The Lantern 3-1-10

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Monday March 1, 2010 year: 130 No. 71 the student voice of

The Ohio State University

www.thelantern.com campus

Cabbie forces kiss from student

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student voice

Activity Fee is fair game for inquiry

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sports

thelantern February snow sets city record Record-breaking snowfall, for February

KEVIN SANCHEZ Lantern reporter sanchez.825@osu.edu

The record for the most snow fallen in Columbus during the month of February was broken last weekend. Here are the top ÿve heaviest snowfalls in February.

The four snowstorms that blasted Columbus last month accumulated 30.1 inches of snow, breaking a 100-year record for total snowfall in the month of February in the city. The previous record was set in 1910 when 29.2 inches of snow fell that month. The city neared the record on Monday, Feb. 15, when a storm system dumped 9.7 inches of snow, the most snow ever recorded in Columbus on that day. That storm pushed the city’s monthly snowfall to 25.4 inches. But the 1910 record remained unbroken until Friday, when ˜ urries dropped 2.2 inches of snow. More snowfall on Saturday pushed the total over the 30-inch mark, said National Weather Service representative John Franks. In 2003, the third-highest mark was set with 24.4 total inches, followed by 19.6 inches in 1914 and 16.4 in 1979 to round out the ÿve heaviest snowfalls in February. After Sunday, the new February record has ofÿcially been set at 30.1 inches, according to the National Weather Service. The ice, rain and snow that have blasted Columbus this winter caused their share of trafÿc accidents, as well as the closing of almost every school in the Columbus area at some point in time. Ohio State remained open during the majority of the storms, but classes were canceled on Feb. 16. OSU resumed the next day. As March begins, there are only 21 days until the ÿrst ofÿcial day of spring. It is unclear when the spring sunshine will begin and the snow will cease. The National Weather Service forecast for Columbus predicts chances of snow ˜ urries until Wednesday and the possibility of partly sunny skies on Thursday.

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Snowfall (in inches)

10 15 20 25 30 35

2010 30.1

1st 1910

29.2

2

nd

2003 24.4

3rd 1914 19.6

4

th

1979 5

th

16.4

MELISSA BRAUNLIN / Lantern designer

ANGELOU SPEAKS Maya Angelou speaks at the Mershon Auditorium on Sunday evening. The award-winning author was at the Mershon in celebration of United Black World Month. Read the story and view the slideshow on thelantern.com.

MATT CARISSIMI / Lantern photographer

A chance to clinch

1B Record snowball fight attempt in jeopardy

After beating Michigan Saturday, the Buckeyes have a shot to win the Big Ten title Tuesday against Illinois

thelantern.com

Slideshow: men’s lacrosse

Finley and his friend, Mike Spuzzillo, thought of the idea a few weeks ago as the ÿrst of a series of winter storms blew through Columbus. “When we walked outside, we realized it would be really fun to have a massive snowball ÿght,” Finley said. That week, the two friends set up a Facebook group to gauge students’ interest in the event. After nearly 2,500 online responses, they decided to rally their snowball-armed army and head to The Oval. “There ended up only being about 150 people there,” Finley said, “but the fact that we had so many people on the Facebook page made us realize that if we put

MARIAM KHAN Lantern reporter khan.197@osu.edu

A group of Ohio State students is trying to organize the world’s biggest snowball ÿght, but as they await a response from Guinness World Records, the clock is ticking and the snow is starting to melt. “I have been wondering about the snow thing, and am praying that we don’t run out before we hear back from Guinness,” said Mitch Finley, a second-year in electrical engineering.

continued as Snowballs on 3A

US Bank to give more than $1M to Union CAITLIN O’NEIL Lantern reporter oneil.97@osu.edu

weather

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high 33 low 24

U.S. Bank will announce two donations to the new Ohio Union today, with commitments of $1 million and $50,000. Those present for the announcement at the new Union will include Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee, former Olympian Stephanie Hightower and U.S. Bank’s Market President Dave Sceva. COUNT “Given this economy, a $1 million and $50,000 ÿnancial contribution really is a real big ÿnancial gift to celebrate,” said Heather McGinnis, director of development for the Ofÿce of Student Life and the Ohio Union. With a portion of that donation, the Union will recognize the bank by putting its name on a conference theater in the new $118 building, and will use the money for endowments for student organizations, McGinnis said. U.S. Bank will have a branch and four ATMs in the new Union, Union ofÿcials said in an earlier interview with The Lantern. After Gee and representatives of OSU accept a check from U.S. Bank, the bank is expected to make a formal presentation and provide information about the donation and what the money will be used for in the Union.

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flurries

TU 33/26 cloudy WE 31/22 few snow showers TH 33/23 mostly cloudy FR 40/28 partly cloudy www.weather.com

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Ohio Union first floor

GEN GOODWIN / Lantern designer

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