VOL. 101 – ISSUE 11
THE TRUMPET WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
WLU’s Student News Source
West Liberty celebrates first generation students with fair - pg. 3 West Liberty Football drops season finale: 56-3 - pg. 15 @WLTrumpetOnline @thetrumpetwestliberty
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THE TRUMPET
NEWS
Photo Credits: @WLActivities on Twitter
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
COVER BY: SAMANTHA SNYDER
CULTURE SPORTS Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
West Liberty kicks off new season of basketball with Topper’s Den event - pg. 4
Creative Arts Therapy Club hosts Nature Scavenger Hunt on Quad - pg. 7
WLU Women’s Basketball splits in Atlantic Region Crossover - pg. 14
THE TRUMPET
The Student Voice of the Hilltop
The Trumpet’s mission is to provide WLU students of all majors an opportunity to learn how to gather and present news information to the campus community, and to serve the campus community with fair and accurate reporting on matters of significance and interest.
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Annalise Murphy Online Editor Creed Kidney News Editor Brianna Hamon Culture Editor Intern Faith Hayes Opinion Editor Intern Kailey Carpino Sports Editor Intern Ross Salvatori Graphic Designer/Photographer Haley Blakemore Graphic Designer/Illustrator Samantha Snyder Sports Writer Maxwell Fledorczyk Staff Writer Micahel Antley Director Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell
Letters to the Editor
Issue 11 is the last Trumpet issue of the fall 2021 semester. The Trumpet wishes you a fun and safe Thanksgiving and Christmas Break! We will start publishing again in January 2022.
To submit a letter to the editor, please email anmurphy@westliberty.edu. Please list your name, address, phone number, and email address; if the piece is published, you will be contacted to confirm your identity.
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wltrumpet@westliberty.edu - (304) 336-8873
NEWS NOVEMBER 18, 2021
NEWS
News Editor: Brianna Hamon
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- bnhamon bnhamon@westliberty.edu @westliberty.edu
West Liberty celebrates first generation students with fair On Monday, Nov. 8, the First Generation Student Fair took place in West Liberty University’s (WLU) Student Union. Director of Financial Aid Katie Cooper and Executive Director of Housing and Student Life Marcella Snyder were stationed at the event where they handed out goodies, including free t-shirts and cookies as well as an entry into a raffle. The raffle offers a winning student a WLU swag basket, and a $500 scholarship. Every first-gen student, which is a student whose parents did not attend college, was permitted one entry and an additional ticket for sharing their story online with the hashtag #wlufirstgen.
Students were able to get a black logo t-shirt stating “I’m First” and “#whyimfirst” for being a first generation student. Students who did not qualify as first generation students received a blue shirt for attending the event and showing their support. The event was hosted by College for West Virginia (CFWV) and includes participation from multiple schools and college institutions such as West Virginia University, Wheeling University and Marshall University. The event struck gold with many students, as some first generation members harbor an isolated feeling when beginning their college journey. CFWV is a no cost career and college planning initiative directed by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Their goal in the
From left: Katie Cooper, financial aid director, seated beside Marcella Snyder, executive director of housing and student life during the first generation student fair. Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
Celebrate First Gen event was to show support toward the trailblazing first generation students. In conjunction with the table in the student union, other engagements included first generation faculty discussions in classrooms and seminars that helped promote student success and retention.
A picture of the shirt handed out during the first generation student fair in the Student Union Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
First generation student Chase Durbin was ecstatic when hearing this, stating the following: “The event made me feel included by giving off a welcoming atmosphere, and by having endearing first generation faculty/students present. By creating a setting where I felt important and not less than, the event was as enjoyable as it was easy to fit in. It’s also an amazing opportunity for students to get additional financial support.” When you see someone repping their “I’m First” shirt, be mindful
to ask them about their story and make a new friend. When asked to share her story of why she decided to attend college as a first generation student, Brianna Hamon, news editor of The Trumpet, explained that attending college has always been a large goal in achieving her dreams and growing her skills. “Although my family never attended college, they have always supported my decision in seeking higher education. My hard work and everything I involve myself in is all for them because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for their support. Carrying the title of first generation student is extremely rewarding,” said Hamon. For more information about the first generation student event, please contact Michael Antley at mrantley@westliberty.edu.
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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NEWS
West Liberty kicks off new season of Basketball with Topper’s Den event
Contributing Writer:
after receiving their shirt, get into the spirit, have some fun and participate in the on court games. We hope that this will roll over and we see great student support at future games,” said Billings.
Kaitlynn Wheeler
Some winter sport athletes were impressed as well with the outcome of the Topper’s Den event.
On Monday Nov. 8, West Liberty’s student activities department went all out hosting an event known as Topper’s Den. This event was coordinated similar to a pep rally highlighting all the West Liberty winter sports. Kate Billings, director of student activities, explained that she had been formulating ideas about creating an event like Topper’s Den back when she was just a marketing intern. Billings finally got a chance to make her ideas a reality last month during Homecoming festivities. Billings and her graduate assistants highlighted the fall sports teams as well as had the West Liberty cheer team, dance team and marching band perform on the quad. Some basketball players were in attendance and asked Billings if she could do something similar for winter sports. “Our goal is to get more students involved, and invested, and we thought this could hopefully become a new tradition. Build up Topper’s Den to get students out to all sporting events, not just basketball, but Wrestling, Acro, and more in the Spring,” said Billings. When it came to planning the Topper’s Den event, Billings and one of her graduate assistants, Zach Haught, made sure to be meticulous in their decision making. Both had to figure out how long the event should last, who would be involved and how they were going to attract students.
