WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM READY TO START SEASON
COMBINING CULTURE WITH WORSHIP. PHOTOS, PAGE A6
LIFE, PAGE B1
TTHURSDAY, HURSDAY, SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 88,, 22016 016 > W WESTERN ESTERN KKENTUCKY ENTUCKY UUNIVERSITY NIVERSITY > VVOLUME OLUME 992, 2, IISSUE SSUE 6
Forbes to discuss capitalism at lecture BY NICOLE ARES HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU Capitalism and free enterprise will be at the top of Steve Forbes’ List of discussion tonight during his free lecture on campus. The Forbes lecture, taking place in Grise Hall room 235 at 3:30 p.m., is one of a three-part lecture series orchestrated by Brian Strow, associate professor of economics for 18 years. “I typically try to bring in people who want to talk about capitalism, and the title of his lecture is ‘How Capitalism Will Save Us,’” Strow said. Strow also runs the WKU BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism, one of the four sponsors for the event. This is his second term serving in an endowed chair position for the WKU BB&T Center. Yet, while the WKU BB&T Center has received a $1 million grant from the BB&T Charitable Foundation, it does not use any of that money to fund a speaker series. Therefore, Strow had to raise the money himself. To do so, Strow has received a grant from the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation for the last five years and on a yearly basis. This year, he received $15,000 to fund the book club and speaker series. However, speakers like Forbes cost more than $15,000. Therefore, Strow had to reach out to another partner to help finance the Forbes lecture, the Young America’s Foundation. Patrick Coyle, vice president of the Young America’s Foundation, has worked there for 20 years and has helped bring “prominent” speakers to college campuses. “Sometimes schools don’t have as large of a budget as they would like for someone like Art Laffer or Steve Forbes, we are then able to partner with those schools and help bring in these prominent figures,” Coyle said. Coyle also noted bringing in business leaders to talk to students will help resolve the stereotype that business leaders are “evil or underhanded.” “It’s important that students have an opportunity to hear a business leader, such as Steve Forbes, firsthand, who gives students the under-
SEE STEVE FORBES PAGE A2
Graduate student McKinze Willard (center), talks to a group of students during WKU’s TOPTalks on Tuesday, Sept. 6 in Downing Student Union. TOPTalks invites people to come and talk about different experiences to help inform students on different topics. MHARI SHAW/HERALD
TED FOR TOPS TOPTalks: AARC hosts monthly student speaker series
BY KYLIE CARLSON HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU
P
rejudices against women in the workforce centered the topic of discussion during the first “TOPTalk” of the semester. TOPTalks resemble TEDTalks, a popular podcast and video series devoted to spreading individual’s ideas and testimonials on various topics. On Tuesday, the Academic Advising and Retention Center put on the first TOPTalk in the Downing Student Union study nook. McKinze Willard, graduate assistant for $100 Solution, was the speaker for this month’s TOPTalk. Her story was geared toward women and centered
around women in the work force. “I wish I could tell you that I am a powerhouse of a woman. I wish I could tell you that I give a firm handshake,” Willard said to the crowd during the opening of her TOPTalk. “But the truth is, I stick my pointer finger out to give the illusion that I have a strong handshake because I’m not that strong. The truth is that my voice gets squeaky when I’m upset and I’ve cried at work a few times,” she added. Willard continued by expressing since her arrival at WKU, she has had a list of goals including becoming a spirit master and joining a sorority. She made a list, in pencil, of all the things she wanted to do. At that time, she was still afraid
to use a pen in making this list. “I wanted to be a woman who wore a bright red blazer, made herself known and just wanted to have done something,” she said. To validate her speech, Willard gave many statistics about women. Statistics she wishes women could overcome, she said. “Women will systematically underrate themselves,” she said. “We don’t always apply for jobs because we feel we have to meet 100 percent of the requirements on the application. Yet many of the men that applied only meet 60 percent.” After the speech, Willard asked for an open discussion. She allowed any of the participants to
SEE TOPTALKS PAGE A2
SKyTeach thrives in former Honors College building BY EMMA COLLINS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU Since their move to the former Honors College building this past winter, the employees of Southern Kentucky Teach, a program designed to train students who want to become middle or high school math or science teachers, have been enjoying their new home. Lester Pesterfield, SKyTeach science co-director, said before the transition to the now called the SKyTeach Building, the program was located in the Thompson Complex Central Wing in the former dean’s office. Pesterfield said some of the offices, however, were located in other places throughout the building preventing all of the faculty from being close together. “When the Honors College moved out of the building, it was just an
opportunity for us to be in a building together,” Pesterfield said. Martha Day, SKyTeach education co-director and GSKyTeach executive director, said the ability to have one building for all of the faculty facilitates more communication. She said it also allows the SKyTeach program to have its own identity on campus. “Originally I was a little skeptical about it, but I really love it,” Day said. “It’s a great location on campus, and it’s a comfortable setting.” In addition to providing office space for the faculty, Pesterfield said the building also contains a conference room and consultation rooms where students are able to meet with faculty for extra help outside of the classroom. David Almand, a SKyTeach master teacher, said the only faculty member who does not have an office located in the new building
is Karen Long, the SKyTeach coordinator. He added although the building allows most of the faculty to be together, it may be harder for students to find the new location. “It can be difficult for students to find us because we’re physically separated in a building that may or may not be easily accessible to students,” Almand said. “It’s harder for students to casually run into us.” The SKyTeach program is a program dedicated solely to preparing middle school and high school math teachers to enter the work force when they graduate. All WKU students who are interested in pursuing a degree in math or science and becoming a middle or high school teacher must go through the program. Pesterfield said when students complete the four year program they graduate with a double major; one major will be in their chosen area of
study in math or science. The other major will be in science and mathematics education. In addition to graduating with two majors, Pesterfield said students will also leave WKU with real classroom experience. “One of the things that the SKyTeach program does is we take students from their very first semester in the program and we take them out and they do teach in the local schools,” Lesterfield said. “They have real world experience in the middle and high school classrooms and that’s what people need.” Day said in addition to providing a double major, SKyTeach is also unique because students are taught by a team of teachers consisting of one professor and one master teacher. Day said master teachers, people who previously taught in middle or
SEE SKYTEACH PAGE A2
A2 TOPTALKS
Continued from front
express anything he or she connected with during the TOPTalk. Ariana Kendrick, a sophomore from Hopkinsville, expressed she feels intimidated applying for jobs as a woman in the business field. “Even as a business major, I don’t apply to jobs a lot of the time because the business field is filled with so many men that I have to compete with. I don’t ever feel like I will be hired as a woman in my field,” Kendrick said. Cherrie Doram, a sophomore from Louisville, also connected with Willard’s testimony, but on a different level.
