VOL. 101 – ISSUE 13
THE TRUMPET
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
WLU’s Student News Source
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p To WLU student Lauren Anderson wins gold for app design - pg. 3 ‘Sky’s the Limit’ for Top-Ranked WLU’s Softball Team - pg. 13 @TheTrumpetWestLiberty
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WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE TRUMPET
NEWS
COVER BY: LACEY DEEM
CULTURE SPORTS Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
YWCA partners with WLU to serve community - pg. 6
Photo Credits: : Dakota Lish
Wheeling’s Clientele Art Studio helps showcase WLU student and alumni work - pg. 7
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.
Acrobatics and Tumbling prepares for another exciting season - pg. 14
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief
Annalise Murphy
Assistant Editor Brianna Hamon Online Editor Creed Kidney News Editor Olivia Romick Culture Editor Intern Kenley George Opinion Editor Intern Hanna Perry Sports Editor Intern Joshua Spratt Graphic Designer/Photographer Haley Blakemore Graphic Designer/Illustrator Lacey Deem News/Sports Writer Anna Johnston Sports Writer Maxwell Fledorczyk Staff Writer Samantha Bell Director Dr. Danielle Mehlman-Brightwell
Letters to the Editor
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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NEWS
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
NEWS
News Editor Intern: Olivia Romick
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- ogromick ogromick@westliberty.edu @westliberty.edu
WLU student Lauren Anderson wins gold for app design how to better maintain them and grow them bigger, so I wanted to create an app that would help me do that.”
West Liberty University’s (WLU) UI UX program was recognized in a student design competition sponsored by the Innovation Center for Design Excellence (ICDE) after recent graduate, Lauren Anderson, brought home the gold for her senior capstone project. Anderson, being one of the first students at WLU to win gold in the UI UX category, received this honor for her app design of Planterra. According to Anderson’s portfolio, Planterra was created to better serve the plant owner community. The app educates users on how to grow their plants to their fullest potential and reach out to other plant enthusiasts for more knowledge. In a WLU UI UX design promotional video, Anderson expressed what attracted her to this program: “I’m able to understand and research others’ experiences, and then I’m able to look into my own personal experiences to solve problems. I love growing plants and I’ve always wondered
With the silver and bronze awards going out to students studying at American University located in Washington D.C., a university with a well-established UI UX design course, winning gold for the hilltop “is a really big deal,” explained Moonjung Kang, professor of visual communication design. Unlike graphic design, UI UX is focused on research that determines the usability and interactivity of programs that create a positive digital experience. UI stands for user interface while UX stands for user experience. When asked to explain the UI UX design program, Kang stated the following: “People misunderstand UX design as only making mobile app designs or kiosks, but if I’m the experienced UX designer and you are the user, whatever I service to you for your better life or convenient life, it’s all based from our experience.” Kang went on to explain that Anderson took this approach when crafting Planterra. The beginning phase of creating a mobile app is targeted toward the experience of its users. Kang’s UI UX program starts with choosing a topic you’re passionate in as a user.
To determine the experience, Kang explained that students must consider things like “what are the good things, what are the bad things and what are the frustrating parts?” From there, students must discover how they Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations will summarize and organize the
process of their experience. “Before making the pretty thing, one to nine steps include thinking and finding out the process.This is a huge difference from how people describe graphic design,” concluded Moon. With customer experience being a top priority among many companies, the need for UX designers is constantly booming. “Every single graphic design course in the world, especially in the United States, is changing. They’re trying to put that course (UI UX) in it because it makes money and brings in more students,” said Moon. After discovering the booming industry surrounding user experience in the fall of 2018, Moon took a sabbatical to receive qualifications in teaching UX design and began offering the first official mobile app design and development class to WLU students during the fall semester of 2019. Since then, UX classes have progressed to a program that in-
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations cludes “Design Thinking” for visual communication design (VCD) students and a UX/UI design class teaching the fundamentals and advanced features. Previous winners of the competition held by the ICDE include Kelsey Hayden, a graphic design student who won silver in the motion graphics category. The ICDE competition is held for design students to showcase their talent and connect them with scholarships, internships and professionals within the field. The ICDE competition is not a commercialized event, but rather a resource for design students to share their work with others who share the same passion in graphic and communication design. To view Anderson’s award-winning mobile app design and some of her other design work, visit her portfolio.
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FEBRUARY 3, 2022
NEWS
Visual communications program sees new concentrations can major in visual communication, and then choose graphic design, illustration or studio art as their specialty.
The College of Liberal and Creative Arts has added three new concentrations to their visual communication program: graphic design, illustration and studio art. Dr. Martyna Matusiak, associate professor of art at West Liberty shared some more information about each concentration and her own thoughts. Matusiak says these concentrations are not new, separate majors. Visual communication design was the initial major; however, with these new concentrations, the name will change to just visual communication. “We have visual communication without the word design to encompass everything we have to offer,” explained Matusiak. Students
All of the concentrations have a studio core, and all students will be required to meet the studio core requirements regardless of the concentration they choose to pursue. After students complete the studio core, “they will have sophomore portfolio review and they will finish with their senior capstone project,” said Matusiak. According to a flyer provided by Matusiak, the graphic design track focuses on “the art of communication through images and typography in a wide range of print or digital applications and settings.” This concentration aims to prepare students in the current convergence between business and creativity. Graphic design teaches students how to plan and create visual content to communicate ideas and messages. “It is professionally specialized to connect users or consumers or brands, ideas and information through creative visual thinking and storytelling,” as described in the flyer.
