OPINION STUDENTS' TAKE ON THE PETRINO HIRE PAGE 4
SPORTS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OFF TO FAST START PAGE 14
NEWS MISS KENTUCKY CROWNED AT WKU PAGE 10
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY • WKUHERALD.COM • VOLUME 88 NO. 27
Plans for wku goes to washington new Honors College and International Center begin TAYLOR HARRISON NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
Gov. Steve Beshear announced a plan on Jan. 10 to allow Kentucky universities to issue agency bonds to fund campus improvement projects with university funds. This plan could lead to WKU getting an Honors College and International Center. President Gary Ransdell said because WKU is a state university, they need state approval before they acquire debt, even though they will be paying for it. WKU has used agency bonds to fund renovation projects such as Van Meter Hall, College High Hall and Diddle Arena. “A lot of our renovation projects have been done with university funds,” he said. The $22 million project is one of 11 from six different universities included in one agency bond package, Ransdell said. He said he expects the General Assembly to approve all the projects at once in the spring. “It was a prudent strategy for us to all agree on our priority projects and submit one proposal for one approval rather than each of us working independently…this is the first time that that’s occurred, so that’s a good sign that higher education is working well together,” he said. Robbin Taylor, vice president of SEE HONORS PAGE 2
Patrons wave flags at the National Mall as President Barack Obama was introduced at his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Monday. JABIN BOTSFORD/HERALD
Students attend inauguration JOANNA WILLIAMS NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
Being in Bowling Green didn’t stop a group of more than 40 students, professors and members of the community to board a charter bus and make the 14-hour drive to Alexandria, Va., to see President Barack Obama be inaugurated into office this past
Percy Yeung, 17, of Jacksonville, Fla. falls asleep while waiting for the inauguration ceremony of President Obama to begin on Monday in Washington D.C. DOROTHY EDWARDS/HERALD
weekend. Alexandria, a town only a metro ride away from D.C., was where the group stayed for their three-day trip to D.C. The trip was organized and led by Political Science Department Head Saundra Ardrey. Ardrey has led a trip to the presidential SEE WKU PAGE 2
WKU students open dialogue about suicide, depression ANNA ANDERSON DIVERSIONS@WKUHERALD.COM
Looking back over her years of struggling with depression, Elyssa Carmony said the spring of 2012 was definitely the worst. Between her extra-curricular activities and the pressure of keeping up with her classwork, the 19-year-old honors student from Independence, Ky., said she was starting to feel the strain. “I have to be involved in everything and the best at everything I’m involved in,” Carmony said. The stress of it all made her feel as if she didn’t have any friends, despite her strong connection with her sorority sisters of Alpha Gamma Delta and others. She isolated herself by spending a lot of time alone in her room.
For Carmony, it’s harder for her to deal with stress than others because she has borderline personality disorder. People affected by this illness often deal with feelings of abandonment, depression and struggle with self-harm. Carmony said people dealing with borderline personality disorder are often described as the “third-degree burn patients” of psychology. She said people with this disorder can make strides toward recovery, but the illness is never completely gone. “That’s really hard to get a grip on if you don’t come at it head strong and don’t come at it with support,” Carmony said. Carmony has attempted suicide three times and thought about it countless others. She said her attempts were never
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premeditated; they came on when she was feeling really low. “There were days when everything felt so wrong,” she said. Lately, Carmony said she has been feeling better. She said she owes this to her friends, her sorority sisters and her faith in God. “Every day is a struggle, I think. And you have to choose that day whether you’re going to rise above it or if you’re going to let it get to you,” she said. She’s tried medications and has seen counselors, but she said that being able to call upon her friends has been one of the most beneficial things. One of Carmony’s sorority sisters, Henderson junior Ariana DeLong, has also fought depression and thoughts of SEE DIALOGUE PAGE 3
Independence sophomore Elyssa Carmony has struggled with depression since her freshman year of high school and reached an all-time low last spring when she attempted to take her own life. Carmony began taking medication in June and this past fall found solace in her Alpha Gamma Delta sisters after telling them about her on-going battle with depression and attempted suicide. Currently, she is working toward living her life with a more positive outlook. KATIE MCLEAN/HERALD
BG ICE RINK?