SKYTEACH
Continued from Front high school classrooms, help students learn how to take the content they learn in the classroom and transfer it to a classroom environment. “The master teacher serves as a coach or a bridge to help our students marry the content knowledge learned in class and the professional practice of a teacher,” Day
STEVE FORBES Continued from Front
standing of why free market ideas are the best choice for America and gives students the most opportunity to succeed in life,” Coyle said. Steve Forbes is not the first speaker the Young America’s Foundation has helped sponsor at WKU. The organization also previously helped bring Art Laffer and Steve Moore to WKU. Coyle says the Young America’s
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
“I use the challenge of being a woman as motivation,” she said. “My mother does it everyday, all by herself and she is so inspiring. That is my motivation.” TOPTalks is a version of a previous program, the Academic Advantage Series, also led by the AARC. Erika Wood, academic adviser and graduate student at WKU, said it was time for a change for the program. “It was mandatory for students, especially University Experience students. It was faculty led and filled with powerpoints. It felt more like a lecture students had to attend,” “TOPTalks is a pilot to our revamping of the old series. We wanted to make it more person-
able and informal. We wanted to show the good, the bad and the ugly sides of academia,” Wood said. Wood has worked with many departments and students in order to make this program match the vision that AARC wanted. Marcus Dukes, senior graphic designer at WKU, also helped in the revamping of the program by designing the logo and graphics for TOPTalks. Additional contributors to the TOPTalks include The Center for Citizenship and Social Justice. The CCSJ feels it is a great opportunity for them, and it will also be hosting the TOPTalks this month. “The great thing about it is that we get to partner with other departments
said. “So they actually help them relay that knowledge in a clinical setting to kids in the classroom.” Day said SKyTeach is part of a group of 43 universities that engage in a program called UTeach, which was developed at University of Texas at Austin. According to the website for the University of Texas at Austin, UTeach is “the original UTeach STEM teacher preparation program, a national ex-
pansion effort for that program and a number of local STEM education initiatives, all supporting the improvement of STEM education and the public education system overall.” Part of this program is a focus on inquiry learning, which encourages students to build their own base of knowledge. Instead of using lectures to teach, students are taught to use their own knowl-
edge to solve problems, Day said. “We wouldn’t say, okay here’s a quadratic equation, solve it or here you have to balance a chemical equation, balance it,” Day said. “We would actually pose the problem to the student and allow them to construct the knowledge.”
Foundation will continue sponsoring lectures as long as Strow is willing to work with the organization. “We’re just excited that Steve Forbes will be able to talk with and meet with students at [WKU] and we look forward to seeing their reactions,” Coyle added. Strow anticipates that “virtually every seat will be filled in the lecture hall,” for tonight’s event. He also noted, the lecture series will continue as long as there is funding from outside
groups and seats filled at the lectures. “As long as we still get students to show up and be engaged, I assume we will continue getting support from charitable foundations. They like to pay if students will listen, if we don’t get anyone to show up, the funding will dry out,” Strow explained. Bowling Green senior Erin Bardin, a current chairman for the Young American’s for Freedom chapter at WKU, is highly encouraging her members to attend the lecture.
“Since one of the sponsors is the Young America’s Foundation, our members can come get a feel for what the organization does,” Bardin said. The event tonight will be free for entry and a swipeable event. The WKU department of economics is also a sponsor for the Forbes Lecture.
on campus, bring in all the elements of the department and be able to introduce a great program to the campus,” Leah Ashwill, director for CCSJ, said. The next TOPTalk will be Tuesday, Oct. 11 and a WellU representative will center the talk around health and fitness. Then, Tuesday, Nov. 15 the TOPTalk will be centered on financial advising and assistance. Any WKU student is welcome to attend a TOPTalk. The event is now a swipeable event in order to earn points with WellU.
Reporter Kylie Carlson can be reached at 270-745-6011 and kylie.carlson15@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kentuckylie.
Reporter Emma Collins can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emma. collins399@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @thebest_dilemma.
Reporter Nicole Ares can be reached at 270-745-2655 and nicole.ares@ wku.edu.
Development department to undergo changes BY MONICA KAST
HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU The development and alumni relations staff will undergo slight reorganization as well as launch a new plan for developing alumni connections. Marc Archambault, vice president of development and alumni relations and president of the WKU Foundation, said the departmental changes will be “restoring a couple of specialized functions.” “This is to improve our ability to fundraising on a year to year basis, and also to be able to do more with alumni relations and prepare for a future campaign,” Archambault said. Archambault said the department has slightly changed the assignments of fundraisers. There will now be a Corporate and Foundation Relations Representative and a Planned Giving Specialist, which Archambault said the department hasn’t had for several years. There will also be a new department which will act as College Advancement Officers, with three officers working with two colleges each within the university. Archambault said these new officers will allow more access to fundraising for deans.
“This will give us a better way to optimize our staff for fundraising,” Archambault said. He said there will be continued fundraising for WKU, just using a different model. He added this model will allow for more faculty support and involvement. Archambault said there will be one new hire within the department, the assistant director of college advancement. He said other than that, the staff will remain the same. “These are the same staff we’ve always had, just being moved around a little bit in their assignments,” he said. Along with the departmental changes, there is also a new plan for advancing alumni connections through the Alumni Association. Anthony McAdoo was hired as the new executive director of the Alumni Association this summer. Previously, McAdoo worked as the senior director of the Alumni Association at the University of Oregon. McAdoo said the plan came about because he found that alumni and graduates were proud of WKU, but were questioning what the next step was. “What I see is a lot of passion and a lot of hard work and dedica-
tion by staff and volunteers alike,” McAdoo said. “What I’ve seen that we need to improve upon is what are our priorities, and where should we be focusing our resources.” The new plan hopes to grow membership, improve communication and marketing, supporting and engaging alumni and graduates and present new alumni events. Archambault said his department is excited about the new plan, and he feels alumni are as well. “The alumni are hungry to get involved to do more to help their alma mater,” Archambault said. “Frankly, at a time when state funding is a challenge, this a great opportunity for WKU.” Last semester, it was announced that the WKU Foundation has lost $5.5 million in the previous fiscal year. Additionally, WKU announced plans to reduce the 2017 budget by $6.04 million, according to the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Reduction Plan. He said he hopes to increase foundational membership by 1000 members this year. He said by offering members more programming and opportunities with WKU, he believes they’ll be able to increase membership.
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“I feel confident in our ability to reach our goal,” McAdoo said. He added he views the 1,000 new members as a “catalyst” for the Alumni Association, and will provide the “momentum for the organization to move forward.” Additionally, McAdoo said he hopes to improve communication and marketing for the WKU Alumni Association, the Alumni Center and the graduates of WKU. McAdoo said he wants to engage more alumni and graduates, and ensure they’re “always promoting WKU.” Lastly, McAdoo said the plans will focus on events, such as homecoming and alumni induction ceremonies. Additionally, he said that he wants to focus on transitioning students to alumni and maintaining involvement with WKU after graduation. This includes an alumni network available to help recent graduates with internships and job interviews. “We’re on the move as an alumni association,” McAdoo said.