Graphic By: Dr. Martyna Matusiak
Graphic By: Dr. Martyna Matusiak
The studio art concentration provides students with the opportunity to pursue studio art professionally or a studio art related degree. Students who choose this concentration can choose be-
tween 2D or 3D. The illustration concentration integrates studio art with digital technologies to freelance business practices needed for a career in the commercial art field. “Illustration students will develop skills to create original, effective and audience-appropriate illustrations using various techniques required to develop their own visual style,” according to the flyer. Additionally, the illustration concentration will prepare illustrators with the Entrepreneurship Certificate, which will help prepare them for self-employment or the workplace. Matusiak says she is “really excited to have so many options,” and looks forward to the possibilities presented with these additional concentrations. “We are excited as a college to create a more natural way for a student to progress. We are able to see strength and weaknesses and guide them as a group,” shared Matusiak. For more information about the new concentrations being add-
ed to the visual communication program, please contact Dr. Martyna Matusiak at martyna.matusiak@ westliberty.edu.
NEWS
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
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WLU graduate wins awards for documentary film slipping through the cracks. It also provided them with a collaborative creative space that addressed any digital education needs they had. Corey Knollinger, a 2019 graduate of West Liberty University, recently won two awards in filmmaking. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in both broadcasting and digital media design. While at West Liberty, he worked for both WLUTV and WGLZ, the student-run radio station on campus. Knollinger currently resides in Chattanooga, Tenn. but formerly resided in Wheeling, W.Va. “I’d say the two most important classes for me in college were Chris Lee’s documentary film class and Jared Thompson’s documentary production class. I used skills from those classes every day in the production of “Rosemary,” Knollinger said. He won the awards in the Topical Documentary and the Innovation in Education categories during the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards for the documentary film “Rosemary.” The awards were sponsored by the National Educational Telecommunications Association. The winners were announced during the 53rd Annual Media Awards Gala, which was held virtually on Jan. 26, 2022. The award he won for Topical Documentary is based on the work he did as an employee at West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The documentary film was created while he was working for the Greater Chattanooga Public Corporation, located in Chattanooga, Tenn. Knollinger shares this award with fellow producer Chuck Kleine. The award he won in the Innovation in Education category honored Knollinger’s work as a producer for creating 100 hours of content for the educational channel called “Raise Your Hand.” The channel started in the midst of the pandemic to help students from
Knollinger said in regards to winning the awards, “I literally jumped off my couch. It’s crazy. I’ve always been a huge public media fan, so to be able to earn one of the highest honors in public media at only 25 and earning 2 in one night was insane and I’ll never forget it.” The award-winning documentary is entitled “Rosemary” and covers Rosemary Ketchum’s 2020 campaign trail of when she ran for Wheeling City Council in the 3rd district of Wheeling, W.Va. District 3 includes the neighborhoods of Elm Grove, Mozart, Bethlehem and parts of South Wheeling. When Rosemary Ketchum was elected to serve on Wheeling City Council, she made history by becoming West Virginia’s first transgender elected official. An article published by NBC News stated, “There are less than 30 transgender elected officials in the U.S. Rosemary Ketchum of Wheeling, W.Va. is one of them.” Ketchum said, “Being a member of the Wheeling City Council has been an incredible experience. We work every day to develop policies and deliver services that support and empower our community members. As I enter my second year, I am excited to continue working on issues related to homelessness, affordable housing, small business and arts and culture.” Ketchum also shared her thoughts on the film, “I was honored to be considered for the documentary. Working with Corey and Chuck was an amazing experience. They are true professionals and made the process of being on camera comfortable and enjoyable! Obviously, none of us knew how the campaign would turn out, but I was grateful that our win was cap-
Alumnus Corey Knollinger (ballcap) is shown here producing a segment of award-winning educational content for “Raise Your Hand.” Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations tured in the film.” Ketchum said in response to the film winning awards, “I was so proud to see Corey and Chuck’s work acknowledged in such a powerful way. While the early days of the pandemic made their work very difficult, they pushed on and created something that wonderfully illustrates their amazing ability to record history through storytelling.” If you’re interested in watching the award-winning documentary “Rosemary,” it is available to watch on the West Virginia Public Broadcasting website.
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
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FEBRUARY 3, 2022
NEWS
YWCA partners with WLU students to serve community domestic violence victim shelters around the area, then carefully planned how we could impact the community. Every year, we as an organization come together to put together hygiene kits for those who are living in the domestic violence shelter. To some, it may seem little, but we do it because we know what we are doing is helping provide resources to those who need it and to hopefully inspire big change in the community,” shared Gray. The CJ Society is open to all majors.
