Feb. 14, 2012 College Heights Herald

WKUHERALD.COM

Robert Mounce talking about what love means to him on page 6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 • College Heights Herald • Vol. 88, No.7 • Western Kentucky University

Apartmentstyle living to be available in fall

By MICHAEL MCKAY news@wkuherald.com

A new student housing option will allow upperclassmen to live in off-campus apartments through WKU. The 36 units are being built in the wrap around the new parking structure on the corner of 13th and Kentucky streets, said Brian Kuster, director of Housing and Residence Life.

Each unit is two bedrooms, meaning 72 students will be able to select a space in the apartments to lease this fall.

Kit Tolbert, director of housing operations, said students will soon be able to see a video walkthrough, leasing information and a bulleted list of amenities and included items to help students visualize the apartment on the housing renewal website.

Tolbert said the process of signing up for an apartment won’t be very different from signing up for a dorm.

“We’re going to set it up similar to a residence hall room, since every apartment is for two people,” Tolbert said. “So instead of it being Minton Hall, it might just say apartment room 100, one and two.”

The apartments will be open for availability on Feb. 27, during housing renewal, for rising seniors moving to a different room. The rooms will be made available to rising juniors on Feb. 28.

SEE LIVING, PAGE 2

ELIZABETH FRANTZ/HERALD

Bowling Green senior Frankie Smith is pursuing his dreams despite a speech disability. He graduates this year with a Design, Merchandising and Textiles degree and is taking a summer internship in New York City to break into the fashion business — proving wrong those who doubted him.

Student follows dream to NYC

By ZIRCONIA ALLEYNE diversions@wkuherald.com

Just by looking, it’s apparent that Frankie Smith has a knack for style and precision.

Every blond strand is meticulously slicked back and each pant leg is smoothly pressed.

It’s when he speaks, Smith said, that “people notice I’m a little different.”

When he was born, doctors assumed he had cerebral palsy.

After further tests and observation, they diagnosed him with a disability called speech apraxia.

“There’s a nerve in my brain that is off-beat that affects my speech and my motor skills,” he said.

But Smith, a senior from Bowling Green, has never let his disability or naysayers hold him back.

In May, he’ll move to New York City for an internship with Michael Simon Designs.

Two years ago, Smith changed his major from mar-

keting to design, merchandising and textiles.

With support from his family and friends, he dove right into his passion.

He told his fashion professor he wanted to move to New York when he graduated, although he’d never been there before.

It was a class trip to New York that brought it all to fruition in May. “Anybody who’s anybody is there,” he said. “I thought if I want to be the best, I have to work for the best.”

Smith said he wants to do a little bit of everything. He aspires to work for Marc Jacobs or his role model, Rachel Zoe. Meanwhile, Smith made an initiative to earn a promotion at American Eagle.

With six years of experience at AE, he thought it wouldn’t be hard to land the assistant manager position.

But he was immediately denied.

SEE DREAM, PAGE 3

SGA may present first legislation of semester

By TAYLOR HARRISON news@wkuherald.com

The Student Government Association plans to have its first legislation of the semester prepared for Tuesday's meeting.

SGA came up with many new legislation ideas at their brainstorming session last Tuesday, SGA President Billy Stephens said. These include installing a new bus stop by Snell Hall, making all parking meters on campus consistent, setting up a print allocation donation system, and a social media safety campaign, among other ideas.

Stephens said the meeting allowed for several rough drafts to be written regarding future legislation.

Possible upcoming SGA initiatives include: Opposition to SOPA/PIPA A resolution showing SGA’s opposition to both the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA), which are intended to address piracy on the internet, may be presented for its first read. Keyana Boka, campus improvements committee head, said it is a “resolution to support an uncensored and economically viable Internet.”

SEE SGA, PAGE 2

WKU Professor lives in harmony with pup

By ZIRCONIA ALLEYNE diversions@wkuherald.com

His students know him for his professional, no-nonsense persona.

His colleagues see him as the department head of mathematics and computer science, who strives to set the bar high.

Although Peter Hamburger has a tough exterior, there’s one leading lady who knows a different side of him.

This lassie is his brown-eyed companion, Lily.

“She’s my Valentine, even though I have a wife,” he said.

Don’t jump to conclusions, though.

Lily is his 6-year-old Golden Retriever from California.

Hamburger’s daughter adopted Lily from the NorCal Golden Retriever

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Rescue Mission.

When she could no longer take care of Lily, Hamburger and his wife, Edit, made the cross-country drive to bring her to their home.

Hamburger said he didn’t think twice about going to get her.

“I really needed a dog,” he said. “I was starting to get much older, but when I got the dog I was more active, fun and energized.”

Hamburger has felt a connection with canines since he was a child in Hungary.

When he was five, his father was detained in a Hungarian political prison, ABBY O'BRYAN/HERALD known as a gulag.

Hamburger remembered feeling so Peter Hamburger, the head of the mathematics and computer science department, built a small as prison guards stood watch and couch especially for his golden retriever, Lily. “I’ve had many dogs, but she’s by far the best,” he said. “She is my valentine.”

German Shepherds paced the premises.

SEE PUP, PAGE 3

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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

a thousand words

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

LIVING

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Photo & Story by JABIN E. BOTSFORD

JABIN E. BOTSFORD/HERALD

WKU alumna Joyce Jones, 57, along with her husband Dion, takes care of their grandchildren, Hope and Bryan Jones, who are 8 and 6 years old. Joyce reads a couple of books to Hope and Bryan every night before they go to bed.

WKU graduate Joyce Jones, 57, and her husband, Dion, 51, are raising their grandchildren.

