Bowling Green State University ScholarWorks@BGSU BG News (Student Newspaper) University Publications 3-1-1999 The BG News March 1, 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 March 1, 1999" (1999). BG News (Student Newspaper). 6458. https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/6458 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. »Nl GNews Volume 85/lssue TOO A daily independent student press Monday, March 1,1999: opinion A i Columnist Brian Taylor looks at the tanning craze at BGSU. I Guest columnist Kurtis Kinzel examines sexual and social issues and attitudes. world and nation 4 i China's lack of improvement on human rights issues BG News Photo /JASON SUGGS Photo Provided might impede Pictured at right is the front cover of the 1998-99 BGSU Student Affairs Handbook. About half of the visible students on the front and back covers are peo- Albright's trip to admit ple of color. In actuality, these students comprise 7 percent of the University population. A more realistic picture is shown at left. The University is currently China into the WTO. trying to attract a more racially and ethnically diverse student body. Race® BGSU I The State Board of n-depth look Education will look at a ruling on school funding issues. sports BGSU diversity improving, still lags behind nation I Editor's note: Today marks the first part of a three part series onj pus, yet it is a disservice to stu- grown, it still lags behind the T i he men's basketball By BRANDI BARHITE race. Today's story examines statistics and BGSU's relationship dents if we don't try," Whipple population of the United States. team needed and MIKE WENDLING with the state arc* the nation. Tuesday's story wilt focus on the said. According to the latest available The BG News steps the University has taken to implement its multicultural ini- Since Ribeau made diversity U.S. Census Bureau figure pro- overtime, but beat tiatives and Wednesday's story will concentrale on what students a priority in 1995, the Universi- jections for November 1998, It is quite possibly the most Akron and advanced think about issues of race. ty has seen slight improve- 12.7 percent of the U.S. popula- to the second round divisive, most controversial, ments. tion is black. Asian and Pacific of the MAC playoffs. most explosive issue facing our the University. sity is committed to diversity According to University Islanders make up 3.9 percent nation and our campus as we University administrators because we have a responsibili- Office of Institutional Research of the population and American move into the next millennium. admit BGSU lacks diversity in ty to our students and faculty." statistics, 7.9 percent of the Indians, Eskimos and Aleutians Race. its students, which has led Uni- Whipple said the Universi- freshman class which entered in comprise .9 percent. The very mention of race versity President Sidney Ribeau ty's commitment includes talk- fall 1998 is comprised of people In a demonstration of how I The women's indoor evokes tension, a tension which to call on the campus to commit ing about race, making classes of color, a category that includes complex issues of race can be, probably stems from lack of itself to racial and ethnic diver- addressing diversity available Asian-American, African- persons of Hispanic origin can track team won the understanding or even apathy. MAC indoor sity. Administrators say they and truly attempting to bring American, Hispanic and Native be of any race, even though His- BGSU is a predominantly want to make BGSU a place that more minority students to cam- American students. panics are often considered championship at Perry white university in an equally promotes positive racial rela- pus. By comparison, only 5.6 per- "people of color." Hispanics Field House this homogeneous city. Demograph- tions. "We have an obligation to cent of students who entered in make up 11.4 percent of the U.S. weekend. ic statistics reveal a seven per- "We have a challenge," said help our students understand fall semester 1994 were students population. cent minority population out of Ed Whipple, vice president of one another and that can be of color. index 15,000 total undergraduates at student affairs. "Yet the Univer- hard to do on an all-white cam- While diversity at BGSU has • See RACE, page si\. Opinion 2 Page Three 3 Women's History Month sparks programs World and Nation 4 Women's Center, program looks Sports 7 Highlights of Women's History Month Sports Agate 10 at History Month's theme, events "We decided on this theme The photos in the exhibit will -Today: "Jodie's Body," Joe E. Brown say what? By SARAH DELANEY because it's inclusive and rele- be turned into a slide show that The BG News vant to everyone," Krueger said. will be presented on March 26. Theatre, 8 p.m. "We all have a mother." Krueger hopes that students -March 8-31: Photo exhibit, Jerome Library. "The University is commit- Today marks .'.e beginning of Women's History Month across One of the events planned will contribute to the display and -March 26: Slide show based on photo ted to diversity because around this theme is a photo invite the women that affected the nation. The University is exhibit. we have a responsibility planning a number of events to exhibit that will be displayed in their lives to view the exhibit. to our students and fac- celebrate the month and its the Jerome Library March 8 The event likely to elicit the -March 22: Keynote speaker Chastity Bono, ulty." theme, 'The Women We Come through 31. most student participation, how- Lenhart Grand Ballroom. From," sponsored by the "This is a public participation ever, is this year's keynote Ed Whipple event," Krueger said. "We are speaker, Chastity Bono. -Gerri Bribi, musician and storyteller. ^^^^p of student affairs Women's Center and women's studies program. inviting students, faculty and Bono will be at the University -"Footsteps of the Elders," one-act plays. March 22 to talk about coming electronica According to Mary Krueger, staff to submit to the Women's -Feminist Film series, Gish Theatre. director of the Women's Center, Center a photograph of a woman out as a lesbian to her celebrity Check out: the celebration is national but the that has made an important con- tribution to their life." www.bgnews. theme is local. • See HISTORY, page six. com Split views of feminism causes controversy among students News, web extras and a whole lot more. According to Mary Krueger, definition of feminism. am woman, hear me roar' and challenge obstacles toward safe- By PAULA SANKEY director of the Women's Center, "I'm a bit nervous toward they just take it too far. They get ty, justice and equality for The BG News ignorance is the main cause of those tidy definitions," said ridiculous." women. We need to talk, think, Want to get in touch? this intimidation. Klein. "But I think that feminism If the reason for this non- ask, challenge, listen, ponder, Feminism has been a contro- "Some people believe that all is a way of looking at anything. appreciation is ignorance, then wonder, communicate ... and bgnews@bgnet. versial movement throughout important battles have been You have to look at the world the question is how to enlighten then do it some more." history. Many people have with women on the forefront and those in the dark. There are several resources for bgsu.edu encouraged it while others have won," said Krueger. Many people do not under- how the world affects, limits, "There needs to be more dis- education on the topic of femi- put it down. Your direct line to your encourages and treats women." semination of the correct infor- nism on and off campus at It has never been a tranquil stand what feminism is or what newspaper. There are many students on mation through our society," BGSU. One such resource is the movement, and it has always it entails, according to a survey the BG campus, however, that said Karen Ann Koy, a member Women's Center located in been plagued by conflicting conducted by The Women's Free- of Womyn for Womyn. "And the Hanna Hall. The center's goal is Or call us: ideas. However, while feminism dom Network Newsletter. think that feminists take issues too far. naysayers need to back off." to provide resources, support involves more participants now Rona Klein, lecturer of "Some women that are femi- "We all need to do the same and advocacy for women as they than ever before, the majority of women's studies and English 372-6966 and the undergraduate coordina- nists are too proud," said Scott thing to prevent this fear of fem- pursue their individual .".;id col- society still seems to be unsure of Herbert, a junior interpersonal inism," Krueger said. "We need its purposes, and even a bit tor of women's studies at BGSU, has a hard time giving a straight communication major. "It's like 'I to celebrate areas of progress and intimidated by it. • See FEMINISM, page six. i 1 I | F page 2 The BG News Monday, March 1, 199,9 WHAT V£ YOU CO-TJ THE LAST TlAlE W£ ^/\D£ 5o You're PREPARING TO NON$£NSE .