The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is a national organization with a branch in Wheeling, W. Va. Many West Liberty University criminal justice students have helped this organization meet their goals; however, what is this organization, and how do they help local university students and the community? According to the YWCA history website, the organization was founded in the U.S. in 1858 in New York City, N.Y. Branches were later founded all over the county, but regardless, all YWCA branches have the same mission — to eliminate racism, empower women, promote peace, justice and dignity within their communities. Today, YWCA has over 200 local associations across the U.S. YWCA Wheeling has several programs, one of which is the Women Inspired in New Directions (WIND) program. The Director of WIND, Laura Albertini-Weigel, says that the Wheeling branch has been active since 1906 and remains in the original building built for it.
“You guys are great! WLU’s interns go back to West Lib and educate their peers on topics such as human trafficking and addiction.” - Laura Albertini-Weigel WIND Director at YWCA Wheeling
WLU Criminal Justice student Austin Gray delivers care packages to Lori Jones, YWCA Wheeling executive director. Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
Albertini-Weigel has and continues to oversee WLU criminal justice student interns and stays in contact with the CJ Society. “You guys are great! WLU’s interns go back to West Lib and educate their peers on topics such as human trafficking and addiction. Just getting the word out and making information available for when those individuals are ready to get help is helpful,” Albertini-Weigel said. According to Albertini-Weigel, interns have also redone brochures and have spent their time creating and participating in craft activities with children and women. Senior Macy Lemasters of Hundred, W.Va., is a criminal justice major at WLU and is expected to graduate in spring 2022. Learning of YWCA Wheeling through her advisor, Hannah Kern (a criminal justice instructor at WLU), Lemasters decided to intern with this organization as her goal with her degree is to work with domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. “Getting the chance to work in the field I want to go into directly was a no-brainer for me,” said
Lemasters. Lemasters’ responsibilities with YWCA Wheeling include spending time in the shelter, helping out in the office or on the floor, as well as traveling with her adviser to presentations, seminars and interviews. “I already am really enjoying myself at the YWCA! The work the YWCA does is such an important section of the social work and criminal justice world and I’m glad I get to help out along their way,” said Lemasters. In December 2021, WLU’s CJ Society provided YWCA Wheeling with holiday care packages after making $800 from a YETI cooler raffle. The care packages contained basic necessities such as shampoo, soap and lotion, as well as fun items like socks and nail polish. A CJ Society member shares his experience with the club and the event. Senior Austin Gray, of Wheeling, W. Va., is a criminal justice major and minors in addiction studies at WLU. He will be graduating in spring 2022. As a member of the Hilltop’s CJ Society, Gray says he learned of the YWCA’s mission through research. “We
researched
various
YWCA Wheeling helps the community by looking at the gaps where people aren’t being served or could be served better. “We deal with all of the subjects that people don’t like to talk about,” said Albertini-Weigel. She goes on to say, “Some of the issues we deal with are women empowerment, education, racism, human trafficking prevention programs, domestic violence shelters, helping the homeless, and self-pay residence.” According to Albertini-Weigel, the self-pay residence offered through the YWCA helps individuals who need a place to live for a short period of time, for a reasonable price. Always seeking to further serve the community of Wheeling, Albertini-Weigel said, “We are always welcoming community input. If you guys see a need or want some training on a topic, we are here to meet that need. We welcome input. We will gladly provide that opportunity to grow the minds of the community.” Lemasters says the YWCA is there to help those in need. “If you or a loved one is ever in need of domestic violence assistance, don’t be afraid to reach out to the YWCA’s hotline at 1-800-698-1247. There are also plenty of excellent resources available at ywcawheeling.org,” shares Lemasters. For more information about this article, please contact Annalise Murphy at anmurphy@westliberty. edu.
CULTURE
CULTURE FEBRUARY 3, 2022
Culture Editor Intern: Kenley George
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- kcgeorge@westliberty.edu
Wheeling’s Clientele Art Studio helps showcase WLU student and alumni work Clientele Art Studio in Wheeling W.Va. is helping West Liberty University (WLU) students display their work and gain experience as artists and creators in the Ohio Valley area. The local business specializes in helping artists from the area get the exposure they deserve. Clientele hosts a large number and broad variety of events to help provide exposure. The studio’s mission statement on their website says, “Clientele was created in order to provide studio spaces for our artists to have a permanent place to work and a gallery to display their work.” The overarching goal of the studio is to help lo cal artists gain exposure and a stable backbone for their creative career. This has helped numerous WLU students and alumni to showcase their talent and skills. Several students have showcased artwork at the various shows put on by Clientele and many more have their creations available in the retail section of the studio.
