Post (Athens, Ohio) April 11 2008

              the Post 04.11.08 FRIDAY WWW.THEPOST.OHIOU.EDU ATHENS, OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL Invitational costs add to Athletic . Department's budget deficit Dylan Scott I STAFF WRITER ds783006@ohiou.edu The Ohio men's basketball program lost $55,000 in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational, whose organizers now face questions about the integrity of the tournament's selection. Ohio was one of eight schools that paid $60,000 to host a first-round game in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), which was organized by the Gazelle Group. The Bobcats triumphed over Brown University, 80-74, but in front of a crowd of 1,169 - the smallest crowd in The Convo all season by almost 1,000. It was also the lowest turnout in the first round of the CBI. Other schools (Virginia, Old Dominion, Bradley, Texas-El Paso, Hilsa, Washington and Nevada) averaged an audience of 4,189 in the first round. When asked about the financial issues the tournament raised, Ohio coach Tim O'Shea pointed to the tournament's champion, Tulsa. Golden Hurricane coach Dave Wojcik stated that the university earned a profit after hosting five tournament games but declined to comment on specific figures. "If we would have advanced in the tournament and had students around, I think we would have made money, too," O'Shea said. The CBI's costs added to the Athletics Department's $700,000 budget deficit. In addition to the $60,000 home game guarantee, Ohio paid $1,000 to host the game. After about $6,100 in "gate fees" were collected at the game, Ohio was left to figure out how it'd pay the remaining $55,000 it owed the Gazelle Group. The Ohio athletic department's budget for this fiscal year is about $13.5 million. To recoup its losses, Ohio will play two extra money games next season. The Bobcats will face off against Louisville and Xavier to bring in a total of $140,000. This season, OU played two money games that brought in $135,000. "I've played money games for two reasons," said O'Shea, who added that The Convo would not adorn a CBI banner anytime soon. "A chance to play against the main teams in the country, and I've also worked out an arrangement (with the athletic administration) to use some of that money for what you might call "special projects." O'Shea stated that some of those projects included the Rainbow Classic tournament that Ohio participated in this season and the CBI. On hosting a tournament game and the Gazelle Group's operation of the tournament, O'Shea said he was pleased with the company's professional manner. "I think it's a tournament that will become a staple in March," he said. As the Gazelle Group and college basketball begin to evaluate the success of this new tournament, two distinct opinions have emerged. Schools that participated - along with the Gazelle Group - feel that the CBI was a success. Teams left out of the competition have voiced concerns about the integrity of the selection process. Dan Loney, director of communications for the Gazelle Group, said the company was pleased with the CBI's initial run and intends to continue ther tournament. "It seems like there's a market for it," Loney said, ■ Guarantee to the Gazelle Group for hosting a first round game: $60,000 | ■ Revenue from the gate: $6,110 j ■ Additional expenditures to host Brown University: Approx. $60,000 { ■ Guarantee still owed to the Gazelle Group: Approx. $55,000 MODEL BEHAVIOR Ashley Lutz I CULTURE SENIOR WRITER al164906@ohiou.edu OU students balance runway and course load Models, a national modeling agency. He spent last summer in Los Angeles, where he modeled for Abercrombie and American Eagle. Last fall, Jacob was selected to model in a Calvin Klein runway show, he said. While he was initially concerned with missing class, Jacob said he felt that he had to take the opportunity. Swallow, meanwhile, was at the Dayton Mall when she was approached by a representative from America's Next Top Model and encouraged to try out for the show. "I went on a whim," Swallow said. "I thought, why not?" Swallow was later notified that she had been selected from more than 10,000 applicants to film in LA. during OU's winter break. Nervous and unsure of what to expect, she packed her bags and flew out alone. FAMOUS ENCOUNTERS When she arrived in L.A., Swallow was overwhelmed by the strict rules of the show. Many Ohio University students say the most memorable party they've been to was Palmerfest. OU junior Tommy Jacob, 21, of Cincinnati describes clubbing in Milan during January; sophomore Meg Swallow, 20, of Wyoming, Ohio, once attended a party in Los Angeles where servers distributed susfii in the nude. Both are part-time models. Jacob modeled suits in a Calvin Klein runway show in Italy and has also worked for American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch and Men's Wearhouse. He's not the only aspiring model in Athens. Swallow was featured on season 10 of America's Next Top Model and now models with an agency. Both balance careers with a full course load. GETTING DISCOVERED After encouragement from family members, Jacob contacted a talent agency in his hometown last year. He later signed with Wilhelmina Lisa Bernheim I PICTURE EDITOR Meg Swallow is an OU student who is currently active in modeling. Swallow was a finalist on America's Next Top Model and she does high fashion shoots and runway shows. Draft of Russ College donation plan shows delayed disbursement Jessica Holbrookl STAFF WRITER jh13105@ohiou.edu An $BO-million endowment given to the Russ College of Engineering and Technology will require another year of planning before it can be spent, an Ohio University administrator said. The gift, given by the Russ estate to the college last quarter, makes up the majority of the college's $l2O million in endowments, according to a draft of a plan that