VOL. 101 – ISSUE 10
THE TRUMPET WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
WLU’s Student News Source
West Liberty alumnus named semifinalist for GRAMMY Award - pg. 3 West Liberty Football drops a close one on senior day with a final score of 33-28 - pg. 13 @WLTrumpetOnline @thetrumpetwestliberty
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THE TRUMPET
NEWS
Provided By: Christy Bennington
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
COVER BY: SAMANTHA SNYDER
CULTURE SPORTS Photo Credits: Creed Kidney
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
WLU makes medical unit available to students - pg. 4
New clinical psychology studentrun group thearpy begins - pg. 7
West Liberty Cross Country season comes to a close - p. 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 Editor Brianna Hamon Culture Editor Intern Faith Hayes Opinion Editor Intern Kailey Carpino Sports Editor Intern Ross Salvatori Graphic Designer/Photographer Haley Blakemore Graphic Designer/Illustrator Samantha Snyder Sports Writer Maxwell Fledorczyk Staff Writer Micahel Antley Director Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell
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NEWS
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
NEWS
News Editor: Brianna Hamon
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- bnhamon bnhamon@westliberty.edu @westliberty.edu
West Liberty alumnus named semifinalist for Grammy Educator award tional settings are not eligible. Teachers who are planning to retire at the end of the current school year are not eligible.”
Kyle Cook, an alumni music education student was recently chosen as a semifinalist for the 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. The contending semifinalists were announced on Oct. 20 by the GRAMMY Museum where a total of 25 music teachers representing 24 cities across 16 states were listed. According to the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, Cook was chosen out of 1,135 total nominations spanning over 49 states in the U.S. All nominations for the GRAMMY Music Educator award are submitted to Grammy in the Schools, a music education outreach program set up in select schools by the GRAMMY Museum. According to Grammy in the Schools, their program seeks to provide high school students with the opportunity to interact and learn from music professionals that can give them real-world experience in what it means to have a career in any field of music ranging from audio engineering, producing, music journalism and songwriting. The GRAMMY in the Schools lists requirements for the award nominees by stating, “Current, full-time educators in the U.S., who teach music in public or private schools, Kindergarten through College. Teachers in after-school, private studios, or other educa-
In a press release written by the Director of Media Relations, Maureen Zambito stated that the Grammy in the Schools awards this honor to teachers who play a critical role in teaching musical performance to students. This award was created as a way to recognize the behind-thescenes people responsible for the talent presented to the GRAMMY stage. The 10 finalists chosen will be recognized for their impact on music with a trip to Los Angeles for the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony in 2022 where the winner will receive the educator award at a GRAMMY Week ceremony along with a $10,000 personal honorarium for their success. The chosen finalists also receive a cash prize of $1,000 while the semifinalists receive a prize of $500.
the district and Teacher of the Year in 2015 at Currituck County Middle School during his tenure. Before obtaining these accolades, Cook received his bachelor’s degree in music education in 2013 at West Liberty University (WLU) and his master’s degree from Ohio University in 2020.
In response to hearing the news of Cook becoming a semifinalist for a GRAMMY award, Dr. Ryan Keeling, director of choral activities at WLU had this to say: “This is wonderful news and well deserved. Kyle is an outstanding music educator and I’m so pleased that he’s receiving the recognition he deserves.”
Cook was awarded for his six-year direction of the Outer Banks Chorus and his education skills at the Western Branch Middle School Choirs in Chesapeake, Va.
As director and conductor of WLU Singers, Choral Scholars and the WLU Community Choir, Keeling understands the many responsibilities that accompany a music educators’ job as well as the skills needed to prepare students at WLU for a life in the music field.
In an article published by Outer Banks Voice, they previewed Cook’s career in musical teaching by explaining his service as Chorus Director of Moyock Middle School and Currituck County Middle School from 2013 to 2017. During this time, Cook was named New Teacher of the Year in both schools, overall New Teacher of the Year in
“My goals are to provide students with a transformative education in music, education and life. It’s of the utmost importance that we impart to our students the knowledge and skills required for them to be successful leaders, teachers and members of society.” Keeling furthered his own music education responsibilities by stating that training young teachers to be the
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations Kyle Cook, alumnus of WLU and semifinalist in 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.
best they can be while offering them a world-class education is a key tool in providing well-rounded teaching. Stay tuned in the coming months as the GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy publishes the finalists for the 2022 Music Educator Award. To nominate a teacher, professor or music educator who possesses the qualities worthy of this award, visit the Grammy in the Schools website and fill out an application for the 2023 GRAMMY award ceremony. For more information, please contact Maureen Zambito, director of media relations at maureen.zambito@westliberty.edu or visit Outer Banks Voice for information regarding Cook and his music career.
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
NEWS
WLU makes medical unit available to students
students who may be insured but the unit does not take that insurance, they can receive services still no matter the ability of coverage. Of course, the unit also serves those who are not insured or underinsured additionally.”
