VOL. 101 – ISSUE 16
THE TRUMPET WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
MARCH 3, 2022
WLU’s Student News Source
Russia invades Ukraine after weeks of building tensions - pg. 3 West Liberty celebrates annual African-American read-in - pg. 5 Men’s Basketball extends winning streak to 12 games - pg. 16 @TheTrumpetWestLiberty
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WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE TRUMPET
NEWS
COVER BY: LACEY DEEM
CULTURE SPORTS
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Photo Credits: Taylor Long
Geography and planning students visit Wheeling Heritage - pg. 4
WLU Alumnus, Ryan Bernard, fulfills his lifelong dream after graduating - pg. 7
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.
Hilltopper Tennis stomps Fairmont State - pg. 13
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief
Annalise Murphy
Assistant Editor Brianna Hamon Online Editor Creed Kidney News Editor Olivia Romick Culture Editor Intern Kenley George Opinion Editor Intern Hanna Perry Sports Editor Intern Joshua Spratt Graphic Designer/Photographer Haley Blakemore Graphic Designer/Illustrator Lacey Deem News/Sports Writer Anna Johnston Sports Writer Maxwell Fledorczyk Sports Writer Mark Donnelly Director Dr. 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
NEWS
MARCH 3, 2022
NEWS
News Editor Intern: Olivia Romick
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- ogromick ogromick@westliberty.edu @westliberty.edu
Russia invades Ukraine after weeks of building tensions Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated to what has become the largest military invasion in Europe since World War II. Here is a basic timeline leading to the Russian invasion. In February of 2014, Ukrainian citizens overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych who cooperated with Russian interests. Nearly 100 people died in protest that centered the capital, Kyiv. In April of that same year, Russia invaded Ukraine, annexing (forcibly taking territory) Crimea — the Ukrainian Peninsula. Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic broke off from Ukraine after Russia annexed Crimea. War continued in Donbas, a eastern Ukrainian region, resulting in the death of 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Between 2014 and 2015, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France signed cease-fire agreements known as the Minsk Accords. Former comedian and current Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was elected by large majority vote with the promise to restore Donbas to the country. Present day, Vladimir V. Putin, Russia’s President, wanted to prevent Ukraine from “drifting towards the United States and its allies,” according to The New York Times. Now perhaps, the biggest question — why did Russia invade Ukraine? Before answering this question, it’s important to note that Putin does not see
Ukraine as a nation of its own independence. Rather, he feels the land still belongs to Russia to control and operate. Some speculate Putin carries grievances from the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, when Ukraine declared independence As Ukraine continued to prosper in terms of being an independent and democratic European country, Putin viewed the Ukrainian government as a threat to Russia’s autocratic regime. Putin views western democracies as weak and vulnerable. These views pushed him to invade Ukraine as a part of what he called “a special military operation” that has now blown up to a full-on war between the two countries.
Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick, assistant professor of political science here at WLU, shared some insights about the situation in Ukraine and U.S. involvement in the conflict. “Putin was afraid of Ukraine becoming closer with Western Europe and EU countries, which was occurring. Instead, Putin wants Ukraine to have close ties with Russia. Putin was also afraid that Ukraine might join NATO, although there was little possibility of this actually occurring in the near future,” explained Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick continued to say that the U.S. supplies Ukraine with military assistance and has already sent some troops over toe Europe but has no plans to send troops into Ukraine. “The fear is because several of the countries that are neighbors with Ukraine are NATO members, if the war was to spill over into NATO member countries, then the US and other countries would join the war. In article 5 of the treaty
Graphic By: Annalise Murphy establishing NATO, it says when any of the NATO countries are attacked then countries must consider it attack on all countries in NATO and therefore come to their assistance,” Fitzpatrick said. Fitzpatrick thinks the biggest impact on Americans will be increased gas prices. He says Russia attacking Ukraine has caused an increase in global oil prices as Russia is a large exporter of oil. At the start of the invasion, U.S. President Joe Biden placed more “severe” sanctions on Russia. Fitzpatrick says sanctions are basically penalties imposed on countries from another country. An example would be one country not trading with another. Since 2014, the U.S. and other countries have put numerous sanctions on Russia, that have caused some damage to their economy. However, Fitzpatrick says that Russia has continually taken steps to restructure their economy
in a way to where these sanctions will have less impact, making it possible for Russia to continue their attacks. Fitzpatrick said, “Right now, 100,000s’ (if not millions) of people in Ukraine have been forced to flee their homes. There are lots of internally displaced people in Ukraine and there are lots of refugees crossing from Ukraine to neighboring countries. This is a humanitarian crisis that is likely only to get worse and there will be a significant need for other countries to provide assistance.” Full details on what has happened in Ukraine since the invasion and minute by minute updates are available by vising The New York Times’ Russia-Ukraine War website. This is a developing story.
MARCH 3, 2022
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NEWS
Geography and planning students visit Wheeling Heritage
“This is related to our program because we spend a lot of time talking about space and place and place making. For this specific class, it was really just eye opening to see what goes into some of the things we read about and see what it takes to get things accomplished,” said Hughes. The students, as well as Dr. Kruse, have made it clear that this trip has been very beneficial.
