Video Games: Virtual vs. Reality

College Students are addicted to Call of Duty
By Brandon Miles

Word Count 650

The loud sound of a chopper gunner fills the room as you annihilate the opposing team. After the chopper wreaks havoc, the attack dogs are called to action. These dogs are trained man-killers and will attack on first-sight.  It might appear to be from a scene in a war movie but it is the environment of a video game, Call of Duty.

According to Game Informer magazine, Call of Duty Black Ops is the highest grossing video game to date selling a total of 50 million copies in the first week of the release. This dramatic game is known to be a war simulation used in military training programs. Employee Ron Starks of Game Stop said, "The vivid images of today's video games are so realistic that it creates a hypnosis effect, sucking someone right into the game making players feel as if they were actually in the game." The game is so addicting that people drop all of their priorities in order to get some, "Crucial COD time" said BSU student-athlete Jake Schmitt.

Call of Duty Black Ops

Video games have been placed at the top when it comes to technology innovation, offering various kinds of first-person shooter games ranging from futuristic concepts to real-life war simulations. Consumers also have the opportunity to play the Xbox kinect, a video game that reacts with the body as a controller.

The New Xbox Kinect

So what do we do with all these cool video games, drop the real world and live in a virtual fantasy world? That seems to be the trend and according to grabstats.com a whopping 65% of college students play video games 5 hours or more per week."I think I play between two and three hours a Call of Duty a day," said BSU student Andrew Eagan.

 The television show True Life did a special episode on addiction to video games and in that episode the characteristics and habits of the people portrayed were like many gamers at BSU. The virtual world of modern video games allows players to escape reality and be part of a fantasy world that some people like better that the real one, "When I am bored in class, thinking about playing video games always puts me in a better mood," said sophomore marketing major Matt Larson, "even if I have homework or something important to do I just would much rather game."

Excessive amount of television exposure could prove detrimental as many studies have shown how television and gaming have adverse effects on the mind. The excess game play can cause some people to develop irregular sleeping habits or even skip meals, which can be harmful over a long period of time.

Call of Duty is so mesmeric amongst today's youth that some gamers will wait in line for hours in order to be the first one with the game. "The night that Call of Duty: Black Ops was released I waited two hours in line and every bit of the wait was worth it because COD is the best game out." Said senior design technology major Mitch Minardi. “Now that I'm almost done with school I have more free time, so I don't know what I would do without the my Xbox."

Senior Design Technology Major Mitch Minardi

Playing video games has become a way of life for some people and the re-actions to this lifestyle decision will have harsh consequences if continued in the long run. Video games are entertainment not a lifestyle.

Virtual War



Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams at BSU

A Deeper Look at Equality of BSU Hockey

By Tony Barber & Max Hodgdon

Men’s and Women’s hockey are popular sports here in Bemidji, Minn, particularly at Bemidji State University. Title IX, a federal mandate, requires that men’s and women’s athletic programs receive equal treatment in terms of financial support and participation from students. BSU, like many other campuses, has never been in full compliance with Title IX. In fact, the men’s track and field team was recently cut because of Title IX, even though it was financially self-sustaining. Division I hockey was untouched, even though there have been inequities.

“I think that the men get more media attention and community support,” said Marlee Wheelhouse, a BSU women’s hockey team member. Head Coach of the BSU women’s hockey team, Steve Sertich, explained that other programs have gained support through incentives for attendance at games. For example, the University of Wisconsin recently had an incentive for people to attend their women's hockey game against the University of Minnesota, where they drew approximately 10,000 people,  “I would like to look at different ways to get our students over here to watch" said Sertich. “We have to come up with ways to entice people to come over and see what we have to offer." Sertich never mentioned the incentive that the University of Wisconsin used.

 Both teams are given the same building to play in, the same facilities to train in, and same accommodations on the road. The women's team has 23 players and four coaches; the men's team has 35 players and four coaches. When asked about equality for men and woman’s hockey neither Serratore nor Sertich seemed aware of any equality issues pertaining to the teams. Several players had the same feelings, including men’s hockey team member Matthew Read: “I do believe both men's and women's hockey teams are treated equally,” he said. “Each player’s needs are met and we both only get what is needed. There isn't much I would change.”

