The Lantern, Feb 24 Edition

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Wednesday February 24, 2010 year: 130 No. 69 the student voice of

The Ohio State University

www.thelantern.com inside Flowers brighten up fashion graduate student's dance project on page 10

thelantern Will everyone take same GECs? Students would take fewer science, history classes on semesters if proposal passes

Abandoned library is home to in theaters this weekend on page 10

in 'The 101 Dalmatians Musical' on page 8

24 February 2010

btw Your weekly dose of entertainment

campus

Getting rid of garbage at Union

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sports

CAITLIN O’NEIL Lantern reporter oneil.97@osu.edu When the university switches to a semester system in 2012, all students could be required to meet the same set of general education requirements if administrators agree on a recent proposal. Under the proposed curriculum, which was released in late January by the university’s committee on general education, all students would be required to take 15 to 18 courses in addition to their major requirements. Students now must take 16 to 21 courses, depending on their major. If the proposal is passed, students will take only one history class rather than two. There are also now two open option classes, where students can take whatever they want. With more than a dozen university programs with different course requirements, students are left with a smorgasbord deÿnition of “general education.” Administrators hope to clarify that deÿnition with the revised plan. “There’s currently about 13 or 14 different variations of the [general education] curriculum in addition to honors, and what we tried to do was establish a minimum standard that would apply to as many programs as possible,” said Mark Shanda, chair of the University Level Advisory Committee, which drafted the proposal. “We looked very hard at that goal. We’re pretty conÿdent that the majority of programs will be able to build their degree programs around this baseline model.” But some professors are worried that science classes are getting lost in the shuf° e of the proposal, which requires only two biological and physical science classes, rather than the three required now. And some say that the sciences are neglected in the stated goals of the proposal, said Myroslava Mudrak, a member of the University Level Advisory

Notable changes in proposed GEC requirements With the switch from quarters to semesters, university administrators are proposing a change in the General Education Curriculum, which would require the same courses of all majors pursuing a Bachelor of Arts.

Course Foreign language Natural sciences

Historical study

Current

Proposed

0-20 hours/0-4 courses

12 hours/3 courses for most

Proficiency through 104

Proficiency through 104

15 hours/3 courses

8-12 hours/2 courses (at least one with lab)

One two-course sequence in either the biological or physical sciences, and one other course. At least one must be in the biological sciences and one in the physical sciences. At least one must have a laboratory component

10 hours/2 courses

3 hours/1 course

Open option

TOTAL:

6 hours/2 courses Courses from categories 2-12 or more language, approves Service Learning courses, cross-disciplinary seminars, study abroad

80-105 hours/16-21 courses

of study is well represented in general education requirements. The committee is collecting feedback from university departments and is reopening discussion on concerns they have received, Shanda said. Some details of the proposal could be changed, Shanda said, but he is conÿdent the framework will remain the same. Once the proposal is ÿnalized, it will go to the Arts and Sciences Committee on Curriculum and Instruction. That committee will make a formal recommendation to the Arts and Sciences Senate before the proposal would go to the Council on Academic Affairs, where colleges outside of Arts and Sciences will be asked to respond.

Committee. “It is nearly impossible not to think that it would be better to have more science,” said Harald Vaessin, professor of molecular genetics and member of the committee. “We live in a world where it’s an integrated part for everybody — it doesn’t matter what we do. Therefore you would want more of it.” However, Vaessin contends that students will be able to take more science courses in the proposed “open option” courses, which allow students to choose from a variety of classes. And it’s important not to get caught up in counting classes, he said, but university ofÿcials should carefully monitor the content of the courses. Vaessin also pointed out that it would be difÿcult to ÿnd any professor who thinks his or her ÿeld

campus

Woody Hayes Dr.

315

The Oval

W. 12th Ave.

W. 12th Ave.

W. 10th Ave.

continued as Tailgating on 3A

W. 9th

Ave. GEN GOODWIN / Lantern designer Medical Ctr. Dr.