West Liberty University (WLU) has partnered with Cornerstone Care Community Health Centers to provide a mobile medical unit on campus. The health services provided by the unit are confidential and at low to no cost to students, faculty and staff. The next unit will be available on campus on Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Health Center. According to a flyer provided to students, medical services provided include on site birth control options (oral contraceptives, depo shot, IUD, implant, and condoms), STI and HIV testing, pregnancy testing, breast and cervical cancer screening (including Pap tests), breast exams, Gardasil vaccine, basic infertility services and preconception health care. Appointments can be made for the Nov. 29 visit, or those interested can stop by the unit because walk-ins are welcomed. Partnerships with the mobile medical units are completed
(Photo Credits: XXX)
Photo Credits: Christy Bennington Christy Bennington is the Director of Student Health Services.
through Adaigo Health WV. Adaigo health aims to provide federally funded family planning and reproductive services to women and men within the following West Virginia counties: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston and Wet-
zel. There is no in-state requirement in order to use the medical unit — anyone can use the units’ services regardless of where they live. Partnerships are generally conducted with venues and schools with no cost to the community. Christy Bennington, director of student health services at WLU, provided the information listed above regarding the specifics of the partnership the University has with the medical unit. “Individuals will have convenient access to birth control, STD testing and reproductive health exams without having to leave campus,” said Bennington when asked about the benefits for the campus. Brenna Orr, with Adaigo Health, said: “If a student has health insurance and the mobile unit accepts this insurance, and the student is not seeking confidential services (If they are we never bill insurances to secure confidentiality) then yes it does accept it, for
Orr also shared specific STI testing and treatment that is provided on site explaining, “The mobile medical unit provides full – service STI testing and treatment on site (medications dispensed at time of visit or delivered to patient upon results). These tests include Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes I and II, Trichomonas, HPV, Syphilis and HIV. In addition, the unit provides other basic lab testing for other reproductive health needs.” According to both Bennington and Orr, the university plans to have the unit on campus at least once a month if not more in the spring semester. Students seeking care from the unit, such as birth control, will still be able to get their medication even if the unit is on campus. Orr explained, “Students who are seeking any type of care including birth control always have the option for a TeleHealth visit on days the unit is not on campus and the mobile unit staff will get them their medications or birth control by mail or hand delivery.” Orr also explained the mobile units’ services and staff are available through the summer months throughout Ohio and Brooke counties at its other locations. Individuals are also able to “schedule a tele-health visit to receive care or a refill or contact Cornerstone Care to come to the nearest medical office to the student [or individual]. Each of their offices provide the same programming that the mobile unit can offer,” said Orr. For more information regarding the Community Mobile Medical Unit on campus, please contact Christy Bennington at cbennington@westliberty.edu or by phone by calling (304) 3368049.
NEWS
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
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SPICES celebrates International Education Month with fun activities for students November is International Education Month and West Liberty University has multiple events planned for this month. Some of these events include celebrating international holidays, listening to guest speakers, having discussions, eating international food, learning new songs and dances and playing games that are popular around the world. SPICES, WLU’s International Club, will be hosting many events this month including a global fair and international games. According to WLU’s website, “The WLU International Club was established to form a multicultural international organization that supports the welfare of international students and facilitates interaction between American students and international students at West Liberty.” The club’s slogan is “Diversity is the Spice of Life”.
Ryan Glanville, coordina-
tor of international programs and recruiting encourages students to learn more about other cultures by participating in the activities on campus. Glanville believes that learning about other cultures helps people become more understanding and accepting of people who are different from them. On Nov. 9, students can also learn about studying abroad and get introduced to the culture of the country they wish to study in. This event takes place at 12:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room of the Student Union where Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick and Dr. Rohit Pradhan will discuss basic information about the study abroad program. On Monday, Nov. 15, students can participate in a panel discussion about cultural stereotypes. The event takes place from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room. On Tuesday, Nov. 16, there will be two international events on campus. At 2:30 p.m., students will have the opportunity to make a Brazilian dessert in the Chapel
Topper the Bear celebrating International Education Month Graphic By: Samantha Snyder
Social Room. At 5:00 p.m., students can play a Philippine Game in the Alumni Room.
discussion about the effectiveness of language apps in the Alumni Room.
On Nov. 17 at 3:00 p.m., students will have the chance to play Squid Game, a Korean game, in the Alumni Room. The game will resemble similar aspects to what is played on the new Netflix show, Squid Game. Professor Moonjung Kang will be in charge of this event. Students will be rewarded with candy that is popular in Korea.
The final event of International Education Month is International Transgender Day of Remembrance. This event takes place on Nov. 20 on the Quad. The time for this event is to be announced.
On Nov. 18, from 9:3010:45 a.m. two guest speakers will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected teaching English and global education. This event will take place in the Chapel Social Room. At 2:00 on the same day, Dr. Shannon Halicki, associate professor of foreign languages, will lead a
To see the full schedule of events check Hilltopper Headlines or check your email for updates on student activities. For more information about International Education Month, email Ryan Glanville at ryan.glanville@westliberty.edu or email international@westliberty.edu. You can also visit SPICE’s Facebook page to see information about both previous and upcoming events or email spices@westliberty. edu.
Diversity is the Spice of Life!
Activity Schedule for International Education Month Graphic By: Hilltopper Headlines
“The WLU International Club was established to form a multicultural international organization that supports the welfare of international students and facilitates interaction between American students and international students at West Liberty,” according to WLU’s website.