The women’s team is forced to play at 2:07 p.m. however, when the men’s hockey team is in town.  Fewer people are likely to attend, because of work and other obligations. This could be a reason that the men have more support than women.

During the current fiscal year men’s hockey has made a profit of $23,442 as of February 6, 2011. The women currently break even. The men's coaches are paid more, but, according to Bill Maki the vice president of finance and administration, “The tenure of the men’s coaches at BSU has been longer than the women’s coaches."

 “Operating costs are a bit higher for FY2011 for men's because of the entry fees we need to pay the WCHA for our first three years of membership,” said Maki. Aside from this fee that the men have to pay; operating costs are identical. Both teams are awarded $248,000 in scholarships. The women's players are given more per person because there are fewer players on the team. The Sanford Center brings in nearly a quarter of a million in advertising revenue from signs and ads around the rink. All of this money goes to the men's hockey team and the women don't get any of this money, even though they play in the same rink. The men's team far and away out sells the women's team in tickets. This is where men's hockey team makes the $23,442 profit. The women's team makes up for low ticket sales from donations from Alumni, Beaver Pride, and other private supporters. They have donated $766,185 during the current season, and all of it goes towards the women's team.

Photo 1: Both men’s and women’s BSU hockey teams play in the highly respected WCHA Conference. Photo by Max Hodgdon 

Photo 2: A photo of center Ice at the new Sanford Center, home of the Bemidji State University Beavers. Photo by Max Hodgdon

Title IX Enforced at BSU

Budget Cuts Affect Men’s Track and Field Team

By DJ Haffely and Maggi Stivers

John Muenchow runs in the Beaver
Twilight meet on February 17th.

Like most other public universities in Minnesota, BSU is experiencing financial problems. As a result, some things will have to change. It has been announced that men’s track and field will be cut at the end of this season to become move toward compliance with Title IX. “I know it has to be done,” said Tara Bender, BSU social work student, “but its keeping people from coming to BSU.”  BSU’s sports are out of balance with Title IX and adminstators are struggling to solve it.

Title IX states that, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

This diagram outlines the 3 prong in which a school must
meet in order to be compliant with Title IX

 Rayla Allison, associate director of the University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology, in an email interview, explained that Title IX athletic analysis uses 13 component areas. These 13 components include effective accommodation of interest and abilities (the three- pronged test), scholarships, recruiting, travel and per diem, practice and competitive facilities, publicity, coaching, locker rooms, equipment and supplies, academic support and tutors, scheduling of games/practices, dining and housing facilities and support services. 



The basic prongs of the effective accommodation of interest and abilities  component of Title IX are to have equal proportions, showing growth, and meeting the needs of the student body, although a school only has to comply with one prong.  Eric Forsyth, a BSU sports  management professor, explained that for a school to be in compliance  with the “equal proportions” segment, the total percentages of men and women  in the athletic programs should reflect the percentages of enrolled students. 

 In fall 2010, BSU had 2,579 female undergraduate students comprising  52% of the student body and 2,347 males (48%), according to a document entitled  fall 2010  thirtieth day headcount of enrollment. BSU had 422 student athletes  participating in the 2009-10 school year; There were 259 male athletes (61%) and 163 female (39%) athletes and approximately 35 of those men belong to the BSU’s men’s track and field team. BSU offers nine women’s sports and four men’s sports. After men's track and field is cut the men’s sports offered at BSU are going to be baseball, basketball, football, and golf. Basketball, cross country, golf,  soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball are offered for women. Men and women both have divison one hockey teams at BSU.  To be in compliance with Title IX, BSU should not have such a disparity in the number of sports. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) requires a 5 to 5 sport ratio or a 4 to 6 sport ratio whereas BSU has a 4 to 9.  

The Twilight Track Meet held
 in Bemidji on February 17th.

The second prong is that your athletic program must be showing progress   towards the “equal proportions” requirement. If the ratio is closer than it was in the past year, the second prong of Title IX is met.

