VOL. 101 – ISSUE 1
THE TRUMPET
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
WLU’s Student News Source
WLU holds first-ever Faculty-Staff Institute - pg. 3 WLU football falls in defeat to Walsh 27-6 - pg. 13
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THE TRUMPET
WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
NEWS
Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine becomes FDA approved after months of research pg. 6
COVER BY: SAMANTHA SNYDER
CULTURE SPORTS
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
The Nutting Gallery presents its first exhibition, ‘‘Short, Silent Stories’’ pg. 7
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
West Libery Men’s and Women’s soccer prepare to compete this fall 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 Culture News Writer Caitlin Reynolds Director 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.
Contact Us
wltrumpet@westliberty.edu - (304) 336-8873
NEWS
NEWS SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
News Editor: Brianna Hamon
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- bnhamon@westliberty.edu
WLU holds first-ever Faculty-Staff Institute to inaugurate the new 2021-2022 academic year
WLU held the first-ever Faculty-Staff Institute on Aug. 17, 2021, in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC), to begin the 2021-2022 academic year. The gathering started around 8:30 a.m. with speeches from Shirley Carter, director of Catholic campus ministry, Ryan McCullough, faculty senate representative and Tasha Taylor, staff council representative. According to WLU’s Director of Media Relations, Maureen Zambito, each speaker greeted and provided updates regarding their respective groups. Mackenzi Jones, student government association (SGA) president and biology major, represented the student body for the upcoming academic year. Diana Harto, chief human resources officer, then introduced 18 new employees to the Hilltop. Please view Zambito’s original press release for names of employees. After these introductions, President W. Franklin Evans delivered the State of the University address. He discussed the new changes coming to the Hilltop, saying, “To improve is to change; to reach perfection is to change often,” according to WLU’s Aug. 17 press release. Evans took the time to thank everyone who helped the university community through the COVID-19 pandemic in the last academic year. Despite the hardships brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic, Evans mentioned a few successes of the last year and encouraged employees to think positively. Additionally, Evans spoke on the transparency of his admin-
istration and touched base on his strategic goals and presidential priorities. According to WLU’s Media Relations press release, some of Evan’s strategic goals include the following: academic success, university branding, operational excellence, student experience and community engagement. Evan’s presidential priorities involved increasing enrollment, maintaining financial stability, fostering student success, strengthening community outreach and enhancing alumni engagement.
Evans also informed the attendees of the initiative about updates to campus. Each of the President Cabinet members updated faculty on their specific areas: Bonnie Suderman, Academic Affairs, Lynn Ullom, Athletics, Shemrico Stanley, Office of the President/DEI, Jason Koegler, External Affairs, Lori Hudson, Fiscal Affairs, Stephanie Hooper, Legal Affairs (virtual), Joe Rodella, Information Technology/ Operations, Scott Cook, Student Affairs/Enrollment Management, Angela Zambito-Hill, WLU Foundation. Faculty promotions were announced by Suderman. Please view Zambito’s original press release for list of promotions. Likewise, faculty tenure was awarded to the following faculty members: Stephanie Bradley, Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Bill Childers, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, Rebecca Meachem, Associate professor of Psychology, Stephanie Meredith, Associate professor of Dental Hygiene, Felipe Rojas, Associate Professor of Foreign Languages. After promotions and tenures were announced, Harto
Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations returned to the podium to present the Years of Service awards distributed to employees reaching milestone years of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years on the Hilltop. Registrar Stephanie North and Admissions Counselor Joe Wakin received a special commemorative medal signifying their 25 years of work for West Liberty as a higher education institution. Before closing the gathering, President Evans joined Harto in announcing the Employee Engagement Committee Staff Recognition Award designed to celebrate and reflect on the achievements accomplished during the previous academic year. Two more awards were announced, including the True Topper and Customer Service awards, with a cash prize of $225 provided by the WLU Foundation. According to the press release provided by WLU media relations, the Top Team receives a traveling trophy to display for the entire year. In addition, each nominee receives a “Certificate of Nomination” signed by Evans. Honorees of the awards mentioned above include:The True Topper award, Student Health Di-
