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THE BG NEWS
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EAT YOUR WHEATIES: Check out Pulse for how to start your day right See Page 5
FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2009
ESTABLISHED 1920
Volume 104, Issue 30
A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
ROTC brings new Falcon to the University By Alissa Widman Reporter
Freddie and Frieda aren’t the only falcon mascots at the University this semester. Freedom Falcon, Air Force ROTC’s new official mascot, is enjoying his first full year on campus, Director of Staff Rachelle Miller said. According to Captain Eric Norton, unit admissions officer for Air Force ROTC, the idea for Freedom Falcon originated as collaboration from both the staff of Air Force ROTC and
cadets. Once recruitment funding is spent, leftover funding is available for unique ideas like Freedom, Norton said. The name Freedom was chosen by the students after suggestions were submitted via e-mail. “Being that we’re part of a military training establishment, Freedom just seemed like the natural name to go with, and with the play on the letter ‘f’ it just fit,” Norton said. Freedom Falcon is an idea completely original to the University. Both Norton and Miller said out of
all 144 detachments nationwide, the University’s 620th detachment is the only with a mascot like Freedom. Male Air Force ROTC students take turns wearing the Freedom costume, a fierce blue falcon with the air force logo on his chest. Freedom is also always accompanied by his “wing man,” an Air Force ROTC student who can inform students about the organization, Norton said. Although conversations about an
MIKE HAYS | THE BG NEWS
FREEDOM FALCON: Frieda poses with the Air Force ROTC’s Freedom Falcon.
See FALCON | Page 2
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Weigand enters 41st year of service By Matt Nye Reporter
Jim Weigand, the chief of campus police, is in his 41st year of law enforcement. He started in Toledo with the Detective Bureau in 1969, and then was promoted to active chief in 1994. “In 1998 I came to BGSU, I was Director of Public Safety and have been Chief of Police since,” Weigand said. “I graduated from the University of Toledo and attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.” Presently, he is in charge of Jim Police Division, Parking and Weigand Traffic, and Shuttle Operations. Weigand He also is the Chairman of Lucas County Crime Stopper began his career in law Program. His colleagues on the force enforcement believe in him and respect in 1969 him. “He is a good chief, gives you the appropriate guidance when needed,” Sergeant Tim James said. “He has a lot of experience, especially in the investigating
RESETTING RE
THE PINS
See POLICE | Page 2
Workshop attempts to stomp out prejudices ANDREA FEHL | THE BG NEWS
With a new team on their hands the club bowling team is excited for the upcoming season
The National Coalition Building Institute hosts a two part series or full workshop in upcoming months By Megan Woodward Reporter
Prejudice is everywhere in society, according to a workshop held in the Union yesterday. Emily Monago, from the National Coalition Building Institute, and Cynthia Kenny, a grad student in the general health program, taught students about prejudice in everyday society. “In this workshop we are trying to make students aware of the prejudice out in the world,” Monago said. “Not just between their peers but in the future and society as well.” During the workshop, students worked on many activities to show prejudice is prevalent. Activities included stand up and first thoughts. “We use the activity ‘first thoughts’ because it makes students think about the prejudices that they are not in,” Monago said, “while ‘stand up’ is an activity that shows students the prejudice that are involved in.” The workshop was not about just the bad prejudice in the world, it was also about the good, Kenny said. Students learned that there are prejudices everywhere, even in the same group of people. “People will be called up for their religious background and we will see what kind of diversity is in their religion,” she said. “We also look at the prejudice inside the prejudice issue.”
By Austin Arnold Reporter
The University club bowling team is off and rolling, as they begin a new season. The club bowling team has had one tournament so far this year and they placed 19th out of 40 teams. Club President Toby Lentz said he was somewhat surprised at the club’s first performance. “We have a lot of freshmen this year so it was hard to judge how good we would be going into the first meet, but we bowled very well,” he said. We were able to place in the top half of the teams that were there, so I was impressed with that.” Bill Wammes, coach and owner of Al Mar Lanes, where the team practices, said this could be a notable season for his team. “I look forward to a really good year, it was suppose to be a building year even but I was surprised in our first meet,” Wammes said. “If we continue to improve we should be able to be really good, we could realistically qualify for sectionals.” Lentz said that along with sectionals, finishing in the top ten of the American
See BOWLING | Page 2
See PREJUDICE | Page 2
CAMPUS Motivating and entertaining
FORUM FORUM When a poll may not a be real poll
SPORTS SPORTS Hockey hopes to move on
As a part of their celebration of Latino Heritage Month, the Latino Student Union brought Latina motivational speaker Pegine Echevarria to campus | Page 3
In our staff editorial, The BG News questions whether USG’s upcoming student poll on a possible $20 downtown shuttle fee will be taken as seriously as it could be | Page 4
After an offseason full of drama, the Falcon hockey program is hoping to move forward as they begin their new season against Minnesota State University-Mankato | Page 5
PEOPLE ON THE STREET What would you throw down a bowling lane?
VISIT BGVIEWS.COM: NEWS, SPORTS, UPDATES, MULTIMEDIA AND FORUMS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
JOSE DURAN Sophomore, Exercise Science
“A cantelope. It’s my favorite fruit.” | Page 4