2.13.2012

Page 1

Monday February 13, 2012 year: 132 No. 23

the student voice of

The Ohio State University

www.thelantern.com

thelantern Spring brings free RPAC fitness classes

sports

Thomas Bradley Campus editor bradley.321@osu.edu

Bouncing back

8A

The OSU men’s basketball team lost Saturday against Michigan State, 58-48, but are ready to “refocus.”

[ a+e ]

Fitness classes that previously cost $50 per quarter will now be free for all students beginning Spring Quarter. The Council on Student Affairs worked with Recreation Sports to determine exactly where the $82 per quarter fee goes, and found that it did not go toward one specific student service. After talks with Rec Sports and other representatives from the Office of Student Life, CSA wanted to find a direct way to put student dollars into student programming. “One of the things we looked at was that fitness fee. Students were paying $50 a quarter to participate,” said Brandon Edwards, chair of the Recreational Sports committee representing the Undergraduate Student Government. “After looking at peer institutions, we tried to figure

Thomas Bradley / Campus editor

Students are now able to take group fitness classes at the RPAC for free, after changes made by Rec Sports. The changes will go into effect Spring Quarter. out how to better serve the student population on campus.” Nick Messenger, USG president, said this is a “big win” for all students, although some students are unhappy about the change. “(During our campaign) we ran on a platform of making Ohio State

more affordable,” Messenger said. “Having fitness classes for free makes it more affordable for every Ohio State student to work out and improve physical fitness … regardless of where they come from.” Don Stenta, director of Rec Sports, informed Rec Sports

employees of the change in an email. “This is a wonderful opportunity to engage new participants in our group fitness classes,” Stenta said. “At the same time, we want to make it clear that we are looking at ways to hold harmless those who have been dedicated participants during the school year to this point.” Jo Hirlinger, a first-year in international business, said she purchased the fitness pass the first two quarters she spent at OSU. Hirlinger said she is worried if the classes are free, they will be too crowded for her to get into every class she wants. “Anyone that buys the fitness class pass feels like they get their money worth out of it,” Hirlinger said. Under the current system, Rec Sports offers the group fitness classes free for the first and last week of the quarter. Hirlinger said these times are “crazy” for fitness pass holders.

continued as Sports on 3A

Medical Center renamed for Les Wexner Chelsea Castle Managing editor castle.121@osu.edu

Closing up shop

5A

North Campus Video, a staple on High Street since 1978, is set to close its doors near the end of March.

campus

Compliance, integrity office created

2A

As the banner for the newly renamed Wexner Medical Center was unveiled, Leslie H. Wexner wiped tears from his eyes as “Carmen Ohio” was sung in the background. Wexner, an Ohio State alumnus, was honored Friday with the renaming of the Ohio State Medical Center to Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. “I want to thank everyone for this unique honor,” Wexner said at a ceremony commemorating the renaming. “It is humbling and in a way, thrilling. But mostly what I feel emotionally is kind of, ‘Why me?’” The OSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday morning to rename the hospital in honor of Wexner’s leadership and service to the university in the last three decades, President E. Gordon Gee said in an email to faculty, students and staff. “With our action today, the Board of Trustees has expressed to the world the university’s gratitude for the selfless commitment that the Wexners have shown to this university,” Alex Shumate, member of the Board of Trustees, said at the ceremony. Wexner acknowledged the contributions of his wife, Abigail, to the community and said his recent donation of $100 million to the university last February was largely from her. “The gift was made, was really instigated and solicited by her, of us,” Wexner said. “This is very much a gift from us … and the whole family, it should really be thought of and remembered that way.” A graduate of the university in 1959, Wexner said if it were not for OSU, he would not have attended college, and that his collegiate experience shaped his life. “That exposure and just openness to society and meeting different people, certainly was a gamechanger for me,” Wexner said. “It forms you.” Wexner shared that he remembers “vividly in college walking past the construction of Mershon Hall” on campus. “Pretty soon this building was up and it has somebody’s name on it,” Wexner said. “And I

Cody Cousino / Photo editor

Leslie H. Wexner, OSU alumnus and CEO of Limited Brands, is honored at a ceremony Feb. 10 to commemorate the renaming of the OSU Medical Center, now known as Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. thought, ‘Why would they do that?’ It seemed so odd to me, that somebody would care in such a way and want their name on a university building.” Wexner, CEO of Limited Brands, has donated more than $200 million to OSU and, as a member of the University Campaign Steering Committee, has played a vital part in propelling the growth of the university’s endowment, which is now more than $2 billion, according to a press release. In February 2011, Wexner donated $100 million to the university meant to be used primarily for the medical center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, Richard J. Solove Research Institute and Wexner Center for the Arts,

which was the largest single donation in the history of the university. Wexner has served on the Board of Trustees for 16 years, and as board chair he has played a key role in the $1 billion expansion of the medical center, according to a press release. In the email, Gee said the renaming “recognizes the critical work the Wexners have undertaken to ensure The Ohio State University Medical Center is able to solve some of medicine’s most persistent challenges and change lives for the better.”

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Program created to combat crime hike Get the daily email edition!

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Ayan Sheikh Lantern reporter sheikh.51@osu.edu In response to a number of armed robberies in the campus area Autumn Quarter, including one in a campus building, the university has invested in safety through the creation of several programs. At Ohio State’s Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, Javaune AdamsGaston, vice president of the Office of Student Life, and Jay Kasey, senior vice president for administration and planning, discussed improvements in safety because of “the unusual hike” in off-campus crimes last quarter. Adams-Gaston said educating students on ways to prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime was important. As a result, the Office of Student Life created the Buckeye Block Watch program to encourage students to take an active part in safety and crime prevention. “We are creating block watches with the students … and essentially these are opportunities for the students to speak with police, (and each other),” Adams-Gaston said. She called the social aspects of

the Buckeye Block Watch program powerful and said it will enable students to work closely together. Sean McLaughlin, director of Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement, told The Lantern the Buckeye Block Watch program was fused with the pre-existing Community Ambassador program at OSU. The Community Ambassador program is in its 10th year. “Community ambassadors are students who live in the off-campus neighborhood area,” McLaughlin said. “What they do is they work with our office and they do community-building activities.” McLaughlin also said ambassadors will host a total of 14 block watch meetings at their houses. A Student Life administrator and a Columbus Division of Police officer attend the meetings to facilitate and share safety tips with students. “It’s an opportunity for people on the street to come, to get a little bit of safety information, a little bit of training from the police officer,” McLaughlin said. So far, five of the 14 meetings have taken place. During the board meeting, AdamsGaston said students living in the

Buckeye Block Watch Following the stream of campus-related crimes last quarter, the Office of Student Life created the Buckeye Block Watch program. The program brings students, campus officials and police officers together to work on improving off-campus safety. Here are numbers of common campus crimes before and after the program’s development: 120 Robbery 100

Under Buckeye Block Watch

80 Burglary

60 40

Assault

20 0

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

source: reporting off-campus area will be provided with window placards and signs carrying statements such as, “If you see something, say something.” University officials have also asked students to notify their landlords in writing about any porch light bulbs requiring repairs. Adams-Gaston said doing so would enhance security measures in darkened areas. Aside from the Buckeye Block

Jan.

Chris PoChe / Design editor

Watch program, Kasey mentioned improvements made to the Buckeye Alert system and the Student Safety Services. Kasey said there has been a drop in off-campus crime rates in the month of January, with the number of burglaries dropping to 30 in January from 105 in October. Similarly, the

continued as Crime on 3A 1A


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