EDITORIAL: CANDIDATES FOR SENATE SHOULD HOLD A DEBATE
COVERAGE OF THE INTERNAIONL FESTIVAL LIFE, PAGE B1
OPINION, PAGE A4
TTUESDAY, UESDAY, SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 227,7, 22016 016 > W WESTERN ESTERN KKENTUCKY ENTUCKY UUNIVERSITY NIVERSITY > VVOLUME OLUME 991,1, IISSUE SSUE 1111
Student dies in car crash on Sunday BY HERALD STAFF HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU A 21-year-old WKU student died Sunday, in a car crash on the Western Kentucky Parkway, the Grayson County News Gazette reports. Stephanie Campbell, of Louisville, was pronounced dead on the scene by Deputy Grayson County Coroner Howard Tomes. The first responders arrived to scene of the crash near the 106 mile marker at 3:06 p.m. Campbell’s cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the body, Tomes said to a News-Gazette reporter. Campbell was driving westbound on the parkway in a 2001 Nissan Xterra when she started to drift into the median, over-corrected and lost control of the vehicle, according to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jarrod Mudd. It is not confirmed what caused Campbell’s vehicle to drift into the median. A witness to the incident told the Grayson County News Gazette he was traveling eastbound on the parkway when he saw Campbell’s vehicle roll across his lane. Mudd also confirmed the vehicle rolled an indeterminable amount of times before coming to a rest. Additionally, there were approximately 700 feet of skid marks on the parkway, he told a News-Gazette reporter. The WKU community responded to the Campbell’s death with an outburst of support. Many students and WKU organizations spoke about how Campbell had personally affected their lives
SEE CAMPBELL PAGE A2
Regents debate RFP for sports complex
Al Dilley, owner of Goat Browsers, a natural land enhancement service that utilizes goats for vegetation management, pets Ramesses, one of two goats working to clear the overgrown vegetation Wednesday, Sept. 21 in Covington Cemetery. Photo illustration by Jennifer King/HERALD
Goats provide vegetation management for local cemetery BY NICOLE ARES HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU
W
hen the Covington Cemetery became overrun with vegetation, local citizens began to complain about its unkempt nature. Answering this plea, the Bowling Green City Commission sent a small army to help control this vegetation. This was not an average army, however, but a fourlegged army of goats led by Al Dilley, owner and founder of Goat Browsers. Goat Browsers is a land enhancement service that uses goats as nutrient-recyclers. They will graze the land for approximately 12 hours a day and for 8 weeks, eating almost every plant in their path, Dilley said. “Invasive species will smother and take over everything,” he said. “You’re never going to be able to get rid of it, you’re just going to be able to manage it.” This is the third year Goat Browsers has been contracted to the Covington Cemetery. However, Goat Browsers is an idea 25 years in the making and has been implementing its practices since 2009. Since receiving training from the Tennessee Browsing Academy at Tennessee State University, Dilley has completed approximately 10 to 15 jobs including: vegetation clean-up for private individuals, cemeteries, dams and a private lake. “It started sort of as a hobby, but I want it to develop into a small business,” Dilley said. The first year Dilley was contracted to the Covington Cemetery, he brought approximately 16 goats and they finished the project in 12 days. However, since the goats have become a “tourist attraction” for the community, this year there are only two goats and they will stay longer. “The city wanted the project finished by the end of the growing season, but if I brought them all here in two
BY MONICA KAST
days it would be done. These guys will be done around Thanksgiving,” Dilley said. The 200 pound male goats are named Luke and Ramesses. They are usually kept at Dilleys’ farm with 52 other goats split into two herds. “I named him Ramesses because I enjoy Egyptian history and if you look at his head and his horns, he looks sort of like a pharaoh to me,” Dilley said laughing as he patted Ramesses’ on the head and fed him his favorite treat –– a peanut. “Give a goat a peanut and you’ll make a friend for life,” Dilley added. Goat Browsers was hired by the Bowling Green City Commission after it received control of the land in 2014. The land was previously owned by the Covington family who were a “pioneer Warren County family,” according to the sign placed in front of the cemetery.
SEE GRAVEYARD GOATS PAGE A2
Ramesses, left, and Luke eat vegetation from around gravestones Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016 in Covington Cemetery. Jennifer King/HERALD
HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU President Gary Ransdell’s report at the end of Friday’s Board of Regents meeting turned into a heated discussion involving the Request for Proposals for the Sports Medicine Complex. At the end of the meeting, Ransdell gave a report and announced the Sports Medicine Complex Request for Proposal was complete and was sent to Frankfort Friday morning for approval from the state. Ransdell said the RFP would be released Monday. Ransdell also said proposals were due back Oct. 10, calling it a “competitive negotiation,” and they would make a decision within a week of receiving the proposals. “We do dozens of RFP’s a year about a whole range of services, and this one is no different,” Ransdell said after the meeting. “This was on a tighter time frame because of the need to return to the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee in Frankfort on Oct. 18.” WKU also currently has an RFP out for the renovation of the Garrett Conference Center. The requests for that project have been available since mid-July, and will remain open until Oct. 21, according to Gary Meszaros, assistant vice president of business and auxiliary services at WKU.
SEE REGENTS PAGE A2
U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gray visits BG BY EMMA COLLINS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU Candidate for U.S. Senate, Jim Gray, visited the Warren County Democratic Headquarters in Bowling Green Saturday for a meet and greet with voters. Gray, a Democrat and the current mayor of Lexington, spoke to a crowd of around 30 people about his campaign platforms, and specifically, his ideas for improving Kentucky’s economy. Gray said he supports a thriving economy with opportunities for everyone. Gray said his economic platform has four points: build infrastructure, build American manufacturing, build small businesses and build the middle class. “I’m someone who wants to see positive change, investment in America so our country will grow, so young people have opportunities, the opportunities that I had growing up,” Gray said. “The only way we’re going to get there is for the country to make investments.” Gray used his time as mayor to illustrate his ability to improve the economy. When he was first elected as mayor in 2010, Gray said Lexington had
Senatorial candidate Jim Gray speaks to Bowling Green residents at a meet and greet held at the Democratic Headquarters on Saturday, Sept. 24. In his speech, Gray addresses the changes he hopes to make in Kentucky and the Bowling Green community. Michelle Hanks/HERALD a $30 million budget deficit and the pension system for firemen and policemen was underfunded by $350 million. In addition to the deficits, Gray said the healthcare plan for city employees was also losing around $20 million. “It was a perfect storm,” Gray said.
