CHH View of the Hill 2012

SUMMER2012

A College Heights Herald Special Edition

Traditions

Freshmen Info

Student Life

Study Abroad

6

14

26 45

Sports

Greek

Academics

Things To Do

10

22 38 46

A letter from President Gary Ransdell

On behalf of all of us at Western Kentucky University I want to welcome you and your family to our University Family. We are glad you chose WKU and look forward to sharing with you the spirit that can only be found here on “The Hill.” As you become engaged in and out of the classroom, you will quickly come to understand why we at WKU say, “The Spirit Makes the Master.”

We think you will find the WKU campus and Bowling Green community friendly and inviting. Our faculty and staff will help you achieve your academic and personal potential and prepare you for life and work after college. At WKU you will find highly credentialed scholars, a broad range of academic programs of national and international distinction and state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facilities. Our renovated residence halls, the campus-wide wireless network and high quality restaurants ensure an unmatched college experience.

Staying connected to WKU – whether you’re here on campus, away on study abroad or at home – is easy with social media. Just look for the links on the WKU website. If you haven’t yet joined the WKU on Facebook group, go to social.wku.edu and join this close-knit, virtual community of WKU students. I also invite you to subscribe to my profile on Facebook!

This will be a life changing experience for you, and I look forward to welcoming you as you arrive and congratulating you when you graduate. All of us at WKU are eager to support you as you work to make a difference for your campus, your classmates, your community and yourself.

Good luck Class of 2016, and Go Toppers!

Gary A. Ransdell

This is Western

By Emily Wadley news@chherald.com

Big Red, the red towel, and the Hilltopper name are just a few words thrown around on campus that might be unfamiliar to new students.

Big Red, Western's mascot and favorite Hilltopper, has been around since 1979 when Western Student Ralph Carey ('80) of Cincinnati designed him, according to Western's Web site.

But University Archivist Suellyn Lathrop said the Big Red that Toppers know today looks quite a bit different than Carey's original.

Western's legendary basketball coach, the late E. A. Diddle, is the originator of the "red towel" tradition.

Diddle, who coached 1,062 basketball games, was known for clutching a red towel.

In 1971, the towel became the athletics logo, according to the web site.

According to the Big Red Book, Diddle chewed on, threw and cried into his red towel and used it to wave at fans and signal players.

When Diddle retired in 1964, he had won more games than any other coach in NCAA history with 756 wins, according to the book.

Rubbing the foot of Diddle’s statue before games is supposed to ensure Hilltopper victory.

Guthrie Tower, a 125-foot bell tower completed in 2002, was built in memory of Sgt. 1st Class Robert Guthrie, who was killed in the Korean War, and all those associated with Western who lost their lives fighting for their country, according to the Web site.

Guthrie's brother, Lowell Guthrie, funded the tower. A statue of Robert Guthrie stands at the base of the tower, according to the Web site.

Cherry Hall has stood at the top of College Street since 1937, and was named for Western's first president, Henry Hardin Cherry. The cupola at the top of the building's dome has become the official symbol of Western, according to the Web site.

It was Cherry who said "The spirit makes the master."

According to the Big Red Book, Western's campus rises 232 feet above the nearby Barren River, making it no surprise Western is home to the Hilltoppers.

However, according to the university archives web site, no one has taken credit for the name.

The first Western uniform to bear the Hilltopper nickname was worn in 1927, according to the Big Red Book.

When Diddle retired in 1964, he had won more games than any other coach in NCAA history

Alma Mater Originally written by 16-year-old schoolgirl Mary Frances Bradley as a poem to be entered in a contest on WKU’s campus in 1924, “College Heights” was first performed by Bradley at a chapel assembly in Van Meter Hall in 1925. There is a notation on the music that the song, composed by Bradley’s father, is dedicated to WKU’s first president, Henry Hardin Cherry.

College Heights College Heights, on hilltop fair, With beauty all thine own, Lovely jewel far more rare Than graces any throne!

College Heights, we hail thee; We shall never fail thee Falter never, live forever, Hail! Hail! Hail!

College Heights with living soul And purpose strong and true, Service ever is thy goal Thy spirit ever new.

College Heights, we hail thee; We shall never fail thee Falter never, live forever, Hail! Hail! Hail!

College Heights they noble life, Shall e’er our pattern be, Teaching us through joy and strife To love humanity.

College Heights we hail thee, We shall never fail thee, Falter never, live forever, Hail! Hail! Hail!

Guthrie Bell Tower

The 125-foot bell tower near South Lawn honors Sgt. 1st Class Robert Guthrie, killed during the Korean War, as well as all those associated with WKU who lost their lives. The Lowell Guthrie family funded the project, completed in 2002. The surrounding courtyard, featuring benches and a garden, was named in honor of Lowell Guthrie’s wife, Judith Carolyn. The dome of the tower resembles that of Cherry Hall, and the bells ring out songs such as “Edelweiss” and “America the Beautiful.”

Hilltopper Nickname

In 1911, President Henry Hardin Cherry moved the campus to two new buildings atop a prominent hill, rising 232 feet above Barren River and surrounding the Bowling Green community. During the 1920s, WKU’s athletic teams adopted the nickname Hilltoppers, and it appeared on the first WKU uniform in 1927.

Henry Hardin Cherry Western Kentucky University began in 1906 as the Western Kentucky State Normal School, with Henry Hardin Cherry as its first president.

Cherry introduced the motto of the school, “The Spirit Makes the Master,” as an inspiration to students, faculty and staff. Cherry Hall and its cupola have become the universal symbol for WKU, with a statue of the first president standing sentinel in front of the building crowning the Hill.

Big Red

Big Red, WKU’s mascot and favorite Hilltopper, has been around since 1979 when student Ralph Carey (’80) created the original costume. Since then, Big Red has been named one of USA Today’s Top Mascots in College and Professional Sports and frequently appears on the annual Capital One All-America Mascot Team. Big Red was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007, one of seven college mascots now in the hall. The big, furry creature can be seen spreading the WKU spirit at athletic games and other events across campus and throughout Big Red Country. Big Red has become an award-winning mascot and one of the most well known in the nation.

The Red Towel

According to former WKU coach and Athletics Director Col. Ed Stansbury, legendary WKU basketball coach E. A. Diddle approached him because the athletes and P.E. students weren’t returning their towels. Stansbury decided to order red towels and the symbol quickly became associated with Coach Diddle. Through 1,062 basketball games, he held a red towel, using it to wave to fans and signal players. When Diddle retired in 1964, he had won 756 games – the most than any other coach in NCAA history at that time. Rubbing the foot of Diddle’s statue before games is supposed to ensure a Topper victory.

Fight Song

Stand up and cheer Stand up and cheer For dear old Western For today we raise The red and white Above the rest Rah-rah-rah Our boys are fighting And we’re bound to win the fray We’ve got the team We’ve got the steam For this is dear old Western’s day.

2012 Soccer Schedule DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME AUGUST

#Fri 10 @ Tennessee-Martin Martin, TN 7 pm #Sun 12 @ Memphis Memphis, TN 1 pm Fri 17 Evansville Home 6 pm Sun 19 Tennessee Home 1 pm ^Fri 24 Xavier Muncie, IN 3 pm ^Sun 26 Northern Kentucky Muncie, IN Noon

SEPTEMBER

%Sat 1 Bowling Green St. Paul, MN 1 pm %Mon 3 @ Minnesota St. Paul, MN 1 pm Sun 9 Vanderbilt Home 1 pm Sat 15 Belmont Home 6 pm *Fri 21 Arkansas State Home 6 pm *Sun 23 Arkansas Little-Rock Home 1 pm *Fri 28 @ Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, FL 7 pm *Sun 30 @ Florida International Miami, FL 1 pm

OCTOBER

*Fri 5 @ Louisiana-Lafayette Lafayette, LA 7 pm *Sun 7 @ Louisiana-Monroe Monroe, LA 1 pm *Fri 12 South Alabama Home 6 pm *Sun 14 Troy Home 1 pm *Sun 21 North Texas Home 1 pm *Fri 26 @ Middle Tennessee Murfreesboro, TN 7 pm

NOVEMBER

Th 1 – Sun 4

Sun Belt Conf. Tourn.

#Pre-Season Exhibition Game %Minnesota Tournament

Mobile, AL

^Ball State Tournament *Sun Belt Conference Game

2012 Football Schedule Date

Opponent

Sept 1 Sept 8 Sept 15 Sept 22 Sept 29 Oct 11 Oct 20 Oct 27 Nov 1 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 24 Dec 22

Austin Peay Home 6 pm Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL TBA Kentucky Lexington, KY TBA Southern Miss.