MLK DAY AT WKU
STUDENTS ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A BOWLING GREEN ICE RINK. PAGE 9
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PLANNING COMMITEE HOSTS EVENTS TO MARK MLK DAY. PAGE 10
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A WINTER FOR HUMANITY EIGHT STUDENTS WENT SOUTH FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO HELP FAMILY IN NEED. PAGE 11
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
sports
TRANSITIONS First year coaches producing different results LUCAS AULBACH SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM
Ray Harper, coach of the WKU men’s basketball team, and Michelle Clark-Heard, coach of the women’s basketball team, both know the value of rebounding. While their names won’t appear on any stat sheet, both have been responsible for a major rebound in the WKU basketball programs this year. On Feb. 1, 2012, the Lady Toppers had a dismal 6-15 record on the year and were on their way to a 9-21 record, the worst in more than 30 years for the traditionally strong WKU women’s basketball program. Mary Taylor Cowles, who had coached the team for 10 seasons, was let go at the end of the year. The men’s basketball team was in an even worse state of disarray at the time. Sitting at 7-15 with an uncertain future ahead of the team, WKU was struggling in the wake of former coach Ken McDonald’s midseason dismissal. One year later, both programs have risen to new heights under the direction of new coaches. Heard has had more success on paper this season than Harper, but that’s no insult — she’s in the middle of one of the biggest turn-around jobs in the NCAA this year. The Lady Toppers currently sit at 16-5, good for No. 3 in the Sun Belt Conference, and look
like they could compete for a conference crown and NCAA Tournament berth. They are averaging 70.3 points per game — a far cry from last season’s average of 56.3 per game. The numbers speak for themselves, athletics director Todd Stewart said. “I don’t know if you could honestly choose a word that would overstate the job that coach Heard has done,” Stewart said. The way the Lady Toppers are winning is just as notable as their record. Expectations were low when Heard took over. She inherited a roster without a player over 6-foot-1 and has had to make due with a guardcentric lineup with little post presence outside of sophomore forward Chastity Gooch. The average age of the roster also makes the midseason record more impressive. The Lady Topper roster is filled with underclassmen — junior guard Chaney Means is the only player that’s been with the team for more than two years. SEE COACHES PAGE 7
PHOTOS BY JEFF BROWN ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAMERON LOVE
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Super Bowl ring is a good fit for WKU's Rainey
Lady Toppers get chance to recharge
BRAD STEPHENS SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM
There’s one reason I’m pulling for the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in Super Bowl XLVII. It’s not because I prefer Ravens coach John Harbaugh to his brother, San Francisco 49ers coach Jim (which I do). It’s not because the 49ers bludgeoned my Green Bay Packers in the Divisional round. It’s not because of some deep-seeded rebellion against my Cleveland Brownsloving and Art Modellhating father. It’s definitely not because I want to see Ray “Look at me” Lewis finish his career with a Super Bowl ring. Actually, the reason I’m cheering for the Ravens Sunday won’t BRAD STEPHENS even be playing in the Columnist game. He’s an undrafted rookie who, after a productive preseason, spent most of the regular season either on the practice squad or injured reserve. He won’t be throwing any passes, calling any plays, making any tackles or kicking any field goals. Instead, he’ll be standing on the Baltimore sidelines with his teammates, soaking up the moment of what should be his second straight bowl game. I’ll be cheering for the Ravens Sunday SEE RAINEY PAGE 7
LAURA BERANEK SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM
long stretch without a game — they will travel to North Texas Feb. 7 to face another strong scoring offense. The short break is good timing for the Lady Toppers to work on the defensive side of the ball. WKU had 23 turnovers Wednesday night, which Heard said is “still a problem for us.” “It’s a chance for them to rest some, and then mentally,” Heard said. “We just started school back. So when you start school back, there’s adjustments with classes and teachers and everything else. So I’m really glad we were able to get this one under our belt, and then they’ll get a chance to get back and adjusted with classes and stuff.” Heard also noted that sophomore
guard Ileana Johnson came back from Christmas break as a player she hadn’t seen since spring workouts. Johnson says the team’s break will be essential in future Sun Belt play. “North Texas is going to be a challenge,” she said. “We’ve got to get a couple days of rest and then go hard these next couple days to prepare for NT.” The Mean Green (8-13, 7-5 Sun Belt play) are on a five-game win streak, led in scoring by freshman forward Alexis Hyder with 13 points per game. Heard said her team will take the time until 5 p.m. tipoff in Denton to work and prepare, and said her players are “just excited each and every day to have the opportunity to play.”
With a week-long break looming, the Lady Toppers halted a twogame losing streak Wednesday evening by steamrolling Troy 98-80. The season-high point total was a collective effort from WKU (16-5, 9-3 Sun Belt Conference), a far cry from the uncharacteristic low scoring performance of Sunday’s Middle Tennessee State matchup. At MTSU, sophomore forward Chastity Gooch and sophomore guard Alexis Govan accounted for 46 of the teams’ total 57 points. Coach Michelle Clark-Heard said she asked her players to step up and help Govan and Gooch against Troy. All 10 of the Lady Toppers in the lineup got on the floor, with eight of them contributing points in the victory over the Lady Trojans. Govan, Gooch and junior guard Bianca McGee posted a total of 68 points, led by McGee’s 24 — a career-high. After the game, Heard said she was proud of the adjustments her team made. “I liked that we were passing the ball and really good things as far as getting the ball to the right person at the right time,” she said. “Bianca McGee, Alexis — just everybody showed up today.” Junior guard Chaney Means led the team with eight assists. “I hope you all could see the unselfishness of our team. I think that’s what’s going to get us far,” Means said of her job as a role player. “That’s how we won a lot of games in the beginning, and that’s Sophomore guard Ileana Johnson is fouled by Troy junior guard Britney McCloud as she goes up for a shot in the first half at Diddle Arena on Wedneswhat we had to get back to.” The Toppers now have a week- day, Jan. 30. CHRISTIAN RANDOLPH/HERALD
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FEBRUARY 12, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
FEBRUARY 12, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
