Women’s History Month Begins with Seminar

"Don’t Settle For Less.” - Director of Career Services at BSU, Margie Giauque

By Cheyenne Horien and Alexandria Leister

One of the longest months on the calendar is March, and besides hosting Daylight Saving Time and St. Patrick’s Day, the month of March is dedicated to the history of women. The National Women's History Museum - a museum based solely on commemorating accomplishments of influential women - is currently in the process of being built in our nation’s capital. According to the NWHM’s, their main goal is to "illuminate the role of women in transforming society and encourage all people, women and men, to participate in democratic dialogue about our future."

On March 15th a seminar was held at Bemidji State University addressing exactly those issues.

In BSU’s first official event of Women's History Month, a group of five women from BSU and around the area led the discussion on self-awareness and self-confidence in the work place.

BSU Director of Women’s Studies and Professor of Sociology Coleen Greer said that even though the panel comprised only women and was focused primarily towards other women, parts of the discussion related to all students who will be graduating and entering the work-place. “The fact that the way in which the work place is organized, it has a tendency to reproduce gender differences,” Greer said. These include everything from what kind of jobs are available to the wages we associate with those jobs. She added “We’ve seen a lot of differential in terms of how much women are paid verses how much men are paid.”

Northwoods Woman Magazine Publisher Karen Tolkkinen emphasized making sure you as an employee are getting paid fairly for the work you do, regardless of gender. “Women make 77 cents for every dollar that men make for the same jobs,” she explained. She posed the question to the audience: "How do you know what you're worth?" Tolkkinen also pointed out that assumptions and stereotypes can affect what careers women and men choose. Women seldom chose to go into engineering or scientific careers, whereas men rarely enter “feminized” positions such as nurses or elementary teaching. In addition, jobs traditionally held by women often pay less, even though the education and skill level needed for those jobs may be equal to or greater than many jobs traditionally held by men.

BSU Director of Career Services Margie Giauque told a story of an interview she had as a recent college graduate. She made the mistake of failing to ask for her starting salary of $22,000 in writing. At the time of her hire, she was told she would be making only $18,500 instead because she was supposedly under-qualified. After this bitter lesson, she realized that experience is needed even to negotiate salaries in addition to landing a job. Giauque’s work as the director of career services here on campus does just that. “Don’t settle for less,” she said adamantly.

BSU Asst. Prof. of Accounting Dr. Leah Carpenter agreed that the interview process has changed due to technology. “Employer’s are using technology to screen applicants beforehand,” she pointed out. This means that personal Facebook pages and other social networking sites should be kept professional. Carpenter added to “remember to prepare yourself for interactive interviews,” in which the focus isn’t just on your resume but rather your communication skills.

BSU Prof. of Mass Communication Louise Mengelkoch surprised the crowd, comprising mostly BSU students, with her story of her class-action lawsuit against BSU, in which she was the named plaintiff. The case, which began in 1999, was one of six class-action lawsuits at Minnesota state universities which revolved around pay equity. Mengelkoch found out that after teaching at BSU for 10 years, she was the lowest-paid tenured professor on campus. By agreeing to represent the class, which was female professors, she risked her career for the betterment of women like her.

The case lasted until 2001, before reaching an out-of-court settlement. One hundred women received benefits, including back pay, from the settlement. Mengelkoch said that “What shocked me the most about the whole process was the lack of openness, the lack of communication and the lack of curiosity.” She explained that wages should not be a taboo topic to discuss, and being curious is a good way to find out the information you need.

BSU student Brittany Glass attended the seminar. She said that there was good input from the panelists, and knowledge about what to expect in the workplace from those who have experienced it was helpful.
Another BSU student who attended the seminar, who wishes to remain anonymous said that even though she liked what the panelists had to say, she felt as though they only “scratched the surface” and was hoping they would go more in depth with their information.

Other events in honor of Women’s History Month will be taking place on campus throughout the month of March. To find out more, go the BSU Web site at http://www.bemidjistate.edu/ . Learn more about Women’s History Month at www.nwhm.org.

In the middle, Louise Mengelkoch discusses her  class-action lawsuit against BSU at a seminar on March 15^th. Photo by Alex Leister

(Left to Right) Coleen Greer, Margie Giauque, Louise Mengelkoch, Karen Tolkkinen and Leah Carpentar discussing self-awareness and self-confidence in the work place for women. Photo by Alex Leister

One Campus, Different Living Styles

On Campus Vs. Off Campus
By Brandon Miles

The sound of laughter and screaming fills the halls as a new year at BSU is beginning. Hundreds of students move their belongings from their homes to start a new life as a college student. Anticipation and excitement begins to take hold as a new chapter in the lives of student begins to take hold as the brim of education peaks over the horizon.