“We had to put a bear hug around these problems and wrestle them to the ground.” In the years following his first election, Gray said his office was able to fix the underfunded pension system, invest in public safety and affordable
SEE JIM GRAY PAGE A2
A2 JIM GRAY Continued from front housing and create a more effective health care plan. Gray said the process also added around 15,000 new jobs. In addition to focusing on the economy, Gray said he also plans to focus on college education, particularly the rising cost of student loans. Gray said there is no perfect solution to the problem, but he believes allowing the refinancing of student loans may be one step. Jack Eason, a junior at Bowling Green High School, said Gray’s concern with student loans is one reason why he supports Gray. “[Loans] are so much a part of the American college experience,” Eason said. “As someone planning to attend college, it is just really important to me that our candidates care how big of a problem the cost of college is.” Gray, a Glasgow native, said he first entered the world of politics at 19 when he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Around the same time, Gray’s father died of lung cancer leaving behind a construction business, wife and six children. Gray said he returned home from school to help support his family. “Seven years after dad passed away, we were flat on our backs
REGENTS Continued from front Last Tuesday WKU pulled its deal with the Medical Center for the Sports Medicine Complex after a legal protest was filed from Western Kentucky Orthopedic and Neurological Associates. Following “lengthy discussion” with Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee, WKU decided to issue RFP’s instead, according to director of media relations Bob Skipper. During the meeting, several Board of Regents members voiced concern about the “tighter time frame,” and the authorization Ransdell had to submit an RFP. “I don’t see how anyone is prepared to make a competitive bid when it has taken the person that we have structured this around months to make the deal happen,” Regent John Ridley said during the meeting. Ridley opposed the Sports Medicine Complex deal with the Medical Center in the original vote in August. Because the topic was not on the Board of Regents meeting agen-
GRAVEYARD GOATS
Continued from front
There are currently 12 members of the Covington family buried inside the private cemetery. Benjamin Covington was the first to be buried there in 1814, and the last documented burial was in 1901. Brent Belcher, the City of Bowling Green Parks & Recreation director, was in charge of contracting with Goat Browsers this year. Belcher said the City of Bowling
CAMPBELL
Continued from front
had personally affected their lives and what a positive impact she had on the WKU community. During her time at WKU, Campbell was a member of Theta Iota chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 broke,” Gray said. “With the help of family and friends, we recovered.” Gray said his family went on to develop the business into one of the nation’s leading builders of advanced manufacturing. The business, which is headquartered in Lexington, has built plants that have provided numerous jobs for Kentuckians. Gray said his time spent working in the family business and the private
the cornfields of Iowa and the coffee shops of New Hampshire than he does about Kentucky and Kentuckians’ problems and challenges,” Gray said. Cathy Lindsey, communications director for Gray’s campaign, said Gray wants the people of Kentucky to be aware of his history as a Kentuckian and his commitment to the state. “His main message is that as a sen-
I am for working together, finding comon ground, and when we need to, compromising.” Candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Gray sector provided him with skills he has been able to transfer to public office. “Good business principles and practices can be translated into government,” Gray said. During his speech, Gray also emphasized his Kentucky roots and how he has lived in Kentucky for much of his life while pointing out how his opponent Rand Paul, the current U.S. senator and a Bowling Green native, has spent very little of his adult life in Kentucky. “Rand Paul knows more about
ator that he will focus on the issues relevant to Kentuckians,” Lindsey said. “He does not have any personal aspirations than to do anything more than serve the people of Kentucky.” Lindsey said that unlike Paul, Gray has no desire to run for president of the United States. Gray took numerous opportunities to compare himself to Paul. He called Paul an “obstructionist” who is often unwilling to compromise. “I am for working together, finding common ground, and when we need
da, it could not be discussed at that meeting and would require a special meeting to go into more detail. Ridley called for a special meeting to discuss the Sports Medicine Complex more in depth, which was seconded by Student Regent Jay Todd Richey. However, after some discus-
manipulated,” Richey said. “It concerns me greatly about the time constraints.” Ridley said he felt the Board of Regents had not voted to give Ransdell the approval to release an RFP. Ridley said the original approval from the Board of Regents was to “approve
I don’t see how anyone is prepared to make a competitive bid when it has taken the person that we have structured this around months to make the deal happen.” Regent John Ridley
sion, Ridley withdrew the request for a special meeting, saying, “It’s going nowhere.” Richey, however, said he would still like a meeting where the Sports Medicine Complex could be discussed in detail. “I am disturbed that this has been
Ransdell in entering into negotiations.” “What we discussed and voted on was the president going to a specific group and negotiating and that was what passed,” Ridley said. Ridley said that by opening up RFP’s, the original agreement and
Green has made this an annual project for two reasons: to keep the land aesthetically pleasing and to keep the community members happy. “Already we’ve had some of the neighbors tell us how excited they are to have the goats back,” Belcher said. “It’s really kind of a unique partnership and thing for the community to have.” The goats will be watered by a local neighbor; however, they will not need to be fed because they have a “buffet of vegetation” available to them, Dil-
ley said. Generally, the goats will be able to care for themselves; however, a small shelter has been set up in the center of the cemetery. While using goats for vegetation management has become popular on the west coast, it is a fairly new concept to the South Central Kentucky area, Dilley said. In fact, this is the first operation of its kind in South Central Kentucky, according to the Goat Browsers website. Belcher added he would like to use
The @WKU_AlphaGam Twitter account tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who has shown us so much love and support during this very difficult time. Please keep our sisters in your thoughts.” Additionally, the @WKUGreeks Twitter account tweeted the con-
tact information of the WKU Counseling and Testing Center saying, “If you or someone you know needs to talk with someone about Stephanie’s passing, please contact our office or WKU Counseling and Testing.” The Herald reached out to Bob Skipper, director of WKU media re-
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
to, compromising,” Gray said. “That’s what progress is all about.” As the challenger against the incumbent Paul, who has held the Senate seat since 2011, Gray will face a unique set of challenges. Lindsey said one of these challenges is not being as well known as Paul. Because of his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election, Paul received a lot of media coverage earlier this year making him even more well-known than he already was. Gray said running against an incumbent does not worry him because he faced an incumbent when he ran for mayor in 2010. “I’m at ease, very comfortable in that role, in that position,” Gray said. “This is America; anything can happen.” Brenda McGown, a Bowling Green local and a volunteer at the Democratic Headquarters, said she believes it will take a lot of work for Gray to win. McGown said Gray needs to get his message out to the people of Kentucky. “I think it’s going to take going to the people,” McGown said.
Reporter Emma Collins can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emma. collins399@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @thebest_dilemma.
assignment given to Ransdell had changed. During the meeting, Board of Regents Chair Frederick Higdon asked each of the regents to read the Board of Regents bylaws, and said the Board of Regents “has never been involved with RFP’s.” Several regents voiced concerns that the RFP’s would lead to an eventual contract with WKU, but Ransdell said they would “see what proposals come in.” Despite concerns about the short timeframe to accept RFP’s, Ransdell said releasing RFP’s on this timeline was legal. “We’re meeting all the minimum standards for an RFP,” Ransdell said, adding that “there’s nothing that says an RFP has to go on for months, and all the parties have known about this project since January.”