Home 6 pm Arkansas State* Jonesboro, AK TBA Troy*

Troy, AL

6:30 pm Louisiana-Monroe* Homecoming 3 pm Florida Int’l* Miami, FL TBA Middle Tenn.* Home 8:15 pm Florida Atlantic* Home 3 pm Louisiana-Lafayette* Lafayette, LA TBA North Texas* Home Noon R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 11 pm

* Sun Belt Conference Game

Location

Time

WKU students, alumni celebrate Homecoming

By Lucas Aulbach

on this le p o e p 0 0 ,0 alone.” d n “We’ll see 25 e k e e w t a st on th campus ju

sports@wkuherald.com

Students and faculty celebrate Homecoming weekend every year and with the buzz around the football team this season, 2012 looks to be no different.

Homecoming is an annual celebration where the university welcomes back alumni, and alumni certainly come back for it, according to Ginny Hensley, director of alumni programming at WKU. “We’ll see 25,000 people on this campus just on that weekend alone,” she said. “It’s the largest reunion weekend of the year, so it’s great for students, it’s great for faculty and staff, and it’s great for alumni.”

WKU has several annual traditions which go along with Homecoming, culminating with a home football game that Saturday, falling this year on Oct. 20.

The Toppers will take on Sun Belt Conference opponent Louisiana-Monroe.

While Saturday is the biggest day for the celebration, activities go on all week leading up to the weekend.

Hensley said the festivities really start on Thursday, though.

“Student competitions go on all week but most of the bigger events really get started on Thursday,” she said. “There’s a pep rally downtown for the community and students to kick the weekend off.”

The celebration continues into the weekend.

Hensley said there are many traditional activities happen on Friday, as well as several Greek competitions and events.

“We’ll have our Homecoming parade on Friday night, which will be downtown, and we’ll have a concert in the park following the parade,” she said.

“There are plenty of other things going on all day, too.”

Exact plans for the parade and concert have not been made yet.

Last year, Bowling Green’s Ernie Small Blues Band played the Friday night concert in the park.

Country singer Luke Bryan also performed a concert at Diddle Arena earlier in the week.

“There’s a pep rally downtown for the community and students to kick the weekend off.” -Ginny Hensley

The time for the football game on Saturday has also yet to be determined, but there will be several activities to do before and after the Toppers take on ULM at Smith Stadium.

Students and alumni participate in tailgating before the game across campus, and several celebrations take place on Saturday night to close out the weekend.

Hensley said Homecoming weekend is an important experience for every college student.

“It’s something that every student should try to stay here and participate in,” Hensley said. “To really experience college in the right way, you want to be here for homecoming weekend.”

My first night as a student

By Kayla Swanson

news@wkuherald.com

I will never forget my first night as a WKU student. After a long day of moving into my dorm, saying goodbye to my parents and participating in MASTER Plan activities, I was exhausted.

I pulled back my brand-new purple sheets, ready to retreat to my bed, and saw a large, black cockroach crawling around in a sea of purple.

I grabbed what was nearest to me, a flip-flop, and tried my best to beat the cockroach to a pulp, but it disappeared before I could do anything to it.

Even though I didn’t know where the cockroach had gone, I still slept in my bed that night.

My cockroach trauma wasn’t my only “first” as a freshman. I’ve experienced multiple firsts that have defined my first year at WKU, and I guarantee you’ll experience more than one during your freshman year as well.

Another first I experienced was my first flat tire. While most people get a flat driving, I managed to get a flat tire as I was pulling into Parking Structure 1.

Yes, you read that right — I was pulling into a parking structure and got a flat tire.

How does someone do this, you ask? Read on. I was going through the entrance closest to McLean Hall, where there are two lanes you can go through to enter. As I went through the lane on the right, I hit the curb, and the next thing I knew, my tire was deflated, and I was afraid that there could be more damage to my car.

I got my car parked inside the structure, assessed the damage and called my dad.

Per his instructions, the next week entailed having someone replace the flat tire with my spare tire and getting a new tire on my car.

The only thing damaged besides the tire was a sensor that tells whether or not the tire is flat, and the tire and sensor were both easily replaced.

For someone who knows nothing about cars, I got an education on flat tires that week.

My other firsts, thankfully, were a little less traumatic and were more enjoyable.

The first, and actually only, WKU men’s basketball game I attended as a freshman was at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

The Hilltoppers were playing against the University of Louisville, my hometown team that I had grown up cheering for.

I was slightly torn as to which team to cheer for that night. It not only was my first WKU game but also my first game watching UofL play in the KFC Yum! Center.

I wore a UofL shirt to that game and, yes, cheered for Louisville.

My mom, a WKU alum, made up for my lack of Hilltopper spirit that night by waving her red towel and cheering as loud as she could for WKU. Even though I didn’t cheer for WKU that night, I am very proud to be a Hilltopper, and I’ve enjoyed my freshman year, my firsts included.

While my firsts won’t be exactly like your own firsts, it’s important to embrace them all, the good and the bad.

Firsts are a part of the freshman experience in college. Some will make you happy, and some will make you cringe, but they all will be good memories to look back at on graduation day.

Five things I should’ve known as a freshman

By Michael McKay

news@wkuherald.com

I was a freshman in 2010, when the world was young and full of promise.

The Facebook guy was the person of the year. Angelina left the Jersey Shore house and would later be replaced by Deena. There was a Winter Olympics that year.

I hope you’re getting that not much has changed in two years — except for the huge metal structure in front of the Preston Center.

Still, when I first came here, there were a few changes I had to make on my own that no one warned me about. Here’s my friendly advice for all of you incoming freshmen.

1. Stay out of your room as much as possible.

It will be much easier for you to make new friends if they can actually find you. The temptation to stay in your room and call home or Facebook-stalk an ex will be much higher in the first couple of weeks.

WKU has a really nice campus. If you’re bored or homesick, just walk around. I still do this.

2. Don’t wait for people to make the effort.

During MASTER Plan, I sat by myself at lunch the first day until two people I had never met sat down with me. I’m still really close with both of them. But don’t sit around alone like I did. Go introduce yourself to as many people as you can — even if you don’t want to.

While you don’t have to be best friends with everyone you see, meeting a lot of people makes a huge campus like WKU seem much smaller.

3. You’re not going to be friends with everyone.

If you’re a new student, you are going to meet a lot of new people whether you want to or not. You aren’t going to like all of these people, and that’s OK. Don’t try to force a connection that isn’t there. There are thousands of people here. Thousands.

4. Your roommate is not here to entertain you.

Even if you’ve known your roommate since third grade, you’re sharing a room now. Give each other space — don’t crowd them because you’re bored and need a ride.

Your roommate can be the best friend you’ve ever had or a dirty, annoying jerk — I’ve had both. Just be respectful. You’re both adjusting to sharing a small space, so maybe put that bag of Doritos in the trash can instead of the bottom of your closet, OK? 5. Don’t wear your lanyard.

The moment I remember most vividly from my first month here was a conversation with an upperclassman over those fashionable I.D.-carrying strings.

“Wearing a lanyard is like a freshman wearing a bullseye,” he said. “What’s the point of those things anyway?”

I stopped wearing mine immediately.

I think my friend had a point, though. By October, only a handful of people are still going to have lanyards around their necks.

Topper Transit WKU’s free bus service provides transportation from the perimeter parking lots to academic buildings on the main campus, connects main campus and South Campus, provides evening service between main campus, South Campus and off-campus shopping areas, and service along parking lots and buildings along the north side of main campus. Para-transit service is available as an on-call service for disabled faculty, staff and students. For transit schedules and the NEXTbus tracking system, visit http://parking.wku. edu.

Talisman Yearbook The Talisman, founded in 1924, is the official yearbook of WKU. Students can reserve their free copy on TopNet under Student Services. The Talisman is distributed in the fall.

College Heights Herald The student newspaper is the main source of news at WKU. The print edition is published every Tuesday and Friday during the school year, and the website, wkuherald.com, is updated regularly. Both provide the latest on news, sports and campus events. The newspaper is available in racks at the front entrance of most academic buildings across campus. Get the latest news at facebook.com/wkuherald. Another source for news is the WKU Herald mobile app for Apple and Android phones.

Bike rentals Big Red Bikes is a bicycle-lending program free to WKU students, faculty and staff. The bikes are available for checkout weekdays at the department of Facilities Management on the first floor of Parking Structure 1.

Kentucky Library and Museum The museum, located in the Kentucky Building, collects, preserves and exhibits Kentucky artifacts and is free for all students.

Career Services Center The Career Services Center is located in DUC Room A230. The office assists in job placement, career exploration, career engagement and academic career guidance.

Tutoring Services The Learning Center, located in Downing University Center, provides students with free tutoring and help with study skills. Students can make appointments for one-on-one or group tutoring or drop in for assistance. TLC is open more than 60 hours every week and is located on the top floor of the Student Success Center, in DUC A330. There are also branches of TLC at Pearce-Ford Tower, Keen Hall and McCormack Hall. South Campus features a Learning Assistance Center, according to WKU's website.

Computer labs and printing Six computer labs can be found on the main campus. There is also a Student Technology Center at South Campus and each of the regional campuses.

The lab in Mass Media and Technology Hall is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week when classes are in session. Students will need their WKU account information to log in and their WKU ID card to print.