The West Liberty University (WLU) geography and planning students took a field trip to Wheeling Heritage on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. The trip was a part of WLU’s urban and rural geography course. The professor of the course and director of the field trip is Dr. Robert Kruse, professor of geography in the College of Liberal and Creative Arts. Woody Hughes, Janell Loh, Justin Schrack and Ashliegh Strickland, all geography and planning majors and members of the course, are the students who accompanied Dr. Kruse. Dr. Kruse and the students met with Betsy Sweeny, director of Wheeling Heritage Programming. “Meeting Betsy Sweeney was great because she understands so much about how to revitalize older, post-industrial cities like Wheeling. Understanding the unique geographical features of Wheeling, both in terms of it being a river town and also a place with a distinctive cultural geography helps to prepare our students for their future careers,” said Dr. Kruse. During the visit, Sweeny discussed the ways in which “developers use historic tax credits to revitalize older, historic buildings and make them productive places in the local community,” according to Dr. Kruse. After the visit with Sweeny, Dr. Kruse noted that he led the students on a walking tour through East Wheeling to see some of the older buildings. Loh, a senior geography and planning major at WLU, stated, “We visited Wheeling Heritage because it is a local organization that is helping to revitalize Wheeling by supporting small businesses, promoting arts and culture in the community, and helping to get
Starting from left-Justin Schrack, Dr. Robert Kruse, Woody Hughes, Ashliegh Strickland and Janell Loh on bottom right. Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
funding for historical preservation.” She went on to explain that Wheeling Heritage supports small businesses and the arts as well as the preservation of Wheeling’s history through restoration of historic buildings to increase Wheeling’s economic development.
“She [Betsy] was very nice and helpful when explaining everything she does and what all goes into the project behind the scenes,” said Hughes, senior geography and planning major. Hughes noted that he thought one of the main reasons for the field trip was to take what he and others have learned in class and see what it looks like when the concepts are applied in “real life.”
Strickland, another geography and planning major, will be graduating this December. “Being a geography major, I always look forward to getting out in the environment, whether that be a built environment or natural, exploring areas first hand is a great way to get a better understanding of changes in spatial patterns and social structures.” In terms of the urban and rural geography course, this field trip relates to what they are currently learning. Loh explained that students in the course have been studying how cities develop, what economic factors cause cities to grow and why cities de-industrialize, which causes them to lose their economic base and population.
Strickland went on to explain that after the trip, she noticed more abandoned buildings in downtown Wheeling with paper hearts on them that she hadn’t noticed before. “I think this is an extremely good way to draw even more attention to these buildings so that more people look and care about what happens to them. Sometimes people get a negative image in their head about an area or building that needs work or looks run down. In reality, these buildings and areas are just as important as they were in the 1800s and have so much potential. Their bones are good, they just need revitalized.” Dr. Kruse said, “One of the great things about the geography and planning major is that we draw students with such diverse interests. Some are interested in the technologies of mapping, others are interested in culture and landscapes. We also have students who focus on community economic development and environmental issues. Whatever their passions may be, our students find that geography provides a set of skills and perspectives needed for understanding the nature of places and the importance of locations here and around the world.” Each semester, Dr. Kruse teaches several introduction to geography courses and upper-level geography courses for geography majors and minors.
Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
If you have further questions regarding the visit to Wheeling Heritage, contact Dr. Kruse at rkruse@ westliberty.edu.
NEWS
MARCH 3, 2022
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West Liberty celebrates annual African American read-in Last Thursday, the West Liberty University (WLU) Campus and Community Diversity Committee hosted an African American Read-In event which celebrated a variety of black authors and their influence in the literary sphere. The read-in was party of a broader project organized by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTA) which has reached over six million participants globally. The read-in event was preceded by a performance from the WLU African drum and dance ensemble headed by Dr. Mitchell Greco. The event was kickstarted in the Union Ballroom with an exciting performance from the African Drum and Dance ensemble. The group, containing seven members, performed one piece incorporating intricate drumming sequences and rhythmic dance moves to create an experience true to its traditional source. The performance was followed a few minutes later by the read-in which took place in the Alumni Room. This was West Liberty’s third year participating in the read-in having been kick-started by diversity committee member Dr. Amanda Tennant. “The committee got together to determine events that could be planned to celebrate diversity and make the West Liberty Community more inclusive to different perspectives,”said Tennant. “I had seen it at my church in Pittsburgh. So, that’s where I first became familiar with it and we decided it would be worth trying at the university.” After the event’s initial success at West Liberty in 2020 followed by an online version in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s read-in incorporated 15 participants from the WLU campus- some having submitted video
Jared Alphonso and Dr. Eveldora Wheeler. Photo Credits: Anna Jonhnston contributions and some reading in-person.
Tennant opened the floor with a welcome message to the audience and participants and explained the goal of the read-in was to provide an opportunity to listen to African American voices and recognize the contribution of their unique perspective to the literary world. The readings commenced with a passage from “Passing” by Nella Larsen read by Dr. Cecilia Konchar Farr. Farr said of the book, set in 1920s Harlem, provides a “fascinating cultural understanding about how so many women would live.” “Passing” has a recently released adaptation available on Netflix, though Farr recommended reading the book first. With fewer than 150 pages, “Passing” is an excellent option for those looking to dip into African American literature.
an-American author Nnedi Okorafor titled “Africanfuturist 419” which elicited a number of laughs from the audience.
provided a reading of the poem “Frederick Douglass” by Robert Hayden which revolves around the fight for freedom.
Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education, Kathleen Wack provided the next piece with a reading from the children’s book “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem” by Amanda Gorman (author) and Loren Long (illustrator). “One of the skills we teach in health education is advocacy and this is one of the books we use to do that,” said Wack.
Assistant Professor of Education, Hilary Bougher-Muckian joined in next with a video contribution of Matthew Cherry’s “Hair Love”, which is both a short film and picture book. It tells the story of an African American father learning how to care for his daugher’s hair.
The audience were then presented with a virtual musical contribution from West Liberty’s Linda Cowan and Jerry Lee.
Tennant gave the penultimate contribution with a selection from “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Released in 2019, “The Water Dancer” is Coates’ debut novel. It is a historical fiction piece set in the pre-Civil War south.
The duo performed a variety of pieces by African American composers. This was followed by a moving contribution from business and marketing major, Jared Alphonso alongside Dr. Eveldora Wheeler. The pair read Amanda Gorman’s poem “New Day’s Lyric” which incorporates themes of overcoming the past and hope for the future.
The event was closed out with a video contribution from Dr. Gerard NeCastro’s reading of the poem “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes. Hughes’ work is regarded as highly influential in the Harlem Renaissance era, and is known for his depiction of what it was like to be black and American at that time.
West Liberty’s President, Dr. Franklin Evans and Interim Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leader, Dr. Monique Akassi were up next, both with virtual contributions. Evan’s read a variety of selections by James Baldwin, while Akassi opted to read from “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou.
The diversity committee is now gearing up for Women’s History Month which occurs in March.
Chris McPherson, a key member of the diversity committee at WLU and director of student learning and development center
To find out more about the diversity committee’s future plans or to ger involved, contact McPherson by email at christopher.mcpherson@westliberty.edu. For more information on the WLU African drum and dance ensemble, reach out to Greco at mitchell.greco@ westliberty.edu.
Anna Stephan-Robinson provided the second reading of the day with a passage from “Ordinary Light: A memoir” by Tracy K. Smith. In regards to the book, Stephan-Robinson said, “I randomly picked it up in a library and it’s just a really excellent book.” West Liberty’s Assistant Professor of Political Science, Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick took the mantle for the third reading with a science fiction selection from the Nigeri-
African Drum and Dance ensemble. Photo Credits: Anna Johnston
MARCH 3, 2022
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NEWS
WLU Greek life honors Black History Month life and historically Black Greek life.”
The NPHC, also referred to as the “Divine Nine”, is a collaborative council that combines historically African American fraternities and sororities. Greek chapters that make up the council include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Iota Phi Theta.
To get involved in Black History Month festivities, West Liberty University’s (WLU) Greek life decided to host a program honoring historically Black Greek organizations governed by the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC) on Wednesday, Feb. 23. All Greek fraternities and sororities planned this event with the help of Student Activities Director Kate Billings, who oversees all Greek organizations on campus. Taking place inside the R. Emmett Boyle Center, located in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC), the event featured two NPHC alumni and leaders of West Liberty as guest speakers. President Dr. W Franklin Evans spoke on behalf of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Incorporated, while Dr. Monique L. Akassi, shared her experience in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. WLU’s Panhellenic Council President, Caitlyn Robinson, explained how the idea for this program came about by stating “Kate Billings and I were discussing ideas
Robinson concluded her thoughts on the event by describing its significance to the sisters of the Panhellenic community, “Part of understanding our sisters in the Panhellenic Council is educating ourselves on different topics and applying it to our own lives. Celebrating what makes people different and doing things to make people feel included is super important to me (as president). I think any instance where we can learn something is time well spent!”
Graphic by Haley Blakemore for Black History Month when she mentioned that President Evans was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. Later on, I learned our new Interim Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader, Dr. Monique L. Akassi was also a part of an NPHC sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.” From those two discoveries, Billings and Robinson assembled NPHC 101.
ferences that exist between NPHC organizations in comparison to the Greek organizations on WLU’s campus. Dr. Monique L. Akassi followed President Evans in speaking about her sorority and her overall experience with NPHC. Both guest speakers highlighted the overall historical significance of NPHC organizations throughout their time as members.
“It was a great opportunity to learn some new things about Black history and to get more familiar with the leaders we have on campus,” said Robinson.
“Not being familiar with this topic, hearing what they had to say about their Greek organization in the NPHC was something I enjoyed. It was an eye-opening topic because it made me realize the amount of diversity lacking in the sororities and fraternities on campus and how we can better embrace that change,” said Sarah Brannon, a three-year member of Beta Rho Epsilon.
In an article released by Maureen Zambito, director of media relations, Billings commented on the program by saying that its purpose was to highlight the potential for Greek life to create events that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. In his speech, President Evans discussed some of the dif-
Robinson noted that there were many key takeaways from this event starting with “understanding the differences between our Greek
To watch the full NPHC 101 event hosted by WLU’s Greek community, visit Topper Station. For more information about this program or Greek life organizations on campus, contact Kate Billings by emailing kate.billings@westliberty. edu.