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A winter
ABROAD
PHOTOS BY BRITTANY SOWACKE
KAELY HOLLOWAY NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
With hopes to broaden their horizons, learn another culture and research the natural wildlife of the Amazon River area, five students and two faculty went abroad over winter term to Iquitos, Peru. There, they not only studied and developed in their coursework, but they also gained personal experiences that left them wanting to return for more. Jane Olmsted, professor and director of the Women’s Studies Program; Kay Gandy, professor in the School of Teacher Education; Christian Ryan-Downing, Sustainability coordinator; Nate Phelps, Honors professor; Brittany Sowacke, Daniel Guy and Chad Green all came together to complete a course designed to fit the educational needs and interests of the group. Three courses were compiled for this 14-day trip: a doctoral leadership study, a graduate study course and a gender and women’s study. The students attending took each of their courses and completed research for their separate projects. Green, the graduate student, focused his research on a more environmental issue. His topic concerned oil investments and exploration in the area and how it harms the environment and culture of Iquitos and surrounding communities. “The Amazon in general is filled with immense amounts of oil reserves and natural resources. I wanted to find out how that was effecting the people that live there now, and in the future, environmentally and socially,” Green said. “I interviewed people who worked for those companies, a professor of ecology from the main university in Iquitos who works with clean-up efforts and talked to representatives of the president of an indigenous organization. There’s not much representation for these people in the government.” Green said the trip benefitted him by allowing him a first chance to do a hands-on research project and wants to go back for a service project. Olmsted said the students’ projects varied. “Their research projects are very different and reflect whatever it is they’re working on,” Olmsted said. Olmsted had been to Iquitos twice before venturing with this group of students. The first time, she traveled with honors professors for a national honors faculty institute. The second, she began setting up this course to take students along. “I love this place, and I loved it the first time I went,” Olmsted said. “I don’t have any desires to take students anywhere but this place. I loved the place, I loved the people and I just felt a real affinity to go back.”
Olmsted’s curiosity is what originally drew her there, and it’s what draws others in as well. The Amazon, according to her, is something that looms largely in the collective imaginations of many. Olmsted and Gandy had the students map out the areas they were in, whether it was Iquitos or other small communities they visited along the Amazon. They were divided into groups and were sent to learn patterns and the culture which they were to bring back to share. They also had first impression journals, where students would document their first impressions and, following experiences in places, would read aloud to the group. Gandy has also been abroad many times, visiting countries from Chile to China. She works to help develop international experiences for students and faculty. “You can learn so much from the people and the culture, food and language,” Gandy said. Gandy recalls one person in particular the group encountered on their trip. While in communities along the Amazon, they met an Ursuline nun that the locals called “Sister Mary of Snows.” She had moved to that location from Canada 42 years ago. “We spent quite a bit of time talking to her about the people and what she thought of this place, and she said she wouldn’t go anywhere else, she was so in love with the country and the people,” she said. Meetings are beginning in the coming weeks to cement this course for another winter term. The new course will hopefully include a service-learning project. Not enough students participated for a successful service project for this trip. Meetings will also be held to see if this could become a bi-term course. WKU also sent other students overseas in other faculty-led study abroad programs this past winter term. Students and faculty traveled and studied in Mexico, Kenya, Yucatan, France, Ecuador, Cuba, Costa Rica and Belize, along with the group in Peru. Jerry Barnaby, director of the Study Away program, said 114 students selected and participated in these study abroad courses for credit, and a number of them also participated without earning credit. “(Studying abroad) provides an opportunity to take what you learn on campus and look at it from a different perspective,” Barnaby said. “Suddenly, you’re in a different place and learning to develop skills beyond that, learning how to deal with things that aren’t familiar. You’re not on your own turf, and there are different ways of doing things and different languages." Barnaby encourages all to study abroad, but also said that those interested should plan ahead early enough to work out being able to attend. Abroad courses considered
should also ideally fit with academic plans. “It’s helpful beyond the classroom and compliments what you learn on campus. It’s a great opportunity to see things from a different way,” he said. “It’s not about a vacation or tour; it’s a class you’re taking on in a different location. It can be rigorous based on their guidelines. It can be demanding, but it’s also very enriching.” Next year’s winter abroad programs are already being planned out. “If I were to have my wish, every student would be required to study abroad,” Gandy said. “There’s such a wide world out there.”
President of Project Amazonas, a non-profit that “serves the people of the Amazon and [works to] conserve the rainforest,” Devon Graham, measures “Lucy,” the first female of a previously undocumented species of tree, a Retrophyllum, with Nathan Phelps. “Lucy” has not officially been categorized as a new species because Graham’s partner, botanist Rodolfo Vasquez, has been unable to fully describe the tree as is required in a scientific paper to be peer-reviewed.
Yelba, right, and Amoudi Gabriel, left, siblings in Yanashi, Peru, dry rice in the sun for their family. Their father has a rice field down river, and the rice must be dried in the sun for two to three days after picking to ensure it does not rot or sprout.
Children in Santo Tomas, Peru, play tag in the evening sun while their fathers play soccer. Women and children take advantage of the free time to socialize and sell small food items to the men. In close-knit towns like this, everyone stands on equal ground and even “Termiante Goberna,” or Town President, Antonia Garcia del Aguria, was on a team.
Before clearing more than an acre of land for the town of Comandancia to utilize as farm land for the small school, Manuel Basquelz poses for a photo. With a total population of about 200, the members of the town expect at least one member from each household to partake in community events because they benefit everyone.
