THE BG NEWS
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ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Monday, January 7, 2013
VOLUME 92, ISSUE 51
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
USG to focus on student life, safety
The BG News reviews some notable events that took place during winter break
UNIVERSITY CONTINUES DEMOLITION OF HEINZ PLANT REMNANTS FOR GREEN SPACE The University is tearing down what’s left of the Heinz plant on the corner of North Enterprise Street and Ridge Street in late November in order to convert it to a green space. The intended green space will have walkways and benches. The project is scheduled to conclude this month.
By Emily Gordon Reporter
CITY FURTHER DEBATES CONTROVERSIAL REZONING ORDINANCE Developers who wish to put a strip mall on East Wooster Street between North Prospect and North Summit streets were met with opposition from community members when they requested a zoning change. It originally would have allowed for a four story building to be constructed in the lot. To try to appease both parties, city council introduced a new zone that would restrict a building to two stories and disallow rental apartments on the first floor. A public hearing will be hosted to further discuss the legislation Monday at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the third floor of the City Administrative Services building.
For Undergraduate Student Government President Alex Solis, the new semester brings new motivation to help make the University a better place. Solis said USG will be focusing on major issues affecting students this month. This will include a discussion of how to make campus tobacco Alex free and how to Solis best implement gender inclusive USG housing. President The first meeting of the semester will be hosted Monday at 7:30 p.m. in room 308 of the Union. Solis said he is also looking to pass a resolution this month for an opt-out program for the campus alert system AlertBG. The system, which warns students and faculty of emergencies or class cancellations, is currently an opt-in program, meaning you must sign up to receive the alerts, he said. Solis said he wants the alerts to be automatically sent to everyone on campus, and if they decide they don’t want to receive them, they can opt-out of the program. “This is a huge public safety
CITY DECLARES SNOW EMERGENCY Bowling Green received its first big snow fall on Dec. 26, prompting the city to declare a snow emergency to clear the roads for crews to plow the streets. A snow emergency is declared when precipitation exceeds two inches and above. Snow crews dispensed 150 tons of salt on the road ways and 61 people were cited for not removing their vehicles from the street.
BG LOSES THE MILITARY BOWL TO SAN JOSE STATE The Falcons made their first bowl appearance in three years, but despite a good season, it came up short against SJSU, losing 29-20. The Falcons finished their season with an 8-5 record and will start again Aug. 23 against Tulsa.
WOMENS BASKETBALL ENDS 6 GAME WINNING STREAK Despite a winning streak, the Falcons lost to University of Central Florida on Friday 59-56. Junior Alexis Rogers led the team with 11 points and seven rebounds. The team will have its first conference face-off against Kent State on Thursday. The women’s basketball team has an overall record of 9-4 and Kent is 2-11.
See USG | Page 7
STATE
City council delays rezoning vote, to consider specifics of proposed ordinance
BRIEF
Editor-in-Chief
City council will host a public hearing tonight so residents can voice their opinions about the controversial rezoning of land at the corner of Wooster and Prospect Streets. While residents will be able to voice their opinions at the 6 p.m. hearing, the council likely won’t vote on the B-3 or B-5 zoning ordinances at its 7 p.m. meeting at the City Administrative Services Building. The delay of voting comes as the City’s Planning Commission decided to further examine the proposed ordinances, which will delay it’s proposal about the project to council. While the delay may push a final decision back to city coun-
GAME-WINNER
cil’s February meeting, some residents and council members are happy about the delay. “The residents believe we need to take great care of this one,” said Daniel Gordon, a councilman who represents the residents of the area being rezoned. “I’m not going to support or uphold anything that doesn’t have their input involved.” Residents have been asking for more time to consider the ordinance’s specifics since it was introduced to council on Oct. 15, 2012. Gordon supports residents who have asked the city to slow down the passing of the ordinance in order to consider specifics of the proposed ordinances. Specifics include potential buffer areas around what would be the newly
The Falcon Hockey team managed to defeat Canisus University on a Marc Rodriguez game-winner. The Falcons also defeated No. 17 Niagara during winter break. | PAGE 9
5
Ohio State Representative Republican, 3rd District
Brown sworn in as state representative
Residents ask for extra time to evaluate certain aspects of possible legislation By Max Filby
Tim Brown
Republican Tim Brown was sworn in Monday as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Brown will serve the third district as a state representative. The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. on the floor of the Ohio House of Representatives in the State Capitol building in Columbus. Brown was sworn in by Betty D. Montgomery, a former attorney general and a former Wood County prosecutor and state senator. “It’s definitely going to be a new challenge for me,” Brown, who previously served 14 years as a Wood County Commissioner, said of his new position. Brown also arranged a tour of the State Capitol immediately following the ceremony. “That way folks will have the time to see the people’s house,” he said. A House session also took place Monday at 2 p.m. The session didn’t deal with bills or legislation, but was more procedural, Brown said. The session formally swore in all House members at once and dealt with committee assignments and structures, he said.
Daniel Gordon
First Ward Councilmember
rezoned sites, number of floors and what business can be included in the new spaces. “I’m glad the process has been slowed down,” Gordon said. “Anything we can do to boost the inclusion of everyone’s thoughts and opinions is a good thing.” Now that the process has been “slowed down,” the Planning Commission will announce its recommendation to council at its newly scheduled meeting Jan. 16,
See REZONING | Page 2
IT’S NOT BLACK AND WHITE
Brown and his fellow representatives’ main task during the next six months will be to formulate the state budget, Brown said. “We still have a very challenging economy on our hands and the work ahead is going to be meaningful,” he said. Wood County Commissioners James Carter and Joel Kuhlman also hosted a reception in honor of Brown Dec. 19. The event, which took place in the Wood County office building, honored Brown for his years of service as a commissioner. Mayor Richard Edwards declared the day “Tim Brown Day.” “It turned out to be really, really nice,” Brown said. “It was quite humbling to have that kind of reception.” Brown spent his final months as commissioner by finalizing the budget. His last day in his Wood County office was this past Monday, when he packed up his final things. “I’ve kind of been getting things in order so I’m ready to go after the swearing-in,” he said.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEMESTER?
Columnist Phillip Martin explains how stereotypes are irrelevant and are not always accurate. He encourages people to think about how being different and an individual is important. | PAGE 4
“I can’t wait for warm weather again.” Spencer Coile Sophomore, Theatre
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