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
NEWS
EIM group releases instructional video: “Immune Response Regarding Exercise” Dr. Jason Metz, Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology, published a video on Topper Station regarding exercise medicine and its various benefits, presented by his students Claudia Cubides and Brianna Hendershot. Specifically focusing on immune response and its importance in the ongoing pandemic, the video also goes over facts such as how long you should spend exercising per week along with the physiological and psychological benefits that accompany it. During the clip, Cubides and Hendershot give tips and tricks on how to involve exercise into activities of daily living while including some advice on starting small, making it into a game or social activity and rewarding yourself. The pair also explain how enduring stressful times without
engaging in physical activities can lead to a much weaker immune system. The video discusses how exercising can increase the production of multiple different kinds of white blood cells, including b-cells, neutrophils and macrophages.
They went on to mention important aspects to remember when training by stating that exercise is a stressor and too much or too little can be harmful. Some activities, like running and competitive sports, have a higher risk of musculoskeletal injuries or MSI. With COVID-19 hindering travel to the gym and affecting mental health, exercise has been an easy task to skip over. West Liberty University (WLU) exercise physiology student, Kacey Klein, stressed the impact of videos like this being released because working out has become a formidable task for some with repetitive quarantining and outbreaks. “If it could inspire just one person to get up and move, and that person inspired three more, the chain won’t end. We can work together to motivate each other and create a healthier atmosphere.” He elaborated on this by saying that you don’t need a gym or specific equipment to get some exercise in, just a drive to be active. Like Klein’s statement, student Taylor Bolinger has struggled to find the time for the gym between work and classes, relying on her physically demanding serving job to burn calories. Bolinger said
Topper Station video on the website. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore the following when questioned about her opinion on the video, “It really helped me realize how much exercise can do for the body – and I definitely won’t be skipping out anymore. Our campus offers lots of events, like self-defense class and Zumba, so I can’t deny not having the opportunities.” For more information, please contact Dr. Jason Metz.
Struggling to find time for the gym between work and classes? Try out some of these exercise programs and facilities on campus! Exercise Activities Dance Fitness Class Zumba Self-defense classes Intramurals
Gym Facilities
Krise Fitness Center Blatnik Gym
CULTURE
CULTURE
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Culture Editor Intern: Faith Hayes
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- fbhayes@westliberty.edu
New clinical psychology student-run group therapy begins just in time for end of semester stress tact the Behavioral Health Clinic at (304) 336-8199.
Starting last week on Nov. 3, graduate students Collin Morgan and Gabby Harrah of the clinical psychology program began a group therapy initiative on campus in hopes to offer students an outlet for expression, release, and community as the time for finals quickly approaches. Advertising itself as a reminder for students to not forget to be “mindful for [their] final,” the group will be meeting throughout the month of November and into December, with weekly Wednesday night sessions, excluding dead week, on Nov. 3, 10, and 17; one last meeting will be held on Dec. 1. Each session lasts about one hour, happening on the dates listed previously from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Main Hall, room 339. For any questions related to group therapy or the clinical psychology program, students are encouraged to con-
With the added stress of finals approaching on students, among other things, Morgan and Harrah both feel that the option of group therapy is important to the campus community because it provides an opportunity for students to learn coping, self-care, and time management skills in a comfortable, all-inclusive environment; “If anything can be taken away from a student’s exposure to group therapy, even if it’s limited to just them seeing an advertisement for our sessions, ultimately we just want everyone to know that we’re another resource on campus that’s ready to be utilized. Finals is a hectic time, and that’s not even to mention the constant stress of COVID-19 that effects all of us on a daily basis – group therapy is somewhere where students can come to talk to their peers about these things. It’s amazing what just getting your feelings out can do for someone, especially when you have the op-
West Liberty University Behavioral Health Clinic. Photo Credits: Creed Kidney
West Liberty University Behavioral Health Clinic. Photo Credits: Creed Kidney portunity to talk about those things with people your age and in roughly the same environment, that being college.” When asked what motivated him to begin this initiative on campus, Morgan shared that it originally began as a class project for himself and Harrah as they co-developed the lessons and activities and lead the sessions as a team, but for Morgan it went a little deeper; “Personally, I want to work with college students in the future in my career, so this kind of opportunity is a perfect experience for me to prepare me for that path I want to go down. I know how stressful the time spent in undergraduate studies can be, so I want to use what I can learn from
group therapy and my own time spent in college to really help these students.” Although group therapy will be ending once the final session concludes on Dec. 1, Morgan is hopeful that it will be something that can return to campus in the future; but for now, all himself and Harrah both want is for their current project to make some kind of impact on the students they get to work with; “We’re both very excited about this opportunity and getting to see where it goes, and as long as we can say that we impacted in some way those who came to our sessions, it would be a great end to the day.”
