VOL. 100 – ISSUE 22
THE TRUMPET
APRIL 22, 2021
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
WLU’s Student News Source
WLU designated second best graphic design school in West Virginia - pg. 3
WLU Track and Field teams continue to succeed in their 2021 Spring seasons pg. 13 @WLTrumpetOnline @thetrumpetwestliberty @thetrumpetwlu
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THE TRUMPET
NEWS
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
COVER BY: SAMANTHA SNYDER
CULTURE SPORTS Photo Credits: Anna Johnston
WLU announces RECAP winners for the 2021 competition during a virtual ceremony - pg. 4
WLU International Food Festival, take out edition - pg. 7
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
West Liberty Softball versus Davis and Elkins and West Virginia Wesleyan - pg. 14
THE TRUMPET
The Student Voice of the Hilltop
The Trumpet’s mission is to provide WLU students of all majors an opportunity to learn how to gather and present news information to the campus community, and to serve the campus community with fair and accurate reporting on matters of significance and interest.
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Annalise Murphy Online Editor Creed Kidney News/Copy Editor Intern Lizzy Griffith Culture Editor Morgan Kafana Opinion Editor Haley Blakemore Sports Editor Intern Anna Johnston Graphic Designer Intern Katlyn Roberts Graphic Designer/ Illustrator Samantha Snyder Sports Writer Maxwell Fledorczyk News/Culture Writer Emma Beatty Faculty Adviser Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell
Letters to the Editor
To submit a letter to the editor, please email anmurphy@westliberty.edu. Please list your name, address, phone number, and email address; if the piece is published, you will be contacted to confirm your identity.
Contact Us
wltrumpet@westliberty.edu - (304) 336-8873
NEWS
APRIL 22, 2021
NEWS
News/Copy Editor Intern: Lizzy Griffith
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- elgriffith@westliberty.edu
WLU designated second best graphic design school in West Virginia It’s no secret that the Hilltop is something of a hidden gem within the greater community and region, but, unsurprisingly, it seems that the nation and world have been taking note. In 2019, the Animation Career Review celebrated WLU as the second-best graphic design School in the entire state of W. Va.; in 2021, the same journal has once again cited our program here on the Hilltop as the number two contender for the top five graphic design schools within the state. Both rankings were led by West Virginia University in Morgantown; however, the other members of the group, within the published rankings by the Animation Career Review, switched between schools such as Marshall University and Concord University, with this year’s review showcasing Shepherd University in the eastern panhandle of W.Va. as a contender as well. The Animation Career Review states that, in developing these rankings, 710 colleges were considered, with the most recent batch of surveys asking the public about these findings having gone out in September of 2020; employment data was added to the ranking criteria as well for the 2021 rankings. The criteria that is used to decide these rankings are as follows: academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, and, as stated previously, employment data. Within
the published rankings itself, the Animation Career Review goes into discuss the various programs West Liberty offers its students within the College of Arts and Communications; these include the Department of Journalism, Communication Studies & Visual Arts, home to the Division of Art, which offers BS degrees in Visual Communication Design (VCD) (with a Track in Illustration) and Digital Media Design. The article also states that “Students in both programs ‘will experience lectures, workshops, tutorials, and project work,’ says the school. They will also ‘develop a broad range of communication skills in visualization, communication, presentation, writing, and technology.’ Opportunities for independent learning and internships are also available.” They also go on to discuss the broad range of real world clients that students enrolled within upper levels VCD courses will work with as a part of their required practicum; these
include, but are not limited to, “4-H Foundation of Hancock County, Echo International, The John Fowles Society, The Ohio Valley Museum Consortium, St. Vincent de Paul Parish – Wheeling, The Strand Theatre Preservation Society, and WV Arts and Crafts Guild, to name a few. Past internships include Action Images, Center for Educational Technologies, Challenger Space Center, Design and Image Studio, Lamar Advertising, and Oglebay Institute.” Finally, the article cites that successful graduates of WLU’s Digital Media Design and VCD programs are prepared to be successful candidates for jobs within the fields of “Arts Administration, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Multimedia, Publishing, and Web Design, along with Specialist careers in the Art, Design, and Digital Media industries.”Frankie Lander, a Freshman here on the Hilltop and a VCD major, shared their feelings of surprise
Graphic By: Samantha Snyder on the topic when they learned that West Liberty University was receiving so much attention; “It’s always reassuring and exciting to hear about the school you go to in news like this, especially when it’s about the program that you’re enrolled in and studying and love. It lets me know I made the right choice, but also tells everyone I know and work with that I’m receiving a quality education that’s going to prepare me for the real world of art and design. Not many people my age get to say that.” For more information regarding the programs offered in the College of Arts and Communication here on the Hilltop, please reach out to the Dean, Dr. Matthew Harder at mharder@ westliberty.edu. Questions regarding the content in this article should be directed to Creed Kidney at ctkidney@westliberty.edu.