Full-time undergraduate students are allowed 1,500 pages, which is $75 worth of free printing, during the school year. Part-time students receive $50 worth of free printing.

Free stuff: The real college discount

By Zirconia Alleyne and Taylor Harrison news@wkuherald.com Escort Service The escort service is an on-campus service provided for the protection of students, faculty, staff and visitors. The escort will be provided by either a student police Explorer or a campus police officer. For an escort or more information, call (270) 745-3333.

Email For students new to WKU, their TopperMail email account will be accessible 24 to 48 hours after registering for classes. It’s important that students maintain and check their WKU email account regularly, as teachers often use this as a form of communication.

Students can access their WKU email through the WKU Portal or webmail.wku.edu.

Scantron forms The Student Government Association provides free Scantron forms and Blue Books, while supplies last, in the SGA office.

Technology equipment rental The Technology Resource Center in Mass Media and Technology Hall, Room 257, is a hands-on digital media facility for students and faculty. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are highly recommended to ensure students get what they need when they need it. Laptops, cameras, audio recorders, microphones, tripods, projectors, adapters and cables are available, among other items. TRC can also convert DVDs and VHS tapes as well as tapes and CDs. They also help students edit videos and photos.

Check cashing Two types of personal checks (at a maximum of $50) may be cashed by the University Cashier’s office in Potter Hall, Room 208. The check may be written by the student and made payable to WKU or by the student’s parent and made payable to the student.

Student ID is required for check-cashing services. WKU student payroll checks in any amount will be cashed.

Transcript vouchers SGA will provide free transcript vouchers so that students will not have to pay a fee when they need a copy of their transcripts, while supplies last.

WKU App The WKU mobile app, called iWKU, can be downloaded for free. It provides an event calendar, a campus directory, athletics, a bus schedule and other items that can help WKU students.

Movie rentals The University Libraries’ Visual and Performing Arts Library is located on the second floor of Cravens. The collection includes CDs, LPs, leisure DVDs and VHS tapes, and they are all available for checkout. A WKU ID is required to check out any library materials. The loan period for audiovisual materials is seven days.

Items can be renewed on the website for an additional seven days. Some reserved items are not allowed to be renewed.

Wireless WKU Information Technology provides full wireless coverage across campus. Students, faculty and staff can use their WKU login information to log in, but campus visitors can access a separate wireless network without a login.

ResNet ResNet is a network and computer support service available to all students. Provided services include hardware diagnostics and repair, software troubleshooting, network support, virus and spyware removal and system rebuilds. Service may be obtained by contacting the IT Helpdesk or going to the ResNet office on the third floor of MMTH. IT Helpdesk The IT Helpdesk, 270-745-7000, can assist with problems such as accessing the Internet, web accounts (TopNet, Blackboard, email, etc.), registering game consoles and general hardware and software troubleshooting. Regular and summer operating hours can be found on WKU’s website.

Athletic events Students get free access to all WKU athletic events with their WKU ID card.

Renovating DUC

By Michael McKay news@wkuherald.com

The start of the Downing University Center's renovation plan will force spaces being used in DUC to relocate in the middle of March, marking the start of the first phase of construction.

President Gary Ransdell said information regarding the renovation plan will be important to get to students.

"It's a massive, temporary transition plan," Ransdell said. "With all the student services, all the offices, all the functions in the Downing University Center, most of them having to relocate, some for a year, some for two years, in order for this work to be done as quickly as possible, and students need to know where to find those services in this transition."

Most of the project should be finished by July 15, 2014.

The postal office, I.D. center, Students in Free Enterprise, and the Student Government Association will be moved into Garrett Conference Center for at

least a year before moving back to DUC. Subway will move to a permanent location at the bottom of Bates-Runner Hall in the space that previously housed N-Style Hair and Tanning Salon. It is set to open by July.

Dining Services and Catering will be temporarily relocated to the Carroll Knicely Conference Center.

The floors of DUC will be renumbered and referred to as Ground, First, Second, and Third as part of the renovation.

The third floor of DUC, home to REDZ and space for Building Service Attendants, will also be shut down in March. REDZ has not been open since December.

Fencing from the bottom floor of DUC will extend into one lane of the Avenue of Champions for the construction, causing the road to be closed from (where?) to (where?).

DUC renovations

Home away from home

By Michael McKay news@wkuherald.com

For a lot of students arriving on the Hill this fall, a couple of colorful forms and a room key are all that separates them from their first opportunity to live on their own.

Brian Kuster, director of Housing and Residence Life, said living in a dorm can expose students to new ideas and new people.

“It’s a great way to meet new people from different countries and cultures,” Kuster said. “You meet a whole different group of people that you wouldn’t if you lived at home.”

Kuster said students who live on campus tend to be more involved in activities around WKU because of the convenience.

“I’ve found that students who live on campus are more satisfied with their college experience,” he said.

Assistant HRL Director Steve Briggs said freshmen aren’t the only students who can benefit from living in a dorm.

“We've found that students living off campus as sophomores have lower GPAs than students who live on campus as a sophomore,” Briggs said.

Louisville sophomore Katie Strotman has lived in Gilbert Hall for two years.

Strotman said she likes how close her classes and dining options are and likes not having to worry about finding a parking space.

“I love living on campus because you are so close to everything you can need, including friends,” Strotman said. “The thing I think I like the most is the campus. It’s beautiful, especially in spring.”

Strotman said that at first, she thought living in a dorm as a sophomore would be weird.

“But when I came back, I recognized most of the people there, so it made things a lot easier, knowing they were there too,” she said.

Greek philanthropy deserves praise

By Herald Staff

Mention the word “Greek” to some college students and it may conjure up images of the one-dimensional characters they’ve been portrayed as on TV shows and movies.

The stereotypical men in togas drinking from kegs and ditzy sorority girls have become an unfortunate staple in the minds of many college students as well as students who don’t attend college.

However, the past few weeks have seen many Greeks at WKU go against the grain and do huge philanthropy events for the Bowling Green community and organizations across the country that have turned out to be successful, both in attendance and finances.

Last week’s Unity Step-Off raised more than $3,700 for the March of the Dimes. Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji, had a Spring Luau for the Bowling Green Family Enrichment Center that raised more than $1,000. Omega Phi Alpha’s St. Baldrick’s event raised $10,000 for the foundation. The Kappa Delta Shamrock Shootout raised more than $20,000 for the Enrichment Center.

Up ’til Dawn raised more than $67,000. And if Sigma Chi’s annual Fight Night ever gets approved, it could raise more than $15,000 for cancer research. (It didn’t) Philanthropy around campus has even made national waves.

The Interfraternity Council recently hosted Walk a Mile in Her Shoes to raise awareness for violence against women, and the event gained national attention by being picked up by the Huffington Post.

This event is notable because it was more than just playing a sport or performing — the men walked a mile in red high heels, which put them in a position that, while funny, made an important statement about violence against women.

The Greek organizations on campus have shown what an impact a group of people can make when they work collectively, and they have realized there is strength in numbers.

One can conclude that the reason Greek philanthropy has been so successful is because the organizations are not only attending their own events but also because the organizations support each other. When there is such a large network across campus, it makes it hard to fail.

The best part is that there are many more philanthropy events coming up with the chance to do more good and raise more money.

While it’s easy to point out and criticize the mistakes and incidents that the Greeks have had over the years (rush week violations, hazing, etc.), it’s also important to recognize the hard work and effort it takes to come up with and plan philanthropy events.

With that, the Herald commends the Greek organizations that are doing good across campus.

This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Herald’s 10-member editorial board.

Formal recruitment is the main process that the National Panhellenic Conference sororities at WKU use to recruit new members. It is conducted before the start of the fall semester, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 21, and concluding with Bid Day on Sunday, Aug. 26.

For more information: http://www.wku.edu/wkugreeks.

Fall Sports

Spring Sports

Sport Registration

Sport Registration

Corec Softball # 8/20-8/30 Pro Pick em’ # 8/27-9/5 Kickball # 8/27-9/5 Volleyball * 8/27-9/4 Flag Football * 8/27-9/10 Badminton # 9/17-9/24 Football Skills # 10/1-10/8 Dodgeball ^ 10/1-10/8 Ultimate Frisbee # 10/15-10/22 Table Tennis # 10/22-10/29 Turkey Trot # 11/5-11/2 3-on-3 Ball # 11/5-11/2 Pickleball # 11/19-11/26

Putt Putt Challenge # 1/22-1/29 Doubles Badminton # 1/28-1/24 Basketball League * 2/4-2/11 Singles Raquetball # 2/11-2/18 Soccer League * 2/11-2/18 Battleship Challenge # 2/18-2/25 Wiffleball Tournament # 3/4-3/11 March Madness Bracket Challenge 3/4-3/11 Softball Mini League ^ 3/25-4/1 Bunny Hop 5K # 4/1-4/8 2 Ball/3 Point Challenge # 4/1-4/8 4-on-4 Flag Football # 4/8-4/15 Handball Mini League ^ 4/8-4/15 Corn Hole Tournament # 4/15-4/22

# Denotes tourney challenge * Denotes league ^ Denotes mini-league

Big Red Bikes gives students a ride across campus

By Lucas Aulbach

sports@wkuherald.com

A relatively new program on campus gives incoming freshmen without a car a way to travel across campus or around town.