Graphic by Haley Blakemore
CULTURE
CULTURE MARCH 3, 2022
Culture Editor Intern: Kenley George
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- kcgeorge@westliberty.edu
WLU celebrates Women’s History Month
law in 1987 that made the entire month of March “Women’s History Month.” We celebrate women’s history to look back on what females have done and gone through.
West Liberty University (WLU) is celebrating Women’s History Month with several campus activities starting in March. The month of March serves to celebrate the contributions women have made to society and recognize the achievements women have made in the United States in differing fields. To celebrate women’s contributions, WLU hosted a women’s empowerment “paint and sit” to kick off Women’s History Month on March 1. Later this month, a “ladies night” in the gym and a women’s empowerment panel will be held. WLU is filled with outstanding female students, professors, faculty and staff. Some of many include Dr. Linda Cowan,
“From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.” -Article published by History.com
According to an article published by History, “From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.”
Photo Credits: WLU Arts & Media Instagram who was nominated for the 2021 have been set on the women’s track Professor of the Year Award, and team this season with Hailey CarreDr. Monique L. Akassi who joined on, Olivia Miller and Zayne Brakeall the Hilltop recently as the new ineach setting multiple records. terim diversity, equity and inclusion The “ladies night” in the gym leader. will take place in Blatnik Gym from 8-11 p.m. on March 14, and the One of the many accomplished female professors at WLU women’s empowerment panel will was recognized for her outstanding take place in the ballroom from 12-1 work on campus. This week, Dr. p.m. on March 16. Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell was Women’s History Month awarded best presenter for the originated in 1981 when Congress 5th International Conference on passed a public law stating that the the Future of Women in 2022, on week of March 7 would be “Womthe qualitative research: Women en’s History Week.” After petitionin Power: What motivated more ing from the Women’s History Projwomen to run in the 2018 United ect, Congress passed another public States Election? Women continue to stand out on campus, such as our female athletes, who have been especially outstanding this season at WLU. These outstanding females include our all-female acro and tumbling team ranking no. 11 in the nation, and Audrey Tingle, a graduate student on the women’s basketball team, who recently set an NCAA Division 2 record with her fifth double-double. Several records
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
The Women’s History Alliance creates a theme every year in relation to women’s history. This year’s theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” according to History. Their website further explained that this theme is “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.” More information about events relating to Women’s History Month can be found on West Liberty’s activities calendar or on WLU’s news and media page.
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MARCH 3, 2022
CULTURE
Public relations capstone group work with local animal shelter Photo Credits: Annalise Murphy
A West Liberty University public relations capstone project group is working alongside the Belmont County Animal Shelter. Group members Brianna Hamon, Lizzy Griffith, Kenley George and Kayla Deem are helping the shelter with social media output, event organization and public outreach. Students majoring in public relations at WLU are required to complete a capstone project, usually as a senior, to help gain more reality based, workplace experience. Hamon, Griffith, George and Deem decided quickly that working with a local animal shelter would be the most rewarding experience for them. “We all feel lucky that we get to work with the shelter,” said George. “We know we’re helping them, we’re helping the animals, and they’re also helping us learn and giving us real life experience.” The team formed a strong bond with the Belmont County Animal Shelter and were able to see from early on how they could put their skills to good use. “After seeing Belmont, we decided they could use our services more than some of the other animal shelters in the area…We started working with them as soon they contacted us,” said Hamon.
Logo by: Julie Schuetz
streamed live on Facebook while donations can be made via PayPal. Each contribution will prompt some sort of reaction from the shelter staff and associates such as a pie in the face or ice bucket challenge. The group is also helping to plan a dine and donate event for the shelter which is scheduled for May 4 in partnership with the Belmont County Cat Stray Shun. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go directly to the Belmont County Animal Shelter. Preparation is still in the planning stages, but the team intend on having a variety of fun activities such as a raffle.
Though the WLU capstone students are aiding the shelter with From left to right: Brianna Hamon, Kayla Deem, Lizzy Griffith and Kenley George a public relations campaign, the shelThe group has set out to A big part of the rebrand- ter is helping to make the process an aid the shelter in a number of ways ing process for the shelter revolves enjoyable one for the group. “They by helping them arrange events around social media. The shelter help us in any capacity that we and build on their community outused social media in a limited capac- need,” said Deem. “When we ask reach skills. After agreeing to work ity before the group’s arrival and the them for any additional information together, the shelter asked for the four are looking to sharpen up Bel- that we need, they’re always really group’s help regarding their logo. mont County Animal Shelter’s on- prompt at responding.” “The reason they wanted a new line appearance. The group is in the logo is because they’re currently process of setting up and revamping George said, “They’re all super busy the only county run shelter and the shelter’s social media presence too so when we need something, right now they’re using the county on Facebook, Instagram, and Twit- and they answer not too long afterseal as their logo, so when people ter. “I definitely think that social me- wards it’s really nice to know that see them they rarely associate it dia is something that I would like to they’re there if we need them.” with being a shelter,” said Hamon. work with,” said George. “I’m doing Now at the halfway point of their “So, part of our project is helping a social media internship right now capstone project, the group have them rebrand and helping them so doing that and working with the picked up steam having been interget their brand identity out there Belmont County Animal Shelter on viewed by a variety of local news with the new logo.” their social media, that interests me distributors. a lot.” After drafting some ini“I always assumed we were tial designs for the new logo, the The group is also helping the going to struggle with getting the group reached out to WLU’s adshelter with event organization. The word out there in terms of news vanced graphic design class to crecapstone group, Belmont County and local newspapers, but we’ve ate the final development. “Kayla Animal Shelter, and Belmont County been officially working for about two and Brianna presented them with Cat Stray Shun, another local animal weeks now and we’ve already interwhat we were thinking and then welfare organization the capstone viewed with News-9, WTRF, The the students in that class creatstudents are helping, are working Intelligencer, and The Times Leaded ten logos for us,” said George. alongside Jordan’s Way Home, an er,” said Hamon. The final design, created by graphic animal welfare organization that design major Julie Schuetz, was rebrings attention to the animals in To stay up to date with the latest leased last week and can be seen need of rehoming and raises funds work from the group and the Belmont County Animal Shelter, follow on the shelter’s social media pages. for the shelter. them on social media and tune in to George said, “We chose her logo The event is scheduled to next week’s Facebook Live event in and everyone at the shelter loves take place on March 9 from 6-10 conjunction with Jordan’s Way. it. They’ve been putting it everyp.m. The four-hour event will be where and we love it too.”