Reporter Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 or monica. kast187@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @monicakastwku.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
SGA passes legislation, students voice concerns BY EMMA COLLINS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU During Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting, student speakers voiced their concerns about scholarships for students with disabilities, race relationships on campus and a lack of resources for mental health upkeep. Brendan Ward, a sophomore from Memphis, Tennessee, said he suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia; as a result, Ward said in high school his GPA and standardized tests scores suffered, making him unable to receive any merit-based scholarships from WKU. “Money wise, coming to Western was a big problem for me because I had no scholarships,� Ward said. “I’m really only here by loans and the government.� Ward said he wanted to speak at the SGA meeting to urge its members to pass the SGA budget that was up for debate on Tuesday. The budget allots $1,000 to disability scholarships. Last semester, Ward was featured in a Herald article after he was in-
Correction
vited to speak before the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 5. Ward also met with SGA President Jay Todd Richey last semester to discuss potential funding for disability scholarships. Later during the meeting, Richey presented Bill 4-16-F, a Bill to Support the Creation of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. The bill removes $500 each from the Football Game Tabling and Ads portion and the Food portion of the SGA budget. The bill was passed unanimously. Following Ward, two students, senior Cheyenne Mitchell, Lexington, and junior Francisco Serrano, Bowling Green, spoke to the SGA about race relations on campus. Mitchell’s car was vandalized with a racial slur last Wednesday. During her talk, Mitchell said before the vandalism she had never felt unwelcome at WKU; however, since then, she has felt uneasy on campus. “If you guys could, I want to encourage you to stand behind me and say that this is not acceptable,� Mitchell said.
Serrano said he, too, had experienced discrimination and felt unwelcome in places. During his time in front of the SGA, he said it was time for the Hilltopper family to put an end to racism on campus. “Everybody in this room can be part of that,� Serrano said. “I want to be part of that, and I want to be a voice that advocates for this.� Spencer Wells was the final student speaker. He said it is time for WKU to address sexual assault and mental illness on campus. Wells, who said he has personal experience with suicide and sexual assault, said he wants the SGA to make addressing these concerns a priority. “We need to take an affirmative stand to make this the number one priority issue,� Wells said. Following the student speakers, members of SGA were asked to vote on four bills, including Richey’s bill for scholarships for students with disabilities. The other three bills were also passed unanimously. Bill 1-16-F, a Bill to Renew the MyCampusToo Initiative, sought to continue MyCampus-
In the original version of the article “Ransdell contract includes 10-year payout,� a second reference explaining the calculation of Ransdell’s benefit said he would receive $119,000 over 10 years. Ransdell will actually receive $119,000 a year over 10 years as stated in the first reference. The graphic accompanying the story also depicted Ransdell’s salary in 2015-2016
Too, a program that is designed to enhance diversity on campus. Bill 2-16-F, a Bill to Renew the Sustainability Committee, asked members to allow the Sustainability Committee to continue. Bill 3-16-F, a Bill to Financially Support and Partner with WKU Student Legal Services, proposed that SGA give $2,500 to the WKU Student Legal Services. Student Legal Services provides affordable legal help to students. According to the bill, the funding from SGA would be used for malpractice insurance costs for the 2016-2017 school year. Richey also announced that campaigning for the upcoming senate elections would begin at the commencement of Tuesday’s meeting. Elections will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14. In addition to passing bills, the SGA also voted unanimously to approve its $119,000 budget.
Reporter Emma Collins can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emma. collins399@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @thebest_dilemma.
as $423,824. It was actually $427,824. In addition, Herald photographer Emily Kask’s name was spelled incorrectly in a photo caption. The Herald regrets these errors and encourages readers to reports errors to herald.editor@wku.edu in an effort to remain accurate and responsible.
CRIME REPORTS • Freshman Gregory Leo Adams, Louisville, was arrested on Sept. 1, for Alcohol Intoxication in a Public Place. • Freshman Trevvon Smith, Bardstown, was arrested on Sept. 1, for Disorderly Conduct during a football game. • Senior Brooklyn Bugg, Henderson, was arrested on Sept. 2, for Careless Driving and DUI. • Freshman Alexus Gatewood, Bowling Green, reported her vehicle keyed while parked in front of Dell Services on Sept. 2. • Post-bachelor’s student Sheri Henson reported on Sept. 2 a lost key in Grise Hall. • On Sept. 5, freshman Ashton Paschall, Paducah, was arrested for Alcohol Intoxication of the 1st Offense in Minton Hall. • Freshman Chinina Ronstadt, Bardstown, reported on Sept. 6 that an unknown black male stole her iPhone 6S, valued at $600.
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
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OPINION
Have an opinion? Tweet us @wkuherald or find us on Facebook at WKUHerald as well. Let us know your thoughts about the editorial, or write us with what is on your mind.
@TheTowelRackWKU: ALRIGHT #WKU FANS - Need help thinking of a @WKUFootball fantasy name. I’m thinking somthing Higbee related... — 2:09 PM - 6 Sep 2016
@jacobmudd: My Econ prof just made several references to natty light. #college #wku — 11:15 AM - 6 Sep 2016 @BlueHilltopper: Auto correct drives me nuts! #WKU vs. Vandy in less than 3 weeks!! Don’t forget ot dress for the Red Out!! #GoTops — 5:04 PM - 5 Sep 2016
@pcaldean: Labor Day is a time to take a seat and catch your breath. Enjoy some r&r #WKU #whereswrigley #livingpcal — 1:09 PM - 5 Sep 2016
SYNTHESIS
In support of trigger warnings BY JOHN WINSTEAD HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU
A
few weeks ago, the University of Chicago sent students its incoming freshman class a letter informing them that the university is not a “safe space” and they shouldn’t expect any trigger warnings. As reported by the Chicago Maroon, the university’s student newspaper, incoming first year students received the letter addressed from the university’s dean of students, Jay Ellison. “Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own,” the letter reads. The letter has sparked discussions of safe spaces and trigger warnings on America’s college campuses. Before jumping into the issue altogether there are some things that need to be addressed first. So what are safe spaces and trig-
ger warnings? Respectively, safe spaces are intentional spaces where traditionally marginalized groups can convene free from having to encounter those parts of society that are oppressive and lousy to them. Usually, this takes the form of people of color only spaces or women only spaces. Trigger warnings originated from the medical literature on post-traumatic stress disorder. A “trigger” is any phenomenological experience that can cause someone to have a panic attack or some moderate psychological distress. Triggers can be inexplicable and at times unavoidable, but the trigger warning serves to well-warn anyone who may have a common trigger (sexual assault, violence, racism, etc.) that some jarring content is coming up. It’s a convenient and unintrusive preventative measure. In short: trigger warnings aren’t bad. Safe spaces are a good thing. I planned to devote this column entry to responding and debunking the arguments against safe spaces or trigger warnings, but these arguments largely don’t exist. I mean they do exist, but lack a real logical basis. And by that I mean the counter arguments are just emp-
ty, melodramatic handwringing. The argument against trigger warnings is just sarcastically saying “triggered.” Safe spaces apparently coddle the youth. They stunt intellectual discourse or whatever. How? They just do. Read “1984”! It’s all in there! Big Brother, groupthink and the likes of those novelesque claims. There’s nothing to engage. There’s no criticism to respond to. Safe spaces and trigger warning just really hurt some people’s feelings and so now no one can have them, or at least not at the University of Chicago. I am not one to psychologize my deeply insecure critics, but this fixation is rooted in an anxiety that there is a space or conversation in which your input is not welcome or needed. It’s an understandable anxiety. It’s just not something you should be politically organizing around. The fact millennials are trying to build safe and comfortable spaces for them to exist is not the egregiously pressing issue of our time. It’s not pressing. It’s not an issue. It’s just a thing you don’t like, and fixating on it is a reactionary behavior, so stop it.
