February 5, 2019

FEATURES • PAGE B1

OPINION • PAGE A4

Need a Lyft? Catch a ride with a WKU alum

Read about Matt Bevin’s latest anti-student comments

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 03

10,584 2017

14,488 2017

22,459 2017 22,471

10,017

2017

9,466

2018

1,926

2017

1,781

2018

10,200 2018

14,795 2018

2018

30,473 2017 30,277 2018

20,267 2017

DOWN IN THE

19,461

2018

16,612

2017

16,130

2018 Numbers are from fall semester enrollment

GRAPHIC BY BRANDON EDWARDS & REBEKAH ALVEY • HERALD

BLUEGRASS

WKU enrollment declines along with Kentucky universities

BY REBEKAH ALVEY HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

In most public four-year Kentucky universities, overall enrollment declined from the 2017-18 academic year to 2018-19 and for universities such as WKU, enrollment numbers are lower than they were a decade ago, according to data published by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

WKU, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University and Kentucky State University all currently have lower enrollment than a decade ago in the 2008-2009 academic year.

The data showed enrollment numbers for every academic year since 2008.

WKU enrollment has been in decline since the 2012-13 academic year from

21,124 to 20,267, a 4 percent decrease.

For the 2018-19 academic year, Northern Kentucky University and the University of Louisville had a slight increase in enrollment, while all other public four-year universities showed a decline from the previous academic year, including WKU, which had the third-highest enrollment. The University of Kentucky reported the highest enrollment numbers, and the University of Louisville had the second-highest.

Declining enrollment has been a key issue addressed by WKU President Timothy Caboni through the implementation of his 10-year strategic plan. The plan was approved by the Board of Regents in August 2018 and aims to improve student enrollment and retention.

To accompany the strategic plan,

several campus construction projects have been initiated, including the firstyear village and WKU Commons. Both of these projects are intended to make WKU more appealing to prospective students and to improve the student experience.

Enrollment at WKU for first-time students dropped 3.8 percent from 3,854 in 2016-17 to 3,706 students in 2017-18, which makes up about 18 percent of the total student population. Again, WKU was not alone in this trend. Among all four-year public institutions, there was a 2.6 percent drop in first-time enrollment from 25,151 to 24,492 students. Information for firsttime students was not available for the 2018-19 year.

Last week, Caboni announced to faculty and staff that retention for firsttime, first-year students had increased

between the fall and spring semesters.

While he said they are preliminary numbers, he credited the increase to several institutions such as the Kelly M. Burch Institute and the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, which both address retention and student success.

Enrollment in foreign language, literature and linguistics majors at WKU dropped from 100 to 85 students between 2016-17 to 2017-18 and stayed at 85 for the current academic year.

There was a 5.67 percent drop in enrollment in those majors among all four-year public institutions from 716 to 656 students.

Currently no public four-year Kentucky universities include foreign language courses in general education SEE ENROLLMENT • PAGE A2

Messy Bowling Green housing impacts community

BY NICOLE ZIEGE HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

After journalism professor-in-residence Andrea Billups was hired to teach at WKU in early August, she needed to move quickly from Florida to Bowling Green for her new position.

Billups and her partner, Steve Miller, found a modern, reasonably priced condominium to rent in Bowling Green and signed the lease. They hired

movers to transport their belongings and packed up two cars with their 93-pound black Labrador in tow.

However, upon reaching the condo, Billups received the news it would not be ready for another month due to ongoing construction. She found herself with nowhere to live.

“It became a nightmare after that,” Billups said.

Billups found lodging at a local yet expensive Airbnb and stayed there until the end of fall. After looking at 14

homes and apartments, various offers fell through because of their larger dog, while other places were in bad shape or overpriced. Billups said she finally gave up.

“The city didn’t offer us very much in terms of a short-term rental,” Billups said. “For my first semester, it really took away from me being able to teach properly, because I was having to spend so much time looking for places that were doable.”

In the spring, Billups and Miller

started renting from a WKU faculty member who was going to teach abroad. She said she has been unable to move her belongings from home out of storage and described the situation as being one of utter frustration.

“It’s been very disheartening and left a bad taste in my mouth,” Billups said.

On Dec. 17, 2018, TIME Money published a story listing the best places to live in each state. For Kentucky, TIME SEE HOUSING • PAGE A2

A2 NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Senator’s neighbor faces hefty fine for assault

BY JAKE DRESSMAN HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU A jury at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green awarded Sen. Rand Paul over $582,000 Wednesday, Jan. 30, in a three-day trial against his neighbor.