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APRIL 22, 2021
NEWS
WLU announces RECAP winners for the 2021 competition during a virtual ceremony for each category can be seen on Topper Station during the awards ceremony. Instructor of Communication at WLU, Professor Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell, oversaw the oral presentation category, created the awards presentation, produced the marketing video and coordinated the news releases. According to Mehlman-Brightwell, each winner for each category won a Kindle Fire.
WLU announced the winners and runner ups for the third annual Research, Creative, Activity, and Performance (RECAP) symposium and competition via Topper Station on April 14, 2021. President Evans provided the introduction to the awards ceremony for the 2021 competition.
Mehlman-Brightwell’s favorite part about RECAP is viewing students’ research and presenting the awards. “I joined RECAP committee because I wanted to be involved in students’ research by recognizing and rewarding their outstanding achievements,” said Mehlman-Brightwell.
RECAP is open to all WLU undergraduate and graduate students “with the goal of recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievement in scholarly Research, Creative Activity, and Performance” according to the RECAP website. The symposium began during the 2017-2018 academic year, and was canceled in 20192020 (what would have been the third year) due to COVID-19. In previous years, the ceremony took place in College Hall; however, the ceremony took place on Topper Station this year due to the pandemic. The categories for RECAP include creative work and performance presentations, oral presentations, research paper and poster (display and presentation). The disciplines include business, communications, creative performance education, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and visual communication. The winner for the paper category was undergraduate Kendall Souder with “Resazomycins: A Family of Novel Antibiotics to Target Clinically Significant Gram-Negative Bacteria’’. Winner for the poster category was undergraduate Haley Miller with “Trophic Partitioning of Cambarus carinirostris, Cambarus robustus, and Faxonius obscurus in Kings Creek, W. Va. by Stable Isotope Analysis.” Graduate student Michelle Williams also won the
Provided By: Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell 2021 RECAP Awards Ceremony viewable on Topper Station best poster category with “Target Training Juvenile False Water Cobras (Hydrodynastes giga)”. Presentation winner was Souder with “Determining the
mechanism of action of resasomycins, a novel family of antibiotics’’. Creative Works winner was undergraduate Michelle Eisen with “I Think I’ll Miss You”. The runner ups
Assistant Professor of English, Dr. Drew Banghart, was in charge of the research paper submissions and made the rubrics for judging papers. “My favorite aspect [of RECAP] is just encouraging student research. Research is what elevated university education over primary education, and it’s good to see students beginning to master the skills necessary to participate in academic conversations,” said Banghart. Professor of Biology, Dr. Robert Kreisburg, was the chair of the RECAP Committee. “Faculty members on the committee were in charge of specific categories, and faculty from across campus judged the entries,” according to Kreisburg. His advice to students thinking about joining is to “do it.” Kreisburg explained, “It lets everyone see what you are doing outside of the classroom. All the students who enter say they enjoy the experience even if they didn’t win.”
For more information regarding RECAP, please visit the website at westliberty.edu/recap/. Any questions regarding the content within this article should be directed Creative Work By: Michelle Eisen to Annalise Murphy at anmurphy@ “I Think I’ll Miss You” westliberty.edu.
NEWS
APRIL 22, 2021
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Physician Assistant program presents first-year students with white coats West Liberty University’s first-year physician assistant (PA) program students were presented with their white coats in a socially distanced ceremony last Friday. The ceremony had been delayed until this month because of the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to go ahead last week with adjustments to maintain health and safety protocols. Two guests were allowed per student at the ceremony which was held in Kelly Theatre on WLU’s main campus. Program Director, Dr. William Childers opened the event followed by words from Dr. Karen Kettler, Dean of the College of Sciences. Jenna Ogden, a PA at Trinity Medical Center in Steubenville, Ohio and alumna of the program featured as the guest speaker. The WLU Physician Assistant Student Society (PASS) President, Dylan Ringer also spoke.
Liberty boasts one of the most affordable programs in the state of West Virginia and attracts a great deal of applicants each year.