@kbryan87: Lindsey and I had our dating anniversary yesterday. We started dating in September 2009! #WKU — 12:08 PM - 5 Sep 2016
@DJ270LIVE: I’m over here downloading music tell me your favorite song you want to hear the next time I DJ at WKU I’m all ears #WKU2020 #retweet #WKU — 7:43 PM - 4 Sep 2016
@jasontbrown: Kentucky will on longer schedule Conference USA opponents #wku #southernmiss — 11:28 PM - 3 Sep 2016
@MagicalAaron: #WKU is just as tough and mean as #Alabama. They just don’t believe us. We’ll prove we can be #HARDCORE — 1:36 PM - 6 Sep 2016 @Kortni_17: I miss college #WKU — 8:48 PM - 2 Sep 2016
@joshjagg: No words (or emojis) can express how excited I am that college football is finally here........ — 11:53 AM - 3 Sep 2016
FASHION
Designing your wardrobe based on your body BY SARAH HICKS HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU The most important step in achieving personal style isn’t solely dependent on knowledge of the fashion world, but instead optimizing your body type. Style is about discovering the right clothes that bring out your best features and make you feel confident. Learning to choose clothing that amplifies your figure empowers and beautifies your style. Take your mind away from height and weight and rather consider shape. It’s not about looking thin, but intensifying your shape so that you feel stunning in every outfit you wear. So how do you know your body shape? You can determine your shape with just a few easy questions. Is the lower part of you body wider than your upper body? Is your bottom round and your waist small-
er? If yes, you are a PEAR! Your star features are the shoulders and torso. When you select clothes go for articles that bring attention to and highlight your waist and arms, but also volumize the shoulders and upper body. Use your neckline to show off your waist and shoulders by choosing a sweatshirt or deep-V. You will feel stellar in an A-line skirt and dresses, wide leg hemmed pants and belted clothes at the waist. Don’t be afraid to play Sarah Hicks with ruffled tops and pointy-toed shoes that will lengthen your legs. Are your shoulders and chest wider than your waist and hips? If yes, you are a WEDGE! Your star features are your legs. Choose clothing to bring moderation to the upper half of your body,
but that show off your lower body and legs. Remember, wear something that draws attention to the assets you love! Go for that shorter skirt that’s going to show off those long legs paired with a sleeved shirt to help bring proportion to you. You’ll feel fierce in bright colored bottoms, pants with wide legs and thicker strapped tops. Are your hips, shoulders and waist of similar size? If yes, you are a RECTANGLE! Learn to show off your arms and legs while creating the look of curves. You will dominate in a pencil skirt to show off your legs, and look amazing in a waist defining belt. Have fun with ruching, bright colored bottoms, long jackets, layered tops and scoop necks. Is most of your weight above the hips? Are your hips narrow? Are your back and shoulders more wide? If
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yes, you are an APPLE! Work toward insinuating those legs! Choose clothing that will lengthen your torso and make those legs well seen! You can lengthen your torso with V-necks, empire silhouettes and A-line dresses. Clench in your waist with a defined jacket paired with a dress. Feel your best in monochromatic, belting your waist, empire styles, flared pants and shorter skirts. We are all uniquely lovely and can learn to capitalize on our strengths. Find something that you love about yourself and show that off – whether it’s your legs, your arms or your waist! Let clothing selection be based upon what makes you feel beautiful. Don’t forget, self-confidence is not stemmed from what you wear, but a good outfit can help empower you.
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
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Across 1 Like some glass 8 Black Friday store opening event? 15 “Be right with you” 17 Serious request for help 18 Island where Dionysus discovered Ariadne 19 Burden 20 Disney’s “__ & Stitch” 21 Hebrew for “skyward” 22 __ owl 24 “At Seventeen” Grammy winner __ Ian 25 Spender of rials 27 Name 28 Suzanne Collins trilogy, with “The” 32 Rebus pronoun 35 Waste management word 36 Beats 38 Isr. neighbor 39 Loreena McKennitt genre 41 Big name in jewelry 42 Dizzy 43 Half a ‘60s pop group 46 Lesage hero Gil __
47 Pad 51 __ I: Jewish month added in leap years 52 Watch chain 53 See 45-Down 54 Parker or Getz 58 Ancient 59 Put on again 60 Usually not the best way to marry Down 1 Excel 2 Like Romantic music 3 Singer/ songwriter __ Ray Joel 4 Belief system 5 Acceptances 6 Commercial suffix with wheat 7 Word from Homer 8 Mullally of “Will & Grace” 9 Blue Cash Everyday card co. 10 “What’s the __?” 11 “CSI” facility 12 How coq may be cooked 13 Absolut alternative, familiarly 14 __ welcome 16 Semiaquatic
rodent 22 Brewer’s supply 23 “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spin-off 24 “I’m alone” 26 Big attractions 27 Wild things? 28 Some game enders: Abbr. 29 Pike no-no 30 ATM giant 31 Actress Kelly 32 Aurora’s counterpart 33 Either of two Chinese dynasties 34 Bailout key 37 Don Quixote’s unseen love 40 Screen Actors Guild co-founder Lyle __ 41 2000s-’10s Afghan president 43 Not at all trivial 44 Allan-__: Robin Hood cohort 45 With 53-Across, Japanese roadster 46 Ready to be shipped 48 Tracks 49 Where __ 50 Come clean? 52 Notability 53 __ pit 55 Georgia, once: Abbr.
