THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 www.easternprogress.com Independent student publication of Eastern Kentucky University since 1922
Eastern gives green light to pedway over Bypass
COURTESY OF EKU
Eastern officials are moving forward with plans to build a pedway over the Eastern Bypass, just south of the main entrance to Alumni Coliseum. The $2.5-$3 million structure is expected to be finished by Fall 2017.
BENSON SAYS STUDENT FEES WILL BE USED TO PAY FOR $3 MILLION STRUCTURE By DAN KLAPHEKE daniel_klapheke@mymail.eku.edu
Eastern’s current state of demolition and development has added a new project to the list: a new pedestrian pedway over the bypass. The project, first announced by EKU President Michael Benson at the fall 2016 faculty convocation, will be paid for using the $150 per semester student fee enacted last year. “To be able to have a tangible evidence of what your fee has gone toward I think was really important,” Benson said. The fee was originally intended to be used to make improvements to the Powell Building and build a new student recreational center, but Benson said administration is using the fee legislation’s
“student centric” language to expand to other projects. “The language is broad enough that it gives us that latitude,” Benson said. “The student centric, it allows us a little bit of room to say, ‘what exactly does that mean? Does that fit the criteria?’" The idea was originally brought up after spring semester’s Student Government Association (SGA) elections, when newly-elected SGA President Collin Potter discussed a new pedway as his first priority to Benson. They brought it to the rest of administration, who agreed on the new focus on the student centric language. “There’s nothing more student centric than a pedway that can get people from one part of campus into the middle of campus,” Benson said. Paul Gannoe, EKU’s associate vice president of facilities services & capital planning, agreed with the student centric shift. He said the new pedway fits the language’s criteria for several reasons. “There’s safety, there’s just convenience, accessibility—a lot of things that
make that a good project,” Gannoe said of the new pedway. A current major student concern is parking, which Gannoe said will be aided by the new pedway. “We really think this will help us implement the parking strategy as we transition more parking to south campus,” Gannoe said. “This is one way to make that more palatable or amenable to students who park over there.” Besides its usefulness to students, Gannoe said the new pedway will give campus a better sense of identity. “From facilities’ standpoint, we look at it as kind of a neat opportunity to sort of help identify campus entrances,” Gannoe said. “When you come down Lancaster, you see that pedway and you really know you’re getting on to campus.” Integrity Architecture, the firm that built the Lancaster pedway, will be heading the project as far as civil and structural engineering. A design has been drawn up, but Gannoe said it's still missing “everything but the renderings.”
Both Gannoe and Benson said construction will break ground in early 2017 and wrap up mid-to-late summer of next year; in time for the fall semester. The Lancaster Pedway cost about $1.2 million, Gannoe said, but the new pedway will be much larger. Stretching over four lanes and a median of Eastern Bypass traffic, the new pedway will also experience an elevation change of which Gannoe said will hopefully allow a ramp to replace an elevator on one side. According to Benson, the cost will be $2.5-3 million, but it won’t affect the other student fee-funded projects, including the new Powell Student Union and new recreational center, the latter of which is set to be built over the site of Dupree and Todd Halls after they’re torn down in fall 2017. “It’s a compliment to those other student centric projects, which is rec and the renovations to powell,” Gannoe said of the new pedway. “We do look at this as really a project that will serve the needs of students.”
New SGA officers ready to serve New system,
same shuttles By NOENA ZERNA noena_zerna@mymail.eku.edu
PHOTO COURTESY OF POTTER/TORRES
Sebastian Torres, SGA vice president, and Collin Potter, SGA president, said a pedestrian bridge over the Bypass was a priority of theirs.
By NOENA ZERNA noena_zerna@mymail.eku.edu
The Powell building is home to the Fresh Food Company, pool tables, televisions and the Student Government Association president and vice president’s offices. Collin Potter and Sebastian Torres were elected as SGA president and vice president, respectively, in May. Potter, 21, a senior business management and marketing research analytics major from Mount Sterling, was the SGA vice president during the 2015-2016 school year. Potter said he wanted to be president because he has been involved with SGA since his freshman year and knew he would get involved before he started college. Potter joined a fraternity, but also joined SGA because his parents had friends who were members and encouraged him to join. “It sounded pretty cool,” Potter said. Torres, 21, a senior political science major from Hollywood, Florida, said when he started college he wanted to become involved. Torres joined lots of organizations and began his journey with SGA with appropriations and became
the student senate chair. Potter and Torres began preparing to campaign in December 2015. They chose each other as running mates because they said they work well together and love working together. Despite their campaign preparations, they were surprised to find out they were running unopposed. “We were ready to fight for the SGA,” Potter said. "This was the first time in years a SGA president and vice president ran unopposed." However, they both said it was an exciting time, and because they had no opponents they wanted to push people to vote. Potter and Torres will be the SGA president and vice president until May 2017, when they both graduate. Until then, they both have several goals to continue improving campus life for students and employees during their year in office. Their plans include building a second pedestrian bridge over the bypass near Keene Hall and continuing to promote the LiveSafe app for campus safety. Additionally, Potter and Torres said they are working on permitting alcohol on campus, specifically to campus events.