CULTURE
MARCH 3, 2022
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WLU Alumnus, Ryan Bernard, fulfills his lifelong dream after graduating Ryan Bernard, who graduated from West Liberty University (WLU) in May of 2021 with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and as a member of the WLU Baseball team, made his dreams a reality post-graduation. Bernard started his position as a trooper for the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) at post 07 in St. Clairsville, Ohio on Jan. 21, 2021. Graduating with OSHP Trooper Class 168, Bernard spent months preparing for the academy and the job that awaited him.
written exam,” Bernard explained. According to OSHP’s academy website, once cadets have been accepted into the academy, they will live there for five days a week for nearly six months of training. The website further explains, “The days are filled with difficult mental and physical training. Cadets receive college-level instruction in Ohio laws, human relations, and crash investigation. They also learn arrest techniques, self-defense, firearms, defensive driving and many other topics.” As a patrolman, Bernard’s job “entails making sure motorists of the state of Ohio are traveling safely,” and following the laws of Ohio.
“My education at WLU helped prepare me for writing statements, understanding why “Some of the things that I people act in certain ways based on had to do to prepare me as a pa- theory and how to make good and trolman was to make sure I was ethical decisions.” mentally and physically prepared However, that’s not all for the training at the academy. WLU gave Bernard. According to In order to get into the acadehim, he misses the great people on my, I had to complete a variety the Hilltop. “One thing I miss about of physical tests and I had to do a WLU is the great people up there. I miss all my old friends that I have played baseball with, and I miss the professors,” Bernard shared. Urging WLU criminal justice students to “strive” for their goals with their CJ degrees, Bernard says the system needs people and having a degree in CJ can help tremendously — especially if a student plans to go into law enforcement. Bernard stated his job as a trooper is a “great job” and he encourages anyone who is interested in working for the OSHP to investigate the job requirements. “They [OSHP] have great benefits and they are in need for troopers,” Bernard said. He later shared his insight on the challenges of the academy, but said they were “worth it.” Photo Credits:Taylor Long
When Bernard is not working as a trooper, he enjoys taking
his fiancé to dinner, relaxing while watching movies and going to the gym. His fiancé, Taylor Long, is a multimedia journalist at WTRF-7 News in Wheeling, W. Va., and an alumna of West Liberty University. Bernard and Long plan to exchange vows on Nov. 13 at Bella Amore on Enchanted Acres. For more information about this article, please email Annalise Murphy at anmurphy@westliberty. Photo Credits:Taylor Long
Photo Credits:Taylor Long
“My education at WLU helped prepare me for writing statements, understanding why people act in certain ways based on theory and how to make good and ethical decisions.” -Ryan Bernard, WLU Alumni
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MARCH 3, 2022
CULTURE
Topper Idol spring 2022 final contestants Graphic By: Lacey Deem
Winner of the 2022 season of Topper Idol, Sarah Booth.
Photo Credits: Danny Schultz Photo Credits: Danny Schultz Contestants of the 2022 season of Topper Idol Mackenzey Infanti (right), who came in second, Sarah Booth (middle), who came in first, and Mary Thinzar Khine (left), who came in third.
Photo Credits: Danny Schultz
Members of the WLU Dance Team with Topper Idol contestant Mackenzey Infanti.
MARCH 3, 2022
OPINION
OPINION
Opinion Editor Intern: Hanna Perry
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- heperry@westliberty.edu
Making connections in college helps prepare students for post-graduation life Contributing Writer:
doing player interviews to calling games.”
Lizzy Griffith
Basinger also expressed his gratitude for having real-world work experience with the Wheeling Nailers. “The connections I have made led to making connections with other broadcasters in the league.”
