The Board of Regents approved the 16-member Presidential Search and Screen Committee, adding two more members from the original 14 it was originally slated to have. One student was appointed to the com-mittee.

Regents Chair Terry Mann ap-proved Joseph Fons as the stu-dent representative, and addressed questions about a conflict of inter-est in the selection process.

Fons and SGA President Dustin Robinson are both members of the Sigma Epsilon fraternity, with Rob-inson serving as Fons’s “big broth-er,” or mentor, in the organization. Fons is also an SGA senator.

Robinson, in his role as SGA pres-

ident, received the student applica-tions and assisted Mann select the student representative.

Despite the possibility of a per-ceived conflict, Mann and Robinson stand by the decision.

“There could not have been a conflict because the appointment was mine,” Mann said. “There was never any effort on Dustin’s part to suggest to me who would be the better appointment.”

Robinson helped oversee the stu-dent selection process by working with Mann to create a set of criteria by which to rank candidates.

Robinson said he compiled the criteria to look for the best student representative, then sent it to Mann who approved it, but added a GPA qualifier.

Students were asked to submit a

resume and letter of intent, where-in they were to explain their inter-est in the process and why they are qualified to be on the board.

“It was facilitated through student government; but, ultimately, the decision was made by the Regents,” Robinson said. “If I ever thought I couldn’t be fair to students I would remove myself.”

He added that if the Regents were concerned about any conflict of in-terest, “it was never brought to my attention.

“I did make it as fair as possible, considering the circumstances,” Robinson said. “I didn’t do any of the rankings for the position. I let the executive board do that and use that as our slate. Fons and I are friends, and I didn’t want that to be something that could be perceived

@northernermediathenortherner.comThe Northerner Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011 Edition 48, Issue 4

Campus honors 9/11 victims

Latino students fight for lounge

Norse Nights to return next month

See 9/11, p.4 See LSA, p.9 See NORSE, p.19

Cassie StoneEditor-in-chief

Search committee joins faculty, student, community members

See SEARCH, p.11

- J. David Bender, Vice President, NKU Foundation Board- Rich Boehne, President and CEO, The E.W. Scripps Company- Charles H. Brown, VP of Ac-counting and Finance and Secre-tary, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc.- Martin C. Butler, Chair, NKU Board of Regents- Peggy DeJaco, NKU Administra-tive Operations Coordinator- Joseph Fons, NKU Student- Dr. Kristi Haik, Associate Pro-fessor, Department of Biological Sciences- Ken Jones, Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance- Dr. Alar Lipping, President, NKU Faculty Senate- Leslie K. Pierce, NKU Director of Diversity and Employee Relations- Denise Robinson, Dean, College of Health Professions- Nathaniel G. Smith, Vice Chair, Kentucky Democratic Party- Alice Sparks, Founder, SKK Communities- Chris Strobel, Associate Profes-sor and Vice Chair, Department of Communication- Elizabeth L. Thompson, Member, Lexington-based law firm Stites & Harbison, PLLC- Diane Ewing Whalen, Mayor, City of Florence

Other committe members

Photos from the Northerner archives

Op/Ed September 14, 20112Ju

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orla

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Recently, the internet activist and former co-owner of Reddit Aaron Swartz was arrested on numerous charges stemming from his alleged download of around four million ar-ticles from the academic journal da-tabase JSTOR. Fearing that Swartz would release the papers to the public via p2p file-sharing networks, author-ities moved quickly to bring Swartz into custody. Incensed by this inci-dent, another activist by the name of Gregory Maxwell went through with a release of 18,582 academic articles via the notable torrent site ThePirate-Bay.org.

Along with uploading the torrent file, Maxwell included a lengthy man-ifesto outlining his philosophy on the subject. Maxwell declares, “Academic publishing is an odd system, the au-thors are not paid for their writing, nor are the peer reviewers ... and in some fields even the journal editors are unpaid. Sometimes the authors must even pay the publishers. And yet scientific publications are some of the most outrageously expensive pieces of literature you can buy. In the past,

the high access fees supported the costly mechanical reproduction of niche paper journals, but online dis-tribution has mostly made this func-tion obsolete. As far as I can tell, the money paid for access today serves little significant purpose except to perpetuate dead business models.

The “publish or perish” pressure in academia gives the authors an impos-sibly weak negotiating position ... The liberal dissemination of knowledge is essential to scientific inquiry ... unlike ‘mere’ works of entertainment, liberal access to scientific work impacts the well-being of all mankind. Our con-tinued survival may even depend on it.”

It is worth noting that JSTOR, while finding itself the target of these releases, is actually a non-profit en-tity presumably founded as a public resource. For instance a more appro-priate target would be the for-profit academic publishing company Wiley-Blackwell. Even if we take Maxwell’s arguments to heart, it is difficult to imagine attacking one of the few or-ganizations associated with academic publishing that retains a shred of legitimacy in its claim to act in the public interest. This does not absolve JSTOR of possible responsibility in

the case of arbitrarily restricting ac-cess to information, but as an orga-nization operating within the greater paradigm of a capitalist society, it is conceivable that such an organization might need to charge in order to sus-tain itself.

Philosophically, it seems to me that Maxwell’s arguments are funda-mentally correct. The assumptions of modern society about ownership and property are, broadly speaking, rooted in a pre-digital age and require revision if not outright reimagining. Reactionary institutions, in this case the publishers, have been using their influence to undertake this reimagin-ing in lieu of the public, in court – in order to inject inappropriate and an-tiquated notions of property into the future. Maxwell and other “hacktiv-ists,” are gradually falling victim to a digital enclosure movement, de-signed to bring the internet “frontier” under control.

Historically the exchange of infor-mation has played a vital role in the development of the species. The rise of modern science, the most signifi-cant achievement of the human race, would have been impossible without the free spread of ideas. Scientific in-quiry demands constant experimen-

tation and comparison of hypotheses about the world with results. With-out a community of scholars work-ing in concert, sharing the informa-tion garnered to construct a coherent picture of the world, research would become difficult if not impossible. In short, Science is a social project. The self-serving modality of informa-tion distribution that the publishers are advancing is inimical to both the methods and aim of science.

In light of this, it seems to me that the current system of academic pub-lishing is highly dysfunctional, car-cinogenic – an overall hindrance to scholarship. Carving up and appor-tioning knowledge, especially knowl-edge paid for by the public dime, can only have negative consequences in the future. Here at NKU, the student should keep in mind the growing cost of providing access to information in their field. Budget shortfalls created by the exorbitant price for access to materials will have to be made up elsewhere, to the detriment of stu-dents. This could be an unfair carica-ture of the industry; nevertheless, a more vacuous system could hardly be intentionally devised.

Profit or perish: Academia for a high priceAaron Sprinkles & Christopher McGeeStaff writers

Guest Editorial

ViewsEdition 48, Issue 4 3

AD MANAGERWilliam Fisher[fisherw1@nku.edu]

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The NorthernerFounders Hall Rm 314Highland Heights, KY 41099Editor in Chief: (859) 572-5812Newsroom: (859) 572- 6677 or 5620Advertising: (859) 572-5232Fax: (859) 572-5772E-mail: northerner@nku.eduWeb site: www.thenortherner.com

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furtherdetailsEntire content is copyright of The Northerner and may not be reprinted without prior con-sent. Views expressed do not represent those of the administration, faculty or student body.The Northerner is considered a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censor-ship or advance approval. The Northerner staff respects the right to a free and open dialogue as allowed under the First Amendment.

