combine both his love for politics and small-town communities, Emmelhainz decided in early April that he wanted to run for a position on Bowling Green’s City Council representing the 2nd Ward. However, because the deadline for political party filing set by the Wood County Board of Elections had passed, Emmelhainz was required to sign as an independent by 4 p.m. on Monday, May 4. In order to be included on the November ballot, Board of Elections Director Terry Burton said Emmelhainz needed to collect 81 signatures from voters in the ward. However, with the help of six
By Andy Ouriel Reporter
TODAY Isolated T-Storms High: 79, Low: 57
called the temperature aggression variables and it is hard to detertheory which says violent crime mine trends,” Hetrick said. “We tends to go up in the summer and can’t really explain the trends or some people have argued that why the numbers keep going up maybe this has something to do and down.” with the heat,” Demuth said. “Hot Historically, there has been high weather makes people irritable.” activity on the weekends leading Lt. Tony Hetrick of the Bowling up to graduation, but this year Green Police Department said in and in years past, it has leveled the last couple of years criminal off. activity in the warmer months “We have had more activhas not been ity graduation nearly as busy weekend,” as in the past, Hetrick said. although he “Then again, said he doesn’t a lot of people know why. want to get out The correlaof town. They tion between have graduated the weather and and want to crime rates has go.” Tony Hetrick | Lieutenant been an interest How e v e r, for many sociHetrick said the ologists, according to Demuth. reason weekends leading up to “It is hard to study it because graduation might not be so high you just use micro level crime in activity is due to the Nuisance rates of police department statis- Party Regulations. Since the law tics,” he said. “And look at them was instigated in June 2004, there over [a period of] time and see have been less parties involvthe up and down trends of crime ing underage activities, Hetrick and try to understand one of the added. factors that participate.” The Nuisance Party Regulations Hetrick said there are multiple basically state if a person holdfactors associated with various ing a party is seen in violation of crimes, not just weather. the law — like underage drinking “There are so many different — they can be cited for having a
Rob Emmelhainz
University senior who announced bid for city council actively supportive community members, Emmelhainz was able to far surpass the quota and collect 191 to 200 signatures. “I encourage people, especially students, to support their own,” Dave Mauer, a Bowling Green resident who collected signatures for Emmelhainz, said. “It’s very seldom a student is on [city council] and there should be one on there to voice student concerns.” If Emmelhainz is voted onto the council come November, he has a number of goals he wants to achieve as part of the city government. First and foremost, Emmelhainz said he wants to see better representation for all occupants of the 2nd Ward, which covers properties east of Main Street and south of Clough Street.
Experience can be the most critical trait a leader will need in order to succeed in any entity, but for Psychology Professor William Balzer, it might not be the most important one to excel in a higher educational setting. “I need to be a good listener to the community, faculty and staff,” Balzer said. From this reasoning, Balzer convinced a University search committee to invest in both his experience and listening skills to help fill a prominent vacancy. Last week, the University announced Balzer will be the new dean of BGSU Firelands. Effective July 1, Balzer will leave his duties at the main campus and embark on a new journey when he implements his ideas at Firelands, located in Huron, Ohio. Balzer, who has been affiliated with the University since 1983, will
By Lin Chafetz Reporter
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Residents in Bowling Green yesterday cast their vote for two issues — neither of which passed. The issues voted on included a cell phone ban, which would have outlawed the use of cell phones while driving, and an income tax school levy, which would have raised the income tax level from a .5 percent to 1 percent for current operating expenses. At 5 p.m. yesterday, the voter turn out in the Union was 10 people, but at closing, 22 citizens had come out to cast their ballots. “There’s always a low turnout for the May elections,” said Jana Greaser, presiding judge of precinct 100 at the Union. “It’s always during finals week, which is a rough time for students to come out.” However, Greaser said this year wasn’t as bad as some. “There have been years where we’ve sat in the polling place all day and only had one voter,” she said. Another reason she proposed for the low turnout was the number of students who actually knew about the election.
See ELECTION | Page 6
See COUNCIL | Page 2
Motivated new dean announced for Firelands
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use his experience to help him transition into his new role. Not only did he serve as interim dean at BGSU Firelands from 1999-2001, but Balzer also acquired numerous leadership skills during his tenure as the Dean of Continuing and Extending Education program since 2001 and the chair of the psychology department from 1993-1999. “It’s a great opportunity,” Balzer said. “I think the chance to work with faculty, staff and students will be a repeat of a wonderful opportunity.” Balzer will also be relying on the community’s input to make vital decisions for Firelands’ future. “A big part of being a good dean is being a good listener,” he said. “Listening to what the community needs are, listening to students about what is working, listening to the faculty and staff on how to
See FIRELANDS | Page 2
‘Renaissance man’ makes education enjoyable By Gina Potthoff Managing Editor
Called a “Renaissance man,” hard worker and all-around great guy, W. Robert Midden has spent nearly 22 years of his life trying to make science and math more enjoyable for students at the University. “He’s the closest person I know to a Renaissance man,” Tom Klein, emeritus professor of English, said referring to Midden’s dual roles at the University and his affinity for Irish folk music. But while Midden, director of the Center of Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education: Opportunities for Success (COSMOS), plays a mean antique wooden Irish flute, his real love is teaching. After coming to the University in July 1987, he realized getting students excited about science was more difficult than he thought it would be. “My interest gradually shifted to how you can better educate people,” Midden said. “A lot of
the ways science and math are taught don’t always stimulate interest. I wanted to find better ways to do that.” Multiple choice exams and memorization weren’t compelling students into lecture hall seats, so Midden brainstormed new learning strategies that would get students involved. But designing research projects that were challenging and not overwhelming or mundane was no easy task. “You can know something in principle, but the challenge became putting that into practice,” he said. “It’s more enjoyable to learn about science when you’re actually doing science.” Midden created projects and modified curriculum to involve students in actually practicing science. One course he designed requires students to collect water samples and measure the quality of water in Wood County wells. At the end of the semester, the students present their
See MIDDEN | Page 2
PROVIDED BY TOM KLEIN
RENAISSANCE: Bob Midden stands with his wife, Mary, at a cemetery during a vacation to Ireland.
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