Students abandon burned apartment

By Laura Chene
News Editor

Ferris students and community members came together after six students were forced to evacuate their apartment complex when a it went up in flames last Friday.

A fire that began in the living room of 503 South Michigan Ave. resulted in no injuries but forced the students to find a new place to live. “They had to be out by 5 p.m. Friday,” Sara Johnson, a senior in health care systems administration and a neighbor, said.

Four students lived in the downstairs apartment, where the fire originated, and a married couple, both Ferris students, lived upstairs. The downstairs students were Stephanie Kujawski, a public relations student, Nicholas Stadel, a College of Business student, Jason Hatfield, a College of Technology student, and Adam Manley, a student in the College of Education and Human Services.

The electric power had to be shut off, causing the couple upstairs to also find another residence.

“We got the call at 7:30 a.m.,” Gale Mortensen, deputy director of public safety fire division, said.

The fire department arrived at 7:33 a.m. Fire was contained in the living room, which included an entertainment center and an area with a bar setup.

Along with the misuse of electrical cords, Mortensen said that two smoke detectors were missing in the apartment. “They weren’t there,” Mortensen said.

Johnson said that, Kujawski, home alone at the time, called 911 when “she saw smoke coming from the living room.”

“We ran outside, and there were just flames shooting out of the living room window,” Johnson said.

“Kujawski’s room had the most smoke damage.” Another roommate had all of his belongings in the living room.

Johnson added that she, along with many other students, was touched by the amount of sincerity displayed last Friday.

Various organizations throughout the day stopped by to see if the students needed anything. “The students should get a lot of credit,” Johnson said. “Steph and
the boys were overwhelmed with support.”

Community members also came together to offer the students support in different ways.

One couple offered to give the students dishes, a family unexpectedly bought students Arby’s, and one man offered hot chocolate.

“It was really touching,” Johnson said. “I seriously was in tears Friday morning because it was so amazing.”

According to Johnson, the university was also very kind. Vice President of Student Affairs Daniel Burcham told the students not to hesitate if they needed anything, such as replaced textbooks.

Johnson also commended the firefighters.“The fire department was so awesome,” she said. Someone remembered that there was a seven-week-old puppy, owned by one of the students who had lived in the burned apartment, still inside the house. “So the
firemen went back in there,” Johnson said.

The puppy was found in the very back of the closet. When the puppy was brought out of the house, “everyone started clapping. It was so precious,” Johnson said.

Mortensen provided some fire safety tips to prevent fires. “Just be careful,” Mortensen added. He advised individuals to make certain that cords are properly sized. Also, cords that are kinked or pinched create excessive heat. Cords should not be placed under rugs, either.

Rental units in Big Rapids must include a smoke alarm in each room and at the top of every stairway.

“Usually it’s a $50 fine [if a smoke alarm is missing],” Mortensen said. “We inspect each apartment once a year.”

The owners are supposed to provide working smoke detectors.“ Most landlords make sure, and then it’s up to the tenant to maintain,” Mortensen said.

Mortensen said that a lot of people take the nine-volt batteries out of the detectors. “It’s a civil infraction in town,” she said.

Mortensen said that it is easy to replace smoke detectors if they are missing. “Every place has smoke detectors,” Mortensen said.

Photo by Mike Termini, Assistant Photo Editor - Thomas Hogenson

Students face difficulty electing officials

By Amy McElmurray
Assistant News Editor

The city of Big Rapids will welcome last Tuesday's election winners to the commission board at the next meeting, held Nov. 19.

Big Rapids residents Thomas Hogenson and Peggy Brennan won seats on the commission. Big Rapids Mayor Edward Burch will continue serving for another term.

One Ferris student, Justin Kulevicz, filed a declaration of intent to run for a commissioner spot, according to City Clerk Roberta Cline. Only about 14 percent of the city's registered voters took part in the election. There is no way to tell how many of the voters were Ferris students.

To be eligible to vote in Big Rapids city elections, a person must be at least 18 years old, a resident for 30 days and have a driver's license or other form of identification that states they live in Big Rapids.

The problem students face when it comes to voting is that if a person changes their permanent address, they must also change their insurance coverage since they are no longer a member of the previous household, according to a local insurance agency. So, unless Ferris students want to have their own insurance policies, they can't vote in Big Rapids elections.

Hogenson is the public relations director at the Mecosta County General Hospital. He has lived in Big Rapids since 1968, among the students and families of the community. He is a Ferris graduate with a nursing degree.

He is active in the Good Neighbors Association and is past president of the Chamber of Commerce. The Good Neighbors Association believes that "everyone has the right to a good quality of life." He doesn't agree with the housing situation for rentals in the city of Big Rapids, which will help students fight for better housing off-campus.

Hogenson works with the university in a variety of ways. Most recently, he spoke to FSUS classes about life in Big Rapids. He also serves on the campus community task force team with Dr. Burcham.

He is very excited about the physical appearance changes on campus. Additions such as FLITE, the Wheeler Pavilion and the upcoming Student Services building will help Ferris compete with larger schools, Hogenson believes.

When asked about city relations with Ferris, Hogenson stated, "We have worked on a number of issues. Now we need to see what else can be done to improve the quality of life here."

"We need to ask what we can do as a host to the university," he said. "We need to create lines of communication and work together on common problems. We're all in the lifeboat, and we are all paddling. We can all work together."

Hogenson is part of the group that strongly supports the padlock ordinance. He believes that people do not fully understand the objective of the ordinance, and that is the cause for so much frustration.

"The objective is to stop spending time, energy and community resources over continued use of illegal and nuisance purposes," Hogenson said. "It is usually used to stop very serious and improper use of property. It can only be activated by law enforcement."

He did state that there are only three or four instances in the past that this would have affected.

"If you have a feeling of empowerment and community, you will be an effective citizen," Hogenson said when asked about Ferris students running for commission.