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Dennis HeherFirst year master stu-

dent, computer science

"Being at work and my boss and asking if

anybody knew where a TV was.."

Amberly WinfreySenior, music education

"I remember a lof of the adults crying and I could

not figure out why."

Chris MeeksSophomore, music edu-

cation

"My dad picked me up early and we sat in

silence and watched the news for hours."

rnpCompiled by

Brandon Barb and John Minor

What do you remember most about

9/11?

norse poll responses

Jennie VoseGrad student, communi-

cations program

"Where I was when it happened. A girl came

and said a plane flew into a building."

Search committee lacking in variety

Upon the announcement that there would be a search for Northern Kentucky University’s new president, there was the reiteration that the search would be time-ly, thorough, but ultimately, representa-tive of the NKU population. The search committee was meant to include staff, students, Board of Regents members and influential members of the outside com-munity.

However, it has been made clear that this promise has not been followed as stated. The 16 members of this committee do follow the outlined make-up if viewed from a distance. At close range, it is easy to see that the committee is flawed.

There is a singular student voice on the committee. Two individuals have been added to the original expectation of 14 and, according to Terry Mann, there was no intent to include another student voice.

Aside from the obvious lack of repre-sentation for students, the one student on the committee has ties to the university

that make their appointment to the role look less than objective.

Joseph Fons, SGA senator and Sigma Epsilon member is the student who was chosen. He has close ties to SGA Presi-dent Dustin Robinson, who is Fons’ men-tor in the fraternity. Robinson oversaw SGA’s evaluation of the candidates.

While the method for appointing the student was meant to keep the identity of the student hidden until the decision was complete, it seems that two members of the same fraternity would be cognizant of the others’ involvement and history — even while looking at a blacked-out name on a resume.

Just because there is one student on a committee of 16 doesn’t mean that the student voice is properly represented. When looking at who was selected, it is doubly unfair.

The majority of NKU students are not closely involved with SGA or other on-campus activities. Adding another, less-er-involved student would balance an authority-heavy committee that is not in touch with what the everyday student needs and wants.

Karli WoodManaging Editor

Should include more, diverse students

News September 14, 20114

A group of about 50 people gathered by the flag-pole behind Nunn Hall Sept. 11 for a Wreath Lay-ing Ceremony recognizing those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Activities Programming Board member Ron Burse began the ceremony at 6 p.m., welcoming those in attendance. Burse’s opening remarks were

followed by a prayer by Campus Flood member Emily Pelletier. Campus Flood Minister Jacob Graham then gave a brief message, in which he en-couraged everyone to “remember, honor and con-sider what we have learned from this event.”

After the message, NKU V.E.T.S. president Bill Schwartz gave a statement, recalling his own Sept. 11 experience, during which he was on active duty in Beijing, China. Scwhartz’s statement was con-cluded with a moment of silence as NKU V.E.T.S.

members Melissa Lavoy and Nicole Newton laid a wreath on the ground in front of the flagpole.

Broken Before God, an offshoot of the campus gospel choir Anointed Voices, followed the mo-ment of silence with a musical performance as the audience sat and quietly listened.

The ceremony closed with a poem read by Cam-pus Flood member Jessica Mecum and closing words by Ron Burse.

Roxanna BlevinsA&E editor

9/11 not forgotten on campusStudents remember the attacks through prayer, song and silence

Photo by Roxanna Blevins

NewsEdition 48, Issue 4 5

NEW YORK — From the vibrant heart of Lower Manhattan to a qui-et meadow in Pennsylvania, family members, police officers, firefighters, presidents and ordinary Americans marked the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with ceremonies that reflected the losses of that day, but that gave the world its first glimpses of the monuments built to keep the victims’ memories alive.

The sky over New York City was clear and blue, as it was a decade ear-lier when terrorists hijacked four jets that crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Penn. As the sun rose over Manhattan, a crowd gathered inside the former World Trade Cen-ter site. Bagpipers, keeping step with the mournful pounding of a drum, took their places on the 9/11 memo-rial plaza, which opened to the public Sept. 12.

As in past years, relatives took turns reading the name of each per-son killed that day in alphabetical order, from Gordan M. Aamoth Jr. to Igor Zukelman, plus the six people killed in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

There were 2,983 names in all, re-cited by loved ones who sent personal messages to their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, spouses and chil-dren as they took turns at the micro-phones. “We miss ... your meatloaf,” said one. “Daddy, I miss you,” said

one little girl in shiny red shoes, who needed a step to reach the micro-phone.

They spoke with accents from all corners of the globe. Children an-nounced births of their own children to the grandparents they would nev-er meet. Teenagers told their dead parents of college and career choices, and of their halting moves into adult-hood.

President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and may-ors and governors past and pres-ent were among those attending the main ceremony in New York, but they spoke briefly if at all in keep-ing with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s vow to make this event one for the families, free from politics.

“Ten years have passed since a per-fect blue-sky morning turned into the blackest of nights,” Bloomberg said. “Although we can never un-see what happened here, we can also see that children who lost their parents have grown into young adults, grandchil-dren have been born, and good works ... have taken root.”

With that, at exactly 8:46 a.m., he proclaimed a moment of silence to mark the moment of first impact: the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower. Only the rush-ing of water pouring into reflecting pools where the North and South towers once stood broke the quiet. The pools and waterfalls are the cen-terpieces of the 9/11 Memorial, which was completed weeks before the cer-emony. The moment of silence was

repeated five more times to mark the crashes of the three other planes, and the collapse of each tower.

Once the recitation of names began, relatives were given their first chance to see the memorial up-close and to touch the bronze parapets ringing the reflecting pools and etched with vic-tims’ names.

All ran their fingers over and over the letters, as if to touch their lost relatives one more time.

“When you have a loved one who died, you either have a gravestone or you don’t. We don’t, so this is his burial ground,” said Tom Acquaviva, whose son, Paul, died at the World Trade Center.

It was the first time Cheryl Shames had brought her 12-year-old daugh-ter and 7-year-old twins to the cer-emony, to remember her 27-year-

old brother, Andrew Steven Zucker. “They’re finally old enough to deal with such a long, emotional day,” she said, displaying the page of the me-morial program on which her chil-dren had etched their uncle’s name, using a purple crayon.

The memorial was chosen in 2004 from among 5,201 proposals by a jury that included architects, politicians and victims’ relatives. The designer, architect Michael Arad, called it “Re-flecting Absence,” and said the end-less streaming of water into two vast pools where the towers once stood represented the futility of filling the voids left by those killed. More than 400 oak trees represent regeneration of life.

“It’s so peaceful,” said Shames’ daughter, Temima. “I heard birds.”

