Hazing in Sports

Initiating the Freshman
By Brandon Miles

Taking part in hazing can create un-safe environments for participants. On Friday, July 10th, 2009 two men were charged in the hazing death of Cal Poly freshman Carson Starkey. Starkey was involved with the football program and underwent an initiation that involved drinking large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Sadly, he died from alcohol poisoning.

This incident is a prime example of negative hazing and with any luck it will have a domino effect by representing what not to do.

According to the NCAA.com, hazing is defined as, "Any act committed against someone joining or becoming a member or maintaining membership in any organization that is humiliating, intimidating, demeaning, or endangers the health and safety of the person." For more info on legal ramifications of hazing click www.thesportjournal.org

Hazing is prohibited by the NCAA and if a complaint is filled they are forced to investigate and implement disciplinary action if needed.

Although hazing is frowned upon, college teams across the U.S. are participating in them. According to insidehazing.com more than 250,000 students experience some sort of hazing to join a college athletic team. Also, 20% of athletes who participated were subjected to alcohol-related hazing. Alcohol hazing is known to be the most dangerous of all hazing based on the fact of over consumption.

Allison Grove is reaping the benefits of being a freshman in college

In recent years hazing has become part of college sports. Some perceive hazing to be ruthless and unlawful, “In fact, if taken to a high level it can emotionally traumatize a person." said BSU football coach Adrian Dunn.

Former BSU football players James Trash and Gerald Timsley

 At BSU, the athletic coaches and staff take hazing very seriously and have literally put an end to it since the incidents that went on in 2006. Head football coach Jeff Tesch said, “During the 2006 season we had a major problem with the upperclassmen and the freshman. The older guys would pick fights and paddle the freshman to the point that these young guys couldn’t even come to practice. Another problem is that a lot of the freshman went on to tell the parents about these negative experiences so I got an earful from them”

According to Tesch, this problem lasted throughout the whole year creating a dilemma for the team, which ultimately led to the dismissal of three senior players.

Aside from the football team there were several hazing incidents involving the men and women’s basketball team. According to athletic Director Rick Goeb, “10 of the 30 basketball players received minor consumption tickets from the local police. I looked in to this problem and it was the result of a hazing prank.”

After the end of 2006 football season, Athletic Director Rick Goeb held an assembly for BSU athletes. During this assembly a former NFL football player came in and lectured the athletes about the negative outcomes of hazing. This assembly then ended with assertion that any player involved in hazing will be dismissed from team immediately.

Senior quarterback Derek Edholm said, “The assembly in 2006 really made its mark. It scared a lot of the guys but also created the right mind set to perform on the field.”

Hazing is prohibited by the NCAA and if a complaint is filled they are forced to investigate and implement disciplinary action if needed.

Although hazing is frowned upon, college teams across the U.S. are participating in them. According to hazing.com more than 250,000 students experience some sort of hazing to join a college athletic team. Also, 20% of athletes who participated were subjected to alcohol-related hazing. Alcohol hazing is known to be the most dangerous of all hazing based on the fact of over consumption.

All in all, Hazing is frowned upon at BSU and if any player chooses to break the current rules they will be dismissed from their current team.

Northern Student Saved from Cuts

Newspaper Receives New Funds

By John Hanson and John Andringa

March 2, 2011, 2011

Bemidji, MN — The Northern Student has been reporting the campus news of Bemidji State University since 1926. In the current, failing economy, the newspaper faced a drastic transformation. The newspaper ran out of funds for the rest of the academic year. According to the Northern Student editor, Elisa Boettcher, the former Northern Student advisor submitted an insufficient budget to SAFAC. After the staff realized the mistake, they resubmitted a new budget, but it was submitted late. Due to budget policy, SAFAC had to cut the new budget proposal in half. In an attempt to continue the Northern Student publication, the newspaper staff has considered moving to an online-only format, working as volunteers, and has been actively searching for a Web designer.

The new Northern Student’s advisor, Mass Communication Prof. Carl Sewall, said the student-run newspaper suffered budget cuts from the SAFAC and didn't have a business manager for a portion of last semester. The newspaper’s budget is only half of last year’s budget and they ran out of funds for printing for this year. Prof. Sewall said another budget problem stems from an advertising revenue deal with The Pioneer that didn’t work out. The Pioneer had a deal with the Northern Student to provide all the advertising and the Northern Student would receive 40% of the revenue. The management of the Northern Student did not think they Pioneer was holding up their end of the deal and decided to part with the Pioneer.