The program consists of students from all across the United States with 18 of which make up the current first year class. West Photo Credits: Matt Hillard
The newest class of students that just received their white coats in preparation for the start of their clinical rotation year include:
The PA Studies degree program takes two years to complete featuring two year-round courses of study. The first 12 months are focused on in-classroom work with the second year centralized on clinical rotations.
Janette Adkins, Beckley W.Va., Kira Barondeau, Salt Lake City, Utah; Emily Bender, Langeloth, Pa.; Abbey Cusick, Shadyside, Ohio; Tyler Fancher, Joplin, Mo.; Connor Hall, Orem, Utah; Kaylee Hilliard, Bradley, W.Va.; Robert Hutcheson, South Charleston, W.Va.; David Lee, Jacksonville, Fla.; Haleigh Marlowe, Stanley, N.C.; Ethan McDonald, Inwood, W.Va.; Jennifer Myers, Wellsburg, W.Va.; Madison Neiswonger, Beallsville, Ohio; Corey Parsons, Cross Lanes, W.Va.; Abigail Runatz, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Alessa Safko, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Siarra Shaw, Olean, N.Y. and Zachary Sites, Sugar Grove, W.Va. The White Coat Ceremony is an important moment for any PA student. “The firstyear students began the program last summer, but the ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic. “We are pleased that it could finally take place in a safe manner,” explained Childers. The students
Photo Credits: Matt Hillard were finally able to get the full experience. The ceremony was an opportunity for the current class to celebrate and have their hard work recognized. “It honestly feels like my dream is finally coming true,” said Hilliard. “It makes the process feel so much more real… Finally getting a chance to receive our white coats and have a ceremonial event was just a blessing.” Hillard continued, “It’s so worth it. It’s a profession where every day you will learn something new.” For more information, visit WLU’s PA program website at:
westliberty.edu/ physician-assistant or call
(304) 336-5098
APRIL 22, 2021
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NEWS
Johnson & Johnson vaccine roll-out paused after 6 women develop rare blood clots W. Va. Governor Jim Justice, along with many others across the country, have paused the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine after reports came from the Food and Drug Administration and Center for Disease Control to do so. The FDA and CDC have reported six cases of rare blood clots in recipients of the vaccine. This recommendation was sent out on April 13, 2021 and will be revisited on April 23, 2021. Clinics that were preparing to administer this vaccine will replace it with Moderna or Pfizer as supplies will permit. According to the CDC, the rare blood clots were found in six women between the ages of 18 and 48 out of the nearly seven million doses that have been administered. These symptoms have been similar to the one viewed with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Alternatively, it has not been seen in the 180 Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons
million doses given of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Johnson & Johnson put out a statement stating that there was no clear correlation between the blood clots and their vaccine, but it is being managed with an abundance of caution. While the mysterious blood clots are being taken seriously, many are questioning why other medications with a more common rate are not being paused. For example, hormonal birth control has a blood clot rate of one in 1000 compared to the vaccine’s one in 1 million. This is a valid concern, but the types of blood clots are different. The ones seen when taking birth control tend to occur in the legs and travel to the lungs. However, those seen with the vaccine occur in the brain when the sinuses that drain blood become blocked. Additionally, those who contracted these blood clots also had a low platelet count which is an even rarer occurrence.
If you have already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there is no reason to panic. After two weeks with no symptoms, there is no reason to believe that you could develop these symptoms. If you have recently received it, you should watch for symptoms
in the first two weeks that include easy and new bruising, severe headache, leg swelling, and shortness of breath.
Upon the acknowledgment of these symptoms, medical assistance should be sought immediately. Gov. Justice has stated that none of the current occurrences have been from West Virginia, but there is still not enough information to rule any one thing or person out from the reaction. For more information, please contact the author, Emma Beatty, at ejbeatty@westliberty.edu. The Center for Disease Control’s website has also been updating with any and all new information presented. Graphic By: Samantha Snyder
REQUIRED COVID-19 TESTING
Students will continue to be tested for COVID-19 until finals week begins.
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Beta Hall, Boyd Hall, Bonar Hall, Unversity Place 2 Apartments and Topper Towers
Where: Blatnik Hall When: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bring photo I.D. and cell phone. Do not eat, drink, smoke, vape, use breath mints, mouthwash or brush teeth within 30 minutes of testing.
CULTURE
CULTURE APRIL 22, 2021
Culture Editor: Morgan Kafana
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- mkafana@westliberty.edu
WLU International Food Festival, takeout edition The German feature dish was jaeger spaetzle, an egg noodle dish with a mushroom sauce and is a staple of the country. The recipe for jaeger spaetzle can be found here.
