Thursday January 27, 2011 year: 131 No. 15 the student voice of
The Ohio State University
www.thelantern.com
thelantern Students blow smoke in face of law, sign
sports
NaThaN mCCUlloUGh Lantern reporter mccullough.179@osu.edu A sign placed near the Science and Engineering Library’s main entrance tells smokers that lighting up is prohibited within 25 feet of the building. But some say cigarette smoke continues to linger near the library’s front doors. “Smoking has been more of an issue at SEL than other library locations,” said Larry Allen, communications coordinator for university libraries. In November 2006, Ohio voters approved an indoor smoking ban, making Ohio the first Midwestern state and the first tobacco-growing state to enact such a ban, according to the Ohio Department
“
”
I don’t care what the sign says, if I’m stressed I can smoke here.
Jinhee Cho third-year in finance
of Health’s website. The ODH estimates there are about 280,000 public places and places of employment that the ban covers. University policy, in agreement with Ohio law, stipulates that smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of
doors, windows and ventilation systems on campus. Conspicuous signs outlining the law are required to be placed on OSU buildings, but library officials said the SEL needed a larger-than-usual sign as an extra reminder of the smoke-free policy. “We needed to advertise the policy more clearly because we noticed a trend in people smoking too close to the building,” said Mike Vanecko, the building coordinator of SEL. “So we got a bigger sign. We hope it makes people more aware of the policy.” The sign was placed in front of the main doors on Dec. 10, Vanecko said. The SEL sign instructs individuals to report smoking violations by calling the Ohio smoke-free
continued as Smoking on 3A
1B A day in the
hall’s got talent
LIFE
Former OSU football player Maurice Hall has appeared in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘House.’
arts & life
of William Buford
START
lantern reporter Blake Williams spent Monday with guard William Buford of the Ohio State men’s basketball team, following the junior to his class, lunch, haircut, workout and more.
Central Classroom Building
5A
MOLLY GRAY / Managing editor for design Photos: JOE PODELCO / Photo editor
blaKe WIllIams Senior Lantern reporter williams.3012@osu.edu You might know that William Buford is the starting guard for the No. 1-ranked Ohio State basketball team, but you might not know that he is a quiet student, a below average ping-pong
10:32 a.m.
Buford arrives two minutes late to Swahili 102.
player, loves the kids’ meal at Raising Canes and his car could use a trip to the shop. Buford arrived at Central Classroom Building at 10:32 a.m. Monday. He walked briskly up the stairs on the right to get to his 10:30 a.m. class, Swahili 102. Even though he arrived a few minutes after
continued as Buford on 2A
Schottenstein Center
‘Juno’ director stops by osU
3:25 p.m.
Academy Award-nominated director Jason Reitman is scheduled to speak and answer questions at the Union.
sports
Buford plays well despite ankle
1 p.m. Get in car
4A
weather high 29 low 27 flurries
F SA SU M
Enter or leave the Schott Parks Hall
Stabbed dog healing well so far
33/22 flurries 34/22 flurries 29/19 partly cloudy 28/20 cloudy www.weather.com
3 p.m.
Watches Purdue film.
Grabs lunch at Raising Cane’s on Ackerman Road.
1B
campus
Enter the Schott
Has ankle worked on in training room.
11:18 a.m.
Picks up David Lighty after class.
3:30 p.m. 11:45 a.m.
Basketball practice.
Gets a haircut in the lockerroom.
12:30 p.m. Plays ping pong with teammates.
6:35 p.m.
Heads home to study and sleep.
FINISH
USG’s goal: Keeping tuition affordable Kyle KNoX Lantern reporter knox.154@osu.edu A day after President Barack Obama focused his State of the Union address on the economy, USG President Micah Kamrass said keeping tuition affordable will be a priority during the rest of his time in office. Achievements and goals were most of the topics that about 125 attendees, including USG members, university administrators and students heard. Kamrass, a fourth-year in political science and economics, delivered the speech in the Great Hall Meeting Room of the Ohio Union at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Kamrass identified tuition affordability as his primary goal for the remainder of the USG term.
Kamrass said USG would work with OSU administrators to make spending more efficient and to reduce expenses. “We must work with university administration to ensure that our students do not experience a costly tuition credit cap next year as many students plan to take an increased course load to prepare for the transition to micah Kamrass semesters,” Kamrass said. Amanda Bragdon, a fourthyear in political science and economics and co-chair of the Human Rights Campaign, stressed the importance of keeping tuition costs at a manageable level. “Most of us are making minimum wage,”
Bragdon said. “The difference between going to college and not may be $1,000 per quarter.” Kamrass said USG would work to reestablish relations with the state and to advocate on students’ behalf. He also announced an effort to lobby the state government to enact a weeklong tax holiday on school supplies, including textbooks. Kamrass said student governments in 14 other states successfully lobbied to enact similar legislation. The USG Government Relations team has begun researching. Jaime Gusching, USG senator representing the College of Business, said she appreciated the inter-branch synergy Kamrass brought to USG. She commented on the importance of the tax holiday endeavor.
continued as Kamrass on 3A 1A