Many students complete internships or jobs throughout their time in college that align with their majors. Some students may not realize how making connections through their internships and jobs can be life changing post-graduation. A few West Liberty University (WLU) students shared some information about their experiences with on and off campus internships to help prepare them for job opportunities in their future careers after higher education. Isaac Basinger, broadcasting major at WLU, is currently the play-by-play broadcaster for Topper Station and the color commentator for the Wheeling Nailers hockey team. Basinger said, “I have gained a great deal of experience off campus.” He explained that he has gained a lot of real-world experience while working with the Wheeling Nailers. Basinger said, “My responsibilities range from
Making connections with professionals in the field of broadcasting is a “huge deal” to Basigner. He added, “Connections can help me possibly get a job post-graduation, but if I don’t get a job right away, there are people who can help point me in a good direction.” Annalise Murphy is a junior at WLU who is a double major in criminal justice and journalism. Murphy is currently interning with WTRF7-News in Wheeling, W.Va. Murphy said she is learning a lot through this internship. “One person who has had an impact on me would be, Taylor Long, who works as a multimedia journalist. So far, she has taught me how to work the camera, get my own footage and let me use some of my skills
Photo Credits: WTRF7 News - Wheeling, W. Va Annalise Murphy reporting on winter storm in early February 2022
Photo Credits: Zack Rawson Isaac Basinger speaking to Wheeling Nailers Hockey player.
from my Adobe video editing class to create videos that actually have gone on air,” said Murphy.
connections and work hard during my internship to learn as much as I can before I graduate.”
Murphy expressed that she wants to become a reporter post-graduation and work as a multimedia journalist. Working with WTRF-7 is giving her hands-on, real-life experience that will help Murphy with getting a job right out of college. Murphy says, “I do hope to make good
If you’re interested in obtaining an internship on or off campus, talk to your academic advisor and they will be able to help you or point you in the right direction. The people you meet and connections you make in college can only be an advantage to your future.
MARCH 3, 2022
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OPINION
Should you volunteer as a busy college student? Yes, and here’s why. Oats Transit stated, “Volunteering is when you give your time to help another person, organization, or cause.” When you volunteer, you are putting another person’s needs before your own. Volunteering comes in all shapes and sizes, but there is one common factor between them and that is helping others. Volunteering can be both a life-changing and beneficial experience for any individual. 1. Making A Difference When you become a volunteer, it will make a difference in your life and the lives of others. There are various ways that college students could get involved if they want to become a volunteer. Whether you offer to tutor local students, offer your help to organize an event, make something for children in need, or donate the things you don’t use anymore, keep in mind that these small acts of kindness can make a big difference. 2. Meeting New People As college students, one of the best things to do is meet new people. By being a volunteer, you may have the opportunity to not only meet people in your community but meet other college students. The connections that you make while volunteering will allow you to make lifelong friends. Being a volunteer is something that everyone should try to do at least once in their life because you never know where it might lead you. 3. Developing Good Communication Skills By being a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work alongside many different people. It is important to develop good communication skills when you are a volunteer so that you can share
your ideas with others. Volunteering may allow you the opportunity to learn about different ways to fundraise for an organization in your community and help to organize a fundraiser can be a good way for you to get involved in your community by helping those around you. 4. Learning How To Take Criticism Sometimes the other volunteers that you work with can be very critical about the ideas that you share or the way you’re doing your job. When working, our own perception of the quality of work we provide is often clouded by our judgments. However, when we listen to what others say, we can build on our skills and improve our work. 5. Leadership Opportunities Many organizations that participate in volunteering may have a lot of leadership opportunities. For example, when I was a member of the Warwood Lions Club, I served as the vice president from 2019 until 2020 and I also served as the president from 2020 until 2021. During that time, I had the opportunity to learn what it meant to become a leader. When I served as the president, it was often hard to get the other members of the club to listen to my ideas and it was sometimes hard to meet with the club because of the early stages of the pandemic. Overall, being a leader is a unique learning opportunity because you get to experience what it’s like to take responsibility for your actions and the actions of the team. Volunteering can be a great experience! If you’re interested in finding an organization to volunteer with, consider visiting the website Volunteer Match where you can find a list of volunteer opportunities near you.
Graphic By: Hanna Perry
SPORTS
SPORTS MARCH 3, 2022
Sports Editor Intern: Joshua Spratt
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- jtspratt@westliberty.edu
Hilltopper Tennis stomps Fairmont State and preparation have us ready to make some noise this upcoming season,” said Hulewicz. “As for goals, we are striving for a postseason and making NCAA Regionals.” The West Liberty University men’s and women’s tennis teams secured a pair of dominant wins this weekend over Frostburg State University to open their Mountain East Conference campaigns. Both squads opened conference play with a perfect 7-0 sweep of the bobcats and continued on from their fine form in the Fall season. The Lady Toppers had built up a lot of momentum coming into their first competitive match of the season, receiving a pair of firstplace votes and ranking No.2 in the Mountain East Conference coaches poll last month. WLU also had four players ranked within the Atlantic Region Top 20, with Nathalia Valencia, Gemma Cliffe, Emma Arnal, and Evelina Martirosyan being recognized for their strong performances in the fall season. Head Coach Heather Gallagher’s Hilltoppers were strong favorites leading into the matchup and they did not fail to deliver, securing an emphatic win over the Frostburg bobcats. They wasted no time in starting their season opener, winning all three doubles matches to secure the first point of the day. Arnal and Martirosyan got the ball rolling with a 6-2 win at No.1 doubles, while Katie Loader and Elysia Beynon won by the same scoreline at No.3, before Cliffe and Schoma took a perfect 6-0 win at No.2. It was much of the same as play continued into singles action, with the Toppers securing all six games. Cliffe, Valencia, Arnal and Martirosyan each took straight set victories, while sophomores Jac-
queline Pena-Aceves and Ishika Argawal commanding wins meant that the Toppers took a 7-0 overall triumph without dropping a single set. The nature of their win and performances will give WLU even more momentum going into the rest of the season, which leaves players and coaches a lot to be optimistic about. “It was great to start the spring with our first MEC win of the season”, coach Gallgher said. “We’re looking forward to facing strong conference and regional opponents going forward.” This game meant even more to the Hilltoppers, who dedicated their performance to Ukranian teammate, Daria Shchoma, due to the ongoing conflict in her native country. “At the moment, our team is doing its best to offer special support to freshman Daria Shchoma who is from Ukraine,” said Gallagher. “Her parents are still there in her family home and our hearts are with them and certainly with her everyday.” The West Liberty team wore blue and yellow ribbons during their matches in support of Ukraine and Shchoma. The WLU men’s tennis team followed suit as they also came out as 7-0 victors in their conference opener against
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports the bobcats. The new-look Toppers put on a confident display to maintain their undefeated record on the year, having already picked up after four wins in non-conference play. Head Coach Ronald Hulewicz has assembled a strong squad for the 2021-2022 season that includes seven international athletes hailing from five different countries. “The atmosphere is definitely upbeat and energetic as this is a fun and self-sufficient group of young men,” Hulewicz said. “They understand the importance of hard work on the court and in the classroom, a very dedicated group of nine individuals.” He admits though that their preparation hasn’t been all smooth sailing, with the COVID-19 pandemic still having its say. “The guys have really persevered through some challenging times,” Hulewicz said. “We have endured several quarantine periods where multiple players have been out of commission, but they continue to rise up.” After being narrowly defeated by Charleston in last year’s MEC Tournament, WLU came into their opening matchup hungry to get back to conference play and to see if they could go a step further than last time. “We truly feel like our depth, fitness,
Hulewicz’s Hilltoppers came straight out of the blocks and took a trio of doubles wins to give themselves a 1-0 lead. Isfandiyor Makhumudov and Nevio Dux took a 6-2 win at No.1 and Daisuke Aota and Derek Roehner battled hard to secure a 6-3 win at No.3. One of the most impressive performances of the day came at No.2 doubles, where German duo Gianluca Gerndt and Moritz Erpel completed a flawless 6-0 sweep, giving the home side momentum going into singles action. Much like the Lady Toppers, WLU’s men’s squad won all six singles games and did so without dropping a single set. Erpel, Aota, Makhumudov, and Gerndt continued on from their impressive doubles performances, while Zarion Jones stepped up with a win at No.6. The pick of the performances came at No.5 as Freshman Dux completed a faultless 6-0 win to round off the win in his first MEC matchup for the Toppers. “It feels good to start the conference with a 7-0 win,” Dux said. “I think we competed really well today. I am really proud of the team and how we pushed each other to wins at all positions.” The Swiss native is confident that the team can continue to improve but insists they won’t get carried too quickly. “We take it step by step, game by game, and see what the outcome is at the end of the season,” said Dux. Both squads are back in action this Friday, March 4, when they travel to Institute, W.Va to take on West Virginia State University. For more information about West Liberty University sports, please visit hilltoppersport.com.
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MARCH 3, 2022
SPORTS
WLU Wrestling takes second straight regional title For the second consecutive year, the West Liberty University (WLU) Hilltoppers Wrestling team claimed the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 title. Four Hilltopper wrestlers were able to be crowned as champions of the region, and an overall total of eight black and gold wrestlers had punched their ticket to St. Louis, Missouri for the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Hilltoppers, who earned their way to fourth in the nation, scored 142 points overall in the tournament, with the next closest team being Ashland with 111.5. With the runaway victory, it is safe to say Head Coach Danny Irwin is beyond proud of his team and what they have accomplished heading into nationals. The top wrestler in the country for his weight class, Cole Laya, swept the board to improve to an impressive 23-3 on the season. With this run, he was able to shut out the number 2 seed Manuel Leija of Davenport, Mich. in the final match, ultimately
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
heading to nationals to defend his National Championship throne. Also prepared to defend his national throne is two time National Champion Tyler Warner, who unfortunately did not win his weight bracket, but was able to place second in the region to book a ticket to St. Louis. Jordan Waters will be making his debut in the national tournament, as he was able to
secure a runner up finish in the regional tournament after unfortunately losing to Craig Cook, the top seed in the weight class. Both Chase Morgan and Logan Kemp were able to win their third place matches in their weight classes, allowing them to also take the trip down to St. Louis for a national championship title. Ty McGeary had won his weight class bracket, as Danie Beemer of Ashland was knocked out of the match due to injury. For McGeary, this will be his first trip to the national tournament. Connor Craig remains the top wrestler in the country for his weight class on the season, as he was able to capture the regional throne for a potential National
Championship. Finally, Francesco Borsellino capped off the incredible run of the Hilltoppers for the weekend, winning his final match of the night and a regional championship in the process. For the Hilltoppers, it has undoubtedly been a long journey as the season has progressed, but as with every grind, the success and benefits often outweigh the lows the season might entail. With a staggering amount of talent headed to St. Louis for the NCAA Division II National Tournament on March 11-12, expect for the Hilltoppers to not only make a run individually, but collectively as a team.