"We want students to enjoy their time, but also make good decisions in a safe environment," Torres said. Other plans involve working with the extended campuses to host joint events, improving the Colonel Path, a well lit and patrolled walking area from downtown to campus, and making the transition from Blackboard to a new system, Canvass. Torres said they will be busy this year with lots to be done, but there are many members of the SGA who can help them accomplish their goals. “There’s no limit to what we can get done,” Torres said. Both Potter and Torres agreed they need the student voice to know what the community wants and needs. Their favorite parts of the positions are hearing complaints. Torres loves finding solutions, helping make decisions and getting things fixed, while Potter loves meeting new people and helping people connect. "I encourage students to have fun and enjoy the experience and to get involved," Potter said. “Take a deep breath and enjoy it,” Torres said. “This is the best university in the state.”
In an effort to make campus more pedestrian friendly, EKU has revamped the shuttle services, now known as the Big E shuttle, and opened more lots for commuter parking. Mark Jozefowicz, director of parking and transportation, said the shuttle schedule has changed to help students parking in lots on the outskirts of campus, like the Vickers and Ashland lots. The Vickers lot, located next to the soccer fields, is now available for commuter parking. Jozefowicz said that in the past the buses were used to help students go from one class to another, but parking accommodations are now the main priority. Although the shuttles have been at EKU for years, most of the routes are fairly new and still being tested. There are pilot routes, like the “Green Route,” that are moving from the new Vickers Lot to Whitlock, but are evolving daily. “They are basically the same buses,” Jozefowicz said, adding that they are just rebranded. During the day, three shuttles run four different routes around campus and one shuttle runs through the evening. "Most transits begin their routes at 7 a.m., but not all start at the same time," Jozefowicz said. "They will stop at the 16 designated stops on campus." The night bus, called the “Black Route,” is the only transit that doesn’t start until 6 p.m. and services end at 12:45 a.m. Students can check posted schedules at the stops and the marquee on the top of the shuttles to see where certain shuttles are headed. A fifth route on Sundays, the “Orange Route,” runs from campus to the Richmond Centre or Walmart. “We’re making modifications as necessary,” Jozefowicz said. "We are working on adding more signs to give more information to students." A complete transit schedule is available at www.parking.eku.edu/fall-spring-shuttle-schedules.
Courtesy of EKU
A Big E transit shuttle picks up students from the Vickers lot early this week. Vickers lot is now avaliable for commuter parking.
Page 2
The Eastern Progress, Thursday, Sept 1, 2016
CAMPUS BRIEFS
POLICE BEAT Aug. 2 A female student reported two male students approached her in reference to an ongoing case against them.
Aug. 6 An individual near Keen Jonhson was cited for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, serving a bench warrant for court and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
Aug. 12 A former student damaged a wall in Whitlock by headbutting and punching it after being informed he/she was expelled from the university.
Aug. 19
EKU hosts farmer’s market
A student posing as a 15-year-old girl recieved a request to send a nude photo as well as an invite for sexual contact from an adult male resident student.
To encourage healthy living, EKU hosts a farmer’s market every Thursday until the end of September from 10 am to 1 pm. The farmer’s market was previously at Alumni Coliseum, but it has been moved to Irvine McDowell Park in front of Irvington House. The park is on 345 Lancaster Ave., directly outside of campus. For more information, contact Tammy Cornett at tammy. cornett@eku.edu or 622-8874.
Aug. 21 Police responded to possible drug paraphernalia in Sullivan Hall. A water bong and several other items of paraphernalia were found after a resident allowed police to search the room.
Campus Rec starts Zumba with Eden
beginning Sept. 1 from 5:15 p.m to 6 p.m. at Moberly Gym. Sign ups are available through the Healthy YOU! calendar and events page. There is a limit of 50 people for the class. For more information contact healthyyou@eku.edu or 622-8874.
Pop-Up Library The EKU Library is hosting an event called “Pop-Up Library” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 1 on Powell Corner by the Centennial Man. Their most popular movies and books will be available for students to check out before the Labor Day weekend. The library said that the first students to arrive will receive a free, limited edition poster. For additional information, visit the front desk located in the Crabbe library or visit their website library.eku.edu.
A series of ZUMBA classes hosted by the Campus Rec are
Graduate school application workshop Center for Career and Co-op is hosting a free workshop 12:30 p.m. Sept. 1 to help students applying for graduate school. The workshop will be in Whitlock 468. Center for Career and Co-op will host another workshop on Sept. 8 for students who are unable to attend the this particular workshop. For more information visit career-coop@eku.edu.
Resume writing workshop The Center for Career and Co-op is hosting a free resume writing workshop 12:20 p.m. Sept. 7. in Whitlock 468. The workshop is available for anyone needing help writing a resume and other information needed to build their information. For more information visit career-coop@eku.edu or visit their office in Whitlock 468.