“I think everyone was happy. I thought it was a cool way to get everybody pumped up and excited,” said freshman men’s basketball player, Austin Webb.
Members of the basketball team posing during the Topper’s Den pep rally Photo Credits: @WLActivities on Twitter Haught was adamant about making light each team, Billings showed cineTopper’s Den the best event it could matic hype videos, created by Rex Lanpossibly be by taking on the majority of caster, on the big video board in the the responsibilities. With Haught taking arena. the reins, Billings was able to get both Billings’ main goal was to get the men and womens basketball teams, students involved; she wanted them to wrestling team, cheerleading team and enjoy themselves. To make this happen, dance team to participate. Billings added on court competitions On the night of the event, the such as half court shot, three point ASRC arena was packed with students. shooting and lay up contests. WhenevMinutes before the event started, Bill- er a student won a contest, he or she ings had the idea to give away T-shirts was awarded a gift card worth 25 or with a Topper’s Den logo on them to 50 dollars. the first 150 students. Overall, Billings was rather satis“SGA helped by splitting the fied with how Topper’s Den turned out. cost of the shirts with us, which was She was happy that a lot of students greatly appreciated. Now we have 200 showed up and were able to have a students with Topper’s Den shirts to great time. wear proudly at upcoming Hilltopper “Really at the end of the day Sporting events,” said Billings we could have put on this event and no The fun did not stop there, one could have shown up. So it is great however. When it came time to high- to see students want to be there, stay
“Through the process of planning, I really needed to remind myself and Zach that this is the first time trying it. Some things may work, some things may not, and we do not need to go crazy this first time. Do what we can with our resources and build in the following years,” said Billings. Billings and Haught did just that. In fact, Billings mentioned that
The girls basketball team posing with Topper’s Den shirts Photo Credits: @WLActivities on Twitter
“I thought it was cool. I tried to build up the hype and the energy for the wrestling team. I think it’s important to acknowledge and support all our athletic teams,” said freshman member of the wrestling team, Keaton Grider. This week, Billings and her team conducted a meeting in which they discussed some improvements that could be made in the future using the feedback they received from students and those who helped out during the festivities. “I think time management wise we learned what could be cut down. Some items dragged on or there was lag time, so we can easily change the amount of times for shootarounds and coaches interviews. Our goal was to keep it around an hour which we did, but there are some areas to tweak,” said Billings Billings hopes to expand Topper’s Den in the future. Billings also mentioned that, to get more students involved, she and her team could incorporate more pre and post event activities, provide free food, or maybe hire a DJ to play music. Billings even talked about including the community, considering the men and women basketball teams are popular in the area, by having players from both teams do an autograph line or take team photographs with children. Though Billings has some ambitious ideas in mind, she wants to focus on building Topper’s Den on campus first before expanding too quickly.
NEWS
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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Alpha Xi Delta’s annual Mac N Xi’s fundraiser sees exciting new change With the fall semester winding down to a close, West Liberty’s largest national sorority on campus, Alpha Xi Delta, hosted their annual Mac N Xi’s fundraiser on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at West Liberty Elementary (WLE) school for students and members of the community. This annual fundraiser has grown to become Alpha Xi Delta’s largest fundraiser event during the fall semester. Members of the sorority see anywhere from 400 to 600 people during this event. In the past month, members of the sorority advertised for presale tickets for the price of $8 by posting flyers and recruiting students to join the event. Those who joined at the door without the purchase of a pre-sale ticket paid $10. The event took place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. where people during this time had the choice between a grab and go dinner or dine in option. According to Zoe Ebbert, a new member recently initiated into Alpha Xi Delta, an assortment of over 10 varieties of macaroni and cheese dishes ranging from
bacon, barbeque, pulled pork, buffalo chicken, white cheddar, alfredo, caprese, baked, original and a broccoli cheddar vegan option was offered to those in attendance. The purchase of a ticket also included the option of a salad, dinner roll and drink. Along with macaroni and cheese dishes, Alpha Xi Delta also prepared desserts which were sold separately at a bake sale table for the price of $1.
