THE BG NEWS
FIRST WEEKEND
Check out a photo spread featuring Opening Weekend’s events students attended. Page 10.
ESTABLISHED 1920 | An independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Monday, August 25, 2014
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 2
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
OPENING
WEEKEND First year students kick off first weekend with series of events, games By William Channell Managing Editor
WILLIAM CHANNELL | THE BG NEWS
FALCON MARCHING band members perform on Friday night at kick off ceremony
When freshman Alexander Holsinger participated in his first BGSU Band Day in high school, he knew he had found the university he was looking for. “I never thought I’d be going here,” he said. “[Band Day] really made me wish I could go here.” Holsinger was only one of roughly 3,000 students at the Doyt on Friday for the University’s yearly freshman welcome event. University President Mary Ellen Mazey described the event as a way to signify the beginning of college life and a way to usher the freshmen into the University family. “It’s like a new beginning,” Mazey said. “It’s a way to make them feel at home at BGSU.” An emphasis on the importance of getting involved, both academically and otherwise, dominated the night. “I WILL go to class,” Mazey said during her speech, before making her freshman audience repeat her. Other speakers included Undergraduate Student Government President Brian Kochheiser, University head football coach Dino Babers and Mayor of Bowling Green Richard Edwards. Babers turned out to be a crowd pleaser, leading the crowd in chants and encouraging student attendance of football games.
Move-in sees rise in crime, violations of the law
Police advise students to keep themselves, items safe from theft By Seth Weber City Editor
As students begin to move in and the population of the city increases, so does crime, specifically things such as theft and liquor law violations. said Major Tony Hetrick of the City of Bowling Green Police. “You have more people, you have more problems,” said Major Tony Hetrick of the City of Bowling Green Police. Many of the thefts that happen on campus are crime of opportunity, said Lt. Bradley Biller of the City of Bowling Green Police. “If you leave your stuff unlocked, somebody’s going to snatch it because it’s there,” he said. He suggests not to “flash” valuables or leave them unattended.
FALCONS FACE OFF
In this past weekend’s orange/white volleyball scrimmage played each other for first time. The white team defeated the orange team. Read more on PAGE 6.
“If you leave your stuff unlocked, somebody’s going to snatch it because it’s there.” Lt. Bradley Biller | City of B.G. Police Theft has decreased since 2013, according to a City of Bowling Green Police report. For example, there were 68 theft arrests during June 2013 compared to 54 during June 2014. Liquor law violations also have become a problem with the surge of people, Hetrick said. To keep safe, students should travel in
See POLICE | Page 4
Nicole Neely, vice president of USG, said the event is a good opportunity to promote University sports. “I think this is one of the best things we do to get people excited about athletics and to get the message across that they’re getting involved,” she said. Mazey said despite the relatively small size of the class of 2018, they are the most academically wellprepared in the school’s history, with an average GPA of 3.33 and an average ACT score of 22.72. Also present were University mascots Freddie and Frieda Falcon, as well as the University spirit crew SIC SIC. As the Falcon Marching Band played their repertoire, the freshman class slowly filed into the stadium. The band had one absence that stuck out to one freshman in particular. A member of marching band in high school, Holsinger was only able to watch the Falcon Marching Band march across the field on Friday due to time conflicts this semester. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less part of his freshman story. “It’s what introduced me to BG and showed me how much opportunity it could give,” Holsinger said. Kochheiser, in his speech, emphasized this sense of opportunity with his own experience. “Who knows,” he said. “You could even become [student-body] president one day.”
Greek housing in middle of renovations Students look forward to changes, completion of project By Cassie Sullivan Assistant Managing Editor
The Greek Housing Project is running on schedule to be finished in the fall of 2016. Started in December of 2012, the project has yet to see any setbacks, said Steve Krakoff, the vice president of Capital Planning. “We’re finishing up a number of design details that will help give us a very specific site plan and an overall project cost. And we’re planning on moving forward then and we plan on moving forward in the spring of 2015 with construction.” While the project is moving on schedule, sophomore Jessie Fix thinks otherwise. “The Greek Housing Project looks like it’s moving along slowly,” she said. Currently, the housing that was locat-
AIM FOR CHANGE
Columnist Abigail Kruse talks about how students should know their value and use it to make the world a better place. Students should never lose sight of why they are at the University. | PAGE 4
ed along Wooster Street is being torn down, with plans to turn it into the new greek community, where all of the chapters will be located. On Thurstin Avenue, the area where sorority houses are located will be turned into a parking lot for the Union, Krakoff said. For students involved in the housing project, the new housing is an exciting change for the greek community. “The [Greek] houses provide many chances to hang out and create memories,” said Tiffany Mitchell, the president of the Panhellenic Council. “With all of the houses in one location, the community is closer than ever before.” Rather than being spread out in different areas on and off campus, the new Greek Housing Project will have the
See GREEK | Page 5
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF OPENING WEEKEND?
“Not having the ‘freshman’ status.” Mariah Burkhart Sophomore, Public Relations