THE BG NEWS ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 15
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Student event to encourage voter registration Campus orgs collaborate for election By Seth Weber City Editor
E-cigarettes, hookah not healthy alternatives By Corey Maxwell Reporter
AN INDUSTRY SURGE
The rise of the electronic cigarette market has been quick, with the industry on pace to hit a record $1.7 billion in sales this year, up from $20 million in 2008. Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have become popular due to their different flavors of tobacco and the sleek design of the product. “E - c i g a r e t t e s
See CIGS | Page 2
Students who register to vote will have a chance to pie someone in the face on Thursday. As an initiative to encourage voting, University organizations including Undergraduate Student Government [USG], the Black Student Union [BSU] and University Activities Organization [UAO] are letting students pie people in the Falcon’s Nest. To qualify to pie people, students must already be registered to vote or must register at the event. During the event, there will be forms that students can fill out to register to vote, said USG President Brian Kochheiser. “This is a kickoff event just to get some buzz around voter registration,” Kochheiser said. “We strongly advise students to practice their right to vote.” Although there is more attention around presidential elections, Kochheiser said midterm elections are just as important. While BSU and UAO have participated in this event before, Kochheiser said this is the first year USG has taken part in it. This event is just one step in a process of getting students more politically involved, said Board of Trustees member David Westmeyer. The deadline for registration is Oct. 6 and the University will be working to get as many students as possible registered before that date. “We’re doing voter registration initiatives all weekend,” Westmeyer said. “This is kind of the kick-off event for that.” There will also be an event in October that will educate students about being informed voters. Westmeyer said voting is an important duty of citizens, which is why the University is promoting it. “It’s part of being an active member of the community,” he said. “Every vote counts.” The event is being hosted in the Falcon’s
See PIE | Page 2
Brazil student adjusts to BG
TASTE OF SOMETHING MORE
Isabel Souza discovers differences in culture, education By Cassie Sullivan Assistant Managing Editor
Going to college is a huge adjustment for students and for some, it involves adjusting to a new culture. For Isabel Souza, who is from Brazil, the adjustment is learning how to live in the American culture. Souza has been at the University for a month and had spent the previous five months at the University of New Orleans. While Bowling Green isn’t exactly the same as New Orleans, Souza has learned to adjust. “I’m here, in [the] United States ... for six months. Before I came here, I was in New Orleans, studying English. [New Orleans] is really bigger, bigger than here,” Souza said. “When I knew that I would have to come here, I was like ‘oh my gosh, where is it?’ I didn’t know about BG— it’s a small city and all of the country parts of the United States ... But I’ve been enjoying it so far.” Souza is here until the end of the spring semester as an architecture major. Here to learn English, Souza has enjoyed her time at the University and in Bowling Green. When an international student agrees to attend the University, their experience starts before they even get into
the country. Andrea Voogd, the assistant director of International Student Services [ISS] says the office does a lot to prepare students who are coming to the University. ISS has information for students on their website and when students are admitted, they get a packet that includes information about the city and the University, MyBGSU, immigration and medical documents and housing, among other papers. When students arrive at the University, they are required to attend an orientation, which is a full day of programming. “It gives them information that sometimes American students might take for granted,” Voogd said. “International students don’t know, like for an example, we talk about the Bursar all the time. That’s kind of a strange name for the place where you pay your bill. We have to tell them that up front. They don’t understand that they have free access to the Recreation Center. The American education system is much different than other education systems.” W hile international students are assimilating into the American culture, students are also reminded not to lose who they truly are.
See SOUZA | Page 6
BG FACES RANKED OPPONENT The BG Men’s soccer team will welcome Michigan State University to Cochrane Field this Wednesday. The Spartans are currently ranked 16 in the nation, while the Falcons are off to a great start this season. | PAGE 3
SHEILA HOEGLER | THE BG NEWS
ALYSSA SANTACROCE and Katie Gendszek, second-year graduates, enjoying the Black Swamp Beer Tasting event in the Union.
MANNERS, PLEASE
Columnist Dominic Binkley discusses his unfortunate encounters with rude students. Read about his wish for people to exercise common courtesy in Forum. | PAGE 4
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE NEWLY ADJUSTING TO COLLEGE LIFE?
“Get out of your comfort zone and talk to people.”
SEAN CONNER
Sophomore, Asian Studies and International Business