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56 Upsilon follower 57 Fifth-century invader
COLLEGEUNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HERALD SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY
WKUHERALD.COM
PHOTO
Father Will Thompson, right, prepares to process down the church aisle during the beginning of an English church service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green on Saturday. Weston Kenney/HERALD
Culture OF Worship BY WESTON KENNEY
Though people coming from different backgrounds can sometimes present challenges, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green, it’s celebrated. For many years, the church has offered Mass in both English and Spanish. The priests that serve here are required to be fluent in both languages. This has expanded the church’s reach and fulfills its goal of incorporating culture into worship. ABOVE: A band member Fito Castro plays the procession music during the beginning of a Spanish church service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green on Sunday. LEFT: An organist Kenneth Stein plays the procession music during the beginning of an English church service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green on Saturday. BOTTOM LEFT: Altar boy Darwin Murillo, 7, prepares to process down the church aisle during the beginning of a Spanish church service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green on Sunday. BOTTOM RIGHT: Celebrating her first year in the Catholic Church, Maria Guadalupe Greorio, 1, sits near the altar after a Spanish church service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green, on Sunday.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
LIFE
WKUHERALD.COM
COLLEGEUNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HERALD SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY » Shooting team: Turn to page B2 to read about the WKU shooting team’s first year of competitions.
Weather program to provide real-time forecasts BY ELISABETH MOORE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU
“It’s like we’re coworkers, but the job we do together is not formal,” Swan said. Swan said she has seen many auditions since she joined during her freshman year at WKU. Although not everyone who auditions makes the cut, Swan said those who weren’t offered a spot still had a good time auditioning. Swan and Barnes both commented about the troupe always being open to new members. It wants people to get involved, even if her or she aren’t theater majors. Bamberg, South Carolina, junior Jarius Smith said he looks forward to Happy Gas auditions, although theater hasn’t always been his calling; he has wanted to be a voice-actor since he was a child, an aspiration he said came from watching cartoons and playing video games. From his research in the field of voice-acting, he
Although outsiders may be unaware of WKU’s wide range of weather conditions, students have seen everything from rainwater turning the Hill into an endless Slip N’ Slide, to snowfall causing classes to be cancelled for up to a week. Due to this weather variety, WKU’s meteorology program is creating a new way for WKU and its surrounding areas to get state-of-the-art weather forecasts in one simple program, called White Squirrel Weather. Joshua Durkee, assistant head of the department of geography and geology and associate professor of meteorology and climate science research, said White Squirrel Weather (WSWX) is a real-time weather and climate monitoring system. It currently includes two weather stations and a high-quality camera that constantly collects weather data. Students and faculty will be able to utilize the data collected from this equipment, along with other professional software systems to create campus focused forecasts and conditions. WSWX is a product of the College Heights Atmospheric Observatory for Students, otherwise known as CHAOS, which provides students with opportunities to practice meteorology outside of the classroom in areas including forecasting, map analysis and research. Durkee, White Squirrel Weather Director, said WSWX will provide specific weather information to students, faculty and staff who live, travel to and otherwise spend much of their time at WKU. “It has come to my attention,” Durkee said, “that there is a lot of interest in focused, custom weather needs on campus ranging from hazardous weather outlooks, transportation, athletic activities, among others. The website will update constantly, so the most up-to-date information will be found there.” The WSWX team includes many different positions, such as forecasting,
SEE IMPROV PAGE B2
SEE WEATHER PAGE B2
Freshman Lily Harvey and senior Matthew Zuccari act out a show scene during Happy Gas’ improv practice on Tuesday in Gordon Wilson Hall. TYGER WILLIAMS/HERALD
HAPPY GAS
BY JULIA ADAMS
STUDENT IMPROV GROUP BRINGS COMEDY TO WKU
HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU
Improvisational theater, otherwise known as improv, is a type of theater in which the actors make up everything they perform on the spot, with little to no preparation. It may sound difficult to pull off, but the WKU Happy Gas Improv Troupe aims to make it easy and enjoyable for everyone. Happy Gas formed 17 years ago with a goal to make improv something lots of people could get involved in, according to Lexington senior Isaac Barnes. As a member of the troupe, Barnes said he aims to “bring a little bit of real comedy” into his audience’s day. “[Happy Gas] has a lot of energy, and it’s good to be around,” Barnes said. “It enables us to do what we think is funny.” Barnes said joining the troupe is a considerable time commitment due to how often it practices to prepare
for performances. There isn’t time to think twice about what you’re going to do during performances, Barnes said. “Not many people have had experience before auditions,” Barnes said. “But it’s important to have a good sense of humor.” Barnes advises newcomers to “let the character take over” and “let your actions speak for themselves.” Once auditions are over, “initiates” are picked by the troupe. Once the initiate has shown his or her growth as an actor and his or her commitment to Happy Gas, he or she can become a member. Elizabethtown senior Miranda Swan said she wants audience members to experience “a stress release; a reminder that everything is going to be okay.” “It’s fun and light-hearted, but we’re still here to do something,” Swan said. Thinking quickly on your feet makes the performance more genuine and enjoyable, she said.
Women’s rugby club finds strength in numbers BY EMMA AUSTIN HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU The WKU women’s rugby club met on Tuesday night for one of its first practices of the year, starting off strong with 25 players –– 15 more girls than were on the team last year. Elizabethtown senior Brianna Anderson, co-captain of the club, attributes this increase in number partially to the sport’s appearance in the Summer Olympics this year. “We have a good core group of girls that came back, and we’re really excited about the freshmen and sophomore girls who joined,” Anderson said. “They seem to be very excited and dedicated already.” Anderson transferred to WKU as a sophomore and joined the rugby team without any previous experience. “It’s a lot more aggressive than many sports are –– especially women’s sports,” Anderson said. “So it’s a really big transition for a lot of girls.” Although some girls come in with experience playing on high school rugby teams, Anderson said most new members have never played before. Walton freshman Alli Chevalier recently joined the team with her twin, Tessa. Although neither sister had any rugby experience, they both played ice hockey together in high school. Chevalier said hockey and rugby have similar levels of physicality and aggression, which is part of why she enjoys each
sport. However, Chevalier said she would encourage girls who have never played an aggressive sport to still come check it out if they have an interest. “They’ve been easing us into it,” she said. “They’re not, like, ‘tackle!’ on your first practice, which helps people who have never been aggressive.”
Anderson said she doesn’t let anyone on the field until they’ve learned how to properly tackle. She also encourages girls to go lift and run on their own, so the team can focus on improving skills during practice rather than conditioning. In addition to practicing twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the
team also competes in weekend games throughout the semester, playing against other college clubs and women’s teams. The team will also host special alumni games during this year’s homecoming weekend in celebration of their 20th year on campus. Because of a player shortage in re-
SEE RUGBY PAGE B2
Butler County freshman Krystin Harbin practices tackling during the WKU women’s rugby practice on Tuesday at the Intramural Sports Complex. The women’s rugby team will travel to Huntsville, Ala. to compete in their first tournament. MHARI SHAW/HERALD
B2
IMPROV
Continued from LIFE learned the best thing to do is improv. “Little planning goes into it,” Smith said, recognizing that improv requires quick-thinking, and that thinking too
WEATHER Continued from LIFE
real-time spotting and broadcasting which helps provide quick and accurate weather information on campus. The weather team is currently made up of students in the meteorology program. Pierce Larkin, a junior majoring in meteorology and minoring in geographic information science and
RUGBY
Continued from LIFE cent years, Anderson said they haven’t been able to play a full game of 15 players with just its girls. With the 25 members already committed to playing this semester, Anderson said she is anticipating the possibility of playing with full numbers at games during the year. Anderson said she loves being a part of the rugby club because of how close she is to her teammates. The team spends a lot of time together outside of practice, she said, such as getting together for group dinners every other week. “We’re a very inclusive team,” Anderson said. “We have girls from all sorts of backgrounds.” Nashville junior Carissa Waller played rugby for a year in high school before she joined WKU’s team during
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 deeply can make the performer nervous. While Smith has previously auditioned for voice-acting roles, he has never auditioned for an improv group. Happy Gas will have auditions Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 4:30 p.m. The team practices for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year.