Will Wallace, the owner of Clientele, started this journey back in 2014 after purchasing the building to help a friend moving back to the Wheeling area. The original plan was to rent the space to his friend and host parties and events on the side. The events quickly gained momentum and media attention which inspired Wallace to turn the space into the version of Clientele that exists today. Since then, the studio has expanded beyond a party destination and has become a creative outlet for aspiring artists. It is known as a community hub where like minded people regularly come together. “Our main goal is to show people that these things can happen here and show the Ohio Valley that not only do we have an incredible pool of amazingly talented artists and a great school at West Liberty, but we have people doing full time art here already,” said Wallace. As well as the main gallery, Clientele has a retail space where artists can sell their work. There are currently around 20 different artist’s work available for purchase including several West Liberty graduates. Dakota Lish, a WLU senior majoring in creative art therapy has had her work displayed at Clientele on a few occasions so far. “I’m looking to have prints and stickers there soon! I have had work in a few shows such as Coven and the Deck the Halls show that was for charity,” said Lish.
Photo Credits: : Morgan Wiedebusch
Not only has Clientele helped Lish find a place to showcase her talent, but it has also helped her build connections in
the local art social circle. “It feels really good to be able to share my work for others to see but also be able to see other artists as well. I’m very grateful that I belong to a community where people can share and connect,” said Lish. “My work is always evolving and growing. It may not look the same as other pieces I’ve done but embracing the change is what it’s all about. As I find my footing, I’m glad to have a wonderful art community around me that supports and aids in the change.” For local artists, having the ability to display work at the Clientele Studio provides a boost. Morgan Wiedebusch, who graduated from West Liberty in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a track in illustration has participated in many of the studio’s shows and has several items available in the retail section. She said, “Having my work at the Clientele Studio is always a blast! The opening shows are always loads of fun to attend. It’s always such a great feeling coming into the studio for an event and seeing my work there.” The gallery changes their displays regularly, giving a wide range of artists the chance to participate. “The walls change monthly with a varied theme,” said Wallace. “Up right now is “Cold Start” which is pretty much all of the niche art around motor sport.” The display features work from two West Liberty alumni. Alongside the art shop and ever-changing gallery displays, Clientele hosts a broad variety of events for the local community. The types of events range from Studio Ghibli movie nights to couples yoga. “I always
Photo Credits: : Dakota Lish
recommend visiting the Clientele, especially on event nights. It’s a great opportunity to get engaged with the art scene and meet new people,” said Wiedebusch. “Several events are held there such as gallery openings, dance parties, movie nights, yoga nights and brunch events,” said Lish. You can find a detailed list of events for February on the studio’s Instagram. Clientele’s connection with West Liberty is strong as the studio is there to provide a source of connections for those entering the professional realm. Wallace is currently working with WLU faculty to set up internship opportunities for students that are part of the university’s art and graphic design programs. “I would love to see more of the school in general down here just because I’d love for people to see what we have,” said Wallace. For more information about the shows and events at Clientele check out their website, Instagram, Facebook profile or get in touch directly by emailing info@clientelestudio.com.
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FEBRUARY 3, 2022
CULTURE
Topper Idol continues for its 10th consecutive year on the Hilltop On the night of Tuesday, Feb. 8, the 2022 season of the Hilltop’s famous Topper Idol saw its second round of performances wrapping up as yet another success. This week, contestants shared some of their favorite Disney tunes with the judges; with a full audience of supportive student fans, the overwhelming sense of community was truly palpable in the Student Union that evening. While this kind of atmosphere isn’t at all unusual to Topper Idol, one can’t help but think that it could be connected to the event’s celebrating of its tenth consecutive year being held here on campus. Residence Life Area Coordinator and Director of Topper Idol, Yodev Ocasio, when asked to comment on the significance of the events tenth-year anniversary, spoke on how the event has basically cemented itself as a tradition here on the Hilltop at this point; “With ten years under its belt, Topper Idol isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It’s an annual and highly anticipated event not only for students, but the Housing Office as well. It’s tradition.”
laughter, applause, and cheers coming from the crowd, it’s easy to see that these additions are welcome innovations to the campus tradition, and Ocasio has no plans on stopping there; “I want to encourage students to keep being excited about things like Topper Idol, and to expect more fun and exciting updates coming in the near future.”
Photo Credits: : Creed Kidney
Ocasio went on to discuss how the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19 put a bit of a damper on the event, as last year’s festivities had to be held virtually, and at some points, along with many other things during the pandemic, the future of Topper Idol came into question, but the Housing Office knew that everything had to be done to ensure that the show could still go on; “And that’s what makes this year so special, for so many different reasons. It’s the tenth-year anniversary, which is a cause for celebration, and we’re back in the Union. You can really
just feel the energy of the students, not to mention the contestants or the judges. Topper Idol has always been an event that brought out a lot of people, and it’s always been a lot of fun, this year has just been even more of that.” While Topper Idol is obviously a very special event here on campus for student life and engagement, it’s also important to note that students have the opportunity to win a considerable scholarship from the West Liberty University Foundation through the judging process of Topper Idol. With scholarships ranging from $250, $500, and $1,000, Ocasio spoke of how important the singing competition is as a way for the WLU Foundation to actively participate in the support of the university’s students; “It’s often a very emotional moment for the students that win, and it’s an amazing thing that we can support students like that as a kind of recognition for their individual talent, commitment, and showmanship.” As a director, Ocasio also has plans to keep developing, improving, and adding to Topper Idol as the shows continue to be held here on campus; for example, this year’s festivities featured a chicken nugget eating contest. With raucous
Photo Credits: : Creed Kidney
While we’re still only halfway through the competition, the crowd is already warming up to some fan favorites. With next week’s theme being, “songs from the 90s,” attendees can expect to see another riveting performance by Mary Thinzar Khine, Mackenzey Infanti, Sarah Booth, Edward Engle, and Shawn Ball at next week’s round of Topper Idol on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7:00 p.m.