“We had lemonade, tea, raffle baskets with awesome prizes, a dessert table, activities for the kids and extra t-shirts for sale. It was an awesome event that was very successful overall,” said Ebbert. Preparation for the Mac N Xi’s event begins months in advance. According to Sydney Burkle, president of Alpha Xi Delta, “The planning of Mac N Xi’s takes every single sisters’ dedication as some girls have to cook the macaroni and cheese while others must serve, sell tickets, clean and more.” In terms of advertising for the event, Burkle explained that Alpha Xi Delta has a committee in place for making sure girls are getting the word out. Ebbert continued to share her experience of serving for the first time at Mac N Xi’s by saying, “My favorite thing about this philanthropy event is serving. I loved
From left to right: Sabrina Sauer and Zoe Ebbert serving food at the Mac N Xi’s event. Photo Credits: Alpha Xi Delta hearing about the different flavors, try- made close to $2,000 in profit which ing them, sharing them and seeing how will be put toward the school. excited the children were.” Profits made from Mac N Kia Villers, a member of Beta Xi’s are typically donated to Autism Rho Epsilon, attended Mac N Xi’s for Speaks, Alpha Xi Delta’s previous the first time and had this to say about philanthropic organization, but the the event: “I went to Mac N Xi’s to sup- sorority shifted their focus to a local port another sorority and get a good based cause after fraternity headdinner. My macaroni and cheese was quarters announced the change to very delicious with white cheddar being what is now called The Kindly Hearts my favorite.” Campaign. According to Burkle, this is a year-long philanthropic initiative In previous years, Alpha Xi Del- that allows every chapter of Alpha Xi ta held the event on campus or plac- Delta to choose a school or food ines close to West Liberty University, security-based cause in the local area. but after shifting their philanthropy to WLE, they decided to host the event Burkle concluded her deat the school and spread awareness to- scription of the night by saying “My ward the organization that is being sup- favorite thing about Mac N Xi’s is getported through Mac N Xi’s final profit. ting to connect and network with the Burkle elaborated on this by stating that community members that attend.” the decision to switch locations was For more information regardbrought on by a discussion the sorority ing the Alpha Xi Delta chapter as a had with Stacy Greer, principal of WLE. whole, visit their official website. If “Their principal suggested selling tickets you are interested in joining Alpha Xi to the parents of the school aged chilDelta and helping them in the future dren so they could grab meals to go as with this event, stay tuned and visit they got them from school,” said Burkle. WLU’s student activities page regard This single change proved to ing information about spring recruitbe beneficial for the members of Alpha ment. Xi Delta and the kids of WLE as they
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NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Message from President W. Franklin Evans By: President W. Franklin Evans Good afternoon, President W. Franklin Evans I am grateful to the West Liberty Board of Governors for its support of my leadership as president of this great institution. I have expressed regret for the mistakes that I have made and am taking this opportunity to once again apologize to the university community. Please note that I am unable to address any specificities pertaining to issues handled by the board pertaining to me as they are personnel matters. With that in mind, I am determined to move forward and humbly ask for the West Liberty family to join me in doing so. As president of WLU, along with my executive cabinet, we are working collaboratively and collectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to reunite and emerge even stronger. I have a great responsibility as the Chief Executive Officer of WLU to lead this institution to its next level of greatness. There are decisions that will be made that might not be popular, but those decisions will be made in the best interest of the university and the students we serve. We will encounter challenges, but with focus and a single-mindedness on achieving the vision of this university, we can move forward. And it is my resolve that West Liberty comes out even better than imagined.
Marketplace plans to host Friendsgiving dinner
2. A re-accreditation visit of our nursing degree program
Contributing Writer:
3. Intent to plan and offer a Bachelor of Science in Data Science degree
Lizzy Griffith
4. The exploration of the university’s offering its first doctoral degree in education 5. Planning the construction of our new Aquatic Conservation Center 6. The establishment of co-op for students with our local business partners 7. Partnerships with other higher education institutions 8. Fall 2021 Commencement is a month away 9. The Winter season for athletics has begun I am here, physically here on campus, and I continue to avail myself to others. So, call me, drop by — and come see the amazing things that are happening at West Liberty University! I see the dawning of an institution where everyone is valued, respected, and appreciated for the uniqueness they bring to this family. This is West Liberty University.
Although the semester is quickly drawing to an end, there are a lot of work and activities still taking place on the Hilltop; including: 1. Specialized accreditation of our Speech-Language Pathology program
NEWS
President W. Franklin Evans Photo Credit: WLU Media Relations
Thanksgiving break is just a few weeks away. WLU will begin break on Nov. 24 and end on Nov. 26. Students are allowed to stay on campus during break, but there will be special holiday hours in the Union and at the Marketplace. Every year around Thanksgiving, WLU hosts a “Friendsgiving” themed dinner in the Marketplace. Turkey, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and more will be served.The idea of the dinner is to bring students together right before they go away for the holidays. This year, the dinner will be taking place on Nov. 18. WLU senior Ana Musap says, “I go to the Friendsgiving dinner every year with my friends.” She continued, “I think it’s great that WLU offers a special dinner for students to come together and celebrate the holidays for.” Make sure to stop by the Marketplace on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 4 - 7 p.m. to enjoy a turkey dinner with all the trimmings! Holiday hours for the Union and Marketplace will be posted at a later date. For more information or questions about Thanksgiving break, contact Scott Cook at cookscot@westliberty. edu.
