VOL. 100– ISSUE 7
THE TRUMPET
OCTOBER 29, 2020
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
WLU Student News Source
West Liberty University announces four finalists for presidency pg. 3 Major League Baseball competes in World Series despite COVID-19 setbacks pg. 13 @WLTrumpetOnline @thetrumpetwestliberty @thetrumpetwlu
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WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE TRUMPET
NEWS
COVER BY: WLU MEDIA RELATIONS
CULTURE
SPORTS
Photo Credits: Lauryn Fridley
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons License
Final takeaways from the last presidential debate of the 2020 election year pg. 6
West Liberty’s C.A.T club hosts event for students to fight COVID-19 struggles through art pg. 7
FOLLOW US ON @TheTrumpetWestLiberty
@WLTrumpetOnline @WLTrumpetOnline westliberty.edu/thetrumpet
Lady Toppers prepare for their basketball season while following CDC guidelines pg. 12
THE TRUMPET
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NEWS
OCTOBER 29, 2020
NEWS
Editor-in-Chief: Annalise Murphy
PAGE 3
- anmurphy@westliberty.edu
West Liberty University announces four finalists for presidency middle childhood education, curriculum and instruction, and administration and supervision.
Contributing Writer: Kailey Carpino West Liberty University’s presidential search has come to an end, and the Search Committee announced the names of the final four candidates on Oct. 20. The next president could potentially be one of the following four: Dr. Melinda Arnold, Dr. W. Franklin Evans, Dr. Jay Gatrell, or Dr. Michael Victor. West Liberty’s Media Relation Specialist, Maureen Zambito, published a press release with all the information regarding the presidential candidates and their backgrounds. Dr. W Franklin Evans will be the first candidate to visit campus between Oct. 29 - 30. Evans is the current president of Voorhees College, and was the interim president of South Carolina State University (SCSU,) in Orangeburg, S.C, where he also served as the provost and chief academic officer at SCSU. In combination, Dr. Evans has acquired 25 years of experience in education. Evans earned a bachelor’s degree in entomology from the University of Georgia in 1984. 10 years later in 1994, he went back to Georgia State University and earned his doctoral degree in higher education administration, as well as a degree in journalism,
Dr. Melinda Arnold will be the second candidate to visit campus between Nov. 1 – 2, and currently serves as provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Montana State University (MSUB). Leading the Academic Affairs unit since October of 2018, Arnold has overseen instructional programs, educational policy, academic resources, and academic planning. While Arnold was born in New York, she spent the majority of her childhood in Houston, Texas where she later went on to earn an undergraduate degree in philosophy at the University of Texas. Pursuing two master’s degrees, Arnold earned one in liberal studies at Northwestern University and the other in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. She later decided to pursue a doctoral degree in criminal justice, again, at Rutgers University. Dr. Jay Gatrell will be the third of the four candidates scheduled to visit campus and his visit will take place during Nov. 4 – 5. He is currently the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Eastern Illinois University. He is in charge of both academic and senior-level leaderships by repressing the president when he is absent. Northern Michigan raised and a proud first-generation college graduate, Gatrell earned a political science degree from Eastern Michigan Univer-
Photo Credits: Morgan Kafana
sity and later earned graduate degrees (Ph. D), in geography from the University of Toledo and West Virginia University. The fourth and final candidate, Dr. Michael Victor, will visit campus between Nov. 9 – 10, and currently serves as the president of Mercyhurst University. Being president since Aug. 1, 2015, he has achieved several initiatives in fundraising and online academics by increasing the efficiency of administrative and academic operations. Victor earned a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude, highest distinction, from Saint Vincent College. He then earned a Juris doctorate degree from Duquesne University School of Law. Upon visiting campus and meeting with the alumni, staff, students, faculty, and public, the candidates will be furthered evaluated by the search committee.
West Liberty student, Baylee Gittings, shared her thoughts on the candidates coming to campus saying, “I like that the candidates are going to come to campus and get to talk to students.” The Board of Governors will make the final selection for the next president of the university, after the search committee presents their final recommendations. The name of the selected president is then forwarded from the Board of Governors to West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) to receive a seal of approval. “I’m glad that we’re finally making progress choosing a new president. I feel like this search has been going on forever,” said WLU sophomore Kelsey Stewart. West Liberty University expects to have a president on board in time for the spring semester, which begins on Jan.19, 2021.