"If you want to take an active role, do it. If everyone in Big Rapids did their part, this would be a better place to live.We believe students are an important part of the community," Hogenson stated.

Brennan is the owner of The Cakery's Party Zone on Michigan Ave. She is a current member of the City of Big Rapids Plan Board and an active member of the Downtown Business Association. She has lived in a neighborhood of mixed rentals and owner-occupied homes for 34 years.

Although Brennan did not attend Ferris, she says she does know many people associated with the university. She has also helped with many events at Ferris through her business, and has spoken to the hospitality management students.

When asked how she would describe the relationship between Ferris and the city of Big Rapids, Brennan stated, "It certainly has room for improvement. I see a lot of desire that we work together better."

"Ferris is half the population of our city," Brennan said. "We're a community, not Big Rapids and Ferris. Even though it's temporary, this is the students' home."

The padlock ordinance is a hot topic on the minds of many off-campus students, as well as student government. Brennan stated, "Not having been in the decision-making process, I would want to study both sides and see how large the problem really was. At this point, I don't have an opinion."

Brennan made it clear that she is willing to work with the community to resolve issues that are both on the minds of students, as well as the community members.

"People would need to take Ferris more seriously," Brennan said when asked how she would feel if a large amount of Ferris students changed their addresses to elect a Ferris student to city commission. "It would show they have a genuine interest in what goes on here."

Regarding student housing, Brennan believes a lot of things need to be changed. "We need to get landlords involved to get any changes brought about," Brennan said. "It comes down to code enforcement. We need to enforce more and get the landlords to be more concerned."

Brennan is involved with the group "Our Three Neighborhoods,"which is mainly concerned with the issues of taking pride in rental homes, students parking in front yards and the general quality of the homes in city neighborhoods.

"We don't want to have homes in the neighborhoods deteriorate," she said.
Mayor Burch is very pleased that he has the opportunity to continue serving the city and finish the projects that have been started over the last two years. Burch said the city is most pleased with the enhancement projects on campus, especially the beautification of State Street and the new entrance to campus.

"My mother and father both attended Ferris when Woodbridge N. Ferris was teaching," Burch said. "I am very committed to the university."

"I read the Torch to see what is on the minds of students," Burch commented. "We like to see what the students' interests are and what is happening. President Sederburg keeps us updated."

All members of the community are welcome at commission meetings, which are on the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in City Hall. Letters to commissioners and the mayor are accepted by writing to:

The City of Big Rapids 226 North Michigan Avenue Big Rapids, MI 49307

or

emailing commissioner@ci.big-rapids.mi.us.

Photo by Mike Termini, Assistant Photo Editor - Peggy Prennan

Highest student turnout at recent job fair

By Jessica Wortley
Ferris State Torch

Student attendance of 1,211 more than exceeded expectations at the Ferris Fall Job Fair 2001, which was at the Holiday Inn on Oct. 23 and 24.

"We were very pleased with attendance this fall," Barb Renne, assistant director of Career Services and Job Fair coordinator, said. "Before, the highest number of students was in the 900s."

Although there were fewer employers this fall, 141 compared to 180 last winter, students seemed to be more interested in attending. Many employers chose not to come because of the drop in the economy and fewer job openings, but students wanting jobs saw it as a way to get ahead of the shortages.

"Students seemed to wake up and realize this was a good thing to attend," Renne said.
Emilie Matteson, a junior in health care systems administration, was looking for an internship and thought the event was well worth her time. "It was very helpful for my major because there were lots of hospitals there," she said. "But as far as being successful for me, I don't know because I haven't heard back from anyone yet."

Jessica Laidlaw, a sophomore in pre-criminal justice, said, "I thought it was really good for CJ students as there were a lot of different departments there that needed and wanted recruits. Also, they were more than willing to help you."

The majority of the companies who attended this year also thought the job fair was a success. Most commented that they were happy with what they saw and would be back.

Their only concern, however, was the preparation of the students. Companies suggest every student bring multiple copies of their resume when they attend. Also, they encourage students to brush up on information regarding proper business etiquette, such as dress, appearance and interviewing.

Career Services is hosting another job fair next semester, but this time it will be a bit different. The event will be on campus at the Ewigleben Sports Complex for one day only, Feb. 12.

If anyone knows of a company they would like to see represented at future job fairs, please contact Career Services at 591-2685. For more information about the job fair or Career Services, please visit them in Rankin 108 or online at ferris.edu/careerservices.

Photo by Mike Termini, Assistant Photo Editor

The Board of Trustees meets regularly to discuss items such as FSU's plans and student concerns. The Academic Affairs/Student Affairs committee meeting was last Wednesday and the Finance Committee, shown here, was last Thursday. tentative dates of future meetings are Nov. 30, Feb. 16, May 10 and July 12.

Faculty prepares for contract negotiations
By Laura Chene
News Editor

The Ferris Faculty Association and the administration are in the works of planning and preparing for the bargaining process, which is expected to begin next semester and is carried out to establish contract terms before the current contract expires.

Negotiations between the administration and FFA are expected to occur before the current contract expires on June 30, 2002. The last set of negotiations were finalized in September of 1997, but a contract agreement did not occur without a strike by faculty
members. Once the agreement was made, a contract was developed and it covers the period from 1997 through 2002.

Both the FFA and the administration side, which is composed of individuals from the Board of Trustees, administrative positions and other areas, must complete a set of negotiations involving bargaining in order to agree on a contract once again. Each party has its own bargaining team and chief negotiator who works very closely with the respective sides.

"The planning from the [adminstration] side is in the works," Director of Labor Relations Denise Barowicz said. The adminstration is working on forming a team and finalizing the plans. "It is too early to say what issues will be discussed," Barowicz said.

Speaking from the administration side, she said that the team works closely with the Board of Trustees and administration to decide the issues that should be added to or deleted from the contract. "The union has their own process where they identify what they need to do," Barowicz said.

