The Northerner Print Edition - August 25, 2010

COVER STORYNew year, new students, new look:Students notice a change in dorms’ appearance.

6 & 7

A&EBeyond NKU:Quality entertainment at a low cost.

10

NEWS 5Shelling out bucks for books:Exploring options to save money on textbooks.

WHAT’S INSIDE

SPORTS 9Kick stress with sports:Intramural sports open gates for students.

3 August 25, 2010

The NorthernerUniversity Center Room 335Highland Heights, KY 41076Editor in Chief: (859) 572-6128News & Sports: (859) 572-6677Features: (859) 572-5859Advertising: (859) 572-5232Fax: (859) 572-5772

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PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEFVern Hockney[[email protected]]

PRESENTATION EDITORKarli Wood[[email protected]]

COPY EDITORSZach Grady[[email protected]]

Mark Payne[[email protected]]

Elizabeth Parsons[[email protected]]

ADVISERGayle Brown[[email protected]]

AD MANAGERWilliam Fisher[fi [email protected]]

northernerstaff contactinformationSTAFF WRITERSJesse Call[[email protected]]

Derick Bischoff[[email protected]]

Tabitha Peyton[[email protected]]

James Wilson[[email protected]]

Shawn Buckenmeyer[[email protected]]

COPY DESK CHIEFEmily Christman[[email protected]]

WEB CONSULTANTArica Lyons[[email protected]]

WEB WRITERBrandon Barb[[email protected]]

PHOTOGRAPHERSAlysha Durrett[[email protected]]

Nicole Orndorff[[email protected]]

The school year has finally started. Some students have dreaded coming back to class, while others have looked forward to it all summer.Whatever the case may be, we are here now.The past semester has seen many changes on campus. The outside of the dorms have changed, the coyotes are missing and Grif-fin Hall is covered in purple.But one thing that has not changed is your source for campus news.

If you are reading this the staff wants to thank you and encourage you to read oth-ers to read. But don’t stop there. Come see us in our new office located in Founders Hall 301 and talk to us about working for the paper.Remember, we are YOUR newspaper!

SincerelyVern Hockney

Editor in Chief

Welcome Back

Vern Hockney/Editor in Chief

Students play a game of sand volleyball at Rock-N-Jock. The event offered a chance for students to have some fun after moving into the dorms.

4 Edition 46, Issue 1

NEWS

Strategies for successSGA makes efforts to tackle issues on campus Jesse CallStaff writer

The Student Government As-sociation welcomed information technology leaders to its Aug. 23 meeting, but members also dis-cussed getting students involved with SGA and how to develop an image as a well-known and approachable organization.

Ken Rhee, the faculty mem-ber who heads the committee overseeing campus technology, invited students to get involved in contributing ideas concerning how to increase participation in online evaluation processes. Rhee said he has seen a signifi -cant drop in participation of 50 to 60 percent since the switch to the online system. Members shared concerns with Rhee that the reason many students do not complete the online evaluations

is because of time constraints. If SGA’s suggestions are adopted by university administrators, students may have a longer pe-riod of time to evaluate their professors, possibly through the fi nal exam period. Rhee admit-ted that extending the period would be an uphill battle be-cause much of the faculty fear that students will evaluate, but only based on the diffi culty of the fi nal examination.

A more straightforward way of addressing student concerns is among the changes the new SGA administration said it seeks to achieve.

The Student Concerns Com-mittee, established towards the end of the spring 2010 semester, has been abolished in an effort

to make sure the entire SGA body is making efforts to be aware of, and address, all student concerns, according to SGA Vice President Danielle Hawks. The committee was originally created following a series of im-peachment trials and internal issues, such as revising the Stu-dent Government Constitution, which occupied much of mem-bers’ time and energy. The com-mittee solicited issues directly from students, and took on basic student concerns including the rising cost of on-campus food, campus traffi c fl ow and student engagement.

“I urge each and every one of you to reach out to the stu-dent body,” Hawks said to SGA members.

Sunglasses, pens and pencils have been purchased by SGA in an effort to raise awareness, according to Secretary for Pub-lic Relations Mike Johnson. He also encouraged all SGA mem-bers to attend as many Welcome Week events as possible.

The organization is supposed to have representatives from the Residential Housing Asso-ciation and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law Student Bar Association give reports to the senate at the weekly meetings, but neither was present the fi rst week. SGA President Kevin Golden said efforts are also un-derway to appoint liaisons from NKU Norse Intercollegiate Athletics and the International Student Union.

Golden nominated several individuals for appointment to SGA’s vacant positions, all of which were confi rmed unani-mously by the Senate. Jamie “JR” Hazenfi eld was appointed as legislative liaison and Shau-na Prentice was reappointed as chief justice of the Judicial Council.