Reporter Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 and monica. kast187@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @monicakastwku.
goats at other locations in Bowling Green to help clear overgrown vegetation. However, the goats can only be placed in fenced-in lots, and these are not as abundant, he said. “If there are other areas that present themselves, we would by all means look into placing goats there,” Belcher said.
Reporter Nicole Ares can be reached at 270-745-2655 and nicole.ares@ wku.edu.
lations, but he said WKU does not generally give a statement following a student’s death and Student Affairs would be handling the incident.
The Herald will update this story as more information becomes available.
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SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
Mocking banners gain national attention BY CALLIE MILLER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU WKU is receiving national attention for banners that were hung outside student houses, including at least one fraternity house, before the WKU vs. Vanderbilt University football game Saturday, that made references to a 2013 sexual assault case involving Vanderbilt students. In 2013, four of Vanderbilt’s students were accused of sexual assault. Corey Batey is serving a 15-year sentence, while Brandon Vandenburg is still awaiting his sentencing. The other two, Brandon Banks and Jaborian McKenzie, are working on plea deals. Some of the banners seemed to make reference to Vanderbilt’s history with sexual assault. Some of the banners read as follows: “Vandy catches more charges than passes #TOPSby90” “Vandy goes to court. WKU goes to bowl games.” “Vandy posted Brock Turner’s bail #BeatVandy SEC?” “Vandy anchors down lifetime sentences T-O-P-S.” The Tennessean originally published a story on Sept. 22 that was later published by USA Today Sports, which is owned by the same media company. The story was also picked up by Good Morning America on Sept. 23.
The Lambda Lambda Zeta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity is the only confirmed fraternity house to have referenced the case on its banner, but other off-campus student houses had banners mocking Vanderbilt in other ways. Banners on WKU fraternities that allegedly mocked the rape case were taken down by Thursday night. The Tennessean reported that the president of the Lambda Lambda Zeta chapter of Lambda Chi, Alex Hawkins, said did not mean any harm by the signs. Hawkins said money raised by the fraternity’s philanthropy events is donated to Hope Harbor Sexual Trauma Recovery Center. Hawkins also told the paper the signs were “not in any way meant to make fun of women or sexual assault allegations associated with the Vanderbilt football team, this was simply an immature joke.” In the initial story about the banners, the Tennessean referred to Hope Harbor as a shelter for battered women. In response to the Tennessean’s report Executive Director Melissa Whitley tried to correct the role of the organization in an email. “While domestic and sexual violence have many intersections, our organization does not provide shelter to survivors,” Whitley said. Whitley also anticipates that Hope Harbor’s relationship with the frater-
nity “will continue after we have discussions with the WKU chapter.” Brian Kuster, vice president of student affairs, and other university officials met with all Greek organization presidents last Thursday for what he called a discussion about the responsibilities that come from exercising free speech. Kuster also said that each of the 13 chartered fraternities’ national headquarters will be notified of what happened. “The university does not condone the derogatory messages that were displayed last week,” Kuster said in a statement. “Because the banners were erected on private property, the university does not have the authority to demand their removal. However, all Greek organizations took the banners down when we encouraged them to do so.” The president of Lambda Chi was contacted for response in this story but declined to comment. The incident caused SOKY Riot Grrrls, a local feminist group that partners with other nonprofits in town to further women’s rights and women’s safety in the community, to weigh in. “Just because we were going into a competitive game does not give them the right to speak like that about women as a whole because it contributes to rape culture in a major way,” Briana Phillips, co-founder of SOKY Riot Grrrls, said.
Phillips said she is worried that allowing actions like the banners to go without correction will send a message that mocking sexual assault is acceptable. “I think they’re following a trend,” Phillips said. “It’s terrifying that we have a culture on campus that has been created and upheld by some of the most popular organizations at WKU.” Phillip’s suggestions include hiring a diversity trainer to speak to fraternity members about the nature of their actions. She said that the organization will be demanding repercussions if fraternity members don’t attend the training, such as banning individual members from intramural sports and at most, probation for the rest of the semester. Phillips is not the only one with intentions to actively start a discussion on campus about sexual assault. Hope Harbor plans to contact Greek Affairs as well. “We plan to offer additional education programs, and extend an invitation to other campus organizations to request them as well,” Whitley said.
Callie Miller can be reached at (270)745-6011 and caroline.miller528@ topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @callie_miller8.
Regents give Ransdell life-long emeritus position BY MONICA KAST HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU The Board of Regents Executive Committee voted to appoint President Gary Ransdell as President Emeritus after his retirement as well as passed two memorandums of understanding between WKU and the WKU Foundation and the College Heights Foundation. President Ransdell was appointed a President Emeritus status, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Regents. “Anyone who knows Dr. Ransdell recognizes that his dedication and passion for our University is not likely to end with his retirement as President,” Board of Regents Chair Frederick Higdon wrote in his recommendation for Ransdell. “With his almost 20 years in leading this University, and with his energy and relative youth, there is little doubt that he will continue to serve WKU in re-
tirement in ways that are appropriate and valuable.” President Emeritus is a lifelong position, often given to retiring university presidents, according to Higdon’s recommendation. Higdon also noted Ransdell has “indicated his intent to create his office space” off campus, so there is “no institutional expense involved in setting up an office on campus,” according to Higdon. Additionally, if Ransdell were asked to represent WKU “in an official capacity and incurs expenses in doing so,” WKU will reimburse Ransdell for those expenses. Ransdell will also have access to a “1/4 time of an Office Associate,” according to information provided at the Board of Regents meeting. Ransdell’s President Emeritus status will go into effect upon retirement. The Board of Regents also approved faculty emeritus statuses for Jerry Gotlieb, Keith Andrew, Charles Anderson, James Martin, John Hag-
aman and Cassandra Pinnick, all of whom are professors at WKU. Additionally, the Board of Regents approved two Memorandums of Understanding, one between WKU and the WKU Foundation, and a second between WKU and the College Heights Foundation. Each MOU was created to “provide a framework … to examine how the Foundation can most effectively advance the mission of the institution,” to detail the ways each foundation supports WKU, and to “provide transparency and accountability regarding the use of both state and private resources,” according to the MOUs. Ransdell said these MOUs were presented to the Board of Regents to better inform the Board of Regents about the roles and actions of both foundations. Marc Archambault, vice president of development and alumni relations and president of the WKU Founda-
tion, was present at the meeting to answer questions from the regents. Regent John Ridley noted both MOUs appeared to be the same, “except for a few nuances.” Archambault confirmed the MOUs were very similar. “Except for a few particulars to each organization, they are the same,” Archambault said. Ridley also asked what would be done if a donor wanted a monetary donation to go to a specific foundation for a specific purpose. Archambault said neither foundation “intends to start moving gifts back and forth,” and issues like that would be dealt with on a “case-bycase basis.” Both memorandums were passed unanimously, with Ridley abstaining from the vote.