THE COLONEL’S CALENDAR
THE COLONEL’S CALENDAR Week of Nov. 13 – Nov. 19 Week of Sept. 1 - Sept. 7
THURSDAY 10 a.m.
FRIDAY
Farmer’s Market Irvine McDowell Park
11 a.m.
Pop-Up Library Powell Corner
5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
Soccer The Citadel
SATURDAY 12 p.m.
Football Purdue University
10 p.m.
SUNDAY 1 p.m.
Soccer Charleston Southern University
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859-625-6500
Labor Day University Closed
TUESDAY 11:15 a.m.
Yoga Campus Rec
6 p.m. CRU Ravine
Volleyball Grand Canyon Univeristy
Zumba with Eden Moberly Building
Member FDIC
MONDAY
centralbank.com
WEDNESDAY 12:20 p.m.
Resume Writing Workshop Whitlock 468
5 p.m.
Study Skills: Mindset Habits Workshop Crabbe Library 106D
The Eastern Progress, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016
Page 3
CHRIS BUNDY/PROGRESS
Eastern students participated in an Alternative Summer Break project at the Grand Isle State Park where they helped clean beaches and habitat after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Alternative Break to aid flood relief efforts in Louisiana TRIP TO BATON ROUGE HAS ROOM FOR 44 STUDENTS By KENDRA ISAACS progress@eku.edu
Nearly 800 miles lie between Eastern Kentucky University’s campus and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Yet a mere 48 hours after Louisiana was officially declared a federal disaster area due to devastating floods, EKU had already become involved in relief efforts. The office of Student Life is the home of the Alterative Break Program, a volunteer service project that enables EKU students the opportunity to use a portion of their winter, spring, or summer breaks to make a difference across the United States and the world. Although there are a variety of destinations for these service trips, Alternative Break initially emerged after Hurricane Katrina and has since maintained a long history of involvement in Louisiana. Most recently, EKU students volunteered their time and efforts at a Louisiana nature
preserve. With the flooding in Louisiana, which has been called the worst disaster to hit the nation since Hurricane Sandy, the upcoming Alternative Break project will take on a more urgent, somber tone. Due to past partnerships during other federal and state declared disasters, the National Relief Network (NRN) quickly reached out again to EKU to join its coalition of volunteers who will work in Louisiana over the next year or more. NRN is an organization that regularly assembles thousands of volunteers to directly aid families affected by widespread devastation. Its particular focus is on those who are not served by other aid efforts, such as those families whose annual income is a mere $50 above FEMA’s threshold for assistance. During the first months of service, NRN focuses on a process known as “mucking out.” This involves efforts to salvage residents’ personal belongings and to remove drywall and insulation, which may become hosts to mold. After the completion of this process, stage two volunteers help with rebuilding and restoration.
Because it is so early in the recovery process, Will Keaton, assistant director of Student Life, said he is not certain whether EKU students will aid in “mucking out” or in the beginning phase of rebuilding when they travel to Louisiana in January. EKU's team will be assigned to the East Baton Rouge Parish. Typically, Alternative Break Program trips have space for only 12 students, but due to the special partnership with NRN, as many as 44 students can be involved this trip. The Office of Student Life has also recently sent invitations for Faculty Learning Partners to join the trip as well, but has not yet received any confirmed acceptances. Students interested in participating in the trip to Louisiana will incur a total cost of $525 each. This includes a $25 application fee, a $75 deposit, and a remaining balance of $425 to cover transportation, lodging, food, relief supplies, and an official t-shirt supplied by the NRN. The application to participate will go live on OrgSync next Tuesday, Sept. 9, and will remain open until Dec. 1 or until all spots are filled.
The $25 application fee is due at the time of entry. Upon acceptance which generally takes about two days, students are given five days to pay the $75 deposit. The application fee and deposit are non-refundable. For the remaining $425 balance, students may pay directly to Student Life through TouchNet or they may fundraise through the National Relief Network on Crowdrise. The full balance will be due Dec. 1. All those participating in this upcoming Alternative Break trip will depart via bus from EKU on Jan. 8 and will return to campus Jan. 13., four days before spring semester classes begin on Jan. 17. When the application goes live on Sept. 6 at 8 a.m., students can find a direct link to the application on OrgSync at communityservice.eku.edu. Because space is limited to approximately 44 students, those interested are encouraged to apply and begin fundraising early. For additional information, students can email Will Keaton directly at william.keaton@eku.edu.