Big Red Bikes is a bike rental program sponsored by WKU which allows people in the community to borrow a bike for three days free of charge.

Sustainability coordinator Christian Ryan-Downing said many WKU students take advantage of the program all year.

“It’s an awesome program,” she said. “Not very many people know about it but the people that do use the heck out of it.”

Big Red Bikes was started by students and faculty members in 2007. The parking and transportation department gives the program confiscated or

abandoned bikes found across campus, which are refurbished and then used by students.

In order to rent a bike, a user has to give the program contact information and sign a release. Each bike comes with a lock and key as well as a helmet.

The school has a bike mechanic who oversees the refurbishing, but much of the work is done by student volunteers.

“We’re always looking for people to volunteer,” RyanDowning said. “We can’t keep up with demand and the bikes we get often need some TLC (Tender Loving Care) before they’re ready.”

Ryan-Downing said another benefit of the program is the chance it gives to students to work with a professional and learn basic bike mechanics.

“The nice thing about the program is you don’t have to have any mechanic experience — our mechanic will teach you on the job,” she said. “There’s plenty of

work the bikes need that doesn’t require any mechanical knowledge, too. There are plenty of things people can do.”

Big Red Bikes is located at Facilities Management in Parking Structure 1, across the street from the Downing University Center in the heart of campus. Incoming freshmen looking to rent a bike or volunteer can apply there.

The chance to use a bike is open to anyone, not exclusively WKU students.“Anybody can borrow a bike, even a visitor,” Ryan-Downing said. “If a prospective student came with their parents and they wanted to bike around campus, they could absolutely come in and get bikes.”

Lock your doors

By Spencer Jenkins news@wkuherald.com WKU police officials and Housing and Residence Life are urging students to lock their doors.

Mandi Johnson, public information officer for campus police said the thefts happen “because people don’t lock their doors.”

Johnson said Pearce-Ford Tower is the hotspot of burglaries and thefts. “Once people find out their doors are unlocked, they figure out it’s an easy way to steal stuff.”

“The majority of crimes are crimes of opportunities,” Johnson said. “When more people are concentrated in one area, the crime rate goes up.”

Sometimes the burglaries are solved, she said.

Sometimes police receive a tip, obtain a warrant for a room and find a stack of stolen laptops. After that, police run the serial numbers through a national database to determine whether or not the items were stolen goods.

Johnson advised students to keep dorm room and vehicle doors locked, to keep an eye on belongings and not to leave anything unattended.

“Students need to take responsibility for themselves and lock their doors.”

Johnson said visits all of the University Experience classes, Academic Transitions Program panels and other events, stressing the need to lock doors, she said.

According to campus police records, WKU experienced 79 burglaries in 2009, 71 burglaries in 2010 and 33 burglaries in 2011. Johnson said she expects the number will be in the 70s again in 2012.

Steve Briggs, assistant director of HRL, said the first question HRL asks a student after a burglary is, “Was your door locked?”

Like Johnson, he said he can’t stress enough the importance of keeping doors locked.

He said he encourages students to let HRL and the police know if they’ve become a victim of a burglary. He also encourages students to ask people who don’t look like they belong at their dorm why they are there.

Part of living on campus is learning responsibility and locking doors is part of it, he said.

“The lock mechanisms work just fine if the student uses them,” he said.

Park Smart

By Michael McKay and Lindsay Kriz

Campus dining isn’t the only thing at WKU that will be affected by the $49 million renovation project to the Downing University Center.

The project will close half of the South Lawn parking lot. More visitor spots will be installed to accommodate the move of some of the facilities in DUC to Garrett Conference Center.

And with the changes in parking comes an increased likelihood of students getting tickets.

Dennis Cain, transportation analyst for Parking and Transportation Services, said just a small percentage of WKU students make it through college without having to pay a parking ticket fine.

Students with a ticket can either pay or appeal.

Cain said previously that 26.3 percent of students who appeal their parking tickets are successful.

news@wkuherald.com

“That means 74 percent either pay what was suggested or have the price reduced,” he said.

Students who live on campus can buy a housing parking pass for $90, allowing them to park in housing lots, while students who live off campus can buy commuter passes for $90.

Cain had some advice for freshmen, which included buying a permit only from Parking and Transportation Services. “Freshmen have bought (permits) from someone else,” he said. “No one but us can sell them. Anyone else who does is trouble waiting to happen.”

Cain said that another problem that freshmen seem to have is knowing when and where to park their cars. “They don’t know what their options are,” he said. “They can’t find a spot when they come to

fixed routes that ve fi s a h t si n ra T “Topper KU and the city.”

W d n u ro a ts en d u can take st

school right before class, so they park illegally. They may even be taking the spot of the professor who is teaching.”

Another type of illegal parking is when students park in a space that is not a parking spot. “If a space is not clearly marked or defined, it is not a spot or a space,” he said. “Just because your car can fit there doesn’t mean it’s legally parked.”

According to Cain, some freshmen, including those who live off campus, won’t register their cars, so they rack up parking tickets.

“Be smart,” he said. “Register your car with us even if you don’t buy a permit. There is no such thing as free parking.”

Students who don’t have a car still have ways to get around Bowling Green.

Topper Transit has five fixed routes that can take students around WKU and the city. The Green Line, or Shopping Shuttle, takes riders up and down the Hill and also to places like Kroger, Barnes and Noble, and the Greenwood Mall, according to the PTS website.

The Big Red Bikes program is another way for students to get around. Students can rent bicycles for free for a three-day period in the office of Facilities Management in Parking Structure 1.

Sustainability Coordinator Christian RyanDowning said the program may make students realize they want to buy a bike.

General Parking Guidelines In general, a WKU parking permit is required to park on the Bowling Green main and south campuses, Monday through Friday.

Permit eligibility is determined by employment status for faculty/staff members, and residency status for students. The type of permit issued determines where you may park.

Only purchase WKU parking permits from Parking & Transportation Services. Ownership of permits is not transferable. A permit purchased from an outside source may have been lost, stolen or forged.

To purchase your permit online: • Have your student ID number and email password.

• Have your vehicle's make, model, year, color and license plate number.

• Log into your online parking account using your WKU email log in.

• Select "Purchase a Parking Permit" from the menu.

Dining on the hill

By Michael McKay news@wkuherald.com

A $49 million renovation to Downing University Center will shake up campus dining options this fall, but hungry students won’t have to go far to grab a bite to eat.

The Fresh Food Company, which features home-style comfort food, pizza, a deli and a salad bar, among other menu items, has moved to a temporary structure on the South Lawn, while DUC Subway has moved to a new location under BatesRunner Hall.

Starting this fall, Panda Express will open in the Garrett Conference Center, while a P.O.D. Mini Mart will open underneath the new campus apartments on Kentucky Street.

Gary Meszaros, assistant vice president of Auxiliary Services, said having an Asian restaurant, like Panda Express, was something students have been asking for.

Meszaros said Mini Mart will give students living in the apartments access to fresh fruit and other groceries.

Other DUC dining spots, including Red Zone, Chick-Fil-A and Izzi’s, will remain open. Students can also get food at Bates, the Garrett food court, Snell Hall, the Kentucky Museum, Mass Media and Technology Hall, the Tower Food Court and South Campus.

Freshmen coming into WKU who are required to live on campus are required to have a meal plan, according to the Restaurant and Catering Group website.

Meal plans come in 10, 12, 14, 19 and 21 meals per week.

Students have a three-week window at the beginning of each semester to purchase or upgrade their plan, said Nena Shomler, dining services marketing director.

Meal plan members will

Meal pla 14, 19 an ns come in 10 , d 21 me als per w12, eek.

automatically be re-enrolled for the same plan in the spring semester that they chose in the fall, she said.

Students with residential meal plans can use up to four meals per day.

Students can also purchase commuter meal plans, with 30, 50 and 75 “block” meals to use for the semester, according to the website. Those meals can be used at any time and in any amount.

Meals can be used for predetermined amounts at most places.

Some places, like Einstein Bagel Brothers, will not accept meal plans but will accept Meal Plan Dollars.

Meal Plan Dollars are included in all residential meal plans and can be used at any location on campus.

Meal Plan Dollars can only be purchased with a meal plan, Shomler said.

Students can’t add more Meal Plan Dollars onto their plans, she said. Meal Plan Dollars roll over from the fall semester but expire at the end of the spring semester.

Students using Meal Plan Dollars will get an 11 percent discount on purchases at dining locations, according to the website.

Dining Dollars, which work like a debit card, roll over from year to year and also give students an 11 percent discount on purchases at dining locations, according to the website. Students can add Dining Dollars to their accounts at any time throughout the year.