Dena, 9, gives her little brother Zen a drink of water in Santo Tomas, Peru. Each morning, their parents — along with the rest of the village’s older members — go to their fields to work. The oldest children are expected to take care of the younger ones, but Dena said she likes watching after her brother.
Shauna Stoeger, a student from Florida Gulf Coast University, who accompanied the WKU trip as a translator, unloads toys for children in the small village of Comandancia, in the jungle state of Loreto, Peru. Stoeger had come to the same region last year and looked forward to seeing familiar faces.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
sports
Former WKU basketball coach Dennis Felton hugs President Gary Ransdell after being recognized as a member of the All-Diddle Arena team during the halftime of the men’s basketball game against Arkansas State. Felton led the Toppers to three consecutive Sun Belt titles between 2001-03. PEYTON HOBSON/HERALD
50 years of
diddle WKU legends honored at Saturday's games LUCAS AULBACH SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM
Former center Jim McDaniels receives a standing ovation at halftime of Saturday’s game against ASU. PEYTON HOBSON/HERALD
Former WKU players on the All-Diddle Arena Team that made the ceremony are honored at halftime with athletics director Todd Stewart and president Gary Ransdell. PEYTON HOBSON/HERALD
The past met the present at Diddle Arena Saturday night. To honor 50 years of basketball in Diddle Arena, WKU recognized members of the 50th anniversary “All-Diddle Arena Team” at halftime of both games during the men’s and women’s basketball double-header. Topper fans had the opportunity last year to vote online for their favorite players from the past 50 years, and 10 former players were chosen for each team. The resulting rosters were announced on Jan. 3 and were recognized Saturday in front of season-high crowds at both games. The results featured an interesting mix of past and recent WKU greats. The parity in time between some of the players showed in the two top votegetters on each roster. Former WKU guard and current Boston Celtic Courtney Lee, who received the most votes of anyone on the men’s team, played at WKU from 2005-08. On the other hand, the former Lady
Topper who received the most votes, guard Clemette Haskins, played at Diddle Arena from 1984-87. Scheduling conflicts and professional basketball schedules prevented some former WKU players from returning to be recognized. Former center Jim McDaniels, forward Clarence Glover and forward Wayne Chapman were the only members of the men’s team who could make it, while seven former Lady Toppers — guard Brenda Chapman, forward Dominique Duck, forward ShaRae Mansfield, forward Lillie Mason, guard Tiffany Porter-Talbert, guard Natalie Powers and guard Kami Thomas — were recognized. Mansfield had to excuse herself from the locker room at halftime to be recognized — she currently serves as an assistant coach for the Lady Toppers. She said she hopes this recognition will inspire the Lady Toppers to improve. “I’ve walked in their shoes, and I feel like I have a lot of knowledge to help the girls with,” Mansfield said. “They SEE DIDDLE PAGE 14
Lady Toppers head to Florida for road swing TYLER LASHBROOK SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM
Two conference road wins down south could be just what the Lady Toppers need as the Sun Belt Conference season winds down. They’ll try to accomplish that goal this week. WKU (17-6, 10-4 SBC) will face Florida Atlantic (11-12, 8-7 SBC) Wednesday, then travel an hour south to take on Florida International (15-9, 9-6 SBC) on Saturday. The team has beaten both teams so far this season at Diddle Arena — FAU fell 86-68 on Jan. 12 and WKU topped FIU 62-56 on Nov. 19. The Lady Toppers lost to Arkansas State their last time out and will use this week’s road trip as a way to get back to winning. Coach Michelle Clark-Heard says that
this week’s Florida trip is an important road swing for the Lady Toppers. “I think all the rest of these games is all about us working on the things we need to, to get ready for conference,” Heard said. Heard was referring to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament that is beginning to loom on the Lady Toppers’ schedule. The tournament begins March 8 and the Lady Toppers have just six more games as they prepare to make a run. WKU has proven to be a gritty group on the road this year — they are 8-3 on opponent’s home floors this season — and Heard expects that trend to continue. “What I’ve found out about this group is that we’ve been very resilient on the road, and we’ve figured out how to SEE FLORIDA PAGE 14
Junior guard Chaney Means (2) attempts to run past Arkansas State guard Quinisha McDowell (13) during their game Saturday. SETH FISCHER/HERALD
TREE CAMPUS WKU NAMED A TREE CAMPUS USA PAGE 2
guide HOUSING GUIDE
HOUSING
FEBRUARY 19, 2013
FIND THE PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE NEXT SEMESTER
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SPORTS MEN'S BASKETBALL STRUGGLES ON TRIP TO FLORIDA PAGE 8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY • WKUHERALD.COM • VOLUME 88 NO. 35
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Minute 15 Play Festival Students show plays in WKU festival
MITCHELL GROGG NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