outlines how the gift can be used. Based on the spending policies of the Ohio University Foundation, $4.8 million will be available each year for the college starting no earlier than July 1,2009. "There's a whole investment strategy the same way the bank would invest a savings account," said Jennifer Bowie, director of Annual Giving and Communication. The OU Foundation invests endowments in various securities, bonds and in some cases the Ohio University Inn, which is owned by the foundation. The interest accumulated from these investments is spent while the original donation remains untouched, something that helps i secure the university's future, Bowie said, adding that OU currently has $240 r million in endowments. I "Over time that gift gets even bigger, r just like your savings account would if 1 you keep adding to it," she said. Attorneys will distribute the estate's > assets by February 2009, said Dennis Irwin, dean of the Engineering College. > Spending plans approved by the : executive vice president and provost 1 and the OU president will come March t 2009 at the earliest, according to the > draft. > "The earliest (the gift could be used) would be July 1, 2009, following standard procedure," Irwin said. "This is a non-standard gift." The Russ endowment will place the college in the top tier of engineering colleges in the United States, according to the draft. "Frankly, the rankings are very subjective; they're very opinion-based," said Colleen Carow, director of External Relations for the engineering college, who added she wasn't sure about the college's current rank. OU President Roderick McDavis May 1,2008 April 1,2008 May 1,2008 to Auqust 1,2008 Aug. 31,2008 Nov. 1,2008 Nov. 30,2008 March 1,2009 —1 1 h + + +  j Russ College Gift ■ May 1,2008: Selection of Russ Gift Report of the Russ Gift External # Detailed guidelines Guidelines will be presented for Approval of expenditures by the | | Planning Committee External Working Group by the deal of the Working Group to the dean of the ' will be made approval to the foundation trustees executive vice president and J formed to advise OU's engineering college, the executive vice college, who will use its available to the and upon approval detailed provost and the president. { president on the initial president and provost. recommendations to develop a foundation expenditure plans will be developed Expenditures will be authorized disposition of the gift. ■ May 1,2008 to August 1,2008: The detailed set of spending guidelines. trustees for based on responses from the for the next fiscal year, and group will create an academic plan to These guidelines will be presented to comment. appropriate Russ College expenditures in response to Russ achieve national prominence in the future, the 0U Foundation trustees for constituencies: Dean's office staff, College constituent requests will be | and the resulting report will be used to endorsement and then to the department and school chairs, college authorized no earlier than propose a detailed spending strategy. foundation trustees for approval. faculty and student organizations. July 1,2009. Athens Farmers Market still lacks permanent home Natalie Knoth | FOR THE POST nk362406@ohiou.edu Although the Athens Farmers Market considered relocating earlier this year, it will remain in the University Mall parking lot at least for the time being. Head manager Sarah Conley said the market was in negotiation with University Mall, 1002 E. State St., to relocate to the Athens Community Center's extra Darking lot this year. Conley said the market later decided not to move because of space constraints. In 2006, the market, city and University Mall owners drafted plans about the location of the market. Under these plans, the city would own a pavilion at the mall and University Mall would lease the space. But in July 2007, when the final drawings had been drafted, University Mall's lease price was too high for the market and city. "We are still working with the city to locate a permanent site for the moment, not a permanent pavilion," Conley said. "We're not ruling out a pavilion, but also not insisting upon it. The best way to look at it is we have to have a piece of ground first." The market has signed a month-to-month lease with mall owners Brent Hayes and Tom Parfitt. If a new tenant were to open in University Mall, the Farmers Market would not have to move unless parking became a problem, Hayes said. The Farmers Market's lease is indefinite. "We've had no problem with the Farmers Market," Hayes said. "They may be there for a very long time." University Mall has talked with several possible new tenants, but none have signed leases, Hayes said. A memorandum of understanding between the market and the city of Athens has been drafted and is pending approval. It states that if the market needs to move, the city will provide the space. It allows for a short-term emergency relocation of the farmers' market to the auxiliary parking lot if needed. "It would be a quite a squeezed market. It is not ideal but we would do it if we had to," Conley said. The market was first set up on Court Street in the 19705, but space was too small, so a later ordinance called for the market to relocate and remain on East State Street. Athens has launched a grantfunded feasibility study to find a suitable permanent site. The farmers' market is open Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and offers locally grown agricultural products and crafts. The Athens Farmers Market has signed a month-tomonth lease with University Mall owners Brent Hayes and Tom Parfitt while searching for a permanent site. THE SHQOP www.thepost.ohiou.edu THEWEB + The Kennedy Art Museum opens a new exhibit THEINSIDE + "Local legend" restaurant to be sold Page 4 + Hiroshima exhibit to be displayed in Alden library Page 4 THEOUTSIDE See CBI, Page 3 See MODEL, Page 3 See ENDOWMENT, Page 3