Reporter Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 and monica. kast187@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @monicakastwku.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
WKUHERALD.COM EDITORIAL
COLLEGEUNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HERALD SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY
OPINION
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Illustration by Jennifer King
Demand Debate PAUL, GRAY NEED TO DEBATE SOONER THAN LATER
THE ISSUE: The two candidates vying for Kentucky’s seat in the United States Senate, Jim Gray (D) and incumbent Rand Paul (R), have yet to formally debate one another.
OUR STANCE: By not having a debate, voters are left in the dark about how the two differ on policy and stances as well as how they perform under pressure. Reading campaign promises on their websites and listening to their singular perspective is one thing, but can the two of them argue their points when faced with opposition? This debate should not be up for debate.
As Nov. 8 continues to peek its head around the corner of politics here in the United States, people will soon be faced with several options in the voting booth. Among those, of course, is the presidency, but what some may forget is we’re not only electing a president this November. A plethora of other state and local offices are up for grabs too. For example, here in Kentucky the race is on for the U.S. Senate. Current incumbent Senator Rand Paul (R), the man who forced Kentucky Republicans into a presidential caucus in January, is facing off against Lexington Mayor Jim Gray (D), the man who is still ironically blamed for a giant hole in the middle of Lexington. Over the past few months, the two have taken jabs at one another at events they’ve both at-
tended such as the annual Fancy Farm picnic in early August and the annual forum sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation later that same month. The Associated Press reported that Fancy Farm was the first time Paul actually attacked Gray by name as he called out his opponent at the picnic saying Gray “has been shopping for a job in politics since 1998.” Not to be outdone in calling someone out, Gray fired back and said Paul refused to debate him at the Kentucky Farm Bureau forum, which is the second time in the past 35 years both candidates for a top office didn’t meet simultaneously with the bureau, the Courier-Journal reported. Gray said it was “unfortunate that both candidates are not able to be here together.” Paul did not say why he wouldn’t appear alongside Gray, but did say he would debate him later. However, it appears that later has yet to come. We’re just 41 days out from the election and it appears Paul’s campaign hasn’t clarified just when “later” will be. The Herald-Leader reports Paul has yet to accept the invitation from KET’s “Kentucky Tonight” for Oct. 31 and a debate on Oct. 30 at the University of Kentucky. Furthermore, The State Journal reported, Paul’s campaign had yet to confirm if he will be participating at October forums planned at Kentucky State University or the Thomas D. Clark
Center for Kentucky History. As voters have seen, Paul is eager to debate, as we all remember from his performances on the presidential debate stage. It seems strange that Paul would dodge debates now for the Senate race considering it would be the first time he could actually stand center stage instead of being demoted off to the side. For the past few months Gray and Paul have been taking subtle jabs at one another, yet nothing of substance has come from this. Gray and his campaign are ready to go and we should applaud that kind of tenacity. After all, it can’t be a particularly easy task to want to debate a sitting senator. It’s understandable Paul wouldn’t want to debate because he has little to gain and perhaps the election itself to lose, and no one wants to strike out twice. What’s also possible is Paul doesn’t want to travel particularly far from home. If that’s the case, the Herald editorial board graciously invites him back home. And when we say home we mean Bowling Green, and not Texas; we don’t want any confusion. We are more than willing to host a debate between the two, and would be flattered to as well. The election is almost here and for the sake of informing the public, “later” can’t be that much later.
SYNTHESIS
In wake of tragedy, values matter more than facts BY JOHN WINSTEAD HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU
The social value we place on “facts” is generally an anxiety that stems from wanting to avoid moral questions. In times of legitimate moral dilemmas, the lack of access to “all the facts” is the primary source of anxiety. Which is why focusing on attaining “all the facts” side-steps the more salient moral question: what do you do when you do not and cannot have all the facts? This is the root of moral dilemmas; uncertainty. How we deal with and examine the problems that come with uncertainty in the best possible way is, in broad strokes, the aim of the ethical life. What do we do when the answer is not obvious or apparent from the material facts alone? Our disposition toward uncertainty, and how we choose to proceed despite it, largely consti-
tutes what counts as one’s moral character. With the recent murders of Keith Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by police, we’ve been fortunate to have video and eyewitness accounts to detail the circumstances of these deaths. We’ve been given the closest thing to “all the facts” technology currently can supply. That slight conciliation, although, is immediately soured JOHN when you wonder WINSTEAD how many wrongful deaths went unnoticed because no one had a phone to record it? The world we live in is imperfect, complicated and contradictory. Some problems are intractable. Some mur-
ders will go unsolved. This is because we are finite beings with limited knowledge. This is our condition. If facts were all that mattered, then we could stop there. But we can also resist against our condition by using technology and finding people with shared values. We are not radically atomized beings. Some of us have common interests and goals. We can find solidarity with one another. We can decide to care for other people and help he or she reach his or her goals. This is why I believe that finding the right values and, by extension, the right politics and commitments to justice is more important than the mere consumption of more facts. George Orwell said, “[W]hen I see an actual flesh-and-blood worker in conflict with his natural enemy, the policeman, I do not have to ask myself which side I am on.”