OCTOBER 29, 2020
PAGE 4
NEWS
WLU Presidential Search Itineraries Candidate Name:
Dr. W. Franklin Evans
Oct. 29, 2020 Breakfast with Deans at Liberty Oaks 8 – 9 a.m. Meeting with President’s Cabinet Shaw Hall Board Room
Meeting with Students in Kelly Theater 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Interview with Search Committee (Shaw Hall Board Room) 4:45 – 5:45 p.m. Dinner with Search Committee at Liberty Oaks 6 – 7 p.m.
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Oct. 30, 2020
Meeting with Staff (Kelly Theater)
Breakfast - 7:45 a.m.
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Tour of Campus with Student Ambassador
Lunch with Community Members and Students (Liberty Oaks)
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Community Tour
Meeting with Faculty in Kelly Theater
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
1 – 2 p.m.
11:45 am – 12:45 p.m.
Open Meeting in Kelly Theater
Leave for Airport
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
1 p.m.
Lunch
Photo Provided By: WLU Media Relations
Candidate Name:
Dr. Melinda Arnold
Nov. 1, 2020 Community Tour
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Open Meeting in Kelly Theater 1 – 2 p.m.
1 – 2:45 p.m.
Meeting with Faculty in Kelly Theater
Tour of Campus with Student Ambassador
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
3 – 4 p.m.
Nov. 2, 2020
Meeting with Students in Kelly Theater 3:30 -4:30 p.m.
Breakfast with Deans at Liberty Oaks
Interview with Search Committee (Shaw Hall Board Room)
8 – 9 a.m.
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.
Meeting with President’s Cabinet (Shaw Hall Board Room)
Dinner with Search Committee at Liberty Oaks
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
6 – 7 p.m.
Meeting with Staff in Kelly Theater 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Photo Provided By: WLU Media Relations
Lunch with Community Members and Students at Liberty Oaks
Itineraries provided by West Liberty University Media Relations
OCTOBER 29, 2020
NEWS
PAGE 5
WLU Presidential Search Itineraries cont. Candidate Name:
Dr. Jay Gatrell
Nov. 4, 2020
Meeting with President’s Cabinet (Shaw Hall Board Room) 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Meeting with Staff (Kelly Theater)
Community Tour
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
1 – 2:45 p.m.
Lunch with Community Members/ Students (Liberty Oaks)
Tour of Campus (Student Ambassador)
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
3 – 4 p.m.
Open Meeting (Kelly Theater)
Interview with Search Committee (Shaw Hall Board Room)
1 - 2 p.m.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Dinner with Search Committee (Liberty Oaks) 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Nov. 5, 2020 Breakfast with Deans (Liberty Oaks) 8 – 9 a.m.
Meeting with Faculty (Kelly Theater) 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Meeting with Students (Kelly Theater) 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Itineraries provided by West Liberty University Media Relations
Photo Provided By: WLU Media Relations
Candidate Name:
Dr. Michael Victor
Nov. 9, 2020
9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Meeting with Staff (Kelly Theater)
Community Tour
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
1 – 2:45 p.m.
Lunch with Community Members/Students (Liberty Oaks)
Tour of Campus (Student Ambassador)
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
3 – 4 p.m.
Open Meeting (Kelly Theater)
Interview with Search Committee (Shaw Hall Board Room)
1 - 2 p.m.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Dinner with Search Committee (Liberty Oaks) 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Nov. 10, 2020 Breakfast with Deans (Liberty Oaks) Photo Provided By: WLU Media Relations
Meeting with President’s Cabinet (Shaw Hall Board Room)
8 – 9 a.m.