Big Red Dollars also work like a debit card and can be used on campus as well as at many other off-campus locations (For a list, go to http:// bigreddollars.ugrydnetwork.com/). They can be added at any time in an any amount and roll over from year to year, according to the website.

Students using Big Red Dollars don’t get a discount but they can use the money to pay parking tickets, use vending machines on campus and in several other ways, Shomler said. The best plan for a student depends on that student’s eating habits.

aramark ad

During the school year, the Preston Center hours are from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and from 1-8 p.m. Sunday.

For more information about the Preston Center and the activities located there go to http://www.wku.edu/IMRec.

Students get free membership to Preston Center

By Lauren Arnold The Preston Health & Activities Center offers students, faculty and staff a model physical fitness facility.

It includes a weight room, fitness room, indoor walking track, gymnasium, dance studio, racquetball courts, swimming pool, a pro-shop, the Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Center, a Health & Fitness Lab, separate locker rooms for faculty/staff and students, a lounge and vending area and a first-aid room.

And it’s free for all WKU full time students. A WKU ID card must be presented to the front desk staff to gain access.

Built in 1992, the Preston Center recently underwent a $10 million renovations and the addition of a 14,000-square-foot fitness center was completed in spring 2010.

One of the features of the facility is the Bill Powell Natatorium, which includes a 25-meter x 25-yard swimming pool, which contains 350,000 gallons of water. The pool depth ranges from four to 13 feet. The facility includes 10 lanes for lap swimming, three spingboard diving boards, a shallow area for lounging, water basketball and

aquafit courses. The natatorium contains an ADA compliant pool lift and is accessible for everyone.

Also included in the natatorium is balcony seating for 300 spectators and an outdoor sun deck. It is the home of the WKU swimming and diving teams.

The Health & Fitness Lab provides fitness, massage and consultation services to students, faculty and staff. The lab provides all the fitness programming, including group fitness classes and various fitness services including fitness assessments, exercise prescriptions, weight training orientations and healthy lifestyle counseling. Other programs offered are personal training, massage therapy and instructional programs such as boot camp, and various fitness certifications and workshops. (A separate fee is required for these services.

The massage therapy includes Swedish, deep tissue and hot stone massages.

Students can also take advantage of Preston’s fitness classes, such as “Awesome Abs,” “Yoga,” “Zumba” and “Cardio Hip Hop,” all for no cost.

WKU takes new measures to boost retention

By Natalie Hayden news@wkuherald.com When it comes to retention, WKU is implementing new procedures and revamping old ones.

The retention task force, created last fall, is focused on improving WKU’s retention rates. Currently, WKU retains 73.5 percent of students from freshman to sophomore year. The goal is 80 percent, said Brian Meredith, associate vice president of Enrollment Management.

In order to meet this goal, programs such as the Best Expectations Programs are in full swing. The BEP has been in place for a few years and requires at-risk students to participate in events that will improve their academic experience.

Some of the requirements of the BEP are monthly academic advising sessions, academic workshops and mandated study hours. There were 868 students enrolled in the BEP for the spring semester, said Kevin Thomas, director of the Academic Advising and Retention Center.

“These students have not done well (previously),” Thomas said.

“We know that by coming in and studying in the center, they can be successful with more support than what they’ve had in the past.”

Meredith said that one of the biggest academic difficulties students face is math. Starting last fall, students with developmental needs must take math their first semester and immediately take their first collegelevel course the next semester.

The other developmental classes students need may be spread out between semesters.

“When you put all in at one term, it can scare people off,” Meredith said.

While the task force knew some students were leaving because of academic reasons, the MAP-Works survey was created to learn other reasons students leave, said Sharon Hunter, coordinator of college readiness.

The survey was first administered in the fall semester, with 3,528 students participating, Hunter said. It was emailed to first-time freshmen and transfer students, and asked about money, friendships and homesickness.

“We wanted to get our hands around information we couldn’t get by looking at your class schedule,” Hunter said. “We can look at what actually works and what doesn’t.”

Meredith said that these measures are a “wonderful example of WKU putting its money where its mouth is” in regards to retention.

“This institution has a culture here that is much like a private school,” he said. “It’s a very user-friendly campus, and we want to continue to create a culture to break down perceived barriers students have.”

Hunter agreed, saying that the university wants students to let someone know when they need help.

“We know the cost of a college education,” she said. “We want students to come in and for it to pay off.”

When it comes to schoolwork, I prefer to work alone.

I’ve never been a fan of study groups or group projects, or anything that requires me to work with another person with my grade on the line.

There’s a number of reasons for this. The first being my ego, one that I don’t consider to be big but is large enough for me to think there is nothing a peer can help me with that I can’t already do myself. The second being I get distracted easily, and I know putting me with another person will lead to a lot of conversation not related to what we were supposed to be studying in the first place.

Although I think study groups work for a lot of people and can be a great asset, I never considered myself to be the person who needed another person to help me achieve when it comes to school work.

That was until last semester.

I took a required course called Elementary Logic. When I signed up for it, it seemed simple and intriguing enough. I would become better at constructing and winning arguments, I would reason better, and all this would help me write better.

It wasn’t until after I got into the class I started to hear the rumors about how hard it was or how people regularly drop the class because of the difficulty.

Despite this, I ignored the naysayers and thought the class would be a challenge, but I would ultimately hit my stride, make an A and move on. But it was the opposite of that.

Someone called it “Hell on Earth,” and I find that idiom dripping with the right amount of dramatic negativity to aptly describe it.

Simply put, the class was hard.

I didn’t know what my professor was talking about or what the material meant, no matter how many times he tried to explain it to me after class.

I couldn’t drop the class because I was taking 14 hours, and dropping would put me under the the full-time student hours, opening a whole other can of worms. I was stuck with it.

Halfway through the semester, I thought I was going to actually fail the class. I don’t mean I would make a C and consider that failing. No, I mean legitimately fail the class, have to repeat it and go through that agony again. At the time, a C was the stuff my dreams were made of.

One night, I sat down to begin working on the homework for that week, and I had no idea what the book was talking about. I kept turning it over to make sure I didn’t mistakenly pick up a book in Farsi instead ­— because what I was reading wasn’t English.

It was then that it hit me I wasn’t going to get through this class just by myself. So, I opened up the Blackboard class list and sent an email to everyone enrolled that I was having trouble with the material and asked if anyone wanted to form a study group where we did homework together.

To my surprise, nearly a third of the class responded within minutes. We figured out a time that worked best for everyone and decided to meet up.

For the rest of the semester we met multiple times a week in the library for hours at a time and struggled over homework.

Granted, we all didn’t know the material any better, but it was something about struggling together that made the experience more enjoyable. We would take deep sighs and talk about how much we hated the class, how stupid it was and how we would burn our books when it was all said and done.

I ended up passing my Logic class and can’t say that it was because of the people in my study group, but in the middle of our frustrations, we became really good friends.

My advice to taking a class that turns out to be painstakingly difficult: try to form a study group. Chances are the other students are struggling just as much as you are. Study groups may not lead you to all the answers, but multiple minds are better than one, and sometimes that’s what it takes to get through a course.

Sometimes your peers can be your best help

By Joanna Williams opinion@wkuherald.com

Academic Advising

By Shelby Rogers news@wkuherald.com

One of the biggest hurdles incoming freshmen face in college is adjusting to their classes and a demanding homework and study schedule.

WKU’s Academic Advising and Retention Center exists to provide students the ability to succeed in their classes.

AARC director Kevin Thomas said the main benefit students get from visiting AARC is support.

“We offer support on advising questions and appointments, supplemental education support, tutoring a variety of courses and extra support for at-risk students,” Thomas said.

Thomas said that while student success has a variety of forms, “the AARC sets students on the right path” to achieve their goals.

“I firmly believe that every student can succeed at WKU,” Thomas said. “They ask for help, and we’ll do all we can to get students to succeed.”

The Learning Center is a subset of the AARC, specializing in peer-to-peer class specific tutoring sessions. Enrolled students can make appointments for one-on-one tutoring for available courses, as well as get tutoring in note-taking, time management and test-taking skills.

Jessica Staten, assistant director of supplemental education at TLC, said supplementing students’ educations outside of the classroom “is vital to the success of college students in the 21st century.”

“TLC provides a supportive and engaged atmosphere for learning which supplements the concepts and theories taught in the classroom,” Staten said via email. “TLC is heavily utilized as a quiet study facility prided on maintaining an academic focus.

TLC employs undergraduate students to provide free peer-to-peer tutoring in over 200 WKU courses and eight academic skill

areas.”

TLC also provides the Academic Advantage Series: Workshops for Success, which are targeted at basic skills collegiate students should have but might be poorly developed, according to the TLC website.

“Each session provides hands-on, expert instruction from professionals at WKU who are dedicated to student success,” Staten said.

Thomas had three key tips for incoming freshmen to get off on the right academic footing.