rector Christy Bennington, RN BSN, The Customer Service Award, Cindi Galloway, College of Education and Human Performance, Administrative Assistant, Top Team Award, Physical Plant, accepting the trophy was Director of Physical Plant Joe Mill. The 2021 Faculty and Staff Institute meeting is available to view in its entirety on Topper Station. For more information regarding this cultivated article, please visit WLU’s official news source website. Other campus updates not mentioned in the Faculty-Senate initiative meeting include rough enrollment numbers provided by Cook. “As of Wednesday, Sept. 1, we had 2,132 students registered for the fall. Last year, we had 2,276. This was the last date to add [Sept. 1]. We now have to have faculty verify enrollment; students who are not attending will be removed. We also still need to register all of our early entrance high school students later this month. We really won’t have a solid number[s] until we complete these items,” said Cook. While it appears that enrollment has gone down this academic year [20212022] compared to last academic year [2020-2021], these numbers are rough estimates and not final. Please stay posted for an updated article regarding enrollment sometime in October 2021.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
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NEWS
Robinson Writing Center open to students of all majors On Wednesday, Sept. 8, the Robinson Writing Center located in L14 of the Elbin Library, opened its doors in hopes of helping any West Liberty student seeking assistance in the writing process. The writing center offers in-person appointments with trained writing consultants as well as fully online consultations that can be scheduled through WCOnline. Walk-in appointments are accepted online and in-person if a consultant is available, so it is highly recommended that students reserve a session ahead of time. All students and staff attending in-person meetings must wear a mask. Online appointments are operated through the WCOnline website where students and consultants can collaborate through a video and text chat feature that acts as a whiteboard. A writing session lasts up to 30 minutes and is based upon what goals the student would like to achieve. Dr. Amanda Tennant, director of the writing center, explained a consultant may help the writer construct a thesis statement, brainstorm ideas or outline
Dr. Amanda Tennant, Director of the Writing Center, helping Jeff Ndukuma on a writing assignment. Photo Credits: Brianna Hamon key points of the paper. “At our writing center, a typical consultation tries to encourage students to dig deeper into their writing by introducing them to concepts that go beyond simply checking for grammatical errors,” said Alexis Walton, a current writing consultant. Additionally, consultants typically focus on organizational principles that teach students how to develop their paper with the use of strong evidence and topic Photo Credits: Brianna Hamon
sentences, which is found in most academic writing. Writing consultants are trained to help students regardless of their major. Tennant explains that consultants are taught to recognize different types of academic writing such as MLA and APA, which may differ among a student’s discipline. “My favorite part about working with students in the writing center is that I never quite know who I’m going to meet. I’ve worked with students in majors ranging from dental hygiene to creative arts therapy,” said Walton. At the end of the appointment, the student and consultant summarize what was learned throughout the session and discuss a plan that allows the student to leave with a confident feeling in their paper. Before opening the Robinson Writing Center, staff members must prepare by selecting and training new consultants and planning appointment schedules that work for each student. In the spring semester of 2021, Tennant sent out applications to interested students, and the selected individuals are training with her now in a class geared towards successful consultations.
“I would say that training the consultants is the most significant component that goes into ensuring that we offer high-quality writing support to WLU students,” said Tennant. Six students are currently enrolled in this class to become future writing center consultants. Autumn Duckworth, an English education major, applied for this position because she believed it would give her hands-on teaching experience. As of now, Walton is the only writing consultant taking appointments, but they hope to offer more consultations as well as workshops in the near future. For students who are on the fence about visiting the writing center, Walton suggests that everyone should give it a try because they may leave the consultation with an entirely new perspective on writing and another person on campus that roots for their success. Consultations are available in the following weeks on Wednesday and Friday from 2-3 p.m. For any questions regarding the Robinson Writing Center and scheduling an appointment, please email Dr. Amanda Tennant at amanda.tennant@westliberty.edu.