Study: Debt stress going down

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Grad trades hoop dreams for center stage JESSICA WEIHRAUCH Lantern reporter weihrauch.8@osu.edu Former Ohio State basketball star Kim Wilburn is making a name for herself on center stage rather than at center court. Under her married name Kim Joyce, her single, “Head Games,” was released in December and her new album “The Different Sides of Sexy” is now available for download on iTunes. “I can honestly say that this album is one that can be appreciated by everyone,” Joyce said. “It’s original. It’s not fabricated. It’s life from the average person’s view.” Even though Joyce is a solo act, she has already been the opening act for big

names such as Brian McKnight and Lil Wayne. Joyce’s vocals have even been compared to R&B greats Lauryn Hill and India Arie. Growing up as the daughter of a Baptist preacher, religion has been a major inspiration for her music. Joyce developed her soulful style from singing in her church choir in Detroit. “I grew up in church my whole life and I would love to do a gospel album one day,” Joyce said. “Gospel music

KIM WILBURN

continued as Joyce on 3A

Prof teaches the science of sports on televised Olympic Games RICK SCHANZ Lantern reporter schanz.5@osu.edu

snow showers

TH FR SA SU

W. Lane Ave.

St.

Four-star wide receiver recruit James Louis nearly decided to attend Florida before becoming a Buckeye

director for external relations. “Because we have issues we did an audit to see who is eligible to park in those areas.” The audit allowed the Athletic Department to do two things: deÿne who is eligible for those parking spots, and if they do not qualify, give them an opportunity to pay up. In all, 4,605 people qualify for parking in six lots controlled by the Athletic Department during home football games. Spots are reserved for those with season parking permits and include suite holders, club seat holders and donors to OSU athletics. There is an annual cost of $325 on top of the $5,000 donation, and a portion of the donation is tax deductible. The audit determined that 426 people did not

The spots in red are season-parking permit lots controlled by the Ohio State Athletic Department during home football games. Those who wish to acquire these spots are required to meet a required donation amount in addition to the price of the parking spot to be able to use them on game days. Some parkers are not paying up and are no longer eligible for these spots.

N. High

Escaping the Gator chomp

Prime parking spots

Neil Ave.

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Avid tailgaters keep the shadows of Ohio Stadium bright during Ohio State football games. But all these lucky spots come with a $5,000 price tag, and some fans haven’t been paying up. Letters recently went out informing more than 400 parkers that they are not eligible to one of these spots next season because they have not paid the required $5,000 donation. An audit exposed these non-payers after ofÿcials realized an “intense interest in the 2010 football season,” according to the letter sent by OSU. “It’s one of those items where we have supply and demand issues, in terms of parking availability on game day,” said Pat Chun, senior associate

44-58 hours/15-18 courses

GEN GOODWIN / Lantern designer

Buckeye football tailgaters told to pay bucks or bust NICK MATTEO Lantern reporter matteo.8@osu.edu

Biological Science Physical Science

Cannon Dr.

Dogs are dancing at center stage

29/25 snow showers 32/25 flurries 32/26 flurries 36/27 cloudy www.weather.com

An Ohio State professor has gotten the chance to be part of the Winter Olympics, by explaining the science of some of the Games’ popular sports. Kathy Flores, an OSU associate professor in the College of Engineering, was approached by producers for NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, to explain the science behind hockey, skiing and safety gear in a series of video segments. The clips are appearing on various NBC subsidiaries during the Olympics. Flores, with her experience testing sporting equipment, accepted on the condition that the producers would send the necessary equipment. She and her students conducted tests on the equipment.

The skis sent were not Olympic quality, but the hockey equipment was high quality, she said. “Once you cut it up and see what it’s made of and how it’s constructed, you are able to make a hypothesis why an athlete chooses a certain ski or stick.” Flores and her students KATHY FLORES ran the tests in MacQuigg Laboratory’s high bay, where saws, mechanical test frames and optical microscopes were available. After Flores was comfortable with the test results, NBC’s ÿlming crew came to the high bay in early October, Flores said. The “Science of Skiing” clip lasts more than ÿve

minutes, but the segment is sometimes cut to 30 seconds. In the clips, which feature Olympic skier and medalist Julia Mancuso, Flores explains how the ÿberglass composition of the skis allows athletes to be both stable and ° exible. For Olympic skiers, where fractions of a second matter, “having the right ski can make a big difference,” Flores said. Although she doesn’t have plans for more television segments, Flores said she would be a willing candidate — as long as she had adequate time to prepare. “I don’t want to say anything dumb,” she said. Flores has also been invited to contribute to an article on the Winter Olympics in a professional journal.

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