The annual West Liberty University International Food Festival took place last Thursday after taking a year out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Take-out bags were available from the international center in Shotwell Hall. Bags had to be pre-ordered but a limited number were available on a first-come-first-serve basis. The event was run by the WLU International Club and co-sponsored by the Student Government Association.
The Japanese dish was miso soup made from soybean and tofu. Miso soup is a popular dish in Japan and has become a stable in Asian restaurants all over the world. A Nepali potato curry, aloo dum, was also included in the bag. The recipe for this tasty and easy to prepare dish can be found here. The final inclusion in the bag was a chocolate cookie from Romania named salam de biscuiti. There are several alterations that can be made to the recipe based on personal preference but the base form of the menu can be found here.
Each bag contained a number of different dishes from several countries around the world. Each came with instructions on how to prepare the food and a link to recreate the dish if desired. Featured countries included South Korea, Germany, Japan, Nepal, and Romania. The makeshift take-out restaurant was open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on April 15 with a $2 dollar minimum donation required per bag. All donations made were contributed towards the WLU International Student Club, SPICES.
To keep up with the international club and any upcoming events, follow them on social media and look out for emails in your WLU inbox.
Photo Credits: Anna Johnston, Sports Editor Pictures on the top, bottom, and bottom right were all taken at WLU’s International Food Festival. The South Korean dish bibimbap (vegetables with rice and pork) with seaweed and kimchi (napa cabbage, daikon radish, cucumber – pickled salad) was a big hit. “My favorite was the bim bim bap. I enjoyed the different use of spices and flavors,” said Zayne Brakeall, a junior at WLU who got a take-out bag. The cooking instructions recommended adding a fried egg served sunnyside up alongside the dish. You can find the recipe to recreate the bim bim bap here.
For more information about the content in this article, please email Anna Johnston at acjohnston@westliberty.edu.
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APRIL 22, 2021
CULTURE
WLU students create individual podcasts for Professor Pfister’s class West Liberty University Professor Jeff Pfister teaches a podcasting course where students learn various skills to create their own podcasts. There are currently three podcasts uploaded onto the WGLZ Radio website where you can access and listen to their work. Two of the students, along with Pfister, explained the process of podcasting and an overview of the course (COM 362) Pfister explained that students enrolled in the class will create three podcasts total throughout the semester. The first podcast being an artist spotlight, the second one is about student issues, and the third will be about historical perspectives through the eyes of several interviewees. Throughout the course, students will acquire production, interviewing, and advanced audio technology skills for professional podcasting. Pfister also said that he likes to give students freedom on what they talk about within the given topic themes. After the podcasts are completed, Pfister said that students can submit them into national competitions; he recalled a student who won second place a few years ago.
cause I have admired him since I was young. I love Nirvana’s music, and my beliefs align with Kurt’s in regard to most issues.” He says that he wanted to take this class because he loves recording and loves being creative with his editing. Whorton says, “I’ve learned a lot from this class like editing on Adobe Audition, as well as learning technical things like impedance and phasing when it comes to analog equipment.”
Photo Credits: westliberty.edu
Ian Phillips, another student in the class, shared his thoughts about the course. Phillips says, “I am very interested in doing podcast and audio work like this class covers which really makes me enjoy it.” He went on to say, “I am obtaining skills of writing scripts for my podcasts, conducting interviews, editing audio, and learning about audio.”
Photo Credits: westliberty.edu
Phillips also said he would recommend this class to other students who might be interested. He says, “[The class] allows you as a student to take grasp of the whole assignment and put your own twist on it which I think is really cool because most courses aren’t like that.” For his artist spotlight, Phillips chose to talk about Dean Martin because of personal connection with the artist. “Dean Martin is from my hometown Steubenville, Ohio. He also went to the same high school as me, and I wanted to show my love for my town and his music,” Phillips explained.
There are currently seven students taking the class. A prerequisite of a class called DMD 204 is required to take before enrolling for this class (COM 362). Students who are interested in audio technology and podcasting are encouraged to enroll into these courses. The first theme of the semester focused on musical artists of the student’s choosing. Sean Whorton, a sophomore at WLU and broadcasting major, chose to talk about Kurt Cobain for his podcast. Whorton says, “I chose Kurt Cobain as my artist spotlight be-
He also says that he’d recommend this class to anyone with an interest in podcasting. “[The class] forces you to think about things on a creative and societal level, and it teaches a lot about every day technical equipment.”
Photo Credits: westliberty.edu
If you’re interested in this class, reach out to Pfister for more information, and if you want to give a listen to these student’s podcasts, head over to the WGLZ radio website, click where it says “Passionately Vocal” then click “Spring 2021.”