Prof. Sewall said that recently the newspaper received new emergency funds from the SAFAC and hopes to start printing the newspaper again as soon as next week. Currently the newspaper staff is considering how often to print the newspaper and depends on the amount of advertising revenue generated. The online edition will be updated more often.

In a rollercoaster of budget troubles, the Northern Student staff has had a rollercoaster of emotions themselves. “The mood of the newspaper staff varies,” said staff writer Kim Powell. “There are some people, like myself, who actually want to go into some form of journalism. Then there are people doing it because it's a job and they just happen to like to write.”

She continued to say the Northern Student tries hard to get as many readers as possible. “Our whole layout has improved and it looks a lot more professional than it used to,” She said. “The Northern Student improves in at least one thing every issue, whether it's picture quality, layout, or writing.”

Despite the recent budget problems, the newspaper is hiring new staff members. Anyone interested is encouraged to apply at the Northern Student office in the Upper Hobson Union.

1.     

 A Northern Student newspaper rack empty because it’s temporarily not in print. Photo by John Hanson

2.     The office of the Northern Student empty. Photo by John Hanson

More Students Buying College Textbooks Off-Campus

College textbook costs are on the rise – which has some students worried.

By: Taylor Klinke

Every school year college students around the country are deciding how or where to purchase their college textbooks. Most college freshman start off buying their textbooks at the campus bookstore but then discover from friends or other students that it may be cheaper to search for used books online.

“I think the cost of books from the bookstore is absolutely ridiculous,” said BSU sophomore Melissa Morrison, “A used book shouldn’t cost me $100.”

On average, college students are spending $900 per semester on textbooks. That’s $1,800 for one year – and if you want to get technical - $7,200 for a four-year degree.

There are a lot of factors that go into the total cost of a textbook. About 64 cents of each dollar you spend on a new textbook goes back to the publisher – the bookstore receives just under 23 cents, the author 11 cents, and that extra penny or two goes to the freight company that delivered the books to the store. Publishers make no money when too many used books are in circulation so they release new editions every couple of years - It’s the only way they can make money and continue to publish books.

Some college professors like Janet Prater understand where students are coming from, “I think the cost of books is often very high for students. Students are strapped with rising costs all around.”

But BSU professor Mark Lawrence has a different opinion; “The cost of a textbook is the very last thing on my mind when I assign students a text from which I hope they will learn something.”

More and more students like Melissa Morrison are using the Internet or other sources to buy used textbooks, which has the campus bookstore trying to come up with new ways to help students. “Our goal is to ensure that you, the student, has the right materials to educate you for your future,” said BSU bookstore manager Dustin Enockson, “While I can tell you the industry is changing and e-textbooks, or digital, are becoming more popular, the bookstore is committed to offer as many choices for the student as possible.”

New this school year to the BSU bookstore are rental textbooks and NOOK study digital e-readers. Renting a textbook is 55% cheaper than a buying a new book - while digital books can range from 25-50% cheaper than a new book.  

So if you’re worried about covering the costs of your textbooks – try to be one of the first to the bookstore next semester. You’ll have first pick at books available to rent and chances are you’ll get other great deals. Maybe the bookstore isn’t for you - so buy online, purchase e-books, or share books with a friend. If you need to, take out a loan. The cost of college is high but nothing is worth more than graduating and having a degree.

Many students are forced to use other sources to get
 textbooks, at a more affordable cost, such as Amazon.

Used textbooks sell out fast then some students have to
buy brand new textbooks that cost a lot more



Eelpout Festival After Dark

A Closer Look at What Goes on at Eelpout Festival

By Jillian Gandsey and Raielle Peterson

WALKER, Minn. – Eelpout Festival has come and gone for its 32^nd year.  This unique celebration on the ice took place on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn. Feb.18^th-20^th.   The ice events included an Eelpout fishing contest, the polar plunge, a frozen tee-shirt contest and curling with the fish. But the real excitement occurred after dark.

Joe Franek of New Prague drinks a shot of alcohol straight
from an Eelpout's mouth. 

