THE BG NEWS April 8, 2009
Volume 103, Issue 133 WWW.BGVIEWS.COM
CAMPUS FORUM
Some students appear to have become obsessed with playing Food Friendzy on Facebook to win money and prizes from Campusfood.com | Page 3
Columnist Marisha Pietrowski faces the sad truth that journalists are not exempt from the dwindling job market and may have to pursue other career paths | Page 4
WORLD
Aftershock hits Italy
With an official count of 207 dead after the quake in Italy, an aftershock rumbled through the area causing more damage | Page 9
STATE
Woman running after cancer con A husband and wife team conned family and friends out of $800,000 claiming the woman had cancer, and she is now on the run from the law | Page 11
Gliding along in the pros
SPORTS
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Negative economy and downsizing hurts journalists too
Former Falcon icer Brandon Svendsen has been doing well with his new team the ECHL Idaho Steelheads | Page 7
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
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By India Hunter Reporter
Students have spoken and selected Sundeep Mutgi and Kevin Basch as President and Vice President of Undergraduate Student Government for the 2009-2010 academic year. With over 2,000 students voting and receiving 58.9 percent of the votes, Mutgi and Basch said they are thrilled to be in the positions of president and vice president for next year. “I’m trying to collect my nerves but I’m very excited right now,” Basch said. “I’ve got to text my parents and give them the good news.” In order to get ready for next year, Mutgi said his first goal is organizing the senate within USG. “First off, I want to make the senate a cohesive unit and get to know the new team,” he said. Basch said his main priority is communicating with students and making them comfortable talking to USG members. “I want students to feel free in approaching me if they have a problem because I love talking to students and hearing their concerns,” Basch said. More students voted in this year’s USG election than last year’s — which turned out 1,008 votes, USG Chief Administrator Brandon Sallad said. Many USG members attributed the increase in USG student interest to the hype of the Stroh Center. “In my four years I’ve been here, I’ve never seen students so interested and I’m very proud,” Sallad said.
USG Vice President elect Basch agreed. “Although I may have my disagreements about the Coalition for USG Reform, I respect all that they have done in getting students involved and interested,” Basch said. He also said he hopes this will make students next year continue that hands-on involvement. “I’d rather someone come up to me and say something than nothing at all,” Basch said. Chief of Staff Nicole Fratianne, who is also Mutgi’s girlfriend, said she is excited for the newly elected team as well. “I think they’ve put together a clean campaign and have worked very hard, especially after the Stroh debacle,” Fratianne said. “I have no doubt the students have elected the right two for the job.” And even though Rob Emmelhainz and his running mate Enoch Wu didn’t win the race, Wu said he has no regrets. “We have done everything we could have possibly done and I’m glad we had the support of so many students,” Wu said. One of Mutgi and Basch’s platforms is campus beautification, and Wu hopes they will focus on the interior of buildings on campus and not just the exterior. “I’ll be working to bring better technology to classrooms and in improving the appearance of classrooms,” Wu said. As for not winning the race, Wu said he was let down. “I am disappointed we didn’t win,” he said. “Sundeep and Kevin will get things done, but
University enrollment up from last summer, last fall
How are you paying for college?
ACCORDING TO THE BG NEWS ONLINE POLL
Mutgi and Basch win election, USG leadership
By Courtney Flynn Reporter
Questions regarding enrollment, the future of the University and the effectiveness of Faculty Senate were answered yesterday at the Faculty Senate meeting. The University is ahead by 113 students for summer enrollment and 859 students for fall enrollment compared to this time last year, Vice President of Academic Affairs Mark Gromko said. “People soft, [the new scheduling system], can handle more
enrollment at one time so don’t get too comfortable,” Gromko said. Applications for new and transfer students are down by 7 percent, but Gromko said the University is on target to admit 9,200 students, the same as last year. This means the University is looking at a flat enrollment rate. “Flat is the new up,” Gromko said. With a perspective flat enrollment rate, a budget cut between $6 million and $12 million is still expected
See FACULTY | Page 2
CAMPUS BRIEF
Charges pending in sexual assault case “I sell origami on the street.” | Page 4
INSIDE: Three University hockey players announced yesterday they would be leaving the team, while another said Monday he had signed a contract with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Go to the Sports page to read more | Page 7
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Facebook and food
DANI IGO Junior, Journalism
A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
portant USG platfor m st im i ss mo u es he
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Wednesday
ESTABLISHED 1920
Criminal charges are currently pending against a suspect who sexually assaulted a female University student during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 5. According to a release distributed by the University Police, the female resident was assaulted while she was asleep in her dorm
See USG | Page 2
At-Large Senators:
CollegeSenators:
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Leo Almeida Justin Albright Clayton Stewart Elyse Faulk Jamie Brucker Ashley Marvin Sean Lutzmann Robert Bell Cassandra Collier Andrew Fortlage Merissa Hall
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Off Campus Senators: ■ ■ ■ ■
Sarah Shepherd Tim Gribble Molly Albertson Scott Bilbrey
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College of TechnologyWaiting for acceptance College of Music-Jeremy England College of EducationJoseph Edens College of Health and Human Services- Victor Manfredi College of BusinessNicholas North College of Arts and Sciences- Danielle McConnell Nadia Gibbons Andrew Reed Paul Conley Dominic Wells Nathan Whitman Christopher Schiazza
Minority Affairs Senators ■ ■
Ashley Marvin Michelle Halderman
Students struggling with finances daily By Jesper Bekkers Reporter
For many students at the University, struggles with tuition fees are a constant occurrence in everyday life. During a workshop held last weekend focusing on self-reflection and coping with stress, students’ biggest concern was finances. The workshop was part of the C.A.U.S.E. conference held at
the University. For junior Aimee Klingelsmith, whose father recently lost his job, college finances play a major role in her life. She has over $50,000 in loans to pay for her education. “It’s harder after my dad lost his job,” she said. “Normally, I could depend on my parents for food or other stuff. All the money I earn is just to pay for my daily living.”
However, students can turn to different departments on campus to ease the stress of money matters. Student Financial Aid helps students pay their bills by providing access to a college education, according to Gregory Guzman, director of Student Financial Aid. “I can’t say if there are more families struggling with their
See FIN AID| Page 2
Service jobs see record breaking rise in applicants By Ella Fowler Reporter
room in McDonald Hall. The victim knew her attacker, police said. Students were reminded to be careful around other’s whom they are unfamiliar with, according to police reports. They were also warned to keep unknown people out of their rooms. Police encouraged students to report suspicious activity to the University Department at (419) 372-2346.
NEWLY ELECTED SENATORS OF USG
On Jan. 20, 2009 history was made and it wasn’t just President Barack Obama’s inauguration. A record number of applicants logged onto www.peacecorps. org and volunteered to give 27 months of service to an area of need. But it isn’t just the Peace Corps that has seen a rise in applicants — organizations across the country are breaking records
and increasing the number of volunteers. “We just think the culture among the college age generation is really prone to service and making a difference,” said Christine Torres, public affairs specialist for the Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office. According to Margaret Booth, program director of MACIE (Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural and International Education) and former Peace Corps volunteer, the increase in applications
is not only due to a more service prone generation, but also due to the economy. “When the economy goes bad two things happen,” she said. “Some people go back to graduate school and need to re-tool and look into different career options. Other people do things like apply for the Peace Corps.” Niki Messmore, an AmeriCorps volunteer, believes
See SERVICE | Page 2
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