RAVE mobile safety stays alert when students aren't By DAN KLAPHEKE daniel_klapheke@mymail.eku.edu
Students got their first taste of Eastern’s safety alert systems last week after a traffic stop-turned drug-fueled police chase ended on campus. Four juveniles were stopped by a Madison County Sheriff’s Department officer near Lancaster and Main after a report of shots fired in the early hours of Monday, August 22. The men, all of Lexington, sped off and initiated a police chase involving the sheriff, Richmond Police (RPD) and EKU Police (EKUPD) departments. RPD and EKUPD were alerted and prepared for whatever would come next. The perpetrators, still fleeing, zoomed up the opposite way of traffic flow of University Drive around 2:30 a.m., but RPD and EKUPD were waiting at the other end. “I don’t think they cared at that point about traffic laws,” said Bryan Makinen, EKU’s executive director of Public Safety and Risk Management. The men were charged with trafficking cocaine and marijuana, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. The driver was also slapped with a DUI. Students may not have been aware of the wild night at the time, but they were at least notified of it through EKU’s primary public safety alert system, RAVE. Gary Folckemer, EKU’s director of Emergency Management & Security, said there’s seven alert mediums within rave. First there’s texts, voice calls and emails, the latter of which is what most students were alerted by the night of the chase. Those three are more personal, and can be targeted to specific people who might be affected by an event. Then there’s the “blast” methods, which include alerts on computer screens, RSS feeds to police pages, social media and sirens. There are four sirens on campus part
of the 90-siren system in Madison County, and they can act independently of the larger system. But Folckemer said sirens are “both a system of first resort and a system of last resort.” “It’s kind of a one-trick pony,” Folckemer said. “You send it out and it’s a blast out there, and you’re fairly limited to what you can do. Whereas Rave mobile safety allows you to target individuals.” The more personal methods of alert allow for custom messages, Folckemer said, and don’t send the entire community into a panic. As much as the RAVE system covers campus, student participation is low. According to Folckemer, 3,935 voice calls, 4,135 texts and 21,932 emails were sent out the night of the drug chase. When students register for classes and begin the school year, their emails are automatically registered in RAVE. However, you have to go online and register a phone number manually. Folckemer expressed the importance and ease of getting student phone numbers registered on RAVE, as well as downloading the EKU Student Government-developed LiveSafe app. “Take the time to put your mobile phone number into Rave,” Folckemer said. “It’s pretty easy to do, and we don’t just send those texts and those voice calls for just everything at 2 o’clock in the morning.” To register a number in RAVE, visit EKU Direct. The system purges numbers every semester, so it has to be updated every semester. Community members can also sign up for RAVE by visiting getrave.com. Makinen said campus safety is something EKU Public Safety takes personally and seriously, and they’re always available. “We want to create that protective envelope and address whatever situation for the protection of all,” Makinen said. “That’s why we’re here.”
keep CAMPUS BEAUTIFUL
RECYCLE! Did you know that EKU has a constantly growing recycling program? Take advantage and help our campus live up to its name!
COURTESY OF EKU PUBLIC SAFETY
Livesafe, developed by Student Government, is a direct line to EKU Police and EKU Public Safety.
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OPINIONS
Julia Dake, Editor
The Eastern Progress | www.easternprogress.com
Thursday, September 1, 2016 Page 4
Return to college makes me feel like a kindergartner
KENDRA ISAACS No matter how old we are, there’s a scared kindergartener living inside every adult. I made this unfortunate discovery when I started class at Eastern this week after several years away from the classroom. Somewhere between my house and campus, I apparently passed through a wormhole and reverted from a twenty-some-
thing college junior to a naïve five-year old, praying I could survive until lunch time. Waking up with a head cold and runny nose on my first day didn’t help. Pockets full of soggy tissues, I was feeling crummy. I really wanted nothing more than my favorite blanket and naptime. Cold not withstanding, I was still determined to begin day one of the rest of my life with fanfare… until I tried to find a parking space in Hades, otherwise known as the Alumni Coliseum Commuter Parking Lot. Oh, I had heard the stories, had planned in advance and arrived twenty minutes before my first class. But that doesn’t help much when it takes over half an hour to find one measly parking spot. As my class time came and went, I had to exert an extra measure of self-control to not start a playground catfight with the student who sat in her car for ten minutes fixing her hair while I silently (and, yes, angrily) begged
her to leave and let me have that coveted piece of asphalt. By the time I finally slid into my seat (20 minutes after class began) my mind was spinning like a hamster wheel with thoughts of “maybe I can’t do this” and “I wanna go home.” After that lackluster beginning, I survived the remainder of Monday without further incident, and even made it to class early on Tuesday. I was beginning to regain my confidence…until clumsiness struck with vengeance. I still don’t know how it happened, but one moment I barely stumbled and the next I was illustriously sprawled on the concrete. I was, presumably, pushed over by the heavy weight of my overfilled backpack. Scrambling to my feet in embarrassment I hobbled away with a bloody knee that I covered with toilet paper in order to make it to class.