"The FFA has been preparing for the last two years [to] make certain that the administration understands the issues so that we arrive at a contract that accords us the respect we're due," John Caserta, vice president of the FFA and chairman of the FFA's crisis committee, said.

"The last contract did little to solve the issues that faculty considered important, such as money and benefits, retirement, academic issues. Those are the major ones, so everything is going to be back on the table," Caserta said.

"The process starts over. It's a whole new process," Barowicz said. "It all starts with new issues." She added that discussion of remembered issues from past negotiations are still possible, though.

Caserta stated that "a fair and equitable contract shows that the faculty are respected. It all begins in the classroom with the faculty members." He said that a quality faculty must exist in order for students to have a quality education.

Faculty must be paid what they're worth and accounted for before new buildings are built. "Faculty can teach inside old buildings," Caserta said. "For us, it's a simple scenario."

Although she could not give an exact time for when negotiations would begin, Barowicz said, "it'll definitely be after the first of the year." The period over which the contract will cover is decided through bargaining.

The amount of time it takes to settle a contract is also unknown. "It varies," Barowicz said. "Normally people like to see a new contract in place by the time the old one expires, and sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn't. They'll get to point and
identify the date and time."

Both sides will start to meet and discuss their issues, whether they are issues that are changed or deleted from the contract.

"Well, common issues that anyone always thinks about is wages," Barowicz said. Although she said the Board of Trustees had not yet established issues to discuss,
Barowicz stated that wages, benefits and working conditions are always in the scope of the administration and FFA negotiations. "That is what the scope of bargaining is all about," Barowicz said.

"Usually on a team you draw in a variety of areas so people can get input," Barowicz said. For example, the university might have representatives from dean's offices or human resources. The bargaining teams are not required to have a specifc number of people.

"We'll be meeting with the students so they're informed," Caserta said. "We've already met with the community."

Farewell to Denny's

By Oshotayo Adedeji
Ferris State Torch

Denny's Value-land closed on Oct. 28 due to high competition throughout the city, among other reasons.

The opening of Meijer and the expansion of Wal-mart into a supermarket made it hard for the grocery store to compete.

Denny's Grocery Stores began their existence in 1986 when the first store was opened where the College Bookstore is now. The Value-land was opened years ago because the smaller businesses began to evolve in Big Rapids. The Village Market downtown, also owned by Denny's, has been in existence since 1992.

According to Denny Karnitz, president of Village Market, the store was closed down because there is no growth of people living in Big Rapids.

The census taken a few years ago showed that people are leaving Big Rapids because there are not enough business opportunities.

Karnitz said that having a retail store without enough people in the city to buy items will cause more debt. With that reasoning, the store decided to consolidate with Village Market to earn more profit in the future and concentrate on one business.

Denny's Value-land earns about $1 million a week in groceries, and all of their inventories, equipment and assets were liquidated into cash to pay all of their debts. The rest was saved in the bank.

Karnitz chose to keep the Village Market open because the downtown does $5 million a year and offers convenience to those people who live close to the store. Rather than drive to other businesses, such as stores on Perry Street, Village Market offers proximity to those individuals. The landlord was able to reduce the rent they were paying at Village Market.

"I am very optimistic. It is going to be good long-term to serve our customers better, and put all our energy into advertising programs. We hope that 20 percent of our customers from the other store will follow through," Karnitz said.

"It will benefit our store because we are trying to keep the labor and cost by consolidating into one store," Lesleigh Noakes, former vice president of Denny's and secretary of Village Market, said.

"People will miss Denny's Value-land for convenience. I personally think that they closed down because of the impact of Meijer and lack of business," Brad Wickstrom, a senior in psychology, said.

Photo by Mike Termini, Assistant Photo Editor

The Ferris-Kendall art show brings eclectic grouping to the Rankin Art Gallery. Three-dimensional pieces, large paintings and small drawings round out the exhibit.

Faculty art gives great diversity

By Matt Cherry
Assistant A&E Editor.

Currently at the Rankin Art Gallery is a show displaying the artistic abilities of many Ferris and Kendall faculty members.

The art show, which runs until Nov. 30, brings together many distinct, and many classical, styles of art.

There is everything from oil paintings to a wall hanging of sorts that uses wire, wood, and fiberglass.

A few of the displayed artists include Robert Barnum, John Battle, Curt Ellis and Patrick Schmidt from Ferris. And a few artists from Kendall include Jun Kwon, Patricia Mitchell, Sandra Ringlever and Deborah Rockman.

The art shown ranges from the realm of deep emotion to the realm of just odd. For example, Barnum's painting "Embrace" shows many different human emotions. Just looking at it, one can see the sexuality it encompasses.

However, there's much more to the painting than just that. The look of almost pain the man has when compared to the notably sexual appearance of the woman is one of deeper meaning.

Then there is the color used. The woman is dressed in a red shirt and skirt, a color commonly associated with passion. The man, however, is dressed in browns, showing his earthiness and pain.

And on the opposite end of the spectrum there is a piece called "Drawings" by Sarah Joseph, from Kendall. This is, at first glance, what looks to be a bunch of random drawings.

However, the drawings are all of fruit-shaped objects involved in sports activities. This can leave one with a feeling of astonishment at how such a silly idea can turn out so great.

Battle's submitted artworks were three masterfully done photographs. "Liberty From Pedestal" is a picture of the Statue of Liberty taken from the base.

"Pine Needles on Snow w/Beach" shows nature's beauty, depicting pine needles and other forest regalia lightly covered in snow.

As for a personal favorite of mine, there's "Nina Temple, Kyoto Japan." This simple photo shows a view of beauty that practitioners of the Japanese Shinto faith know well. It shows the utter sereneness of the temple with its lush garden and Japanese architecture.

Another personal favorite is the quilt by Cindi Ford, from Kendall, entitled "Mirror Image." A masterful use of coloration by Ford really makes this piece of a thin lady looking in a mirror, and seeing a not-thin lady looking back, scream volumes.