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You might say Orwell is just being biased. He’s biased toward workers, for sure. I don’t think he would disagree with you. Evaluations of the “good” are necessarily based on values. Biases are sympathies toward people. Biases are values by another name. When in the absences of all the facts, our biases are all we have to determine the decisions we make and the lives we lead. Learning knowledge and ruthless intellectual self-criticisms are virtues, no doubt, but so is compassion and indignation for justice. When the next murder happens, will you anxiously wait for omniscient or will you have recognized the injustice inherent to policing people of color in this country and made your choice? Synthesis provides analysis on topics from a perspective of social justice often allied with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
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Across 1 Without markup 7 Informed 15 Like the Godhead 16 Where flocks assemble 17 Slide 19 “Defending Liberty Pursuing Justice” org. 20 Org. for Sharapova and Kournikova 21 Base or case closer 22 Exaggerates, as a résumé 24 Follow 27 Ref. with quarterly online updates 30 Slide 34 Respond to a failed delivery 35 Not your average joe? 36 Video game hero with a kart 39 “To wrap up ... “ 40 Epic including the Catalogue of Ships 41 Willing to take risks 45 Slide 50 Shocked letters 51 Colleague of
leading 110 13 Yet, poetically 14 Summer hrs. 18 Boat better not rocked 23 Many a recent refugee 25 “Arise, fair __, and kill the envious moon”: Romeo 26 Sturm __ Drang 28 Incredulous rebuke 29 Believe 31 Amethyst source 32 “I Fall to Down 1 Bank smartphone Pieces” singer offering 33 Inhibition 2 Type of chief or 36 Catalan custom surrealist 3 Noisy bug 37 Fund-raising 4 “In __ Time”: target, often Hemingway story 38 Fair game collection 41 Broadband 5 White fall letters 6 Quality control 42 Gallic soul personnel 43 Agitated blog 7 Mil. mail drop posts 8 Unchallenging 44 Muddled reading material 46 One often has a 9 Specialized golf course undergrad track 47 Clear Eyes rival 10 Frosty film 48 Seconded 11 Will go ahead 49 Hospital as planned routines 12 Walter 54 Tour gear Johnson’s career55 Drama prize Ruth and Sonia 52 Trillionth: Pref. 53 Kit Carson House site 56 Texter’s “Keep the rest to yourself” 58 Moo __ pork 59 Slide 64 Way to be there when you can’t be there 65 Looked for a school, perhaps 66 Tape container 67 Jousting mounts
START
END
57 TV co-star of Hargitay and Belzer 59 Spasm 60 Usually singlestranded molecule 61 Trivial thing 62 Août season 63 Draw
COLLEGEUNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HERALD SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY
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PHOTO
A MOTHER’S SACRIFICE Photo sTORY by Madihah abri
Lateasha Witherspoon, 26 originally from Birmingham, Alabama, moved herself and her two boys, Jeremiah, 5 months, and Jason Jr., 2, to Bowling Green for her husband’s job. Earlier this year in July, Lateasha Witherspoon moved out of her husband’s house and into a three-bedroom duplex with her boys. She decided a divorce was needed. “I need a man who doesn’t need me to hold his hand,” Witherspoon said. “Honestly, it’s like having another kid.” While Witherspoon does not have any family in Kentucky, she still has the love and support of her parents and siblings. Witherspoon’s parents are divorced themselves. “They got divorced when I was seven, so I kind of get how it feels for the boys and everyone involved,” Witherspoon said. Her father, Gregory Witherspoon, 57, is currently residing in Bradford Heights, Ohio, visits often to check up on his daughter and make sure she is doing well. Witherspoon has full support of her family and the friends she has made in Kentucky, but she is still learning how to juggle her life and her boys’ lives all on her own. “I’m figuring this out day by day, but it’s working ... I’ve even made time to go to the gym!” she exclaimed.
TOP: Lateasha Witherspoon consoles her youngest son, Jeremiah, 5 months, while her eldest, Jason Jr., 2, runs around the house Monday, Sept. 5. Lateasha Witherspoon attempts to handle a normal sleep routine for the two boys, but often comes across obstacles. ABOVE: Attempting to clean her son’s room, Lateasha Witherspoon fights back her frustration as her eldest tries to help Thursday, Sept. 8. Witherspoon enjoys having a clean house but now resorts to needing a babysitter in the house while she cleans RIGHT: Gregory Witherspoon helps get his grandkids get ready Tuesday, Sept. 13 before he drives back home to Ohio. “You know it’s hard and a lot to handle having two young babies,” Gregory Witherspoon sympathetically commented. BELOW: Lateasha Witherspoon held up the phone showing her husband’s face to her son, JJ. “I want the boys to talk to their dad, so we video call and have phone calls so they can see and hear his voice,” Lateasha said Thursday, Sept. 8.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
WKUHERALD.COM
LIFE
» Topic: Check out ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ theatre performance on B2
Professor publishes book on race, culture in Hawaii BY KALEE CHISM HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU
during one of their longest lasting civil wars in history, causing millions of people from Burma, Malaysia and Bangladesh to seek refuge from governmental and military oppression. Nuam stood by the Zomi community’s tent at the festival Saturday, smiling and talking with passersby. While still living in Myanmar, Nuam and her family of seven were immensely effected by the war, economically and educationally. “School wasn’t free and it was really hard on my family,” Nuam said. “My parents said to my brothers, sisters and I that if we stayed in Chin State, in our country, we would no longer be able to go to school because they didn’t have the money.” Coming to the United States was a
A WKU professor is making waves with her new book “Staking Claim: Settler Colonialism and Racialization in Hawai’i.” Judy Rohrer, assistant professor of diversity and comunity studies, recently released “Staking Claim,” a work she said came from her background in Hawaii and her research and studies since. “The book has come from my history and background; I grew up in Hawaii, and the elementary school that I went to, I was one of the only white girls in my school,” Rohrer said. After going back to grad school in Hawaii, Rohrer said she began thinking about race and colonization, on which she focused her dissertation. Part of the dissertation evolved into “Staking Claim.” The book takes a more scholarly look at these issues, according to Rohrer, but she also incorporates her own personal story. “My first book was really targeted at a popular and undergraduate audience; it’s a shorter book,” Rohrer said. “This last book is a more scholarly and academic text.” “Rohrer’s point in sharing such a story is not to garner sympathy, as throughout the book she is fiercely critical of the ways that haole make false claims to victimhood and innocence in Hawai’i,” Maile Arvin, assistant professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, said in her review of “Staking Claim.” “Instead, she aims to show how such challenges can be productive, and the importance of being open to de-
SEE FINDING REFUGE PAGE B2
SEE STAKING CLAIM PAGE B2
African women and children perform a dance entitled “Ganyobwe” at the Bowling Green International Festival on Sept. 24, 2016, at Circus Square Park. Different races and nationalities performed various dances in front of an audience. Ebony Cox/ HERALD
finding refuge
International festival brings culture to downtown bowling green
BY MEGAN COLE
HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU Life covered every foot of Circus Square Park Saturday during the 27th annual Bowling Green International Festival. Food, booming music and tents bursting with intricate fabrics filled the square as crowds of people teemed along the streets, pulsating with the beat of the music. A sign with bold font reading, “Burma Zomi People” hung over three connecting maroon tents where Malaysian and ethnic Burmese refugees of the Zomi community sat on the ground laughing, talking and playing games. The Zomi community is a people group within the Chin State of Myanmar; “zo” meaning hill or high-
land and “mi” meaning people. Kam Lian Thang, president of the Zomi Community of Kentucky, came to Bowling Green in 2009 as a refugee from Malaysia. Thang said after being resettled in Bowling Green, he has found it important to unite the Zomi people of the area. “We have a mission for the second generation to know and understand the culture, no matter what age,” he said. “We want to be a community of people that will unite and be there for one another, to help one another.” Khawl San Nuam, a 17-year-old refugee from the Chin State of Myanmar and part of the Zomi community, explained that the Chin people have been one of the most persecuted people groups in Myanmar
WKU Symphony performs at Van Meter
BY FORD WOMACK
HERALD.FEATURES@WKUE.EDU The WKU Symphony played its first show of the semester at Van Meter Hall on Friday, Sept. 23, featuring five classical pieces from the late 19th and 20th centuries by composers including Gustav Holst, Josef Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Christopher Theofanidis and John Williams. The band’s performance Friday evening was the first of the semester. Conductor Brian St. John, assistant professor of music, said the performance was different than those he had previously conducted because it didn’t necessarily follow a traditional orchestra. “If you look at any other college, there’s a certain format to follow, this being the overture, concerto, intermission and symphony,” St. John said. Rather than playing one large continuous piece, the band performed multiple “digestible tracks” according to St. John. In addition to five weeks of rehearsal leading up to the performance, St. John said there was a lot of behind the scenes work, including individu-
al groups meeting up to practice outside of the full band rehearsals. The first piece the band played Friday night was “Holst’s Planets,” written in 1918, including songs “Mars the Bringer of War” and “Jupiter the Bringer of Jollity.” The next piece was Joseph Strauss’ “Music of the Spheres Waltzes,” a collection of waltzes from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The third piece played was Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” ending with a long crescendo and a loud cymbal crash to mark the end of the piece. Fourth was Theofanidis’ “Rainbow Body,” a contemporary piece and one of the most difficult to play, according to freshman french horn player Kayla Hunt. Star Wars Medley was the final piece of the performance, which St. John ended as a “special treat.” “You probably won’t hear this piece again, as the score isn’t being commercially sold anymore,” St. John said. The score was originally sold in 1977 after the unexpected explosion Star Wars caused in the mainstream media. Leia’s Theme, the main theme of Star Wars, and other scores blend-
Mayfield senior and cello player Shelly Burgess watches the conductor while performing at Van Meter Auditorium Friday, Sept. 23. “I like playing the cello because it is the closest instrument that resembles the human voice,” Burgess said. Michelle Hanks/HERALD
ed together in the orchestral piece. “I didn’t think it would be as amazing as it actually was; Star Wars especially,” freshman Kai Rogers said. “It was really good.” The symphony will perform next on Friday, Oct. 28, at Van Meter in a
Halloween-themed concert, including pieces from Dante’s Symphony and Symphony Fantastique.