After a couple years of marriage, the couple decided that they wanted to adopt a girl from China, but their adoption fell through at the last minute. At the same time, unknown to them, Dion’s son, Daniel, was having relationship problems with his wife. His two children were caught in the middle.

“Daniel was trying to make a living the best he could, and he couldn’t really take care of them, and the mom didn’t really want to take care of them,” Dion said. “In order to give the best care we possibly could for the kids, we asked for adoption.”

Although it was a difficult decision, Daniel agreed to it, knowing his parents could give a better life to the young children.

Hope is now 8 years old, and Bryan is 6.

Dion and Joyce have friends who are also grandparents, as well as younger friends who are raising children.

“We don’t fit in with the young crowd,” Dion said.

Over his years with the children, Dion became more patient.

“I now would not change it back for nothing because I feel like we have got a second chance on raising kids,” he said.

Dion has been a truck driver for 21 years. He usually leaves on a Monday morning after dropping the kids off at school and gets back on a Friday night or Saturday.

“They don’t get to see me very often, and when I’m in on the weekends, then I pretty much take over and Joyce gets to have a little bit of relaxing from the kids,” he said.

“It’s a stress on Joyce because she does everything when I’m gone. She’s the maid. She’s the cook. She gets them ready for school, bed, and so sometimes it overwhelms her."

With Dion and Joyce both being in their 50s, they sometimes wonder if they will be around long enough to see the children grow up, but for now they are finding joy in their adopted children.

“Our adoption in one sense came through after all,” Dion said. “We just didn’t have to fly to China.”

Each unit will have a kitchen, living room and separate bathrooms.

The kitchen will have granite counters and stainless steel appliances, along with two chairs along the counters and wood flooring. The bathroom will have separate tiled showers and toilets, with a shared vanity and two basins.

The living room, along with the rest of the apartment, will be carpeted and will come with a leather couch and a table that can be used as a television stand.

The bedrooms will have a full bedroom set and a sliding-door closet with storage shelves.

Students living in the apartments will not have to follow the same rules as students in other types of housing. There will not be resident assistants in the apartments, and students will not have to

SGA

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Snell Hall bus stop SGA is exploring the possibility of getting a new bus stop by Snell Hall. Boka said a stop near Snell Hall has been necessary for some time because the current one is “very broken down” and “not fitting in with the progressive, aesthetic look of campus — like the nice bus stop across from Gary Ransdell Hall.”

Parking meter consistency Boka said SGA wants the parking meters on campus to be uniform for convenience — for example, making sure all the time limits match.

“We wanted them

check anyone into their room.

The apartment coordinator, Minnette Huck, said she will be in the building to help students with maintenance issues or noisy neighbors.

“I’ll be there as a resource for the students that live there,” she said.

Huck said the apartments won’t have safety checks that happen in other buildings, and alcohol will be permitted for students over the age of 21.

Student living in the apartments will be able to park in the new parking garage, which will also be open for commuter students. Residents will pay for a permit equivalent to the cost of a housing permit, and HRL will subsidize the price for the garage access.

Students who sign up for the apartment will later be contacted about signing a lease. Kuster said the price will be around $400 a bed.

“As we looked at other student apartments, that’s

well below the current price for a two-bedroom apartment,” Kuster said.

Kuster said this is a comparable price per month to what many complexes charge for a four-bedroom apartment.

“Once we get through the process and everyone assigns themselves, then we would contact them about signing the apartment lease,” Tolbert said.

Kuster said HRL is looking at 11-month leases, from Aug. 1 to June 30.

“It gives students a little more flexibility that are graduating,” Kuster said.

Kuster said off-campus apartments were something that students have wanted.

“That’s something that students have told us — ‘We want that opportunity to live off campus and have that experience,’” Kuster said. “Parents, I think, will feel better leasing from the university as opposed to an apartment complex.”

all to be uniform because it was difficult for many students to discern between their time differences,” Boka said.

Print allocation donation Natalie Broderick, student affairs committee head, said the idea of sharing print allocation money is still new, and it will take a lot of research to work out.

In its tentative state, the plan will allow students who have leftover print allocation money to donate it to students who need it.

“We hope to maybe do a process somewhere along the lines of the Share-A-Swipe idea,” Broderick said.

Social media safety campaign The social media campaign would be set

up to give students tips on how to be safe when posting statuses, pictures and their locations online, Boka said.

“Since we are all getting more and more connected, crime and safety over the Internet has become an increasing issue,” Boka said.

DUC renovations Students may be able to purchase and label bricks to go on the new DUC building.

There would be a limited amount of space to do this, but the bricks would serve “as a lasting mark in a building many of us will not be able to use,” Boka said.

“The DUC brick idea was something I’ve seen at other benchmark schools’ student unions,” Boka said.

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FEBRUARY 14, 2012

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

Black History Month events to take place at WKU

By JOEL BRINKERHOFF news@wkuherald.com

WKU is hosting a variety of speakers, films and discussions to commemorate Black History Month.

The main attraction of the events hosted this month is the keynote address to be given by actor and author Hill Harper at 7 p.m. in the Downing University Center Auditorium on Feb. 21. Harper, best known for his portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on CSI: New York, graduated from Brown University and earned graduate degrees in law and public administration from Harvard.

His topic will be “Building a Foundation For Your Life.”

Vee Smith, the assistant director of student development at the Office of Diversity Programs, has coordinated many of the events on the Black History Month calendar and served on the committee that brought these events to WKU. “I’ve had a passion for my race since I was in high school,” Smith said. “This month is a chance for African-Americans to showcase and be recognized for their talents.”

Smith said the events that have been held for the month so far have been

PUP

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

He noticed one hound in particular with nice eyes and big ears.