Come enjoy Friendsgiving dinner in the Marketplace on Nov.18! “I think it’s great that WLU offers a special dinner for students to come together and celebrate the holidays for,” said Ana Musap, WLU senior. Topper the Bear at Thanksgiving dinner. Graphic By: Samantha Snyder
CULTURE
CULTURE NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Culture Editor Intern: Faith Hayes
- fbhayes@westliberty.edu
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Creative Arts Therapy Club hosts Nature Scavenger Hunt on Quad On Tuesday, Nov. 2, the Creative Arts Therapy Club hosted a “Nature Scavenger Hunt” on the quad from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; as students passed by the table, they were invited to take a list of items to find and paste onto the collective collage being created over the course of the event. With pieces ranging from pinecones to tree bark, the art project quickly took shape as students glued on all their individual finds. As an organization, the CAT Club is a student-led organization mainly for CAT majors and minors, as well as anyone who might be interested in the use of art as a way to promote mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing and growth. Professor Terri Giller, a new faculty member of the CAT department here on campus, shared that, overall, the goal for the club is to provide students with an opportunity to engage in art, learn from one another, and interact outside of classes. “We aim to have at least one campus-wide event for WLU students each semester. The goal is to offer opportunities to participate and engage in art making as a way to improve wellness, or even just think about creativity a little differently. Activities across campus are geared towards everyone, not just art majors or those who are “artistic;” the CAT club believes everyone can benefit from engaging in an art process.” Utilizing this foundational line of thinking, that everyone can gain something positive from a creative and or artistic experience,
members of the CAT club agreed during the planning process that a scavenger hunt was a relatively universal concept that can be quickly grasped and engaged with. Specifically, a scavenger hunt doesn’t necessarily have any expectations or goals, as a more specific art task might require. Elaborating on this idea, Giller spoke on the idea of the event being an opportunity for the club to simply “open the door” to more participation from the general campus community. “Club members set a goal to provide a healthy distraction from the busyness of schoolwork, encourage
some mindful observation of their surroundings, and interact with their environment. Integrating nature in an art task is a great way to do this,” Giller said.
With hope to establish a more consistent schedule of artmaking opportunities for the Hilltop, Giller and the CAT Club both hope that projects such as these will provide “tangible evidence of our campus community [as a whole]… coming together for a common goal (in this case, completing an art project).” This is something any community can never have enough of.
“Club members set a goal to provide a healthy distraction from the busyness of schoolwork, encourage some mindful observation of their surroundings, and interact with their environment...” -- CAT Professor, Terri Giller
Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) Club’s Nature Scavenger Hunt Collage. Photo Credits: Creed Kindey
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CULTURE
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
SPICES hosts International Game Event
The Squid Games come to WLU Contributing Writer:
The Squid Games came to West Liberty University on Nov. 17 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Alumni Room in the Student Union.
As part of International Education Month, WLU’s International Club (SPICES) hosted an international games event on Thursday, Nov. 11. The event was open to all students and held in the Alumni Room of the Student Union at 4:00 p.m.
The Squid Games event was part of International Education Month. The event was put on by professor Moonjung Kang.
Students played dice, board and card games that are popular in different countries around the world. SPICES taught students how to play each game and helped them pick up the rules of the games. “I had a lot of fun playing the different games. I had never played any of them before, but they were pretty easy to learn. Some of the games were kind of similar to card games or board games that are common in the U.S., but some of them were completely different than anything I’ve played before. I’m really glad that I went to the event, because I met some new people, and I had fun playing games with them,” said WLU student Kelsey Stewart. WLU has many other events scheduled on campus to celebrate International Education Month. If you missed international game day, there will be other opportunities on campus for students to play games from other cultures. “We try to have something for everyone, and events like international game day allow students to actively learn about and enjoy an-
Alyssa Witter
Professor Kang says that the Squid Games are popular among many students, and it will be a good way to bring togeth-
Graphic Credits: West Liberty University other culture,” Ryan Glanville, coordinator of International Programs and Recruiting, said. Glanville encourages all students to take part in at least one event during International Education Month. To see the full schedule of events visit the international student’s page on WLU’s website or check your WLU email for updates on student activities. For more information about International Education Month, email Ryan Glanville at ryan.glanville@westliberty.edu or email international@westliberty.edu. You can also visit SPICE’s Facebook page to see information about both previous and upcoming events or email spices@westliberty. edu.
Graphic Credits: Samantha Snyder
er students who are interested in learning about other cultures.
“I encourage students to come to experience something different, and it will be fun,” said professor Kang. The Squid Games theme comes from the sensationalized Korean thriller TV show. The show remains on the top ten most watched in the U.S. list on Netflix. Professor Kang says that this popular theme should attract students. This event is meant to incorporate Korean culture into International Education Month at West Liberty.
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
CULTURE
PAGE 9
Student Camila Davletshina presents Learning Russian Through Song An event called “Learning Russian through Songs” was held in the Alumni Room, in the Union, on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.. Camila Davletshina, a senior majoring in history of art, held a presentation that taught students about Russian culture as well as some Russian words and letters. The song played was “Not Gonna Get Us” by t.A.T.u, which was first released with the title “Nas Ne Dogonyat” in 2002. Students learned how to say this line as well as write and pronounce some letters. The group could not get through all the letters though, because they could not learn 33 letters in one hour. However, the students did learn that two of these letters aren’t technically pronounced, but change the tone of how you say the word. The students also looked at some Russian candy, pins, lotion, fridge magnets and pamphlets of certain areas in Russia.
Ryan Glanville, Coordinator of International Programs and Recruiting and International Student Advisor said, “Students should take advantage of the unique programming opportunities that International Education Month provides. It is a great way to experience other cultures without needing a passport. The students, faculty and staff who present at these events volunteer their time to share their culture. It is important that the WLU community attend the events to ensure the continuation of international programming on our campus. There’s something for everyone, from language learning workshops to cooking demonstrations and cricket matches. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of these workshops and try to attend at least one during the month of November.” If you are not familiar with the song, but the Russian duo sounds familiar, you might have heard their more popular song, with 281 million views on Youtube, called “All The Things She said.”