Reporter Forde Womack can be reached at 270-745-2655 and forde. womack368@topper.wku.edu
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B2 STAKING CLAIM Continued from B1 centering and orienting one’s self to the world around them.” The focus of the book is settler colonialism and race in Hawaii, according to Rohrer. She hopes this book will bring more attention to these issues and bring new ideas to the front. “My hope is that we’ll participate in conversation that will be had across a couple different disciplines, in politics in Hawaii, obviously, but also people who are scholars in in-
FINDING REFUGE
Continued from B1
huge transition, Nuam said. “We had to restart in a new country, and the only thing I knew how to say in English when I got here was ‘how are you’ and ‘what’s your name,’” she said. “It was so hard, but I have learned so much.” In addition to adjusting to the new language and culture, Nuam’s family
SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
digenous studies and Native American studies,” Rohrer said. “Also, people who work in critical thinking studies. Across all of those fields, I want the book to help us in thinking about ways of racial discourse and how people become race to help to actually participate that settler colonizes happened, both in Hawaii and in the continent.” Rohrer said she hopes her book adds to the existing conversation surrounding these topics. “Staking Claim is a significant con-
tribution to shifting the discourse about race in Hawai‘i to one that is deeply aware and critical of settler colonialism,” Arvin said in her review. Rohrer says the book has had a very good reception so far. The goal is to make a political shift toward decolonization, she said. “I am always incorporating the research and scholarship I’m doing in different ways in my classes,” Rohrer said. Though she isn’t planning on assigning it to her undergraduate
courses, Rohrer said the research and information will be incorporated into the graduate courses she teaches. Rohrer has also written in fields of disability studies and LGBT theory. She plans to continue to write on all of these fronts, spreading her ideas about the issues she has researched. Rohrer said she plans to “continue to move on all of those different fronts.”
faced other challenges after relocating to Bowling Green. “My mom was diagnosed with bladder cancer when she was pregnant with me, and later on she also suffered from asthma,” Nuam said. She said her entire family thought her mother wasn’t going to make it, and she didn’t have access to proper health care. Her condition worsened after the move, Nuam said.
“She couldn’t use the restroom and she couldn’t even walk, so it was a really rough time for us,” Nuam said. “After we got here, we went to the doctor for a checkup and saw it was her bladder cancer that was making her sick. So, she had surgery to remove it.” Now, five years later, Nuam said her mother’s health has improved greatly, and Nuam is completing her senior year at Bowling Green High
School. Inspired by her family’s experience, she plans to attend WKU and become a doctor. “I just want to say that I am thankful for this community and town, for people who are so welcoming and kind,” Nuam said.
Reporter Kalee Chism can be reached at 270-746-2655 and kalee. chism704@topper.wku.edu.
Reporter Megan Cole can be reached at 270-745-2655 and megan. cole775@topper.wku.edu.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’ opens theatre season BY ELISABETH MOORE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU As the lights dimmed above the crowd in Russell Miller Theatre Friday night, an announcer asked for audience members to put away their electronic devices and enjoy the show: William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” Students auditioned and received their parts during the 2016 spring semester, according to David Young, director of “Much Ado About Nothing” and head of WKU’s department of theatre and dance. “We have had really fun rehearsals,” Young said. “It’s great to watch the students figure out some of the big comedic moments. With Shakespeare, it takes a while to make sure you get the language and to understand that there is an idea behind every sentence, and then to be able to articulate that idea is a whole other skill.” A total of 31 cast members par-
ticipated in the production, including two children with minor parts. Around 70 crew members helped behind the scenes, though only 15 are required to be present at performances. The cast used the Arden Shakespeare edition of Shakespeare’s original script, which includes modern-spelling and more descriptive details the actors and actresses use to act out their parts. Along with the script, Young gave the performers additional background information about the play he thought they should know. “Essentially, what is happening is, some soldiers have returned from war and they have been very successful,” Young said. “They have come back to their small town and since now the war is over, everybody is looking for love.” At the spring auditions, performers weren’t able to specify which role they wanted to audition for. Nashville sophomore Baylee Mor-
ton played the role of Hero, and said she was ecstatic to be given the part. “I love Shakespeare,” Morton said. “Most people don’t know, but I love Shakespeare, and I think it’s because he is so witty and clever. I guess I like the challenge of knowing what he is saying and the inside jokes of Shakespeare’s language.” Maysville sophomore Conner Keef plays Don Jon, the villain and character he was hoping to be chosen for. A musical theatre major, Keef was cast as Don Pedro in another production of “Much Ado About Nothing” and said he had been hoping for the chance to play a different role this time around. “It has been a lot of fun,” Keef said. “It has given me a lot of freedom to explore and try new things to see what works and what doesn’t work. It’s hard sometimes, but then if you get the words right, minus the inflection and minus the singsong that comes with it, it’s pretty easy.”
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“It is nice and we have a really good group of people in the cast,” Travis Ryan, a sophomore from Louisville playing Dogberry, said. “Shakespeare can be a lot of fun for actors, and it is different, so it can make the play more unique than other plays.” Students Celia Allen and Melissa Menetrey each attended the showing Friday night. In the same moment, Allen and Menetrey said they loved the show. “I’ve never enjoyed Shakespeare this much,” Menetrey said. “I have a high school friend who played Benedick, and it was awesome.” “Much Ado About Nothing” performances will continue in the Russell Miller Theatre in the Fine Arts Center through Sept. 27.
Reporter Elisabeth Moore can be reached at 270-745-6288 and elisabeth.moore938@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emoore938.
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B3
FOOTBALL Continued from SPORTS next time WKU regained possession at the start of the second quarter, Norris charged toward the end zone after hauling in a pass from White, but was stripped of the ball at the Vandy five-yard line, turning the ball back over to the Commodores. With the game destined to end in a similar, 14-12 slugfest as it did a year ago, graduate transfer Tyler Ferguson replaced White with less than nine minutes remaining in the first half, and ripped a 61-yard touchdown pass to junior wide out Nacarius Fant. “We had a plan going into the game that [Ferguson] was going to play a series in the second quarter,� Brohm said. “We were doing it regardless of the score and I thought he came in and performed well. It was good to get him experience.� Still, the Commodores wouldn’t go away as Shurmur orchestrated a 77yard drive, resulting in a Ralph Webb touchdown leaving just 2:16 on the clock for the Tops.
REECER’S PIECE Continued from Sports That kind of defensive performance is pretty awful no matter how hot game conditions were or how tired the players were. This brings us to some of the more debatable reasons for why WKU is currently 2-2. The first of which is Head Coach Jeff Brohm’s decision to go for the two-point conversion in overtime against Vanderbilt. Before I get too critical of the decision, it should be obvious that no one knows this Topper football team like Brohm does, which makes his football knowledge greater than that of an amateur sports writer. Also, his players were supportive of his choice and if they converted the play Brohm would be a genius
VOLLEYBALL Continued from Sports they certainly showed their competitiveness tonight.� Offensively the Lady Tops looked like a team in sync with each other. Cavanaugh finished the night with a career high 24 kills and a .435 hitting clip. Sophomore middle hitter Rachel Anderson added 12 kills of her own with a .346 hitting percentage. All-American junior setter Jessica Lucas chipped in for five kills accompanied by 46 assists, two blocks and a service ace. “We are very Alyssa Cavanaugh-dependent right now, and I think we need better balance because we definitely have the talent to do it,� Hudson said. Defensively, Anderson had a career night with nine blocks, which was more than half of the WKU season high team block total of 17. “She [Anderson] is as talented of a kid we have had in here at the middle
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
After a slow start for Webb, the SEC’s leading rusher started to figure out the WKU defense, finishing with 95 yards and three touchdowns. “He’s a little guy,� Brown said. “You can’t really see him behind a big SEC line. He’s an electric player. We just couldn’t keep him contained.� Despite out-gaining the Commodores 248 yards to 84, WKU took just a 14-7 lead to the locker room. “From the start, those turnovers made a big difference,� redshirt senior tackle Darrell Williams said. “Without those turnovers we would’ve possibly been up by three touchdowns. That made a big difference.� White re-entered the game midway through the third quarter but couldn’t find much success. After Norris converted another fourth down in Vandy territory, White’s pass was deflected and intercepted at the five-yard line. With all the momentum seemingly shifting Vandy’s way, Wales gave some life to an offense thirsty for anything positive by scampering for a 20-yard touchdown, giving WKU a
21-14 lead with 11:33 left to play. Wales played big after sitting out last week at Miami (Ohio). The senior finished with 157 yards and two touchdowns. “I thought Ace ran outstanding,� Brohm said. “Ace sucked it up and played extremely well. He definitely helps our offense move the ball down the field.� Six minutes of game time and one Vanderbilt field goal later, Wales carried the Tops on a clock-eating drive as he piled up 65 yards on the ground and set up a 25-yard redemption field goal for Nuss, putting the Tops up 24-17. The field goal was enough to extend the lead, but not enough to take the Commodores totally out of the fight. With 1:02 remaining in the game, Shurmur and company took the ball 75 yards down the field and tied the game with a leaping Webb diving across the line as time expired. “I like our defense,� Brohm said. “I think we’ve got good football players and I think they love football, but was I disappointed to let them drive all
the way down the field with one minute left and no timeouts? Yes, I really was against a team that can’t throw the ball.� This was the first time an SEC school had ever come to Bowling Green, and it was arguably the biggest nonconference home game in WKU history. Regardless of the outcome, Brohm was grateful for the opportunity. “It’s great for us,� Brohm said. “Anytime we can play an SEC opponent, that’s how you measure yourself. We wanted to come in and fight, try to find a way to win and unfortunately we came up short. These are the games we want to schedule. This is what it’s all about. This is real football here, playing against a high-level in front of a great crowd.� The Toppers will look to rebound from the loss next Saturday when Houston Baptist comes to town. Kickoff for that game is set at 6 p.m.
and a hero. However, the play resulted in an ugly incompletion and the Commodores got to celebrate a come-frombehind victory in Smith Stadium. I understand the logic behind the choice, but I just don’t think it was the right decision. The better team in a comfortable home environment should not have to go for a two-point conversion unless they have to. That kind of pressure should also be on the away team regardless of how tired the home defense may seem to be. Brohm should have waited to make this drastic decision in the second overtime just so his defense would have another chance to prove themselves. Also, if the game would’ve made it to a third overtime, both teams would
have had to go for two anyway after they scored, so it seemed Brohm’s decision was a hasty one. Lastly, there is the Mike White situation. The redshirt junior quarterback had a game for the ages against Rice University in his debut, but since then he has taken a step in the wrong direction as he has only passed for over 200 yards once. Meanwhile, graduate senior quarterback Tyler Ferguson has looked very talented as his backup. He made a beautiful pass to junior wide receiver Nacarius Fant in Saturday’s game and didn’t get enough of a chance to build upon that play. I won’t necessarily call for a benching of White, but Brohm needs to continue to give Ferguson playing time and experience.