“I believed that dog smiled at me,” he said. “I felt safe and comfort from that.”

From then on, whenever he felt scared or alone, he imagined the dog from that day.

He also claimed a Hungarian Puli, or sheepdog, that roamed around his neighborhood.

Hamburger was unable to bring the Puli when he left for America, so he paid a neighbor to watch after the dog.

He later found out that they killed the dog and kept the money.

“I decided after that I would only get a small dog because of what happened to my dog from Hungary,” he said.

After arriving in the United States, his young daughters grew attached to a Yorkshire terrier they named Samy.

Samy was a part of the family for 14 years. She died in 2004.

“He has a love for all

well-attended considering their topics.

“We would like to see students become more interested in these topics outside of the month of February,” Smith said.

Lloren Foster, an assistant professor of African American Studies, is involved in many of the events taking place on campus in honor of Black History Month.

“As long as I’ve lived, this month has been very special,” Foster said. “We want these events to plant seeds that will eventually bear fruit.”

Foster said he wishes that taking an AfricanAmerican studies course was a requirement for all undergraduates at WKU. “There is still a disconnect,” Foster said. “The climate is still tinged with a legacy of the same prejudice as when we arrived here in 1619.”

Foster, the co-chair for the Black History Month Celebration and Cultural Preservation Committee, said he has been preparing for the month since as early as September.

“We see the sun for 29 days, and the rest is winter.” Foster said. “Black history should not be celebrated over the course of just one month, but every month.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

dogs,” said Bruce Kessler, associate dean of Ogden College of Science and Engineering.

The pair traveled to Spain for a conference when that love became apparent.

Kessler said Hamburger spoke to every dog they saw in English.

“Of course we weren’t speaking Spanish, so I thought we were going to get tazed,” he said. “He’s a bit of a nut about puppies, which is nice.”

And he’s no different with Lily.

Hamburger’s neighbors and WKU retirees Carol and James Barksdale are fully aware of the time Hamburger takes out for her.

“Peter is so devoted to her,” Carol said. “They do all kinds of things to keep her healthy.”

The couple can count on seeing them strolling around the neighborhood or playing Frisbee in a nearby field.

Carol, who is usually afraid of large dogs, said Lily is always gentle to her.

“I’ve never seen her aggressive at all,” she said.

“She doesn’t have a rough

bone in her body.”

Aside from being poised, Lily also likes to listen to classical music, watch TV and Skype.

Hamburger said she loves to Skype his daughter in California.

Her guilty pleasures include going to the spa and eating hamburgers — no pun intended.

Lily won a dog pageant last year, which included a free trip to a puppy spa.

Hamburger said after one visit they were hooked.

“My wife says her spa isn’t as good as Lily’s,” he said.

In March, he plans to throw a party for Lily’s seventh birthday.

Every year, they invite their friends to come eat cheeseburgers and celebrate.

One year, his faculty and staff thought Lily was his wife because of the invitations. He had to explain to them that she was his dog.

Carol looks forward to Lily’s birthday this year and hopes she can attend.

“Lily shows a very sweet, tender side of Peter,” she said. “Lily can bring out the best in any of us.”

■ Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. in DUC 340 Black Classics Film Series showing of “Homecoming” ■ Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in DUC 226 “Black Peril, White Virtue, and African Women” lecture by Dr. Bella Mukonyora ■ Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in DUC 226 The Mirror and Me, What Reflection Do I See

DREAM

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“It really got to me because they never really told me why,” Smith said.

The manager was blatantly doubtful about his big city dreams.

“I told my boss I was going to move to New York, and she just looked at me,” he said.

Smith didn’t stay with the company long after that, but he wasn’t going to let it stop him.

Shelly French, the previous AE assistant manager, noticed his take-charge spirit.

“He did have a speech problem, but I think it pushed him to work harder,” French said. “Anything you wanted him to do, he could.”

Smith said he developed that determination because he wanted to prove himself.

“Most people see my disability and think I can’t do anything,” he said. “If you tell me I can’t do something, I want to show you I can.”

Smith took a position at Abercrombie & Fitch, where he met Faith Rickard, AF visual manager from Owensboro.

Rickard said Smith was always the first to help her with the store displays.

“You can tell he has a desire for it,” she said. “We constantly would talk about him going to New York.”

Rickard said he’ll do great because he’s put in the work to get there.

“He’s made those con-

3

nections and followed his dream,” she said. “So many people talk about it, but he actually did it.”

French said Smith inspired her to go back to school.

“He’s been my motivation,” French said. “If he can do it through all the things he’s been through, so can I.” Smith is eager to get to the Big Apple and start working.

He’s been saving money since last summer and is now employed at Hollister.

Although he has a long trek ahead, Smith stands by his motto.

“When people doubt you,” he said, “remember that you have it inside to make it when you believe.”

■ Feb. 18 at Holiday Inn Sloan Convention Center The Crimson and Kreme Ball sponsored

by Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and Delta Sigma Theta sorority ■ Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in DUC Auditorium Hill Harper, an actor, author and recipient of multiple NAACP Image Awards, will speak on the topic of “Building a Foundation For Your Life”

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2.14.12

College Heights Herald • Western Kentucky University

people

EDITORIAL CARTOON

POLL

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?

RODNEY WEBB Radcliff freshman

“Celebrating later on in the week because my girlfriend lives in Indiana… You know, we’re doing the gift exchange, and then we’re going to the Drake concert on Friday.”

CECELIA SATTERLY Bowling Green senior

“I’m serving food at the Salvation Army. We’re doing a special Valentine’s Day dinner for the homeless.”

STAFF EDITORIAL

Thumbs up New Gen Ed proposals sound promising THE ISSUE: WKU’s General Education Review Task Force has proposed changes to the general education curriculum, that, if passed, could go into effect as soon as 2014.