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
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Center for Arts and Ed allows students to express creative freedom ter many discussions with funding departments, the Center for Arts and Education opened in January of 2013 as a place for all students to visit and work. The Center for Arts and Education, located in the west wing of Main Hall, is an open resource for students to color and draw. This hands-on learning center has several creative arts supplies available for students to use. The center operates as a creative library of supplies where students of all majors can seek integrated arts and technology support in their assignments. One of the many features supplied in the center is free printing for all West Liberty students to use. Lou Karas, director of the Center for Arts and Education, explained that she came to West Liberty in 2011 with a vision for a place where students could go to unleash their creative abilities. Af-
Over the years, the center has grown to offer supplies to staff and faculty as well as local schools in the Ohio Valley. “No matter what your major is, you can still come to the center to create something unique,” said Karas. Amongst the challenges of COVID-19, Karas mentioned that she loves seeing new faces explore the center because it allows them to develop a relationship with other peers outside the class. “It’s important for students to feel comfortable in the center. Some students will even study at the center rather than doing arts and crafts. It’s a calming environment for students to create things or simply study for an upcoming Students Rabeka Rowland and Lexey Brenneman enjoying some of the activities the center has to offer. Photo Credits: Caitlin Reynolds math quiz,” said Karas. The possibilities of what you can create with the supplies offered within the center are endless. Karas recalled the coolest art project she has encountered by saying, “One time two students came into the center and made a working guitar out of cardboard and other crafts from inside the center.” Katie Nelson, a graduate assistant working in the center, helps out by making the students feel safe and showing them what supplies they have to offer. Nelson explained that she chose to work in the center because she has always been inspired by the work created by each individual student. “There is no other place just like the center,” said Nelson. Karas and Nelson are currently collaborating on a website to
use for community classrooms and working on activities such as math games that they can provide inside the center. The Center for Arts and Education is constantly searching for ways to advertise what they have in store for students and hosted events such as friendship bracelet making and journal decorating during this year’s TopperFest to spread the word. Staff members in the center are planning student events for International Dot Day on Sept. 15, a day celebrated to release creative potential. The Center for Arts and Education is open on Monday from 8-6 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 8-8 p.m. For any questions about The Center for Arts and Education, please contact Lou Karas at lkaras@westliberty.edu.
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
NEWS
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine becomes FDA approved after months of research
Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Seventy-one students took advantage of the vaccination clinic. For students who received the first dose of the vaccine, WLU will distribute the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Sept. 22 and the second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Sept. 29. Students who want to get the vaccine but missed the on-campus vaccination clinic can receive free COVID-19 vaccines through the health department or through many local pharmacies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 23. According to the FDA, the vaccine is approved for people ages 16 and older, and children between the ages of 12 to 15 for emergency use only. The FDA has reviewed the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. To do this, the FDA considered preclinical and clinical data along with details pertaining to how the vaccine is manufactured. The FDA tested the vaccine and inspected the site where the vaccine was manufactured as well as measuring the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine. According to the FDA, the most common side effects of the Pfizer vaccine are pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain and chills and fever. The FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use for individuals ages 16 and older in December of 2020. On May 10, 2021, the FDA expanded the age range to 12 and older. Pfizer hopes to get a third dose of the vaccine approved by the FDA in the near future. West Liberty University encourages all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. West Liberty University reported in an email that approximately 47% of students and 86% of employees are vaccinated. Students must report their vaccination status to the Student Health Portal or Human Resources. On September 1, the Ohio County Health Department sponsored an on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic for studets who wanted to receive their first or second dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or
Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Students who have not received the vaccine are required to be COVID-19 tested three times through the months of September, October and November. Testing begins on Tuesday, Sept. 7 in Blatnik Hall from 9-2 p.m. Students will be tested alphabetically and should check their emails for their designated testing date. The test being administered will be a free, saliva based test. If you are unable to attend your testing date, you can attend another date during that month or test at another facility. If tested at another facility, all test records must be uploaded to the Student Health Portal. Failure to complete a monthly COVID-19 test will be a violation of our Student Code of Conduct.
If you test positive for COVID-19, please contact Student Health Services by calling 304-336-8049 or email
cbennington@ westliberty.edu.
CULTURE
CULTURE SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Culture Editor Intern: Faith Hayes
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- fbhayes@westliberty.edu
The Nutting Gallery presents its first exhibition, ‘‘Short, Silent Stories’’ good, timely in how it identifies issues with race, and the techniques he is using can be inspirational for students working in a variety of media.” On Wednesday, Aug. 25, the Nutting Gallery had its opening night for the first artist exhibition of the school year. This month’s featured artist is Beckley, W. Va. native, Robby Moore.
Fencl also spoke about the artist talk, a tradition on opening nights where the featured artist can speak with the crowd in the gallery and take some questions from them. Fencle said, “During the artist talk it was a pleasure to have Mr. Shamrico Stanley with us to add to the social issues part of the discussion. Mr. Stanley is WLU’s new coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the questions and insights he brought to the conversation were excellent.”