“Not Gonna Get Us” was chosen for the presentation, because this song was played during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi, making the lyrics feel more competitional. The original meaning of the lyrics are about running away from people, because they don’t understand their love. However, according to an interview in June of this year, Lena Katina and Julia Volkova are no longer in a relationship and are taking on solo careers.
The alphabet worksheet handed out at the presentation. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
Davletshina said, “I can’t actually think of my favourite Russian song, but let it be “Kino” by the band Victor Tsoy. I am from Moscow, the capital of Russia. The nature of West Virginia reminds me of the nature of Russia a bit, but it’s much colder in
The first slide shown at the event. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore Russia.” Remember to take a break and go to a student event.To see upcoming events go to West Liberty’s Activities Calendar.
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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CULTURE
Student Brooke Anderson brings a dance team back to West Liberty Contributing Writer:
Alanna Lynch
West Liberty University (WLU) has reintroduced its dance team for the 2021-2022 school year thanks to current student Brooke Anderson. The team is planning on reinventing their image and school involvement during this year’s activities. Anderson, a secondary education major in her sophomore year, has spent 10 years of her life training in all different styles of dance. This includes jazz, ballet, pointe, hip-hop, tap, lyrical and gymnastics. Throughout her time as a dancer Anderson has fallen in love with the art and has decided to take it to a collegiate level. WLU has had a dance team on various occasions throughout the past, however none that have had a lasting or long impact. When asked about how she was able to get the program started again Anderson said, “ I went to Kate Billings at the end of my freshman year inquiring about the dance team. She informed me that it had dwindled out but that I was able to start the club back up. With Camille Irvin as an advisor, we were able to get the team in the works and sent out an interest form and it only grew from there.”
The Dance Team at practice. Photo Credit: Alanna Lynch
The Dance Team at the Homecoming Parade. Photo Credits: Kaitlynn Wheeler The team was started back up at the beginning of this school year in September. The team has been holding weekly practices to get ready for their performance season. When asked about what their favorite part of being on the team was, Emily Anderson replied, “I love that I’ve made so many new friends and that I’ve met a group of people who have helped me to become more confident. When I start-
ed to dance, I was really nervous but everyone is so supportive and helpful.”
“I love that I’ve made so many new friends and that I’ve met a group of people who have helped me to become more confident...” -- Emily Anderson
The team had their debut performance last month for a school pep rally and followed it with a performance at the homecoming tailgate and game. The dance team is hoping to get more recognition and demand across campus with public performances.
The positivity that radiates in the team seems to be impressive. After speaking with the team, it became clear that they are eager to perform. Games, school events, and community events are all in the near future for the girls. Kelcie Cottis, a freshman dance team member, said that despite her varying background in majorettes, she “loves how supportive and close knit everyone is. This has made me want to stick around even more no matter the skill level.”
The Dance Team at the Homecoming Parade. Photo Credits: Kaitlynn Wheeler
OPINION NOVEMBER 18, 2021
OPINION
Opinion Editor Intern: Kailey Carpino
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- kcaprino@westliberty.edu
How to Prepare for Final Exams Art Therapy, Lesley University, Maryland in 2012 for a PhD in Expressive Therapies, and Springfield College, Maryland, 2002 for an MS in Human Services and Organization Management Leadership. What worked for me was scheduling study time, study group, and to do lists.
Exams are coming up here on the Hilltop starting on Dec. 4 and ending on Dec. 10. Studying for exams can be stressful and overwhelming, but students can take measures to make exam prep more manageable. To prepare for finals it helps to make a list of topics and questions you need to study. Also, make sure to incorporate exam prep into your schedule by setting aside designated study times. If you are new to this, schedule times to study for each topic and class. I have a bad habit of not looking at notes in a planner. If you look at your phone more, download a scheduling app and create timers. I suggest writing down everything you need to do and how many hours you’re gonna work on it a day in your notes, take a screenshot, and make that screenshot your lock screen. You have no excuse if you see your schedule
Poster located in Hughes Hall Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
Lobby on the fifth floor of Hughes Hall where students can study. Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore every time you open your phone one in the class. If you’re more inand check the time. Make sure you troverted like me then you can get don’t over do it. The only way not a family member to read out flashto is to schedule as soon as possi- cards. Whether you are studying in ble and keep a healthy sleep rou- a group or not, make sure you’re tine. working in a clean and quiet area. Study tool options are Quizlet, Ka If you have questions about hoot, flashcards and notes. You can anything about your final assign- reread notes and highlight parts that ments make sure you reach out to are the most important. your teachers. Email, phone, and office hours are available on every Personally, sometimes music class syllabus. If it’s an essay, you helps, but if it starts to distract me can go to WLU Robinson Writ- I turn it off. Sometimes working on ing Center, to get a second pair one thing for so long can drain your of eyes. Face-to-face consultations energy, so switch up assignments will be in L14 of the Elbin Library. when needed. Chewing mint gum Online consultations will be on can also help your focus. Personally, their website. If you sign up for an I can’t chew on gum for that long. online appointment, you will then I’ve never tried it myself, but another need to log back into the website 5 option is putting a stress ball under to 10 minutes before your sched- your desk so you can squish on it uled time. Open your appointment while typing and smash it when you form by clicking on the yellow get aggravated. square, then click “Start or Join On Dr. Susan Ridley, assistant line Consultation.” professor of creative arts therapy, You can also make a study said, “I went to Caldwell Universigroup if you work better with oth- ty, New Jersey in 2017 for an MA ers. It’s better to study with some- in Mental Health Counseling and
I would recommend students record their voice reading the exam answers, then play back the recording whenever they can including when they are sleeping. Break down the task into smaller pieces (for her students) so they are manageable and set up deadlines to study each section of the test question or paper. Brain maps, writing things down repeatedly reinforces memory, good night sleep before the exam, make sure you eat healthier meals and snacks, practice deep breathing and other stress reducing strategies. Remember to stay positive! One thing that drives away motivation is negativity. Think and say positive mantras the day of the test or while you are writing your essay. There is no use worrying if you’ve done all the studying you can.