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
CULTURE
The Union Gallery opens with new artwork
Left to right: Taylor Nelson and Jewell Cox. Bottom: Caroline “Blake” Hull. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
Left to right: Creed Kidney and Mykaela McLamar. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
Left to right: Sarah French and A.J. Butcher. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
Left to right: Jacob Pierce and Elizabeth Eames. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
Left to right: Juliana Haug and Sierra Stevens. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
CULTURE
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
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Meet Lori Hudson, new WLU Vice President of Fiscal Affairs Contributing Writer: Kaitlynn Wheeler Back in late September, West Liberty University hired a new Vice President of Fiscal Affairs. The person entitled is Lori Hudson, and she plans to make quite an impact with her newly acquired position. Hailing from Bellaire, Ohio, Hudson has been in higher education for about 25 years. Prior to her joining West Liberty, she formally served as controller, acting vice president and chief financial officer at Wheeling University. Hudson attended Wheeling University back when it was known as Wheeling Jesuit University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
Hudson’s drive to make an impact financially is what made her gravitate toward West Liberty. “I researched the University and was interested in being a part of such a forward-thinking institution, especially with regard to the research conducted and the unique opportunities available to the students,” said Hudson. In her leadership role, Hudson has a couple goals she wishes to accomplish during her time at West Liberty. Some of those goals include setting up a framework for longterm success and creating a budget surplus that can be reinvested in the institution. “I believe it is very important that everyone shares the same vision and goals, and that means involvement by everyone at West Liberty University, including faculty, staff, students, the President, Board of Gov-
ernors, alumni and the community,” said Hudson. Along with these goals, Hudson also intends to prioritize West Liberty students. One of the obstacles Hudson faces is decreased enrollment which, consequently, puts a strain on the institution financially. Hudson plans to put West Liberty in a better position so that more opportunities are available to administrators, faculty, staff and students. “Our university is no different than many universities in that there is a decline in students enrolled. This in turn, creates a situation where your expenses are greater than the revenue you bring into the institution. Therefore, careful monitoring of expenses becomes necessary along with strategic planning and focusing on improving student outcomes and ways to generate more revenue,” Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations said Hudson. experience in higher education is an as With her ambitious goals and set to our Division of Fiscal Affairs. She attitude, West Liberty University is a team-player and is skilled at working President, Dr. W. Franklin Evans, excollaboratively with other units across the pressed his joy for Hudson’s arrival campus,” said Evans. on campus. As the new Vice President of Fis “Ms. Hudson has been a cal Affairs, Hudson will serve on the Preswonderful addition to West Liberty ident’s cabinet and will supervise the busiUniversity. Her wealth of business ness office and its employees.
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Jake Stone holds Self Defense Classes in the Blatnik Wrestling Room
Rebecca Bowman, Sodexo Retail Manager, looks to revamp operations on campus
Self-defense instructor Jake Stone encourages all students to learn techniques they can use to protect themselves. The course will also teach students how to recognize when a situation is unsafe. Each class will focus on a few different techniques that anyone can use to defend themselves in an unsafe situation. Stone wants students to feel empowered and safe in their everyday lives. The class lasts for eight weeks. Students do not have to attend all eight classes if they don’t want to, but if they do, they receive a certificate showing that they completed the course. Regardless of whether or not students will receive a certificate, they will still have the opportunity to learn skills and techniques to keep themselves safe. “I think that it’s really important to learn self-defense, because you never know when you might need it. I think everyone should learn it just in case. Keep-
Contributing Writer: Kayla Deem
Rebecca Bowman, who often goes by Becky, has been working with Sodexo for 17 years now and truly enjoys her job. Her position as Retail Manager includes various responsibilities and allows her insight into what the future of Sodexo services at West Liberty University will possibly look like.
West Liberty University offers a free self-defense class for students. The class takes place every Monday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m in the wrestling room of Blatnik Hall. This class is open to all students and geared toward beginners, so students should feel comfortable regardless of their skill or athletic ability. WLU has offered self-defense classes in previous semesters. In April 2021, West Liberty University offered a free instructional class from Jake Stone as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming. However, these classes are not just geared towards defending yourself from becoming a victim of sexual assault. These classes teach students how to defend themselves in a variety of situations.
CULTURE
ing yourself safe should be one of your priorities,” said Kelsey Stewart, a student at WLU. “Taking a self-defense class really helped me improve my self-confidence. I feel safer and more secure even when I’m walking by myself. Luckily, I haven’t had to use anything I’ve learned yet, but I feel like learning self-defense has improved my mental health,” said Alexa Yocum, a psychology student at WLU. Anyone who is interested in attending the remaining self-defense classes should dress comfortably and stop by the wrestling room on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. If you feel that you are in an unsafe environment, call 911 or campus police at 304.336.8021.
The responsibilities that she holds revolve around the total operations of the four Sodexo locations within the College Union. The four locations being Jazzman’s, WOW Cafe, Sandella’s Flatbread Cafe and Bear Necessities. Through overseeing these operations, she works with personnel functions, planning the menus, dealing with pricing, levels of inventory that are available, various equipment, marketing and training the staff. In addition to these responsibilities within the College Union, she is responsible for the home football games concessions stand and snack vending machines around campus. She works as part of a four-person management team for Sodexo. While she is present in the Union, there is also the General Manager Doug Orr, the Marketplace and Dining Manager Necol Dunson, and the Executive Chief Brian Saner. There have been chang-
es that the Sodexo team has been negotiating for, in operations and renovations, since before the pandemic started. Bowman stated, “I do hope we can see major change this summer but only time will tell. In retail, we have to change things up frequently with LTO’s (limited time only) and Promo’s.” She explains that any sort of major changes need to be done prior to the start of the academic year. This is so service is not disrupted during the semester. When asked what goals she has for Sodexo and her position she stated, “I do hope to continue with Sodexo on the WLU campus. I want to grow and revamp our operations as we move into the future.” Although she acknowledges that there can be hard days, as there is with any job, she looks forward to going to work and enjoys the atmosphere provided through the staff and students.