CULTURE
APRIL 22, 2021
WLU to participate in ‘‘Music in the Park’’ event hosted at Oglebay
Looking for something to celebrate the end of an exceedingly strange school year with? Maybe you just want to relax and take in the serene beauty of “Almost Heaven” while we ring in the beginning of summer? Well, look no further than West Liberty University’s own “Music in the Park,” a festival-esque performance that will take place at the Anne Kuchinka Amphitheatre in Oglebay Park, W.Va. from Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2. On Friday, April 30, the West Liberty University Wind Symphony will be perform-
ing at 7 p.m. On Saturday, May 1, the Electronic Music Ensemble will be performing at 1 p.m., the Steel Band performing at 2 p.m., the Percussion Ensemble performing at 3 p.m., the African Drum & Dance ensemble at 4 p.m., and, finally, the West Liberty University Choirs will be performing at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 2, the Hilltop Opera will be performing at 1 p.m. and the Flute Choir at 2 p.m.. Weather permitting, all will go as scheduled; if any performances were to be “rained-out,” either on Friday or Saturday, they will be rescheduled to occur on Sunday, if possible. Any questions, comments, or requests for further information should be directed to music@westliberty.edu.
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Prof. Matthew Wood joins special education program on Hilltop
Students on the Hilltop might have noticed a new face in the special education department. Prof. Matthew Wood joined the special education program the fall of 2020. Wood holds his undergraduate degree from West Liberty University which was in interdisciplinary studies. He also has two master’s degrees from West Virginia University, an MAT in secondary social studies education and MA in history. Currently, Wood is working towards finishing up his Ph.D. from the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis being on applied behavior analysis. “I started my career wanting to teach history, in order to get a job, I applied for a special education teaching position. I fell in love with teaching special education and have never looked back,” said Wood. Currently, this is Wood’s tenth year as an educator. He has previous teaching experience Clay-Battelle Middle and High school located in Monongalia County. Wood has also taught at Preston High School which is located in Preston County. Wood’s decision to teach at West Liberty was simple; he wanted to return to his alma mater. This year, Wood is teaching graduate classes in the M.A.Ed. program. In addition to this, Wood is also teaching courses in special education and innovative instruction. Outside of being a special education instructor, Wood serves as the leadership in disability services advisor. This ser-
Photo Credits: Media Relations vice was created for anyone who is looking to seek a leadership role or additional preparation for working with individuals with a disability. He is also the advisor for the innovative instruction program. This program is designed for educators that desire learning innovative and research-based instructional methods to help prepare pre-kindergarten to 12 grade students for their futures. Wood has also been a participant in the diversity conversations on the West Liberty campus during Black History Month which was in the month of March. He has helped to organize speakers and the African-American read in which was held this year. Welcome back to the Hilltop Dr. Wood! Any questions regarding the contents of this article should be directed towards Morgan Kafana. Her email is mkafana@westliberty.edu.
APRIL 22, 2021
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PUPPIES ON THE QUAD
Sunny the Pug
Alex the Great Dane
Lambda Psi Sigma hosts Puppies on the Quad April 14, 2021
Josie the Golden Retriever & Roscoe the German Shepherd
OPINION
APRIL 22, 2021
OPINION
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Pepperoni Rolls become West Virginia’s ‘‘unofficial’’ state food A bill was introduced into W.Va. State Senate to declare the pepperoni roll as the official state food of W. Va.; “Often referred to as the ‘unofficial state food of W. Va.,’ the resolution recognizes the significance of the pepperoni roll in the state,” as stated in an article on the subject published by wtap. Naturally, then, the next best step would be to make the food the official culinary mascot of the Mountain State. First created in Fairmont, W.Va., in roughly 1927, by Italian immigrant baker, Giuseppe “Jo-
seph” Argiro, the Country Club Bakery, located in Fairmont, claims itself to be the very cradle in which the delicacy was first conceived. In fact, in the odd summer of 2020, a historical marker was placed outside the confectionary declaring the fact for all to see; stating that Argiro “saw that coal miners were eating ‘a slab of bread, a chunk of pepperoni and a bucket of water’ for lunch and got the idea to bake the pep-
Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons peroni into the bread,” as reported within an article on the subject by today. The resolution was first introduced in the House on March 9 and successfully passed; it is now within the senate rules committee for further discussion. Personally, I think this will be great for the state; for one, any kind of positive, and good-natured attention W.Va. can get should be seized and capitalized on at first sight, especially when it’s getting national attention. I have to admit, it’s rather strange that something as small as our state declaring the pepperoni roll as our official state food has garnered so much widespread attention, but then again – who doesn’t love a good, fluffy, cheese and pepperoni filled roll straight from almost heaven? Another reason I believe this will be great for our state is the
attention it brings to W.Va.’s frequently overlooked immigrant culture, the contribution these people have made, and the sheer impact their influence has had on our overall society, statewide identity, history and, obviously, our palette. Especially in a time when our nation and world are rife with racism and bigotry, and narrow-mindedness has blinded so many of us to the beauty of immigrant culture and contribution, perhaps W.Va. can remind us that we’re really all in this together. As stated by today, “Whereas Philadelphia may have [the cheese steak] and New York its bagels,” W.Va. will always have the pepperoni roll, and soon, it’ll be official. For more information about this pepperoni roll article, please email Creed Kidney at ctkidney@westliberty.edu.