The exhibition, titled “Short, Silent Stories,” showcases a variety of Moore’s work. As a mixed media artist, Moore’s work highlights his unique ability to communicate and express ideas tactfully regardless of the medium used. His mediums range widely from oils and inks to fabric and thread. When talking about the hopes for the Nutting Gallery this school When speaking with Professor Brian Fencl, the current professor year, Fencl had this to say, “An exhibiin charge of the Nutting Gallery, he tion opening is an opportunity for the had this to say on why Moore specif- campus community to socialize and be ically was chosen as this month’s art- engaged by what art has to offer. We ist feature, “Anytime you are putting need those interactions now more a gallery season together on campus, than ever, so the opportunity to start we try to think about what classes the year off this way is very positive. are being offered, and what types of We ended last year in a fairly normal work or artists have not been shown way with two in person exhibitions recently. Robby Moore’s work is really and openings but we were not able to offer a full exhibition season.” Moore’s work will be shown in the Nutting Gallery from Aug. 25 until Sept. 23.The gallery, located in the Fine Arts building, is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fridays and weekends are open by appointment only. Entry is free of charge, and masks are required to be worn.
Photo Credits: Samantha Snyder
For more information on the Nutting Gallery and a schedule of future exhibitions, visit https://westliberty.edu/art/gallery/ or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/nuttinggallery . Turn Over by Moore Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
For more information on Robby Moore and his work, visit his website https://www.robbymooreart.com/
Artist Robby Moore Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations
PAGE 8
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
CULTURE
Former WLU professor and Hilltopper Players Hall of Famer, Stanley Harrison, dies at age 87 Contributing Authors: Various WLSC Alumni July 1934—August 2021 Assistant Professor of Drama West Liberty State College
The impact that Stanley Harrison made on West Liberty students when he arrived in the fall of 1962 to the time he left in the spring of 1979 could be felt from the Ohio Valley to Broadway and from community theatres to high school drama classes across the country. Harrison was born in St. Joseph, Mo. in 1934, and after graduating high school there in his hometown, he went off to Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. At Allegheny, he acted during the school year and the summer as the school hosted The Penn Players, a summer stock company. Harrison was one of the company’s two male ingénues. Following his college graduation, Harrison was accepted at the Yale School of Drama where he studied under some of the best theatre professors in the world. Equipped with Yale M.F.A., Harrison began acting and teaching at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.
(Photo Credits: XXX)
In 1962, he came to West Liberty to teach drama—acting, directing, and contemporary drama. During his 17 years as a Hilltopper, he taught, directed, acted, sponsored Chi Nu fraternity, recruited students for the drama department, worked for the Wheeling Symphony, secured work for numerous students at summer stock theatres, and encouraged and supported his former students, the founders of Brooke Hills Playhouse, where he acted for five seasons. In 1979, Harrison left West Liberty and went to New York City to establish himself as an acting teacher and coach, but many of his West Liberty students kept in touch with him over the years via phone calls and by taking him out to eat whenever they found themselves in New York.
high school and college plays and musicals, starting a summer stock theatre of our own, going to New York and making a living acting or singing, becoming heads of drama departments and managers of performing arts venues. Those who pursued other fields would never forget their theatre experiences with Harrison. In 2018, Harrison was one of the first three individuals to be inducted into the West Liberty Hilltop Players’ Wall of Fame. One thing that stands out is that Harrison impacted the lives of his students for the better, and they have never forgotten him and his influence. To that end, we present these memories of our teacher, mentor, and friend, Stanley Harrison.
Please refer to thetrumpet.org to see the memories provided by Shari Many of his students conMurphy Coote, Faye Argentine, Jane tinued on in the theatre— teachMiller, Tom Pasinetti, Judy Portman ing theatre classes and directing Hennen, and Tom Cervone. All photos on this page were kindly provided by Sharon Coote, former student of Professor Harrison
CULTURE
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
PAGE 9
New science professor, Dr. Zackary Graham, joins the Hilltop this fall
There’s a new professor on campus. Well, technically an assistant professor of biology post doctoral researcher, but you can just call him Dr. Graham. Dr. Zackary Graham is semi-local having grown up just across the border in Pittsburgh. He attended Steele Valley Highschool and was a star swimmer and volleyball player. After highschool, he stayed in his home state and attended Waynesburg University where he played collegiate tennis for one year. He then transferred to Penn State Altoona, where he became captain of the men’s volleyball team and graduated with a degree in psychology. While at Penn State Altoona, he was also an undergraduate research assistant in a neuroecology lab and an academic tutor. Graham then moved to the other side of the country to complete a Ph. D. program at Arizona State University (ASU), one of his proudest accomplishments. He was the first person to complete the program in five years, instead of the typical seven. While in Arizona, Graham became an expert in animal behavior, specifically crayfish behavior and communication. This expertise allows him to be effective in running the crayfish labs here at WLU; additionally, he teaches biology courses and mentors graduate students.
