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THE BG NEWS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Volume 104, Issue 136
www.bgviews.com
New University initiatives aim to raise student retention rate “I think it goes all the way back to the mid-80s since we’ve had a retention of 80 percent,” Swegan said. But new initiatives are being The University is working on not only attracting students to put in place to attract new stucampus, but getting them to dents, and hopefully, Swegan said, to keep them at the stay as well. The University’s retention University. He said the University expandranked fourth out of the 13 public schools in Ohio during the ed the number of high schools it 2006-07 school year; the follow- visits from about 400 to about ing year the retention rate was 1,000, and more effort has been made to increase on-campus fifth with 73 percent. Gary Swegan, University activities. “Nobody was happy with 73 director of admissions, said the University has been stuck in the [percent],” Swegan said. “We have some work to do.” 70s for a while. By Kate Snyder Managing Editor
He said they added temporary staff members so there is more effort by more people to add to on-campus programming. Swegan said advisers will also play a bigger role in students’ lives. While nobody is happy with the current retention rate, Swegan said they’re optimistic for next year. “We certainly believe we’re on track to grow the new student class 10 percent,” he said. There was a 33 percent increase in applications this year, and admitted students are up 20 percent. Not all students
in that 20 percent increase have paid the housing fees yet, but the number of those who have is also up. Swegan said more concrete numbers will be in by next month, which is the deadline for prepaying the housing fee. “May 1 is the witching hour,” he said. He said after that date, the University immediately begins working to keep the students at the school. “We hope to retain them from the day of admission to the first day of class,” Swegan said. “None
of those nice numbers really count unless those students pick BG.” At BGSU Firelands, the retention rate is harder to measure than at the University’s
See RETENTION| Page 2
LOOKING FORWARD Enrollment for fall 2010 ■ ■
Applications - 33 percent increase Admissions - 20 percent increase
ACROSS THE STATE Retention rates for the 2007-08 school year (in percents)
Ohio State University 93 Miami University 89 Ohio University 80 University of Cincinnati 79 Bowling Green State University 73 ■ Kent State University 73 ■ Youngstown State University 70 ■ University of Akron 69 ■ Wright State University 69 ■ University of Toledo 66 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Wellness fair offers students food, fun and education By Max Filby Reporter
The circus will be in town today as local businesses, students and faculty come together for Wellness Under The Big Top. The 24th annual wellness fair will be held in the Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will have more than 45 booths to visit, including booths offering free massages from Serenity Spa, Wolph Chiropractic and Allies in Mental Health, said Faith Yingling, director of wellness. Some booths will offer free food samples, like popcorn, or chances to win raffle prizes, like Toledo Walleye tickets. University police officer John Shoemaker will also be leading a women’s self-defense booth during the fair. “We’re going to be teaching something that hopefully our women will never have to use,” Shoemaker said. “For instance if they’re at a party, and they need to get away from someone, they’ll be able to use one of these moves.” Officers will demonstrate simple one and two-step moves and will conduct larger demonstrations depending on crowd interest, Shoemaker said. At past wellness fairs, the University police department performed demonstrations using drunk goggles, but this is the first time the University
“We always like helping out and keeping people healthy.” Becky Falknor | Serenity Spa police will be demonstrating women’s self-defense at the fair. Proceeds from the fair will go to Karen Williams, a University administration secretary who has cancer. “We’ll be taking donations to help pay for Karen’s cancer treatment,” said Becky Falknor, Serenity Spa manager. “We always like helping out and keeping people healthy.” The first 100 students will also receive a free green T-shirt bearing the wellness fair health logo. Health screenings will be available during the wellness fair, Yingling said.
CAMPUS
CHECK IT OUT Screenings and educational information available at the 2010 Wellness Fair: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Hearing HIV Cancer Blood pressure Cholesterol Weight loss Sun safety
MAIN STREET (Main Street under construction)
By Jason Henry Assistant City Editor
Construction projects on North Main Street will continue to slow down traffic for most of the summer. The first project, currently detouring traffic on North Main Street between Dill Avenue and Oak Street, is anticipated to run until the beginning or middle of May at the latest. Immediately following, another project will start in June that could run until August. The first of the roadwork began in mid-February, said Lori Tretter, assistant municipal administrator in Bowling Green. “We are building a new water line,” Tretter said. “It will replace an existing water line.” The existing 4-inch water line will be swapped for a 12-inch line which was deemed better for fire protection, said City Engineer Brian O’Connell. The project originally ran from Clay Street to Dill Street, but had to be extended to Oak Street due to leaking valves in the area.
O’Connell said several scenarios were run through a model of the water distribution system. Through the tests, it was determined the 12-inch line would be better for firefighters. “There was some concern about the available fire capacity; they might have had to go to a different fire hydrant to fight off a fire in that area,” O’Connell said. The other issue is that ductile iron water lines, such as the 4-inch line the city currently has, can develop a build-up of rust and minerals that cause a line’s inside diameter to decrease. “It might be one or two inches after all of the corrosion and build-up on the inside wall of the pipes,” O’Connell said. “Over time they lose their ability to provide adequate water pressure or water service to customers.” Water-line replacement is not the only construction affecting North Main Street. “Our electric division is also replacing all of
See PROJECTS | Page 2
BRASS ENSEMBLE SERENADES CAMPUS COMMUNITY
BRIEF
University Police issue warrant for 24-year-old’s arrest John J. McCullough, aka John J. Bates, is wanted for the sexual assault of a female student in MacDonald Residence Hall. According to a press release, the University Police Department issued a warrant for the 24-year-old Willoughby, Ohio, resident’s arrest Tuesday following the April 9 assault incident. Police do not know if the suspect is still in the Bowling Green area. Anyone with further information can contact the University Police at 419-372-2346.
ANDREA FEHL | THE BG NEWS
MELODY: The Horn Choir performs “Power” by John Stevens at the Bryan Recital Hall in the Moore Musical Arts Center Tuesday.
CAMPUS Don’t forget to file taxes
FORUM Society must stop blaming victims
With the tax deadline approaching Thurs.day, April 15, students should look at the various filing options available | Page 10
A mock disciplinary hearing for a sexual assault case raises the point that society is too quick to blame victims when the finger should be pointed at assailants, says columnist Kate Noftsinger | Page 4
ANDREA FEHL | THE BG NEWS
BRASS: The Trumpet Ensemble performs “Allegro,” from Water Music Suite by Handel/Martinet. They later performed “El Capitan” by Sousa/Martinet.
SPORTS Falcons defeat CSU Tyler Elkins provided the heroics Tuesday when his double in the bottom of the 10th inning brought home Jon Berti to give BG a 6-5 win | Page 5
PEOPLE ON THE STREET What would convince you to stay at the University? LAUREN HESLEY Sophomore, Event Planning
“Because I love the dance team.” | Page 4
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