UPDATE: Big Red Bikes revamp program

All this semester, I’ve talked about about the different stages of the Big Red Bikes Program. The program has improved greatly since the last time it was reported on.

Since (MONTH)

• Big Red Bikes replaced their forms and contract with students.
• Hired a second bike mechanic to fix up more bikes.
• Repossessed neglected bikes that take up space on the racks.
• Have the ability to place holds on the accounts of students who don’t return the bikes.

 

Sustainability Coordinator Christian Ryan-Downing said it was still too early to tell how the changes would affect the availability of the bikes.

When I was at the office of Facilities Management — the office that houses the program — earlier in the month the attitude seemed different. A student who came in asking to renew his bike for a couple more days after he had the bike for a month was immediately told “no.”

Event raises $20,000 for cancer research

Sam Knott has a strong grip on his towel while he starts visibly shaking on the top of the platform he is standing on.

Knott, a sophomore from Owensboro, is a member of the Relay for Life committee.

It’s his turn to work the booth.

Relay for Life is an overnight event for Relay for Life hosted across the county by the American Cancer Society.

Teams stay from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with at least one person from a team walking
around the track at all times to represent the idea that “cancer never sleeps.”

Knott‘s aunt is a cancer survivor. His shift in the tank is almost over but he said he didn’t care about his own well-being.

“I would do this until 7 a.m. if it could save someone,” Knott said.

Time running out for students looking to move off campus

A WKU organization is making it easier for students to move.

The Student Government Association launched the WKUOFFCampus website earlier in the year as a way to making finding a place to live off-campus.

The site lists information on properties and a map of listings for students to search for an area of Bowling Green they want to live.

Students who currently live on campus and want to move off campus should be aware that they will lose their deposit with Housing and Residence life if they wait too long to cancel.

A representative within HRL said students who cancel their housing agreement before June 1 will be able to recover $100 of their $150 deposit.

After June 1, the amount is subtracted, she said.

Earth Day events planned to highlight WKU sustainability

Spring has sprung at WKU.

With Earth Day and Arbor Day in the month of April, the department of Sustainability and the city of Bowling Green are holding events that celebrate sustainability this week.

• On Wednesday, actor Carl Lombardi will perform two readings of the Dr. Seuss children’s book “The Lorax” at 12:00 p.m. in the Faculty House and 3:30 p.m. in Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
• Also on Wednesday, Kohl Crecelius CEO and founder of Krochet Kids International, will speak about what his company is doing to “empower people to rise above poverty” at 7:00 p.m. in the Mass Media auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
• The celebration for Earth Day will be Friday, April 20, which will feature music, giveaways, activities, and booths according to the website. The student group the GreenToppers, who have been working for a couple of months on the event, according to a February article in the College Heights Herald.
•  On Saturday, Arbor Day will be celebrated in Kereiakes Park in Bowling Green. In addition to activities for children, the Tree Advisory Board, a city organization that advocates urban forestry, will provide free trees and planting demonstrations.

Sharing is Caring

As the semester closes, thinking about dining options will be important for WKU students looking to get an edge.

All freshmen are required to sign up for a meal plan option when they come to WKU, which means everyone on campus now has the opportunity to renew or ditch their meal option.

The Restaurant and Catering Group is offering an incentive for students who renew: $200 Meal Plan Dollars or a stocked fridge.

Do students even need that much? I talked to Paducah senior Katie Knecht and Owensboro sophomore Griffin Frugé about a group they run for students who have many extra meal plans.

Music featured in the piece comes from the Vimeo Music Library

WKU unable to broadcast UK game.

UK fans living in WKU dorms were in for a surprise when they went to turn on the game, seeing only static.

Educational Telecommunications, which supplies WKU dorms with service experienced a malfunction tonight, making game host CBS unavailable for students. NBC was also not working for dorm televisions.

Sarah Sheldon, a residence assistant in Southwest Hall, said fans came to the front desk to ask why the game wasn’t working. She said there wasn’t much she could tell them.

Lauren Louderback, a desk clerk in Southwest, said she was mad initially but found a solution.

“I just pulled it up online,” Louderback said.

Life off campus

Though housing renewal for students living in the dorms are over, moving off campus is still an attractive option for rising juniors, or students looking to break their housing contracts.

Students who wish to move off campus must fill out a form with Housing in Residence Life by July in order to receive part of their housing deposit.

Steve Briggs, assistant director for HRL, said students should make sure they have the right information about their housing and possible exemptions before making a decision to move.
Briggs said an apartment complex a couple of years gave students misinformation about housing in order to make them sign a lease. He said for students to check the HRL website for changes in policy.