CULTURE
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
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Newly launched literary journal for students: Submission now open West Liberty University has a new opportunity for students interested in expressing their skills in the Creative and Liberal Arts Department. This new avenue for content creation is a literary journal known as Threshold. Formerly known as Ampersand, Threshold is a student-run journal looking to publish art and literature works of other West Liberty students. Students may submit content such as creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry or artwork. Each category has a certain criteria for submissions. For fiction and nonfiction pieces, students can present up to two submissions, each being 4000 words or less. The poetry category allows up to four poems, which in turn is the number of submissions allowed for artwork. In addition to the requirements, each submission should include a cover page with a student’s name and email address. Also, the submissions must be in a text format such as Microsoft Word or Rich Text. PDF or Google Doc links will
not be accepted. Fiction and creative nonfiction submissions should be properly double spaced with an appropriate readable font such as Perpetua, Times New Roman or Calibri. Poetry pieces need to be single spaced as well as double spaced between each stanza. The 2021-22 Threshold team is overseen by Scott Hanna, associate professor of English at WLU. Other students on the team include Alexis Walton, editor-in-chief, Samantha Eimer, the assistant editor, Ismail Amara, poetry editor, Jessica Dobbins, lead copy editor, Madison Cavicchia, copy editor and submission manager and Anna Griffith, public relations chair. The deadline for submissions is Sunday Feb. 20 at midnight. Students can email their work to threshold@westliberty.edu. Every student that turns in work will receive a notification email by Monday, March 14. The first initial launch of Threshold will take place sometime in mid April. Students can refer to the Threshold email, threshold@westliberty.edu, if they have any further questions. Students may also visit the Threshold website for more information on how to submit their literary and artistic work.
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, Feb. 20 at midnight. Students can email their work: threshold@westliberty.edu.
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FEBRUARY 3, 2022
CULTURE
Cleared roads on Route 88 after Storm Landon February 4, 2022
Photo Credits: : Haley Blakemore
Photo Credits: : Haley Blakemore
Photo Credits: : Haley Blakemore
Photo Credits: : Haley Blakemore Photo Credits: : Haley Blakemore
OPINION
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
OPINION
Opinion Editor Intern: Hanna Perry
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- heperry@westliberty.edu
5 cost friendly gift ideas for your Valentine er will love and enjoy. Here are five gift ideas to give to your partner, friend or a family member on this year’s Valentine’s Day. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you may be wondering what to get your partner for the special day. According to Britannica, “Valentine’s Day, also called St. Valentine’s Day, is when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts.” Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate love, but I believe that can be with your significant other, a friend or family too. Gifts are an option, not a requirement.You don’t have to give your Valentine a gift to show you love and care for them. However, if you decide to get a gift, the gift you acquire should be a gift out of love or something you know the receivGraphic By: Lacey Deem
1. Flowers Flowers are classic and beautiful and never fails to give whoever receives them a smile on their face. The only downfall about flowers is that they will eventually die. Other alternatives to real flowers are sola wood flowers or a LEGO flower bouquet. These alternatives will show that your love for that special person will never die and neither will the flowers. 2. Sweet Treats
Graphic By: Kenley Geroge
Give the sweet person in your life a sweet treat! There are al- you want to make a DIY (do it yourways Valentine’s Day inspired choc- self) treat, an easy and yummy option olates and candies at any store. If are chocolate covered strawberries. All you need are strawberries and chocolate chips. Melt the chocolate, dip the strawberries in the mixture and wait for them to dry for a personalized treat. Kayla Deem, a junior at WLU said, “Sweet treats are my favorite gift to receive because I have a sweet tooth. I don’t eat that many sweets regularly so if someone gives me something sweet for Valentine’s Day, I’m happy.” 3. Valentine’s Day Inspired Stuffed Animal
than a text. A handwritten letter to your Valentine will not only make them smile, but will show the person you care about them. 5. Nice Meal Out A nice meal out on a special day like Valentine’s Day is always better than a meal out on a regular day. It doesn’t matter if you are celebrating love, friendship or family, the time spent together is enjoyable and special. A helpful tip in preparing for this gift is to make a reservation in advance to your restaurant of choice!
Ana Musap, a senior at WLU said, “I like going out to eat, Who doesn’t love stuffed an- especially on a special occasion. It imals? It doesn’t matter how old you makes me feel special.” are, grab your person an adorable Don’t wait until the last stuffed animal that they can cuddle with when you aren’t there. You can minute to get that special person get Valentine’s Day inspired stuffed in your life a Valentine’s Day gift. animals at Walmart, Target, Dollar The gift will make their day and show them the love and care you Tree or Amazon. have for them, regardless of how 4. Valentine’s Cards big or small the present is. It may be a bit old school, but I still love getting cards or notes rather
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FEBRUARY 3, 2022
OPINION
Professor McCullough reviews Mr. Burns Play performed by Hilltop Players Contributing Writer:
in ancient Greece. We see a Greek chorus. Byrd becomes Bart Simpson and White becomes the evil Mr. Burns.