Rene Boucher, Paul’s immediate neighbor, was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault in November 2017.

During the assault, Paul fractured six ribs.

Boucher’s attorney, Matt Baker, said they would appeal the decision.

“This far exceeds anything we were expecting,” Baker said.

Boucher will owe $7,834 for medical expenses, $200,000 for Paul’s mental and physical suffering and a $375,000 punitive fine that is meant to deter others from similar actions.

ENROLLMENT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT requirements, according to respective general education information.

In December 2017, WKU removed the foreign language requirement for graduation. Since then, the French department dropped to one faculty member and announced the French major

HOUSING

CONTINUED FROM FRONT listed Bowling Green as number one in accordance with the following criteria: median household income and median home listing price.

However, many WKU students and faculty have stories similar to Billups’ and have struggled in finding sustainable housing in Bowling Green.

Louisville native and WKU senior Jay Wells grew up in a middle-class background, and they did not expect to struggle with paying for their housing when they attended WKU in Fall 2015.

However, within the past two years, Wells found themselves living in four or five different places and experiencing homelessness, which they said has completely affected their life.

Due to on-campus university housing being too expensive, Wells searched for off-campus apartments.

To apply for an apartment, Wells needed to give their credit history or the credit history of their parent or co-signer. As Wells had to leave a tense home situation, they said they could not sign their parents onto the lease.

Wells also did not have credit history and did not have someone to co-sign.

“The experience of a student with a parent or co-signer is vastly different than students in poverty living on their own,” Wells said.

Another obstacle they found was the required security deposit, which was between $800 and $1000. The security deposit serves as assurance to the landlord that the apartment will be inhabited for a set period of time and normally also serves as a damage deposit, according to the Kentucky attorney general. Wells said they could not afford the security deposits, which made it difficult to find a place to live.

With no set address, Wells said they experienced food insecurity last year because they were unable to receive an

“This lawsuit wasn’t about me,” Paul tweeted Jan. 30. “It was about all of us and what we find acceptable as a society.

We need to send a clear message that violence is not the answer anytime, anywhere.”

Boucher originally pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days along with a $10,000 fine and 100 hours of community service.

He was initially charged with fourth-degree assault and a Class A misdemeanor, but it was bumped up to a felony assault by a federal court.

Paul’s attorney, Tom Kerrick, said that wasn’t a fitting punishment for Boucher’s “malicious and cowardly behavior.”

“If we err, we err on the side of the victim, and not the criminal,” Kerrick said.

“An assault is a common-sense case.”

The two attorneys each gave a different side to the story in their closing arguments.

Baker said the incident began in 2017 when Boucher cut Paul’s maple tree that

was encroaching into his yard. In response, Paul piled stacks of brush onto their property line. Boucher cleaned up the first two piles, but he burned the third pile and himself in the process, he said.

“There were serious burns on his face, neck and both of his arms,” Boucher said.

The next day, Paul allegedly began reconstructing the burnt pile of brush.

Boucher ran outside and blindsided Paul, fracturing his ribs.

“If I had any two minutes of my life to do over, this would be it,” Boucher said.

He apologized to Paul and his family at his first opportunity to do so, Baker said.

Baker asked the jury not to punish Boucher any more due to his clean record prior to the assault, military service, medical service to the community as a former anesthesiologist and the amount his reputation had.

However, nine of the 12 jurors settled on the $375,000 punitive fine after deliberating for just under two hours. The oth-

would no longer be offered by Fall 2021 due to a lack in enrollment.

International enrollment also decreased by 14 percent among all fouryear public universities from 5,819 students in 2016-17 to 5,003 students in 2017-18. At WKU alone, international enrollment dropped by 28.57 percent from 2016-17 to 2017-18 from 1,169 to 835.

In a Herald editorial board meeting, Caboni estimated international enrollment is about 400 students. Exact data on international enrollment was not available for the 2018-19 academic year.

As previously reported by the Herald, WKU saw four years of steady growth in international enrollment.

From 2010 to 2014, it increased by

140.5 percent from 583 to 1,402. After the 2014-15 academic year, international enrollment has been in decline.