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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OPINION
Have a messy dorm? Here’s a few dorm room cleaning tips! up on this as well.
With finals right around the corner, cleaning can be an easy task to overlook. However, it’s one of the few small victory’s students can claim every day. Small living spaces can be easily cluttered, and messiness stands out much more in small spaces. As dorms are already very tiny, utilizing space is key to maintaining a tidy atmosphere while keeping it personalized to you. In the morning, making your bed may seem trivial and tedious, but has a lasting positive effect on your mental health. Not only does it give you an immediate sense of accomplishment, but it also helps improve focus, calm nerves and enhance your organizational skills. An easy way to remember to make your bed is by linking it to a ritual you already act on each morning, such as brushing your teeth, doing yoga or making coffee, and then following it with making your bed. Over time, it will become a habit you don’t think about. If you have a roommate, it’s likely they will pick
Organized closet and desk area Photo Credits: Faith Hayes
As the day progresses, simple and quick tasks like cleaning spills, organizing your desk and putting laundry away can be done to create a cleaner environment in your spare time as you rush from class to class. With repetition, cleaning will be done without much thought. Having cleaning wipes or spray on hand is critical since they’ll last you a long time and are easily stored. Choosing an eco-friendly option like Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes or the ECOS brand will also help reduce your carbon footprint in the process. A vacuum is also ideal, albeit a potentially pricey option for college students. If you’re already lacking space, a handheld vacuum or Roomba can be a smaller and inexpensive option. A to-do/chore list is an excellent, free tool to utilize in keeping you or your roommates organized throughout the day. Tasks included for both suitemates should be things like wiping down all surfaces, vacuuming or taking out the trash, and chores like folding laundry and organization should be kept per-
sonal. The schedule can be created in multiple ways, such as having it set up only once weekly, alternating days, or daily, but regardless, habits will form with ease and become less like dreaded duties. When asked his opinion on keeping dorms clean, student Chase Durbin said, “It’s more important than ever this year to keep your dorm clean, to reduce the risk of Covid-19 and other harmful bacteria.” As many people return to in-person classes, this couldn’t be more critical. For information on disinfecting your dorm, please refer to the CDC’s guide on cleaning and disinfecting your facility. Regardless of your background and major, having a clean and organized room can benefit everyone in developing useful skills that translate well into multiple career fields. Being organized is a trait many employers look for and
A made up bed in Faith Hayes’ former dorm room Photo Credits: Faith Hayes
entrepreneurs need, and by mastering it now through something as simple as cleaning, you can set yourself up for success in the future.
SPORTS
SPORTS NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Sports Editor Intern: Ross Salvatori
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- resalvatori@westliberty.edu
WLU Men’s Basketball sweeps Atlantic Region Crossover: Howlett nets 100th win
Stroudsburg, in the end the Hilltoppers were too much to handle, as the black and gold successfully defended the ASRC once again with a 108-93 final, marking a 2-0 opening weekend finish for the team.
On Friday, Nov. 12 West Liberty was able to successfully defend the Athletic Sports and Recreational Complex (ASRC) on the Hilltop, with a 104-82 win against Winston Salem State University.
Robinson once again led the Hilltoppers in scoring with high value efficiency, masking 30 points on 1015 shooting. The next duo of contributors were Butler with 18 points on 7-12 shooting, and Zach Rasile, who exploded for the first time this year with 16 points on 6-9 shooting.
Not only is a win on opening night special, but it is even more impactful considering the milestone win it was for Hilltopper Head Coach Ben Howlett. After the win against Winston Salem State, Howlett entered the 100 win club, which is even more impressive considering this milestone was reached in only 118 games. With a 100-18 record, Howlett became one of the fastest NCAA Division II head coaches to eclipse the milestone. As far as the game is concerned, the number 7/14 ranked Hilltoppers erupted for an incredible start in the first half, taking a 14-4 lead into the first media tim-
eout. This eruption continued, as the lead was extended to as many as 23 nearing the conclusion of the first half, with the first half score eventually being logged at a 52-35 advantage for West Liberty. Winston Salem State attempted to mount a comeback, but it was to no avail, as WLU leading scorer Pat Robinson III (22 points, 9-19 FG), muscled his team over a hump for a 104-82 victory. Also contributing mightily in the score column was Bryce Butler (14 points, 4-9 FG), and Malik Mckinney (14 points, 4-7 FG).
