2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
The rest of the BG experience
By: Kelly Metz
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: In Focus
- Page 1 of 2 next >
When the incoming freshmen are welcomed by resident advisers, hall directors and staff, they are not only being welcomed by the University, but also by the city of Bowling Green.
Keeping this in mind, the community relations portion of the BGeXperience program was added to freshman activities to welcome students into the community with open arms and share information at the same time.
The whole point of BGeX is to talk about values and tie them into everyday life, not only in the classroom but out of the classroom. This is how the community relations section was born.
Dr. George Agich, Director of BGeXperience, speaks passionately of the program and the need for the new students to understand that Bowling Green is their home now.
"The students bring life to this town," Agich said. "The community understands the importance of the University to its quality of life."
Having the students watch a video, speak with an actual community member and in some cases take a tour of downtown helps put a face with the new home in which they now reside.
Caitlin Keelor, sophomore, remembers her time with the community session during BGeX as a freshman. She felt the section was of great importance to the welcome weekend orientation.
"On campus, you feel like this is the whole city," Keelor said. "In reality, this is a smaller portion to a bigger place… it is our duty to give back and respect the community."
Although it is important to help students respect and understand the city of Bowling Green, the community relations section is not meant to lecture students on proper behavior and is not made to scold students.
"We want students to know not to be afraid of the community," Agich said. "We are not sending a scare message; we are sending a protective message."
The section also educates new students on volunteer opportunities, employment, places to socialize and so on.
Anne Boggs, freshman, felt the community relations section was essential to fitting in to the University.
Keeping this in mind, the community relations portion of the BGeXperience program was added to freshman activities to welcome students into the community with open arms and share information at the same time.
The whole point of BGeX is to talk about values and tie them into everyday life, not only in the classroom but out of the classroom. This is how the community relations section was born.
Dr. George Agich, Director of BGeXperience, speaks passionately of the program and the need for the new students to understand that Bowling Green is their home now.
"The students bring life to this town," Agich said. "The community understands the importance of the University to its quality of life."
Having the students watch a video, speak with an actual community member and in some cases take a tour of downtown helps put a face with the new home in which they now reside.
Caitlin Keelor, sophomore, remembers her time with the community session during BGeX as a freshman. She felt the section was of great importance to the welcome weekend orientation.
"On campus, you feel like this is the whole city," Keelor said. "In reality, this is a smaller portion to a bigger place… it is our duty to give back and respect the community."
Although it is important to help students respect and understand the city of Bowling Green, the community relations section is not meant to lecture students on proper behavior and is not made to scold students.
"We want students to know not to be afraid of the community," Agich said. "We are not sending a scare message; we are sending a protective message."
The section also educates new students on volunteer opportunities, employment, places to socialize and so on.
Anne Boggs, freshman, felt the community relations section was essential to fitting in to the University.
Be the first to comment on this story