ID in order to go to a food bank. Also, Wells said their lack of sustainable housing put a strain on their schooling at WKU. Without a permanent address, Wells said a student’s FAFSA is unable to go through properly, making it difficult for a student to work on campus or apply for Federal Pell Grants or other financial student aid.

For dependent students, a FAFSA, the free application for federal student aid, requires parental information regarding federal income tax returns,

would not be alive if it wasn’t for that courtesy.”

Wells, who now lives off the lease in an apartment with their best friend, has had to sell all of their belongings to pay rent. Working at WKU Libraries, Wells said about $300 out of a monthly $400 paycheck goes to paying for rent.

“Housing is not a universal right in Bowling Green,” Wells said. “It is literally a human need. We need to start treating it as such.”

Wells said because they are gay and transgender, they can be evicted not

alition for renters’ Rights, said he has seen issues arise between renters and their landlords, including delays in maintenance repairs and random inspections by landlords without notice.

Although renters have a right to privacy, landlords have a right to enter an apartment or house to make repairs, provide maintenance or show property to prospective renters or buyers, according to the Kentucky Attorney General’s rental housing protections.

Serrano said he has also talked to student renters who experienced discrimination from landlords against them for being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

“If they have a grudge against the student, they can walk in, suspect that you’re gay and can evict you without notice,” Serrano said.

Due to the lack of renter’s rights in Bowling Green, Serrano said there is no required or standard time for a landlord to provide an eviction notice.

He said he has seen renters be evicted and given their notice to move off the property within 24 to 48 hours.

Serrano said Bowling Green is also the biggest city in Kentucky that has not adopted the Uniform Landlord Tenant Act, which clarifies the legal duties of landlords and tenants entering into residential lease agreements.

Lexington, Louisville and Somerset are among several cities in Kentucky that have already adopted the act, according to Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

“We want to raise awareness to these issues,” Serrano said. “There are no protections for renters. The landlords can do whatever they like. If there were housing policies in place that we were to follow, we could avoid all these issues.”

“The experience of a student with a parent or cosigner is vastly different than students in poverty living on their own.”

WKU senior JAY WELLS

bank statements, records of investments and records of untaxed income.

If a student cannot use a parent’s information, the FAFSA can still be submitted, but it will be considered incomplete. The student must go to the financial aid office to verify the student’s situation, according to FAFSA. During the summer of 2017, Wells said they were couch-hopping, often living at places for three days at a time. Throughout the past two years, they moved in temporarily with their ex-girlfriend and friends in order to survive, only being able to sign onto a lease between January and August 2018.

Wells said having to move in with their friends and ex-girlfriend put constant pressure on their relationships.

“I felt like a parasite,” Wells said.

“Being off the lease, you’re living completely on the edge. You’re in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety. [My ex-girlfriend and friends] risked their housing and thousands of dollars to keep me alive by giving me shelter. I

only because of being off the lease but also because of any suspicions they are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Bowling Green is the largest city in Kentucky without a Fairness Ordinance. Without it, anyone in Bowling Green can be legally discriminated against in housing, employment and other public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Only 10 cities in Kentucky have passed a Fairness Ordinance, which adds sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories to existing civil rights laws. Maysville became the tenth Kentucky city to pass the ordinance on Aug. 9, 2018, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

In addition to many supporting the passage of a Fairness Ordinance, there are many students and advocates pushing for an increase in renters’ rights overall in Bowling Green.

Francisco Serrano, WKU senior and vice president of the WKU Student Co-

er two sums were unanimous decisions.

Paul, also a former doctor, recovered quickly in respect to the severity of his injuries. He took only Ibuprofen during his recovery, fearing the addictiveness of opioids, and was back to work in 10 days. Paul was able to go skiing, golfing, bicycling and more soon after the assault, Baker said.

However, Kerrick said there was no question this was a serious injury, as Paul got pneumonia twice and one hernia in 2018 due to the assault.

“There was excruciating pain,” Kerrick said. “Every breath, every cough.”

Although Paul never went to the hospital for his injuries, he told the jury his pain on a scale of one to 10 was a 20 immediately after the attack.

Paul and Boucher remain neighbors.

News reporter Jake Dressman can be reached at 270-745-6011 and jacob. dressman200@topper.wku.edu

News Editor Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and rebekah. alvey660@topper.wku.edu. Follow Rebekah Alvey on Twitter at @bekah_alvey

News reporter Nicole Ziege can be reached at 270-745-6011 and nicole. ziege825@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @NicoleZiege.

