Allison McVicker

BG Falcon Media •

BGSU course evaluations: How does the university use them?

“I try to take them seriously because they are one of the only ways that students can directly contact teachers, and in my experience with them, I find that professors take them very seriously, changing [based on] recommendations that students have within those evaluations,” said BGSU student Alejandro Alvarez.
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) students may have noticed three new questions on their course evaluations last fall as a result of Senate Bill 1 (SB1), adding to the already long li...
BG Falcon Media •

Presley’s Purpose: How a nonprofit organization is helping NICU families

Taylor Lang, the founder of the nonprofit organization Presley’s Purpose, didn’t think that bringing a few donations to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where her daughter was being cared for would turn into the impactful movement it is now.
This organization started after Lang’s daughter, Presley, spent 127 days in the NICU at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
“At first, we were in some rooms with curtains, so there really was no privacy, and you heard every little detail...
BG Independent Media •

BGSU leads Ohio campuses in domestic violence safety, latest reports show

Newly released data from BGSU’s campus security report shows that there have been zero reported domestic violence cases on BGSU’s campus since 2022. Compared to other universities in Ohio, BGSU is one of the safest in terms of domestic violence.


In 2024 alone, The Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Akron and Ohio University accumulated a combined total of 31 reporte...
BG Falcon Media •

‘Sinners’ cinematographer makes history with her Academy Award win for ‘Best Cinematography’

Autumn Durald Arkapaw won the 2026 Oscar for Best Cinematography on March 15, making her the first woman, and woman of color, to win in this category.
During her acceptance speech, the awardee asked all of the women in the room to stand up so they could be recognized as well.
“I don’t get here without you guys, and I really, really truly mean that,” said Arkapaw while acknowledging the women at the award show. “I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign and gotten to meet...
BG Falcon Media •

Business in Bowling Green: What makes supporting local businesses worthwhile?

Over the past couple of months, several locally owned businesses in Bowling Green have closed to the public for various reasons, leaving residents and supporters confused.
Hallie Williams, executive director of the Downtown Bowling Green Special Improvement District, said that being a small business owner is not easy. There are constantly decisions needing to be made, some of which may be perceived differently by the public.
“It is a very hard job being a small business owner, and it’s not for t...
BG Falcon Media •

BGSU School of Media and Communication introduces new Social Media Content Creator Certificate

Starting in the fall 2026 semester, the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) School of Media and Communication (SMC) will offer a Social Media Content Creator Certificate to those who complete a certain number of media-related courses.
To earn the certificate, students will have to take:
Louisa Ha, an SMC professor, said that she and others who created this certificate wanted to make sure it covered a variety of social media-related skills.
“We formed a committee of the Content Creator Certific...
BG Falcon Media •

How to: Get over a breakup

Breakups are difficult to navigate, especially as college students who may not have had a ton of experience with dating. These can happen under many different circumstances, and no situation is the same.
However, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) communications professor Sandra L. Faulkner said that when it comes to intimate relationships, clear communication between the couple is crucial.
“Communication is everything because it is how we initiate relationships, maintain them and make them c...
BG Falcon Media •

Local benefit concert to raise funds for music educators

Howard’s Club H will host a music event, Notes 4 Tomorrow, to raise funds for music educators in Northwest Ohio on Saturday, April 18, according to a recent press release from The Joseph Wolph Foundation for Music Education.
The Wolph Foundation has supported local music programs for several years, and since 2021, it has awarded nearly $20,000 in grants funding things like instrument replacement, marching band projects, scholarships and other needs. Notes 4 Tomorrow will be the first time that l...
BG Independent Media •

Decision for U.S. to withdraw from World Health Organization can affect public health locally

President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization doesn’t only have international impacts. Area public health experts said the decision could leave Wood County without critical information about disease tracking, data sharing and emergency preparedness.

The announcement comes a year after Trump signed an executive order to remove the U.S....
BG Falcon Media •

BGSU professor’s new book challenges a patriotic narrative

Timothy Messer-Kruse, a Bowling Green State University (BGSU) professor, recently published a civics textbook designed to meet Ohio’s Department of Higher Education’s new requirements.
These new requirements come from the recent enforcement of Senate Bill 1, one of them being sustained engagement with documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist Papers. In his book, “Unpatriotic Civics: An Exploration of Founding Texts That Fulfills the Requirements of O...
BG Falcon Media •

Falcon Letter Community: How a student organization is helping those around them

There are a lot of lonely Falcons out there, but one campus group is working to make sure all students know they’re part of the flock. 
With more than one in three college students nationwide reporting feelings of loneliness, the student-run Falcon Letter Community (FLC) is building community through bundles of handmade letters that Falcons can request to be sent to anyone who needs one. 
“Our letters are requested by community members either for themselves or for their loved ones,” said FLC co-...
BG Falcon Media •

Grammy awardees call out ICE through acceptance speeches

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards took place Sunday, Feb. 1, where music artists were recognized for their work produced over the last year or lifelong careers.
During several acceptance speeches given at the ceremony, notable musicians such as Olivia Dean, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Kehlani and SZA made either direct or indirect claims towards United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amidst the mass deportations conducted under the Trump administration.
“Before I say thanks to God, I...
BG Falcon Media •

Resilience Through Art: Local art show provides space for people to share their stories

The Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (WCADAMHS) will host their recovery art show, “Resilience Through Art,”
May 15 and 16 at the Wood County Museum.
Debuting in 2023, this show acts as a creative outlet for people who have struggled with mental health and/or substance misuse. Participants are invited to submit artwork related to their own behavioral health recovery journey, as described on the art show’s webpage.
“Our stance has always been that these topics...
BG Independent Media •

BG Bicycle Safety Commission wants bicyclists and motorists to safely coexist in city – BG Independent News

Posted By: Jan Larson McLaughlin
October 9, 2025
By ALLISON McVICKER


BGSU Student Journalist


The city of Bowling Green’s bike network score is 35 out of 100 and ranks 28th out of 83 cities in Ohio, according to the PeopleForBikes organization, an organization that works to make it safer and more convenient to ride a bike for transportation and recreation.


The organization awards a city’s bike network score based on its protected bike lanes, off-street paths, slow shared streets and safe...

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