Meanwhile returning students grow weary of the constant distractions of the dorms and seek out new dwellings in a house or apartment off campus. Although the goal of the student, on or off campus, is the same the drastic differences between the two living situations is very notable.

Maple Hall

The BSU campus has a variety of housing starting with Tamarack and Oak where the majority of freshman call home for the duration of their first year. Pine contains housing mainly used for families or students with young children and Lynden provides superior housing for the remainder of the on campus population.  http://www.bemidjistate.edu/students/reslife/

Linden Hall.
 Picture By Nathan Meints

Living in the dorms as a freshman provides a vital social experience “I love living in the dorms,” said freshman Daniella Williams, “it allows you to meet new people and find a group of friends which I think is very important as a freshman.” The idea of moving to a new place and not knowing many people is a scary thought for many students and living in the dorms helps some students cope with that uneasy feeling.

“I don’t know what I would have done without the dorms,” said freshman Michael Dipalo, “I came here from Iowa and didn’t know anyone so it’s nice to have the dorms and a roommate to make a connection with people.”

The dorms provide a neutral environment for students, who may not necessarily know each other, to interact and form relationships with one another. This seems to be the most beneficial part of dorm life but older and more established students have a different view on living arrangements.

“The dorms were ok for a while but after a year in there I wanted out,” said junior construction management major Troy Dale, “once you establish a group of friends you get more comfortable living away from home and you get tired of the constant distractions and antics that take place there.”

Dorms such as Lynden and Pine minimize these distractions but the freedom of an off campus residence is too much to pass up for some students. “I moved into a house with three roommates off of Callahan when I was a sophomore and never looked back,” said senior design major Amber Costin, “the dorms were nice at first but after a while they got real old and I got tired of people running through the halls screaming at one in the morning.”

Sure the off campus homes allow for students to get away from the distractions of campus life but as one student explains the cost benefits from living off campus is another major determining factor in the decision to leave the dorms. “The cost for me to live in my house is about 380 dollars a month in the winter and that includes all utilities,” said Junior math major Garrett Lee. “I pay way less a semester than I did when I lived in tamarack.” The cost of a semester in tamarack, the cheapest of all the dorms, comes out to 1,912 dollars which equates to 478 dollars a month. Although most houses are not as cheap as 380 dollars the vast majority of them are well under what the dorms charge per semester. “Most of the houses I own require a monthly rent payment of about 350 dollars not including utilities,” said Bob Whalen who owns numerous house properties off campus , “I try and adjust prices, within reason, to accommodate the needs of the people I rent to.” http://whelanpropertiesinc.com/

Whether a student chooses the dorm life or a residential home their basic goals remain the same. Bemidji is fortunate enough to provide students with housing both on and off campus that suites the preferred living conditions they are accustomed to. As such BSU students have the choice of their living arrangements to best coincide with their needs and wants. It is this freedom that makes the transition from living at home to being on your own a do-able process and a necessary one.

For more information on BSU resedential life http://www.bemidjistate.edu/students/reslife/

Clearing the Smoke

Students Voice a Wide Range of Opinions on a Tobacco-Free BSU

By DJ Haffely and Maggi Stivers

Signs tell students to become
aware that the smoking ban
is starting.
photo by Maggi Stivers

Bemidji State University students have various opinions on BSU becoming tobacco free. Some say that walking behind smokers and smoking too close to the doors is a nuisance. Some students interviewed that it’s unfair to take smoking away from them. The talk is swirling, and not only at BSU; but as of April 2011, BSU will be a tobacco-free university.

Currently, only public Minnesota state universities are tobacco free. Winona State, and Southwest Minnesota State University. Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) has “a strong push to be tobacco free for all of next year,” said Keith Voeller, SCSU sophomore, “So I better smoke all I can this year!”  At the Minnesota State University – Mankato campus, the only rule regarding smoking is that the smoker must be 15 feet away from all doors.

The BSU Student Senate started the smoke-free campus movement in April 2010, at which time a survey was taken of BSU students. Ninety-three percent of those surveyed agreed that second-hand smoke is a health hazard and 77% of the respondents agreed that they are exposed to secondhand smoke at BSU.  These results can be found in the Bemidji State University Smoking Policy.

 There is much speculation about what is happening; the word is out on the new policy and how it is to go into effect April 2011, exactly one year from the approval of the policy.

According to Ashley Tenney, co-president of student senate, BSU is following the examples of other universities in how enforced the tobacco ban. The policy relies on a system of turning each other in for the main method of enforcement.  Violation worksheets will become available to students, faculty and staff and turned in to a supervisor who will take the necessary disciplinary actions.