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
OPINION
OPINION
Opinion Editor Intern: Kailey Carpino
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- kcaprino@westliberty.edu
Students respond to allegations of plagiarism against WLU President Dr. W. Franklin Evans West Liberty University has recently been a hot topic in the media, but for the wrong reason-plagiarism by its president. The Oxford dictionary states the definition for plagiarism as “the act or practice of taking someone else’s work, idea, etc., and passing it off as one’s own.” President W. Franklin Evans, who only began the position in January of this year, was found to have plagiarized his speech at the Sept. 15 Fall Convocation by expressing uncited advice from personal finance author Robert Farrington. In response, Evans’ issued an apology on Sept. 20, including the following in a memorandum, “However, that mistake is in no way indicative of a pattern, or a ‘bigger picture.’ It was merely an oversight, and one for which I am apologetic.” Despite this statement, faculty discovered the following day, Sept. 21, that this was not Evans’ only act of theft, other activities by Evans that incorporated plagiarized material include his Juneteenth speech and an uncredited quote by Doug Williford. Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President Alexandria Black has been outspoken and frank about the touchy subject. When questioned on her thoughts, Black said the following, “When I found out about the plagiarism, honestly I wasn’t aware of the severity of the situation. The only reason I found out otherwise was because of the professors who stressed the issue to my classes. In my head I was like ‘Okay, it’s just one
speech if something wasn’t cited correctly then that’s fine, he apologized so it is okay.’ I started doing my own digging because it was my duty to investigate the situation as Vice President of Student Government. After looking into it further, I had found out that it was much more severe than the information put out to the student body. I started talking to the faculty about it because of how strongly I felt about the situation. Knowing that I am not responsible for speaking about the situation for all the students which is why I took my opinion to Face- him OUT!” Some of Vice President Dr. W. Franklin Evans book instead of putting out a state- Black’s ideals are shared with stu- Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations ment from SGA.” dents, but with a different resowant to see President Evans go, as Black pressed on, stating lution, as a student requesting to this gives the opportunity to teach “I one hundred percent do think remain anonymous stated the fol- the important lesson of accountthat it reflects badly on our school. lowing, “Honestly, I think my emo- ability. Being able to admit your I know that no one wants to grad- tions have really shifted from the own wrongdoings, not recoil in fear uate from a university where the initial memo President Evans sent from the punishments, and use the school’s reputation is known for out to now. punishments to find growth are allowing plagiarism to occur. When Initially, it seemed like it courageous acts. I appreciate Presiwe get our degrees, despite all the could be one genuine and tru- dent Evans not wanting to find the challenging work that we had en- ly honest mistake. However, after effortless way out by quitting, but dured, we will be remembered for reading more about the speech he instead, he is choosing to fight to the school that allows plagiarism. I presented, it seems like his whole stay a part of West Liberty Unidon’t understand how people do speech was based on this pivotal versity. I hope he continues to take not realize how this issue doesn’t article, and that is not something accountability for his actions, while affect them, or that it is ‘not that big most people would simply forget West Liberty University continues of a deal.’ it affects so much more to cite. to find the most logical solutions. than what is told to the face of the I believe West Liberty University is In addition, it is problematic handling this as maturely as possistudents, even though that is slim the number of times he has pla- ble and treating the issue with the to nothing.” giarized. I have seen articles saying Other quotes by Black in- President Evans has plagiarized at utmost importance.” clude excerpts like, “I’ve spoken to least four times. This divide is even further international students and they’re proven by the recent student “no Hearing this, as a student, is confidence” poll, in which Black afraid to speak up because of ‘how easy they could be sent home’ worrisome. If the university is being stated the SGA President Mackenor because most of them are on led by someone with questionable zie Jones presented it and a little scholarships and they’re afraid of integrity, I am worried about what more than half of the students who losing them for speaking up about boundaries become crossable. It completed the poll at that time the issue,” and ending with “Lastly, also makes me question the in- voted against the president on I as well as the senators of SGA tegrity of the individuals, including both of the questions. are absolutely not satisfied with myself, surrounding this issue, if we For more information, conthe results and actions being taken pretend his actions were justified. to resolve the problem of the pla- There is no justification for plagia- tact Michael Antley at mrantley@ giarism by the president. We want rism; however, I personally do not westliberty.edu.
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Matthew McConaughey’s ‘‘Greenlights’’ is a must-read Contributing Writer: Isaac Basinger “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey is a great memoir of an actor who is just getting started. This book is so much fun to read. It is light, and you will finish it in no time. Plus, you get to know a little more about one of Hollywood’s favorite actors. “Greenlights” was a refreshing read. McConaughey has an inspiring approach on life. He puts a positive spin on every situation in life, good or bad. The book consists of moments of McConaughey’s life that he turns into mini lessons along the way. This goes all the way back to a young Matthew during his childhood and continues to move along through his life. This includes the uneasy times through high school and his experiences in college at the University of Texas at Austin. McConaughey’s life was not all sunshine and rainbows. He
mentions some of the bad times in his life as well. Whether that was him being in between acting jobs for the longest of times, or his parents’ on-again-off-again marriage. He talks about the “climatic” death of his father too. McConaughey talks about how some of his roles are now a part of him. This plays into some of his catchphrase or bumper sticker sayings. The most prominent one being in this case being “Just keep livin.” “Greenlights” was released in October of 2020 and was published by the Crown imprint of Crown Publishing Group. The book can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Target and other places books are sold. There is an audio version as available on most websites, where McConaughey narrates his work. My final opinion on the book is that it is “Alright Alright Alright,” and you should go and read it.
