Sex education curricula varies in local schools
Feb. 17, 2005The sexual education curricula in Athens County's five school districts' vary depending on public, political and financial support.
MULTIMEDIA
Parents weekend features comedy
Feb. 17, 2005The middle-aged invade Athens once again for Winter Parents Weekend this weekend. The main event this weekend features stand-up from comedian Mark Curry, known for his television program Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. The show is at 8 p.m. on Saturday in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Tickets cost $5 for students and $7 for general admission. The success of the comedy troupe Second City, who performed during the Fall Parents Weekend, prompted the University Program Council to invite another comedy act to Ohio University, said Chelsea Hamilton, a UPC spokeswoman. Since Second City went very well
11 candidates submit petitions for Council
Feb. 17, 2005Athens City Council candidacy petitions for those running with a political party affiliation were due at 4 p.m. yesterday to the Athens County Board of Elections. Council President Bill Bias issued his interest in re-election. Incumbent Jim Sands and Carol Patterson, current 2nd-ward representative, both Democrats, are campaigning for the three at-large seats available. Democrat Amy Flowers and Republicans Jeff Yount and Matt Bernosky are also contenders. Democratic incumbent Paul Wiehl will seek re-election for his 1st-ward seat. Democrat Bojinka Bishop will campaign for the 2nd-ward seat. Nancy Bain, the current 3rd-ward Democrat, will run for re-election. Incumbent Deborah Phillips, a Democrat, is the 4th-ward candidate. Mary Ann McClure is seeking re-election to her treasurer position. Petitions for those running independent will be accepted until 4 p.m. May 2, the day before the election.
State senators wasting time, money on silly laws
Feb. 17, 2005This week's smallest violin award goes to the extremist-dominated Ohio Senate. In an attempt to coddle the feeble-minded and College Republican alike, four of your Republican Ohio senators are beginning to promote a conservative students' bill of rights that will essentially gag professors in their own classrooms. The new legislation, in the vein of most Republican divertive drivel, seeks to address a problem that doesn't exist. It seeks to put caps -yes, you read right -on what professors can say in state university classes. It also seeks to create a grievance system (go ahead, wipe your tears away -I'll wait) for students who feel their mean old sissy liberal professors have discriminated against them. Oh, sob, sob, sob. My far right friends, here are four big government Republicans making it so you don't need to raise your hand and debate professors anymore. Heck, you don't even need to drop the class because the professor is a jerk who grades based on your beliefs. Now, you can just have them fired for thinking the wrong thoughts. Now that's progress! Sen. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, warns that of college professors, eight or nine out of ten are Democrats or of the left-leaning persuasion. Tr+
State reverses health care cut
Feb. 17, 2005The state reversed a decision Wednesday to cut health care to poor Ohioans with no access to other coverage.
OU Trustees will discuss development
Feb. 17, 2005Ohio University Board of Trustees will assemble today for their first meeting of 2005 at the Zanesville Campus. Because the Board governs all of the OU campuses, Carolyn Ervin of the President's office said, The trustees try once or twice a year to visit all the regional campuses. On the agenda is the authorization of Wesam Construction, Inc. to lease the Mill Street Apartments from OU for the next 30 years. The apartments were owned by OU from 1969 until 2004, and were utilized as student housing for married and graduate students. The Board will also approve a bachelor's degree in Women's Studies and a doctoral degree in Civil Engineering. OU owns an estimated 20 acres of undeveloped land on West State Street, which will be designated as the OU Research and Enterprise Park if authorized. The park will be used to develop the land for business and economic development, along with facilities for OU-related research. The Athens Campus Master Plan was developed more than 10 years ago, and major components in the plan have been or will be completed. Larry Corrigan, interim vice president for finance and administration and treasurer, will ask the Board to agree to creating a new master plan for expanding, renovating and improving the campus, which will cost OU no more than $600,000. He will also present a treasurer's report. The Board might also approve OU entering a construction contract for a $1 million project for the Elson Hall Classroom Addition on the Zanesville Campus. The School of Film, Center for International Business and Development and the Institute for the African Child are all up for review. Also, the Board of Trustees Committee on Student Life, Human Resources and Athletics will hear a presentation by Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Sostarich on the high-risk drinking problem among OU students, the university's efforts to control the problem, and the AlcoholEdu for College program implemented for freshman this year.
Candidates spar at discussion
Feb. 17, 2005COLUMBUS -Ohio's three GOP gubernatorial candidates sat elbow-to-elbow here yesterday in a preview of their coming race for the state's highest office, the discussion ranging from the state budget to voting machines. Though they kept the session mostly polite, at times the talk was just short of hostile.
Microsoft Corp. recalls fire-prone Xbox power cords
Feb. 17, 2005SEATTLE -Microsoft Corp. said yesterday that it is recalling 14.1 million power cords for its Xbox system because they can catch fire. The software company said 30 customers have reported fire damage. Seven Xbox users burned their hands, and 23 reported smoke damage or damage to their carpets or entertainment centers, according to Microsoft. Peter Moore, a corporate vice president, said the company has known about the problem for some time and spent the past several months gearing up for the recall by producing more cords and making other arrangements. Everywhere except Europe, the recall affects Xboxes manufactured before Oct. 23, 2003. In Europe, it affects those manufactured before Jan. 13, 2004. The recall affects about 70 percent of the approximately 20 million consoles sold, according to Microsoft. Customers can order a free replacement cord by going to http://www.xbox.com. Until a new cord is delivered, Xbox users should turn off their systems when not in use, according to Microsoft. Moore declined to say how much the recall will cost the company.
Values differ by culture
Feb. 17, 2005Though sex is prevalent in every culture, the values and taboos that come along with the act vary across the globe.
Parents sue school district for son's alleged humiliation
Feb. 17, 2005ELYRIA -A school district was sued by parents who say their son's fourth-grade teacher made the boy spray himself with Lysol in front of classmates because of body odor. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court against the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake district in suburban Cleveland. It asks for $50,000 in damages for public humiliation and subsequent harassment by classmates. The boy still suffers emotional distress over the incident, said his attorney, Michael Duff. Bill Emery, school board president, said he was unfamiliar with the March 2003 incident at Forestlawn School and said he knew of no disciplinary problems involving the teacher. The teacher, David Stacko, who has retired, has an unlisted phone number and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The state reversed a decision Wednesday to cut health care to poor Ohioans with no access to other coverage.
Feb. 17, 2005WASHINGTON -President Bush appealed to members of Congress to make suggestions of their own for changing Social Security yesterday, and said they need not fear political retribution.
Responsible drinking can curb sexual assaults
Feb. 17, 2005Props to Stephen Mette for recognizing the need for men to educate and mentor each other to respect women. (People need education
First Amendment already defends freedom of speech
Feb. 17, 2005In the Feb. 17 edition of The Post Tim Boggs wrote an article defending State Senate Bill 24, aka the Academic Bill of Rights. Boggs' argument is that if you actually read the bill then anyone with common sense would realize that the bill seeks to guarantee freedom of speech rather than restrict it. I apologize for my ignorance, but isn't that what we have a First Amendment for? Why do we need a bill to enhance freedom of speech? Boggs also says I know I am not the only one who has sat through a class irrelevant to contemporary politics only to hear how we are screwing things up in Iraq etc. Tim fails to state what classes he is referring to. Is a class on the Ancient Greek world irrelevant to contemporary politics? Irving Kristol, the godfather of neo-conservatism wrote an article entitled The Neoconservative Persuasion where he explains neo-conservatism (http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/000tzmlw.asp?pg=2). Kristol writes, There is no set of neoconservative beliefs concerning foreign policy
Tax cut effects debated
Feb. 17, 2005COLUMBUS - Revitalizing Ohio's economy to create jobs andattract business was the major focus for state officials yesterday at theannual Associated Press legislative seminar, where they outlined theirpriorities for 2005.
Opportunity, luck help OU professor, poet
Feb. 17, 2005Being uncertain about one's future vocation is not necessarily a calamity, one Ohio University assistant professor said.
Wal-Mart bullies our budgets
Feb. 17, 2005Beginning Feb. 1, 240 to 250 new Wal-Mart Supercenters will be built in the fiscal year. About 80-90 of these will be new facilities. This is old hat to Alice, Helen, Jim, John and Rob -the Walton family -who occupied five spots of the top ten richest Americans in 2004.On the opposite end of the monetary spectrum is the student budget. They dine on caviar -we buy imitation lunchmeat (and mustard if we have enough pocket change.) Unfortunately, before we climb our way to the top of the corporate ladder, someone who already did has left his legacy to help us out.Wal-Mart is the biggest employer in 21 states, with more people in uniform than the U.S. Army, according to a Nov. 2004 special edition of Fortune magazine (http://www.fortune.com/fortune/specials/2004/walmart/walmart.html). While Fortune named Wal-Mart the most admired company in America for the past two years, I have to wonder what about Wal-Mart is to be admired.In the beginning, Sam Walton only bought from American suppliers. But now, with 1,500 stores in 9 countries, including Mexico and China, Wal-Mart has infiltrated the world's economy. I felt right at home when I studied abroad in M+
OU students run for council
Feb. 17, 2005Three Ohio University students registered to run for office as Athens City Council members, possibly inciting increased student interest in a topic normally disregarded.
A coach in full, a man in full
Feb. 17, 2005John Madden once said, Coaches have to watch for what they don't want to see and listen to what they don't want to hear.
1 year down, 1 to go
Feb. 17, 2005Since their first meeting in January 2004, the current members of the Athens City Council passed more than 100 ordinances; some as steps forward on projects that have been in the works for years and some dealing with issues new to the city.
Government emphasizes abstinence education
Feb. 17, 2005Sexual education shall emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is the only protection that is one hundred percent effective against unwanted pregnancy