The most important position in Brohm’s offense is quarterback and after four games it just doesn’t seem like White has full control of the offense yet. He deserves more time to show improvement because of his talent and leadership, but Ferguson definitely needs to be ready to take over under center if White continues to play like this. Overall, it’s a good thing WKU has time to sort out these problems with Houston Baptist coming up next, because that is exactly what this team needs right now. Just a little more time and a little more patience.
hitter position,� Hudson said. The second matchup of the weekend was a noon showdown between the Lady Tops and the 49ers of Charlotte (6-10). Sophomore Taylor Dellinger led the way on Sunday with a career day of her own. The outside hitter threw down 15 kills followed by Cavanaugh with 11.The outside duo were the only two ladies in red with double digit kills. This was the eighth straight match Cavanaugh has racked up double digit kills. Lucas finished with 36 assists, 14 digs, six kills and two service aces. The All-American’s performance on the weekend earned her yet another award this season. The talented setter was named the Conference USA setter of the week for the fourth time this season only five weeks in. The team did drop out of the top 25 in the AVCA poll after the weekend of competition, but received enough
Reporter Evan Heichelbech can be reached at 270-745-6291 and evan. heichelbech059@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @evanheich.
Reporter John Reecer can be reached at 270-745-6291 and john.reecer104@ topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @Reece_12_Falcon.
Redshirt sophomore middle hitter Amara Listenbee (11) blocks a spike from Florida Atlantic freshman right side hitter Sigourney Kame (12) during the Lady Toppers’ 3-1 win over FAU Friday, Sept. 23 at Diddle Arena. Matt Lunsford/HERALD votes to put them one spot out at 26. “It was a solid weekend in terms of winning,� Hudson said. “It wasn’t a solid weekend in terms of how we played. We are still giving away too many free ones.�
Reporter Matthew Stewart can be reached at 270-745-6281 and matthew.stewart015@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @MES_ WKU22.
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SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
WKUHERALD.COM FOOTBALL
SPORTS
» Football: Be sure to pick up a copy of the College Heights Herald on Thursday for a preview of WKU’s game against Houston Baptist University.
REECER’S PIECE
Mistakes, bad choices plague WKU vs. Vanderbilt BY JOHN REECER HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU
drive on WKU’s first possession of the game. White drove the Toppers down to the Commodores’ 15-yard line where he handed off to senior wide receiver Nicholas Norris for an 11-yard pickup on fourth down and one. Wales punched it in on the next play for the Toppers after earning the start at running back despite being listed as questionable all week long. The early score would be the last one for a while, as the Topper offense cooled off quickly in the scorching Bowling Green heat. The defense, however, was just starting to heat up. Nick Holt’s defense dominated the first half, outplaying the highly touted defense of Vanderbilt early. After its first four drives, Vanderbilt had more punts than first downs. The chains weren’t moved forward for the Commodores until the 10:20 mark of the second quarter. With a chance to capitalize the
For the past three weeks, the WKU football team has not played up to its potential. During this span of time, the Hilltoppers only won one ballgame which was just a seven-point victory over lowly Miami (Ohio). JOHN Most recently, RECCER WKU lost in overtime in heartbreaking fashion to a team they had absolutely no business losing to. So why have the Toppers hit a rough patch for the first time since the 2014 season? The answer isn’t a simple one as WKU has multiple problems to solve and some are more complex than others. The most obvious problem is that the Toppers have a hard time of taking care of the football. In the past two games alone, WKU has recorded over six turnovers. Six turnovers against two teams who probably won’t be going to a bowl game this year is just not winning football. Just by solving this problem alone would eliminate a lot of the trouble this team is putting itself through. Another glaring weakness the Toppers have is its defense against the pass. While the defense as a whole has done a tremendous job compared to last season, opposing teams continue to have success through the air against WKU. Take the performance of Vanderbilt University’s sophomore quarterback Kyle Shurmur from Saturday night for example. Entering the game, the Commodores had only 376 passing yards combined in its first three games of the season. Against the Toppers, Shurmur managed to pass for 279 yards total. In the fourth quarter and overtime alone, he managed to pass for 155
SEE FOOTBALLPAGE B3
SEE REECER’S PIECE PAGE B3
Redshirt junior quarterback Mike White (14) sits on the field after WKU’s two-point conversion attempt was intercepted in overtime, ending the game and giving Vanderbilt the 31-30 win Saturday at Smith Stadium. The loss is the Hilltoppers’ first at home since Oct. 4, 2014. Jeff Brown/HERALD
Heartbreak city Hilltoppers fall in overtime to Vanderbilt
BY EVAN HEICHELBECH HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU When WKU and Vanderbilt last met on opening night one season ago, the game was decided on the goal line as time expired. Current junior defensive back Joe Brown stopped Vanderbilt’s Nathan Marcus short of the goal line, sealing a 14-12 victory for the Hilltoppers. Fast forward to Saturday and the situation remained the same, only with a different outcome. After the Commodores scored with time expiring in regulation and went ahead by a touchdown in overtime, WKU Head Coach Jeff Brohm faced a big decision: kick the extra point to extend the game, or go for the two-point conversion and the win. He elected to go with the latter, and watched karma take over as redshirt junior quarterback Mike White’s pass deflected off of senior
running back Ace Wales’ helmet giving Vanderbilt a 31-30 victory. “I’m always aggressive but I just really felt once again … our defense was wearing down and it looked like they were going to be able to score at will at that point,” Brohm said. “Our defense had played great for three quarters and I thought we had a chance to win.” It was anything but perfect for the Toppers as they took the field to play in front of a record crowd of 23,674 people at Smith Stadium Saturday. WKU had three turnovers to Vandy’s one, and accumulated 11 penalties for 88 yards. “We lost the turnover battle and statistically that’s what happens –– you lose the game,” Wales said. “We have to put more emphasis on protecting the ball … we just have to keep playing hard and put that game behind us.” Brohm’s offense started out sharp with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown
VOLLEYBALL
WKU opens conference play with pair of wins BY MATTHEW STEWART HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU This past weekend the Lady Topper volleyball team (14-2) kicked off conference play with matches against Florida Atlantic University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In typical Hilltopper fashion, the Lady Tops won both matches, extending its home conference win streak to 40 games with the win over Charlotte. The Owls of Florida Atlantic (5-10) traveled from the sunshine state to Bowling Green for a Friday evening matchup in Diddle Arena in front of a sea of red. “Friday night was a really nice home crowd. We are really appreciative to have
the band there,” Head Coach Travis Hudson said. The Lady Tops opened up conference play with a bang in the first set, led by All-American junior Alyssa Cavanaugh. The outside hitter put on a hitter’s showcase with seven kills on eight attempts in the first set to close out the opening stanza with an .875 hitting percentage. “We knew that was a good matchup early for us,” Hudson said. “We were lucky to get out of here with a win.” The first set performance from Cavanaugh led the way for the Lady Tops throughout the night. WKU would go on to win in four sets, 3-1. “It’s always good to get that first one,” Hudson said. “I have a lot of respect for FAU,
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Junior outside hitter Alyssa Cavanaugh (7) tips the ball over the net against Florida Atlantic freshman right side hitter Sigourney Kame (12) during the Lady Toppers’ 3-1 win over FAU Friday at Diddle Arena. Matt Lunsford/HERALD