Technology affects students’ morals and values Contributing Writer: David McKinney Has today’s technology caused us to become a cut and paste society? Who doesn’t depend on spell check, speech-to-text or smartphones to carry out daily living activities anymore? Technology is wonderful, but it can impact us in negative ways as well. Our dependence on technology has impacted not only our ability, but our desire to put in the work needed for original finished products. It has led students to poor spelling and grammar skills, plagiarizing, and outright academic cheating. If one listens long enough in an office setting, someone will eventually say they used to be able to spell before spell check. Honestly, all the typist has to do is get the word close to the actual spelling and the computer will do the rest. As far as grammar goes, most word processing software will alert you to your grammatical errors and even suggest corrections. There are even online applications that can be downloaded that will scan all written work for incorrect wording. In many high school English classes, students don’t have to learn the rules of grammar because the emphasis is on the product, not the process, so they let the technology fix the product for them. There are plenty of research articles out there that point to the fact that plagiarism is a problem
Graphic By: Haley Blakemore
OPINION
Graphic By: Haley Blakemore
Graphic By: Haley Blakemore across academia in this country. Today, many students, instead of summarizing and rephrasing the information, just copy and paste the text and use it as their own. There are multiple websites that offer to write term papers for a certain amount of money. Even though these sites have disclaimers saying the papers are written for research purposes, most students still use them for their own. Due to this, teachers and professors now have to use different software applications that check for plagiarism. Although cheating is ethically wrong, many students are willing to ignore their conscience for free time that comes from the ease that can be found through technology. Students today can get online and search any title of a worksheet, text from an assignment, and most times not only does that worksheet appear, so does the answer sheet. Many times, if one has already completed the assignment and uploaded it to the internet, more than likely it will be discovered by a student. Since the world bases their daily lives off of their cell phones, students will send pictures through text to other students sharing each other’s work. Today’s technology would make our ancestors amazed beyond words – if they would stop working long enough to use it. We could tell them it would make their lives easier, and it would. It would also dull their skills and create a laziness to which they were not accustomed. It rules our daily lives and we have come to depend on it for nearly everything. We cannot, however, allow it to overcome our values, ethics and morals. Working hard and doing the right thing should never go out of style.
SPORTS
SPORTS NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Sports Editor Intern: Ross Salvatori
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- resalvatori@westliberty.edu
West Liberty Football drops a close one on senior day with a final score of 33-28 in the fourth quarter, the Hilltoppers took their first lead since the second quarter. The Hilltopper offense took over and drove down the field in under two minutes to take the lead. Allison found Phillips in the endzone for an 11 yard touchdown. The score was then 28-27 West Liberty with five minutes remaining.
In the final home game for the West Liberty football team (46), they welcomed in the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University (6-4). On Saturday, Nov. 6, the Hilltoppers not only closed the book on their home games for the year but also celebrated the seniors that have dedicated so much of their time to the football program. The seniors on the defensive side are defensive linemen Jack Davis, Kenyon Felder, Trevor Hoosier, TJ Lew, Deven Lewis and Devon McNutt. The Linebackers are Maceo Christmas and Donte Davenport. The lone graduating defensive back is Jamaal Petteway. The seniors on offense are wide receivers Will Billeter, Joey Diven, Tariq Glenn, Wisdom Jenkins, Nate Phillips and Isaiah Robinson. The running backs are Jared Alphonso and Savion Johnson. Offensive linemen include Wyatt Gardner and Austyn Todd. Last but not least is quarterback Jack Allison. Prior to the game all 20 seniors and their families were brought out onto the field and honored by their fans, coaches and teammates. To start the game, the Hilltoppers were looking to break their losing streak and win the seniors their final home game. On the opening drive the Yellow Jackets drove the ball up the field and took an early lead. They had to settle for a field goal so the Hilltoppers only saw themselves down 3-0 five minutes into the game.
The Hilltopper defense later in the fourth quarter came up big and helped their own cause with a forced fumble recovery in the West Virginia red zone. David Gilcreast stripped the football from the Yellow Jackets quarterback and Lewis recovered the football at the 7-yard line. From there, Allison found Jenkins in the endzone to take the lead. Owen Rozanc nailed the extra point for a 7-3 lead. The Yellow Jackets in the ensuing drive chipped away at the Hilltoppers lead with a field goal. The score was then 7-6 Hilltoppers. In the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets came out and snagged a lead with back-to-back touchdowns to take a commanding 20-7 lead.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports Coming out of the half, both defenses held the offenses silent until the Yellow Jackets struck back and extended the lead with a touchdown with three minutes left in the third quarter. The score was 27-14 in favor of West Virginia State. The following possession the Hilltoppers closed the gap. The drive started at the West Liberty 23-yard line. From there Allison and the Hilltopper offense drove up the field. The drive was capped off with an Allison 11 yard pass to Kruzelyak in the endzone. Rozanc’s extra point made it 27-21.
