THE BG NEWS ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 18
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Parade route changed
Path starts downtown, ends on campus
A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE
By Jon Stinchcomb Reporter
The University’s homecoming parade has long been a tradition allowing current students to showcase their organizations to returning alumni, but this year’s events are expanding to embrace an even broader community. As a result, the most prominent change is to the parade route. The route will now begin at the corner of South Grove and Wooster Streets on the west end. It will head east, marching through downtown, through campus and ending on Mercer. “This route came to fruition after collaboration with city leaders and members of the Homecoming Student Steering Committee,” said Christopher Bullins, the University’s associate dean of students. Bullins said the city of Bowling Green and the University share a “tremendously strong partnership.” Through this, members of both communities expressed interest in extendending the parade route and including a new downtown component, he said. Bowling Green Municipal Administrator John Fawcett said the new route reflects the desire of both the city’s and University’s administrations for all homecoming events to be more inclusive of the entire community. “We thought it was important to make the downtown a part of the parade route, hoping it will serve as an invitation to residents to partake in homecoming activities, capped off by
Speaker touches on American news coverage of Middle East, shares views
ERIC BURGASSER | THE BG NEWS
ABOVE, BOTTOM RIGHT: Journalist Lawrence Pintak speaks to students in room 207 of the Union about American news coverage of the Middle East.
By Denny McCarthy Reporter
For journalist Law rence Pinta k, being immersed in the world of Islam is no alien concept, but rather, a pivotal point of his career. In an effort by the World Affair Council of Northwest Ohio, Pintak spoke at the University Tuesday about his experience in the Middle East and the American media’s misrepresentative portrayals of other cultures. “We don’t graze the media,” Pintak said. “We don’t take in a variety of viewpoints. We go to the media organization that ref lects back to us our preconceived notion. Anywhere you look, you see the world
See TALK | Page 5
PHOTO PROVIDED
PINTAK IS the founding dean of the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.
ERIC BURGASSER | THE BG NEWS
See PARADE | Page 2
WE’RE WITH THE BAND
Fantasy fooball costs billions in lost productivity Firm estimates losses outweigh league fees paid by members nationwide By Jon Stinchcomb Reporter
JOHN CLEVENGER | THE BG NEWS
MEMBERS OF the Falcon Marching Band rehearse Tuesday for their homecoming show.
HITTING THE ROAD
The men’s soccer team goes on the road again, maintaining its focus in search of its eighth win against Indiana UniversityPurdue University Ft. Wayne. | PAGE 3
While more and more people are playing fantasy football, the impact it has on work, school and friends may not be what some would expect. Over the past 10 years, the number of Americans participating in fantasy sports has more than tripled to an estimated 41.5 million, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. The FSTA is an organization comprised of over 200 member companies in the fantasy sports industry and is one of the leading researchers in this continually expanding social phenomenon. According to demographic research by the FSTA, the vast majority of these millions are college-educated males whose favorite fantasy sport is football. Just under half of them pay league fees. At an average of $52 per player, it accounts for a U.S. market share of $1.71 billion. While that may seem like a staggering amount of money, there is evidence that the game’s impact on workplace productivity amounts to much more.
VICTIM-BLAMING
Cha llenger, Gray a nd Christmas, Inc., an outplacement consulting firm in Chicago, sought to find out how much of the time spent on fantasy football occurred while players were at work and the resulting amount of lost productivity. Using the FSTA’s statistics on time spent by players and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data on average earnings for the specific demographic, Challenger, Gray and Christmas found that fantasy football may cost employers $13.4 billion in lost productivity. That was based on a “conservative” estimate of only two hours per week spent while on the job. “We are not trying to demonize fantasy football,” said the firm’s CEO, John A. Challenger, in a statement. “It is important to understand that there are more distractions than ever in today’s workplace. If it’s not fantasy football, it’s the latest Hollywood gossip, shopping on Amazon, or checking Facebook.” Students at the University who play fantasy football seemed to affirm these findings. Dylan Fultz, a freshman majoring in middle childhood
In focus editor Ashley Hardwick criticizes those blaming Janay Rice and her decision. She thinks individuals need education about domestic violence before assuming one’s reasoning for staying. | PAGE 4
education, said he sometimes checks his fantasy teams during work or class. Fultz is in three different leagues and said he spends about two hours per week managing those teams. “I play with friends just for fun,” Fultz said. “I really want to win though.” Freshman Josh Pomplas said he considers winning pretty important as well. Pomplas is in a paid league and said he has occasionally finds himself managing his fantasy team during class. “I probably spend around an hour a day on my fantasy team,” Pomplas said. Whether it’s setting starting lineups, checking the waiver wire or reading the latest from the plethora of experts online, managing a fantasy football team takes time. Doing it well takes even more. In fact, despite the potential for a seemingly large loss in productivity, Challenger said an across-the-board ban on fantasy sports can actually backfire on employers. It can cause a drop in morale, loyalty and,
See FANTASY | Page 5
HOW HAS COLLEGE EXPANDED YOUR CULTURAL AWARENESS? “It’s made me come to respect other peoples’ religion/cultural heritage and not force my own upon them.” Dalton Jennings Sophomore, Marketing