For more information about wrestling on the Hilltop, please visit:
hilltoppersports.com
MARCH 3, 2022
SPORTS
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Women’s Basketball rolls into March with pair of dominant victories For the first time since the 2018-19 season, the West Liberty University (WLU) Women’s Basketball team has eclipsed a 20 win season. As of Feb. 26, 2022, West Liberty sits at 20-8, as the team successfully captured the #3 seed in the Mountain East Conference Tournament, only behind the University of Charleston, who made the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last year, and Glenville State University, who remains undefeated as the top team in all of Division II. It was an incredibly tough journey for the youthful Hilltoppers squad, but one in which they proved their spot at the top of the conference. The WLU Women’s Basketball team is arguably playing their best basketball of the season. Many could say that their midseason winning stretch helped propel them to where they are
now, in which they would be correct, but their current four game winning streak has opened the eyes of many in regards to what this team may be capable of during the month of March.
Their most recent wins have come against Notre Dame College (Ohio), and Wheeling University, and were games that featured fast paced scoring, great defensive efforts and the rewriting of history. Their matchup against Notre Dame College (Ohio) was marked as senior night for the Lady Hilltoppers, as graduate students Molly Bauer and Audrey Tingle were honored. For Bauer, the 6’4 forward is second in
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports the conference for blocked shots, consistently establishing her presence in the paint. For Tingle, the 5’6 guard was able to rewrite the history books on an incredibly special night. The Hilltoppers absolutely routed the Falcons on their home floor, winning by the final of 112-78. The offense of the black and gold had been firing all night, but especially during the second and third quarters, putting up totals of 30 and 35 points. Karly McCutcheon led the way in scoring, having yet another career night with 27 points on a staggering nine made 3PT’s. After this, it was Audrey Tingle’s 20PT11A-10REB triple-double which broke the record for the most in a single season in NCAA Division II history. Amazingly enough, Tingle did not stop
there, and proceeded to find herself in the record books against Wheeling University. Tingle once again posted a 12PT-10A-15REB triple-double, tying the NCAA Division II record for the most triple-doubles in a career with seven. Tingle led the Hilltoppers to a 82-46 victory over the Cardinals, eclipsing the black and gold to 20 wins on the season. Freshmen star Bailee Smith aided the scoring with 20 points, alongside the red hot McCutcheon with 19 points. With both West Liberty and Charleston winning on Saturday, West Liberty is now slotted as the third seed in the Mountain East Conference Tournament, where they will take on the sixth ranked Fairmont State University in the MEC Quarterfinals. West Liberty is 2-0 against the Fighting Falcons this season, and looks forward to having an impactful conference tournament run. For more information, please visit hilltoppersports.com.
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MARCH 3, 2022
SPORTS
Men’s Basketball extends winning streak to 12 Games With March approaching, the West Liberty Men’s Basketball team looked for a strong finish to their season this past week in their matchups against Notre Dame College and Wheeling University, and that’s exactly what they got. The Hilltoppers’ No. 2 ranking in the country looks to be solidified after a pair of victories this weekend against Mountain East Conference (MEC) opponents. West Liberty’s week of success began on Wednesday, Feb. 23, as they faced off against the Notre Dame Falcons at the West Liberty University Academic Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC). The game started with back-to-back three pointers from Notre Dame’s Michael Sampson and John Godinez to give the Falcons a 6-0 lead. However, West Liberty responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead,
which they never relinquished. By halftime, the Hilltoppers held a 12-point lead, helped greatly by Pat Robinson, who went 6-11 on field goals in the first half for 12 points. In the second half, sophomore Bryce Butler took over the game, going a perfect eight for eight on field goals and adding 17 points for a total of 28 for the game. The deciding factor for the Hilltoppers turned out to be their 42 points scored from turnovers, compared to 14 for the Falcons. With a 15-point lead midway through the second half, West Liberty went on a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach, and cruised to a 105-88 victory.
In the season finale matchup against Wheeling University, the Hilltoppers came out swinging, jumping to a 20-5 lead in the first six minutes of the game. It was smooth sailing for Head Coach Ben Howlett’s squad from there on out, as their lead would never shrink below eight points.
Wheeling University Cardinals 109-94.
as they move forward to the MEC Tournament on March 4.
Once again, Butler put up an impressive box score for West Liberty, completing a double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Perhaps the most impressive part of Butler’s performance was his 80% shooting from the field on 15 attempts.
The Toppers earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament and a first round bye, which means they’ll face off in the quarterfinals against the winner of the first round matchup between Alderson Broaddus and Wheeling.
The pair of Hilltopper victories extends their win-streak to 12 games, the longest active streak in the MEC, and gives them a 26-2 final record on the season
The MEC Tournament will take place at Wheeling’s WesBanco Arena. For more information and updates, visit hilltoppersports.com.
The Hilltop’s Athlete of the Week
Bryce Butler
The fifteen point lead for West Liberty was equal to the one at the end of the game, as the Toppers finished their season with a strong performance, defeating the
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Basketball Year: Sophomore Hometown: Latrobe, PA About Butler: Butler led the Hilltoppers in scoring in their wins versus Notre Dame and Wheeling Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