With under 10 minutes left
Next, the Yellow Jackets took the lead with a touchdown of their own to make the score 33-28. The two point conversion was no good and the Hilltoppers had an opportunity to take a lead late in the fourth quarter.. With only 47 seconds remaining in the game. At midfield a Hilltopper fumble ended the comeback effort as the Hilltoppers fell to the Yellow Jackets on their final home game of 2021. Allison completed 31 of his 43 passes with 294 yards and four touchdowns. Jenkins had eight receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. The Hilltoppers will hit the road to close out their season on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. They will face off against a solid Frostburg State squad that comes into the matchup with a 9-1 record. For more information visit hilltoppersports.com.
With three minutes remaining before halftime, the Hilltopper offense looked to cut the lead to within a touchdown and they did just that. After starting with the ball all the way at the West Liberty 26-yard line, the offense beat the clock and found the endzone with 21 seconds to spare. Allison found Kameron Kruzelyak for the six-yard score making it 20-13. The Rozanc extra point made it 20-14. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
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SPORTS
West Liberty Cross Country season comes to a close with a score of 31:49.7, which was good enough to earn him an All-Region honor as well. The two runners were the first time in the entirety of West Liberty men’s cross country that the team had two runners earn All-Region honors.
Over the weekend, the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament was home to the best running talents in the Atlantic Region. It is safe to say that West Liberty made their presence felt in a significant way as they were one of the few schools to get the honor of going. As the cross country season is beginning to officially conclude, there is much to admire about the efforts both the West Liberty men’s and women’s cross country teams have collectively given, with some significant individuals at the forefront of the forward momentum. Highlighting the plethora of talent for the black and gold is the familiar face of Hannah Kemp. Kemp has made waves throughout the Mountain East Conference, and now on the regional stage, and is continuing to add to her career resume of perhaps the best women’s cross country runner West Liberty has had in their entire history. To date, Kemp has earned MEC Runner of the Year awards in back-to-back seasons, and has just recently earned her second straight All-Atlantic Region honor. Furthermore, Kemp holds numerous university records, including indoor track records in the mile run and 3,000 meters, as well as outdoor track records in the 1,500 meter, 5,000 meter, and 10,000 meter. Running this year, she has seen much success. Out of the four races she’s competed in, she’s won three. She placed first in the Bethany Invitational which had 12 teams competing. She also won the Carnegie Mellon Invitational which had
Following the duo was Jared Ullom with a time of 32:59.1, Danah Phillips with a time of 33:06.3, Brendan Sands with a time of 34:13.7, Zac Banks with a time of 35:27.8, and Tavian Richardson with a time of 36:05.01. As a team, the women runners for West Liberty placed 18 out of 22 in the tournament’s entirety, while the men placed seventh out of 23.
14 schools and over 100 runners. Kemp placed in the top 15 at the Lock Haven Invitational where she competed against 250 runners and several division one schools. At this race she was only one of three MEC runners to place in the top 20. Finally, she had just recently won her second straight MEC Championship. Now at the Atlantic Regionals, Kemp placed eighth, running a time of 21:45.5. Unfortunately, Kemp narrowly missed an automatic qualifying spot for the NCAA National Championships, but her dominant season has come to an end as she did not secure an at-large berth to nationals even with her strong finishing times.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports at the forefront for the Hilltoppers, and each put themselves in respectable positions moving forward. First for White, he placed 14th and ran a time of 31:44.3, his time was good enough to earn All-Region honors, such an honor he had earned in the previous season. Likewise of White, Harriman finished right behind him in 19th place
While the cross country season has come to an end, there is much to rejoice about with the black and gold, and much anticipation moving forward. The NCAA Division II national tournament is set to begin on Saturday, Nov. 20. For more information on the cross country season or even the upcoming track and field season, which many of the cross country runners will be participating in, visit hilltoppersports.com.
Following Kemp in the string of Hilltopper runners was Savannah Moorehead with a time of 24:26.8, Emily Louk with a time of 25:07.6, Blake Hull with a time of 25:23.4, Shiana Keene with a time of 25:26.5, and Jamie Fogle with a time of 28:27.4. Transitioning onto the men’s cross country representatives, the senior duo of Philip White and Michael Harriman were
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
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WLU Women’s and Men’s Soccer season come to a disappointing end occasions. After the end of their season, the men’s soccer team should not be entirely upset about how the year went, but rather looking forward to next year’s season and beyond. After a 6-12-0 finish on the year, it is easy to look at the record and grimace, but there needs to be a focus placed beyond the record and towards the direction of what lies beneath.