People from all around Kentucky spent their Valentine’s Day in Frankfort showing their love for mountains. “I’ve been coming here to I Love Mountains Day for a long time, since early high school,” said Louisville junior Molly Kaviar. “It’s really great to see all these people out and to get the excitement going around mountaintop removal.” Demonstrators marched from Frankfort’s Kentucky River Bridge to the State Capitol building, holding signs against mountaintop mining and chanting along the way. The group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth organized the march. Mountaintop removal, also called mountaintop mining, involves “removal of mountaintops to expose coal seams, and disposing of the SEE MOUNTAIN PAGE 3
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Somerset senior Keifer Adkins, Owensboro junior Joshua Sam Miguel and Nashville sophomore Caleb Pless face the audience during the production of “Hangman, Sing Me a Song” by Nathan Gjerstad. KATIE MCLEAN/HERALD TREY CRUMBIE DIVERSIONS@WKUHERALD.COM
Owensboro freshman Elliott Talkington performs as “Boy” during Lyne Hutcheson’s “Falling” at WKU’s 10-minute film festival on Saturday. PEYTON HOBSON/HERALD
WKU’s Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre was busy with people this weekend for the 10 Minute Play Festival on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Students and theater supporters came out to see plays written by WKU students and read by fellow students and a few volunteers. Michelle Dvoskin, an assistant professor in the department of theatre and dance, organized the event. “I think the development of new work is a really exciting thing for people to be a part of,” she said. “Whether it’s as directors, actors, the writers… and audience members.” Dvoskin said participants came from all over WKU even though the theatre and dance department sponsored the
WKUHERALD.com
festival. “We invited any student at WKU, regardless of their department, to submit a 10 minute play for consideration for the festival,” she said. “Those were due over winter break.” Dvoskin said that after all the submissions were received, the authors of the plays were made anonymous and were then selected by a committee from the department of theatre and dance. “We read all of the submissions and chose six,” Dvoskin said. Topics of the plays ranged from a traitor communicating with his soon-to-be executioner on a military base, to a father struggling to cope with the death of his daughter, to two sisters reminiscing over their relationship with their deceased grandmother after a SEE FESTIVAL PAGE 3
PLANETARIUM HARDIN PLANETARIUM SHOWING FIRST 360-DEGREE MOVIE PAGE 3
BASEBALL GALLERY LOGON TO THE HERALD'S WEBSITE FOR BASEBALL PHOTO COVERAGE
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Mountaintop removal sees opposition
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Gatton Academy says new dropout age won't solve teens' problems TAYLOR HARRISON NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
Students in Kentucky who want to drop out of high school might eventually have to wait until they’re 18. Legislation passed in the state House on Feb. 14 to support moving the age to drop out of high school from 16-17 to 18 years old over a period of a few years, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. This legislation will now go to the state Senate. Students and faculty from the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science have varying opinions on this proposed change. Tim Gott, director of the Gatton Academy, said he has worked with high school students for 28 years and doesn’t think there’s anything for a 16-year-old to do if they drop out of high school. “There’s really no reason to let a student go until they’re 18,” he said. SEE DROP PAGE 3
STAFF EDITORIAL WHY HRL'S HOUSING POLICY IS OBSOLETE PAGE 4
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Diversions TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
"I FEEL LIKE 'TRADITIONAL PRETTY' IS NOT IN ANYMORE." STORY BY ANNA ANDERSON
D
enise Smith is an active member of WKU‛s fashion community, participating in events like Black Student Alliance‛s Rip the Runway and Omega Psi Phi fraternity's Miss Omega Pageant. The 21-year-old Louisville junior is proud of her body and is committed to helping others be proud of theirs too.
Q: In the age of Pinterest and Tumblr, people are bombarded with images of skinny people, and recipes for low-fat food, and work out regiments to get thin. Is this a good thing or is it damaging? A: “I think health-wise it could be a good thing. But as between yourself and the way you feel about yourself it can be a bit discouraging because it’s like society thinks, ‘Maybe we all have a problem.’ "You know — that obesity is a scary thing, but I think that curves are just gorgeous. I think it can be very swaying and it can shift your thoughts a lot. I think it could be a good thing, but in my eyes, I don’t want to see it on my timeline.” Q: How would you describe your style? What do you tend to gravitate towards? A: “My style is a bit urbanized, but I try to keep it retro. I love color, and I think less is more so I try to keep the clothes simple and really fix it up with the hair. "And I have crazy nails and nose rings and stuff like that. I like to keep my clothes simple but everything else makes a statement. Like tattoos — I have a lot of tattoos and those are clearly going to stay with me forever.” Q: Are there any favorite items in your closet right now? A: “I have a camo jacket that I got from the Goodwill that I actually wore in the photo shoot. It is my absolute favorite. It’s so old, but you can’t tell. I spent a total of three dollars on that jacket — less is more — and what else do I have? "I have a stunning pair of shoes. They’re a six inch red suede, European sandal. They are just to die for. Like, they take you back to the 60s with the platforms and stuff like that. Every time I put them on, it makes me love my tattoo on my foot and my legs just look great.”