Ferris faculty member William Bitzinger's "Utah Aspen #3" shows just how hard the struggle for existence can be sometimes.

Here is a lone aspen, surrounded by cracked earth and desert, and almost certain death for a tree, and yet it lives. It grows towards the sun as if to tell the desert, "Come on, is that your best shot? You'll need more than that to beat me."

There really wasn't a bad piece of art in the show. And while I could rant on about such pieces of work as Kwon's "Northern Light" or Clay Stauffer's "Council Bluffs," justice could not be done to these great works.

And the tip of the iceberg has just been hit here. There are many other works just as masterful as these are.

There's bound to be a style of art that anyone can appreciate at the art gallery. So do yourself a favor, and head over to see this beautiful art before it's too late.

Photo by Mike Termini, Assistant Photo Editor

The art show displays artowkrs from Ferris and Kendall faculty and showcases many different styles of art. The show runs until Nov. 30 in the Rankin Center Art Gallery.

Rack 'em up

By Rachel Theabo
A&E Editor

Back in Sept. the RA's from the second and third floors of Clark Hall came up with the idea of a residence hall pool tournament. Originally the plan was to have only their two floors compete against each other. According to Ryan Foster, the RA for the third floor, this is a common occurrence between these two floors.

The event ended up involving three other halls, Masselink, Merrill/Travis and Cramer. Each hall had their own pool tournament to determine the winner, and then the winner of each hall went to the final tournament, which took place on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. The players who made it to the finals were; Jeff Simon, Justin Osbon, Jarrad Mitchel, Nick Ouillette and Josh Hanna, who did not show up.

Justin Osbon took second place in the tournament and won a $20 gift certificate to Kmart, while Jarrad Mitchel took first place and won a $40 gift certificate. The tournament will be held again next semester, when Jarrad will faceoff against the winner.

Photo by James Bednarick, Photo Editor

Senior Jason Johnson poses outside Entertainment Unlimited's office. Johnson has been involved with E.U for three years, and he is now the president of the orgranization.

"Big Boss Man" on campus

By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief

At the end of a student's senior year of high school, he/she has the opportunity to vote for senior personalities. Some of the awards given out include "Best Eyes," "Class Clown," "Best Personality" and others.

If Ferris State University students were allowed to vote for these, senior Jason Johnson from Edwardsville, Mich., would receive two awards: "Most Spirited" and "Most Involved."

"I have always looked up to my grandpa. He is 71 years old and still is an extremely active man," Johnson, a construction management major, said. "I strive to achieve his hard work ethic. The work ethic always has an effect on people positively."

During his last four years at Ferris, Johnson has been involved in Entertainment Unlimited (E.U.), a Residential Advisor for a year in Vandercook Hall, a member of the Associated Construction Students, SAPC, an Orientation Leader and he has worked for Student Activities for a little over three years.

"Getting involved while taking leadership roles is something that I have always stressed while in college. For future students, my advice would be to get more involved with these roles, and when you have them, have fun and take them seriously," Johnson, president of E.U., said.

Along with these, Johnson also helped start Habitat for Humanity on campus, and he is involved with FUSS. Last year, Habitat for Humanity set a record by giving the Big Rapids community a total of 2,000 service hours.

"Doing something like that was one of the more memorable moments while I have been here," Johnson said.

Working for E.U. for over three years now, Johnson was the vice president of finance last year, and this is his first year as its president.

For E.U., Johnson has helped bring in acts for Ferris Fest, a concert event for students, for three years. Last year, Ferris brought in the local favorite Jive Dharma, the rock group Sponge and an R&B group, Jagged Edge.

"Sponge is one of my favorite bands to see. I've been watching those guys for years. and I know what a great band they are," Johnson said. "They came to Ferris without a recent album out and still put the large group in the quad on their feet."

According to Johnson, one of the biggest accomplishments that he wanted was making Ferris Fest what it is today, successful.

"The organization has grown over the past couple of years and we have averaged an event and a half per week on campus," Johnson said. "I am thrilled that we brought back the comedy series to Ferris. It has really gone good and is something with a diverse lineup that is new to a lot of people."

During his spare time, Johnson enjoys music. According to him, he owns over 500 CD's and has seen over 300 concerts.

In his life, Johnson has met a lot of famous people including Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, the Detroit Red Wings, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and a ton of musical groups. The coolest person that Johnson has ever met is Art Alexakis, the lead singer from Everclear.

"Art was just a cool person. What he says to you, sticks with you for a long time," Johnson said. "When I met him, we talked about college and life. Every time I see them, I try to get the chance to go backstage and talk with him."

FSU's construction management program attracted Johnson to attend college here. "I have always been involved with construction work. It comes naturally to me because of my background building for trade schools," Johnson said. "A lot of my friends were up here, and I knew the program would be enjoying."

Along with having a lot of friends the "Big Boss Man," as some call Jason Johnson, has a sister that goes to Ferris, junior Jessica Johnson. He also has a brother Arin, who is 21.

After graduation, Johnson is moving to Baltimore, Md, working for Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. Whiting-Turner is the 16th largest general contractor in the US, and Johnson spent this past summer there for one of his two internships.

"When I leave Ferris, I want everyone to remember me as a people-person who has been a friend to a lot of people," Johnson said. "I feel that I am always there to help out others, and whenever I get into something, I stick with it from beginning to end."

Putting on the ritz

By Shannon Vesper
Ferris State Torch

After a very successful performance of Chicago, the theatre group is looking to fill the roles for the upcoming winter production, Bedroom Farce.

Bedroom Farce is staged in studio style, where the audience sits on the stage with the actors. It is a comedy that follows an estranged couple as they invade the homes (and bedrooms) of friends and family in an effort to avoid each other. Alan Ayckbourn wrote the play.

Auditions for this play will begin tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Williams Auditions and again on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Performance dates are Feb. 7-9 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 10 at 2:30 p.m.