Graphic By: Haley Blakermore
Professor Ryan McCullough
Both Byrd and White excel in the final act. They provide the central vocal performances and also engage in a sword fight to the death. White’s performance is so affecting that he moves the audience to cheer along with Burns’ minions.
It is easy to forget now, but, for a time, television was American culture. Just because television no longer creates a common cultural experience, does not mean that television’s impact disappears. Television still informs what we think and perceive.
Though jolted and a bit confused, the performances and the script forced me to reflect. At one point in the play while discussing the importance of doing creative work, Quincy proclaims, “Meaningless Entertainment, on the other hand, is actually really hard.” She’s right. Meaningless entertainment is hard because entertainment cannot be meaningless.
For the cast of “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play,” television, and one of its most recognizable products, The Simpsons, is the only thing keeping people together. Set in a near-future, post-electric and/or post-apocalyptic New England, the opening act of the play features six characters who have only two common experiences: death and memories of “The Simpsons.” The script does not fully reveal the specific cause of the new post-electric world. A nuclear meltdown occurred, but the audience does know that death and danger are omnipresent. Characters Matt (Daniel White), Jenny (Delaney Byrd), Maria (Paige Fields), Sam (Ben ny Mounsey), Colleen (Alexis Woodard) and Gibson (Calian Byard) are people who relate to one another and to the audience only through experiences of death and television. They swap knowledge of The Simpsons as a way to distract themselves from their dire situation. Act Two, set seven years after Act One, shows off the dexterity of the actors. The six characters and new arrival, Quincy (Odessa Hores), are now theater actors in the post-electric world. The audience finds the characters rehearsing scenes from “The Simpsons” episode, “Cape Feare” to be eventually performed in front of an audience. They don’t just rehearse the episode; they also rehearse the
type of mid-90s commercials you would find airing during the original “Cape Feare.” The script calls for the actors to strike the set in the middle of the play, as they transition scenic elements of “Cape Feare” with the elements from the commercials. The commercials included musical numbers, so White, Byrd, Fields, Mounsey, Woodard, Byard and Hores are acting, moving set pieces and singing at the same time—a remarkable feat.
Washburn sets the final act seventy-five years after Act Two. The opening of this act bombards the audience with noise, music and lights. We are given little sense as to what transpired since the end of Act Two and must piece together what we see. It seems as if we are watching the newest version of “Cape Feare.” In this version, seriousness replaces levity. We see an epic battle between love and hate, and a set which resembles a play we might see
“Mr. Burns and the excellent work of the Hilltop Players demonstrate how performance has the power to make meaning whether we have electricity or not.” - Professor McCullugh Associate Professor of Communication
If humans share one characteristic, it is the knowledge that death awaits us all. Through most of human history, we have coped with this knowledge with a belief in a higher power or national purpose. But the characters in “Mr. Burns” do not identify with one another through religion or nationality. Instead, they make meaning through the only shared experience that remains, television and The Simpsons. Television continues to shape us in ways that become difficult to articulate. But Anne Washburn’s well-crafted script expertly brought to life by the Hilltop Players crystallized the impact of television-culture as a meaning-making instrument. It is easy to think of The Simpsons as meaningless entertainment, as something to enjoy as a distraction from our lives. But it is not meaningless. “Mr. Burns” and the excellent work of the Hilltop Players demonstrate how performance has the power to make meaning, whether we have electricity or not. Ryan McCullough is an Associate Professor of Communication at West Liberty University.
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Sports Editor Intern: Joshua Spratt
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- jtspratt@westliberty.edu
Women’s Basketball Player Profile: Arianna Manzay
the MEC Player of the Week on Dec. 20, 2021. Not only is Manzay talented on the floor, but she’s also beloved by anybody who talks to her. Manzay has a lot of love for her teammates, stating that, “last year I was going through a lot, but my teammates were there for me. I trusted them more on and even off the court as the year went on, so this year I am a lot more open with them. I definitely care about them and will be there for them if they need me.”
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Nearing the conclusion of her second year on the Hilltop, Arriana Manzay has proven to be one of the most dominating forwards in the entire Mountain East Conference. After graduating from Mesquite High School in 2018, Manzay committed to Cisco Junior College and developed her talents over 20 games. After the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, Manzay chose to bet on herself and enter the transfer portal, where she was met by Head Coach, Kyle Cooper, and Associate Head Coach, Cassie Seth of West Liberty’s women’s basketball team. The rest was history as Manzay traveled from her hometown in Lubbock, Texas, through the mountains, avoiding the broken water pipes, navigating the windy roads of the Hilltop and eventually finding herself in the town of West Liberty, W.Va., where she donned the black and gold for the first time in her career. Manzay was an immediate impact for the Hilltoppers in her first season, averaging 19.5 minutes while starting 16 of 17 in the abbreviated COVID-19 2020-21 season. As the season progressed, the incredibly athletic 6’3 forward averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 57% from the floor. She dropped a season high in points (20, 10/14 shooting) against rival Fairmont State, and a season high in rebounds against West Virginia State (11). Manzay trained intensive-
Manzay’s talent on the court paired with her class act and genuine compassion prove why the entire Hilltop wants her to succeed so badly. There is still plenty of basketball left to be played this season, and Manzay is excited for the journey ahead. Whatever happens, it is safe to say that Manzay will give it her all, because that is what she has proven to do time in and time out. For more information about this article, please reach out to Maxwell Fiedorczyk at mrfiedorczyk@westliberty.edu.