Higher education takes backseat to budget cuts
JULIA DAKE What makes Eastern unique? Perhaps our student body, athletics, or maybe the uncanny ability to make national news? In addition to those qualities, EKU also offers 161 majors and minors, falling just behind WKU for the most programs offered in the state. While this distinction should be seen a point of pride, it's being viewed as a burden to the budget. While financial cuts are taking a toll on many Kentucky universities, EKU was one of the hardest hit with a loss of 4.5 percent from its budget for the first year, then 2 percent the second year. Over the next two years, this will create a loss of about $11 million from the budget. In response to these cuts, the Academic Budget Review Sub-Committee has recommended 21 programs
for suspension, 17 on a probationary list, and seven on a watch list. Departments that are up for suspension are being allowed to present a 15 minute proposal to the sub-committee in order to address attracting new students. These drastic cuts didn't begin at the university level; they began in the Kentucky Supreme Court. After a judge ruled Governor Matt Bevin could legally reduce funding for higher education, universities across the state have been forced to pinch pennies. The budget cuts were initially introduced to "fix" the state pension system, but instead put public institutions in a bind. While there are arguments made for what programs or activities should be defunded, one thing remains very clear: higher education in Kentucky isn't seen as crucial by our state officials. There is no doubt in my mind that there are state representatives and senators who care about post-secondary education, but after seeing Matt Bevin's original budget proposal (a deficit of 9 percent), I'm skeptical as to how much value is being placed into our public universities. If education were valued as it should be, universities wouldn't be forced into hiring freezes, cutting programs, furloughs and tuition hikes. Higher learning is vital for shaping the future of Kentucky, and should be treated as such.
Parking on campus a stressful experience
KATIE HESS New year, new parking… problems, that is. Parking is always bad at the beginning of the school year, but it seems to be even worse this year. Many students are having issues finding a parking spot and if they do find one they have to walk to the opposite side of campus to get to their class. This summer the parking office created a new zone for freshmen: Zone Z. The Zone Z lots are located on the outskirts of campus making convenient parking difficult. Even though freshmen have to park in less desirable lots, parking still sucks for both residents and commuters. I am currently living in Keene Hall, where we have to split our resident lot with the freshmen residents which results in limited parking spots for any of the upperclassmen. The Center for the Arts parking lot is also full of residents and Zone Z cars. Zone
Z was supposed to help parking be a less stressful part of college, but it doesn't seem to be helping. The time I spend circling parking lots trying to find a parking spot or waiting for someone to move is time that I could use parking off campus and walking to my dorm instead. Residents aren't the only ones having problems; commuters are too. Since I live in Keene, I have to walk through Alumni Coliseum to get to main campus, so I see the struggle commuters go through when they arrive on campus. Cars have begun parking alongside other makeshift parking spots just so they can get to class on time. President Benson tweets a lot about the Big E Transit service that can transport students that have to park in Vickers Lot. This is all well and good, but the transit is unreliable and does not run at convenient times. During the first week of classes, one of the shuttles forgot to go to Vickers Lot, which meant some had to wait for 45 minutes just to get a ride to campus. The parking situation is a problem for everyone, not just a specific group of students. It seems that each year the parking spaces are decreasing while the number of enrolled students continues to increase. Construction sites are now invading previous parking lots. We just closed one parking lot to build another parking structure. This will be great in the future, but what about now? Something has to be done in order to accommodate everyone that has purchased a parking pass.
››Editorial Staff Dan Klapheke
Editor-in-Chief daniel_klapheke@mymail.eku.edu
Cassy Grey
Managing Editor cassandrea_grey1@mymail.eku.edu
Noena Zerna
News Editor noena_zerna@mymail.eku.edu
Curtis Conrad
Emily Vinson
News Designer curtis_conrad6@mymail.eku.edu
Copy Editor emily_vinson1@mymail.eku.edu
Julia Dake
Taylor Weiter
Opinion Editor julia_dake@mymail.eku.edu
Corey Wall
Features Editor corey_wall4@mymail.eku.edu
Sports Editor taylor_weiter@mymail.eku.edu
Kaitlin Wright
Sports Designer kaitlin_wright55@mymail.eku.edu
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: To submit a letter to the editor, visit www.easternprogress. com and click on the "Submit letter or press release" link at the top of the page.