9/11 through families’ eyes

Tina Susman and Geraldine BaumLos Angeles Times

Loved ones remember fallen family members at the 10th anniversary memorial in NYC

Photos courtesy of MCT Campus

After welcoming the new members of the senate, the Student Government Associa-tion made official its plans to support the decision to move to NCAA Division I status. Northern Kentucky Univer-sity President James Votruba and his executive team also attended the Sept. 12 meeting to hear and present the goals for the upcoming year.

After highlighting some of their major goals for the year to the president and his exec-utive team, SGA listened in-tently as Votruba announced the team’s goals, those of which included improving the university’s academic advising model, the move to D-I and the search for a new president. Votruba opened

the floor to any questions SGA may have had about the plans, and he also questioned and clarified some of the SGA goals.

Regarding the D-I transi-tion, Senator Joseph Fons presented the first reading of a resolution that fully en-dorses the move. The reso-lution states that SGA will

support the move because it will “bring increased brand awareness to NKU on the lo-cal, regional and national lev-els, and will align NKU with peer institutions that fit the academic and athletic pro-files of the University.”

With only minor and friendly amendments, the resolution will move to the next SGA meeting for a sec-ond reading.

SGA President Dustin Robinson also announced that the application pack-ets to fill the remaining four open senate seats will

now be due on Friday, Sept. 16. Robinson said there was some confusion with the freshmen elections happen-ing at the same time; but any-one, including freshmen, can run for the open seats.

News September 14, 20116

Senate presents goals, D-I supportClaire HigginsNews editor

On SGA’s 2011-2012 agenda

• Academic “Dead Week” — No projects or large assignments due during finals week• Better understanding of fees and caps — Explore the potential for making a percentage increase cap on student fees (parking, housing, etc.)• Explore potential Redbox for university residents• Wireless printing• Possible universal ATM without fees• Campus Safety Walk — Provide a more in-depth walk and different safety solutions• Better commuter meal plan options• Investigate value meal options in the Student Union• Construct Student Expression zones on campus

Votruba and SGA announce their support of athletic move at weekly meeting

David TrumpTheatre

What can you offer as a member of SGA: Past lead-ership experiences as well as a different perspective on how things should be done. Every-one has their ideas and goals and dreams for NKU and the student body and I would like to add my own special touch.Campus Organizations/Activities: Beta Club, 9, 10, 11, 12th grade years; Beta Club Council, 12th grade year; Boy Scouts of America, all my life; National Eagle Scout Associa-tion, 2011 to life.

Christopher WaltersUndeclared

What can you offer as a member of SGA: I have a very outgoing, friendly per-sonality. So approaching me with an issue or concern should never be a problem. My diverse background helps me understand the problems others have, and I can resolve these matters with confidence due to my experience with other groups and organiza-tions.Campus Organizations/Activities: Sigma Phi Epsi-lon, Best Buddies, Key Club, Teens Against Tobacco Use, Y-Club, FBLA, marching band, Green Team, prom commit-tee, Philosophy Club, Spanish Honor Society, National Hon-or Society, Beta Club.

Clayton CastleSecondary Education

What can you offer as a member of SGA: I can offer a tireless effort to bring the wants and needs of the NKU students, faculty and staff to reality. I’m a person of my word and will fight endlessly to get what I want. I’m a proven leader, once being the most powerful student in Cin-cinnati Public Schools. The stu-dents of NKU deserve a proven leader and I believe I can be that proven leader.Campus Organizations/Activities: Cincinnati May Festival, numerous community theatre productions, volunteer at ALS Association, Green Club (Walnut Hills HS), The Chat-terbox (Walnut Hills HS school newspaper) as a writer and page editor, fine arts.

Victoria HouseTheatre and Dance

What can you offer as a member of SGA: As a po-tential member of the SGA Senate I feel that I have a lot to offer to NKU students. I am very approachable and friend-ly, so it will be easy forstudents to come talk to me and tell me what changes they would like to see made at NKU. I am a strong leader, honest person, but most importantly, a good friend that any student at NKU can trust and count on to get things done.Campus Organizations/Activities: SCHS Beta Club, National Honors Society, drama club, singers, ladies en-semble, chamber choir, NKU Dance Team, NKU Dance Troupe.

Justin BezoldAccounting

What can you offer as a member of SGA: As some-one that is very involved around campus, I believe that I will get to see firsthand what needs to be improved. And by using my position in the sen-ate, I will be able to bring up such items for discussion and hopefully make a difference around campus.Campus Organizations/Activities: National Honor Society, Spanish Honor So-ciety, Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout, FSLC, fraternity recruitment, baseball, in-tramural sports, Leadership University.

Meet the new senate members

Biographies provided by the Dean of Students Office

With the exit of Zebulun Davenport as vice president for student affairs in July, an interim position has been filled. But the search for a per-manent replacement is still up in the air.

Northern Kentucky Univer-sity President James Votruba, who is retiring after this aca-demic year, said the reason for the delay is because he wants to leave the decision of a new vice president for stu-dent affairs to his successor. “Putting together your execu-tive team is something a new president would like to do if they can,” he said.

In July, Lisa Rhine, previ-ously assistant vice president for student affairs, stepped into the interim position of

vice president for student af-fairs. While most interim po-sitions last about six to nine months, Rhine’s could last anywhere between 18 and 24 months, depending on the process the next president chooses. Votruba said Rhine was informed that it would be more of an “extended tenure” as interim vice president.

“The longer time spent in the seat allows for more op-portunity to work through new challenges and situations that can do nothing but better prepare me to move into the permanent seat here at NKU or for my next position at an-other institution,” Rhine said.

Because Rhine was already involved in the university and in many projects in collabo-ration with Davenport, she said the transition has been “seamless for the division and

smooth for me personally.”Rhine is continuing to

work on major investments in NKU’s academic advis-ing departments. Accord-ing to Votruba, the univer-sity will spend approximately $750,000 to create a new stu-dent advising model.

This new advising model would be a collaboration with academic affairs that would ultimately be situated in a transformed University Cen-ter.

Rhine said the division is looking at transforming Uni-versity Center into a Student Success Center in the future. The center would be a place where “students, particularly those entering the institution and in the first year, will have easy access to programs and services in both student af-fairs and academic affairs that

support their success.”In addition to Rhine step-

ping into the vice president position, Peter Trentacoste moved from the director of University Housing to in-terim assistant vice president for student affairs. Much like Rhine, Trentacoste also has experience in student affairs from his position at Univer-sity Housing.

Along with advising im-provements, Rhine is also taking on Davenport’s task of assessing the divisions of student affairs and the value they bring to student success and retention rates. Increas-ing student success and im-proving NKU’s effectiveness are the main goals the execu-tive team set in place in 2009. Fall 2011 begins the last year of student affairs’ broad goals and strategic priorities.

NewsEdition 48, Issue 4 7

Claire HigginsNews editor

Student Affairs VP search on hold

Photo courtesy of NKU

Lisa Rhine is serving as interim Vice President of Student Affair until a new president is chosen.

The number of borrowers defaulting on fed-eral student loans has jumped sharply, the lat-est indication that rising college tuition costs, low graduation rates and poor job prospects are getting more and more students over their heads in debt.

The national two-year cohort default rate rose to 8.8 percent last year, from seven per-cent in fiscal 2008, according to figures re-leased Sept. 12 by the Department of Educa-tion.

These numbers include only subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford student loans.

Of the approximately 1 million student bor-rowers at for-profit schools whose first pay-ments came due in the year starting Oct. 1, 2008 at the peak of the financial crisis 15 per-cent were already at least 270 days behind in their payments two years later. That was an increase from 11.6 percent among those whose first payments came due the previous year.

At public institutions, the default rate in-creased from 6 percent to 7.2 percent and from 4 percent to 4.6 percent among students at pri-vate not-for-profit colleges.

“Part of it is the economy,” said Dyane Foltz, assistant director in Student Financial Assis-tance. “Really, I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Foltz said graduates are having a harding time finding a job and when they do, its often not in their field or not starting at the salary they’re used to having.

If a university’s default rate goes too high for three years, it risks losing the ability to dis-burse federal student loans.

Northern Kentucky University’s default rate for the fiscal year 2009 cohort was 7.2 percent, below the national average of 8.8 percent, Foltz said.

Overall, 3.6 million borrowers entered re-payment in fiscal 2009; more than 320,000 had already defaulted last fall, an increase of 80,000 over the previous year.

The federal default rate remains substan-tially below its peak of more than 20 percent

in the early 1990s, before a series of reforms in government lending. But after years of steady declines it has now risen four straight years to its highest rate since 1997 and is nearly double its trough of 4.6 percent in 2005.

Troubling as the new figures are, they un-derstate how many students will eventually default. Last year’s two-year default rate in-creased to more than 12 percent when the gov-ernment made preliminary calculations of how many defaulted within three years. Beginning next year, the department will begin using the figure for how many default within three years to determine which institutions will lose eligi-bility to enroll students receiving government financial aid.

The figures come as a stalled economy is hit-ting student borrowers from two sides: forcing cash-strapped state institutions to raise tuition and making it harder for graduates to find jobs. The unemployment rate of 4.3 percent for col-lege graduates remains substantially lower than for those without a degree. But many stu-dent borrowers do nor finish the degree they borrow to pay for.

The Department of Education has begun an income-based repayment plan that caps fed-eral loan payments at 15 percent of discretion-ary income. And new regulations the Obama administration has imposed on the for-profit sector have prompted those so-called propri-etary colleges to close failing programs and tighten enrollment. Both developments could help lower default rates in the future.

The department emphasized that it eventu-ally manages to collect most of the money it is owed, even from defaulters. But that is part of the reason federal student loan defaults are so hard on borrowers ΓÇö they can’t be dis-charged in bankruptcy. Defaulting can also wreck students’ credit and hinder their ability to return to school later with federal aid.

“There are very few avenues for escaping that,” Cochrane said. Also, “many employers these days are starting to check credit, so it can hurt your job prospects.”

Cassie Stone contributed to this report.

News September 14, 20118

Loan default rates on the rise

Justin PopeAssociated Press

Images courtesy of MCT Campus

As tuition costs increase and job options decrease, more students are struggling to make payments on loans after graduation

Student delegates of the Office of Latino Student Affairs (LSA) met with Dean of Students Jeffrey Waple on Sept. 13 to discuss obtaining a bigger lounge space with more equipment for Hispanic students.

In the meeting, sophomore sociol-ogy major Mayra Guzman and sopho-more electronic media and broadcast-ing major Arturo Minera, explained to Waple the needs of the LSA office. Both students requested for LSA to obtain the room 324 in the Student Union.

“I understand everyone’s need for space. There are other organizations who have also asked for space. They have asked me for storage space, meet-ing room space, dining space,” Waple said. “There is just not enough space.”

Waple denied the request, but said his office is planning on changing SU 324 to make it useful for other offices

and organizations. Waple said they will put more sitting space and com-puters in the area outside the LSA lounge. The date for when his office will change the Student Union room is not determined yet.

Minera said, “The meeting was a success, but it was only the first step.”

According to Guzman, more than 16 students visit the lounge daily. “The Latino lounge is too small,” Guzman said. “We need more space and more equipment.”

The Latino lounge, located in SU 325, currently measures 12 ft. by 9 ft., while the African American-Affairs lounge, located also in SU 309, mea-sures 15 ft. by 11 ft.

Guzman said that she noticed the problem her freshman year when she got involved with the LSA. “It was dur-ing the Latino orientation when May-len Arroyo gave me the idea,” Guzman said. “I needed to be a leader.”

Arroyo was the winner of NKU’s Outstanding Student in Business Ad-

ministration during the 2009-2010 academic year.

“It is nice being in a place where there are nice people,” said Francisco Cornejo, a freshman pre-engineering major. He uses the lounge daily.

Leo Calderon, director of the LSA of-fice, said, “Yes, it is time to expand the lounge. The Hispanic students gather there because they have something in common. It is a space where they share concerns, thoughts and goals”

The LSA office currently serves more than 300 Hispanic students. Ac-cording to the Office of Institutional Research, the Hispanic retention rate among Hispanic NKU students is 73.5 percent.

NKU established the LSA office a decade ago, with 57 Hispanic students and the mission of creating a unique office that would help nonwhite stu-dents. Prior to the construction of the Student Union, LSA shared rooms with the African-American affairs of-fice in the University Center.

“It doesn’t surprise me the lounge can’t handle the amount of students,” Calderon said. “There has been a tre-mendous increase of student enroll-ment and student participation.”

Calderon confirmed that the dean of students is aware of the lounge situa-tion, but Waple hasn’t acted yet.

“I don’t know about the lounge be-cause I didn’t have anything to do with it,” said Steve Meier, associate to the dean of students. “I participated in the planning process of the Student Union. I was more concerned about the space for the meeting room, stor-age space and the ballroom.”

A bigger lounge with more comput-ers and printers will help with stu-dents’ ability to do their homework while hanging out with friends.

“The retention rate will improve if students come to a prepared lounge,” Guzman said. “Students will be in-volved in school and with the LSA of-fice, so they will have enough support to keep with their classes.”

NewsEdition 48, Issue 4 9

Latino students fight for spaceGeorgina AlamillaContributing writer

“If the sidewalks weren’t enough, we’re renaming all the buildings, so good luck,” quipped Northern Kentucky University president James Votruba at the Fall Convo-cation.

Despite the jovial nature of the comment, Northern Kentucky University did some heavy lifting this summer. With the con-struction of Griffin Hall, NKU moved 550 operations between the Business Education Psychology (BEP) and Applied Science and Technology (ST) buildings, according to As-sistant Vice President of Facilities Manage-ment Larry Blake.

The College of Business moved to the ST building and the Department of Mathemat-ics moved to BEP. However, as Votruba outlined, departments’ locations are not the only changes these buildings face.

Both BEP and ST will be getting a name change. ST will soon be called the Business Academic Center and BEP will be called the Mathematics, Education and Psychology Center.

Blake said the name change was decided after many of the facilities housed in the buildings were moved to Griffin Hall.

The moves were made over the summer, while both building’s signs and NKU maps are still catching up. Most of the maps are renewed yearly and will now incorporate Griffin and the newly titled buildings. Blake said that the buildings will display their new names in late October or early November.

The decision to hold off on changing the names was a conscious one, according to Blake.

“The decision was made because of return-ing students knowing where those buildings were,” Blake said. “It just made more sense to leave the names alone and change them while the students were here rather than while they were gone. To be honest, they’re going to be lost for a half a semester any-way.”

Blake added, “The only thing you have to worry about is the next freshmen class. But changing it while they’re here, they see it change, they know what happened, they know what the name was, they know what it is now. It just seemed a lot easier for ev-erybody.”

For some new students, the name change signals additional confusion to the transi-tioning campus.

“I’m not sure if I understand that rea-soning ... it seems advantageous to start from the beginning with the new students. I wouldn’t have noticed the difference, but now it’s probably going to be more confusing since I’m used to this being BEP,” said Liz Sakaki, junior integrative studies major and first-year NKU student.

While the new building names make sense for the departments they now house, there are students who will continue to call them by their old names. Senior accounting major Ryan Broughton said, “My sister is a fresh-man here, so I’ll be saying ST building and she’ll know it as the other name.”

Griffin Hall. It is new, it is awesome, it is fully equipped, it is a great addition to Northern Ken-tucky University. But, as with most new things, Griffin Hall is missing something that students and faculty have been noticing -- a lack of food options.

Many students have assumed the open area near the Digitorum would be a café. However, that will only be for temporary use for events.

“There are no plans to add any permanent dining options within Griffin Hall,” said Rob Knarr, senior project manager/associate director of Architecture, Design and Construction Management.

Knarr said the closeness of Griffin to the Student Union played a big part in why there were no per-manent dining options, but Informatics students who spend their days in the building aren’t happy with the decision to leave out more options.

There are a number of students who do not have breaks throughout the day. “I think it’s pretty ri-diculous,” said Micha Finnie, a senior public rela-tions major. “It seems like they tried too hard to get (Griffin Hall) open for classes without planning for how it would actually work out in operation.”

Although, for students who just want a vending machine snack, there are four located in a hallway behind the stairs on the first floor.

“It would be cool to have a microwave or mini fridge available,” said Teressa Caldwell, a senior journalism major.

The idea of appliances for students has been pro-posed to Interim Dean of the College of Informat-ics, Kevin Kirby, who is interested in hearing more about the idea of adding microwaves to make it easier for students.

If you would like to voice your opinion on dining within Griffin Hall, visit http://www.thenorthern-er.com to voice your opinion.

Your suggestions will be taken to next week’s meeting with Kirby.

News September 14, 201110

Name changes alter campus faceKarli WoodManaging editor

Rachel MartinContributing writer

Griffin Hall leaves students hungry for more dining options

Illustration by Brittany Granville

Much like the Norman Rockwell illustration of 1944, NKU is making some important changes to prime real estate -- this time, in the form of campus buildings.

FeaturesEdition 48, Issue 4 11

Debaters take on the N-word issue: Is it OK to use the word?

Photos by Cassie Stone

SEARCH, continued from page oneas bias.” After the student applications were

collected, Robinson got to work. “I compiled all the apps, blacked

out all the names so that it would be as blind as possible and had the [Executive] Board review all of these and send me ... their top three appli-cations,” Robinson said.

All applications were also sent to the dean of students office to ensure the applicants were in good academ-ic standing, Robinson said. He added there was not a minimum GPA re-quirement.

Robinson said there were eight applications, and not all of the ap-plicants were SGA members. He did not provide their applications, citing privacy. Mann also declined to pro-vide the applications, citing the same reason. The Northerner is still work-ing to obtain this information.

After Robinson received the ex-ecutive board’s top three choices, he forwarded them to Mann with his own “little blurb about just what I

knew about each candidate individu-ally personally, so they would have my perspective and the executive board’s perspective. That way they had just a little extra input as well.”

“He demonstrated all the things I believe were criteria for the student representative,” Robinson said. “He showed involvement, he has a very good GPA and his letter of intent covered everything we were looking for.”

Mann said there was never any “explanation of connections or in-terests” of the applicants. Instead, there was comments saying “just this student has done this, wishes this,” comments on the applications.

“If the SGA had sent only one per-son to me ... I wouldn’t have accept-ed that,” Mann said. “It wasn’t the process.”

Fons declined an interview with The Northerner, saying he is only available via email. Dean of Students Jeffrey Waple, who also serves as SGA adviser, said he advised all SGA

members not to speak to The North-erner either in person or over the phone.

To get a comment from Fons, The Northerner would need to submit the questions to Waple, and then he would forward them to Fons, Waple said. Per the newspaper’s policy, The Northerner does not conduct news interviews via email and does not submit questions through third par-ties.

Mann asked for help from various community, faculty and staff groups to help select the committee mem-bers.

“We asked for legitimate input from various stakeholders as to who would be positive and capable mem-bers of a search and screening com-mittee and we did get that,” Mann said.

As the committee was being as-sembled, Mann said he thought the university deserved more represen-tation, so he added another faculty member and a non-teaching staff

member. He said he did not consider adding

another student member to the com-mittee.

“At some point you say we can’t handle a larger committee,” Mann said. “I came to the conclusion that 16 was as large as we could go. I would have loved to appoint another student to the committee.”

Mann added, “Truthfully, I thought we had a process that would produce the most viable student representa-tion on the committee. I recognized the student body needed a voice on the committee, [but] you reach a point when numbers become diffi-cult to deal with.”

The committee held its first meet-ing Sept. 13, Mann said. In the com-ing weeks, the committee will be-gin selecting a firm to help recruit applicants. They will also organize open forums for students to discuss their vision for NKU and what kind of characteristics they think the next president should have.

Cassie StoneEditor-in-chief

The Northern Kentucky University Chapter of the NAACP hosted an “N-word Debate” Sept. 9 in Otto Budig Theater.

Students debated whether it is ap-propriate for anyone to use the N-word and if it is, then who. Partici-pants represented three positions: No one should use the N-word, only certain people should use the N-word and it depends on the context of the N-word’s use.

Judges determined the student who represented the view that it depends on the context of how the N-word is used won the debate.

Features September 14, 201112

On Aug. 31, voices floated down the hallway as room 117 in Norse Commons filled with the sounds of students packed into the tiny room. Over the talking, laughter and vocal warm-ups, the soft pulse of two electric keyboards and a bass started up in the back-ground. After a few moments of chaos, the choral direc-tor stepped forward with his arms raised. Silence settled as the rehearsal commenced.

Anointed Voices is a wor-ship group at Northern Kentucky University that performs throughout the se-mester in area churches. The group consists of a gospel choir and mime, praise danc-ing and stepping teams.

Former president Glen-nesha Montgomery said the group goes back at least 10 years. As the group expands, Montgomery suspects that a larger location will be needed by next semester. Montgom-ery says individuals from all backgrounds are welcome. “This isn’t a race thing, it’s a spiritual thing,” Montgomery said.

Choral director Jerome Johnson kept a constant tem-po with a crisp, loud snap as students slowly surrounded him. Johnson also coordi-nates groups at Xavier Uni-versity and leads a chorus at his church in Cincinnati. Throughout the rehearsal, Johnson spoke to the choir about the different aspects of

worship.“The experience is person-

al. Music just sets the atmo-sphere — the point of worship is getting to know God in your own way,” Johnson said. A shift in the room, prompted an improvised sanctuary to a worship service.

Nicole White, a sophomore from Louisville, Ky., calls Anointed Voices her church away from home. White said that the group has taught her

humility and has helped her cope with the pressures of col-lege life.

Dominique Baker, also a sophomore from Louisville, Ky., said the group gives him a “sense of belonging to God”. Baker said the group allows him to continue his spiritu-ality, and that his goal for Anointed Voices is to bring more people together so that souls can be saved.

Anointed Voices will hold

their first worship service on Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. in BEP 200. All NKU students and faculty are welcome to join. On Sept. 25, Anointed Voices will per-form at New Hope Church in Newport, Ky. In November, the group will travel to Louis-ville for a weekend-long con-ference consisting of worship and music.

Anointed Voices meets ev-ery Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Norse Commons Room 117.

Tara DeringtonContributing writer Other on-

campus religious options · Campus Flood People. Passion. Music. Message.For more information, visit http://www.campus-flood.org· Pagan Student As-sociation Promotes and supports the welfare of Pagan students and their allies.For more information, visit http://www.witchvox.com· Baptist Campus MinistryChrist-centered. Church-related. Collegiate-led.For more information, visit http://www.nkubcm.org· Newman Club Supports the Catholics of NKU and offers blessings to the rest of the com-munity.For more information, visit newmansclub@nku.edu· Anointed Voices Supports the spiritual aspect of NKU’s students through song and dance.For more information, email Tracy Stokes at stok-est2@nku.edu

Praise through song and dance

Anointed Voices combines four different ways of worship: a gospel choir and mime (above), praise dance and a step-ping team. Everyone is welcome to join. The group meets Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in Norse Commons Room 117.

Photo courtesy of Anointed Voices

NKU group worships through unconventional art forms, allows students to familiarize themselves with their religion their own way

FeaturesEdition 48, Issue 4 13

Bid day marks the start of a jour-ney women will share for sisterhood, leadership, philanthropy, academia and socializing. Joining a sorority may start as a way to become involved on campus, but it creates lifelong friendships.

On Sept. 12, the sisters of Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Kappa Delta, Phi Sigma Sigma and Theta Phi Al-pha cheered while awaiting their new members’ arrival at Northern Ken-tucky University.

The new girls were given a warm welcome as they paraded past the crowd and onto the Oakley and Eva G. Farris Amphitheatre stage.

Formal recruitment was Sept. 9-11. At Monday’s end, 225 new members

joined their sisters in celebration.“Quota was roughly 46,” said Kim

Vance, assistant director of student life. “The average chapter size is 101, so it’s time to grow.”

Vance believed that there were about 200 new members last year. As NKU grows, organizations will ex-pand, as well.

“Pan-Hellenic counsel unanimous-ly voted last spring to open the cam-pus for a new chapter to come fall of 2012 and fall of 2014,” Vance said.

She said there are seven chapters that have applied to participate in the expansion process. The counsel will begin reviewing these chapters and inviting three to four of them for formal presentations. Vance said the presentations would be held toward the end of October this year.

Caitlin CentnerContributing writer

Sororities embrace new sisters

All photos by Emily Lindeau

Visit thenortherner.comfor more photos.

A new game is slowly infecting stu-dents around Northern Kentucky Uni-versity. The game doesn’t need a con-troller, a board or cards — all the game requires is a computer and a sharp mind.

“The Fourth Dimension,” an alter-nate reality game (ARG), has been run-ning for a few weeks, but it is still in the early stages.

“It took about six months from start to where we are now,” said senior media informatics major Beth Russell. “The game isn’t even finished. We are work-ing on the end of the game while the be-ginning is going.”

Games, like “Dungeons and Drag-ons,” have been around for decades. But most role playing games are board games, video games or live action. An ARG takes place entirely online.

“The Fourth Dimension” uses a play-er’s Facebook account to interact with others. Following the main characters allows one to contribute to solving the various puzzles.

One of the characters is Jennie Sulli-van and is portrayed by an actual NKU student.

“It’s a little weird at times to think that there are some people who don’t know me as Karlee Parnell and only know me as Jennie Sullivan,” senior media infor-matics major Karlee Parnell said.

The story surrounding Jennie is a mystery. She received a strange letter from someone with ties to her father,

even though her father has been dead for 10 years. This is where a player steps in and begins the quest to help Jennie.

Russell and her group of 14 student creators are using their game to show-case Griffin Hall and media informatics here at NKU.

The game is set to run for six or seven weeks. It’s final stages include sending players to different historic locations around NKU.

“Players will be learning a lot,” Rus-

sell said.Caches of information are at each

location; the first person there will get the most information and hopefully will share with other players. Eventually the information will be removed from a lo-cation so players have to move quickly.

Players earn points by solving puz-zles and figuring out more elements to the story. There are prizes as well. Though Russell could not say what the prizes would be, the mention of an iPad

slipped out.The game has been going on since

the beginning of the semester but play-ers can still jump into the mystery. If a player is impatient and just wants to be caught up, he or she can scroll Jennie Sullivan’s wall to know the outcome of past puzzles.

To play visit http://www.arg.nku.edu. Visit Jennie’s blog, “Point, Click, Jennie” at http://pointclickjennie.blogspot.com.

September 14, 201114 A&EGaming takes an alternate path

Brandon BarbFeatures Editor Students work together to create a social reality

game that takes players into “The Fourth Dimension”

“Sin dejar huella” (“Without a Trace”) starts off the Spanish and Latin American Film Series on Sept. 21, just in time for National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The film follows two women who meet while on the run — one from a bad relationship, the other from a corrupt cop — and become friends.

While some Spanish majors and native Spanish speakers attend the film series, the films are played in Spanish with English subtitles, according to Span-ish assistant professor Caryn Connelly, so all audience members may enjoy it.

“It’s a good way to learn Spanish,” said sophomore

pre-med student Brandon Warrick.Junior biology major Justin Bernard said that he

has watched some movies in Spanish and enjoyed them in his free time. Bernard, who is currently taking Elementary Spanish II, thought the series sounded like something he might appreciate.

The film series, previously the Latin American Film Series, was created in 2010 by Connelly, who also teaches world cinema classes. Assistant Spanish pro-fessor Kajsa Larson, joined Connelly in organizing the series this semester.

The series features three films each semester, with a group discussion following each film. According to Connelly some of the topics that come up in the dis-cussions revolve around how viewers are impacted by

the film and what they found intriguing or confusing about the film.

“I try to keep it less academic, even though we’re in an academic setting,” Connelly said. “I want them to find it an enjoyable experience that opens their minds to things they may not have thought of otherwise.”

This year, the film series will feature movies from Spain, Chile, Argentina and Mexico.

“I try to choose films that reflect the richness of cin-ema of the Spanish-speaking world,” Connelly said.