Meeting with Students (Kelly Theater) 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Meeting with Faculty (Kelly Theater) 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
For more information, please email Maureen Zambito at maureen.zambito@westliberty.edu
PAGE 6
OCTOBER 29, 2020
NEWS
Final takeaways from the last presidential debate of the 2020 election year said. This is in contrast to evidence suggesting a daily rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. The second Presidential debate took place last Thursday Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tenn. This was the second, and final, Presidential debate before the election on Tuesday Nov. 3. President Donald Trump and ex-Vice President Joe Biden clashed over several hot topics including the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, healthcare, climate change, immigration, and criminal justice. Unsurprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic took centre stage yet again. Trump leaned heavily on claims of exceptional testing and of key early intervention in restricting travel from China. He also claimed that the virus is on the downturn: “We’re rounding the corner. We’re rounding the turn. It’s going away,” he
Biden also fell under scrutiny regarding the pandemic with Trump pushing him for a more concrete plan on how he would handle the pandemic should he win the election. Immigration was also heavily touched on. The candidates battled over the treatment of immigrant children and the issue of family separation at the border. Trump made note of how this policy began under the Obama-Biden administration but failed to acknowledge that the peak of this taking place was in 2018 while Trump was in office. Trump and Biden also clashed over climate change and how they plan to combat environmental issues over the next term if they are elected.
Art Work By: Samantha Snyder
COVID-19 testing continues on the Hilltop Provided By: WLU Media Relations WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 28, 2020 — As of today, West Liberty University has 5 active cases of the coronavirus, according to the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and the WLU Student Health Director.
Blatnik’s lobby on testing day, with cell phone and ID, which are used for registration. Remaining schedule is as follows: Tuesday, Nov. 3, residents of Beta Hall, Bonar Hall and Commons Apts., commuter students last
name I-M. Tuesday, Nov. 10, residents of Hughes Hall, Boyd Hall and commuters last name N-R Tuesday, Nov. 17, residents of Topper Towers, Topper Village, University Place I & II, commuter students last name S-Z.
WLU has recorded a cumulative number of 40 (35 students and 5 faculty/staff) cases since July. Active cases are in isolation. As required by the state of West Virginia, COVID-19 surveillance testing began on Oct. 6 and continues weekly on Tuesdays. This saliva-based (spit) testing takes place from 9 am - 2 pm on Tuesdays in Blatnik Hall. Please enter through
Students taking courses 100% remote are exempt from testing and do not need to report. Students who have a conflict and cannot attend the scheduled testing date, can attend another testing date. Selected employee groups are tested and notified via email. Please continue to wear your mask, social distance, practice good hand sanitation and stay away from large gatherings. We are grateful for your adherence to our pandemic safety rules.
Photo Provided By: WLU Media Relations
For more information on WLU’s response to the pandemic, please visit westliberty.edu/ coronavirus or email covid19@ westliberty.edu.
CULTURE
CULTURE
OCTOBER 29, 2020
PAGE 7
Culture Editor: Hanna Perry - heperry@westliberty.edu
West Liberty’s C.A.T. club hosts event for students to fight COVID-19 struggles through art inherently artistically talented or
inclined, were welcome and invited to come and simply create,
and release whatever feelings
On Oct. 16, members of
had fermented over the long and
West Liberty’s C.A.T. club, and
torturous lockdown. Once again,
students of the Creative Arts
though, Manuela and Dr. Ridley
Therapy major alike, hosted an
both want it to be known that
event in hopes to fight the woes
it’s not about the ability, but the
of COVID-19 through the power
act of creating itself.
of artistic expression.
Spearheaded by freshman
Manuela Hoffman, the gathering offered things like writing out words of power on a canvas, documents of anxiety, fear, and sadness shared the painted space; along with a more kinetic exercise, that invited students to burst water balloons filled with paint on a standing canvas to release pent
Photo Credits: Lauryn Fridley naturally, alike to many other creative outlets and practices; but Dr. Susan Ridley, assistant professor of the Creative Arts Therapy program, feels that it goes much deeper than that; “Art is an extremely powerful medium, and it’s a tremendously powerful tool for
up energy.
self-expression - in all its forms.
When interviewed about
the demonstration and how it came about, Manuela shared that she heard many of her peers sharing feelings of frustration; “We wanted to combat that restriction
This is why we wanted to
offer so many different modalities, to show that such expression can be done in any way. (Note: “different modalities” refer to the various exercises present at the event
that we’re all having to deal with,
hosted by the C.A.T. club.)
something that can let students
get out and be together - all while being creative.
It’s rather common knowl-
edge that art is viewed as a deeply powerful form of self-expression,
During these unprece-
dented times in our world, when restriction is so high and you’re confined to a box, you have to make it a point to be expressive; burst out of the box, spread out
into your world.
This allows that to happen,
art allows such creative expression, even if we’re really still stuck in our boxes - art allows us to break down those walls.