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports lead to as much as 13-5. The high volume offense was not consistent throughout the entirety of the game, however, as the Hilltoppers managed to take command and possess a 52-45 lead at half. There were stretches in what had appeared to be signs of life to spark a comeback for East
West Liberty will ride this momentum of opening weekend forward, as they battle the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown to close their out of conference opening season matchups Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. From there, West Liberty will begin conference play with back-to-back games against Alderson Broaddus University on Nov. 20, and Notre Dame College on Nov. 23. For more information on the Hilltoppers football season, visit hilltoppersports.com.
Transitioning onto the second of two games for the Hilltoppers’ opening weekend double header, West Liberty competed against East Stroudsburg University, a team in which went 20-9 last season and fell to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the semi-finals of the PSAC Tournament. To open the game on Nov. 13, East Stroudsburg came out of the gates firing, in which it appeared as if the team could not miss from any area of the field, extending a
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
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NOVEMBER 18, 2021
SPORTS
WLU Women’s Basketball splits in Atlantic Region Crossover this team through two games is not only the veteran leadership shown on the court, but also the way in which many underclassmen are already performing like veterans. West Liberty’s starting five consists of: guard Audrey Tingle, guard Corrine Thomas, guard Bailee Smith, guard Karly McCutcheon, and forward Arriana Manzay. From there, those who are receiving heavy rotational play and impacting the game tremendously are: guard Anna Lucarelli, guard Grace Faulk, forward Molly Bauer, guard Jenna Riccardo, guard Paige Julian, and guard Danielle Rosso.
The best times just keep getting better on the Hilltop, as the number five ranked team in the Mountain East Conference (MEC), West Liberty University WLU) Women’s basketball, officially began their season over the weekend with two games — one on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 and another on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. The team had traveled to nearby Erie, Pa, where they were tasked with back-to-back contests against perennial contender California University of Pennsylvania (CUP) on Nov. 13, and Mercyhurst University (MU) on Nov. 14, also known as the alma mater of Associate Head Coach Cassie Seth. The Lady Hilltoppers lost against CUP on Nov. 13 with a final score of 76 to 60. However, the team made a comeback the very next day earning a win against MU with a final score of 84 to 75. Opening night (on Nov. 13) contest against CUP went quite well for the Hilltoppers for the most part, despite Cal’s ability to pull away at the end. West Liberty as a team performed well, as the box score was highlighted by an 18 point performance by Corrine Thomas and an absolutely dominant game by Arriana Manzay.
Next Game vs. Alderson Broaddus Saturday, Nov. 20 2 p.m. @ West Liberty
Although it was a difficult pill to swallow, what was most impressive following the 76-60 loss was how West Liberty bounced back against MU the very next day on Nov. 14. West Liberty was successfully able to capture their first win of the season against Mercyhurst by the final score of 84-75. It was certainly a team effort until the very end, the biggest lifts of the game were from the scoring of Corrine Thomas and Bailee Smith. Sophomore Thomas shot 6-10 from the field, which included 4-8 from beyond the arc to secure a 20 point performance, while true freshman Smith shot 6-11 from the field and 2-3 from three point range to blossom for the first time this season for a 18 point performance.Veteran Audrey Tingle also impressed, as she posted a 12-6-13 point-assist-rebound statline. This West Liberty team in particular has a certain edge to them compared to teams in years past, and can probably be explained by the youth the team possesses, along with Head Coach Kyle Cooper’s desire and motivation to extract the best version of his team at
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports all times. West Liberty is anchored by long time veterans in graduate student Audrey Tingle, graduate transfer Molly Bauer, and Junior Arriana Manzaym the team is otherwise considered incredibly young in the grand scheme of it all. West Liberty’s team collectively features eight underclassmen, which is even more eye popping considering the team roster is eleven players. Nonetheless, what is fascinating to watch about
Now sitting at an even 1-1 on the season, West Liberty will travel to Clarion, Pennsylvania to take on Clarion University. As for Clarion, the team has had a difficult time getting traction on the season, as they are still looking for their first win. Their losses include defeats against two Mountain East Conference opponents in Fairmont State University (92-68), and Concord University (72-70). From there, West Liberty will begin conference play in their home opener against Alderson Broaddus University on Nov. 20. For more information about the WLU’s women’s basketball, please visit hilltoppersports.com/
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
SPORTS
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
West Liberty Football drops season finale: 56-3
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The Hilltoppers ended their regular season with a record of 4-7 and a 4-6 record against conference opponents. The Hilltoppers regular season rushing leader was Tyler Moler who ran for 823 yards on 218 carries. He also had 3 touchdowns and averaged 82.3 yards per game.
The West Liberty football concluded their season in Maryland as they squared off against a powerful Frostburg State squad that came into the game with a 9-1 record. Coming into the game the Hilltoppers were handcuffed due to injuries as they limped into the season’s finale.
The Hilltoppers were led by two quarterbacks this season, Jack Allison and Jamie Diven. Allison completed 99 of his 172 passes for 1,020 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also averaged 170 yards per game. Diven completed 78 of his 153 passes for 1108 yards and 9 touchdowns. He averaged 184.7 yards per game in the air per game.