OUR STANCE: The Herald thinks the proposed changes are spot-on and would provide a new dynamic to an otherwise unexciting list of required classes.

Just about every college student is familiar with general education requirements — classes outside of a student’s major or minor they’re required to take in order to give them a more well-rounded education.

Often, the general edu-

cation requirements become more of a nuisance than an asset for students in pursuit of a degree. But it looks like things could improve if the proposed changes are passed.

One of the most notable changes is reducing the number of general education hours from 44 to 39.

This change would decrease nearly half a semester’s worth of required credit hours and should serve students well as they attempt a more timely graduation.

As staying around an extra semester or year has become more common at universities, the Herald believes the reduction would ultimately allow for students to meet their degree

requirements sooner as the general education changes would now be proportional to the number of total hours required to graduate.

Other changes include splitting the 39-hour program into three categories, the first two of which would include the traditional humanities, communications, math and science classes.

The proposals call for a third category called “Connections,” which would allow students to take nearly any class they want and was created to help students examine the link between general education classes and their major.

Although the Connections category is still in the preliminary stages, the Herald thinks it sounds promis-

ing and could provide help to students who question the value of general education courses.

It has taken the task force nearly four years to come up with the proposed changes and the time looks to be well-spent. Overall, the task force seems to have put together a well-thoughtout set of changes that would drastically change the look of WKU’s general education curriculum. The Herald backs the proposed changes and hopes they see the University Senate floor and ultimately the light of day.

This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Herald’s 10-member editorial board.

TRACEY VALLEROY Bowling Green senior

“Celebrating with my husband and son. I think my husband is making dinner.”

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FEBRUARY 14, 2012

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

WKU earns bronze ranking in sustainability assessment

By MICHAEL MCKAY news@wkuherald.com

In WKU’s first time participating in a nation-wide sustainability assessment, the university achieved a bronze ranking and officials said they’re already looking to earn silver for next year.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (AASHE STARS) ranks how sustainable universities are by assigning points to the practices of different areas of the university.

The participating university earns a rank from bronze to platinum based on the number of points it receives.

There are 159 STARS-rated schools, according to AASHE’s website.

This year, WKU received a bronze rating with 38.42 points from AASHE STARS. The cutoff for silver begins at 45 points.

John Osborne, vice president for Campus Services and Facilities, said the assessment would allow WKU to

improve on its sustainability.

“It is the guide and the benchmark from which we aspire to use to embellish and improve our performance and our activities,” Osborne said.

The grounds section of WKU’s STARS assessment was the only one to earn full credit for its practices. This includes composting, using native plants in landscaping and being a Tree Campus USA, according to the report.

Josh Twardowski, manager of campus services for Facilities Management, said that even though his department earned all of their AASHE STARS points, they would still find new ways to innovate.

“The industry always has new things to offer,” Twardowski said.

Sustainability Coordinator Christian Ryan-Downing said the goal is to raise WKU’s rank to silver in the next year.

“We feel fairly confident that for the next reporting period that we could increase our score significantly,” Ryan-Downing said.

Ryan-Downing said that getting the documentation

CRIME REPORTS Reports

■ Freshman Anthony Cordes, Barnes-Campbell Hall, was cited on Feb. 12 for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

■ Freshman Leroy Hatchell, Pearce-Ford Tower, was cited on Feb. 12 for possession of alcohol by a minor.

■ Senior Mary Walsh, Northeast Hall, reported on Feb. 11 that a Nextar GPS and several other items were taken from her vehicle while it was parked in Parking Structure 1.

■ Freshman James Buchanan, PFT, and freshman Chance Thompson, PFT, reported on Feb. 11 that a laptop computer, an iPhone and $30 were stolen from their room. The value of the theft is $1,630.

■ Graduate student Brad Kerschner, PFT, reported on Feb. 11 that an exit sign and a mirror bracket were broken on the 18th floor of PFT. The value of the damage is $170.

■ Freshman Paul Lopez, PFT, reported on Feb. 11 that someone entered his dorm room while he was sleeping and stole his visitor’s purse in PFT. The purse was recovered, but an iPhone 4 and $27 were stolen. The value of the theft is $777.

■ Andrea Browning reported on Feb. 10 that her wallet and its contents were stolen from Cherry Hall.

and proof to AASHE STARS was a factor that caused the university to lose points.

“We know we’re doing this particular initiative, but we don’t really have any supporting document as evidence, and so in those areas we can’t earn the credit,” Ryan-Downing said. “That’s a little bit frustrating because we’re doing it, but we can’t document it.”

An example of this is the usage of napkins made from recyclable materials in dining areas, Ryan-Downing said.

Although WKU uses these napkins, the university can’t earn the points without documentation proving this.

Ryan-Downing said awareness of the program would help other departments to get the data together to submit to AASHE STARS next year.

“Now that we’ve had our first report, it’s out there. I think people are recognizing ‘Oh, this is something we definitely want to contribute to — we want to be recognized in our department for doing this particular thing,’” Ryan-Downing said.

5

The value of the theft is $140.

■ Freshman Theodorus Luiten, PFT, reported on Feb. 10 that his cell phone was stolen from PFT. The value of the theft is $178.05.

■ Senior Matthew Burns, Bowling Green, reported on Feb. 9 that his prescribed medication from his backpack was stolen from Grise Hall. The value of the theft is $70.

■ Sophomore Jessica Bizianes, Gilbert Hall, reported on Feb. 9 that a FedEx package for her was stolen from the front desk of Gilbert Hall. The value of the theft is $174.90.