Art therapy is for those
“It’s about the process,
not the finished product. It’s about what you meant along the journey of creation, not technical skills or talent. You don’t have to be creative to heal wounds through creating,” Dr. Ridley shared when asked if people might feel like they couldn’t get involved because of their lack of
who don’t have the words or
creative skills.
language to express themselves,
but that same idea expands itself into the very nature of art itself. It allows for that subjective distance in responding to feelings or thoughts, and releases them at the same time.”
Manuela perfectly illus-
trated this same point when asked the same question, and as one of our peer students and community members, it carries that much more weight to the freshman, sophomore, junior or
With a beautiful, sunny day
on the quad, it seemed like the perfect day for such expression to take place! Even those who don’t feel particularly drawn to art, or might not find themselves to be
senior here at West Liberty still feeling the effects of the emotional weight of the pandemic… “Anyone can do it, whoever thinks they can’t just hasn’t found the right thing yet. Anyone can do art.”
PAGE 8
OCTOBER 29, 2020
What is Dia de los Muertos?
these days, spirits leave chicunamictlan, or the land of the dead, to feast, drink, dance, and play music.
Dia de los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 by Latin Americans. The celebration began 3,000 years ago and was founded by the Aztecs. Interestingly enough, Dia de los Muertos was celebrated as an Aztec harvest holiday in Sept.In fact, the holiday changed when Spanish conquistadors invaded and associated the holiday with All Saints Day which is celebrated as a Catholic holiday. From that belief, Dia de los Muertos changed to be celebrated in November. On Oct. 31, it is believed that the gates of heaven are opened up to allow spirits to join the living. This day is specifically for the spirits of children, allowing them to rejoin their parents for 24 hours. Then on Nov. 2, adult spirits can rejoin with their loved ones. “Day of the Dead became Hollywoodized in the movie Spectre. The movie opens up with a parade for Day of the Dead. Parades were never a part of the celebration and started because of the movie,” said Dr. Felipe Rojas. During both of
This food is offered by the living at the gravestones of the dead. Marigolds are placed on the sites of the graves and are decorated in tiers. “The base tier represents the graveyard that the loved one is buried in. Then, there is the base which represents earth and the final top level is a symbol of heaven. Photos of the dead are placed at this top level,” said Dr. Rojas. Skeletons (calaras) and skulls (calaveras) are the most common symbol associated with this holiday. Another iconic figure to this celebration is Mictecacihuatl whose Aztec goddess of the underworld. She is also known as a female skeleton who goes by the name of La Calavera Catrina. To celebrate, people wear skull designed masks and eat sugar candy in the shape of skulls. Some foods that are most commonly eaten consist of spicy dark chocolates and a beverage that has a cornbased liquor, atole. When people hear of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), they often think of an upsetting time in which Latin Americans mourn their dead. However, these celebrations are of a more joyful time for celebrating their dead. Feliz dia de los Muertos!
CULTURE
Student housing is searching for resident assistants Contributing Writer: Baylee Snyder
The Resident Assistant search process is underway again at West Liberty University. Resident assistants, or RAs, are responsible for keeping the peace in the dorms, organizing on-campus events and helping their residents connect with other members of the campus community. While a big part of their job is to ensure rules are being followed, this does not even begin to cover an RA’s job description. Lauryn Fridley, whose experience as an RA has spanned four semesters, said , “RAs do way more than write people up and get people in trouble.” Being a resident assistant takes a certain amount of responsibility and dependability. It is also important to be positive and friendly since the job involves a lot of communication both with residents as well as employees and faculty members. Rebekah
Teter, another resident assistant here at West Liberty, stated that, “these qualities will allow them to do their job successfully, whether it is a duty night or they’re checking in on a resident who’s having a rough week.” Becoming an RA is also beneficial for the student taking the position. Both Teter and Fridley mentioned one big reason to become an RA: the connections. Fridley said: “I’ve found some of the greatest people while working in this job. You essentially become a part of a little family and you have people that will be your friends forever.” To become a resident assistant, a student must attend one of the interest meetings held each semester. The process after the initial meeting includes shadowing an RA while they are on duty and an interview. “The RA application process may seem intimidating, but remember, we were all in your spot once,” says Teter.