Q: In the past few years, we’ve been starting to see more curvy women in fashion. Why do you think that’s happening? A: “I think more people are starting to open up to the fact that there’s more than one type of body — there’s more than one type of shape. There’s different ways of looking pretty. I feel like ‘traditional pretty’ is not in anymore. Your blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, they’re gorgeous. "But I think nowadays, since we have a generation of creativity, you see a lot of people just stepping out of their box. People are looking for the uniqueness in a person and they find beauty in the difference — what separates you from every one else.” Q: So, it’s definitely changed. But what do you think still needs to happen in the fashion industry for it to be more open and more accepting? A: “I think when we’re looking for girls to do spreads, the criteria shouldn’t be so strict. If I wanted to go do a plussize modeling ad, do I have to be 5’7” or up? Or do I have to have a certain length of hair? Does my tattoo really matter when I’m taking a picture? You know, small things like that. "Sometimes I feel like, when you’re in the fashion world, you’re not as free to be yourself. You have to take into consideration other people with every decision that you make — all the way down to your fingertips. It bothers me.” Q: What would you say to someone who is struggling with how they view their body? A: “… To me, you look this way for a reason. You know, I’m very religious. I believe God has a purpose for everyone — you look this way for a reason. So just learn to love yourself. Even if you have to look at yourself and tell yourself that SEE IMAGE PAGE 5
Louisville junior Denise Smith plans to participate in several fashion events at WKU this spring. ADAM
WOLFFBRANDT/HERALD
Students create living canvas with tattoos KAELY HOLLOWAY NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
Tattoos come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles. Many view them as a staple of rebellion, making it one of their first big decisions on their own after turning 18. Some aficionados have taken that further, transforming their bodies into living canvases for the tattoo artist. They’ve taken large portions of their body and adorned them with pieces paying tribute to loved ones, displaying original artwork of the artist or more common designs that are floral and skeletal, among other things. Central City senior Walter Petit has a range of 20 to 30 tattoos covering his chest, legs and slowly his arms. “Once you get to a certain amount, people who get tattoos stop really counting,” Petit said. Petit views himself as a tattoo collector, saying most of his tattoos were not really his choices, Louisville senior Jeff Toy has about 30 tattoos spread across his body. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT/ but were drawings of pieces he HERALD saw in tattoo shops.
His favorite, a lantern done by local tattoo artist Atom Compton, was hanging on the wall of the shop. Petit saw it and immediately decided to get it. “It’s like an art gallery almost. It’s an honor for me to wear some of these pieces,” he said. Petit started on tattoos by viewing it as a form of rebellion. He got his first one, a logo for the band Coheed and Cambria, at age 18, but it’s since been covered over. Louisville senior Jeff Toy has been getting tattoos equally as long. He had been surrounded by an environment and family that had many tattoos, making his first tattoo less rebellious than Petit’s. His first tattoo was of Pac Man. “I turned 18 and it was $13 tattoo day, so I got it,” he said. “A lot of family members had tattoos when I was growing up, and my uncles were in bands, so it was kind of that cool, punk rock thing I wanted to do.” Toy’s left arm is almost a complete SEE TATTOO PAGE 4
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MARCH 5, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
S T U D E N T
H A S
COUTURE DREAMS
“I KNOW I’M NO ONE RIGHT NOW, BUT I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SOMEONE TOMORROW.”
PHOTOS BY BRITTANY SOWACKE/HERALD
KRISTINA BURTON DIVERSIONS@WKUHERALD.COM
As college students, it seems we’re constantly changing our minds about what we want to do in life. There are so many options that it’s hard to choose what we feel we’re destined to do. This is not the case for Gloria Akakpo, an 18-yearold freshman originally from Togo who spent most of her life in Louisville. Akakpo feels that she is destined to be a high-fashion model. She even recently auditioned for the television show, “America’s Next Top Model” in Detroit. “It was very nerve-wracking, but at the same time, one of the most exciting and unbelievably interesting experiences I’ve ever gone through,” Akakpo said. “I saw lots of people with the same dreams as mine, and started thinking, ‘Am I going to make it? Am I good enough to be here? Should I just go back?’ I’m from Kentucky and most of the other girls were from Detroit, so I was an outsider just trying to be accepted
into something I had always wanted to do.” Despite recently finding out she didn’t make the cut, Akakpo isn’t going to let that stop her dreams. “I just felt like it was God saying it wasn’t my time to do this,” Akakpo said. “I’m kind of thankful because I would have had to stop this semester and it gives me time to reflect, work on myself and make my innerself a better person.” Akakpo is remaining strong and feels that this is just one step closer to what she wants to achieve. “If I have everything handed to me, then what does that make me?” Akakpo said. “I have to go get it. It’s not going to come get me.” McKenna Means, an 18-year-old Florence freshman and friend of Akakpo’s, sees the perseverance that Akakpo has. “She’s the type of person that is really passionate about everything she does and if she wants something she’s going to get it,” Means said. “You can tell that she’s going to go far.” When it comes to body image, Akakpo feels that ev-
ery woman is insecure in some way. “It’s insane to me that we judge each other based on what society and others put out there and want,” Akakpo said. “We should all just embrace our beauty and accept ourselves because, at the end of the day, no one on this Earth can judge you. We’re all on the same level. No one’s above the other.” Akakpo also hopes to combat some of the negative connotations that are associated with today’s models. “I don’t want any girl, teenager or woman to think, ‘I wish I was her,’” Akakpo said. “I don’t want to be a model to make others feel bad. It’s all about self-empowerment and feeling good about yourself. You can’t expect to have the same life as someone else.” Akakpo does indeed have a drive for this and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She has hopes of creating an empire, which includes expanding into fashion, acting and maybe even having a talk show or writing a book one day. “I know I’m no one right now, but I’m definitely going to be someone tomorrow.”