ARRESTS

■ Sophomore Stephenie T. Graves, Zacharias Hall, was arrested on Feb. 9 and charged with shoplifting a total of $6.76 worth of products from Garrett Food Court.

■ Senior Cecillee Bolton, Northeast, was arrested on Feb. 9 on a failure to appear warrant.

■ Junior Dustyn Dixon, Gurnee, Ill., was arrested on Feb. 12 and charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence.

■ Sophomore Alexander Dingle, PFT, was arrested on Feb. 12 and charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

■ Junior Maxwell Oscar Oldham, Bowling Green, was arrested on Feb. 12 on an indictment warrant for possession of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Confucius Institute to host spring gala

By SHELBY ROGERS news@wkuherald.com

WKU’s Confucius Institute is preparing for its Chinese Spring Gala on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. in the Downing University Center auditorium.

The gala, which is being presented in partnership with Hubei University’s dance group, is in celebration of 2012 as the Year of the Dragon by the Chinese calendar.

Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, the Confucius Institute’s assistant director for educational outreach, said the gala will not only

feature traditional lion and dragon dancing, but also calligraphy demonstrations, Tai Chi fan dances and classical Chinese instrumental pieces.

Terrill Martin, associate director for the Confucius Institute, said WKU is one stop on Hubei University’s performance tour. The Chinese education ministry, Hanban, which founded the Confucius Institutes around the world, picked Hubei as a touring university for the Confucius Institutes in the southeastern United States, Martin said.

“Part of the experience as a college student is to experience new things,”

Kirby-Stokes said. “One way to do that is to come to uniquely cultural events like this.”

Kirby-Stokes said after last year’s successful gala that she predicts “standing room only” for this year’s presentation.

“We’ve got about 400 school children of various ages, currently learning Chinese in school, who are attending the performance,” she said. “I recommend for anyone who wants to attend to get there early.”

Hubei University, located in the capital of China’s Hubei province, has partnered with more than 70 universities across the globe, according to its website. The uni-

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versity has co-established two of its own Confucius Institutes and takes an active role in promoting Chinese language and culture, according to the website.

“Attending this gala would allow students to experience new things and the world around them without ever having to leave Bowling Green,” Kirby-Stokes said.

Martin looks forward to a first in his Chinese cultural learning experience.

“The gala will be the first time I’ve ever seen a dragon dance live,” he said.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”

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ACROSS 1 __ jacket; book cover 5 Usual practice 10 In __; lined up 14 Run __; meet 15 Slip away from 16 France's Coty 17 Actor Sandler 18 Rest; leisure 20 Journal 21 Thyme or dill 22 In the __ of; surrounded by 23 "Casper the Friendly __" 25 __-man; toady 26 __ of evolution; Darwin's idea 28 Tenant 31 Moses' brother 32 Wide 34 Sweet potato 36 Bad mood 37 In a __; instantly 38 Singer Seeger 39 __-Tiki; Thor Heyerdahl's raft 40 Measuring instrument 41 Baked, donut-shaped roll 42 Set on fire 44 Constructs 45 TV's "__ Got a Secret" 46 Reed or Fargo 47 Elbow room 50 Went under 51 Jacuzzi 54 Causing to be unfriendly 57 Consumer 58 Collapsed 59 Instrument for Liberace 60 Chair or pew 61 Not difficult 62 Awards for TV shows & actors 63 Invites DOWN 1 Radio knob 2 Disassemble 3 Walking unsteadily 4 Actor Selleck 5 Doctrinal opposition 6 On one's toes 7 Light __; lamp insertion

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6

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

Man’s selflessness has fostered 60 years of marriage

By SIDNEY BLANFORD diversions@wkuherald.com

He’s piloted a dive bomber in the Naval Air Corps, developed a radio station in Guatemala, worked at three universities, led sermons in California and been a husband for almost 60 years.

At 90 years old, Robert Mounce said he believes, “in a sense, the best life is a life invested in someone else.”

After coming to WKU in 1967 on a Danforth grant to establish a department of religion, Mounce went on to become the Dean of Arts and Humanities, now recognized as Potter College of Arts and Letters.

Thomas Weakley, parttime faculty of leadership studies, is the director of Campus Crusade for

Christ (CRU).

Weakley said he met Mounce in college and remained familiar with the name because his wife had Mounce for a New Testament class when she attended WKU. Mounce currently lives in a Bowling Green apartment that is a part of the same complex as the nursing center where his wife, Jean Mounce, resides.

On Thursday, Weakley will present a message at the weekly CRU meeting on marriage and dating.

While speaking to the students, Weakley will incorporate a video of Mounce and his wife that focuses on love and care.

“I will be speaking on marriage and dating and will be using the video as an illustration,” Weakley

SHELBY MACK/HERALD

Robert Mounce reads to his wife, Jean, in her room at Village Manor, a nursing home in Bowling Green.

said. “(Mounce) will be speaking for us, but not this week. It will be after spring break.”

In the video, Mounce said marriage has a way of getting better.

“Our love for one another has deepened and as a result has been much more rewarding to both of

us,” Mounce said. “Love that is nurtured with selflessness grows.”

Weakley said his message will focus on the qualities needed to have a long-lasting relationship.

“The example we need to look to is Mounce,” Weakley said.

No one is perfect, and

Mounce said he believes that instead of thriving for perfection in a relationship, a couple should instead develop an authentic openness to ensure they do their best to make perfection a reality.

Imperfection struck Mounce’s relationship when his wife’s health began failing. Two years ago, he moved her to a Bowling Green health center where he could get additional help in caring for her.

“That’s what love is — placing the welfare of the other ahead of your own,” Mounce said.

After Weakley shows the video this Thursday, Mounce said he hopes the students will recognize that placing the welfare of the other ahead of your own results in greater happiness for both involved.