"Four couples, three bedrooms. You do the math. A variety of young and old characters are needed for this play. Anyone is welcome to try out. No experience is necessary. If you want to try out, all you need to do is bring a joke to tell or show it off," Katherine LaPietra, director, said.

"It isn't necessary to bring anything to read from", LaPietra commented. Versions of the script are available in the library for a 24-hour check-out until the end of the week.

Practice for this play will continue through exam week. There will be no practice during the semester break, and practice will resume on the first week of the second semester.
Besides the acting part of it, other students are needed for technical roles. Each show is in need of a stage manager, an assistant stage manager, a light board operator and running crew.

Other students are needed to make props, build sets and sew costumes. These roles vary from play to play. If you are interested, you may join one of the auditions or contact Gretchen Potter, technical director, at 591-5325.

After Bedroom Face, auditions for the spring production, Dracula, will begin on Feb. 20 and 21 at 6:30 p.m. If you're thinking you don't have the time to commit to being in Bedroom Farce right now, perhaps you'll be more able to be in Dracula come February.
Dracula is a popular gothic horror story created by Bram Stoker over 100 years ago. This version honors Stoker's genius and celebrates his original version. Steven Dietz wrote the play. As with Bedroom Farce, the theatre department is going to be in need of actors, actresses, stage hands, prop builders and so on, so please take the time and audition.

For any further information concerning the auditions and performances you may contact LaPietra at 591-2108.

Photo by Mike Termini, Assistant Photo Editor

Runningback Derek Fudge looks for running room early in Saturday's game against Indy. Fudge rushed for 89 yards.

Battle for the bronze vs. Indy

By Nicholas Wasmiller
Sports Editor

It took two overtime periods to decide, but the Bulldogs grabbed claim to the third place position in the final GLIAC standings with a 16-13 win over the University of Indianapolis in the final game of the season for both teams.

Indianapolis led throughout regulation due to the right foot of senior Dennis Nisbet, who connected on two field goal tries in regulation, and a Greyhound defense that forced seven Ferris State turnovers.

Indy opened the game with a 32-yard field goal late in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. Three minutes later, the Bulldogs answered with a field goal of their own, a 41-yarder by sophomore Tom Perez. The Bulldogs scoring drive lasted nine plays and covered 59 yards in just over three minutes.

The score remained 3-3 until the final play of the third period, when Nisbet connected on a 22- yard chip shot to put the Greyhounds ahead 6-3.

The Bulldogs trailed the Greyhounds 6-3 for the entire fourth quarter, then tied the contest on a 42-yard field goal by Perez on the last play of regulation.

The Bulldogs opened up the first overtime session on offense and gained their first lead of the game when senior quarterback Kyle Park hit sophomore tight end Matt McCoy on an 11-yard scoring pass to make it 13-6.

Indianapolis responded with a six-play scoring drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run. Junior Indy quarterback Kevin Nicolini completed two passes on the drive to set up the touchdown run that tied the score 13-13 and sent the game into a second overtime session.

The Greyhounds had the ball first in the second overtime. On the third play of the drive, Ferris State defensive end John Hazle intercepted a deflected pass, ending the drive for Indy.

On the ensuing drive, Perez nailed the game-winning 34-yard field goal.

For the University of Indianapolis, the loss marked its first road defeat of the season. Although this was the first overtime game for the Bulldogs in the 2001 season, the Greyhounds played their third overtime contest of the campaign and their second with at least two overtime periods.

Senior wideout Clarence Coleman finished his Bulldog career with 10 catches on the day for 147 yards, while senior flanker Lamar Patterson made five grabs for 61 yards. Wide receiver Doug Searles also played in his last game for the Bulldogs against Indy, making one catch for five yards.

Senior quarterback Kyle Park returned to the starting role for the injured Tom Marsan and completed 30 of 50 passes for 361 yards, while also tossing four interceptions.

The Bulldogs rushing attack was led by sophomore Derek Fudge, who rushed 11 times for 45 yards, while also losing two fumbles. Senior Matt Otero finished his Bulldog career with 39 yards against Indy on 17 carries.

The Dawg offense nearly doubled the yardage put up by Indy (443-236), while over tripling the passing yards (361-119).

Ferris State finished the season with a 7-3 record in the GLIAC, trailing only undefeated Grand Valley and 9-1 Saginaw Valley in the standings.

The Bulldogs look for a successful 2002 season by returning a majority of their starters. Ferris State will definitely need to replace Harlon Hill candidate Clarence Coleman on offense, as well as return QB Tom Marsan, RB Derek Fudge, and four of five starting offensive linemen.

On defense, the Bulldogs will look to replace a great deal of senior leadership, losing seven starters, including three-fourths of the secondary.

Photo Courtesy of the 2000-2001 Hockey Media Guide

John Gruden, who earned the distinction of being the first NCAA Division I All-American in Ferris State history returns tonight with his newest team, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Gruden returns to Bulldog Country

By Nicholas Wasmiller
Sports Editor

Former Bulldog standout John Gruden returns with his new team, the Grand Rapids Griffins, in an open-to-the public practice tonight at the Ewigleben Ice Arena from 6-7 p.m.

An autograph and photo session with Griffins players will follow the practice from 7:30-8 p.m. The event will also giveaway free Griffins T-shirts to the first 300 fans through the door, while a raffle will be held for additional Griffins merchandise. Griffins rosters, schedules and ticket information will also be available at tonight's open practice.

Gruden, who played at Ferris from 1990-1994, is preparing to enter his third season with the Griffins. Last season, Gruden spent the first four months rehabilitating a dislocated shoulder suffered in a preseason game against Calgary. Gruden also tied for first in the IHL with a +8 rating during the playoffs.

At Ferris State, Gruden was named to the NCAA West First All-American Team and CCHA First All-Star team as a senior. The left-handed defenseman also scored 11 goals and earned a collegiate high 25 assists in his senior season with the Dawgs.