ly during the offseason, focusing on herself and developing her game while being surrounded by a world of uncertainty for basketball due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, nobody on the hilltop knew what was coming next in regards to how the season was going to be played. Players asked themselves the following questions: “Was the season going to be abbreviated once again? Will everybody return to some type of normalcy?”These questions flooded everybody, but not Manzay. Manzay’s mindset towards basketball intensified, and her 2021-22 season has shown
that extensive improvement. West Liberty is currently sitting at a record of 15-6, with much credit of this season’s success coming from Manzay. Manzay has taken leaps and bounds in terms of her talented play, as she has currently set season and career highs in points (26, against Ohio Dominican), rebounds (16, against West Virginia Wesleyan) and blocks (5, against Malone). Manzay now has a school record to her name for her efforts against Ohio Dominican, shooting a perfect 11-11 from the field. To cap it all off, Manzay was named
All West Liberty University sporting information can be found at hilltoppersports.com.
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Acrobatics and Tumbling prepares for another exciting season West Liberty’s acrobatics and tumbling team is in full swing preparation mode for the 2022 season. Head Coach Kelsey Kyle’s Lady Toppers were seeded No. 1 in the Mountain East Conference preseason coach’s poll. The ladies first meet of the season is on Monday, Feb. 14 at Davis and Elkins College. This is the WLU acrobatics and tumbling program’s fourth year competing in the NCAA competition and Kyle’s third year leading the squad. The Lady Toppers polled in the No. 1 spot in the MEC preseason poll with four first-place votes and a total of 34 points, narrowly beating out their main conference rivals Fairmont State University. Fairmont earned the other three first place votes and had 33 points total. The polls suggest a very tight competition may be in store between the two top seeded schools in the Mountain East. The rest of the voting saw Frostburg State University place third with 24 points, followed by Glenville State College (18 points), West Virginia Wesleyan College (17 points), Davis and Elkins College (12 points) and Alderson Broaddus University (six points). At the end of January, the team was ranked No. 11 in the nation with 108 points in the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association’s (NCATA) annual preseason coaches’ poll.This is the highest rank yet for West Liberty’s young program. “We are very excited, but now we have to prove that we are the best in the conference and can be ranked even higher nationally,” said Kyle. WLU was one of three MEC teams to earn a place in the top 15 with Fairmont coming in at
No. 8 and Frostburg claiming the fifteenth spot. Last year, the Lady Toppers closed their season with an overall record of 4-3. WLU finished as MEC runners up in the Conference Tournament championship losing in a hardfought match with a score of 262.725257.035 against the Fighting Falcons. Kyle said, “I was very happy with last season as a whole. We accomplished a lot of team goals and broke school records. We finished the season as MEC runner ups. The team battled a lot of adversity during the end of the season. Due to COVID, we had to make a lot of changes going into the MEC tournament. I was happy with how they competed, but I know that we can do even better this year.” The WLU team has almost all of last year’s roster returning for the 2022 season including graduate student Kenzie Kyle, senior Lexus Ficca, and junior Sydney Schumacher who were named to the All-MEC first-team last season. Last year’s success has given the squad a strong base to work from. “I think the seniors are all really focused on making this year special and their best one yet,” said Kyle
and learn a variety of new skills. Kyle said, “We’ve been practicing since August, so now that we are finally so close to meet season, it is like everyone can see the light at the end of the tunnel and we are all fired up and so excited to get started.” The Lady Toppers’ first home competition is on Thursday, Feb. 17 in the ASRC at 6 p.m.. It will be the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 that fans will be allowed to support the team in person. “We
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports competed our entire season last year without spectators,” said Kyle. “I am so excited to fill the ASRC with our supporters and show them everything that we have been working on.” Show support for the Lady Toppers by cheering them on at home and following the team on Twitter. Check out Hilltopper Sports for a full schedule.