Weakley said he feels that in today’s society, many young people focus on the preparation involved in the wedding ceremony when they should be preparing for a lifetime of marriage.

“Look for qualities you admire in the people you hold in high esteem,” Mounce said. “Recognize that marriage is a lifelong relationship that is intended to grow and become increasingly rewarding.”

scan for video on Mounce

FarmHouse philanthropy to raise violence awareness

By SPENCER JENKINS news@wkuherald.com

FarmHouse Fraternity will host a philanthropy corn hole event called “Throwing Bags Not Punches” on March 17 in order to raise awareness about campus violence and money for brother Dylan Nonweiler.

Nonweiler, a junior from Owensboro, was involved in a fight near campus on Jan. 29 that left him unconscious with brain swelling, according to a Bowling Green Police report.

He continues to recover from the fight at his home in Owensboro, FarmHouse President Stuart Meacham said.

The two have been communicating through text messages during Nonweiler’s recovery at home.

“We’re not going to stand for people getting away with this kind of thing,” Meacham said. “My brother was almost dead — no telling how many more punches would have done it.”

The FarmHouse event will engage not only the Greek community but also the public and local businesses, Meacham said. They want to raise awareness because campus violence needs addressing, he said.

As soon as something happened to Nonweiler, FarmHouse knew it needed to host a philanthropy, Meacham said.

“We were worried about Dylan at first, but once he was getting on the recovery side we went ahead with the philanthropy,” he said.

The corn hole tournament will be geared toward the Greek community while other events, including a silent auction, will grab members of the community, he said.

All money raised through the philanthropy event will go to Nonweiler’s family to help pay medical expenses and other bills, Meacham said.

No arrests have been made in the case, said Ronnie Ward, public information officer for BGPD.

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

7

WKU comes home after ending losing skid

By BRAD STEPHENS

sports@wkuherald.com

It turns out the 2-20 Troy team on Saturday was just what the doctor ordered for the Lady Toppers.

WKU came into the day with a five-game losing streak, its longest of the season. The Lady Toppers were also 0-12 on the road, not having won on an opponent’s home floor since Feb. 19, 2011.

But WKU broke both streaks with a dominating 59-36 win over the Trojans at Sartain Hall, outscoring the Trojans 35-14 in the second half.

Freshman guard Danay Fothergill led the Lady Topper charge with 15 points, shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range.

The Troy victory came just three days after WKU dropped a 67-64

heartbreaker to Middle Tennessee State.

“I think we had a little fire in us,” Fothergill told WKU’s Big Red Radio following the game. “(The MTSU) game kind of ticked us off … Tonight we came out and got it done.”

The Lady Toppers especially got it done on the defensive end and on the boards.

WKU allowed the Trojans to hit just four field goals in the second half and didn’t let them make a 3-pointer all game.

Then the Lady Toppers out-rebounded Troy 42-32 and 14-5 offensively.

For a team that’s struggled at times in the second half this season, there was no letdown on Saturday.

“Coach told us coming into the game we’d have to play 40 minutes,”

Fothergill said. “And that’s what we did, we played the whole game.”

Head Coach Mary Taylor Cowles said she thought the play of sophomore guard Chaney Means stood out against Troy.

Means scored just two points but dished six assists, tallied four steals and a block, and committed just two turnovers.

“That’s a really nice stat line for a point guard,” Cowles said.

WKU will be back home for its next game, a 7:30 p.m. matchup on Wednesday with Sun Belt Conference East Division rival Florida Atlantic.

The Lady Toppers are 5-5 in Diddle Arena this year, playing in front of an average of 1,208 fans a game.

“We need people in Diddle Arena Wednesday night, we really, really do,” Cowles said. “We need this win.”

■ SPORTS BRIEF

■ 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Diddle Arena ■ Last meeting: FAU 60, WKU 58, Jan. 25, Boca Raton, Fla. ■ All-time series: WKU leads 9-2 (5-0 at Diddle Arena) ■ What’s at stake: An FAU win would keep the Owls in the hunt for the East Division’s No. 1 seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Tournament. It would also help solidify FAU’s chances for a first-round bye at the tournament.

A WKU win would give the Lady Toppers their first twogame winning streak since

MYERS

Mokone breaks WKU 800m record Sophomore middle distance runner David Mokone cemented his place in the WKU record books on Feb. 11, running a school-record 1:48.61 to win the 800 meters at the SPIRE Division I Invitational in Geneva, Ohio.

It was the second time Mokone had broken that record in three weeks.

The Bultfontein, South Africa native ran the 800 meters in 1:49.62 on Jan. 28 at the Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington, breaking a 23-year-old school record.

He was named Sun Belt Conference Track Athlete of the Week after breaking the record the first time.

Winstead, Winston suffer injuries Two members of WKU’s 4x400-meter men’s relay team are recovering from leg injuries.

Sophomore sprinter Marcus Winstead first suffered a strain to his left quad during practice Feb. 8 while preparing for the SPIRE Invitational.

At the meet, De’Myco Winston, sophomore

sprinter and 4x400-meter relay anchor, suffered inflammation to his left hamstring.

Both are hoping to return before the Sun Belt Indoor Championships, which will take place Feb. 25 and 26 at Middle Tennessee State.

Prior to Winstead and Winston’s injuries, the 4x400-meter relay team had first place honors two weekends in a row — a first for the team since being under the direction of Head Coach Erik Jenkins.

“I have to go see my trainer three times a day, so hopefully we can help me get back before then,” Winstead said. “I love to run and it kind of hurts when I don’t get to ‘cause I’m hurt.”

As majority of the team will have this weekend off, Winston says he will use this week to heal and train. He said he hopes to see results of his recovery within the week.