For his Bulldogs career, Gruden scored 40 goals, dished out 64 assists and spent 161 minutes in the penalty box.

A seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Gruden played his first three seasons in Boston. The defenseman recorded seven assists and 28 minutes in the penalty box for the Bruins.

In his Griffins career, Gruden has played in 84 games while splitting time between Grand Rapids and their NHL affiliate the Ottawa Senators. In a Griffins uniform, Gruden has scored seven goals and taillied 23 assists.

Gruden played in 22 games in the NHL with Ottawa in the past three seasons, but the defenseman has recorded just one point, on an assist in the 1998-99 season.

The 31-year-old defenseman from Minnesota is married and has two children. Growing up, his hockey idol was forward Bobby Orr, and he also played baseball and golf as a youngster. Gruden, who enjoys the music of Matchbox 20 and the show Seinfeld, also is a huge fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
Notes:

• Played in the IHL All-Star game in 2000 and 1997.
• Earned the distinction of "IHL's Fastest Skater" in the 1997 skills competition.

Photo by James Bednarick, Photo Editor

Coach Fisk directs the team during a game last season. Fisk hopes the team's "Never give up attitude."

Tracey Fisk was born to be a Bulldog

By Jason Nelson
Assistant Sports Editor

Women's basketball head coach Tracey Fisk is starting to build a program that, in a few years, could be the class of the GLIAC. If nothing else, at least Fisk's players will show class. It is all part of the plan to have first-class individuals on the team, and if this team is any indication of that model, it looks as if Coach Fisk may have found herself a winner.

"I recruit girls that have heart, that know how to win, that find ways to win, and have guts. I want girls that want to be here, and are not going to quit," Fisk said.

The motto that recent Bulldogs teams have rallied behind is the 'never quit attitude', which is something that coach Fisk strives for in her players.

"I want players that are strong academically, and first-class individuals. I don't want them to give up whether we are up 15 points or down 15 points. When we are down, don't count us out," Fisk said.

Entering her fourth season with the Bulldogs, Fisk has compiled an impressive record of 56-28, including Ferris State's only trip to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional in 1999-2000. Fisk has always dreamt of coaching and when the opportunity arose for the position at FSU, Fisk quickly jumped at the opportunity.

"I am from Michigan. I played at Northern Michigan, and I am closer to home, so it made a lot of sense," Fisk said.

One of the main points that Fisk points out is that she would rather have a team that worked well together than a team with a couple of stars.

"It is easier for team chemistry when you have a group of girls that work well together, over a star player. Opposing teams don't know who will step up for us on any given night," Fisk said.

The 'never give up attitude' that Fisk relays holds true in games that the Bulldogs are winning as well.

"I tell the girls to keep playing the way they have played to get to this point. I tell them to play to win, not to lose," Fisk said.

As many basketball fans already know, the game of basketball is full of swings, the biggest of which is momentum.

"The game is a swing of emotions and momentum, and who can remain composed. Whoever is able to sustain the momentum of the game long enough usually will win the game," Fisk said.

With an injury to a team leader (Patti Larson), the Bulldogs composure is already being tested. If coach Tracey Fisk has her way, the Bulldogs will overcome their newest adversity by not giving up.

Men's basketball looks to improve on last season

By Jason Nelson
Assistant Sports Editor

The Ferris State men's basketball team has a lot to prove after being picked to finish fifth in a seven-team conference. The pre-season polls were released recently, and there stood Ferris State at the bottom of the predictions.

The Bulldogs have become accustomed to finishing in the bottom third of the conference in recent years. However, this year there is a silent whisper that the Bulldogs could surprise some people.

The surprise Bulldog fans are thinking of comes at a height of 6'10". Adam Anderson returns for his senior season to hopefully lead the Bulldogs to their first winning season in the last four years. Anderson, a pre-season All-American, hopes that at the end of the season, he will be there still.

"It is an honor to be on the All-American Team. I hope that I am on the post-season team as well," Anderson said. Anderson, who averaged 21.3 points per game last season, looks to improve on getting some rebounds. Anderson averaged 6.3 rebounds per game last season and also led the Bulldogs in scoring in 23 of the team's 26 games.

Leading the team in blocked shots was Anderson with 1.9 blocks per game last season. Anderson set the school record for points scored in a season with 555 points last season. Anderson also has a 27-game double-figure scoring streak going into the season. Besides the record-setting point total Anderson scored last season, he also set school records in made free throws (179) and blocked shots (50).

The second leading scorer, sophomore Marcus Wallace, returns to improve on his 10.1 point-per- game average. Wallace, from Muskegon, Mich., chipped in with 3.2 rebounds, and was second on the team in field goals made last year behind Anderson. Wallace will be counted on to produce more as a sophomore.

Sophomore forward Jonathan Bowers chipped in off the bench last year and is expected to improve on his 8.7 point-per-game average. Bowers also chipped in with 5.1 rebounds per game last season. The success of the Bulldogs will depend on their inside game, most notably Anderson and Bowers.

Point guard Brian Monahan returns to run the show for the Bulldogs. Last year Monahan averaged 6.8 points per game and three assists per game. If the Bulldogs are to have sustained success this year, the amount of assists the team has will have to improve.

The last season that the Bulldogs can claim was a true success was in 1997-98, when the Bulldogs won the GLIAC tournament and made the NCAA Division II tournament. Head coach Edgar Wilson will have his hands full if he plans to have his team competing for a conference title. Wilson, in his sixth season, has had rough start to his head coaching career, compiling a 52-84 career mark at Ferris State.

One reason that the Bulldogs are excited to start the year is the impact that the incoming freshmen could have on the Bulldogs this season. This season, the Bulldogs will boast an exciting crew of freshmen.