The film series is free and open to students, staff, faculty and community members. All films will be screened on their respective dates in LA 110 from 7-9:30 p.m.

Roxanna BlevinsA&E editor

Un festival de película enriches Hispanic Heritage Month

Photo courtesy of NKU Center for Applied TechnologyEric Hancock (letf) and Beth Russell are two of the creators behind The Fourth Dimension, an alternate reality game that shows off Griffin Hall.

Edition 48, Issue 4 15A&E

The Office of Latino Student Affairs will celebrate its progress at the recep-tion for its 10th annual National His-panic Heritage Month.

When NKU started participating in National Hispanic Heritage Month 10 years ago, 57 Hispanic students were enrolled, according to administrative assistant of Latino Student Affairs Di-ane Maldonado. Two hundred sixty-five Hispanic students were enrolled for the 2011 spring semester.

“This is an opportunity to share the rich history of the Latino community,” said Leo Calderon, director of Latino student affairs.

The kick-off, which takes place Sept. 15, is the first in a series of events that will continue through Oct. 15.

Preceding the kick-off, there will be Zumba dancing outside at the Oakley and Eva G. Farris Amphitheatre at noon. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with opening remarks by Presi-dent James Votruba, followed by a re-view of the past 10 years of National Hispanic Heritage Month celebra-tions. The event will also feature live music and dance performances.

“It’s a way to break down stereo-types and give awareness of Latinos and their heritage,” said sophomore sociology major Mayra Guzman.

Freshman anthropology and in-ternational studies major Jessica Vasquez agreed with Guzman, adding that not everyone who is Hispanic is from Mexico, as is often assumed. In addition, according to Maldonado, not all Hispanic individuals fit the stereo-typical image of someone with brown

skin, black hair and brown eyes.Some individuals who are Latino but

not necessarily recognizable as such include actresses Alexis Bledel and Lea Michelle and singer Alicia Keys.

National Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under the administration of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. The ob-servation was then extended to 30 days by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. National Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the independence days celebrated by multiple Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Gua-temala, Honduras, Mexico and Chile.

In previous years during National Hispanic Heritage Month, NKU has welcomed keynote speakers like “Bat-tlestar Galactica” actor Edward James Olmos, activist Sylvia Mendez, as well as comedian and poet Joe Hernandez-Kolski.

All of the presenters and keynote speakers are of Hispanic heritage, but the events of National Hispanic Heritage Month are open to everyone. Junior psychology major Elizabeth Bravo Hernandez said that she saw students of various nationalities and areas of study at Hernandez-Kolski’s presentation last year.

“It had a cross-cultural appeal,” Calderon said. “There was white, black, Latino, faculty, staff and stu-dents.”

In past years, only one keynote speaker has presented during Na-tional Hispanic Heritage Month. In celebration of NKU’s 10th anniversary observance of the month, this year will include keynote speakers.

The first presenter, Juana Watson,

Ph.D., will visit campus Sept. 21. Wat-son is a professor of Latino Affairs at Graduate Theological Foundation. She also founded community centers for Latinos in Indiana, as well as non-profit organizations, such as Badges Without Borders.

Pulitzer Prize-winning photojour-nalist Jose Galvez will give a presen-tation Oct. 6. Galvez’ black and white photos capture Latinos in America go-ing about their daily lives. Galvez’s art-work will also be displayed in the Fine Arts Center Third Floor Gallery.

President of the Mexican Legal De-

fense and Educational Fund Thomas Saenz will also be visiting campus Oct. 6 for a panel discussion.

“It’s like a party,” said sophomore electronic media and broadcasting major Arturo Minera about the signifi-cance of the holiday. “You give them an altar; you welcome them home as though they came home after a long stretch.”

For a list of all events or more infor-mation about the keynote speakers, go to http://latino.nku.edu/programs/schedule.php.

Roxanna BlevinsA&E editor

Events celebrate Latino heritage

Sept. 15 - Zumba on the Square: Oakley and Eva G. Farris Amphitheatre at noon

Sept. 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off reception: SU 107A, 5:30-7 p.m.

Sept. 21 - Juana Watson, Ph.D., presentation: Otto Budig Theatre at 1 p.m.

Sept. 21 - Juana Watson, Ph.D., reception: SU 109, 2:30-3:30

Oct. 6 - Jose Galvez presentation; SU 104; noonOct. 6 - Thomas Saenz panel discussion; UC Ball-room; 5 - 6:30 p.m.Oct. 12 - Dia de los Muertos pre-celebration; UC Ballroom; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Oct. 13 - Dia de los Muertos pre-celebration; UC Ballroom; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

OutAnd

About

Photos courtesy of Diane Maldonado

During National Hispanic Month, proud students celebrate their many different nationalities and express individuality together.

September 14, 201116 A&E

The Asia ProjectWhen: 12-1 p.m. Where: Starbucks in SUWhat: Witness a spoken-word poet with nothing less than an honest, inspiring, gut-wrenching, comical and genuine testimony of his life.

NKU Music Weekend at the LeveeWhen: 5 p.m. Where: Newport on the LeveeWhat: Performances by NKU Latin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo 1, Vocal Jazz Ensem-ble, NKU Big Band and the Northern Lights Jazztet.

Job Search Success Workshop When: 12-1 p.m.Where: Career DevelopmentWhat: Learn about Norse Recruiting job postings, on-campus interviews and how to conduct a self-directed job search.

Club Norse: Comedi-an Steve Hofstetter When: 7-9 p.m. Where: SU Multipurpose Room What: Enjoy the comedy of “Comedy All-Star” Steve Hof-stetter. Food will be provided.

Express Yourself: Freedom of Speech and Press When: 12:30-1:30 p.m.Where: SU 104 What: A lively debate on the First Amendment and how it affects the media. Free pizza!

Walk for Global Wa-ter When: 6 a.m.-2 p.m.Where: Fairfield Water Works Park in FairfieldWhat: Come help with water resource awareness with our community! Grab a free breakfast and free T-shirt.

LSA 10th Year Anni-versary When: 5:30-7 p.m. Where: SU Ballroom 107 What: LSA invites you for live music, dance performances and food to help celebrate 10 years at NKU by looking back at past events.

Cincy Comic ExpoWhen: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.Where: Duke Energy Conven-tion Center in CincinnatiWhat: Spend a day chillin’ with the villians (and heroes) of the comic book world! Featuring “Kabuki” creator David Mack.

September 14

September 17September 17September 16September 16

September 15September 15September 14

SportsEdition 48, Issue 4 17

There is no tackling, no tucking of the ball after a catch, no pushing nor shoving allowed. There are only seven on the field for each team at a time, and twenty yards are needed for a first down.

It is not your normal football game, but the abnor-mality has not stopped intramural flag football from becoming increasingly popular on Northern Kentucky University’s campus.

“For girls, I think it’s because we never really got to play football in high school; and for the boys, they can almost relive their glory days,” said Danielle Kelsey, sophomore marketing major and team captain for Delta Gamma. “I like playing because I’ve never had the opportunity to play before and I found that I’m

good at it.”Participation in the sport was at its all-time high in

2010, the first year played at the NKU Soccer Stadium. The sport continues to grow as more teams and stu-dents take the field this year.

