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carbon footprints The University is trying to reduce its carbon footprint and is also checking into using geothermal energy. Check out two stories about the University’s eco-friendly efforts on Page 2.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Volume 93, Issue 42
WWW.BGNEWS.COM
a different
blend of business
PHOTO PROVIDED
vollmar wants to make designs in the foam of the coffee he makes. He got the idea from a coffee shop in Chicago and on the West Coast, called Intelligentsia.
Ben Vollmar, 22, uses Kickstarter.com to launch coffee shop in Bowling Green; plans to incorporate design into foam By Alex Alusheff Managing Editor
PHOTO PROVIDED
Ben Vollmar is enlisting the help of the Internet to start a coffee business downtown. Vollmar, 22, created a profile on Kickstarter.com to reach a goal of $60,000 for his prospective business, Flatlands Coffee. Funds are raised by donors who can give varying amounts of money from $5 to $10,000. “It’s been a crazy ride and we still have quite a ways to go,” said Vollmar, a former University student. “It’s just the difficulty of explaining to people how much a small amount makes.” Vollmar and his wife, Cassy, have until today to raise the money. As of Sunday, he had raised $12,993. If the deadline is not met, none of the money is collected. Vollmar was inspired to open a coffee shop when he visited Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago. Besides the friendly customer service, what impressed Vollmar was the latte art in the foam and the taste. “When I took that first sip I knew this is what I wanted— to bring out the best flavor as possible,” he said. Though Vollmar is trying to start a business through nontraditional means, it is not an uncommon method to use. “The advent of the Internet and the ability to more easily communicate with a large group of people became an alternate way to raise funds,” said Dwayne Gremler, professor of marketing at the University. To be successful in this type of fundraising, Gremler said the entrepreneur needs to incentivize people to donate. An emotional connection to the person, business or industry helps, too. “You want to get people participating and be more of an advocate for the coffee shop once established,” he said. To do this, Vollmar has set up packages for each donor depending on the amount they give, ranging from a free T-shirt to having the store rented out for a night with free coffee. Vollmar has also sent out press releases and hosted pledge parties.
BEN AND Cassy Vollmar prepare hot beverages, they plan to open a coffee shop called Flatlands Coffee in Bowling Green.
See COFFEE | Page 2
Community college classes to be offered Partnership to allow students not accepted to University to take classes from Owens on campus, transition to University By Amber Petkosek Social Media Editor
A new partnership is in progress to start the 2014-2015 school year. Due to the University being more selective, some students do not meet admission standards. However, the new partnership may give these
students a chance to attend the University while taking Owens Community College classes, said Rodney Rogers, senior vice president of academic affairs and provost. “With some appropriate support and some other coursework, we believe they may be admissible to Bowling Green at a later date,”
he said. “Owens could very well be delivering a transitional program.” Students who apply to the University but do not meet the requirements may be approached by Owens Community College with this new opportunity. Students can live on the University campus and participate in the dif-
ferent events and organizations, but be taking Owen’s classes that are taught by instructors from Owens. The program is currently expected to be a year’s worth of classes that will transfer directly to the University.
See PARTNER | Page 2
UAO to take students to Chicago for day Dec. 7 University Activities Organization bus trip to give travelers time to explore city, landmarks; costs $30 By Dylanne Petros Copy Chief
When students from the University go to Chicago on Dec. 7 for a day trip, Ariel Chachoff won’t be looking at the skyline. Instead, she will be looking at students’ faces. Chachoff, a senior and University Activities Organization
co-director of the series program, planned the trip for the first time with UAO. “[I’m] excited to see [students’] expressions when we get into Chicago,” Chachoff said. UAO has hosted trips for students as part of its series program. Each year, the series program takes students on two to four trips, said Mike Freyaldenhoven,
FalconS CONQUER BUFFALO The BG football team clinched the MAC East Division Championship with a 24-7 win against the University of Buffalo this past Friday. The Falcons will face the Northern Illinois University Huskies in the MAC Championship at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday. | PAGE 3
adviser for UAO. UAO picked to go to Chicago for the second year in a row. “We went last year but it was such a huge hit that we decided to do it again this year,” said Ally Tharrett, a junior and co-director of the trip. Trips are planned to give students a chance to explore more than just Bowling Green.
“[We] try to give a way out of Bowling Green to the foreign exchange students and other students who don’t have the chance to go to places like Chicago,” Tharrett said. UAO tries to plan as many trips as possible since Bowling Green is so close to major cities like
LOOKING AHEAD Columnist Abigail Kruse talks about not being the partying type, but being an individual concerned about what future employers see online. | PAGE 4
See UAO | Page 5
CAMPUS brief
USG to end semester of meetings with speakers
The Undergraduate Student Government will prepare for the end of the semester by having two speakers come to its meetings both this Monday and next. The speaker for tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Union 308 will be Nick Hennessey, sustainability coordinator. “There is a big push for green initiatives within [the Undergraduate Student Government],” said Speaker Katie Post. “A lot of people have interest in the green initiatives and the green funds in the University.” Next week, on Monday, Dec. 9, Sarah Swegan will be coming to the meeting to talk about United Way. United Way’s mission is to “improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good,” according to its website. “She will be talking about United Way in Wood County and the programs available to students,” Post said. “It’s good information to relay to students.” Even though there will be no meeting the week of finals, USG members will still be working. “We will continue to work on some issues so we can hit the ground running,” Post said.
WHAT KIND OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD USE? WHY? “Wind energy because BG got that mad air flow.” Justin Betancourt Senior, Theatre