HOUSING FAIR WKUAPARTMENTS.COM

Tuesday, Feb 26. 11am - 3pm Downing Student Union Get your questions answered with representatives from Bowling Green apartment complexes.

NEWS A3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Student Alliance remembers historical pioneers

BY LAKIERRA DEBERRY HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU Throughout the month of February, Black Student Alliance will be hosting events for Black History Month to give African-American students something to connect with and remember.

Ciara Futrell, who has been president of BSA since Fall 2017, said the organization has provided many activities for African-American students in hopes of promoting involvement. “We try to do things that bring more unity to the African-American culture on campus that we all have common interest in,� Futrell said For Black History Month, BSA will be selling crew necks with the phrase “Black History in the Making� on them and hosting a date night auction on Valentine’s Day in Downing Student Union room 2123 from 4-6 p.m.

There will be general body meetings where students may discuss a variety of topics like how to be professional and what’s happening on-campus or in politics. “We typically celebrate Black History Month throughout the year for our organization, so we don’t focus too

much on just this particular month,�

Futrell said. “However, we do more during the month of February just to celebrate the culture more.�

Keyonna Whaley, a member of the BSA executive board, said she wanted to become involved with BSA because she wanted to be more active on campus.

community through a BSA-operated Instagram page called “The Black Western.� “I’m spotlighting all African-American males and females throughout history that have paved the way for our future,� Whaley said.

Jahari Burnett, an alternate officer for the BSA executive board, said he

“I’m spotlighting all African-American males and females throughout history that have paved the way for our future.�

BSA executive board member KEYONNA WHALEY

“BSA was one of the first organizations that welcomed me with open arms,� Whaley said. “I asked a million questions, and they answered them.

Also, I loved the events that they had on campus.�

Normally, Whaley said a lot of students attend the general body meetings and events. However, throughout the month, she said she wants to highlight people at WKU who have made a difference in the African-American

WKUHERALD.COM

feels it is important for the black community on campus to have positive leaders encouraging students to prosper and succeed in everything they do.

He said BSA gives him the opportunity to be a positive leader to other African-American students, which is the reason he joined. “As an organization, we hold events and meetings that apply to the interest of students within our culture,� Burnett said. “The events and meetings

have held a great outcome to our standards, but we would like to have more diversity,�

During Black History Month, Burnett said BSA plans to shine light on the people in the past and present within the Bowling Green community who have made a positive impact on African-American culture. BSA aims to do this by showing various movies in the DSU Nite Class room throughout February to anyone interested in watching.

The first movie will be “The Hate U Give,� a 2018 film inspired by police brutality and other African-American-centric social issues, which will be screened on Thursday. Whaley said it was selected because it was a new movie to our generation that many people have not seen. “It was something that spoke to me, and it was something that related to our society today,� Futrell said.

The other three selected movies are “The Wood,� which will be showing on Sunday, “LIFE� on Feb. 17 and “The Help� on Feb. 24.

News reporter Lakierra DeBerry can be reached at 270-745-6011 and lakierra.deberry262@topper.wku.edu Follow her on Twitter at @Kierra_DeB.

CONNECT WITH US ONLINE @WKUHERALD

SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITY! Residential Counselor for Summer Programs for Gifted Students REQUIREMENTS

WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies will employ 14-16 residential counselors for the Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (June 9 – 21) and the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (June 23 – July 13). Counselors will supervise the conduct and activities of 12-16 residential students, plan and implement recreational activities, and work under the direct supervision of Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive of The Center for Gifted Studies.

• College degree or currently in second year of college • Strong academic performance • Strong moral character • Successful experiences working with young people and shared interests with young people

Salary of $350 per week plus room and meals!

HOW TO APPLY: Complete an application and upload a resume at wku.edu/gifted/counselor. For more information, contact (270) 745-6323 or gifted@wku.edu. Applications are due March 1st, 2019.

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OPINION

A4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

ILLUSTRATION BY MADALYN STACK • HERALD

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL Kentucky governor sticks his foot in his mouth (again) with ‘soft’ comments about last week’s weather

HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

Issue: Gov. Matt Bevin’s comment about Kentuckians being “soft” for canceling school was another example of him spreading anti-education rhetoric which matches his policies, hindering higher education across the state.

Our stance: Kentuckians deserve a governor who supports education in his words and actions instead of repeatedly demeaning students and teachers.