Although I hid my wound like a champ and managed to finish my next two classes, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want my mom in the worst way every time my knee “booboo” throbbed. Not to mention I squealed like a five-year old when I had to pick off the bits of dried, bloody toilet paper after class. Since then, I seem to have found my way out of the my “kinder-versity” wormhole and I’m beginning to feel comfortable in my new academic home. With any luck I just might manage to navigate the rest of my time at EKU unscathed. For future reference: if you see a tall, slightly awkward kindergartener wandering around campus late to class with a runny nose and scraped knees, feel free to share a hug and tell me that tomorrow will be a better day.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Journalism program invaluable to campus I am the proud owner of a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Eastern Kentucky University. That’s right: proud. There is no doubt in my mind that I am where I am today because of going through EKU’s journalism program, and though I may be just a bit biased, I would set the education I got against any other journalism program in the country. That’s why it troubles me to learn that the university is considering shutting down the journalism department at my alma mater due to budget cuts. I would urge the administration to reconsider this proposal – not just because of my own nostalgia, but because the education and real-world training of future EKU students is at stake. Not only did I learn the craft of journalism while at EKU (researchin’, writin’, late-night pizza dining); I also learned how to work on a team, how to communicate for an audience, how to be a leader and how to be tenacious in the face of fierce opposition. I employ all of those skills – and so many more – in my current position at the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development in Berea, Ky. You see, I didn’t remain in the journalism field after college – although I did complete a stint at my hometown community newspaper, The Hazard Herald, before I entered graduate school. I moved on to the nonprofit sector. But, this is precisely my point. Like many EKU Journalism alums, I found another passion in another field. But because of the skills I learned through my journalism education, I was more than prepared to transition my career. I dare say there are few academic programs at EKU that would have afforded me similar preparation. It’s not just journalism program alums who have benefited from learning those transferable skills. Many students take journalism classes, or work at the award-winning student newspaper, The Eastern Progress, but graduate from other programs. I would wager that those students would credit their time on the third floor of the Combs Building as teaching them valuable lessons and skills that they use to this day in whatever chosen profession they currently are employed. Speaking of The Eastern Progress, it’s presence on campus is beyond invaluable. The paper serves as a training ground for future journalists, and as the campus watchdog, often reporting on issues of which students might not otherwise be aware. It allows students to experience creating an actual product that will be consumed by the public, instead of simply turning in homework assignments. It’s where leadership and team working skills are fostered, and where students learn how to interact with various different types of people – a skill that will be used in any job they might have in the future. On the surface, or by the numbers, it may seem like the journalism program’s impact is small. But as we should all know, numbers don’t tell a complete picture of “impact.” Talk to any alum of the program, of The Eastern Progress, or anyone who took any journalism classes what the program has meant to them, and the story and legacy of this invaluable EKU department is fully realized. If good journalism is to survive and thrive in this country (and most especially in the far-reaching rural counties that comprise the majority of EKU’s service area), we need schools to be investing more in their journalism programs – not cutting them when times get hard and budgets get tight. While I don’t wish to diminish that budget cuts at universities are very real and difficult, it has to be said that if concessions must be made, surely there are other avenues than simply cutting an entire program that has been so invaluable to the campus community, and to the students who pass through it. Perhaps the program can be moved into another higher-budget department so that the classes, expert faculty and staff can be retained. I urge EKU’s administration to not take the Journalism Program away from future students. To do so would be to limit their education in many known and ways. In these trying times of economic upheaval where budget cuts are more normal than they should be, and jobs are scarce; can we really afford to stunt our future workforce in such a way?
Ivy Brashear EKU alum Appalachian Communication Associate- MACED Berea, KY
Corey Wall, Editor
The Eastern Progress | www.easternprogress.com
Thursday, September 1, 2016 Page 5
For Hire: Campus jobs off the beaten path
EMILY VINSON/PROGRESS
By COREY WALL progress@eku.edu
There are plenty of great jobs available throughout Richmond, but the most coveted jobs are those available here at Eastern. Jobs on campus are extremely convenient. There’s no additional travel for students already on campus for class and EKU employers are great at working around class schedules
because they typically only hire students. There are traditional campus jobs, such as working as tutor for certain departments, being an RA or working as an aid in campus offices. Food service jobs, either in the Powell Building or campus cafes like Starbucks, are also available, but through Aramark. If traditional campus jobs just aren’t your thing, there are dozens of unique jobs that offer more than just another day in
the office. Here are a few cool and… interesting jobs currently available on campus. Note taker - EKU employs students to help take notes for students with disabilities. It’s a fantastic service offered by Eastern and actively makes a difference. Ceramics Assistant - If you to get your hands dirty you can spend your days working with clay in the art department. Model after school program
- Just a few hours in the afternoon spending time with Model students enrolled in the after school program. This is perfect for the adults that are really kids at heart. Model for art classes - Okay, this is where it gets weird—because it involves taking off your clothes. While models may be draped in cloth, being comfortable with nudity is a must. At the very least it’s not a very labor intensive job. Just sit. Group fitness instructor - If
just sitting is too boring, try being a group fitness instructor for Campus Rec. Make money and work out at the same time, it’s the ultimate time saver. Intramural sports officials - Sports fanatics and rule followers alike rejoice. You can get paid to watch your favorite sport. More available on campus jobs can be found at jobs.eku. edu.