“It’s like Mardi Gras on ice,” said Joe Franek, a very enthused 20-year-old from New Prague.  He and several friends had traveled up for the weekend festivities and gave the impression that they were really enjoying themselves.  Franek shocked a small crowd when he actually took a shot of alcohol out of an Eelpout’s mouth. 

Hundreds of icehouses, trailers, campers and tents covered the lake for the locally famous festival.  Each one filled with an enthusiastic group of people eager for the nighttime celebration to begin.  People of all ages came from all over to enjoy themselves and the festivities.  However, the social activity that really glued everyone together was drinking. 

“I came here purely for drinking,” said Brett Jasperse, a 19-year-old sophomore at BSU.  He and a group of his friends had a tent set up with two beer pong tables inside.  He and the majority of his friends were under the legal drinking age, but they didn’t give the impression that they were trying to hide their beverages. 

Chief Deputy, Erick Hoglund, of the Cass County sheriff’s department stated, “every minor that was drinking and law enforcement had reason to check them, received a ticket for minor consumption.”  He never specified what sort of actions would lead an officer to checking if an intoxicated person was under the legal drinking age.  If the department would have, they would have had an awful lot of minor consumption tickets to give out.

Different groups had their own bars set up for selling things like tee-shirts, sweatshirts and, of course, alcohol.  It was obvious that none of these sites were checking IDs.  One of these camps was named “Camp Lepout.”  Head of the camp, Chuck Christensen, who has only missed 3 years out of the 32, said, “our camp just started out with a hand-printed banner, but I think we have finally got it figured out this year.”  This was one of the camps that happened to be selling alcohol to underage drinkers. 

A sophomore at BSU, Spencer Mickelsen, said, “I bought two 1.75’s of booze and two having cases of beer on Monday.”  According to the CDC Web site having that much alcohol in one weekend is unquestionably considered binge drinking.  Binge drinking is defined a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration level to 0.08% or more.  To get the average persons blood alcohol concentration level that high it usually takes around 2 drinks in an hourlong period. 


This festival on ice had lots of fun activities, but the one that many people come for is the that can be very dangerous.  The consumption of alcohol if too much is very harmful and if not monitored can be lethal.  This event did have underage and binge drinking.


According to the Cass County sheriff’s department there were 21 arrests at Eelpout Festival and most injuries were related to falls on the ice.  Hoglund also stated that there were other calls relating to Eelpout but none specified to serious injuries. 
   

A heap of garbage was left over from friday nights celebrations.

Photos taken by Jillian Gandsey and Raielle Peterson

Ugly Fish but Pretty Good Time

BSU Students Attend Eelpout Festival

By DJ Haffely and Maggi Stivers

The Eelpout Festival is celebrated on Leech Lake every year. 

“Grumpy Old Men” made ice fishing seem exciting to the world but Eelpout Festival blows them out of the water. . . well ,ice in this case. Tens of thousands of people came statewide, even nationwide, to Walker, Minn., for the 32^nd annual Eelpout Ice Fishing Festival on February 18^th - 20^th. More than ten times the population of the town (and ten times the traffic) overwhelms the tiny resort town during these days.  This event has become so famous that parts of the 2011 festival was filmed by a crew from “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno for a future episode. The Vikings cheerleaders also made an appearance. Many BSU students took time out of their weekend to attend Eelpout and have some fun.

BSU students Jake Paulson and Ellise Loomis both spent time on Leech Lake enjoying the festival. Paulson grew up in Walker and has been attending Eelpout for the past seven years. Paulson describes the festival as “spring break on the ice in the middle of the year.”

Paulson’s family has attended the festival for as long as he can remember. However, this year Paulson had to be a little more careful when attending the activities and being on the ice.  Paulson recently broke his leg while playing hockey and made his way around town on his four-wheeler, complete with crutches strapped to the back. “Nothing can stop me from having a good time at Eelpout,” said Paulson, “not even this [broken leg].”

According to eelpoutfestival.com, the official eelpout Web site, the Festival started in 1979 as a way to bring tourism to Leech Lake. The festival was named after the eelpout fish that Ken Bresley caught. Ken Bresley was the founder of Eelpout.  The first Eelpout festival was even able to make a profit, by selling official Eelpout buttons. Every year, the tradition of selling the buttons continues to keep the festival going. The button purchase is also the method of entering into the angling competition and entering into drawings. This year’s button was purple and displayed the Eelpout festival logo.