The experienced squad also has some new fresh faces in the mix who are expected to make a strong impact. “We have a lot of freshmen really stepping up this season.You will especially see some of them stand out in the tumbling event,” said Kyle. The long preseason for acrobatics and tumbling has its cons, but it has also allowed the team to try out a variety of options and routines, pin down the finer details
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
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‘Sky’s the Limit’ for Top-Ranked West Liberty University’s Softball Team Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
West Liberty’s softball team ranks first among MEC coaches Ahead of the 2022 season, Mountain East Conference (MEC) coaches released their annual preseason poll last Wednesday and West Liberty’s softball team was the unanimous pick for first place. WLU’s softball team is ranked 24th in the nation, so it’s no surprise the 11 MEC coaches ranked them first for the third consecutive year. Coach Herb Minch attributes this ranking to the talent of his team. “The success of the last two seasons have established them as a premier contender in the MEC and the Atlantic region of the NCAA. That in conjunction with a talented pitching staff that returns in its entirety, this season holds us up there as the team to beat in conference,” he said.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
and the Atlantic Region to move onto the National Championship.”
Senior pitcher Riley Bennington said she was excited but not surprised to see this ranking. “We are incredibly excited to receive the number one ranking in the MEC. We knew coming off back-to-back championships would put a target on our back as a team. This has only motivated us to work harder and push each other to reach the next level,” Bennington said.
For her fourth year at West Liberty University, Bennington wants to make this season her best yet. “Our goal is to win games and have fun doing it as a team. We are ready to go further this season by winning the region and making it to nationals in Denver, Colorado.” “My goal is to focus on one game at a time and shut down the opposing team. Our pitching staff is strong, and we plan on making a statement.”
In the first game of the season, the Hilltoppers will face Clarion University. Both Minch and Bennington have big goals for the 2022 season. Coach Minch says the team will “Prepare the best we can mentally and physically to play the best we can every game this season,” as well as “ Win the North Division, Conference tournament,
Bennington has already made a statement in her own pitching career by pitching 11 strikeouts during a single game in April of last year. Bennington was an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete during the 2020-21 season. She also assisted teammate Makenzie Amend in a no-hitter in last season’s Atlantic Region Tournament. As Coach Minch said, “When you put great
people - we have great student athletes - in good positions, the sky’s the limit.” The Hilltoppers will play 55 games this season, several of which will be played at home.The team would appreciate seeing
WLU students supporting in the stands. The season opener takes place on Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. on the hilltop where all students are welcome to attend.
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West Liberty Baseball Ranks No.2 in preseason coaches poll
As Spring fast approaches, so too does the 2022 season for Eric Burkle’s West Liberty Hilltoppers baseball team. The Toppers, who finished last season 21-20, are looking for greater success this season after an early exit in last year’s Mountain East Conference (MEC) tournament. One player to watch for the Hilltoppers this season is junior outfielder Ty Helmke, who was named a preseason all-region pick by the MEC. Helmke is looking to build on a strong 2021 season in which he batted .339 with seven home runs and 29 runs batted in 38 games. Helmke, a native of Johnstown, Ohio, is sure to be a force in the Toppers’ lineup this season after finishing top 10 in the Mountain East last season in stolen bases (25), home runs (7), slugging percentage (.657) and OPS (1.127). The 2022 season sees the departures of the graduating Ryan Bernard, Tyler Cooley, Colton Coss, Justin Fike, Chad Matthu and Brian Campbell, a Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
two-year captain for the team. Coss and Matthus join the team this season as assistant coaches, Matthus as a graduate assistant and Coss as a volunteer. They join Burkle as well as assistant coaches Greg Stagani, Ed Gei and Robb Bauer on the staff for this year’s team.
well by Charleston in the South Division, who was the only Mountain East team to receive a vote for the preseason top-25 in the country. Despite this, Charleston was beat out by Concord and West Virginia State in the MEC coaches’ poll for the South Division.
New additions for the Hilltoppers this season include freshmen infielders Ryan Talbert, Chris Parker, Adam Beard, Ethan Conley and Noah Mildren, catchers Hunter Cottrell and Kameron Jackson, outfielders James Salvatori and Jacob Sherman and pitchers Carson Moore, Joseph Medkeff, Joel Wise, Will Morrow, Thomas Robbins, Jackson Phillips and George Ash. The Hilltoppers coaching staff hopes these new additions will fill the holes left by their departing seniors after last year’s campaign.
The Hilltoppers open their season on Friday, Feb. 11 at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. with back-to-back non-conference doubleheaders. Union finished their 2021 season with a 15-21 record, 6-9 at home. However, West Lib-
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erty will have to wait another month before their home opener on March 16 versus the California University of Pennsylvania. The Toppers schedule includes matchups with preseason-ranked opponent Seton Hill, the ninth ranked team in the country. The first taste of conference play for the Toppers comes on March 19 against Glenville State at home. For more information about the Hilltoppers 2022 baseball season, visit Hilltopper Sports.
The Hilltop’s Athlete of the Week
Corinne Thomas
West Liberty was named the No. 2 pick in the Mountain East Conference North Division in the MEC’s preseason coaches’ preseason poll. A strong recruiting class in addition to impact players like infielder Kaden Blomquist and starting pitcher Ian Brady is cause for excitement as West Liberty looks for the North Division title against Alderson Broaddus, Fairmont State, Frostburg State, Notre Dame College and Wheeling. The MEC is bolstered as Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Basketball Year: Sophomore Hometown: New Carlisle, Ohio About Thomas: Thomas was instrumental in the Toppers’ win versus Charleston with 28 points and 5 threes