Last week Gov. Matt Bevin said he believed Kentuckians were “soft” for canceling school during extremely cold temperatures while on a Louisville radio show.

“Now we cancel school for cold … There’s no ice going with it or any snow,” Bevin said on 840 WHAS radio. “We’re getting soft … we’re getting soft.”

The polar vortex, which took over the Midwest last week, killed over 20 people in the United States and made the temperature feel like negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit outside in some parts of Kentucky. Children aren’t safe outside once windchill reaches minus 13 degrees, as frostbite can set in at a rapid pace, making Bevin’s comment not only ludicrous but also dangerous.

Bevin’s comment would seem out of place for most politicians, but this is just the next example in a long line of anti-education comments from the governor since he took office in December 2015. When over 35 school districts were closed due to teacher protests in April 2018, Bevin said teachers were at fault for any child who was molested, beaten or injured at home while teachers This week’s poll

were protesting.

Even worse is Bevin assuming children are always safe in school, as the United States had 288 school shootings from 2009 to May 2018, while France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy and England had a combined five in that time period.

Bevin’s comments range from abhorrent to belittling, especially to college students with non-traditional majors.

In February 2016 he said taxpayers shouldn’t have to support students who want to study French literature, instead suggesting those benefits should be reserved for students with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors.

What is Bevin’s undergraduate degree in, you might ask?

East Asian Studies.

Along with earning his degree outside of the STEM field from Washington and Lee University in 1989, Bevin became fluent in Japanese and even studied abroad in Japan.

It’s odd that someone who graduated with a non-traditional major frequently antagonizes students who choose to do the same, making it hypocritical and short-sighted of Bevin to dissuade today’s students who choose a similar educational path as him.

“I understand the desire for STEM majors, because they can bring an immediate improvement to Kentucky, but non-STEM fields also bring benefits,” said Eric Finn, a Chinese and East Asian religions and culture major. “We need professionals from Kentucky who are prepared for the global world. [WKU] says we’re [an American] university with international reach, but how far does that reach go with just STEM fields? I think Bevin should understand the importance of an international and diverse student body.”

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A student who majors in French literature could follow the same path as Bevin and study abroad in France, learn more about a different country’s culture and return to their university as a more well-rounded student with unique experiences to share.

Kentucky’s education problems extend beyond Bevin, though. Last April a new state budget was approved by the Kentucky General Assembly that would cut public college funding by 6.25 percent over the course of the next two years. The approval of this would also mean tenured faculty members could lose their jobs if their curriculum was canceled, endangering students with non-traditional majors like the ones Bevin criticized.

Bevin also berated Judge Phillip Shepherd of Franklin Circuit Court in May 2018, calling him the “most incompetent hack of a judge” after he declined to let Bevin depose sworn out-of-court testimonies from multiple plaintiffs during a hearing about Kentucky’s new public pension law.

Bevin also supports arming teachers in order to prevent school shootings along with Republicans like Rep. Robert Goforth. A few months after the Marshall County and Parkland shootings, Bevin blamed the deaths on violent video games, too much cell phone use and overmedicating children while maintaining guns were not the issue, saying kids brought guns to show-and-tell at his school growing up and no one was killed.

Kentuckians, especially students, should keep these moments in mind as the election for governor approaches this year. This isn’t a totally partisan issue, as three Republicans have already declared to run against Bevin. Instead, this more of an issue of choosing someone who will fight for students and educators while giving them the respect they deserve.

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P A I L E L L R L E T A R G G E D E F A D N C S B E K E N I S G U E S

R K A I A D O N I S O E A S A S R A A C T C R O H A P E N N R A E A V A T E R

B I L L O W E E L

L I K E N I U S E I V N G U N A N I C A T S O P A R A S T T L I T E N E E G N P

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PHOTO

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Andy Jordan, 63, has been a mail carrier off and on for six years in Bowling Green. Jordan worked in the restaurant business for most of his life but when he retired he decided he was too young and wanted to get back to work so he decided to become a mail carrier.