One of the undergraduate classes Graham co-teaches is field biology, which is a course that allows students to get hands-on experience conducting research projects. Graham’s group of students are studying sexual dimorphism in different species of crayfish. This means the group will attempt to determine identifying characteristics in different types of male and female crayfish. Graham is also working with graduate students on a crayfish project involving sampling the Susquehanna and Delaware river basins in eastern Pennsylvania for different crayfish species. This allows the group to determine the geographic ranges for these crayfish species and track any changes over time. Graham is excited to be at West Liberty University. He is happy to see green again outside of his office window instead of the brown, desert landscape of Arizona. He also appreciates that West Liberty is close to his family and has a small campus feeling. Graham said that he had hundreds of students in his classes at Arizona State University, so he is especially looking forward to being able to make connections with his students in a more personalized way than what he experienced at ASU. Graduate student, Jimmy Krochmal, worked in the field this summer with Graham. Krochmal said he had a great time working with Graham. He also said, “I feel like it’s easy to relate to him, because he was just in my shoes, since he just graduated with his PhD. Honestly, it’s very nice having him
around.”
Photo Credits: Samantha Lloyd
Graham has two major pieces of advice for college students. The first is to “be introspective,” as he put it. By this, he means to suggest that students shouldn’t just go through the motions, but instead look inward and search for what is important to them. He then offers that students should make what is important a goal and set up timelines to help them achieve their goals.
after graduation. He suggests that students should look around at the people they know and see if they would want to be in their shoes. This is what he did. He looked to his professors and realized that he wanted to be a professor as well.
His second piece of advice goes out to those college students struggling to figure out what to do
side his window makes him
Graham is excited to be at West Liberty University! Seeing the green grass outhappy.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
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CULTURE
Welcome Home Hilltoppers! Photos and Interview Responses were captured by:
QUESTION: What are you most excited about as you return to West Liberty University this fall?
“Just learning how to be independent from being away from my family [and] try[ing] to get used to it.”
“Meeting new people. After COVID, I really didn’t meet anybody my freshman year.”
- Maddie Sleeth, WLU freshman, undecided major
-Brooke Anderson, WLU sophomore, secondary-education
“Going to watch sporting events again, being in-person and being around people.” -Sarah Fonnar, WLU senior, psychology major
“Probably football games. I actually enjoy my classes a lot. Just getting used to the college routine is exciting.” - Kameron Jackson, WLU freshman, exercise physiology major
“Just to be able to get into a rhythm by myself, taking responsibility for my classes and getting into a routine.” -Abigail Stuart, freshman, pre-nursing major
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
OPINION
OPINION
Opinion Editor Intern: Kailey Carpino
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- kcaprino@westliberty.edu
WLU’s new COVID-19 visitor policy inconveniences students
On Aug. 24, 2021, Marcella Snyder, executive director of housing and student life, sent out an email stating the visitor policy has changed once again. This policy states that there will be no guests permitted that are not students.
apply to me, but I think that you should be allowed to have at least two visitors at once. If I lived in a dorm, both of my parents would want to visit me at the same time, and it would just be inconvenient for them to make separate visits.” I’m guessing that this policy will probably go ignored more so than the last. If students couldn’t have enough time or energy to sign in visitors with the last poli-
cy, what makes a long emailing any more appealing? Many times someone will go unreported because they match the profile of a college student.
Faith Hayes said, “Those are some good points about parents. I’d like to say that if someone had a visitor close to their age, no one would know that the guest did not go here, and the student is unlikely to follow any visitor sys-
All we would have to do is share the document through email to everyone on campus. It will stay in everyone’s college docs, so it will be available until their email no longer exists.
Caitlin Reynolds said, “I would love a Google doc that would be easier too for us students. I just wish they will allow parents to help their child move in stuff because I live on the 4th floor and carrying groceries is a chore so allowing them to help us would be great.”