“Firstly, they need to be organizing their life from the start of the first semester,” he said. “Set a study routine early on.

“Secondly, they need to find the right place to study. College isn’t like high school… You have to build studying into the schedule, and finding the proper place is key.

“Third, and most importantly, students should start to build a relationship with faculty and staff. Faculty really do want to be engaged with students… It’s good to build rapport.”

“AARC sets students on the right path.” - Kevin Thomas

The study abroad ambassadors at WKU are quick to explain how studying abroad has impacted them.

“Well, certainly one of the most rewarding parts of study abroad is just getting to a point where you can understand yourself. I know it sounds silly, but when you study abroad, you have to be independent,” said Paintsville senior Nate Hovee, an ambassador who will be studying abroad for the third time in Fall 2012.

Centertown junior Leslie Ford, an ambassador who has studied in Greece and England, says studying abroad broadened her perspectives.

“Being from Kentucky and being from a rural area and a relatively small town, it just really opened your eyes to how much is out there,” she said.

Ford also said that studying abroad has also allowed her to realize the opportunities to work abroad after college.

Once a student has decided that he or she wants to study abroad and thought about what they want to get out of the experience, the next step is to fill out an initial interest form and meet with a study abroad adviser.

While meeting with a study abroad adviser, students will discuss program options available to them and fill out a program selection form once the student decides where he or she wants to travel.

There are 45 different countries students can choose from, but while location is important, Sakiba Dzelil, an administrative assistant in the study abroad office, said students also need to consider what they wish to gain from the experience.

“If learning, for example, Spanish is the goal,

then the student should study abroad in Spain,” she said. “However, if a student is a business student that wishes to earn credits toward his or her degree, the St. Etienne France Exchange program is the better option.”

Application deadlines vary with the length of the program.

“A good guideline is to start thinking about it one year in advance, but start the paperwork six to eight months prior to going, usually for semester-length programs,” Dzelil said. “Shorter programs require less planning and can usually be planned out within three months.”

Students also must consider how they will finance their study abroad trip.

There are scholarships available, including World Topper, a scholarship funded by SGA, and for Honors students, a travel abroad grant.

Hovee has reaped the benefits of WKU’s financial support for study abroad students.

“I honestly didn’t realize how much support was out there,” he said.

“Every time I give a presentation, I tell students there is so much academic support and so much financial support.”

The final step is to fill out pre-departure forms and attend pre-departure orientation.

In addition, students must stay in contact with the study abroad office during their program and attend a re-entry session when they return to WKU. For more information, visit the Study Abroad and Global Learning Office in Grise Hall Room 128.

Study abroad

By Kayla Swanson news@wkuherald.com

12 in 2012

What to do in Bowling Green Looking for someplace to take your date or entertain your parents? Several attractions will make a good impression and are family friendly place when your parents visit. It beats sitting around the dorm and hanging around after lunch.

1. Located at 9191 Nashville Road about 8 miles south of Bowling Green on 31-W, Chaney’s Dairy Barn and Restaurant is best known for its homemade ice cream. Chaney’s also serves lunch and dinner and there’s a calendar of events on its website, http://www. chaneysdairybarn.com.

2. The National Corvette Museum, 350 Corvette Drive, is recognized by its space-age design, with sweeping lines that match the sport car it honors. More than 80 Corvettes of every era –some production and some one-of-a-kind concept vehicles – are displayed. The museum is about 4 miles north on I-65, at the last/first Bowling Green exit. corvettemuseum.com/ 3. Jackson’s Orchard is a “must go” destination any time, but seems to attract most visitors in the summer and fall when the peaches and apples are available. It’s about 4 miles north of campus off KY 185 (Richardsville Road.) Among the special events are the Apple Festival, Labor Day Weekend, five weekends of fall and the Pumpkin Festival. http://www.jacksonsorchard.com.

4. The 1925 L&N Depot has been restored to house a two-story interactive museum where visitors can learn the history of the tracks and see one of the area’s largest model train displays. There are also guided tours of the rail cars at the depot. The Historic Railpark and Train Museum is located at 401 Kentucky St. historicrailpark. com.

5. Lost River Cave & Valley is home to the only underground boat tour in the state and a seasonal Butterfly Habitat. It’s located at 2818 Nashville Road not far from campus. There are walking and biking trails, too. lostrivercave.com.

6. Fountain Square Park in downtown Bowling Green is reinventing itself with restaurants, bars, a coffee shop, and a variety of shops and boutiques as well as banks and professional offices. Downtown redevelopment is taking off as new plans are popping up regularly. www.bgky.org 7. Beech Bend Park and Splash Lagoon, 798 Beech Bend Road, has been named the fifth “Friendliest Park in the World” each year since 2007 by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. Beech Bend Park offers free soft drinks for all park guests as well as a variety of entertainment including dozens of world-class amusement rides and water slides, mini-golf, go-carts, games of skill and luck, a petting farm and terrific live shows and entertainment. Plus there's championship drag racing and stock car racing each week at adjacent Beech Bend Raceway. Beech Bend also offers first class camping facilities within walking distance to all the other entertainment venues. http://www.beechbend.com.

8. Hobson Grove Park’s historic Riverview at Hobson Grove, 1100 W. Main Ave., is a step back in time.

Conceived in the tumultuous days preceding the Civil War, the dream home of Atwood Gaines Hobson and his wife Juliet "Julia" van Meter Hobson stands perched on a small promontory. Riverview reveals the story of the simple and the grand, the innovative and the traditional, all reflecting distinctive style and superb craftsmanship. www.bgky.org/ riverview.

9. The Kentucky Museum, on WKU's campus, houses history, arts and culture, with an outstanding quilt and textile collection, extensive archeological and ethnic holdings, also fine and decorative arts. Permanent exhibits include the life of local celebrity, Duncan Hines; a look at the Civil War from a local perspective; a decorative arts gallery ranging from an Egyptian sarcophagus to 1970s macramé; plus a gallery of regional quilts. The Museum Store is an interesting place to look for distinctive birthday, Christmas or special occasion gifts. www.wku. edu/library/museum.

10. The Aviation Heritage Park, 1825 Three Springs Road at the intersection with Smallhouse Road, is a memorial to all distinguished aviators who have called South Central Kentucky home, Aviation Heritage Park currently features a F-4D Phantom II 550, a plane with historic significance. Brigadier General Dan Cherry, a Bowling Green native, was at the controls on April 16, 1972 when he shot down a North Vietnamese Mig-21 during the Vietnam War. Also on display is a Grumman F9F-5 Panther. It is a representation of the plane Kentuckian Johnny Magda, commander of the Blue Angels and Korean War hero, flew. Newest to the park is a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, dedicated on Oct. 22, 2011. aviationheritagepark.com.

11. SKyPAC is the newest downtown anchor and is uniquely positioned to offer multiple appeals to the region’s communities. The visually striking lobby, with its distinctive windows opening onto Circus Square, is designed to serve as the area’s “living room" and will offer seating areas and Wi-Fi access for those who want to enjoy the ambiance and energy of the ongoing activity.

SKyPAC, located between Sixth and Seventh avenues on College Street, offers a wide variety of events such as Rumplestiltskin, Kenny Loggins, Home for the Holidays featuring the Nashville choir. It is also home to Orchestra Kentucky. http://www.theskypac.com.

12. If you’re looking for a comfortable place to shop, Greenwood Mall, 2625 Scottsville Road, provides a broad selection. The anchor stores are Macy’s, Dillard’s, Penny’s and Sears, but scattered between the big four are a variety of shops, services and places to eat that range from 360 Degrees to Zales. Normal hours are MondaySaturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. www.greenwoodmall.com.

Freshman 15

By Maciena Justice diversions@wkuherald.com 1. Buckhead Cafe 760 Campbell Lane Buckhead is a “fast-casual” restaurant, meaning that it provides the high-quality food typically found in casual dining but with faster service. The menu includes wraps, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, salads and more.

Hours: Sun. through Thurs. 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fri. & Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2. Anna’s Greek Restaurant & Bar 535 Three Spring Road Anna’s is known in Bowling Green for its Greek cuisine, which includes a long list of Greek salads, pastas and other entrees as well as a Greek wine list. It’s good for a date or a night out with friends or family.

Hours: Closed Mondays. Open Tues through Thurs.

4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fri & Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

3. Double Dogs 1780 Scottsville Road This restaurant/sports bar’s menu includes wings and doggie-themed treats, including Pickled Paw Prints, Beg Please Chili Cheese Fries and Sit, Heel & Peel Shrimp. Double Dogs also serves up karaoke on Friday nights.

Hours: Sun. through Wed. 11 a.m. to midnight, Thurs. through Sat. 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

4. Gigi’s Cupcakes 760 Campbell Lane Gigi’s cupcakes are baked fresh daily and the menu changes each day. You can also order them online and pick them up.

Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

5. Great American Donut Shop 901 U.S. 31-W Bypass This 24-hour doughnut shop can be a place to get a quick breakfast or a late-night hangout. GADS has doughnuts sprinkled, glazed and jelly-filled. Try a blueberry cake doughnut or a double chocolate one, but be sure to bring your cash unless you plan to eat a lot of doughnuts. GADS ask that you spend at least $5 if you pay with a card.

Hours: 24 hours every single day.

6. Griff’s Deli 1640 Scottsville Road Griff’s offers fresh, made-to-order deli sandwiches, paninis, salads, and mega spuds. Griff’s offers the freshest ingredients and a unique dining experience for those from or visiting Bowling Green.

Hours: Sun. through Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

7. Hilligans 1265 College St. Hilligans has food and football close to campus.

The sports bar has 13 high-definition TVs, three pool tables and two “fully stacked” bars. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner for dine-in, carry-out and delivery.

8. Mariah’s 801 State St. Located downtown Bowling Green’s oldest brick house, Mariah’s offers casual dining with a menu that includes specialty salads, steak, seafood and pasta.

Hours: Mon. through Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

9. Mellow Mushroom 1035 Chestnut Street Mellow Mushroom provides an eclectic collection of salads, pizzas, calzones and hoagies. Mellow Mushroom offers an experience that includes art, music and comforting food.

Hours: Sun. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

10. Molly Shannon’s Irish Pub Formally Greener Groundz, Molly Shannon’s Irish Pub offers local and organic products. The Irish pub offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options and can cater to most food allergies. Serving shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash. Saturdays, they offer a full Irish breakfast.

Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday. Tues. through Fri. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

11. Overtime Sports Bar and Grill 773 Bakersfield Way Overtime has regular drink specials, daily happy hour and a full menu. The sports bar has weekly karaoke. Other entrainment includes corn hole, pool tables and NTN BuzzTime trivia.

Hours: Building closes 2 a.m. daily. Mon. & Wed., kitchen closes at 12 a.m., Tues. & Thurs., kitchen closes at 1 a.m.

12. Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant 1632 31-W Bypass Puerto Vallarata has authentic Mexican food and vegetarian combination, steak and pork specialities.

The restaurant’s lunch special starts at $3.39, and also offers desserts and beer.

Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. through Sun. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

13. Spencer’s Coffeehouse 915 College St From handmade soups to signature sandwiches, Spencer’s offers a quick, delicious and affordable mean. Spencer’s coffee is 100% organic and 100% free trade.

Hours: Sun. 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mon. through Fri. 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

14. Shogun Bistro 761 Campbell Lane An authentic Japanese steakhouse that offers a unique dining experience with a contemporary atmosphere. Shogun offers seafood, steak and sushi.

Hours: Open daily for lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner 4:30 p.m. until the last happy customer is finished.

15. Stakz Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt 1945 Scottsville Road Stakz offers 12 flavors of frozen yogurt, including sorbet and tart, swapping out one of their flavors for a new one each week. Stakz lets you pick from 50 toppings and fresh fruits to stack on your yogurt.

Hours: Sun., Mon., Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Traveling to I-65 getaways

By Herald Staff diversions@wkuherald.com Fall

Jackson’s Orchard: Located at 1280 Slim Island Road, this more-than40-year-old attraction is great for large groups. If you and your friends are looking for a one-stop treasure trove of activities, Jackson’s Orchard offers a petting zoo, a corn maze and hay rides to a pumpkin patch.

Don’t forget to try some apple-based snacks or to peruse through the old-fashioned store stocked with homemade peanut butter, corncake mix and more.

Chaney’s Dairy Barn: Although best known for its ice cream with tantalizing flavors such as Mema’s Banana and Wow Now Brownie Cow, Chaney’s is also popular before dessert. On the menu is a full array of favorites, including burgers, homemade soup and hot sandwiches. Chaney’s is located at 9191 Nashville Road.

GM Corvette Assembly Plant: Bowling Green is home to the Chevrolet Corvette assembly plant, so why not stop in for a tour? Located at 600 Corvette Drive, this 1 million square foot plant puts out more than 13,000 Corvettes yearly. At 350 Corvette Drive is the National Corvette Museum, which has several specimens of America’s favorite sports car on display.

Starry Nights Music Festival Three nights of camping and live music in October, Starry Nights has two stages showcasing about 30 bands with no overlapping sets. Headliners from 2010 included Ghostland Observatory, Keller Williams, Colour Revolt and hometown celebrities Cage the Elephant. Camping is optional.

Winter Kentucky Library and Museum: Located right on campus next to Rodes-Harlin Hall, you won’t have to worry about traveling very far on cold and snowy days. The 80,000 square foot museum’s exhibits include a gallery of regional quilts, a decorative arts gallery, a local look at the Civil War and a glimpse into baking giant and Bowling Green native Duncan Hines’ life. The museum offers other exhibits year-round.

Historic Downtown Lights Up: Every year, Fountain Square Park in downtown Bowling Green, within walking distance from campus, comes alive with beautiful Christmas lights. A countdown to lights on kicks off this annual Christmas celebration, which offers carriage rides with Santa. If you aren’t up for big crowds, don’t worry. The lights stay up until January.

Spring Hot Rods games: Bowling Green’s own minor league baseball team plays at Bowling Green Ballpark, a 4,559-seat stadium open since 2009 and located at 300 E. 8th Ave. The season starts in April. Tickets are an affordable $5, perfect for a college student’s budget. A day at the ballpark is always a fun group activity.

Historic Railpark and Train Museum: This 1920s structure at 401 Kentucky St. has been restored to house a two-story museum where visitors can learn about railroad history through various interactive exhibits. There is free parking, and the museum’s website offers a coupon for admission.

The L&N Passenger Depot: This museum has one of the region’s largest railroad displays. A 1911 presidential office car, a 1949 Pullman Standard dining car, a 1953 Luxury Pullman sleeper and a Chessie Class Caboose are all on display.

Summer

Beech Bend Amusement Park and Splash Lagoon: With more than 40 rides, Beech Bend, located at 798 Beech Bend Park Road, is home to the Kentucky Rumbler wooden roller coaster, as well as Michael Jackson’s Sea Dragon ride. Other fan favorites include Wild Mouse Spinning Coaster, Whitewater Express, Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper cars, water slides and Lazy River.

Don’t forget about Beech Bend Raceway, nationallyrecognized for its drag strip and oval track. Beech Bend opens in May. Parking, soft drinks, sunscreen, mats and tubes are all free.

Lost River Cave: Kentucky’s only underground boat tour is located at 2818 Nashville Road, on what Ripley’s Believe It or Not claims is the shortest, deepest river in the world.

The cave is 57 degrees year-round. After you’ve done the boat tour, head over to the butterfly habitat, where you’ll enter a garden full of butterflies native to Kentucky. Lost River Cave also boasts a wetlands environment, designed to filter run-off and encourage clean water.

WKUisms

By Herald Staff diversions@wkuherald.com Phrases that are commonly used to describe a campus feature.

BSAs Building service attendants CAB (Campus Activities Board) Plans campus events Centennial Mall Green space and sidewalks near center of campus Colonnade Bleachers near the fine arts center, the old football stadium DUC Downing University Center

Exploring the BG music scene

By Chris Rutledge news@wkuherald.com The local music scene is an evolving and expanding part of Bowling Green.

Until recently, the most popular music to come out of the area was Sam Bush.

Bush, a mandolin player known for helping pioneer the genre known as newgrass, is one of the key things Bowling Green is associated with.

In fact, in March 2010, legislation passed in Kentucky that officially named Bowling Green the “Birthplace of Newgrass” and Bush the “Father of Newgrass.”

But these days, Bowling Green is popping up in magazines like Rolling Stone and Spin, and bands from the area are playing late-night talk shows and national music festivals such as Coachella.

One of the things that makes Bowling Green’s music scene so special is the sense of community. Band members work together to help establish and maintain a scene that boasts a selection of concerts almost every night of the week.

One of the town’s biggest supporters has been its most popular draw: Cage the Elephant. Since the band gained national acclaim in 2007, it has helped launch local acts like Sleeper Agent and Morning Teleportation and regularly promotes local bands via social media.

Guitarist Brad Shultz said that the help the band gives is well deserved.

“Bowling Green has always had a great music scene that’s been underappreciated by people outside of Bowling Green,” Shultz said. “There are so many great bands in Bowling Green — you have Sleeper Agent, Schools, Morning Teleportation, Canago, Buffalo Rodeo, Rainbow Kitty Kitty… I don’t want to leave anybody out. There’s just tons of great music that needs to be exposed.”

Shultz said that one of the big reasons Cage the Elephant continues to give back to the music community is because of long-standing friendships.

“You naturally want to help your friends out,” he said.

But Shultz said there is another line of thought behind the band’s generosity.

“We go by the theory of paying it forward,” he said. “We think if we help other bands, then other bands are going to help bands that they love once they’re able to.”

Shultz said that the hotspot for music in town is at a bar called Tidball’s, located just off the square.