To start the game Frostburg received the ball first and took a lead that would ultimately win the game. The high-powered Bobcat offense drove 75 yards on 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. The Hilltoppers on their first drive drove up the field led by senior quarterback, Jack Allison. They held onto the football for over four minutes as they drove into the red zone. The Hilltoppers threatened by driving all the way to the Frostburg 13yard line but had to settle for a field goal. Owen Rozanc got the Hilltoppers on the board with a 30-yard field goal. The opening Hilltopper drive had 10 plays and advanced the football 62-yards. The rest of the first
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports quarter was scoreless as both defenses held each respective offense in check. It was in the second quarter that Frostburg separated itself from the Hilltoppers. The Bobcat offense showed why they finished the season in a tie for the Mountain East Conference championship. The Bobcats put up 28 second quarter points to take a commanding 35-3 lead into halftime. The third quarter saw Frostburg stay hot as they put up 21 more points on the Hilltoppers. The score was then 56-3 after three quarters. In the fourth both defenses finished strong as neither defense caved and kept the offenses off the board to conclude the game. The final in this one was 56-3 in favor of Frostburg. Following the Hilltoppers first quarter field goal, the Bobcats scored 49 unanswered points. Their quarterback, Graham Walker set a school record by throwing seven touchdowns. He finished the game with 22 completions on 27 attempts for 395 yards. His long of the day was a 78-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Frostburg had 26 first downs compared to the Hilltoppers 13.
Frostburg also led in time of possession as they held onto the football for over 32 minutes while the Hilltoppers had it for 27 minutes. Allison completed 23 of his 44 passes for 199 yards as he tried to keep up with a dominant Frostburg squad. Wisdom Jenkins had six catches for 76 yards. The Hilltopper defense was led by Maceo Christmas who had 9 tackles, 2 of which for a loss, 2 sacks, and an interception.
The Hilltoppers receiving corps were led by Isaiah Robinson and Wisdom Jenkins. Robinson had 45 catches for 632 yards and 9 touchdowns. Jenkins had 28 catches for 415 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Hilltoppers will now switch gears and start preparing for their 2022 season by lifting and conditioning. For more information on the Hilltoppers football season, visit hilltoppersports.com. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
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NOVEMBER 18, 2021
SPORTS
WLU Volleyball splits final two matches before MEC Tournament On Tuesday night, the Lady Toppers swept the Fairmont State Falcons to hit their sixth win in a row and place them second in the MEC North Division. Then on Friday night, West Liberty received another loss to the MEC North Division first place team, Wheeling University. In the ASRC on Tuesday night, West Liberty commanded the win with a 3-0 score of 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 against the Falcons. The Hilltoppers had a great night at the net with a .200 team hitting average compared to Fairmont’s .080 on the evening. West Liberty also had 10 blocks and eight aces as a team compared to Fairmont’s five and five. Outside, Riley Cudnik led the team in kills with 11 and was followed by middle Madison Clayton with nine and outside Katelynn Fritz with six. Setters,, Kirsten Bogunovich and Haley Zeck, accumulated 23 and nine assists respectively. Defensively, libero Nyia Setla led the team with 20 digs and Fritz followed with 10.
Head coach Riley Schenk
attributes this success to a prepared team. She said, “we played very, very well as a team. We executed our game plan against Fairmont and we were ready to go.” On Friday night, however, West Liberty’s winning streak was snapped by rival school, Wheeling University. The Lady Toppers came out strong in the first set, winning 2624. But Wheeling flipped the script by taking the next three sets 25-16, 25-20, and 25-23, despite West Liberty leading for most of that fourth set. Schenk said, “Wheeling played better than us in sets two and three. The fourth [set] we should have had that one. We were up 18-13. They went on a run and we couldn’t capitalize to finish. [We] made too many unforced mental errors on our side. We played at a high level, but they came out when it mattered.”
her team for the MEC tournament.
Fritz said, “We are so excited for tournament play. For the tournament, we are focusing on one game at a time and taking it day by day.” Clayton adds that the team will be focusing on what they can control and working as a team as well. When asked what stands out about this season, Schenk addressed her team’s growth. She said, “You look at some other programs, and they are the same as the beginning of the year. We
have gotten better with every single match as a team, which matters most.” Fritz added, “throughout the regular season our team has improved so much. We are all so proud of each other and of our team as a whole.”
The Hilltoppers will begin tournament play at West Virginia State University on Thursday, Nov. 18 at noon against Davis and Elkins College. The team is looking forward to the match up, Clayton said, “we still have a lot to prove. We aren’t ready to be done just yet.”
The Hilltop’s Athlete of the Week
Pat Robinson III
Clayton dominated the net, getting nine blocks and 15 kills with a .448 hitting percentage. Bogunovich followed with 13 kills and six blocks as well as setting for 35 assists. Outsides, Fritz and Cudnik, also worked the net, picking up 11 and 10 kills respectively. Zeck followed Bogunovich with 17 assists while Setla, Fritz, and Laura Gamel collected 32, 15, and 13 digs respectively. Despite the outcome, Schenk is confident in Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Men’s Basketball Year: Junior Hometown: Chesterfield, N.J. About Robinson: Robinson helped lead the Hilltoppers to two victories against Winston-Salem State and East Stroudsburg. Between the two games he had 52 points, 8 assists, and 8 steals. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports