THE BG NEWS Day Friday
Month xx,12, 2008 December 2008 Volume103, 103,Issue Issue75 x Volume
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Local rape victim regains hope By Ella Fowler Reporter
Megan Wilson thought it would never happen to her, and so do countless other American women. But, in fact, sexual assault and rape are a lot more common than most people think. According to the Department of Justice, it happens every two minutes. “You can’t go through life hav-
ing that ‘it will never happen’ attitude because it will happen,” Wilson said. “I had the same exact attitude.” Wilson who had been a victim of sexual assault in March 2006 is now an advocate for Behavioral Connections, a victim’s service center available to women who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. She became an advocate in August to help women realize they are not alone.
“At the time when it happens, you feel hopeless and you think that you are never going to get better,” Wilson said. “I just want to be there for [rape victims] and give them hope. I know what it is like to feel the lowest of lows and think that you are never going to get better.” Wilson just wants to give victims their lives back. “I just feel like I am proof that if I can do it, they can do it,” she said. With Bowling Green’s relatively
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small 20,000 student population, many women feel as though rape and sexual assault do not pose the same threat it would living in bigger cities like Columbus or Toledo. “I would say that it is not something you have to dwell on continually but you have to be aware it does happen here,” said Lt. Tony Hetrick of the Bowling Green Police Division. “We usually see a spike [in sexual assault or rape] in August and September when
school starts and then again in the spring when people are out doing more things in groups and in the party setting.” In August and September, there were no rapes in Bowling Green and one sexual assault; however, last year there were six rapes and three sexual assaults in the same two-month span.
See VICTIM | Page 2
By Scott Recker Senior Reporter
The theater that served as the epicenter of Bowling Green’s nightlife and entertainment in the mid-twentieth century has reopened with a new look and fresh ideas. The newly opened Clazel theater, which has been transformed into an upscale multi-entertainment venue, was purchased this past summer by A.B. Mufleh and was opened mid-November. Open from Wednesday to Saturday, the Clazel develops many different atmospheres into their venue throughout the week. “We want different ages and different groups of people to come in every night of the week,” General Manager Jason Karcher said. The venue offers various environments such as relaxed Wednesday nights with a full wine bar, early evening live Jazz on Friday’s from 7 until 10 p.m. and a 21 and over Club Encore dance club on Fridays and Saturday’s starting at 11 p.m. The Clazel also boasts 30 different beers on draft, as well as an extensive selection of wines and liquors. “With our selection and our prices we feel competitive,” Karcher said. The venue is also available to rent for special events such as wedding receptions, private parties and Greek formals. Although the Clazel owner and managers have an extensive business plan to help make the venue a success, they have other concerns as well. “We want to give back to the community,” Karcher said. Last Friday the Clazel teamed up with a University fraternity and donated all the patron’s cover charges to Adopta-Family. Students new to the town may not be aware, but the Clazel has a rich history in Bowling Green. The Clazel, which most current University students have never been in prior to this year, was originally opened in 1926, making it Ohio’s oldest single screen movie theater, according to the official Web site. RACHEL RADWANSKI | THE BG NEWS When local investors bought the theater to preserve the landmark in 2000, they tried to resurrect it as a movie house but it failed to attract customers, said group board member RACHEL RADWANSKI | THE BG NEWS Richard Newlove in a BG News article from summer 2007.
Teaching an old theater new tricks
By Scott Recker Senior Reporter
The theater that served as the epicenter of Bowling Green’s nightlife and entertainment in the mid-twentieth century has reopened with a new look and fresh ideas. The newly opened Cla-zel theater, which has been transformed into an upscale multi-entertainment venue, was purchased this past summer by A.B. Muf leh and was opened mid-November. Open from Wednesday to Saturday, the Cla-zel develops many different atmospheres into their venue throughout the week. “We want different ages and different groups of people to come in every night of the week,” General Manager Jason Karcher said.
