February 27, 2013

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Wednesday February 27, 2013 year: 133 No. 30

the student voice of

The Ohio State University

www.thelantern.com

thelantern

sports

Commencement Controversy

Graduation ticket limit increased to 6 KRISTEN MITCHELL Campus editor mitchell.935@osu.edu

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‘Embarrassing’ loss

OSU wrestling coach Tom Ryan called his team’s 28-6 loss to Missouri ‘embarassing.’

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Some students worried about getting enough tickets for the Spring Commencement ceremony can breathe a little easier knowing they’ll be given at least two more than they were originally told. Ohio State spokeswoman Gayle Saunders said the four ticket limit announced last week was only a starting point. “Our whole goal along the way was to find a way to accommodate students and their guests,” Saunders said. Students found out about the four ticket limit when it was announced that President Barack Obama would be delivering the Spring Commencement speech. The limit was put in place due to security measures, renovations to Ohio Stadium and the record number of graduating students. The ticket allotment increase came when additional sections of the stadium were set to be open after adjusting the schedule for renovations in the stadium. The stadium is scheduled to undergo renovations, and the OSU Football Spring Game on April 13 was moved to Cincinnati as a result. The renovations include replacing some concrete, but Saunders said it was too early to tell if the change would delay the project. Saunders also said while the university didn’t expect

ANDREW HOLLERAN / Photo editor

President Barack Obama speaks on The Oval on Oct. 9. He is expected to return for OSU’s Spring Commencement. for the ticket limit to remain at four, she said it’s too soon to tell if it will be raised to more than six. “As we learn about spacing needs, we will take that into consideration,” she said. Saunders said the university has heard feedback from students and parents on the ticket limit policy, and

that “our priority is our students and their families during this special time.” Commencement Speaker Selection Committee member and fourth-year in political science Niraj Antani said he gathered feedback from students and identified two possible solutions to some of the problems he had heard. An online site where students could register how many tickets they need was created, and university officials looked at how the commencement layout could be restructured in the stadium to accommodate more guests. “The solution came from students,” Antani said. The system allows students to register how many tickets they will need and if they believe they will need more than six. Since there is no way for the university to check how many tickets a student will actually need to accommodate their guests, it operates on the honor system. “If you really don’t need six tickets, don’t get six tickets. Get however many you need,” Antani said. “I hope students take that into account. I wouldn’t want someone’s family not be able to come to graduation.” Tom Reed, a fourth-year in information systems, said the ticket limit was just too low. “Four tickets definitely wasn’t enough, I’m glad OSU

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USG Election 2013

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Making the big stage

Ra Ra Riot is scheduled to play at A&R Music Bar Thursday at 7 p.m.

campus

OSU funds suicide prevention

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weather

ALEXANDRIA CHAPIN Lantern reporter chapin.39@osu.edu Unopposed candidates Taylor Stepp and Josh Ahart did not have to fight for speaking time on Tuesday night during the Undergraduate Student Government presidential debate. Stepp, a third-year in public affairs and current USG president, took the time that had been set aside for opposing candidates to debate to have an open discussion with the about 50 students who attended. Stepp outlined what he accomplished during his presidency and his future goals for USG before opening up the floor for questions. “I realize that it was very important to run again for a second-term,” Stepp said. “I think USG has done a lot of good this year.” Although Stepp did not have to debate with write-in candidate and

BECCA MARRIE / Lantern photographer

USG President Taylor Stepp (left) and vice presidential candidate Josh Ahart (right) listen to a question asked by a member of the audience during a debate at the Ohio Union Feb. 26. second-year in political science Jacob Coate, nor did Coate attend the debate, members of Coate’s campaign were there to represent him when the floor was opened up for questions. Caleb Johnson, a second-year in political science and English, is a

manager on Coate’s campaign. Johnson said Coate was not able to make it to the debate due to other speaking engagements. “We love everything (Stepp and Ahart) have to say, we just feel like we could do a little better,” Johnson said. “Jacob has a really big love for

democracy, and an unopposed election isn’t helping a democracy.” Cameron Phelps, a second-year in psychology and criminology, is the treasurer of Coate’s campaign and said Coate thought it would be rude to show up and debate Stepp without approval. “We met with the judicial panel earlier this week to become part of the debate,” Phelps said. “But the judicial panel didn’t see it our way.” The USG judicial panel interprets the USG constitution and oversees elections. Stepp acknowledged Coate’s absence. “I would love to have a conversation with him and debate if possible,” Stepp said. The incumbent said he feels more confident in his campaign compared to last year and said reception to the campaign has been “fantastic.”

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Low-income OSU students face losing aid

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RITIKA SHAH Lantern reporter shah.718@osu.edu

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Unless congressional action stops this Friday’s scheduled spending cuts, low-income Ohio students could see a drop in opportunities for financial aid and work-study positions. According to the White House, the impending sequester, a term for a series of automatic spending cuts by the government, will cause nearly 3,320 fewer low-income students in Ohio to receive financial aid assistance. The cuts do not end there — about 1,450 fewer Ohio students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college. The spending cuts will total $85 billion this year, and $1.2 trillion over the span of 10 years, according to multiple sources. Part of these spending cuts will affect the way students fund their higher education. While final figures won’t be solidified until Friday, Diane Stemper, executive director of student

financial aid in the division of enrollment services, said that as of now, about $62,000 in Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant money and $113,000 in work-study funds will be cut for the 2013-2014 year at OSU if an agreement isn’t made. “We would lose funding for our highest-need students,” Stemper said. “We would, total, have about 200 students impacted by that cut through those two programs.” Stemper also said under the sequester, students might be charged higher origination fees for their student loans, which are taken out for administrative purposes. Matia White, a third-year in criminology, said she receives all of her financial aid through work study, grants and loans. She works another job Monday through Friday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. to pay for what the financial aid doesn’t cover. White said she would be one of many such students forced to drop out of school if the sequester were to occur. “I do struggle a lot because I live with a mother

who doesn’t have a job,” she said. “If they were to cut any of my financial aid it would hurt a lot in my future goals. I already have to deal with balancing school and two jobs. I don’t think I could maintain my grades, stay afloat and support my family and school.” White said work-study jobs are flexible enough to allow students to do homework in breaks and focus on their education. Without a work-study job, she said, students would have to find work elsewhere, which might not allow textbooks on site and could negatively affect study time. Dhatri Kotekal, a second-year in microbiology, said if sequestration occurs, it would adversely affect students trying to focus on their studies and pay for books or food. “For me, the reason I have a work-study job is so that I can (conduct) research and have a job at the same time. This work-study job has been helping me pay for things like (groceries) and clothes,” Kotekal said.

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