Photo Credits: Lauryn Fridley
OPINION
OCTOBER 29, 2020
OPINION
PAGE 9
Review on Netflix’s original documentary: The Social Dilemma Contributing Writer: Olivia Romick Social media is advancing at a rate we have never seen before, and now experts are wondering how we can control these large corporations from mining our personal information for profit. Netflix’s original documentary The Social Dilemma from director Jeff Orlowski tells a tale of modern technology treating individual people as products, all slaves of social media websites with no regulations or rules. Sounds like a scary story, right? The problem is that we are currently living it. From Exposure Labs production company, The Social Dilemma focuses on Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist and Center for Humane Society co-founder. As he explains the way social media sites mine our data for profit, another story runs parallel. This secondary fictional story focuses on an average American family made up of Ben (Skylar Gisondo), his sisters Isla (Sophia Hammons) and Cassandra (Kara Hayward), and their father and mother (Chris Grundy and Barbara Gehring). The documentary begins with a quote from Sophocles, “Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse.” Former employees from Apple, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram provide
personal interviews on how technology has evolved into, among the descriptions, “a digital pacifier” or slot machines. Several former executives insist that their intentions were pure when they first created Facebook like buttons, for example.
They claim they made the buttons to encourage positivity and had no way of knowing that Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons they would contribute to the rising his phone. After only three days, to all the technology experts, to anxiety, depression and suicide Ben uses his phone again. This time, certain doom? rates among teen and pre-teen however, he falls into a rabbit hole girls. Harris assures us in the of conspiracy theories. final few moments of the film Everything we do online In this fictional universe, he that while social media sites is tracked, and large corporations joins a resistance group called Excertainly can turn us into a dysare hacking people’s psychology treme Center, which calls on people topian society, and some would for more growth. In our current not to vote and ignore the truth. argue it already has, it has many society, corporations believe they This group introduces perhaps the features that make us a utopian need to attain profit at any cost. worst product of social media, fake society. The tagging friends feature is one news. way that these corporations cap We can connect with ture our attention. As Harris said, According to statistics from this anyone from around the world “Who wouldn’t click on that notiyear, on Twitter, fake news travels with only the click of a button, fication?” We are constantly being six times faster than real news. Our and google maps allow us to watched by these companies, as country is now more divided than travel anywhere. On the flip side another executive commented, ever, and we have no desire to see of the coin, many problems in “We are all lab rats.” the other point of view, whether it society have been traced back concerns politics, conspiracy theoto these social media websites. Another quote in the ries or celebrity gossip. There is no one bad guy in this documentary comes from Edsituation. ward Tufte, “There are only two Every technology expert industries that call their customers presented in the film ensures that Harris said, “There’s a ‘users’: illegal drugs and software.” artificial intelligence will not and problem happening in the tech Dr. Anna Lembke, Director of cannot take away fake news. The industry, and it doesn’t have a Addiction Medicine from Stanford technology itself is not the threat name, and it has to do with one University, says that “social media is according to Harris, it is “its ability source.” There are no rules or a drug.” to bring out the worst in society.” regulations in the tech industry, and no laws about digital privacy. Ben, from the fictional sec- We can’t put the genie back in We don’t just want to change, ondary story, tells his mother that the bottle, so how do we fix this problem that will send us, according we have to change. he can go a week without using
OCTOBER 29, 2020
PAGE 10
OPINION
Social Media creates easy ways for college students to earn money through influencing Contributing Writer: Justin Geery College students are able to make money in their free time while at school, through social media influencing. To understand how to be a social media influencer, first there needs to be an understanding of what social media influencing is.
According to techtarget.
com, social media influence is a marketing term that describes someone’s ability to affect others thoughts and opinions through social media. Different forms of influence on social media platforms are creating videos, selling products, doing paid-promotions, and more. This includes all major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Social media influencing can be done from your phone at any time. Most people have quick access to their phones since they keep it on them and are able to do the necessary things at the touch of a few buttons. College students in particular are glued to their phones for approximately eight-ten hours a day according to the National Center for Biotechnology Informa-
tion. As young, tech-savvy people, college students have a general understanding of most social media platforms. By understanding social media, many may know what is trendy across platforms or what is getting the most attention. The influencer can work the angle of what’s trendy to obtain the best exposure. However, influencers may find their niche or area of focus for social media platforms. Companies and brands may offer to pay people who have great feed and a following. This includes brands like Shein, for female clothing, or FNX, a company that produces workout supplements. There is a large range of companies that search for influencers and often accept applications on their websites. There are other ways to become a social media influencer. Sota Maehara, a 21-yearold senior at The University of Sydney in Australia, has found his niche in social media influencing. Sota primarily posts running related content on his YouTube channel that influences over 3,000 subscribers. Sota earns nearly $370 monthly from the videos he creates.