The recent recruits will include Michael Anderson from Farmington Hills, Timothy O'Brien from Traverse City St. Francis, and Corey and Carlton Epps. The Epps brothers, who are both 6'2", come from perennial power Benton Harbor, which went 25-1 last year.

Carlton Epps averaged 15.5 points per game last year for Benton Harbor, while his twin brother Corey averaged 10.1. Benton Harbor also featured 6'9" center Robert Whaley, who committed to Missouri. Michael Anderson averaged 21.5 points per game and 10 rebounds per game last season for Farmington Hills. The 6'3" wing player should have an immediate impact for the Bulldogs, who lacked outside shooting last year. All of this year's recruits are guard and wing players.

Freshman point guard Tim O'Brien should give starter Brian Monahan the few minutes of rest he needs in close games, while keeping the Bulldogs' offense on pace. O'Brien averaged 19.5 points, seven rebounds and four assists last year for Traverse City St. Francis.

The Bulldogs will travel to Kentucky for their season opener, when they go against Northern Kentucky. The Bulldogs enter the game 0-2 all time against NKU.

The Bulldogs' first home game will be Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jim Wink Arena against Olivet College. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, while students get in free with their college ID's.

Women's basketball ready to give all

By Jason Nelson
Assistant Sports Editor

The women's basketball team lost their team leader before the season even began. Now, the Lady Bulldogs' resolve will be tested as they embark on a season with a little more experience.

Senior co-captain Patti Larson was lost due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she sustained in practice. Now the team must rally to have a successful season after such an early devastating blow. Luckily for the Bulldogs, senior co-captain Debbie Killips will be back to help lead the Bulldogs.

Killips averaged 11.3 points per game last season and dished out 5.6 assists per game. She is also a two-time All-Defensive Team selection and a second team All-GLIAC. Killips opens the season needing only 23 steals to become Ferris State's all time leader in steals.

Sophomore Lucy DeMartin returns to help the Bulldogs' scoring. Head coach Tracey Fisk calls DeMartin "the bullet. She is fast and a finesse player," Fisk said.

The inside presence this season for the Bulldogs will fall on the shoulders of sophomore Bridget Horwitz. At 6'2", Horwitz can play either the center or power forward position.

"Bridget has really improved over the summer. She can put the ball in the hole," says head coach Tracey Fisk.

The Bulldogs have been picked to finish fourth in the North Division of the GLIAC behind powerhouses Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, and Lake Superior State. MTU and NMU have easily become the most heated opponents for the Lady Bulldogs.

"They have been the teams to beat. They are consistently at the top of the conference," says Fisk.

The Bulldogs are looking to have an up-tempo game, running up and down the court. The defense will primarily consist of full-court presses with man-to-man defense.

"We want to get after people. We are very capable of winning, but we also have a lot of work to do," Fisk said.

The strengths of this year's squad will be their team speed and agility. The Bulldogs are very athletic and quick, which will give slower opponents fits and faster teams a dose of their own medicine.

The downfall of the Bulldogs, if there is one, could be their rebounding. With a lack of height, the Bulldogs could find themselves giving opponents numerous chances on the offensive end, which has coach Fisk concerned.

"We will struggle if we don't rebound. Our record will be a direct correlation to the way we rebound," Fisk said.

Coming off of a 16-11 season, the Bulldogs are poised to make a run for the conference crown.

The Bulldogs open their season at the Chatham Orthopedics Tip-off Classic in Savannah, Ga. After the non-conference games are played, the Bulldogs will open GLIAC play on Nov. 29, at Findlay.

The first conference home game for the Lady Bulldogs will be on Dec. 6, at the Jim Wink Arena against Gannon at 6 p.m. Adult tickets are $5, while students get in free with their Student ID.

Photo by James Bednarick, Photo Editor

Pre-season All-American center Adam Anderson leads the Bulldogs into the upcoming season. FSU was picked fifth in the GLIAC poll.

Center prepares

By Jason Nelson
Assistant Sports Editor

Don't tell senior center Adam Anderson that the Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth out of seven teams this season. He doesn't want to hear it. The pre-season All-American is the centerpiece of the Bulldog puzzle. The prized player from Kent City is entering his final year for the Bulldogs, one that he hopes will yield some victories.

With such a young team, Anderson may find his wish as more of a dream than a reality, but the chance exists that with a player such as Anderson, the Bulldogs could find themselves in the mix for the GLIAC title.

"We are a really young team, we have come together really well and are consistently getting better," Anderson said. "For us to be successful, the freshmen need to step up," Anderson said.

For Anderson, there is a lot of hype to live up to. With so many teams willing to leave others open to stop him, Anderson has had to work to improve his game.

"I have been working on improving my outside shot. I want to get more rebounds per game this year and lead the younger guys," Anderson said.

One of the main problems with recent Bulldog teams has been their inability to put opponents away when the opportunity presents itself, which is one thing that Anderson wants to improve on as much as anything.

"We need to learn how to win. Our mentality has to change. Our confidence is high right now," Anderson explained "On the court when there is adversity, you have to fight through it. I am going to have to keep the team together in those situations," Anderson said.

Part of the problem in years past is that players and coaches have not seen eye to eye. Anderson says that this year, everyone is chipping in on becoming a successful team.

"Our coach is a great guy. The coaches and players are changing their ways on and off the court to help the program," Anderson said.

Coming out of high school, Anderson was courted by many of the more high-profile programs in the nation. However, he chose to come to Ferris.

"I just decided to come here. Being here is about what I expected. Setting the record for blocked shots and scoring over 1,000 points are highlights. A winning season would be a good way to end it," Anderson said.

One thing is for sure, the Bulldogs have become accustomed to losing in recent years. Now the question is, can they win the games that in previous years they have lost?

Should the Bulldogs take solace in moral victories and close defeats? No way, said Anderson. "There is no such thing as a good loss," Anderson said.

Anderson's typical gameday consists of reading scouting reports, watching film and relaxing, and using that time to think about his role and what he and his team need to do in order to win. "I think that the conference championship is within reach, but above all my goal is to have a winning season," Anderson said.