Spring break encourages students to get in shape TAYLOR HARRISON NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
There are a lot of people who make sure they have a good spring break body before going to the beach for the week, and two WKU students are no exception. Nashville senior Sinclair Dotson has been working out and tanning to prepare for her spring break trip to Panama City Beach, where she has gone for the last five years. Her roommate, Tiken, Ill., junior Macy Manning is also prepping for break. Dotson said she is looking forward to warmer weather. “I’m looking forward to that and just spending time with friends without work and without school; just having a good break,” she said. Dotson said she has recently been working out a lot to plan for spring break. “I used to run every day and then kind of fell out of it over Christmas break, but then, was getting back into it, working out every other day,” she said. “But now, it’s like — it’s every day. Lots of cardio, lots of weight lifting.” Dotson has also been tanning more than she usually does. She usually tans once or twice a week, but in a recent week, she tanned every day because of
a discount at a local tanning salon. She has been working a lot lately at Total Fitness Connection to save money for her trip. When she exercises, Dotson said she works with weight machines and free weights, and does lunge jumps, squats and cardio. She likes to mix it up instead of just doing one thing at a time. “I have a spin bike in my room,” she said. “I feel like if I’m watching TV, I can be doing something on it instead of just sitting…especially because of spring break.” She said she genuinely loves working out. Dotson also doesn’t drink soda and has cut back on fast food. Last year, she hardly worked out before spring break. But previously, she has tried a no-carb diet and weight loss pills. She said she didn’t like the weight loss pills because they made her jittery. “I’m like, anti-weight loss pills now,” she said. “It’s not the way to go. And especially if you take it, and then you stop taking it, you gain all of it back.” Now, she said she just does what she enjoys. “I enjoy working out, I enjoy eating what I want, so therefore, I do that instead of weight loss pills and dieting and all that stuff,” she said. Manning is also currently prepping for spring break by going to the gym,
Nashville senior Sinclair Dotson prepares to go to Panama City Beach, Fla., for spring break 2013. KREABLE YOUNG/HERALD
although not as much as Dotson, and tanning three to four times a week. She tried a no-carb diet, but it only lasted about two weeks. She said it was like a crash diet and unhealthy. “It was absolutely awful,” she said. “I was like, dreaming about bread, so I just gave up and started eating it again.” She has also been working with her friend who is a personal trainer.
“We went to the gym and we’ve been focusing on our arms lately and like, lifting, which is different for me because I haven’t really ever done that before,” she said. “I was so sore, like last week I couldn’t even lift my arms above my head.” Like Dotson, Manning said she is most looking forward to being with her friends over the break.
NCAA EXTRA TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
SELE SELECTION SUNDAY SUND TOPPERS TO P PLAYING IIN K KANSAS CITY PAGE 2
Freshman center Aleksejs Rostov hugs teammate sophomore guard Kevin Kaspar while the rest of their team celebrates their win over Florida International in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship. IAN MAULE/HERALD
B AC K O N
TOP LUCAS AULBACH
SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM
A
ll season, Ray Harper warned people that once the Toppers got healthy, they would be a tough out in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. As it turns out, he was right. WKU won four games in four days to win its second consecutive Sun Belt crown and second under coach Harper. The Toppers aren’t finished yet, though — the conference title win earned them a berth in the NCAA Tournament. No. 16 seed WKU will face No. 1 seed Kansas in the first round Friday in Kansas City, with the winner of that facing the winner between North Carolina and Villanova. Junior guard Brandon Harris said WKU is ready to move on to the big dance. “The job ain’t over yet. We’ve still got to go to the NCAA Tournament and try to penetrate there,” Harris said. “This was like the semi-formal, now we’re on our way to the prom, baby. Now, we’re on our way to the prom.” The future didn’t always seem so bright for the Toppers. As recent as Feb. 20, WKU (20-15) sat at 13-14 with fourr regular-season games to go. It was less than a month ago, but that seems like years rs ago now. The Toppers proceeded to go 3-1 in their ir last four games before running the table in the conference nference tournament. arper said the way his team played through the Harper d times — which were brought on by hard injuries uries to senior guard Jamal Crook, ior guard Caden Dickerson, junior homore guard T.J. Price and sophomore homore guard Kevin Kassophomore par — helped WKU during its tournament run.. We had some “We guyss playing major nutes that we had minutes not planned on playing or minutes,” he said. major he one thing they did was “The y continued to listen, they they ntinued to allow us to coach continued m, and once we got guys them, k, everyone thought, back,
‘Well, they’re going to be fine,’ but it’s not that easy. It takes some practices and timing, and you could slowly see it coming back.” The road to the conference title was not an easy one. WKU, the No. 6 seed, earned its only blowout win of the weekend Friday against No. 11 seed Louisiana-Monroe in a 74-60 win. The Toppers overcame No. 3 seed South Alabama and SBC Player of the Year, Augustine Rubit, the next night 62-59. Trailing 59-58 with 18 seconds to go, Crook and Harris recorded two crucial steals in the closing moments to help WKU move on. The Toppers beat No. 2 seed Arkansas State, a team that beat WKU twice in the regular season, 5856 Sunday night. Price was the hero against the Red Wolves — he dropped 24 points on ASU and had a steal and lay-up with 19 seconds left to give WKU the lead for good. No. 4 seed Florida-International, fresh off of a surprise win over No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee the night before, awaited the Toppers in the finals. WKU rode sophomore forward George Fant, who finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, to the Sun Belt title win. Harper said that once they got healthier as a team, the Toppers were b built to win four games in four days. “If you watched four conse consecutive days of our practices, you would understand why they can probably get through four days day of games,” he said after the FIU win win. Price was named the SBC Tournament’s Most Outsta Outstanding Player after averaging averagin 18 points and 4.25 rebou rebounds per game. He said the Toppers ar aren’t planning on coming ho home after the first weekend like last season. “This year is going to be “W different,” Price said. “We’re not just going to be glad because we made the tour tournament. This year we’re go going to the tournament and plann planning on winning a couple of games and getting as deep as we possibly can.”