Committee chairs were also appointed during the meeting: Michelle Forlenza, University Improvements Committee; Paul Bell, Student Rights Commit-tee; and Chad Howe, Finance Committee.

Dean of Students Jeffrey Waple announced that Josh Gruenke, a student life coordi-nator, will join the team of ad-visers for SGA.

Aug. 24 opened a new chap-ter in the lives of many stu-dents at Northern Kentucky University, but before most begin to read their books, there is another thing they must open – their billfolds.

The national average spent on textbooks, per student, was $1,122 for the entire 2009-10 school year, according to the College Board. The Higher Education Opportunity Act was passed by Congress in 2008 and included means to help students combat the high prices of text books.

The provisions included in the Higher Education Op-portunity Act required col-leges to provide information, such as the names of books and their corresponding In-ternational Standard Book Number (ISBN). This gives students the chance to shop around for the best prices be-fore their term begins.

Although the act may have relieved some fi nancial stress, many people still feel it is not enough.

“When you spend $200 - $1000 on textbooks a semes-ter, it’s a big cost,” said Sean Mulligan, a senior at NKU.

Mulligan is one of the many students at NKU who believes in getting a head start on buying books. The most affordable option, in his opinion, is Amazon.com.

“One thing that is nice when shopping on Amazon.com for textbooks is they show you the buy-back price that is good for the rest of the semester below the book info,” Mulligan said. “This helps to see what the real cost of that book is for the semes-ter.”

Although Mulligan usually shops through Amazon, stu-dents have many other choic-es when it comes to where they buy their textbooks.

Some other options include Chegg.com (a textbook rent-al site), Half.com, Campus Book & Supply and the NKU Bookstore.

Although some like the price options available with online shopping, David Kline, manager of Campus Book & Supply in Cold Spring, holds some reservations.

“In some cases I don’t think technology is always the best answer,” Kline said.

Kline notes that Campus Book & Supply does more than just provide textbooks for students.

“If we’re successful, we donate money back to the university,” he said. “We give college students jobs and if we go away and everyone’s on the Internet, jobs will go away and fi nances to the uni-versity will go away,”

Kline realizes that because of increasing textbook prices and ever-growing techno-logical competition, he must offer what online providers cannot: a personal experi-ence.

“People seem to like the fact that we get their books for them,” he said. “Some people like that they don’t have to search ... and we pro-vide great service.”

Mulligan agreed.“The staff there is awe-

some. You hand them your list of courses, they pick them out off their shelves and tell you the total,” he said. “It’s best for someone who is un-sure or doesn’t want to really hassle with pricing. The only downfall … is the long lines to get your books and check out.”

Kline said he is doing his best to keep up with the digital age, and even started a rental program similar to the one NKU runs in coop-eration with Follett Higher

Education Group, although he said it is not easy.

NKU’s “Rent-a-Text” pro-gram claims it can save stu-dents 50 percent or more on the cost of their textbooks, according to the National As-sociation of College Stores (NACS).

In its pilot program, Follett saved students from 27 differ-ent schools nearly $6 million in two terms using Rent-a-Text, according to the NACS.

Elio DiStaola, the director of Public and Campus Rela-tions for Follett, said Rent-a-Text offers convenience, fl ex-ibility and assurance. He said that many students are going without necessary materials needed for their success.

“Driving down costs will drive up the number of stu-dents with materials in-hand for educational success,” he said.

Although Chegg, and Cam-pus Book & Supply also of-fers rentals, DiStaola feels that the NKU Bookstore of-fers some things that no one else can.

“The campus store brings great value to the student, not only by guaranteeing the right book via its strong relationships with faculty, but also its ability to deliver convenience and fl exibility,” he said. “Students add/drop courses, instructors change their minds on course ma-terials; the bookstore, right on-site, can remedy those sit-uations. Also, Rent-a-Text al-lows for payment with fi nan-cial aid and campus cards.”

The program further al-lows normal wear, such as highlighting, dog-earing, and note-taking, of its books over the course of a semester.

“We simply ask that it is re-turned in a usable condition for the next student,” said Distaola

A book is considered us-able as long as it does not impair the next student from the book’s full experience, according to DiStaola.

“[If you] Don’t rip out pages, avoid water damage … students should be fi ne,” he said.

Freshman Rebecca David-son hoped going to NKU’s on-campus bookstore would give her a break from all of the other matters she had to deal with in preparation for her fi rst semester.

“I thought it would be a lot less of a hassle for my fi rst time doing this, rather than try to fi nd the right ones on-

line and hope they arrive on time,” Davidson said. “The people working there were actually very helpful. Not only were they able to answer all of my questions, but they walked through the entire process with me and ensured that I found each source that was required and even the extra material that would be helpful.”

