Bowling Green State University ScholarWorks@BGSU BG News (Student Newspaper) University Publications 2-9-1999 The BG News February 9, 1999 Bowling Green State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news Recommended Citation Bowling Green State University, "The BG News February 9, 1999" (1999). BG News (Student Newspaper). 6444. https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/6444 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Publications at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in BG News (Student Newspaper) by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@BGSU. The BG News student press Tuesday, February?, 19 partly USG adopts new constitution cloudy "X "As it exists, there's just a lot Though the constitution is "We figured that would be sity campus. The first formally By JEFF ARNETT of loopholes and inconsisten- considered a great improvement easier (or everybody," Merriman requested signs to be erected on The BC, News cies," Merriman said. over the previous one, it is not said. Amendments to the new the crosswalks on Merry Street [; high: 54 between Mercei and Thurstin A new constitution and four Among the new constitution's yet finished, even though it has constitution are expected to be warning vehicles to yield to all major changes are an increase in already been passed. Article III, introduced in a couple of weeks. bills aimed at University pedestrians. It also urged Bowl- low: 37 the size of the USG Senate, which which deals with the judicial In addition to the constitution, improvement passed unani- ing Green police to "strongly is intended to increase the pro- branch of USG, is not in what is USG passed tour other bills last mously as the Undergraduate enforce all traffic laws which per- portion of elected Senators to likely to be its final form, but it night, each unanimously. opinion Student Government (USG) tain to the violation of these appointed Senators, and the engaged in an unusually busy was still passed in order to The first aimed for the instal- signs." The second bill regarding General Assembly meeting last introduction of a Speaker. The "make a smoother transition," lation of 10 new blue emergencv i BG News columnist Speaker, according to Merriman, pedestrian safety formally night. according to Merriman. phones on the University cam- requested thai Bowling Green will serve to take part of the bur- Jena Lohrbach offers Chief of Staff Mike Allton said pus. Due to the high cost of these install a traffic signal and signs The first and most urgent den off the president and vice her perspective on during the meeting that the con- phones, three to four thousand instructing all vehicles to yield to point of business at the meeting president, as well as add leader- dollars per phone according to Valenl &"* Day. was the new constitution, which, ship to the legislative branch of stitution could be passed with or pedestrians at the intersection of At-Large Senator Lindsey according to Chief Legislative USG. The Speaker would con- without the third article. The Ridge and Mercer. Niewiersky, there may be a while Officer Brent Merriman, intro- duct meetings, as the vice presi- General Assembly ended up The final hill passed was the before they are installed. duced changes designed to clean dent does now. lie or she would passing the entire constitution in SO-called USG Suggestion Box ■ An international guest up problems in the present con- also be a member of all standing the expectation that amendments Two of the bills that were Kill, which resolved, .is the title passed dealt with pedestrian suggests, to place a USG sugges- columnist discusses stitution .is well .is strengthen committees and would oversee to repair the faulty article would those committees. be introduced in the near future. safety at the edges of the Univer- tion box in the Union. America from a British the organization as a whole. perspective. Gays rortd and nation 4 Survivors face long road Police, volunteer agencies provide support after rape pushed King Hussein was laid with each case, according to the police department is noti- This is the second of a to rest in Jordan. By WENDY SUTO authorities. fied by the hospital or an advo- three-part series on rape. Yes- The IIC News After the person reports the cate who tells the police they out of terday gave a general have a sexual assault victim The step-by-step process and incident to someone, one of the overview of sexual assaults. procedures .1 sexual assault sur- "*»• steps that may be involved who needs to make a report. Today will look at what rape ■ House prosecutors is Lieutenant Brad Conner of the vivor goes through vary greatly filing a police report. Usually survivors should do after a military Bowling Green Police Depart- finish closing sexual assault. Tomorrow will ment said the initial officer arguments in focus on what men need to responding to the hospital just By AMYJO L. BROWN knyv about sexual assaults. impeachment trial. tries to get the basic informa- The BG News Legal Procedures tion of who is involved, when "One's sexual orientation is a and where the incident took be obtained to gather more physical evidence such as bed- personal and private matter, place and what happened and is not a bar to entry into or specifically. ding, clothing or a condom. An interview with the suspect may continued service in the military • Assault reported to police. "This is done in case we unless manifested by homosex- need to inform the units on the also take place to get his side of wrhat happened. ual conduct." • Evidence is gathered and a road, particularly in stranger Passed by the U.S. Congress "If the person doesn't want assaults," Conner said. and President Clinton five years to file charges, then we don't rape kit is performed, if The officer will not conduct ago, the "Don't ask, Don't tell, an in-depth interview with the contact the suspect," Conner said. "We will abide by her Don't pursue/" policy of the victim because that is reserved armed forces is not preventing victim wants to pursue the wishes and are very sensitive to for the detective after he gavs, lesbians, and bisexuals her needs. We will make any arrives at the scene. Conner from being discharged from the matter. services available to them that said the reason this is done is military. we can." i Women's basketball so that they do not victimize A report, recently released by »/ Evidence is examined by the Once at the hospital or the the victim any further. the Pentagon, recorded 1,145 looks to rebound from University Student Health Cen- "It is just one more time they homosexuals discharged over their 31 point loss. Bureau of Criminal ter, a rape kit will usually be would have to relive the expe- the past year. This number is the performed as part of the collect- • • • • • rience," Conner said. "We try highest number of discharges Identifications and ing evidence process. Barbara to minimize that." since 1989. I [oilman, a nurse practitioner at I Worrier,!, track team BGPD chief Tom Votava said The report raises concerns Investigations. the I lealth Center, said that she has a record-setting that the process is long and that the policy, intended to pro- will first explain the procedures complicated. Handling such a tecl service members from being weekend. •" The case is referred to the to the victim so she will know report involves being sensitive harassed into revealing their what to expect. to the victim. sexuality, is not effective. Wood County prosecuting "This relieves a lot ot anxiety "This is such an emotional Stacey Sorbel, senior staff because they will know what and physical trauma that it is attorney for the Service mem- attorney. the visit entails," Hoffman said. often a sensitive topic for offi- bers Legal Defense Network, Collecting evidence from the Opinion 2 cers who are collecting the evi- represents service members rape kit may include retrieving Page Three 3 • The case goes to trial. dence," Votava said. "It calls who have have been discharged dry blood, seminal fluids, pubic for special skills and atten- on accusations of homosexuali- World and Nation 4 or head hair, saliva, and a possi- tion." Sports 8 ble photograph in ordei to ty Conner further explained "We have represented over Sports Agate 10 "Counseling may be needed and provided at any stage* show any injuries that may be that depending on the circum- 1.600 clients since the policy stances, a search warrant mav • See RAPE, page six.' • See MILITARY, page six. at? "The best advice I 11 :an give is to eat." Bloodmobile makes return trip to BGSU the Red Cross is expecting signing people in, said that Kelly Schultz By BRANDI BARHITE more this week because of a before people come they bhodmobtle employee, and MIKE WENDLING good turnout at the last should eat or have one of the advising students on wlmt to do The BC News Bloodmobile at BGSU in snacks provided. before giving blood October. "The best advice I can give I laving strangers slice into The goal for Monday was is to eat," she said. "People your veins and lake out a pint 75 donors, and the Blood- need to come in with a full nica of blood isn't such a bad expe- moblie exceeded that goal. At stomach so they don't feel rience.