Occasionally, it has an “open practice,” which allows nonmembers to come participate in improv games. The next Happy Gas performance will be on Saturday 4 p.m. in the Gordon Wilson Lab Theater. The admission cost is $2 for one person, $3 for
two people. Happy Gas also offers free admission to freshmen.
floodplain management, is a student leader at WSWX and works with forecasting. Larkin said WSWX will utilize WKU’s Storm Team to gain real-time weather information, which WSWX will be able to analyze to continuously forecast weather and its evolution, broadcasted through its website and on Twitter. The WSWX website is currently being beta tested, but Durkee said the Twitter account is working and will be
used to highlight weather conditions throughout each day as it is happening. According to Larkin, all students who join WSWX have the chance to decide where they want to be during weather events, whether in broadcasting or in the field observing the weather. “White Squirrel Weather is an opportunity for current students, but also
builds the program even higher than it already has been,” Larkin said. “This sets the program up to give future students more opportunities and is just another reason for future students to come to WKU.”
Semesters in the making, WKU’s new shooting team is getting ready to take on competitions after becoming a team last year. The team currently competes in an event called the Steel Challenge sanctioned by the Scholastic Action Shooting Program, according to head coach Daniel Birkenhauer. The event involves set courses of fire that rely on accuracy and speed in junior varsity and varsity level competitions, he said. Birkenhauer said the team has plans to expand this year to include trap, skeet and sporting clays teams, all under the umbrella of WKU shooting sports. The team is currently made up of around 10 people, with goals of gaining more members throughout the year. After the team formed last year, the spring semester served as a start-up period, with focus on getting the word out and becoming an established club on campus. The team competed at the national level last semester, although it didn’t participate in many other competitions. Campbellsville senior Patrick Neumann, captain of the team, said the national competition was a way to get their feet wet before continuing this year. “It’s a lot to get a new group of guys together and literally learn a new sport and be competitive in it during a time span of six months,” said Birkenhauer. “Last year we took a group of eight to nationals, and had one squad score second in their division. I was more than proud and had a blast with the group.” This coming semester the team will see a lot of changes, including gaining a range and fundraising, Birkenhauer
Reporter Julia Adams can be reached at (270) 996-2106 and julia.adams897@ topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliaSkyeAdams.
Reporter Elisabeth Moore can be reached at 270-745-6288 and Elisabeth.moore938@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emoore98.
her freshman year. “When I first tried rugby I knew nothing about it, and really didn’t want to try it out,” Waller said. “After my first practice, I fell in love with it. After my first game, I was completely invested.” Waller said her favorite part of the sport is the aggression involved, saying each game is like an adrenaline rush. She also loves the bond she has with her team, which she said is different from her past experiences with other sports. “It’s like a family,” she said. “We’re just always there to support each other, so that’s really cool.”
Reporter Emma Austin can be reached at 270-745-2655 and emma.austin177@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emmacaustin.
Shooting team ready for first competitions BY KALEE CHISM HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
said. Birkenhauer said there’s “no better feeling” than he gets from coaching the team, and hopes to focus on making the team as good as it can be. “Feels like a dream come true for me,” Birkenhauer said. “I hope to be in Bowling Green for a long time and this is all I want.” He said his favorite thing to do is teach, and that he will spend every extra minute he has to making the shooters as good as they would like to be. He said he told his wife he hopes she isn’t worried about money, because he will be spending everything he can on making the team the most successful in the country. Neumann said he’s most looking forward to growing the team, and educating people about guns. He said he wants people to realize that guns are not toys and should be respected, though the sport can still be fun. “You can have fun and be safe,” Neumann said. He added that he is looking forward to building camaraderie among the team, getting the name out and just having fun. “I guess that’s my biggest take-away: to know that when I’m gone that people will still be having fun and being smart with the weapon, and knowing that it’s not just a play-toy, because it most definitely is not,” Neumann said. Birkenhauer said he invites everyone to come out to learn more about the shooting team, both through its online pages and meetings. “I want them to know that this is the most inclusive sport there is on campus,” Birkenhauer said. “You can have absolutely no experience and be from any walk of life, and you will pick up the basics very quickly.”
Reporter Kalee Chism can be reached at 270-745-2655 andkalee.chism704@ topper.wku.edu.
Elizabethtown senior Brianna Anderson (right) and Elizabethtown senior Alex Harrison (left) demonstrate how to tackle during their practice on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Intramural Sports Complex. Anderson has been the president of WKU’s women’s rugby team for the past two and a half years. MHARI SHAW/HERALD
B3
REECER’S PIECE
Continued from SPORTS
team, Hugh Freeze’s Ole Miss teams and Urban Meyer’s Ohio State program are all teams that featured offenses with a strong passing attack and unpredictable play calling. I’m not sure about you, but to me the last part of that sentence perfectly describes WKU’s offense under Brohm. Now you might ask how can I
FOOTBALL
Continued from SPORTS freshman Jalen Hurts. The two quarterbacks combined for 218 passing yards and three touchdowns, with Hurts adding 32 yards on the ground for two more scores in the Tide’s 52-6 shaming of the Trojans. “We’ve been in the situation before where the quarterback situation has a lot of variation to it, so you just prepare for anything,” Ward said. Up to this point, Brohm has emphasized that the Toppers must stay out of their own way to begin the game. He also stressed the importance of paying attention to detail, something he thinks his team did well against Rice. “We did nothing to beat ourselves, we were focused throughout the entire game and our guys played hard,” Brohm said. “We’re going to
VOLLEYBALL Continued from SPORTS
tournament team," Hudson said. "But all three of these teams are fabulous volleyball teams." The Lady Toppers will first play the University of Cincinnati in the
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
think WKU will do anything positive against a program that just beat USC by 46 points. Well, while that win is impressive, the one thing I’ve learned from college football the past few years is not to compare scores. Every team plays differently on different nights. Again, we are talking about kids between 18-22 years old. No one is ever perfectly consistent, especially teenagers. Remember when Ole Miss defeated Alabama last year in Tus-
caloosa then dropped games against less-talented teams like Memphis and Arkansas? At the end of the day, I do think that the Crimson Tide has more pure talent then WKU, and the fact that the team is playing at home gives it the decisive advantage. However, I don’t think it really matters if the Toppers win or lose. This game is a measuring stick for just how good WKU can be this year. A win may not be
what’s needed to pass this test. If the Toppers can cover the spread which currently stands at Alabama winning by 24 points, that’s passing the test in my eyes. And who knows, as a team that will play with nothing to lose, the Toppers could pull off a miracle and ace this test.