Students delve into new ‘Warcraft’ expansion By TAYLOR CUSICK progress@eku.edu
August is a busy month for students at Eastern. Whether it is organizing their schedule, moving into a new dorm or scurrying to find a parking spot, the beginning of the semester can feel a bit overwhelming. Luckily, students who are familiar with Blizzard Entertainment have a safe haven to escape the chaos. This month marks the release of World of Warcraft Legion, the newest expansion in the World of Warcraft (WoW) series. WoW is a massive multiplayer online game, a type of game where players can interact with others and are encouraged to play with other gamers. You can play with your roommate sitting right next to you, or you can play with someone from China. “What really grasped me into WoW, after playing the first time, were all the character choices and abilities you can attain within those characters,” said Kacy Coldiron,
a junior history major from Harlan. “It is actually a pretty complex game until you get the hang of everything.” Simply put, the objective in WoW is to reach the max level, now 110 with the release of Legion, and then begin doing endgame content. Endgame content has two different forms. Player versus player (PVP) battleground, where members of the two opposing factions (the Horde and the Alliance) battle each other for glory and rewards. The other form of endgame content is player versus environment (PVE). PVE consist of massive raids where you and anywhere from 5 to 40 players team up to take down powerful boss characters to gain even greater rewards. Those players who want to be considered top tier, however, will have to plan on sinking quite a bit of time into Legion. “It’s literally like having a double life when you play,” said Cory Ross, a sophomore from Loyal. “The scale and the community of the game are absolutely massive. If you want to
compete, you have to put in some time.” For many, this means learning how to balance school work and gaming time. The more competitive you want to be in WoW the more time you’ll have to spend online. The more successful you want to be in class, the more time you have to spend studying. If gamers don’t want their grades to fall, they’ll have to find that perfect balance. “I pretty much play WoW in my downtime at the apartment,” Coldiron said. “If I have homework completed or nothing to do, I’ll start playing. I’m usually pretty good at not procrastinating, so WoW doesn’t get in the way of school.” The release of Legion brings new bosses, new PVE content and new storyline content to the WoW universe. Legion is the sixth expansion to WoW and comes 12 years after the release of the original game. With a $15 per month subscriber fee and a player base that has fluctuated between two and nine million, Blizzard has gotten their money’s worth
TAYLOR CUSICK/PROGRESS
from the Warcraft franchise. WoW also spawned a spin off card game called Hearthstone that Blizzard has seen massive success with on mobile platforms, as well as on Mac and PC. Legion’s release comes shortly after the sum-
mer release of the Warcraft film based in the same universe as the video game, so it’s safe to say World of Warcraft has made itself quite a comfortable bed in this generation’s culture.
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Thursday, September 1, 2016 Page 6
COURTESY OF SAM EASTES
Sam Eastes kicks an extra-point during a game for her Carmel High School’s varsity football team.
JOHNNA SPEAKS/PROGRESS
Tampa Bay Buccanners defensive end Noah Spence led Eastern’s defense into a near-upset against FBS rival University of Kentucky.
No more ‘moral victories’ COACH ELDER: COLONELS DON’T WANT SECOND BEST—THEY’RE READY TO WIN By TAYLOR WEITER taylor_weiter@mymail.eku.edu
As Eastern students return home for the holiday weekend, EKU Football looks to start off it’s 2016 season with a victory against the favored Big Ten competitor, Purdue University. The Boilermakers, 2-10 in 2015, are looking to bounce back from a lackluster season with the addition of two new coordinators, while the Colonels, 6-5, and new head coach Mark Elder are excited to introduce a completely renovated team unafraid of a big-name rival. “I don’t care if 60 show up or 60,000—we are there to compete and we are there to win,” Elder said. After an unsettling overtime loss against the University of Kentucky last season, fans and media applauded the Colonels for coming close to a bigger, more known Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school. Coach Elder, however, said close games are not enough. “Coming out here and competing and getting close is not enough,” Elder said. “There is not a single guy when you walk into that team meeting room that is interested in a moral victory.” “Finishing second-best isn’t something we’re interested in.” Citing the well-known Appalachian State victory over Michigan, as well as the Colonel’s defeat of Miami OH two years ago, as a constant cite for motivation, Elder said he knows his team is ready to compete. With a new head coach, philosophy and schedule, the Colonels have a lot to prove on the big stage. Purdue
is 11-0 all-time against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) competitors and harbors a large, veteran defensive line. With 22 more scholarship players, the Boilermakers add a depth Eastern cannot. Still, Elder said he is confident in EKU’s abilities—especially at the highly-anticipated quarterback position. The competitiveness at every position, Elder said, makes individual players, and in turn the team, better. While he refused to announce the starting quarterback for Saturday, Elder praised all quarterbacks, including Missouri transfer Maty Mauk and returning starter Bennie Conley, for their work in the preseason. Whoever the starting quarterback is will have a tough foil to face in Purdue sophomore David Blough, often known for scrambling in his first season, as he has impressed coaches and fans with plays in the pocket during the preseason as well. Additionally, players at all positions for the Boilermakers are trained at a high-level, some of which may have the opportunity to play at the next level in coming years. The game, just like any versus an FBS school, may be more exciting than others for fans, but Elder and company are adamant that the game will be treated like any other game. “It’s like what Coach Elder told us yesterday, we’re not going to Purdue for a vacation,” senior defensive back Kiante Northington said. “They might be fifteen pounds heavier than us or an inch taller than us, but we’re going to play with a lot of heart and effort like we always do.” The game plan is set, the team is ready and all that is left to do is execute. Watch the Colonels take on Purdue University Saturday, Sept 3 at noon on ESPNews.