“Once I realized I could earn a bit of side cash from it, I increased my production quality,” Sota stated in a brief interview. Sota’s channel took a rapid growth in subscribers and views in the past few months. Much of this cause can be attributed to his increase in quality.
Photo Credits: Google Creative Commons License Sota looks forward to continuing to make YouTube
videos and expand his influence by doing paid-promotions and more. Like Sota, many college students can take advantage of this opportunity to make money while in school.
OCTOBER 29, 2020
OPINION
PAGE 11
In-person graduation needs to continue...even during a global pandemic accomplishments normally are no longer allowed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person commencements have been halted in order to slow the spread of the virus. This means that thousands of students will not get to walk across the stage feeling proud of their accomplishments and gaining closure from this chapter of their life.
In-person commence-
ments give graduates and their families a chance to come together and celebrate this huge accomplishment. The pandemic postponed or stopped most social gatherings for a later time. It’s as if time has stopped and celebrating
Nearly every university in the U.S. postponed their spring graduation ceremonies. Now the fall semester is almost over, and universities are deciding on whether or not it is in their best interest to have in-person ceremonies. West Liberty University made the decision at the beginning of October to cancel their in-person ceremony on November 21 and replace it with a virtual ceremony held on December 5. This means graduating students will not get their chance to gain closure and celebrate their accomplishment. Other universities across the country decided to go
virtual in order to slow the spread of the virus, but some schools continued with in-person ceremonies. Waynesburg University, in Pennsylvania, held four in-person ceremonies back in August to make sure their graduates received a proper goodbye. Shenandoah University, in Virginia, held two in-person ceremonies under strict social distancing and maximum capacity guidelines of less than 250 people in attendance.
For smaller universities,
the opportunity to have in-person ceremonies are easier. West Liberty University could hold multiple smaller ceremonies in the ASRC under social distancing guidelines. Ceremonies could be based on college or majors, reducing those in attendance and everyone’s risk of contracting the virus. This enables each graduate to celebrate their accomplishment
Photo Provided by: WLU Media Relations in a traditional manor. Due to the smaller number of graduating students, the fall semester presents an excellent opportunity to implement this approach. In-person ceremonies can happen if universities: 1) implement mandatory mask-wearing, 2) adhere strict social distancing guidelines, 3) and carry out multiple smaller graduations. Give our graduates the ceremonies and recognition they deserve. For more information about this article, please email Lauryn at lpfridley@westliberty. edu. To get more information about graduation and the cermony, please email Scott Cook at cook.scott@westliberty.edu.
SPORTS
SPORTS OCTOBER 29, 2020
Sports Editor: Anna Johnston
PAGE 12
- acjohnston@westliberty.edu
Lady Toppers prepare for their basketball season while following CDC guidelines had a game plan.”
With basketball season right around the corner, the West Liberty University Trumpet was lucky enough to sit down with WLU Women’s Basketball Head Coach, Kyle Cooper. Cooper, who has been the team’s head coach since 2017, had great remarks about his team as they prepare for the upcoming season, in spite of uncertainties regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper brought light to an otherwise unfortunate series of events. Per Cooper, “the reality was that this team still had so much more to work towards for the spring, so it was definitely a shock.” He continued, stating that, “finishing .500 is not good enough, we do not want to be at that mark. While we did play well down the stretch, winning 4 out of the last 6 games... we have some players that are unbelievably hungry, and for them to not get the opportunity to progress collectively was very hard on us.” Perhaps what Cooper was most proud of during these times of uncertainty was how his staff responded to the unexpected adversity, stating, “we were very organized and very intentional in our approach to what we were, and what we were able to do. As a staff, we immediately
There is no doubt that being apart from one another took a toll on Cooper’s team, as he commented that, “this team is grounded through family bondage, as these relationships that we have built have often required us to be in person. But, we have been great about wanting to get better, and ultimately growing from it, as it has been giving us a stronger appreciation for when we are together; whether it be on the court, offices, team meals, or whatever it may be.”