have to learn to focus, stay locked in regardless of the score and really do the small things throughout the entire game. If we can do that and create a few mistakes by them, you never know what can happen.” For WKU it all starts with redshirt junior quarterback Mike White. As the nation’s leading passer after one game, White’s teammates know how important he is for the team’s success. “It starts with us,” Lamp said of the offensive line. “If Mike doesn’t have time then he can’t complete the passes that we need to make and it’s all about the little things. We have to complete the little runs, the little passes and checkdowns; we gotta do it all.” White was 25-31 for 517 yards and three touchdowns against Rice, but both he and his coach know that things won’t be as
easy for him in Tuscaloosa. “He’s going to have to be smart with the football and play within himself,” Brohm said. “It’ll be a tough game for him, and he’s going to have to be completely locked in and focused and understand that as much as he wants to help us win, he can’t help us lose.” White and the offense will start off a bit shorthanded to begin the game, as Brohm said he doesn’t expect redshirt sophomore running back D’Andre Ferby to be available for the game with a shoulder injury he sustained against Rice. With Ferby down, redshirt freshman Marquez Trigg and freshman Quinton Baker will get increased carries to help lighten starter Anthony “Ace” Wales’ load. “I feel like [Trigg and Baker] got all of their jitters out and it makes them more comfortable going into
the game knowing that it’s not their first snap,” redshirt junior return specialist Kylen Towner said. “I feel like they’re more comfortable and can make some big plays hopefully.” In a game against the No. 1 team in the nation, every facet of the game comes into play. Win or lose, Ward and his teammates will be up to the challenge come 2:30 p.m. Saturday. “We know who we are and we know what we’re capable of, so we’re just going to take that into Alabama knowing that we’re all we’ve got,” Ward said. “We’ll be ready for the challenge coming up against the best team in the country.”
tournament at 1 p.m. on Friday. Hailing from the American Athletic Conference, the Lady Bearcats currently field a 4-2 record to their name so far this season. At 7 p.m. on Friday, WKU will play the Salukis of Southern Il-
linois who are 6-1. SIU currently fields victories over Murray State University and the University of Central Florida, respectively. “Literally any win will be a great win this weekend,” Hudson said. “We still gotta play
better
Reporter John Reecer can be reached at 270-745-6291 and john. reecer104@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @Reece_12_Falcon.
Reporter Evan Heichelbech can be reached at 270-745-6291 and evan.heichelbech059@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @evanheichelbech.
assignment
volleyball.”
Reporter Matthew Stewart can be reached at 270-745-6281 and matthew.stewart015@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @MES_WKU22.
SOCCER
Lady Toppers look to keep win-streak alive BY TYLER MANSFIELD
HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU After opening its first home-stand of the regular-season with wins on Friday and Sunday, the Lady Topper soccer team will look to do the same this weekend against two more clubs at the WKU Soccer Complex. “We’re learning a lot as a team,” Head Coach Jason Neidell said as he previewed this week’s matches. “We’re making some strides in the right direction. We’re also playing with a lot of confidence.” WKU (3-2-0) defeated Austin Peay State University, 2-1 in overtime to open the home slate, and then followed that with a 4-0 shutout victory over Georgia State University. The Lady Toppers will now meet Louisiana State University on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Morehead State University at 1 p.m. Sunday. The LSU Tigers (3-3-0) have won two-straight matches as the Southeastern Conference program picked up a 3-0 shutout win at Indiana University back on Friday before grabbing a 2-1 victory at Butler University on Sunday. LSU is currently tied for sixth place in the Southeastern Conference’s non-conference standings with Auburn University and the University of Tennessee. The Tigers have just one non-conference contest remaining, with that being against the Lady Toppers. “We’re expecting an athletic team,” Neidell said on LSU. “They have two really good forwards –– probably two of the best we’ll face all year.” The forwards Neidell is referring to are senior Summer
Clarke and junior Jorian Baucom. Baucom leads the team in goals scored at four, has recorded 10 shots on goal and has a goal percentage of .211. Clarke, on the other hand, has scored once this year and has hit three shots on goal. The two pace the Tiger club. Morehead State is another solid team WKU will encounter to wrap-up the home-stand Sunday. The Eagles have won two games, been defeated in two and tied in one, giving it a record of 2-2-1. In MSU’s last two outings, the Eagles have been able to pick up one win while tying in another match. Morehead welcomed the University of Evansville onto its home field, where it grabbed a 3-2 victory before drawing a 0-0 decision against the University of Chattanooga on Sunday. The Eagles will play against Western Carolina University on Friday at home before coming to the Hill. “There is another good team,” Neidell said about MSU. “They’ve had some good results this year. It’s always difficult playing an in-state rival.” Against Georgia State University on Sunday, WKU came out of the gates firing, which helped the team achieve another win. Freshman forward Chandler Backes, who found the back of the net twice versus the Panthers, was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week and was also tabbed Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Week. “We’re excited about Chandler [Backes],” Neidell said. “Not only has she been able to score goals, but she’s been able to open up opportunities for other players.” The Lady Toppers, as a team, have
Freshman forward Chandler Backes (5) high fives sophomore midfielder Megan Morris (9) during WKU’s 4-0 victory over Georgia State on Sunday, Sept. 4 at the WKU Soccer Complex. KELSEA HOBBS/HERALD scored 15 goals so far on the year. Last season, the team only scored 20 total. “We’re five games in and we’ve already scored 15 goals,” Neidell noted. “It’s great to be able to score.” Morehead State is led by freshman forward Ashley Ritchie. Ritchie leads the Eagles’ team in goals scored at three and averages 2.60 shots per match. The all-around athlete has also tallied an assist so far in the season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles are paced by freshman goalkeeper Caitlynn Mason. The La Grange native has tallied 14 saves already on the season while having faced 45 total shots from opposing teams.
Relating back to Thursday night’s affair with Louisiana State, Neidell, his assistant coaches and all of his players are hoping to set to the attendance record at the WKU Soccer Complex. The record is a little under 700 people. “It’s gonna be an exciting game,” Neidell said. “Not often do we have a Thursday night game, and not to mention that no other sport teams are playing at home. I encourage all fans to come out and enjoy a good soccer match.”