There were several prizes available for the angling completion including a custom made eelpout fish house and thousands of dollars.  There was also a raffle for a Ranger TR 177 fishing boat and a contest for the best eelpout encampment. The weekend consists of an eelpout angling competition, a pout curling, a pout luge, a pout relay, a polar plunge, bikini fishing, and many more events that celebrated the winter weather.

Workers set up for the Polar Plunge event.

The polar plunge event was widely popular among the shivering crowd. Several hundred people huddled around a hole in the ice to watch half-naked people jump in to ice cold water. Several jumpers had tag lines such as “you only live once.” The MC announced their tag lines just before their plunge.  Several individuals and groups took a leap and were then judged by the mayor and his wife on their jump.  The belly-flopping BSU student scored high. Paramedics stood by, and were even in the water wearing cold resistant suits, should something have gone array.  The polar plunge is also a competition to see who can raise the most money. This year Bill Bieloh’s team won raising more than $18,000. Bieloh was the founder of Moondance Jam music festival who passed away year ago.

Paulson stood on one of many giant ice blocks that surrounded the polar plunge hole. He along with others cheered loudly for the contestants that jumped in. He described the event as “fun to watch and it was clearly popular. I was lucky to get a close spot.”

In previous years, there was the ice rugby event held at Eelpout. Last year it was cancelled due to weather conditions. Several college level players came for the competition, but this year it had the returning 2006 division 3 BSU rugby team competing. The Eelpout 500 ‘On-Ice’ Auto Race was also a big hit amongst the crowds.

A typical day on the lake for an “eelpouter” includes, dressing as warm as possible, and using only    four-wheelers and snowmobiles to get around with and of course to drink some beer. Several people have trailers attached to their four-wheelers and set up lawn chairs and couches to travel around. There are even a few couches set up on the ice.  Several people who attend the festival do not participate within the angling completion. “They just come to have a good time,” said Paulson. Most “eelpouters” have a good time just drinking and fishing.

There is a lot of work that goes into planning such an event as this, but when all is said and done, “the garbage that is left on the lake after the weekend is a huge mess,” said Paulson.

Photos By Maggi Stivers

BSU and Barnes and Noble end their ten-year relationship

Follett signs contract to manage the BSU bookstore

By Nicole Solum & Kara Smyth

Every college campus has a bookstore where students can buy university apparel and textbooks for classes.  For the past ten years, the BSU bookstore has been under contract with Barnes and Noble.  But change is coming. Follett will be the new manager of the BSU bookstore beginning in mid-April. 

Every ten years the university is required to solicit bids for a bookstore operating contract.  Bill Maki, vice president for finance and administration, stated in an e-mail, “We are required by state law to conduct a public access process at a minimum of every 10 years.”   The only two responders to the bid were Barnes and Noble and Follett. The process of searching for new management began last October, with a submission deadline in mid-November.

A committee completed interviews and reviewed evaluations and proposals from both contenders.   The committee comprised three students elected by the student senate, one faculty member, the university business manager, and the director of procurement and logistics. The bookstore committee made a recommendation of Follett to the university cabinet, and they then made a final decision to proceed with Follett as new management.  Barnes and Noble employee Dustin Enockson said, “It wasn’t Barnes and Noble’s decision to leave Bemidji. We definitely wanted to stay here.” 

The criteria to make a final decision came in four categories, stated Maki.  Expressed understanding of proposal objectives is weighted 10%, quality and comprehensive proposal was weighted 30%, qualifications were weighted 30%, and the cost value to Bemidji State University was weighted at 30%.  Each of these criteria categories also had detailed objectives that needed to be met.  The potential management team had to demonstrate their awareness of the school’s academic programs, and have knowledge and experience on industry specific software that will be available to students and faculty for the use of purchasing books, software, and other items needed for class requirements.  The candidates also had to have a detailed description of the proposed commission rate to be paid to the school, and other financial and capital investments that may be proposed.  Based on the criteria, Follet was selected over Barnes and Noble. 

Current Barnes and Noble co-managers of the BSU Bookstore Alissa Nollan and Dustin Enockson understand that it’s in the best interest of the university and understand why the change needed to occur.  “My understanding is that it came down to money,” said Nollan. “Follett offered more money, and, with all the current budget cuts at the university, it was in their best interest to choose Follett.” Nollan also mentioned that the campus community will not see much of a change within the bookstore; it will virtually look the same. 