APRIL 22, 2021
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OPINION
Disney Parks revamping their dress code; what does this mean for cast members? Josh D’Amaro, the Chairman of Disney Parks, recently announced in a blog post the company’s plans to revamp dress codes for cast members so that gender roles aren’t exclusive and so everyone feels welcomed. Costumes, merchandise, and even rides are being revamped as part of this initiative. Although this sounds like great news, not everyone feels that Disney is doing all it can to be welcoming and forward-thinking. Kenley George, a student at West Liberty University, was part of the Disney College Program (DCP) in the fall of 2019. This program required George to move to Disney for a few months while working in one of the parks. Part of her job required her to follow a strict dress code: no visible tattoos, neutral-colored nail polish, natural colored hair, and limited piercing jewelry and jewelry on her wrists and fingers. George recalled, “I have a visible tattoo on my wrist that I had to cover up with band-aids every time I worked.” She continued, “I was not allowed to have any facial piercings, only one piercing on my ear lobe. I could only wear two
rings all together and wear a simple necklace and maybe one or two bracelets.” She said that the dress code was often referred to as the “Disney Look.” George says, “I feel that Disney is a place that anyone and everyone can express themselves and be true to who they are. I feel like the ‘Disney Look’ holds back cast members from doing just that.” According to the announcement
Photo Provided By: Beth George (Kenley’s mom)
Photo Provided By: Kenley George Kenley and her fellow cast members in Galaxy’s Edge by D’Amaro, the new “Disney Look” is much more relaxed and inclusive. “Our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos.” George explained that cast members played a character based on where they were located. She worked in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and was expected to maintain her character, so she understands why there might be stricter rules about tattoos. She says, “If someone working in Galaxy’s Edge has a Harry Potter tattoo, it might confuse some people.” Not all tattoos will be allowed to be visible, but this is another step toward tattoo acceptance and overcoming the stigma around them. Dress codes aren’t the only thing that is changing. D’Amaro’s state-
ment also said, “We’re reimagining our attractions to be more inclusive, like upcoming enhancements to Jungle Cruise and new adventures with Princess Tiana.” The hopes of these improvements are to celebrate diversity, traditions and cultures from all people. Disney’s Four Keys--safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency—is now The Five Keys, adding “Inclusion at the heart.” I believe that self-expression is important to be taught to young children as something that accepts all that makes up a person. Hair color, jewelry, piercings, and tattoos are all forms of self-expression and diversity. I also believe that big companies like Disney should continue to break gender roles and make sure to include all genders and people. Hair, jewelry, and tattoos are parts of cultures and traditions, so it’s time the world starts normalizing and accepting this.
SPORTS
SPORTS APRIL 22, 2021
Sports Editor: Anna Johnston
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- acjohnston@westliberty.edu
WLU Track and Field teams continue to succeed in their 2021 Spring seasons The WLU track and field team continued their strong streak of performances last Saturday at the University of Charleston Invitational. Several student-athletes pulled-off impressive individual performances most notably in the form of Kelsi Hulit and Hannah Kemp who continued their impressive run of form in their respective events. Hulit, a junior thrower from Malvern, Ohio and All-Region standout won-out in the discus and shot put events and claimed fourth place in the hammer throw.