Saint Cloud State University is also not in compliance with Title IX. According to Allison, the SCSU undergraduate ratio is 50% male and 50% female, but their sports have a ratio of 61% male and 39% female, a similar ratio to BSU. “Students of SCSU voted to pay more to keep all sports,” said Hannah Swift, copy editor and staff editor for the University Chronicle. If SCSU keeps all their sports, they will still be out of compliance with Title IX.  “Let me say," said Allision I have yet to find a college or university in Minnesota compliant, though I have not analyzed all."

There are serious consequences for ignoring Title IX. Forsyth explained that if a school doesn’t follow the rules, the consequences could be anything from state funding for athletics being pulled to seasons being suspended. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation Web Site “Current estimates are that 80% or more of all colleges and universities are not in compliance,” according to the Women’s Sports Foundation Most of those cases, though, are not serious enough to suffer consequences. So why was it imperative to cut BSU’s men’s track and field?

Nde Anye (Prince Aloh) warms up for the Twilight Meet.

Forsyth believes that for BSU to stay in the NSIC and  become one hundred percent compliant with the first prong, BSU will end up cutting more sports in the future or increasing roster numbers for women's sports. Cutting the BSU men’s track and field team and possibly other programs may not be appropiate to meet the letter of the law.  “However I can say this…the federal law does not mandate any school to cut a program in order to become compliant," Allison wrote. That would be an administration decision not a legal decision. In fact the federal regulations of Title IX discourage an administration from cutting programs,” stated Allison. 

The twelve other components are also important to be in compliant with Title IX. BSU is not in compliance with many of the other prongs which includes fininical requirments.

Photos By DJ Haffely and Maggi Stivers

Good Luck Parking

Parking fees and lack of spots makes parking on campus one big headache

By Frank Panzer and Andy Brown

The start of a new semester is always a time for excitement and a new found interest in learning.  That is until you have to pony up the dough for a parking pass and hope it doesn’t break the bank.  You have multiple options when purchasing your parking passes, options that vary in cost from $99.43 all the way to $341.75 for one academic year. 

                                                         Photo By Frank Panzer

  G1 and G2 permits are the most commonly purchased permits on campus, permitting you to park in most of the lots on campus.  The limited reserve, the most expensive option, allows parking in any lot and guarantees you a spot somewhere on campus.  You can purchase your permit on the second floor of Deputy Hall at the “cashier’s window.”  However they don’t want students getting confused, parking permits are not a money making scheme for BSU, the money made is being used beneficially.  The profit goes into the obvious things, general parking lot maintenance, snow removal, line painting, the usual parking lot amenities.  Some of it, as well as parking ticket money, goes back into BSU Public Safety, cars, gas, uniforms, training, and other every day operating costs.  Knowing these things might make it a little easier to open up the wallet.

You could also compare us to other colleges and universities in the state and BSU officials think we have it pretty easy.  U of M Duluth has passes ranging from $143 all the way to $459 depending on your parking preferences and status in the school.  St. Cloud State offers a parking plan of 1 dollar per hour up to 8 hours a day.  That means if you spend most your time on campus you could end up spending almost 700 dollars a semester.  St. Cloud does however offer much better public transportation options than Bemidji does, including buses running all day long to and from free parking lots.  Now these lots are not just for school students use so it can be really hit and miss on finding a spot.

Senior Chelsea Lindner's thoughts on the parking passes, " I don't buy a permit, I'd much rather walk from home.  The exercise is good for you."  When asked why she doesn't drive and park on the street she answered "I used to do that, but most days I would end up walking further from my car to campus than I'd be walking from my house.  I figure save some money, save some gas, and lose some pounds."   

                                                        Photo By Andy Brown

These comments were reinforced by many off campus students except for one parking permit purchasee.  Aaron Thibert, Senior Criminal Justice major told us that he "absolutely hates the cold!  I don't care what I have to pay to avoid those blistering walks to and from school.  When it's zero or below it, I'm sorry I refuse to walk any farther than from my car in Bangsberg lot to Bangsberg to grab the tunnels."   Is he getting ripped off?  No.  He is being handed an option of convenience by BSU at what they feel is a fair and payable amount for a college student.