Snyder wrote, “No guest visitation is permitted from any person(s) who are not enrolled at West Liberty University. Any visitors in the residence halls must be enrolled students. If you need to request an exception, please contact me at any time.” Personally, I believe that this new policy is counterproductive and unfair because it is limiting and inconvenient.
Kailey Carpino said, “I’m a commuter, so this doesn’t really
I would like to suggest a solution. What if we just had a Google doc to sign people in instead? It would be faster and more guests would go on record.
There can be a section where students put a reason for exceptions ahead of time and a section for Snyder to approve or disapprove visitors, however, some people think emailing or a Google doc is equally as appealing.
There will be exceptions, these were not made aware of in the email, and these exceptions will have to be explained in an email to Snyder ahead of time. This policy calls for one visitor allowed at a time. Last year’s policy required you to sign people in and it was one or two people permitted.
As far as how many visitors, last year’s policy seems more fair than this years. I don’t see why you have to explain why a parent is visiting. Explaining these exceptions for parents seems unproductive. A one person policy means seeing parents less, if you usually see your parents together. Plus, this means more money spent on gas on the parent’s end.
tem put in play.”
Carpino agrees, “I think that a Google doc would make it easier and faster for visitors to sign in.” I’ll leave you with a gentle reminder: If you are caught with a guest, most likely because of a noise complaint, this is a violation and it will be on record.
Broken door to get into Hughes Hall represents the broken vistor policy due to COVID-19. Like the broken door, the policy is an inconvenience students. —— Photo Credits: Haley Blakemore
If you have any questions about the policy, email Snyder at msnyder@westliberty.edu. Please email Blakemore for questions regarding the contents of this article.
PAGE 12
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
OPINION
Do you care about the environment? Good News! Recycling is back at WLU While the Hilltop welcomes a brand-new class of fresh faces, our campus needs to be transparent in our initiatives, philosophies and motivations. One such question that can lead to this discussion might be – does WLU recycle? Unfortunately, the answer might have been a little foggy amid COVID-19. However, we can now confidently tell our readers that the Hilltop is recycling again, and you can participate! Beginning sometime in the late 2000s, West Liberty’s Sustainability Council brought recycling and other green initiatives to the Hilltop in an effort to “expose the next generation on ways to achieve sustainability” and “encourage its students, employees and the community to get involved in recycling and environmental issues, while promoting a healthy campus environment,” as stated on
their webpage. The program was a huge success around the time of its creation, but seemed to fall by the wayside in the wake of all the chaos in the world, namely COVID-19; however, whenever you see a blue recycling bin on campus, rest assured that what you put in there will be recycled in a renewed effort from our campus community. Aside from providing a general introduction and some of the council’s philosophy, it also provides readers with multiple resources to guide them through their sustainability practices. For example, the Recycling page states that our campus’ program utilizes a “single-stream” approach to recycling, meaning there is no required separation of materials for the people using the bins; the web page also provides different videos with graphics that show information about the program. Asking their participants to “Think Before You Throw,” the council encourages those who recycle to put things like aluminum, bi-metal cans, steel, glass, plastic and a slew of different paper products
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons into the bins, while they conversely ask people to avoid putting general garbage, food waste, paper plates, paper food packaging, tires, garden hoses, freezer food packaging, wrapping paper, any chemicals/oil/ paint and milk cartons with wax coatings. Obviously, students are not alone in this endeavor and even can find role models in some of the larger groups on campus for their commitment to sustainability; one such organization is Sodexo, whose “Better Tomorrow Commitment” promises its providers that they can rest assured knowing the service they receive is what is best for “your health, for your planet, and for your community.” College campuses that utilize Sodexo’s services may take comfort in the fact that the company is committed to reducing organic and inorganic waste, as well as providing students and faculty with reusable mugs, takeout containers and trayless dining to “reduce the amount of food, packaging, energy and other resources that are wasted.” Therefore, you are not alone in your fight for sustainability and a better tomorrow; our campus
is thankfully seeing a rejuvenated effort in this endeavor, and in the wake of many, powerful events linked to severe climate change and environmental catastrophe, it is of my personal belief that this mindset will only continue to grow throughout the masses, or at least that’s what I hope for. It’s incredibly encouraging to see an institution such as West Liberty University and the Sodexo dining services providing students with such easy access to sustainable living practices, even in the moving minutiae that is recycling. However, you, as an individual, can always do more for your community, state, country and planet. The sustainability council web page outlines some extra endeavors a person can take to increase their personal effectiveness. These include encouraging students to take notes electronically, purchasing reusable bags, and investing in one good reusable water bottle. In the end, we must keep in mind that every journey starts with one small step, even in the wake of all that our environment is currently facing, every effort helps, and every recycled piece of waste is another step in the right direction.