Both West Liberty University men and women’s soccer teams put a cap on their respectable seasons this past Saturday, and look forward to building throughout the offseason to hopefully take the next step forward for their programs. Beginning with the Lady Hilltoppers, their season can be described as a tale of two fortunes, with the initial part of the season being highlighted by thrilling victories and the back end of the season being shadowed by crushing injuries and defeats. West Liberty’s start to the 2021 season was perhaps as strong as anybody throughout the entire Mountain East Conference. Through the first seven games of the season, West Liberty had posted an impressive 4-2-1 record, and began their winning ways with a 1-0 win over Glenville State College. A goal in the middle of the first half by Anne Williams sealed Glenville’s fate, and the Hilltopppers did not look back from that goal. Their next win came against Alderson Broaddus University, in which the Hilltoppers initially started off slow, but found two second half goals by Isabella Aperfine and Kaelyn Oskin to claim victory by the final score of 2-1. Following a loss to Frostburg, WLU picked up back-to-back wins against Fairmont State University and Wheeling University. A thrilling goal by Aperfine put the Hilltoppers over the hump against Fairmont State in the middle of the second half, while two goals by Oskin sank Wheeling before they even got a chance to settle in.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports After the hot start, the Hilltoppers proceeded to post a 6-33 record, in what appeared to be a playoff berth in the making. However, injuries to key contributors in Oskin, Georgia Richardson, and Olivia Montgomery proved to be fatal for West Liberty, as the squad lost an eye popping six straight contests to bounce any hopes they had of the playoff away. Any team that lost both of their captains to injury would have a tough time winning games and that’s what happened to the Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers certainly had their chances to at least salvage a low seed playoff spot. The losses that hurt the worst were against Glenville State, who finished the season with just four wins, and West Virginia Wesleyan. The Hilltoppers, on several occasions during their six game losing streak, were faced with “win-and-you’re-in” opportunities, but were outscored by a staggering 2:12 ratio, which just further sealed the black and gold’s fate. With the skid, the Lady Hilltoppers finished the season with a 6-9-3 record, including a 1-5-2 record during away contests. There is some light at the end of the tun-
nel, however, as the Hilltoppers return quite a bit of their roster next year, the program appears to be heading in the right direction. The heartbreak from this year will surely provide some motivation for next season. The Hilltopper men’s soccer team had a difficult time trying to build any momentum during the season, as their longest win streak throughout the year was capped out at two games on two separate Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Within the record, West Liberty had six contests decided by just a single goal, in which all the match ups were hard fought and effort driven down to the final minute of regulation. West Liberty is losing a couple of prominent names during the offseason, including Bernardo Vilchis, Mikel Ubeda, and Arun Sankar, but return a heavy undergraduate class sure to propel West Liberty to improvements in the season moving forward. For both teams the future carries much promise. The teams will now start training for the offseason soon as they look to make next year better than the one that just concluded. For more information on either soccer team, visit hilltoppersports.com.
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
West Liberty Volleyball wins 2 more; winning streak hits 5 to followed with eight kills and four blocks.
West Liberty Volleyball collects another two wins against Alderson Broaddus and Frostburg State putting them at five straight wins. This is their longest winning streak of the season and likely contributed to their recent number nine NCAA Division II Atlantic Region ranking. This ranking ties the program high ranking reached by the 2018 volleyball team. The Lady Toppers have taken the past five games with commanding wins. Two wins were accomplished in 3-1 games, and the other three wins in 3-0 games. One of these 3-1 matches occurred on Tuesday night against Alderson Broaddus. West Liberty took the first set 25-21. Then, Alderson Broaddus turned the tables, winning the next set 21-25. That was their only win however, as the Hilltoppers ran away with the next two sets, 2516 and 25-14, respectively. The middles dominated the net with Madison Clayton leading the Toppers with 16 kills and 10 blocks, while Nina Billot-
On the other side of the stats sheet, Libero Nyia Setla racked up a team high of 20 digs followed by Kirsten Bogunovich and Jenna Caskey with 13 and 11 digs, respectively. Bogunovich and Setla also made the top three for team high assists at 29 and four, respectively. Friday night, the Lady Toppers traveled to Maryland to secure a win against Frostburg State. The girls dominated three straight sets with scores of 25-16, 25-15, 25-16. This game brings the Hilltoppers up to a 10-4 record in the MEC and 1911 overall. The pin hitters took over this match with outside Katelynn Fritz collecting a team high 13 kills, and outside Cudnik following with 10 kills. Right side hitter and setter, Bogunovich, brought up third with eight kills. Bogunovich also led the team in aces, followed by Fritz with four and three respectively. Setters, Bogunovich and Zeck, tied for team high assists at 20 each, and Fritz earned another team high with a whopping 25 digs. Setla followed her with 20 digs and then Zeck and Laura Gamel with nine and six, respectively.
team mentality. She said, “our team is playing very well collectively right now. We’ve really stressed all season, it needs to be a team effort.” Schenk also said that “the little things” are starting to click together on the court which is aiding in the team’s success. The Lady Toppers have only one more week of conference play, where they will go against two previous losses, Fairmont State and Wheeling University. These games will determine their seeding in the MEC tournament which will take place the following week.
As the tournament closes in, Schenk had this to say, “The MEC tournament is a huge deal, and I feel very confident in this group. We have come on strong towards the end when it’s most important… [every team] comes in 0-0 in the tournament… [so] it is anyone’s game” The MEC Tournament will take place from Thursday, Nov. 18 to Saturday, Nov. 20. For more information on the Hilltoppers upcoming games or the MEC Tournament, visit hilltoppersports.com.
The Hilltop’s Athlete of the Week
Alec Cook
Head coach, Riley Schenk, attributes these big wins to her girls’ Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Wrestling Year: Sophomore Hometown: Weirton, W.Va. About Cook:
Cook won the 157 pound championship at the Mount
Union Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 6. He went 4-0 on the mat including a big 9-8 victory in the championshipo game. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
SPORTS