Although not all of David-son’s books were available for rent, she estimated she saved $30 or $40 dollars by renting one.

DiStaola said that rentals are for the entire term and due back after fi nals.

5August 25, 2010

Nicole Orndorff/PhotographerGeorge Muntz looks at a book at the Northern Kentucky University Bookstore. Due to the rising cost of text books, some students are shopping around for the best buy for their buck.

Shelling out bucks for booksExploring options to save money on textbooksJames WilsonStaff writer

NEWS

New year, new students, new lookStudents notice a change in dorms’ appearance

Nicole Orndorff/Photographer

Left: Kelly Barthel signs into the dorms on move-in day. Middle: Andrew Vaughn, Jeff Powell, Zach Ghaderi, Ellissa Badgett and Chris At-wood sit out side the dorms. Right: Eli Unker settles into his room and browses the internet after moving in.

Tabitha PeytonStaff writer

6 Edition 46, Issue 1 7August 25, 2010

A As things quickly unfolded on Northern Kentucky Uni-

versity’s campus, So did the boxes students brought to move-in day at the residential village.

Students live in the resident halls for reasons as varied as the indi-vidual. Some leave home to gain a sense of individuality. Some leave to experience being immersed in col-lege. And still some sprint to cam-pus to get away from those pesky parents. Whatever the reason, NKU works to improve campus for its students.

“More and more students that choose to attend NKU are looking for the ‘complete college experi-ence’ and many of those students view living on campus as a central component of that experience,” said Peter Trentacoste, director of uni-versity housing.

For Alex Cruey, the choice was in hope of expanding his social net-work.

“I’ll meet more friends and have more of a social life” he said.

Rachel Medlock, a junior at NKU, returned this year to stay connected

with the community and be around people with similar interests.

“I wanted to be a bigger part of the community, to contribute and to be known on campus,” Medlock said. ”I like that I’m surrounded by people who are the same age, who share the same interest and have the same goals.”

In an effort to make students like Cruey and Medlock feel more at home away from home, NKU spent the summer renovating the exterior of the dorms and sprucing up the interior.

“We care deeply about the stu-dents that we serve and want them to enjoy living on campus,” Trenta-coste said. “So far, we have received a lot of praise for the addition of color to the residence halls.”

Recently, NKU spent $2.7 billion updating the exterior of the resi-dential buildings.

In addition to painting the outside of most of the buildings, Callahan Hall now has a sense of NKU spirit with black and gold stairwells. A large painting of a Viking hat with bold black and gold letters read-

ing NKU above it on the front glass windows of the main entrance to Callahan also show a sense of pride within the NKU community.

The university has also spent money updating carpet in worn areas along with couches in com-mon areas in Norse and Woodcrest apartments.

“It’s important that we not only provide an outstanding co-curricu-lar learning experience for them but also to provide the best facilities we are able to,” Trentacoste said.

Though many NKU students choose to commute, Trentacoste said applications for the dorms are higher this year than last year. He could not, however, provide a spe-cifi c number since the department is still processing late cancellations.

An increase in students want-ing to live on campus has forced NKU to prepare a waiting list for students who still wish to live on campus. Students on the waiting list will receive a room when a current resident moves out or switches resi-dential locations.

Other arrangements have been

made to help students that are cur-rently on the waiting list and that are in need of housing said Trenta-coste.

“Some of our expanded occu-pancy accommodations this year include hotel space reserved at the Country Inn and Suites in Wilder, Ky., assigning RAs temporary room-mates, and adding one additional roommate to premium or quad rooms in Callahan,” he said. “We do not intend to have these temporary accommodations continue all year.”

Justin Wagner, a senior at NKU, made it a priority to save his spot on campus in the spring semester. Wagner, and residents living in the dorms last semester were given the option of signing their contracts in advance to assure them a place to live on campus for the following year.

Of course there is one benefi t for most students about living on cam-pus. Your parents aren’t here to nag you.

“I like being away from my par-ents and the rules that we all had.” said freshman Kathryn Whitt.

SPORTS

9 August 25, 2010

Get out there and playIntramural sports open gates for studentsDerick BischoffStaff writer

Freshman year can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience for many people beginning their post-high school education. For some, it is the fi rst time being away from home for an extended period of time, and the pressures of fi nding class-rooms, meeting new friends and overcoming ner-vous jitters can feel like juggling chain saws.

But students don’t have to worry about spending all their time alone in their dorm room eating cheese puffs. One of the ways students can reduce stress, make long lasting friendships and make college life more enjoyable is by participating in the intramural sports Northern Kentucky University offers.