“Word is getting out about the overall experience,” said Jeremy Chipman, coordinator of campus rec-reation. “It is a neat environment with the [stadium] lights on. It is an inviting time and an inviting atmo-sphere.”

This year, there are 50 teams and around 600 stu-dents playing, which is an increase of almost 100 stu-dents from last year.

There are five different leagues that play on a certain day each week, who play between 6 and 10 p.m. The men’s teams play on Sundays and Mondays, sorority/women compete on Mondays and the fraternity and

co-rec teams take the field on Thursdays.Each team will participate in five regular season

games and in the playoffs, provided they meet the three requirements mandatory for playoff eligibility: the captain must attend a captain’s meeting, the team must have an average rating of 4.0 out of a possible 5.0 in sportsmanship and the team cannot have any forfeits (defined as absence without notice).

New this year for intramural football, as well as for all intramural sports, is the website http://imleagues.nku.edu. This website allows for individuals and teams to communicate with each other and to keep up with their records and stats for the year. According to Chip-man, this will make it easier for students to keep track of their team and help make his job easier as well.

Changes are still to come with the building of two intramural fields to be used as early as 2013.

John MinorSports news editor

Football flagged as a successMembers of Tau Kappa Epsilon (left) competed against Alpha Tau Omega (right) during a regular season game last year in the fraternity league. Intramural flag football games moved to the NKU Soccer Stadium last year, when overall participation reached an all-time high of 46 teams. This year with 50 teams are scheduled to play.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Chipman

TORONTO — In June 2009, just a few days before Brad Pitt, director Steven Soderbergh and others were set to board a plane for Phoenix to begin shooting the film version of Michael Lewis’ baseball best-seller “Moneyball,” the unthinkable hap-pened. Despite the months spent preparing the shoot and the star wattage involved, Sony Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal pulled the plug on the movie. Soderbergh was leaving the project, the studio an-nounced, and the film’s future was in serious doubt.

Two years later, “Moneyball” is not only complete but is about to be un-veiled, a remarkable comeback in an industry where even small obstacles can be fatal. Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing,” “The Social Network”) came on to rewrite the script, and Bennett Miller (“Capote”) took over as director; Pitt stayed aboard star-ring as the fiercely driven Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who fights the odds and conventional baseball wisdom with ragtag players. The film will have its premiere Sept. 16 at the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its Sept. 23 general release in the U.S.

Its success at the box office and with Academy Awards voters re-mains to be seen, but one aspect of the film has already achieved an Os-car-worthy level of drama. “I think the making of the movie is just as

interesting as the movie itself,” Pitt told the Los Angeles Times in May.

A potential “Moneyball” film began life in late 2003, when producer Ra-chael Horovitz obtained the rights to Lewis’ book and teamed with writer Stan Chervin on it. Lewis’ nonfiction work spent months on the best-seller list, and soon Sony would win a bid-ding war to make the film version.

But what kind of film he and others could carve from “Moneyball” was not obvious: Roughly half the book told the personal story of Beane, a failed baseball prospect who’d found redemption as a general manager. The other half, however, was a his-torical and mathematical account of sabermetrics, the complicated quan-titative analysis Beane used to evalu-ate talent.

In January 2009, Soderbergh came aboard and began crafting the movie as something that would blend ele-ments of a documentary with statis-tics and the larger A’s story. The film was to begin shooting that June.

What happened after that, as Pas-cal dramatically halted the movie, re-mains a matter of contention.

Creative differences played a role in the decision. At the time, Sony executives said that Soderbergh’s version was too wonkish, and they wanted something more emotion-ally accessible. Pascal told the Times then that Soderbergh’s draft “wasn’t at all what we’d signed up for. ...He wanted to do the film in a different way than we did.”

“Moneyball” appeared dead. The film had no director and a script

from Soderbergh that Sony wasn’t going to use. On top of that, produc-ers and the studio were concerned that Pitt could walk.

They quickly decided to hire Sorkin to do a rewrite of the script. Sorkin’s script, the parties agreed, would em-phasize the isolation of Beane as he pursued his unorthodox methods as well as the human aspect of him win-ning over skeptics.

There were still fears Pitt would leave. But as the movie gained mo-mentum, it caught the eye of some directors.

Pitt acknowledged the high drama in getting the film made but said he believed in the end it helped the final product. “This movie has been en-riched by everyone’s contributions. It wouldn’t be what it is without that.”

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

Michael Lewis’ book “Moneyball” about general manager Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s was made into a movie and will premier Sept. 23.

Sports September 14, 201118

‘Moneyball’ overcomes all odds

Steven ZeitchikLos Angeles Times

The best-selling book has been made into a film that almost did not make it to theaters

The Campus Recreation Center at Northern Kentucky University is gearing up for the one night only extravaganza – Norse Nights – with prizes, games, music and free food.

Norse Nights, scheduled for Oct. 10, is a get-together for students to come in and experience the recreation cen-ter, whether they exercise or not. The event has happened periodically over the last few years, but staff members want to make it into an annual event.

“I think that Norse Nights is going to become one of the bigger events on campus,” said Beth Volpenhein, graduate assistant for facilities in the recreation center. “It is going to be a night of fun, activities, prizes and competition.”

The event is still in the works, but it will feature activities such as sports, dancing, cornhole, a bungee run, a Velcro wall, inflatable obstacle cours-es, and kayaking and volleyball in the pool.

Norse Nights will also serve food, offer prizes, provide music and sup-ply a limited amount of free T-shirts. In the past, Norse Nights has featured such things as a mechanical bull, blow up horses and giant tricycles.

Volpenhein said the staff is hoping to have an airbrush activity, where

students can bring items in to be air-brushed, and a TRX exercise demo, which were popular features at this year’s FreshFusion.

The theme of this year’s event is “The Return of Norse Nights” and will be a newer, better version, according to Volpenhein.

“We are bringing it back full force and even better than we have ever had it,” Volpenhein said. “It is important that we get a good showing this year to show we can keep up interests. We want at least a thousand people to come, but the more the merrier.”

Jennifer Hilvert, assistant director for facilities, said that some people are intimidated to enter the recre-ation center.

“People think they have to already be in shape to come in here and work out,” Hilvert said. “We just need to get them in the door to see what we have.”

Hilvert also said that Norse Nights will show people that the recreation center can be used for more than just exercising.

“People come here all the time to work out, take fitness classes, partici-pate in intramurals and swim,” Hil-vert said. “This is more of a fun event. We can do fun things, too. It’s not just a workout area; it’s a night to come and hang out.”

SportsEdition 48, Issue 4 19

Stephen WilderSports features editor

Norse Nights returns to campusStudents can compete to see who will be this year’s champion

Students occupy the basketball courts in the Rec Center to participate in the “Cupid Shuffle” and “Cha Cha Slide.” Norse Nights will also feature obstacle courses, cornhole, volleyball, kayaks in the pool and more. There will be food, prizes, and a champion will be crowned.

Photo courtesy of Jill Kleiser