If the rest of the team takes on Anderson's mentality, the rest of the league could be in for a Bulldog of a surprise come the end of the season.

No Luck for the Bulldogs

By Jeff Mier
Ferris State Torch

"We didn't play well at all on Friday," Bulldogs head coach Bob Daniels said.

"Saturday, we showed energy. Even down 3-1, we had more jump and were much happier."

Even losing 5-3 on Friday and tying 3-3 on Saturday, coach Daniels didn't say anything bad about his team. Notre Dame is currently 2-5-3 and eighth in the CCHA standings, while Ferris is 4-4-1 and ninth in the same standings.

Friday's game at the Joyce Center proved to be an offensive game once again. Notre Dame started first with Conner Dunlop, a junior, getting the puck from David Inman and Aaron Gill to score his second goal of the season during an Irish power play. Just over a minute later, Bulldog forward Chris Kunitz answered less then a minute later off a Rob Collins and Simon Mangos assist to tie the game at 1-1.

Sophomore defenseman T.J. Mathieson gave the Irish the lead again at the 12:44 mark of the second period when he slid one past Ferris' Mike Brown. Sophomore Kyle Dolder scored off of a Tom Glavin assist to open the third period.

Mike Kinnie scored his third goal of the season during a power play to give Ferris their second and last goal of the game. The Irish racked up two more goals, one from Michael Chin and one from David Inmna, finally beating the Bulldogs 5-2.

On Saturday, Daniels gave the start at goaltender to freshman John DeCaro. It look 1:32 seconds for the Bulldogs to get on the board. Kunitz slid one past junior goalie Tony Zasowski on a pass from Rob Collins.

"They just seem to know where each other is," Bulldog goalie DeCaro stated when asked about the play of Kunitz and Collins.

Notre Dame answered with goals from Inman, Lebda and Gill making it a 3-1 game. Freshmen Derek Nesbitt scored his first goal in his college career at the end of the 2nd peorid placing the Dawgs one goal behind heading into the third period. Derrick McIver tied the game when he somehow slid one between the pads of Zasowski for his third goal of the season. Neither team could capitalize on shots on goal in the extra period making the final 3-3.

"We played a lot better then Friday night. I played well except for the three goals and even then I was able to bounce back," freshman DeCaro said.

This week, the Bulldogs will face Alaska-Fairbanks, currently 6-4-0 and eleventh in the CCHA standings. They will face off on Friday at 7:35 p.m. at Ewigleben Ice Arena. The rematch is scheduled for Saturday, with the action beginning at 7:05 p.m.

On a side note, the Bulldogs are minus one of their veteren leaders, junior forward Josh Bowers has left the team. "Josh wasn't enjoying the game anymore. It's a tough level of hockey here, as it is Division-I. I think he was looking for more of a role with power plays and what not," Daniels said.

Simply disrespect

By Aaron Hatfield
Ferris State Torch

The utter disrespect that today's generation shows our country and its symbols sickens me to no end. This disrespect gets greater and greater with each change in generation and I refuse to watch it continue in mine. As our country goes to war to defend its very rights, freedoms and securities, our society cannot sit back and continue to show its irreverence and disregard towards America.

Being a part of the Air National Guard, I have undergone a great deal of training with a teamwork aspect. This aspect has become priceless and could never be replaced by any other sort of opportunity. The military provides just what our society needs.

As today's generation steps up to the plate, there are too many who have lost the essence of what it truly means to be patriotic and to stand up for and believe in your country. This generation is way too concerned with getting smashed, doped-up or getting laid than they are with supporting their country and its freedoms. When is the last time you could ask someone what it means to be an American and could get a half-way decent, educated answer?

Our generation has lost all respect for the Commander-in-Chief, our flag and its meaning. What percentage of our society even knows who the Commander-in-Chief is? It's the president; the person who men and women in the armed services would take a bullet for.

As a serviceman, I solemnly swore that I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Michigan against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I would bear true faith and allegiance to them both; and that I would obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of Michigan and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.

This is what I adhere to and have to obey no matter what. I can say without a doubt that yes, I will do whatever I need to, or whatever I'm ordered to do, to serve my country. If this means taking a bullet or dying for my country, so be it.

This generation does not understand what this means at all. As a matter of fact, most people probably think this is absurd and that I'm crazy. This is exactly what I mean. This generation does not understand and has lost all respect for our country and those who serve and have died serving this great nation.

I can guarantee that most of this generation has a grandparent or close relative who served in the military. This someone was probably involved in at least one war. Has my generation forgotten what patriotism means to their relative? Have they forgotten that without these honorable men and women, our country would not be what it is?

My fellow servicemen and women put a great deal of work and pride into what we do and believe in. We will not stand by and watch a disrespectful generation abuse and disrespect our flag and the Commander-in-Chief. You do not let our flag touch the ground or tear it, and you do not deface the President. Show some respect for the country you live in and the servicemen and women who defend you.

Since Sept. 11 there has been a lot more respect shown for this country, but why does it take a tragedy to wake people up? Although the recently risen may soon go back to sleep, I hope this will not be the case in this instance.

I am very pleased to see all of the paper flags that students here at Ferris are displaying, but some need to have a little more respect for them. They are not to be torn or tampered with. Would you do this to a normal cloth flag? Would you pull it off of its pole and tear it or burn it? I hope not. These are flags too, so the same level of respect needs to be shown to them.

All this disrespect and irreverence must stop! If you go around calling yourself an American, then show some pride in what you call yourself and understand what it means. You do not go around saying you belong to a group and then deface them or talk badly about them. If you do, you're defacing yourself at the same time.

Therefore, when you go around calling yourself an American and then begin degrading this country or its symbols, you're degrading yourself at the same time. I am serving my country and defending each and every one of you Americans.

Just show me and your country some respect. That's all I ask.