 Follett manages more than 900 university bookstores and is based in Illinois.  “We are thrilled to be a part of the BSU community,” said Elio Distaola, director of campus relations for Follett.  “We will be a bookstore full of choices, with the best service with the most choices for students.”  Follett will be taking care of buying back books for this semester just like Barnes and Noble has done in the past.  They will also be buying out all products that have the BSU emblem on them.  Enockson said most of the current stock in the bookstore now will stay there and some of the items will be traded out to other Barnes and Noble stores. 

“They are both strong companies in providing management,” stated Maki.  “The area that Follett edged out Barnes and Noble that gave them the advantage was the cost value to the university.”  Many of the existing staff and managers will remain in the store under Follett's management.  This change in management, according to Distaola, is something that is going to benefit the university and campus community. 

This is the enterence to the BSU bookstore. Photo/Kara Smyth



This is some of the apparel in the bookstore. Photo/Kara Smyth



There is an information desk in the bookstore with many employees ready to help students. Photo/Kara Smyth

Supporters Show Their Enthusiasm for the Arts

 Protestors Not Affected by Cold

By Cheyenne Horien and Alexandria Leister

        The cold weather was not enough to keep the dedicated students of the liberal art programs and community members from protesting the budget cuts to the arts at Bemidji State University. On Jan. 31, dozens of BSU students, faculty and community members worked in shifts most of the day to protest. They marched under the Deputy Hall arch with a variety of signs and chanted, "What do we want? ART! When do we want it? FOREVER!" 

        The city of Bemidji has a reputation for highlighting art and hosts many art-based events throughout the year, including Art in the Park, which continues to draws large crowds every summer. BSU graduates showcase their work at Art in the Park, as well as other artists. Community member Chuck Deeter said he was concerned about the arts and the effect the cuts to the liberal arts programs will have on Bemidji, because it is such an art-based community. 

        Jeremiah Liend has been supporting the liberal arts for the past 13 years, ever since he was a freshman at BSU. Liend, a long-time Bemidji resident, is currently trying to brainstorm ideas to present to BSU President Hanson in order to keep the arts strong at BSU. Liend explained that previous BSU students with liberal arts degrees have gone on to have great careers. A few examples he included are Robert Thomas, a current manager of a performing arts theatre, and Andy Browers, a performer at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. 

        "It is important to everybody to maintain the fine arts," Liend said. He added that visual arts can be seen everywhere in Bemidji, especially the downtown area. Some of these places include The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, The Bemidji Community Art Center, The Wild Rose Theater and Gallery North, which features art pieces available for purchase. Liend's sign from the protest read, "The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine. - Michelangelo." 

        Graduates of BSU continue on to become well-known local artists. Protestor Darin Hansen graduated from BSU with a design tech major, and he has his art work displayed on the sculpture walk in downtown Bemidji. Three other BSU students have pieces in the sculpture walk as well. "Art is part of the Bemidji community," Hansen said passionately.  Hansen believes art is not only important in education but in life as well. He also posed the question, "How can you have a liberal education if you don't have art?"   

        It's not just the art students who care about the cuts happening at BSU. After graduating from BSU with a nursing degree decades ago, Jane Carlstrom returned to teach nursing classes here at BSU. Even though she did not major in liberal arts she still has a passion for it, especially poetry, and wanted to show her support for the arts by participating in the protest. Carlstrom took a creative and somewhat humorous approach to the protest, holding up a sign stating, "Honk if you like cheese!. . .and ART!" 

        A unique major offered at BSU is creative and professional writing. Abby Tarutis, an English education and creative and professional writing major, said if there wasn't such a major offered at BSU, she would not have stayed here past her third year. The main message she wanted to get out in the protest for those interested in liberal arts was to "Go with what your heart wants." 

        The protest started about 1 p.m. and lasted into the evening, with supporters driving by honking their horns. 

Jeremiah Liend (right) and Josef Schlemper show their support for the arts on Jan. 31.
Photo by Louise Mengelkoch

Jane Carlstrom displays a creative sign and received many honks on Jan. 31.
Photo by Louise Mengelkoch