EKU SPORTS
Rendering of the newly renovated baseball park that will be constructed by March 2016.
EKU spruces up ballpark with new concessions, seating and lockers By TAYLOR WEITER taylor_weiter@mymail.eku.edu
One of Eastern's most winningest program is looking to get some well-deserved renovations for the 2017 season. EKU Baseball has long been at the forefront of team and personal excellence with 16 OVC Regular Season Championships and over 32 Major League Baseball Draft picks--one of whom, Christian Friedrich, is currently in the majors. Though the team may garner accolades from peers and professionals, the Colonels have had difficulty gained the respect and fanbase other EKU sports may enjoy. Coach Edwin Thompson is looking to make his second year with the program the most memorable yet for both the team and the fans as Colonels will have a newly renovated place to play big-name teams such as Mississippi State and Louisville. Construction on the baseball facilities have begun and will, hopefully, be finished by regular season play in March, Thompson said.
The renovations will include new team locker rooms, hitting facilities and office spaces for the Colonels as well as a new entrance, concessions stand and chair back seats for the fans. With these changes comes the hope that fans, and students, will attend more home games, Thompson said, especially against rough opponents. "We had great student support last year with events like Greek Day, and we're hoping the new facilities will enhance our attendance," Thompson said. Thompson said he hopes recruits will also be impressed by the changes made to facilities. With a winning tradition and a tough schedule, updated facilities could offer recruits even more amenities once they join the Colonels. "When I came here, I obviously knew the tradition and the history of the program," Thompson said, "but I also loved the vision President Michael Benson and (Director of Athletics) Stephen Lochmueller had for the program and all sports." The new facilities are being built through agency bonds sold in 2015.
Switching shoulder pads for shin guards FRESHMAN SOCCER PLAYER PLAYED FOOTBALL AND SOCCER THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL By ROB RISTANEO progress@eku.edu
While Eastern’s football team is known for its excellence in special teams (re: Jordan Berry), Coach Elder might want to start scouting a new star recruit for special teams—and fortunately for him, he does not have to travel far. Freshman Sam Eastes arrived on EKU’s campus in hopes of making a difference in first-year Head Coach Nick Flohre’s newly remodeled soccer program. The 5’7 forward from Carmel, Indiana, was a star in both high school and club soccer play, making her a highly touted soccer star, but it SAM EASTES was what she did on Friday nights that garnered special attention. Soccer has always been Eastes’ favorite—and best— sport, she said. Since childhood, Eastes has competed in a plethora of sports, but she always excelled on the soccer field. During her junior year at Carmel High School, Eastes led the team in scoring, guiding the Greyhounds to the State Championship where they would eventually finish as runner-ups. In that same year, Eastes won the Indiana State Cup Championship with the Zionsville Youth Soccer Association—the first of two consecutive championships with the club. An elite player at both levels, Eastes was even invited to play in the Indiana Olympic Developmental Program, a program from which internationally-known players begin training, from 2010-2014. But just because soccer was her best sport, did not mean Eastes had zero time for other extra-curriculars. Just one day after putting her shin guards on to play a district rival, Eastes would change into a helmet and pads, ready to play under the Friday night lights. “I guess soccer was always my favorite, but I really love football—so it’s close,” Eastes said. Following in the footsteps of many male soccer players, Eastes decided to take the plunge and kick for her eighth grade football team. Because football is often a majority, if not an exclusively male sport, Eastes’ place in the locker room took some getting used to. As the only girl on the team, Eastes said it was a little awkward at first. Over time, however, she said the other players saw how good she was and accepted her as another member of the team. The bond Eastes formed with the other players was undeniable. Eastes continued her career for the 7-time State Champions Carmel High, kicking for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. Her junior year, Eastes received the chance of a lifetime. The Greyhounds had reached the state finals in Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Indianapolis Colts), when she was called on for an extra point. “During the state final, I got to kick an extra point in Lucas Oil Stadium and it almost got blocked,” Eastes said. “I was late and it went right under the defender—I was lucky to get it off.” Poised for a starting and captain position, Eastes’ career was unfortunately cut short before her senior year. “Over the summer, I tore my ACL,” Eastes said. “It took me out of being the starter and being a captain.” While Eastes said her ACL is fine aside from some irritation every now and then, she said she wishes she could have continued to play her senior year. Though her football career may be over, Eastes said she is happy that she chose to come to EKU and excited about her future. “I obviously came for soccer, but I wanted to be in elementary education and once I learned more about that program, I really liked it,” Eastes said. “So between the coaches, the school and the players, it was where I really wanted to be.” As a Colonel, Eastes has had playing time in all games as she tries to find her place on an already improving team. Balancing soccer with an intense elementary education course schedule can be difficult at times, but Eastes said she is happy to be at EKU and excited for her classes and her career. If Coach Elder, or anyone else, would like to see Sam Eastes’ kicking capabilities, the next EKU Soccer home game will be on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. against Western Carolina University.