Hulit’s winning discus throw broke her own school record (which she set just a week prior)
measuring a distance of 47.10 meters. This success was enough to put her in the top 20 throws nationally this season and the number one in the region. Kemp continued her winning streak of the season placing first in the 10,000 meter event with a time of 37:19.94 shattering the long standing school record set by Sherry Borsos’ a decade ago. The MEC Cross Country Runner of the Year cemented her spot as a force to be reckoned with the fastest time in the MEC this spring. Aubree Story, a junior jumper from New Richmond, Ohio also featured on the podium in the high jump with a first place victory measuring a jump of 1.60 meters. This jump places Story in joint first in high jump in the MEC this season and puts her just short of making a new WLU school record. The women’s side scored points in several other events with Emily Louk coming third in the 800 meters event and Mackenzie Rine coming in at fourth in the pole vault at 2.62 meters.The Lady Toppers fin-
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports ished third overall in the team standings. The men’s team failed to record any individual records but managed to secure a fifth place finish in the team event. Junior runner Danah Phillips won in the 800 meter event with a time of 1:57.65 which puts him within the top 10 times in the MEC this season. Corey Wyttenbach and Dillon Meintel placed second and third respectively in the high jump and Adam O’Donnell placed third in the long jump also securing a spot in the top 10 list in the MEC this season. Jared Ullom finished second in the 10000 meter event less than a second behind the first place finisher from UC. Both the men and women’s track and field teams are back in action on Friday, April 23 at West Virginia University in the WVU Spring Showcase Competition. Any questions regarding the content within this article should be directed to Anna Johnston at acjohnston@westliberty.edu.
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APRIL 22, 2021
SPORTS
West Liberty Softball versus Davis and Elkins and West Virginia Wesleyan West Liberty Softball split their four game weekend series 2-2 against Davis & Elkins College and West Virginia Wesleyan College, improving to an overall team record of 21-12. Prior to this weekend’s contest, West Liberty was riding a season high 10 game winning streak, which extended as far as 12 prior to the Wesleyan match-up. This winning streak included phenomenal wins over the likes of Wheeling University, Glenville State College, Concord University, Ursuline College, Slippery Rock University, and Davis & Elkins. Beginning this weekend series for the Lady Hilltoppers was a doubleheader against the Davis & Elkins Senators. On the mound for Game one was Makenzie Amend, who put on one of the most premier showings the entire Mountain East Conference has seen all season. Amend, who was recognized by the team during their senior day, wasted no time getting into a groove. With West Liberty taking a 1-0 lead after an inning of play, it was all Amend from there, who struck out an eye popping 15 batters while walking none. Although she gave up three hits while doing so, the complete game shutout she had pitched was more than enough in terms of what was expected, and Head Coach Herb Minch is undoubtedly pleased with his veteran pitchers performance. Game two against Davis & Elkins was much of the same for the Hilltoppers pitching staff, this time with the incredible performance of sophomore Riley Bennington. West Liberty was once again able to secure a two run lead after a run was scored in both
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports the fourth and fifth inning, and it ultimately proved to be enough for the Hilltoppers, as Bennington tossed six scoreless innings, while striking out six and not walking a single batter. It is safe to say that Saturday was phenomenal for the West Liberty pitching staff as a whole, with the feature of fourteen straight scoreless innings, including twenty one strikeouts and one walk. Although the Hilltoppers found success against the Senators, it was not the same when it came to the face-off against West Virginia Wesleyan. Annie Patterson was on the mound for the first of two games, and was unfortunately tagged with the loss after getting hit early and walking five. The final score was 5-2. The second game was definitely closer, ultimately going into extra innings, but WVWC hung true, and pulled out that victory as well with a 7-5 final. Bennington on a days rest looked a bit shaky in the top of the second, and Taylor Bonnett eventually was credited with the loss for the Hilltoppers. With just a handful of series remaining for the Hilltoppers soft-
ball team, expect this race down the stretch to capture the Mountain East North to be as entertaining as ever, and something in which the Hilltoppers look to come out on top. Any questions regarding the content within this article should be directed to Maxwell Fiedorczyk at mrfiedorczyk@westliberty.edu.
SPORTS
APRIL 22, 2021
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Difficult weekend for Men’s and Women’s Tennis Contributing Writer: Mark Donnelly
Difficult weekend for men’s tennis West Liberty’s men’s tennis team had two tough away losses this weekend at the hands of Fairmont State University and the University of Charleston. Their positive conference record still remains intact, standing at 4-3, however their ranking has taken a hit as they now sit in fourth place. They were coming off the back of two out of conference losses against Saint Francis University and Salem University as they were looking to get back to winning ways against the falcons. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case as they were on the wrong side of a 5-2 scoreline as they were dealt their third loss in a row. The falcons took the doubles point, winning all three games with the toppers winning just 6 sets. Zarion Jones and Anton Shultz won their singles matchups, however their efforts were not enough to salvage the team win. WLU were on their travels again as the faced off against the #1 ranked golden eagles. They unfortunately failed to win a game as the home side came away with a 7-0 sweep further cementing their place at the top of the MEC standings. Coach Ronnie Hulewicz’s youthful Hilltoppers failed to put together any momentum in their penultimate regular season matchup as they were handed their fourth consecutive loss. West Liberty will face off against West Virginia Wesleyan College in their final regular season game where they can secure a place in the MEC Championships. A win in this game would also gave them a strong chance of finishing the regular season in third place and go into the conference championships as the #3 seed.