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MARCH 19, 2013 • COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • WKUHERALD.COM
road to the top
GAME 3 VS. ARKANSAS STATE, MARCH 10
GAME 2 VS. SOUTH ALABAMA, MARCH 9
GAME 1 VS. ULM, MARCH 8
STORIES BY LUCAS AULBACH
Number 6 seed WKU kicked off the tournament against Louisiana-Monroe, the lowest-seeded team in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Toppers, who beat ULM twice in the regular season, took care of the Warhawks on opening night, cruising to a Friday night 74-60 win. Sophomore guard T.J. Price and sophomore forward George Fant owned the game in a sign of things to come. Price finished with a game-high 18 points while Fant scored 12 on six-of-six shooting from the field. Junior guard Caden Dickerson also played a big role in the win. Dickerson, who averaged 1.9 points per game coming into the tournament, finished with nine points on three-of-four shooting from 3-point range. Outside shooting was key for WKU — the Toppers connected on 11 of 22 shots from outside the three-point arc in their first-round game.
Junior guard Caden Dickerson passes around a Lousiana-Monroe defender during the second half of their Sun Belt Conference tournament game in Hot Springs, Ark. IAN MAULE/HERALD
Sophomore forward George Fant attempts a shot over South Alabama junior forward Augustine Rubit during the quarterfinal of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. IAN MAULE/HERALD
Summit Arena was packed with WKU and Arkansas State fans Sunday night as the Toppers beat the Red Wolves 5856 to earn a spot in the championship game. Sunday’s game also came down to late heroics. With WKU trailing 56-53, senior guard Jamal Crook scored his only bucket of the night with less than a minute to go to cut the ASU lead to one. A steal and layup by Price with 22 seconds to go gave WKU the lead. Crook hit a free throw after ASU couldn’t score on the ensuing possession to bring the final score to 58-56. While Crook (three points, one assist) and Fant (five points, three rebounds, zero-of-six from the field) suffered through off-nights, Price and Harris picked up the slack. Price finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Harris had 11 points and an additional seven boards. They combined for 35 points while the rest of the team scored a total of 23.
The second game of the weekend was a much closer affair than the first, with WKU scoring a lastminute 63-59 win over No. 3 seed South Alabama. The outlook was bleak for the Toppers coming down the stretch. WKU trailed 59-58 with 20 seconds to go before senior guard Jamal Crook recorded a steal from USA guard Barrington Stevens III and scored what would be the game-winning layup. Junior guard Brandon Harris stole the ball from
USA forward and Sun Belt Player of the Year Augustine Rubit on the next possession to give the ball back to WKU. Price was fouled on the next play and hit two clinching free throws. WKU sealed the win on defense as two 3-point shots from Stevens and Rubit in the closing seconds were off the mark. Fant and Price were again the difference — Price had 22 points while Fant finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Coach Ray Harper talks with junior guard Brandon Harris about mistakes of the previous play in the second half of their Sun Belt Conference game. JAKE POPE/SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
GAME 4 VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL, MARCH 11 A game between the No. 4 seed and No. 6 seed wasn’t one most people predicted — Monday’s Sun Belt Championship was a battle between two underdogs. Fourth-seeded Florida International earned a spot in the title game by beating No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee State the night before. The Golden Panthers, in their first season under coach Richard Pitino, were 18-13 coming into the game after going 8-22 the season before and were playing for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1995. FIU relied on a late run to make the final deficit two points. WKU led for the entire second half and were able to seal the win with two free throws by Crook with 24 seconds to go. After a no-show performance the night before, Fant was the dominant force in the game Monday. He finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in 37 minutes of play. Crook also had his best night
President Gary Ransdell and assistant men's basketball coach David Boyden celebrate WKU's victory of Florida International in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship game to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. IAN MAULE/HERALD
of the weekend, dropping 17 points on FIU and recording three steals. Harris had a standout performance as well, with 12 points and six rebounds on fourof-seven 3-point shooting. Shutdown defense also
helped propel WKU to its fourth win in four days. The Toppers held FIU to a 38.7-percent shooting percentage, including 25.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Three WKU players earned
tournament honors for their performances over the four days — Harris and Fant were each named to the all-SBC Tournament team while Price was named the SBC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.