Reporter Tyler Mansfield can be reached at 270-745-6291 and james. mansfield143@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMansfield.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
WKUHERALD.COM REECER’S PIECE
SPORTS
» Soccer: The Lady Toppers will take on the LSU Tigers tonight at the WKU Soccer Complex at 7:00 p.m.
FOOTBALL
True test up next for Hilltoppers BY JOHN REECER HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU After months of waiting, fans of WKU football were given quite the pleasant surprise in Thursday night’s game. That surprise came in the form of redshirt junior quarterback Mike White throwing for over 500 passing yards as he led his team to a dominant performance over Rice University. The win was an important one for WKU as the Hilltoppers picked up a conference win while also displaying that Head Coach Jeff Brohm’s offense can make just about any quarterback look like a star. However, despite the great performance, the Toppers are now faced with what is literally the ultimate challenge in college football: playing a Nick Saban-led University of Alabama team in Tuscaloosa. To make matters a bit worse, the defending national champions also just beat the 20th ranked team in the country on Saturday night 52-6. Yeah, good luck with that WKU. In all seriousness, I actually think there is a decent chance that the Toppers can make their road trip to Tuscaloosa a very positive one. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t like WKU’s chances to win against the Crimson Tide next Saturday afternoon, but I do think there is a good chance that this team coached by Brohm will impress people nationally. If you need some help believing me, then just consider how Alabama has spent most of their preseason camp preparing for a USC team. Also, the team they have to play after WKU is an Ole Miss program that has given the Crimson Tide absolute fits the past couple of years. Saban is a master in getting his team ready to play, but remember these are just college kids. The chances that some of Alabama’s players are overlooking the Toppers in at least some fashion are actually pretty good in my opinion. Also, look at how WKU performed last year against LSU which is a program that has very similar talent to that of Alabama. The Toppers were neck-and-neck with the Tigers deep into the third quarter until some unforced errors doomed WKU. Also, Brohm’s offense is the type of system which has given the decorated Crimson Tide defense serious problems the past five years. Johnny Manziel’s Texas A&M
SEE REECER’S PIECE PAGE B3
Redshirt senior running back Anthony Wales (20) sprints down field after catching a pass during WKU’s 46-14 win against Rice on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Smith Stadium. KATHRYN ZIESIG/HERALD
CRIMSON CHALLENGE Hilltoppers Ready for shot at the defending national champions
BY EVAN HEICHELBECH HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU Head Coach Jeff Brohm has been honest when discussing Saturday’s game against the consensus No. 1 team in the nation, the University of Alabama. “We’re not blind,” Brohm said. “We see what everyone else sees, and this is the very best team in the country. They’ve got tremendous talent, great size and great speed at every position. There are no weaknesses, and their coach is probably the best coach in the country.” And while Brohm knows that his team will be a big underdog to the Crimson Tide, he’s been here before and understands the importance of a game against a nationally ranked, Power-5 opponent. “Throughout the entire year, everyone’s talked about this game,” Brohm said. “I heard about it all summer and all spring. These are the type of games you want to see and as players, we have some good players that want to go down there and showcase what they’re about.” For senior safety Marcus Ward,
this game will be a little bit more special as he returns to his home state where his football journey began. “It’s a cool experience to get to play a team that I’ve been watching since I’ve been interested in football,” Ward said. “It’s one of those cool experiences that you get to insert yourself into after watching from the sides for so long.” Ward, a Birmingham native, is one of four WKU starters originally from Alabama, and he understands the level of impact an environment like Tuscaloosa can have on a game. “When you go into these types of games, the biggest thing is the atmosphere,” Ward said. “You’ve got to block it out and understand that they are the No. 1 team and we’re not missing that point, but you have to play them like it’s just another team.” A big part of what earns the Tide top acclaim nationally is its defense. There are currently 28 former Alabama defensive players in the NFL. Redshirt senior left tackle Forrest Lamp will be partly responsible for stopping the next crop of future pros charging at him on Saturday. “They’re super good,” Lamp said of the Alabama front. “Obvious-
ly they’re a SEC team, they’re big, they’re fast and a little bit more athletic than we’re used to seeing.” The Hilltoppers got a morehelpful-than-usual preview of exactly what that Crimson Tide defense is all about last week as the University of Southern California got a shot at the reigning national champions in Arlington, Texas. Of course, the Trojan offense is now led by former WKU offensive coordinator Tyson Helton who took part of his staff at WKU with him to Southern California in the offseason. “We just look for [Alabama’s] pass moves and what they did against USC,” Lamp said. “We’re pretty similar to USC’s offense. Obviously we’ve had a couple coaches go out there so we just look at their techniques and what they like to do. They rotate a decent bit and they go about three deep.” Alabama is equally talented on the offensive side of the ball, and a versatility factor comes into play with its multiple quarterback system. Redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Barnett started the game against USC, before being replaced early by
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VOLLEYBALL
Lady Toppers capitalize in home opener BY MATTHEW STEWART HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU The 23rd ranked WKU volleyball (7-1) team played their first home match of the season Tuesday, Sept. 6 as they took on Belmont University (6-0). The Lady Toppers were able to take down the Bruins, arguably the best team in the Ohio Valley Conference, in straight sets to get the first home victory of the season as they will take on three tough opponents later on in the week in the Holiday Inn University Plaza Invitational. Despite the victory, the team experienced a scary moment in the game when junior outside hitter Alyssa Cavanaugh went down in the second set with an apparent left leg injury after colliding with fellow All-American teammate, junior setter Jessica Lucas. When the two clashed, Diddle Arena went silent immediately as play continued for a brief period of time with Cavanaugh still on the ground until Head Coach Travis Hudson got the attention of the referee to stop play. “I thought one All-American injury would be enough for me this year and we are just dodging bullets a little bit," Hudson said. "We are fortunate that it looks like she is gon-
na be ok. I mean two All-Americans collide flying around for a ball back there; that tells you what our team was like tonight. You can’t fault them for the effort level we played with.” Despite leaving in the second set, Cavanaugh led the team on the offensive side of the ball. The outside hitter finished the night with eight kills on 23 attempts hitting .261. Sophomore middle hitter Rachel Anderson also finished with eight kills as sophomore outside hitter Taylor Dellinger each finished with six kills. WKU finished the night with a .287 hitting percentage. Senior defensive specialist Georgia O’Connell put up a match high 16 digs and Engle had 10 of her own. The Lady Topper defense held the Bruins to an abysmal .085 hitting percentage. Big Ten conference member Michigan State University will be making its first trip to Diddle Arena on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. The Spartans hold a 5-1 record with their only loss coming from 8th-ranked University of Florida. They are also recognized as the 26th ranked team in the AVCA poll. Hudson knows they pose the greatest threat to his team this weekend. “Well I mean Michigan State is a Big Ten team, perennial NCAA
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Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Dellinger (21) tips the ball during WKU's match against Belmont on Tuesday, Sept. 6 in Diddle Arena. Dellinger had three spikes and seven kills during the match. LEXI SELIG/HERALD