SPORTS
SPORTS SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Sports Editor Intern: Ross Salvatori
PAGE 13
- resalvatori@westliberty.edu
WLU football falls in defeat to Walsh 27-6 The West Liberty football team lost their season opener Thursday, Sep. 2 against non-conference opponent Walsh, by 27-6 at West Family Stadium. West Liberty had their chances in the game as the score was not reflective of how tight the matchup truly was. The Hilltoppers lost by a 21-point margin, however, they had plenty of chances. Opportunities need to be converted for any team to win games and West Liberty learned that the hard way as they were only 1-5 in the red zone with two missed field goals. “You cannot waste opportunities if you want to be a good football team,” said the West Liberty football head coach, Roger Waialae. Walsh jumped ahead 10-0 early in the second quarter when the Hilltoppers squandered one of their biggest opportunities. The Hilltopper offense marched all the
Next Game: Sept. 11 @ Alderson Broaddus University 1p.m.
way inside the 10-yard line, when things went south as Walsh picked off Jack Allison for a 97-yard picksix to push the score to 17-0 in Walsh’s favor. The Hilltoppers responded immediately by moving the ball down the field. They nearly converted another chance to draw closer to end the half. Allison found Jerome Harris in the endzone with 10 seconds remaining in the half however it was called back for holding. The field goal then sailed wide right as the Hilltoppers had nothing to show for either drive. “Offensively we shot ourselves in the foot” said Waialae. That was the theme of the night as the Hilltoppers hope to iron out the kinks before next week’s conference matchup against Alderson Broaddus. Down 27-0, the final drive in the fourth quarter was given to Hilltoppers redshirt freshman, Jamie Diven who led the offense 97 yards for their first score of the game.The extra point was no good
but the Hilltoppers ended on a good note as they hope to carry that momentum into next week’s conference matchup. After the game, Waialae felt his team made some uncharacteristic mistakes. “Normally you practice like you play but we didn’t play like we practiced” said Waialae. The Hilltoppers offense struggled as they rushed for negative three yards. A week prior to the game against Walsh, the Hilltoppers lost their All-MEC starting tailback, Quincy Wimbish to a leg injury. “Losing a back of Quincy’s caliber that late in camp is a challenge. He’s one of those rare backs that’s a total package and now you’re trying to mix and match with guys who are stronger in some areas than others. We have to figure out how we need to distribute the ball differently to accomplish what we want to accomplish. We may need to attack different areas or attack the same areas in different ways but that’s definitely one of the things we’ll be looking at going forward” said Waialae.
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports The Hilltoppers gained more yards than Walsh even with the struggling running game. In the air, the Hilltoppers gained 222 yards. Leading the Hilltoppers in passing yards was Allison who completed 17 of his 34 passes for 142 yards with one interception. Diven, who came in the fourth quarter was 6 for 10 for 80 yards and a touchdown. The Hilltoppers receiving corps were led by Isaiah Robinson who had 7 catches for 70 yards. Wisdom Jenkins was close behind with 3 catches for 51 yards. TJ Griffin had 2 catches and a TD. The Hilltopper running game was led by Tyler Moler who rushed for 30 yards on 10 carries. The Hilltoppers will look to bounce back next week as they travel to Philippi, W. Va. to face Alderson Broaddus on Saturday Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. For more information, please visit hilltoppersports.com.
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
SPORTS
West Liberty Men’s and Women’s soccer prepare to compete this fall Soccer is in the air for the West Liberty University Men’s and Women’s soccer teams as they gear up for their seasons. COVID-19 has brought a heavy gloom onto each respectable program the past couple years. There has been a placed restriction on the amount of games each program can play, but it appears as though both the men’s and women’s teams are thoroughly prepared for a normal season- at least as normal as you can get in today’s day in age. Beginning with the analysis of the Men’s Hilltopper soccer club roster, first impressions indicate that the beginning of the regular season will undoubtedly be a challenging one. The WLU men’s team opened up their season with an impressive win by the score of 3-1 against a competitive opponent in Mercyhurst, who has not lost a game since 2019. Although there is much to be proud of with their upset, there will not be much time to relish in the early success, as the team will have a rather quick turnaround. The Hilltoppers then faced the top team in the country September 5, otherwise known as the University of Charleston. Charleston, the 2019 Division II National Champion, impressed early in the 2021 preseason, beating Marshall University, the 2021 Division I National Champion, by the final score of 4-3. The match against the University of Charleston did not go in the Hilltoppers favor as they dropped the match 3-0. Following their contest with Charleston, West Liberty will hit the road for a three-game stretch, including contests against Concord University, Frostburg State University and Notre Dame College (Ohio).