“If I’m lucky, it will only take me a week, depends on how deep the inflammation is and the training,” he said. “… Even if I’m not, I’m going to run. I have a men’s team to support and a conference title to take home.”

— Chela Counts

SOFTBALL

WKU goes 3-1 in S.C.

By HASSANI GRAYSON sports@wkuherald.com

Watching the Lady Toppers score 27 runs in four games en route to a 3-1 start to the season has the WKU coaching staff optimistic about what the team can accomplish this season.

WKU won its season opener on Friday at the Palmetto Classic in Columbia, S.C., against Cleveland State 4-3. Sophomore Emily Rousseau got the complete game win.

Head Coach Tyra Perry said she’s been impressed with Rousseau, who has been with the team a short amount of time and has recently recovered from an injury.

“She’s maybe only about 60 percent of what she’s capable of,” Perry said. “But that’s understandable considering she joined us in January.”

Perry said that Rousseau will help WKU win a lot of games when healthy.

The first game of WKU’s Saturday doubleheader saw WKU’s offense execute early as junior outfielder Kelsie Mattox hit a tworun home run to kickstart the offense in the first inning against Winthrop.

Though was tied at two in the third inning, junior infielder Mallorie Sulaski had two key RBI while junior catcher Karavin Dew came up with a key hit to give WKU an 8-5 win.

In the second game of the day WKU found themselves tied at four in the bottom of the eighth after a tense back-and-forth with South Carolina that involved several lead changes.

Rousseau, who had already given up the game tying runs early in the inning, couldn’t work her way out of trouble and gave up a game-ending single with runners on the corner leading to a 5-4 loss for WKU. WKU had a dominating bounce-back performance against Tennessee State on Sunday as the mercy rule came into effect in the 5th inning with WKU getting an 8-0 win.

“We got good pitches to hit and made solid contact,” Perry said.

Junior Kim Wagner pitched a five-inning no-hitter with seven strike-outs.

WKU will play on Friday at the Hillenbrand Invitational in Tuscon, Ariz.

“We want to continue to build on the positive things that happened this weekend and take it into Arizona,” she said.

For more coverage online at WKUHERALD.COM

WKU (7-17, 4-8 Sun Belt Conference) vs.

Florida Atlantic (14-9, 9-3)

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NON SMOKING

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

“Every day we go out there, the focus is on that day,” Dykes said.

“There’s an energy every day that we’re bringing so that when we get to the season nobody’s going to be shocked or feel different just because we’re playing a different team.

“That’s what Coach Myers has brought to us.”

Junior left-hander Tanner Perkins said Myers has really brought the clubhouse together so far.

“This team is closer than it’s ever been,” Perkins said. “We have a bond as a team that will come in handy.”

Myers credited managing the clubhouse successfully to his assistants.

“A head coach is only as good as his assistant coaches,” he said.

“Coaching balance is huge. Those guys make my job so much easier.”

HAUNT

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

Now WKU will face Florida Atlantic in the friendly confines of Diddle Arena, where it’s had a little more success. The Toppers are 5-7 at Diddle and have seen the three largest home crowds of the season show up in the last three home games.

Harper said he’s happy to play back home

Jan. 4-Jan. 7. It would also keep WKU in the hunt for the East Division’s No. 4 seed.

■ FAU Players to Watch: Soph.

F Chenise Miller (10.6 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game) Sr. F April Goins (8.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) Soph. G Takia Brooks (5.7 ppg, 2.4 assists per game) ■ WKU Players to Watch: Sr. F LaTeira Owens (11.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) Fr. G Danay Fothergill (5.6 ppg, .373 3-point FG percentage) Soph. G Chaney Means (1.9 apg, 1.4 steals per game)

Myers said he and his assistants have spent a lot of time planning for the duties they’ll assume this season and that he’ll call the pitches like he did as an assistant.

“Hopefully we’ve done a good job of staying organized and planned so that all of a sudden the emotions of trying to be something you’re not won’t happen just because of a title change,” Myers said.

He also said he has enjoyed the extra responsibilities that come with being a head coach, and as the beginning of the regular season nears, he’s “not nervous.”

“This is a process I’ve been preparing for since the day I was given the job, and even when Coach Finwood left, you know, knowing the potential of getting this opportunity,” Myers said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity.

“This is a dream job at a dream university, and I’d be lying to say I’m not excited to lead this program starting Friday.”

again, but he knows the team that showed up on Saturday can’t show up on Thursday.

“We need to be back to the basketball team we’ve been here,” he said. “That’s a tough, hard-nosed, defensive-minded basketball team.

“We’ve got to get back to that aggressive level … We need to get back in the gym and really shore up some areas where we were deficient (on Saturday) on the defensive end.”

WKUHERALD.COM

For coverage of WKU's men's basketball game on Thursday against FAU

WKUHERALD.COM 2.14.12

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • Vol. 88, No. 7 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

COUNTDOWN TO BASEBALL OPENING DAY:

3 days

Topper offense looks for big 2012 campaign

By KURT CARSON sports@wkuherald.com

COOPER BURTON/HERALD

First-year Head Coach Matt Myers talks with players during practice Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Nick Denes Field. The Toppers open their season at 3 p.m. on Friday with the first game of a three-game series against Toledo at home.

Replacing Finwood Myers set to begin first year as head coach

By KURT CARSON sports@wkuherald.com

WKU will begin the 2012 campaign on Friday with Matt Myers in his first season at the helm.

Myers may be a new voice to lead the Toppers, but many of his philosophies on the game will be a carryover from former head coach Chris Finwood.