The hilltoppers will be away for this match, which will start at noon on Saturday April 24.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Tough loss for women’s tennis West Liberty’s women’s tennis team took a difficult loss at home against West Virginia State University, taking their third consecutive loss in a 7-0 sweep. The lady toppers still maintain their positive in-conference record however, which currently sits at 3-2. Coming off the back of two tight defeats to Salem University and the University of Charleston, coach Heather Gallagher’s toppers were hoping to put an end to this losing streak and get back to winning ways as they approached the end of the regular season. This was unfortunately not the case as the talent of yellow jackets on the day was just too much for them. The away side started the day on the front foot, winning all three doubles matches to take the
doubles point and an early 1-0 lead. They then went on to take straight set wins in the Nos. one, three, five and six singles matches, showing exactly why they are one of the strongest teams in the Mountain East Conference. WLU did not go down without a fight as both Nathalia Valencia and Luisa Agudelo won their first sets and took their games to a tiebreaker. Unfortunately for the two South American natives they were both on the wrong side of these tiebreak-
ers as the yellow jackets secured the final two games of the day to take home the 7-0 sweep. With a perfect conference record of 5-0, ‘State are in pole position in the conference, sitting in first place and having already secured their spot in the postseason. The lady toppers are still in a strong position to secure a spot in the MEC Championships in May as they currently sit in third position with just one conference matchup still to play.
A win against West Virginia Wesleyan College in their final game of the regular season on April 25 would secure their spot as the #3 seed going into the conference championship. The lady toppers have two out of conference games before that though as they travel to Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Slippery Rock University later this week.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
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APRIL 22, 2021
SPORTS
West Liberty baseball splits in series against Alderson Broaddus University Individual successes aside, West Liberty looked strong in games three and four.
WLU split their four game
weekend series against Alderson Broaddus University 2-2, losing their first game 10-3, winning the second game 4-2, winning the third game 10-9, and finally losing the fourth game 13-3. The Hilltoppers performed well with some standout individual oplay from sophomore Ty Helmke. What a phenomenal weekend it was for Helmke, regardless of the outcomes. In the first game, Helmke was able to find a home run swing, and although the score was not to West Liberty’s advantage, it proved to be a bright spot nonetheless. In game two, Helmke yet again sent a moonshot to centerfield, resulting in a three run homerun. He even came in-clutch again in games three and four with home runs in each, cementing an impressive four game home run streak for Helmke.
Following a loss in game one, WLU needed a strong performance from their pitching staff to salvage a game, and that staff delivered. Ian Brady, who has seen success with the Hilltoppers this season, picked up his fifth win this year, striking out two and only giving up two hits. It was the top of the fifth inning which proved to be enough to capture the win for WLU, as back to back home runs by Helmke and Campbell broke the game wide open. The Toppers went on to win by the final score of 4-2.
With West Liberty now positioned one game under .500 at 13-14, they still look up at Wheeling University, who owns the MEC North Division lead as it stands. There are only a handful of games remaining as the season begins to dwindle, so it is important that the Hilltoppers play their best
baseball then they have the entire season. For an up-to-date schedule, visit Hilltoppersports.com. Any questions regarding the content within this article should be directed to Maxwell Fiedorczyk at mrfiedorczyk@westliberty.edu.
The Hilltop’s Athlete of the Week
Ty Helmke
Game three was certainly more of a barn burner then not. Logan Grimm of West Liberty picked up the victory and looked rather impressive doing so, striking out eight and walking only three. Although West Liberty’s bats were at full force, their bullpen late in the game made it interesting, to say the least. Colton Coss’s 4 RBI proved to be huge for West Liberty, who ultimately secured the victory 10-9 after a late surge from Alderson Broaddus late. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Baseball - Outfielder Year: Sophomore Hometown: Johnston, Ohio About Helmke: Helmke homered for the fourth game in a row and has had been pivotal in the Hilltoppers performance so far this season. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