“There’s just tons of great music that needs to be exposed.”

- Brad Shultz

Egypt Creason Street parking lot FAC Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Fresh Fresh Food Company — buffet style meals, located in DUC Gare Bear Hall Gary Ransdell Hall Herald College Heights Herald, WKU’s student-produced newspaper Hilltoppers Nickname for WKU’s sports teams since 1927 Kissing Bridge Bridge at the top of the Hill Israel Normal Street parking lot Mass, MMTH Mass Media and Technology Hall, 24/7 computer lab The Nick Nick Denes baseball field

“For me, Tidball’s is the CBGB of the South,” Shultz said. “It doesn’t matter that it’s in a little town. It has everybody from Sam Bush, Cage the Elephant, Sleeper Agent, Morning Teleportation — all of the bands that have been doing stuff. You can find something at Tidball’s pretty much any night of the week. It’s the hub of the Bowling Green music scene.”

Shultz said that one of the things that makes Tidball’s so great is its history.

“For a lot of bands in Bowling Green, it’s been their first show that they ever played at Tidball’s,” he said. “Tidball’s was our first show, at a venue, that we ever played.”

Back then, Cage was called Perfect Confusion,

PFT Pearce-Ford Tower, residence hall PS1 Parking Structure 1, used for housing permits PS2 Parking structure 2, used for commuter permits SGA Student Government Association South Campus Campus located on Nashville Road, home to Commonwealth School and the Knicely Conference Center South Lawn Green space between DUC and Preston Center TopNet Section of WKU’s website used for maintaining student accounts The Valley Area between Rodes-Harlin, McCormack and Gilbert halls Red Statue Statue in the Centennial Mall

and lead singer Matt Shultz was underage and not allowed to stay at the bar after the show.

This is one of the downsides of Tidball’s — since it is a bar, it is a 21-and-up venue. But younger students shouldn’t fret, because two new venues recently opened:, The Twisted Tap and the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center.

The Twisted Tap is a bar and grill in the square that features free shows and open mic nights regularly.

Because they are a bar “and grill,” they allow 18-and-up until 10 p.m.

The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, or SKyPAC, houses an 1,800-seat performance hall, which features everything from concerts to plays to Sesame Street Live.

Names You Should Know You’ll probably hear these names floating around campus soon enough. Familiarize yourself with what these people do so you can impress other freshmen and stay up to speed with upperclassmen.

Gary Ransdell

Gordon Emslie

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

WKU president Ransdell has been the face of WKU since he became president in 1997.

Achievements during his tenure include the creation of Kentucky’s only independent Honors College and rebuilding WKU’s campus through construction projects.

Cory Dodds

Student Government Association President

The provost is the chief academic officer for the university. As provost, Emslie is responsible for setting goals for the university’s academic missions, which includes instruction, research and community outreach. This will be his second year on the Hill.

Howard Bailey

Vice President for Student Affairs

The SGA president serves as the chief executive officer of the SGA and is the official representative of the student body, including representating students on WKU’s major decision-making board, the Board of Regents.

Todd Stewart

Bailey oversees several hundred student employees in eight departments.

He is the primary student advocate for more than 20,000 students and looks after their general welfare outside the classroom.

Tessa Duvall

Athletics Director

Herald editor The athletics director is responsible for the planning, management and administration of WKU’s athletics department.

WKU participates in 15 men’s and women’s Division I intercollegiate sports and is a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

The Herald editor oversees WKU’s student-run newspaper, published on Tuesdays and Fridays in print. The website, wkuherald.com, is updated several times daily.

To contact Duvall, call 745-5044 or email editor@wkuherald.com.

Numbers You Should Know Academic Advising and Retention 745-5065 academic.advising@wku.edu http://wku.edu/advising Academic Affairs 745-2296 http://wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs Admissions Toll Free Phone: 1-800-495-8463 Office: 745-2551 admission@wku.edu http://wku.edu/Info/Admissions Athletics 745-3542 http://wkusports.com Billings and Receivables 745-6381 or 745-5370 billings.receivables@wku.edu Campus Post Office 745-3093 http://wku.edu/postal College Heights Herald 745-2653 editor@wkuherald.com http://wkuherald.com College of Education and Behavioral Sciences 745-4662 http://edtech.wku.edu College of Health and Human Services 745-2425 http://wku.edu/chhs/cms Counseling and Testing Center 745-3159 http://wku.edu/Dept/Support/StuAffairs/COUNS Dining Services 745-2416 http://wkudining.com Diversity Programs 745-506 diversityprograms@wku.edu http://wku.edu/odp Potter College of Arts & Letters 745-2344 http://wku.edu/pcal

Division of Extended Learning and Outreach 745-1900 delo@wku.edu http://wku.edu/delo Downing University Center 745-2456 http://wku.edu/duc/index.htm Gordon Ford College of Business 745-6311 gfcb@wku.edu http://wku.edu/gfcb Graduate Studies & Research 745-2446 http://wku.edu/graduate Health Services 745-564 wkuhealthservices@wku.edu http://wku.edu/healthservices Honors College 745-2081 honors@wku.edu http://wku.edu/honors Housing and Residence Life 745-4359 http://wku.edu/housing Human Resources 745-5360 http://wku.edu/hr/ IT Helpdesk 745-7000 Intramural-Recreational Sports 745-6060 (or x5216) http://www.wku.edu/IMRec International Programs 745-5334 internationalization@wku.edu http://wku.edu/oip Ogden College of Science and Engineering 745-4449 http://wku.edu/ogden Outdoor Adventure Recreation Center 745-6545 http://wku.edu/imrec/orac

Registrar 745-3351 registrar@wku.edu http://wku.edu/registrar/ Student Disability Services 745-5004 Student Financial Assistance 745-2755 fa.questions@wku.edu http://wku.edu/Info/FinAid Talisman 745-2653 http://wkutalisman.com Ticket Office 1-800-5-BIG-RED or 745-5222 http://wkusports.com WKU Police 745-2548 http://wku.edu/police WKU Store Toll Free: 1-800-444-5155 1-800-745-2466 bookstore@wku.edu http://wkustore.com University College 745-3570 http://wku.edu/uc University College Commonwealth School 780-2550 WKU.South.Campus@wku.edu http://bgcc.wku.edu WKU Alumni Association 745-4395 alumni@wku.edu http://alumni.wku.edu WKYU-FM 745-5489 or toll-free 1-800-599-9598 wkyufm@wku.edu http://wkyufm.org WKYU-PBS 745-2400 or 1-800-599-2424 http://wkyupbs.org WWHR-FM 745-5439 info@revolution.fm http://revolution.fm

Media information Talisman

The Talisman is WKU’s official award-winning yearbook. It is free to all full-time students, and students may reserve a yearbook by going to TopNet. Arrangements may be made on TopNet to receive a yearbook by mail.

Website: www.wku.edu/talisman

College Heights Herald

WKYU-PBS

WKU’s Public Television Service, WKYU-PBS, provides a variety of informative and educational programs. Channel 24 also broadcasts Hilltopper and Lady Topper basketball games. The offices and studios are located in the Academic Complex.

Website: http://wku.edu/wkyu-tv

The College Heights Herald is WKU’s twice-weekly student newspaper. It’s published on Tuesdays and Fridays during the school year. The newspaper is delivered to about 60 campus and off-campus locations. It is produced by students through the Office of Student Publications. The newspaper’s website, http://wkuherald.com, provides breaking news and special features of interest to the campus community. A WKU Herald phone app can be downloaded. For the latest on WKU happenings, you can also join the Herald on Facebook and Twitter by searching “WKU Herald.”

Website: www. wkuherald.com

Revolution 91.7

WKYU-FM, 88.9

WKU Media Relations

WKYU-FM, 88.9 is an award-winning WKU’s Public Radio, providing music, news and public affairs programs 24 hours a day to two-thirds of Kentucky, northern Middle Tennessee and southern Indiana.

Website: http://wkyufm.org

WWHR-FM, 91.7 delivers a commercial-free mix of progressive music that follows the national charts of the College Music Journal and then expands the rotation to address local tastes. Revolution 91.7 recalls the founding artists of college radio while exposing the contemporary underground. In addition, WWHR-FM features news, sports and genre-specific programming. The station is also streamed online at www.revolution.fm. The station is managed and staffed by students with a professional general manager.

Website: http://revolution.fm

The office of Media Relations is the primary link between WKU and the news media. Information from this office is available in a variety of ways: WKU on YouTube: http://youtube.com/WKUNews WKU News: http://wkunews.wordpress.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/WKUnews Twitter: http://twitter.com/wkunews

2012 View of the Hill Staff Advertising Sales: College Heights Herald Publication Design: Austin D. Stephenson Advertising Creative: Herald Design Staff A special publication of the College Heights Herald Office of Student Publications 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11084 Bowling Green, KY 42101-11084 www.wkuherald.com www.wku.edu/studentpublications 270-745-2653 For advertising information, email: advertising@wkuherald.com