“It was a great, great experience,” said David Bowling, a 2002 alumni of NKU, who still enjoys playing sports and working out at the Campus Rec-reation Center. “I met a lot of new people as a ner-vous freshman. I played all four years since I was a

freshman and still enjoy playing sports.”Intramural sports are growing more popular ev-

ery year, with 26.9 percent more students compet-ing in the last three years.

This year, there are 22 different sports to choose from, ranging from bowling to ultimate frisbee. The fi rst groups of sports to begin play during the fall semester are: sand volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, rac-quetball, bowling and fl ag football.

“Campus recreation is one of our largest common experiences for students on campus and intramural sports is one of our largest programs,” said Campus Recreation Director Matt Hackett.

He expects an even bigger turnout for fi eld sports because students will be playing under the lights in the new soccer stadium instead of the grass behind Norse Hall.

The entry deadline for the fi rst group of sports

is Sept. 8th and a full list of all 22 sports is listed at campusrec.nku.edu.

Intramural sports are open to all current students. Those who want to get their competitive juices fl ow-ing and raise Cain can do so by registering online, or by fi lling out a registration form in person at the Campus Recreation Center.

Students must fi ll out either the team entry form or free agent entry form. The team entry form is for a team sport that has already been organized, while a free agent entry form is for individuals who want to participate but do not have a team to play for.

Students who want to get some practice in before intramurals starts or just take advantage of the fa-cilities can go to the Campus Recreation Center Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fri-day, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For students looking for a great place to socialize, a new place to study or to just see more than their dorm room, Greater Cincinnati of-fers many options for differ-ent personalities.

Staff, faculty and students of Northern Kentucky Uni-versity can ride Transit Au-thority of Northern Ken-tucky buses (TANK), free seven days a week with their All-Card. If even the most frugal college students are not sold on the idea of a free bus ride, the convenience of bus riding adds more bang to their non-existent buck. Not spending extra money on parking or gas leaves more money in the pockets of NKU students to meet, mingle and have a good time at some of the best places the Queen City has to offer.

In Newport, Ky., the Levee is a popular route destina-tion on TANK’s itinerary. A thirty-minute ride from NKU’s Business Education Psychology Center route, Newport on the Levee of-fers an array of tasteful af-ternoon and late-night en-tertainment, including AMC Movie Theatres, the New-port Aquarium and Game-works.

When it comes to satisfy-ing your hunger, the popular entertainment center has its bases covered. Dewey’s Piz-za, Mitchell’s Fish Market, AOI Japanese Cuisine and Johnny Rockets are some of the eating options. Whether it’s a group outing or dinner for two, the Levee delivers a variety of tastes.

A short walk from the cen-tral venues places you at the

Hofbräuhaus. The brewpub features authentic German-style beer and pays homage to the more than 400-year-old Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany – or a convenient way to drop the “study” out of study dates with your cute German 101 partner.

The Levee also features a two-story Barnes & Noble, which has a section of DVDs and CDs in addition to the regular selection of books, magazines and other Barnes & Noble fare. After you pick out a good book, feel free to sit at the cafe on the second floor, which offers a view of the river through a large glass window.

Some students will appre-ciate the night life the Levee offers as a way to salvage evenings robbed by night classes or to escape dorm living for a night.

One option is Bar Louie, which is open until 2 a.m. Thursdays in August is a great introduction to the menu for students looking for a late-night hangout with $1.50 special on mini-bottles and sloppy slider burgers.

But if you’re a little leery of being by the river, you may opt for something a bit more inland. MainStrasse Village in Covington re-quires switching buses to reach, but the payoff is small businesses and bars, coupled with an inviting neighbor-hood atmosphere.

Fatty Patty’s, located on Main Street, is just one of the venues of local entrepre-neurs. This particular ven-ture specializes in pizzas and unconventionally named ice cream flavors. French Va-nilla, Mint and Strawberry are safe ground for the not-so-daring, but flavors such as

Spongebob need to be seen to believe. The Dining room opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m., but to-go pizza slices can be bought for a trip back to the dorm until 3 a.m.

And at this time, when the days are becoming shorter and the leaves are hinting at changing color, festivals and special events happen in the area.

The USS Nightmare, a steamboat with a check-ered history converted into a floating haunted house docked near the Levee, will offer frights to visitors with a grand opening Sept. 17 and 18.

And you can get a taste of German heritage at the 32nd Annual Oktoberfest in MainStrasse Sept. 10, 11 and 12. The festival, which spans six blocks, is a mix of German and international food, music, arts and even rides for the older kids – eas-ily translatable into “college students looking for a goofy, fun time.”

10 Edition 46, Issue 1

A&E

Zach GradyCopy Editor

Beyond NKUQuality entertainment at a low cost

Nicole Orndorff/Photographer

Bar Louie (Above) and Fatty Patty’s (Below) offer unique atmospheres for NKU students.

The Northerner Print Edition - August 25, 2010

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