Photo Credit: WLU Media Relations
As far as expectations go, Cooper stated that his group, “wants to eliminate looking at the end results, which was one of our issues last year as a program...we want to center around falling in love with the process, the day to day, and enjoying the moments we get.”
her team to lead, and gets that necessary support from others.”
Cooper made one point loud and clear about his team moving forward: they are hungrier than ever. With five out of the twelve rostered players being newcomers, whether it be via transfers or first time freshmen, the Lady Hilltoppers are looking for players to step up and lead. Luckily for them, they will not be looking for long.
Belknap is more of a lead by example type of player, who plays hard, and demands her teammates to do the same. Kitts is the mother head of the team, who constantly keeps us going, and is a coach’s dream when it comes to leadership and experience.”
Cooper mentioned senior Guard Audrey Tingle. According to Cooper, Tingle is described as a “versatile player with an unbelievable motor. Audrey is the type of player who flirts with triple-doubles constantly, and in a point guard driven system, her value to us is off the charts. She is a leader both vocally and by example. As a true Senior and a four year starter, it is
He also mentioned redshirt seniors Olivia Belknap and Jaclyn Kitts, stating that, “both of them bring tremendous value to this team.
Cooper also talked about the emergence of Sophomore Guard Corinne Thomas, who got valuable minutes as a freshman last season to aid in her development. “Thomas does so much more than shoot the basketball,” Cooper said. “She is going to be one of the future leaders of this team.” Cooper continued, complimenting the development of Sophomore
Guard Grace Faulk. “Faulk provides us with a scorer that has a whole other confidence that is really refreshing to see. As a coaching staff we knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when.” With a core group consisting of Tingle, Belknap, Kitts, Thomas, and Faulk, along with the castes of Sidney Reed, Lindsay Humbel, Karly McCutcheon, Jenna Riccardo, Arriana Manzay, Amaia Johnson, and Tasia Staunton, the Lady Hilltoppers have a bright future ahead of them, and that future can begin as early as this season. Cooper and his team often use the phrase, “iron sharpens iron,” when discussing the mentality amongst these twelve players. With the evident passion that Cooper brings when discussing his team, along with the motivation and drive to succeed from his players, the West Liberty University Women’s Basketball team has the opportunity to achieve something special this season.
OCTOBER 29, 2020
PAGE 13
SPORTS
Major League Baseball competes in World Series despite COVID-19 setbacks
The Major League Baseball World Series is underway. Fans across the country get to watch the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers, as the two teams compete in a best-of-seven series to determine which team gains the right to hoist The Commissioner’s Trophy. The road to this World Series in particular was not an easy one for Major League Baseball, as the season was often in question, primarily due to the implications that Major League Baseball had to face due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There were many instances in which the MLB season looked to be in danger of cancellation.
At one point, the league had upwards of 20% of their games postponed due to outbreaks. However, the MLB persevered through this hardship, and began their expanded playoffs, as sixteen teams were given an opportunity to compete for a World Series Championship. From those sixteen teams only two earned the opportunity to play on the big stage: the Rays and Dodgers. Although these two teams are facing off against each other in the World Series, the way in which each team has gotten to this point is very different. With a shortened 60 game MLB season, the Tampa Bay Rays captured the NL East Division Title, as they posted a winning record of
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40-20 on the season, and ultimately won the American League Pennant, the teams first since 2008. On route to a World Series berth, the Tampa Bay Rays not only defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, but they also defeated the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. The Rays look to complete this improbable World Series run and beat the Dodgers, as doing so would result in their franchise’s first ever championship. Following the acquisition of superstar outfielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers felt as though they could finally secure their first World Series title since 1988.
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The Dodgers franchise has faced harsh criticism as of
late from media and fans alike, given the fact that the team has made their third World Series appearance in the last four years, and ultimately having nothing to show for it. With these recent championship struggles, the Dodgers have appeared as though they had taken the criticism personally, posting a 43-17 record on the season. From there, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Atlanta Braves to secure the National League Pennant and clinch a World Series berth. As of Oct, 26, 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a 3-2 series lead on the Tampa Bay Rays, with the Dodgers being one win away from securing that elusive championship. For the Rays, they look to force a game seven and live to fight another day.