See CLA-ZEL | Page 2 On Dec. 1, 2007, three local investors purchased the theater selling it to the current owner.
before
Low gas prices hurt ethanol industry By Dru Sexton Reporter
Joe Molnar thought he was making a smart business decision. As the vice president of MidWood Incorporated, located on East Gypsy Lane, Molnar though it would be a smart move to convert a few of his fuel pumps to e85 gasoline. But when he made that decision, he had no idea the price of ethanol-based fuel would fluctuate. About two months ago e85 fuel, which is a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, was selling at around $1.69 per gallon at a time when regular gasoline was about $2.10 per gallon. Currently the trend has turned tides, gasoline is now around $1.55 per gallon and ethanol costs closer to $2, depending on the retailer. According to Molnar it has been really devastating to the
distributors and suppliers alike. “It is not just happening in Ohio, but all across the country as well,” he said. The reason Molnar and other e85 retailers have seen their cost go up, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, is that the cost of grain prices have dramatically increased over the past few months. But the coalition says price increases are only temporary. But that is of little comfort for Molnar, who is waiting anxiously for prices to decline. “It is difficult because no one seems to know when things will improve or go back to normal,” Molnar said. The recent plunge in the price of crude oil — from $155 per barrel to as low as $44 per barrel — has had a damaging impact on the ethanol industry. People who own flex fuel vehicles
opt not to purchase e85 over gasoline when it costs .50 or .60 cents more per gallon Molnar said. Many students agree with what Molnar had to say. “I really do not see why anyone would spend so much extra money, when it is not necessary,” freshman Andrew Eberhart said. He added, although using ethanol does not reduce strain on the environment all that much, it still helps a little. The industry has suffered so severely, companies are beginning to falter. Recently the Greater Ohio Ethanol LLC ethanol plant in Allen County has filed for bankruptcy, because the situation has become so severe, according to an article published by The (Toledo) Blade in November.
See ETHANOL | Page 2
Auto bailout dependent on compromise LISA DEFRANCESCO LINDSAY-RAE LEBRUN Freshman, Biology Senior, Graphic Design
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
By Julie Hirschfeld Davis and David Espo The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — With time growing short, the $14 billion auto industry bailout bill stalled in the Senate yesterday as Republicans demanded upfront concessions from the United Auto Workers as the price for their support. UAW and auto industry officials were in talks with key Republicans and Democrats at the Capitol, although it wasn’t clear what, if any, givebacks the union was willing to discuss. The automakers employ thousands in Ohio. The developments unfolded after Senate Republican leader
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined other GOP lawmakers in announcing his opposition to a White House-backed bill that was approved by the House on Wednesday. He called for an alternative that would reduce the wages and benefits of the Big Three automakers to bring them in line with those paid by Japanese carmakers Nissan, Toyota and Honda. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the sponsor of that proposal, was in closed-door meetings with UAW officials and Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, the PAUL SANCYA | AP PHOTO Banking Committee chairman, to see if it could be modified to win the support of Democrats, BAILOUT: Workers leave the Chrysler Truck who count labor unions among Assembly plant in Warren, Mich. Bailout bill sees growing opposition in Congress. their strongest political allies.
RACHEL RADWANSKI | THE BG NEWS
A PLACE FOR WOMEN AND THEIR HISTORY: The Women’s Center located in Hanna Hall is utilized by students and groups alike on campus. Here, Warm Up BG holds one of their meetings in the Center.
Women’s Center hopes to aid, educate By Richard Chandler Reporter
The University Women’s Center provides a voice for women in crises and educational tool for people interested in women’s history. Since its creation in September 1998, the center has sought “to advocate on behalf of people who are experiencing gender discrimination,” Director Mary Krueger said. This includes students, all levels of faculty, alumni and members of the community. Krueger regards the Women’s Center as a feminist space, given the following condition, “If by feminist, you mean a space that supports women’s equity and well-being, then yes, this is a feminist space.” “The Women’s Center is not just for women. It’s mostly about women, but just because it’s pro-women doesn’t make it anti-men,” Krueger said.
The center founded the Northwest Ohio chapter of the Silent Witness Project, a nationwide advocacy group aimed at promoting awareness and means of prevention of domestic violence while commemorating the women whose lives were lost due to domestic violence, Krueger said. A dropoff place for donations to the Cocoon Shelter, Bowling Green’s first battered women shelter, is also available at the center. The Women’s Center also works to “document genderbased inequity among students and all levels of employees,” Krueger said. This includes discrimination, sexual harrassment and gender-based preferential treatment. Not only does the Women’s Center aid in crises, it also offers a number of services to students and staff.
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See WOMEN | Page 2