He served as WKU’s pitching coach the last four seasons, taking over the head coaching duties after Finwood was hired as head coach at Old Dominion.

Finwood went 190-154 during his sixyear tenure at the helm of the Toppers.

Myers said Finwood taught him “more things than you could imagine” including staying positive, even in circumstances you can’t control.

“He was a very optimistic person,” Myers said. “He made me look at the game differently from a head coaching standpoint.”

Myers has been in the head coaching position before. He served as head coach at North Carolina-Asheville for four seasons from 2001-2004, going 89-128.

But he said it was his time under Finwood that gave him a different perspective on how to enjoy the game of baseball.

“His energy, his life and his demeanor all the time made doing the job much more enjoyable,” Myers said. “I think that’s an important thing to have, and obviously he was very successful.”

In between his time at UNC Asheville, and when he took the assistant coaching job at WKU, Myers spent three seasons as an assistant at Auburn.

He said serving as an assistant at both Auburn and WKU allowed him to prepare for when the opportunity of being a head coach came back around.

“Every year as an assistant, I’ve picked up things that I add back in to my folder if I was to be a head coach again,” Myers said.

Senior third baseman Casey Dykes said the team seems to agree that in his debut season as WKU’s head coach, Myers has brought an energized atmosphere.

SEE MYERS, PAGE 7

WKU will return several key members from a lineup that found plenty of success a season ago.

The Toppers recorded a .297 team batting average that tied for third-best in the Sun Belt Conference in 2011.

Head Coach Matt Myers said all the returning players and the depth that’s been created behind them have the potential to be a combination that is “once again very strong.”

“You have a chance to see a junior and senior type lineup out there,” Myers said. “I think the maturity factor has a chance to be a strength for us from an offensive standpoint.”

The core of leaders includes senior outfielders Jared Andreoli and Ryan Hutchison, senior third baseman Casey Dykes and senior second baseman Ivan Hartle.

Myers also said he expects newcomers like freshman outfielder Matthew Paculan, junior infielders Adam Lavelle and Steve Hodgins and junior catcher/first baseman Devin Kelly to all have impact this year.

“The team chemistry and the way we play together is different than it’s been the last couple of years and I think it’s better,” Dykes said. “The guys we’ve brought in, the guys that have stepped up and the guys that have been here have really meshed together well.”

Myers said he thinks the WKU defense may be the strongest part of the 2012 squad.

The Toppers had one of the league’s best defenses last season, tying for first with a .976 fielding percentage.

That’s the kind of defense Myers said he expects to see again this year.

“Defense might be our best asset,” Myers said. “I just think we are really solid, and we can do a lot of things throughout the game.”

Andreoli started all 57 games a year ago and ended the season with a perfect fielding percentage in left field. He’s recovering from offseason labrum surgery but said he is “good to go” for the season-opener.

“I’m 100 percent,” Andreoli said. “It’s been good to get out there and get some at-bats with the team instead of watching on the sidelines. The shoulder’s fine.”

Myers said fans can expect to see players like Andreoli, Hutchison and Dykes in the lineup on a consistent basis.

However, he also said the depth that he has on the roster will allow him to be more creative in matching up depending on who the opponent has on the mound.

“We’ve been playing a lot of combinations,” Myers said.

“In the past you’ve seen seven or eight of the same guys in our lineup day-in and day-out.

“I really think this year we’re probably going to see a righthander Friday night, so we have a chance to put in five lefthanded hitters in that lineup if we want to go that way.”

Myers said he doesn’t have a projected lineup at this point but instead will mix and match depending on situation.

“We can go physical, we can go fast, and we can play small ball,” he said. “From a competition standpoint and getting everybody involved, you could see three different lineups Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’m excited to see this offense go, and I think it’s going to be fun to watch.”

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Second half troubles haunt WKU yet again

By COLE CLAYBOURN sports@wkuherald.com

WKU reverted back to some old bad habits on Saturday.

Yet again, the Toppers found themselves ahead comfortably in the second half at Troy — by 11 points to be exact.

All they needed to do was maintain the lead and their focus — something the players and coaches cited as a problem early on in the season.

WKU had won three out of four games prior to Thursday’s loss at Middle Tennessee State, and the young team showed that it might have left behind focus issues that plagued them before.

The focus problems crept back out on Saturday as the Toppers relinquished a 44-33 second half lead and eventually fell to Troy, 83-77.

“In the first half we were playing defense, we were playing good,” freshman guard T.J. Price told WKU’s Big Red Radio following the game. “We came out in the second half, and we relaxed too much.”

Instead of putting Troy away, WKU watched as guard Alan Jones picked apart the Topper defense for 18 points to spark the come-from-behind win.

The loss came on the heels of a loss to MTSU in which the Blue Raiders left the door wide open for WKU by missing free throws down the stretch. The Toppers couldn’t capitalize despite hitting every free throw they shot in the game.

The losses dropped WKU’s road record to 3-7, continuing the team’s road woes.

Price said he wasn’t trying to make any excuses, but he felt

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like fatigue was a factor in Saturday’s loss.

“Thursday we played, we gave it all we got,” Price said.

“We had one day to rest and come back and play against a good Troy team.

“Fatigue did play into this game and it got to us at the end.”

Interim Head Coach Ray Harper said Troy was simply the better team on Saturday.

“We just started settling for the first available jump shot on the perimeter,” he said. “All of a sudden they weren’t falling like they were in the first half.

“I thought we just kind of panicked a little bit. Give Troy credit. They deserved to win the game (Saturday).”

JABIN E. BOTSFORD/HERALD

SEE HAUNT, PAGE 7

Senior guard Kahlil McDonald drives for a basket Thursday against Middle Tennessee State at the Murphy Center. WKU lost 72-64.

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