THE BG NEWS
COULDN’T FIND YOUR VALENTINE?
WE’RE SO OVER!
Some couples can never spend Feb. 14 together because they live far away from each other. See how they try to cope with the distance between them everyday in THE PULSE on PAGE 3.
ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Friday, February 15, 2013
VOLUME 92, ISSUE 68
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Union room booking opens, controversy ends By Eric Lagatta Assistant Campus Editor
MOLLY MCFADDIN | THE BG NEWS
OUTLINING future plans for the women’s empowerment group, Purple Hard Hats, is the group’s President Jessica Miles, a sophomore majoring in construction management. The group for those majoring in architectural design, construction management and engineering, met in the Tech Building earlier this week.
gender GAP CLOSING CONSTRUCTION’S
After months of delay, student organizations will finally be able to begin scheduling Union room reservations for next fall starting today. While organizations would usually have begun reserving meeting rooms in the Union for fall 2013 this past November, that was delayed in order to form a new room reservation policy. But after student opposition, that policy has been scrapped. Students can reserve rooms with this year’s policies still in effect. “Nothing’s changed ... we’re at where Alex we should be,” said USG President Alex Solis Undergraduate Solis. “We can’t delay [room reservation] a minute longer.” Student Contrary to proposed changes to the Government room reservation policy from Union President Director Patrick Nelson, there will be no limit to the amount of times and number of hours organizations can use rooms and no roomusage fees. Nelson first presented his proposal at an ex-officio meeting Feb. 1 and then again at a USG meeting Feb. 4, which prompted a resolution from USG against the
See UNION | Page 2
New all-women organization hopes to empower women in College of Technology
Lack of funding could silence Alicia’s Voice Nonprofit hopes to raise money with event
By Tyler Buchanan In Focus Editor
Look like a girl, but think like a man. Act like a lady, but work like a boss. Such is the motto for the Purple Hard Hats, a group of students in the College of Technology looking to empower women and improve female representation in several construction-related majors on campus. The group is open to women majoring in construction management, architectural design and engineering. Jessica Miles, the group’s president, founded the Purple Hard Hats earlier this semester, after seeing a disparity in gender among some of her classes. “I hated going to classes and being the only girl,” Miles said. “I asked, ‘Where are the females in our industry?’” The idea of the organization stemmed from Miles, who dreamed of a group where women students in these fields could support one another. “I honestly think that this organization is kind of a need, because if we don’t build up ourselves, who’s going to uplift us when we’re out there in the real industry?” Miles said. Some members expressed that being a woman in male-dominated fields meant greater expectations from them in classes and field work. “People expect more from you since you’re a girl,” said sophomore
“I honestly think that this organization is kind of a need, because if we don’t build up ourselves, who’s going to uplift us when we’re out there in the real industry?” Jessica Miles | President
By Danae King Campus Editor
Saturday night students may be able to attend a “big tacky wedding reception,” but it probably isn’t for the reason they might be thinking, and it isn’t following a wedding. The event will be hosted by Alicia’s Voice, a nonprofit organization in Bowling Green that works to prevent and raise awareness about domestic violence and which may have to close its doors due to lack of financial support. “[It’s] just to raise enough money to try and continue to do what we’ve been doing,” said Kathy Newlove, founder and president of Alicia’s Voice. The event will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Veteran’s Building at the Bowling Green City Park and donations are required for admittance, Newlove said. The event will feature a band and an open bar, so no guests under 21 are allowed to attend, she said. The event was almost cancelled due to lack of support, but after it was publicized that the organization may have
See VOICE | Page 8
See PURPLE | Page 2
Prospective students to visit on Presidents Day HEART BEATS By Patrick Pfanner Reporter
The University is preparing for a wave of potential students to visit this Presidents Day. Since a number of high schools are off on Presidents Day, that’s when the University decides to host its biggest preview day of the year, said Gary Swegan, Director of Admissions. Preview days are designed to showcase the campus to potential students, they also serve as ways for colleges to advertise themselves. “We really want students to explore all the campus has to offer,” Swegan said. Every college, such as the College of Business Administration and the College of Musical Arts, will have an open house on President’s Day.
PRESIDENT’S DAY BY THE NUMBERS ■■ 1,200 students or more will visit
the campus
■■ 65 tour guides will be
giving tours
■■ 1 hour is the average length of
campus tours
■■ A new tour begins every
10 minutes Students touring the campus will be able to visit the multipurpose room in the Union, where each college will have a booth with representatives answering questions. While each college is preparing to advertise itself to hordes of new students, Presidents Day isn’t typically the first visit for high school seniors, Swegan said. More than 1,200 students visited
FALCONS TAKE THE FIELD The Falcon baseball and softball teams will start their seasons Friday. The baseball team will be on the road in Kentucky while the softball team is heading to South Carolina. | PAGE 5
last Presidents Day, and the Office of Admissions expects similar numbers this year, he said. An inflated population won’t be enough to cancel classes, as the University wants visitors to view the campus in a realistic setting, Swegan said. To handle the large numbers of visitors, the University will have 65 tour guides herding the masses. A good tour can be the deciding factor when a student is choosing which university to attend, said Cristina Sanchez, Administrative Coordinator for campus tour guides. “When [students] come on tours they fall in love,” Sanchez said. “That’s when campus guides come in, they can make a big impact.”
See PREVIEW | Page 2
CHYNNA DENNY | THE BG NEWS
SMILING as she accepts a rose is Danielle Jurowski after being serenaded by a member of Phi Mu Alpha. The group sang to students like Jurowski in the Union and around campus this past Wednesday and Thursday in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
SHOW YOUR RESPECT
Columnist Paul McKenzie explains why those who continue to pursue education to its highest levels deserve our respect and how faculty layoffs set a bad example of educational disrespect. | PAGE 4
WHAT DID YOU DO FOR VALENTINE’S DAY? “I hung out with the girl that I am working on being my girlfriend.” Mark Leimkuehler Freshman, AYA Science