The Student Center for Health and Counseling is offering help for all students who want assistance quitting the use of tobacco. Other resources can also be found the Tobacco Free BSU Web site. Anna Krueger, BSU junior, started smoking when she was 17 and stated in an email that “I will quit on my own terms when I feel like it."

Anna Kruger smokes a
cigarette outside Hagg Sauer.
photo by Maggi Stivers

In the policy, tobacco is defined as “any lighted or unlighted, cigarette, cigar, pipe, bidi, clove cigarette, and any other smoking product; and smokeless or spit tobacco, also known as dip, chew, snuff or snus, in any form.” Devon Eggena, a tobacco chewer said, “It’ll be hard for them to stop me from chewing because it’s not out in the open so I’m going to chew anyways.” Eggena also attended University of Minnesota- Duluth where they also are experiencing a movement to be tobacco free. He saw that it wasn’t working and doesn’t think it will work here either.

Sarah Meyer, BSU sophomore, has different feelings towards the situation. She stated in an email interview, “I do have a few friends that are going to be affected by this, but this is definitely going to be a positive change for campus. . . The best thing about this is that I'm going to be able to walk around campus and not have to smell someone's cigarette smoke or get "smoked out" when I'm walking past someone.”

Chad Erikson, a BSU criminal justice major said that the policy “is overreaching and intending to limit the rights of students.” Erikson feels that it is an attempt to remove a perfectly legal pastime that does not bother others and it is discriminating against those that choose to smoke. Some, like Erikson, see the tobacco free movement as taking away rights.

Tenney added that “the use of tobacco in participation of a University-sanctioned American Indian spiritual or cultural ceremony is not prohibited” within the smoking policy. The policy can be found at Tobacco Free Web site. There is also a place for students to list their suggestions.

From Rock Bottom to the Top

 Sarah Panzau lives to tell about a tragic accident that turned her into a motivational speaker

By Nicole Solum & Kara Smyth

            It was a warm August night in 2003 in Illionois when Sarah Panzau entered a 25-mph exit ramp driving 72 mph.  Her blood alcohol level registered at .308, nearly four times the legal limit. She went straight off and flipped her car four times. She was dragged along a guard rail for more than 30 feet. She was pronounced clinically dead on the scene. Just when authorities were going to call the coroner, they heard faint breathing. They immediately intubated her and she was air-lifted to a hospital where she remained in a coma for two weeks and in intensive care for four more. 

            Panzau endure 40 surgeries to get where she is today. Her injuries included a traumatic left arm amputation, a type II fracture of the maxilla, a mandible fractured in seven places, a scalping of the whole back of her head and left side of her neck to the carotid artery and jugular vein. She severed three major ligaments in her knee and fractured her left clavicle and scapula down to the muscle.  Her liver had a third-degree laceration and half of her right ear was severed off.  Panzau also suffered a pulmonary embolism, which required a thoracotomy.  She initially spent a total of 77 days in the hospital.



           

            After she survived this accident, Panzau decided to dedicate her time to sharing her story and preventing others from making her same mistake.  “Not many people get to walk throughout life and impact people by telling their story, I’m just blessed to have that opportunity,” Panzau states.  She travels the nation speaking at elementary schools, high schools and universities. Recently, Panzau came to BSU, where she spoke to a crowd of about 130 students, most of whom were athletes; Panzau was a volleyball player in high school and college.  “She was the best speaker BSU has had,” said sophomore elementary education major Alex Petes. “She made the best of her situation.”  Panzau stood on stage, in a tank top, not trying to hide the fact that she only had one arm. Panzau said ". . . never assume that it can't happen to you."

             The BSU audience listened attentively to her dramatic story.  Panzau attended high school in Belleville, Ill., where she was a three-year starter on the varsity volleyball team. She received 23 volleyball scholarship offers and turned them all down to stay close to her boyfriend at the time.  She decided to attend a junior college instead, where she was on the all-tournament team seven times and was a two-time All-American. Those accomplishments resulted in a full scholarship to a private, four-year college. However, Panzau struggled as a student and did not like school. A week before she was to sign her letter of intent she dropped out of school. “It must be so hard to have been an All-American athlete, to now being an athlete with only one arm." said junior volleyball player and design tech major Kim Hacker.  "I don't think I could do it."

She began to change her life for the worse by moving to St. Louis and becoming a 19 year-old bartender and partying. She rebelled against everything and pushed her family away. This is the time when her horrible accident hapened. “I thought I was invincible,” said Panzau. “I was wrong.”  The friends she considered her family were nowhere to be found after the accident. Not one of them came to see her in the hospital. Her true family stayed by her side and never left.

Panzau talked about how she is judged and looked at with harsh eyes every day. She talked about trying to renew her driver’s license just a year after the crash because she never got a DUI from the accident. The officers at the scene thought she fell asleep at the wheel and never suspected her of drunk driving. Her blood alcohol was taken at the hospital, after the case had been closed, and she was cited for falling asleep at the wheel. When Panzau went up to the “sweet old lady at the DMV…” she was told that she would need to retake her driving test because she was now handicapped. When she told this part of her story to the BSU audience she got choked up about it. She said, “I’m not handicap, I’m handicapable.”

Sarah’s life has changed completely. She is now an Olympic athlete with the United States women’s paraplegic volleyball team.  In a recent game against Brazil, Panzau had the most digs and kills and, at the time, she was the only person in the world to play with only one arm.  “I have my priorities straight now,” said Panzau. “It’s just hard that this is how I had to learn what’s really important in life.” 

Panzau speaks at a University with a picture of her in the hospital in the background.
Photo/Kara Smyth

During Panzau's presetations she likes to interact with the audience.
Photo/ http://www.sarahsjourney.com/

Panzau poses for her paraplegic Olympic volleyball picture.
Photo/http://www.sarahsjourney.com/

Controversial Proposals Announced at Student Senate Meeting

Senators Concerned About Meetings Being Broadcast

Students May Have Other Concerns

By Tony Barber and Max Hodgdon

At the February 23rd BSU student senate meeting, two unique proposals were presented. Senators considered the proposal to broadcast senate meetings on cable television as controversial; BSU students may consider the proposal to use student money for an off-campus project to be controversial.

BSU Sustainability Coordinator Erica Bailey-Johnson proposed using $13,000 of student money to benefit an off-campus building owned by the city of Bemidji. “I really think the $13,000 from students would be a turning point about whether or not it happens,” said Bailey-Johnson. Such a proposal may be without precedent, considering this “Green Fee” of $5 per student per semester is designed to “help enhance environmental sustainability at Bemidji State University,” according to the BSU Web site.

Bailey-Johnson explained her desire to install a renewable energy source to help reduce the cost of heating and cooling the Sanford Center. The original proposal was to install a solar photovoltaic system to offset the energy use of the geo-thermal pumps used for the heating system. The Bemidji Sustainability Committee took on the project. The committee of approximately 15 members received $10,000 from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation and $5,000 from the city of Bemidji. They used this money to hire a consultant to do the feasibility study and  regarding possible use of solar energy at the Sanford Center. The consultant wrote a grant proposal as well.

The consultant decided it would cost approximately $260,000 to install the solar power units. Originally the city council saw this proposal as being too expensive and turned it down. After the solar power proposal was turned down by the city it was given financial support by the state. The state offered a $100,000 grant. Also, Parsons Electric located in Minneapolis, Minnesota gave approximately $70,000 as a private investor. Bailey-Johnson also hopes that Otter Tail Power Company will donate money so the project can move forward. Both private investors would be eligible for rebates and tax write offs because of their donation.

The city of Bemidji was very concerned about vandalism to the solar panels. They decided they needed a large fence to protect the solar panels. The fence would cost about $13,000. 

When all is said and done the city would have to pay approximately $20,000 for this project. After that the state gave $100,000 grant to help move the project forward. Bailey-Johnson approached the Vice President of Finance and Administration Bill Maki, to ask him about using the green fee surplus money to help finance the project. Maki explained that BSU receives approximately $14,000 in green fee surplus money. Bailey-Johnson asked for $13,000 of this to help pay for the project.

In other senate business, KBSU proposed taping senate meetings and broadcasting them on the campus television station channel 17. KBSU Student Manager Jon Mercil said he would broadcast the meetings within an hour after their conclusion. “The (university) president and everyone on third floor of Deputy is really into it,” said Mercil. “They really want to see this happen.”

Mercil plans to have four cameras and ten microphones to record the meetings. Mercil also proposed a reserved seating chart to be able to put the senators’ names on screen. Some senators expressed opposition to having their names on screen. Mercil argued that BSU students would actually like to know who is representing them. The idea of putting the senators emails on screen along with their names came up later. Senators seemed more enthused about the idea of having their emails on screen so that students could contact them with questions or comments.

The senators also voiced concerns about low viewer numbers for KBSU and thought that broadcasting meetings was more work than it was worth. They also considered playing the audio portion on the campus radio station, KBSB. Senators considered the radio station a better idea because there is more college students who listen to KBSB more often than they watch KBSU. Mercil’s reason for broadcasting the meetings on KBSU is to get the information out to the campus community as efficiently as possible, and feels that the television station would be a large benefit.

An update on the green fee proposal is that the proposal of $13,000 passed on March 23.

Sustainability Coordinator Erica Bailey-Johnson is taking on the renewable energy project for the Sanford Center
photo by Max Hodgdon 

The student senate talks before their weekly meeting takes place

photo by Tony Barber 

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