The club then returns for a four game homestand against the likes of Alderson Broaddus University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Wheeling University, and once again Notre Dame College (Ohio). With eight Mountain East Conference games to follow, including one out of conference game against California University of Pennsylvania, the Hilltoppers hope to gear up for the Mountain East Conference Tournament on November 8. With a team featuring an eye popping twenty-seven freshmen, the young Hilltoppers look to make noise all throughout the season. The West Liberty University women’s soccer team will also have a long battle against Mountain East Conference foes. The WLU women’s team lost a heartbreaker to Seton Hill University in their season opener, by the final score of 1-0. Unbelievable goaltending play by Seton Hill stole a victory away from West Liberty, who conceded the only goal of the game midway through the first half. The loss was a difficult pill to swallow, but the Lady Hilltoppers will look forward to redemption in their upcoming games against No-
tre Dame College (Ohio), Alderson Broaddus University and Frostburg State University. Their game against Salem University on Sept. 8 was cancelled. From here, a pivotal three game homestand will commence, featuring the likes of Fairmont State University, arch-rival Wheeling University and Notre Dame College (Ohio) once more.
The team will then finish their
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports season with ten straight MEC contests.The Women’s Soccer Mountain East Conference Tournament will also begin on November 8th. Likewise of the men, the WLU Women’s team is also freshmen topheavy, with a staggering twenty-one freshmen competing for playing time on the field. Make sure to follow and support both teams this year as they look to build on their recent successes.
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
The friends you make in college are friends you’ll have for life.
SPORTS
SPORTS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
PAGE 16
University updates sports spectator policy amid COVID-19 pandemic socially distancing is highly recommended regardless if you are vaccinated or not.
It is that time of the year again, and as students begin to flood the likes of the Hilltop, many of them will undoubtedly partake in supporting WLU athletic teams. This year, WLU is pleased to allow all fans back into the stands during sporting events, which has not always been allowed since the pandemic started. Before fans, students and parents pack the stands, it is important to note that the University itself has recently released important COVID-19 fall sports spectator guidelines that students must abide by in order to minimize the spread and keep our campus safe. The goal is to allow for fans to watch and support the college athletic teams while also creating a safe environment for spectators. When attending WLU football games, the university strongly encourages attendees to wear masks and socially distance themselves. Masking up and
This year, tailgating of any kind before, during, or after the game is now prohibited. Regardless of whether or not it is inside or outside. Due to the fact that football is an outdoor sport, wearing masks is optional for attendees. Indoor sports like Volleyball, masks are required once attendees step foot in indoor arenas.
tancing as much as possible at the indoor events. Even though the campus of West Liberty has placed these restrictions does not mean that you should not go to support the sporting teams. The university still encourages all Hilltopper fans alike to attend as many athletic events as
possible, but attendees must also be aware of the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and follow the spectator policy.
While we cheer on our Hilltoppers on the court or field, please remember to mask up, socially distance and follow university guidelines when applicable.
The Hilltop’s Athlete of the Week
In terms of men’s and women’s soccer, the spectator policies for COVID-19 are identical to that of football. The use of face coverings are recommended for those vaccinated and unvaccinated, but are not required, primarily due to the sporting event being held outdoors.
~ Adam Lynch ~
Policies begin to drastically shift for spectators regarding WLU indoor sporting events. All attendees must comply with university policy that requires face coverings to be worn at all times during the event. Indoor events will be taking place inside the West Liberty University Academic, Sports and Recreational Complex. These policies are in effect regardless of an individual’s vaccination status. Along with face coverings, WLU also encourages social dis-
Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports
[Men’s Soccer] - [Midfielder] Year: Junior Hometown: Sligo, Ireland About Lynch: Lynch scored two goals against Mercyhurst to help propel the Hilltoppers to a 3-1 win. Photo Credits: Hilltopper Sports