THE BG NEWS
Under the spotlight Students are participating in a play this weekend about racial issues from the 1960s. Read the full story in Pulse on Page 8.
ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Friday, April 11, 2014
Volume 93, Issue 86
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
Basketball fan to endowment County considers rising heroin use increase to $20 million
A SPREADING ADDICTION 2 of 2 THE BG NEWS LOOKS INTO HEROIN IN THE CITY, COUNTY
By Danae King Editor-in-Chief
Tony Hetrick
Every community in Wood County shares a similar problem: heroin. In Bowling Green, it’s only getting worse. “It’s an evil drug,” said Maj. Tony Hetrick, deputy chief of the Bowling Green Police Division. In 2013, Bowling Green police arrested 12 people for heroin trafficking and possession, and the division only expects the number to rise this year.
Major in Bowling Green Police Division
“I don’t think we’ve peaked yet in use,” Hetrick said. “I think it’ll get worse because I think we’re just scratching the surface right now.” The police division is shifting its focus to heroin because of the fatalities that have
come from it. There has been one fatality a year in the city since 2011, and Hetrick said it will only get worse. In Ohio, a person dies from heroin every six hours— more than the rate of people killed by car accidents, said Lorrie Lewandowski, associate director of the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board. Heroin use didn’t really start taking off until 2012 or 2013, when the price of other
EXCELLENCE
See HEROIN | Page 10
on and off the field
Student-athlete GPA highest in five years; second highest of Ohio MAC schools By Cameron Teague Robinson Sports Editor
The student-athlete grade point average is the highest it has been in the last five years. The University athletes’ fall GPA was a 3.18 with 425 athletes enrolled in classes at the University. Of those athletes, 252 have recorded a 3.0 GPA or higher while 31 of them have a 4.0. “The goal is to get student athlete’s to graduate within five years from the NCAA standpoint,” said Jermaine Truax, associate athletic director for Compliance and Administration. “If you can go pro, go pro, fine but at the end of the day get your degree.” The 3.18 average is higher than The University of Toledo, Kent State University and Ohio University, which are other Ohio Mid-American Conference schools. Within the MAC, the University trails Miami University in GPA, as Mid-American it had a combined 3.23 this past fall. Conference GPA fall Director of Studentsemester averages. Athlete Services Kerry Jones believes this year’s recordMiami University 3.23 setting GPA is due to a comBowling Green 3.18 bination of things. University of Toledo 3.14 “I put it on the coachKent State 3.12 es. They are recruitOhio University 3.09 ing strong high school students who have a strong academic background,” she said. “The other two parts is them having the services they have and utilizing the Learning Commons as much as possible.” Along with the services, such as extra tutoring, one-on-one meetings, the Learning Commons and help while traveling. The NCAA allows academic support to help athletes if they are struggling. The athletes are not excused from class for traveling, but the professors will work with them in advance if they do miss class for road trips. “Clearly there is an investment, there
See GPA | Page 10
Multicultural Affairs to recognize Asian Americans’ contributions Heritage Month to last to April 24, feature speakers on a variety of topics By Alex Traczyk Reporter
The first Asian-American Heritage Week at the University will begin April 11. The purpose of the event is to raise Asian-American awareness and shine light on some of the contributions they have made. “I don’t want the Asian-Americans to feel invisible on this campus,” said
Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs Krishna Han, the man behind the start of this particular Asian-American Heritage Week. Being the assistant director of Multicultural Affairs, Han believed it was time for the Asian-Americans to be recognized. Asian-American Heritage Month is the month of May, but since finals are the first week of May, the end of
BEGINNING OF JANS ERA From Kansas to BG, new men’s basketball coach Chris Jans has been to 10 universities in 22 years. His last stop is at BG. Read more about his coaching journey on PAGE 6.
ucclermont.edu/summer u/summer
513-732-5319
By Eric Lagatta Campus Editor
After giving $10 million to the men’s basketball program in 2011, longtime fan Bill Frack announced he will double that endowment during a press conference Wednesday. The $20 million gift is to the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and will benefit the BG men’s basketball program, as well as the community in Hancock County. The 77-year-old Frack, a Findlay native who has followed BG basketball for more than six decades, announced the increased endowment in Findlay, along with University President Mary Ellen Mazey and Katherine Kreuchauf, community foundation president. The conference took place at The Heritage, an assistedliving center in Findlay where Frack lives. “Bowling Green has some pretty serious problems,” Frack said, referring to dwindling attendance at the Stroh Center. “Hopefully this will help. It’ll get people away from their television sets.” Frack said he was not feeling well, but he still was in good humor, and made several jokes during the press conference. “I trust the people managing that money to not go to Las Vegas with it,” he said, prompting a laugh from those in attendance. Addressing the positive effect this money will have for the future of the basketball program, President Mazey responded, “The only way we’ll go to Las Vegas is in the NCAA Final Four.” The endowment will generate an estimated $675,000 annually for the men’s basketball program in perpetuity. The basketball program will benefit from 75 percent of the annual distributions from the series of existing trusts. The remaining proceeds will support the Community Foundation, which benefits the area of Hancock County. Frack has been a fan of BG basketball since his father took him to his first game in 1948. He attended the
See FRACK | Page 10
CAMPUS brief
The new president and vice president for the student government will be announced in the Falcons Nest Friday at noon. Elections for Undergraduate Student Government took place this week. Polling closed on Thursday. “I’m very excited,” said USG vice presidential candidate Nicole Neely. “I’m ready for campaigning to be over and make our next step.” Neely said after the president and vice president, the senators’ election results will also be announced. “I think everyone that ran is excited for the results,” said presidential candidate Brian Kochheiser. “We are ready to move on to the next phase.” Kochheiser and Neely are the only ticket running for president and vice president. They will replace outgoing President Alex Solis and Vice President David Neely, who have served in their positions for two years. Check out an article on BGNews.com following the elections tomorrow.
INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC
April is the time to get as many students involved as possible, Han said. There will be many events exploring the past and looking to the future, he said. “Many racial things happen that are black and white, but the ones in between aren’t noticed as much,” Han said.
See HERITAGE | Page 9
SAM RAYBURN | THE BG NEWS
Two musicians perform Hindustani, Indian classical music, at Grounds for Thought on Thursday night.
Hobby Lobby Case
Guest columnist Ally Lahey talks about how Hobby Lobby is against birth control. She also talks about her personal experience with birth control and how that ties back to her own life. | PAGE 5
Did you vote in the student government elections? WHy? “No, because I didnt know it was going on.” Emily Bednar Sophomore, Early Childhood Education
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