THROUGH RAIN OR SNOW

PHOTOS AND COPY BY KENDALL WARNER HERALD.PHOTO@WKU.EDU

National “Thank A Mail Carrier Day” was on Monday. This day comes as a response to the many men and women who work all around the country,

Ron Henry, 51, has been a mailman since 1992 when he started in Cincinnati then moved to Bowling Green to continue his career in 1994. “I’m on the best route in Bowling Green, the Briarwood neighborhood,” Henry said. “A lot of people on this route get a lot of post but are older people who can’t really get out so they’re dependent on us to get them their paper and everyday things.” Henry said there are a lot of good people on this route and it makes him feel good that people can depend on him.

six days a week. Historically, this job has been a vital service to the country and mail carriers take great pride in what they do. Mail carriers often work 12-hour days to serve the people in their community. So take a moment and thank your mail carrier today.

Wes Selvidge has been a mail carrier in Bowling Green for 25 years. Selvidge decided to become a mail carrier simply for better money. “My favorite thing about his job is seeing all the people along my daily mail routes,” Selvidge said.

Heather Gregory, 40, has been a mail carrier in Bowling Green for 13 years. After serving in the Marine Corps, Gregory decided to continue working for the government by becoming a mail carrier. “Everyday is different,” Gregory said. “It changes everyday but I love being outside, the customers, not being stuck somewhere in a cubicle, and being active out and moving around.”

Nikki Crews, 26, has been a mail carrier for one year and two months. “I wanted to have a job where I could be proud to say hey I’m a mailman and something my son could look up to,” Crews said.

B1

LIFE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKU alumna impacts community through empowerment

BY TAYLOR METCALF HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

FAHAD ALOTAIBI • HERALD

Larry Duncan of Bowling Green works as a Lyft and Uber driver as a side job. “I love driving and interacting with new people every day,” Duncan said. “I usually talk with my passengers about their day, and I learn a lot about them, and after their permission, I share a picture of us on my Instagram account.”

DO YOU EVEN LYFT?

Lyft driver tells stories one ride at a time

BY KELLEY HOLLAND HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

With ride-sharing apps gaining popularity, many people have taken up these driving jobs in order to make some extra cash.

Larry Duncan, a WKU alum, took this opportunity in 2017 and is now driving for both Lyft and Uber. Between the two, Larry said he has given around 2000 rides.

“I just love doing it,” Larry said. “I really enjoy it. It’s just a blast to me. I’ve always enjoyed driving.”

Duncan, who has lived in Bowling Green since he was 7 years old, works as a computer systems engineer for the city. His wife is a teacher in Logan County who is often busy grading papers or creating lesson plans. Their eight children are grown, so Duncan decided he wanted to keep himself occupied while making some extra money.

He said he has always been the “designated driver” among friends and finds driving relaxing, so Lyft and Uber are the perfect fit.

“It’s like an adventure every night,” Duncan said. “You never know who you’re going to meet or where you’re going to end up.”

Duncan said he has met many interesting people, including a man who invited him to come watch a Steeplechase horse race in Nashville. Duncan said he met another man who kept complimenting and touching Duncan’s hair.

“I talked to some of the other drivers, and they all knew who he was,” Duncan said. “He was known for doing this.”

Larry is a part of a few different Facebook groups where Lyft and Uber drivers provide helpful tips and information to one another. One group called GR Rideshare Adventures is based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It provides a podcast, website and YouTube channel where its members share experiences. Another group is strictly local, allowing drivers in Bowling Green to connect and share information.

“People get the impression that they’ll never see him again,” Kathy Duncan, Larry’s wife, said. “They open up a lot of times to him. He’s kind of serving as a counselor, just being able to listen.”

Larry said while he has had passengers who were out celebrating a special occasion, he has also had some who had just experienced the loss of someone close to them. In such situa-

“Everybody has a story to tell, and he wanted to be able to incorporate how people can tell their story but without making them feel obligated to.”

Larry’s wife KATHY DUNCAN

Given the area, Duncan said he provides rides for many college students.

After noticing many of his passengers taking photos during the ride, he began to think about what he could do to connect with them. Soon after, he got the idea to start an Instagram page called “Lyfting With Larry” where he posts photos with his passengers. He also set up a dash cam and started a YouTube channel where he posts videos of funny rides and interesting conversations.

Besides his social media presence, Duncan said he finds it rewarding to know he’s getting his passengers home safely, especially if they’ve been out drinking. He also allows his passengers to talk to him about nearly anything, which he says puts him in a position similar to a bartender.

tions, he said he does his best to comfort them and sometimes offers to pray with them.

Kathy said she feels that being a Lyft and Uber driver has allowed her husband’s personality to shine through even more, which she said is visible in the videos he posts.

“I see the joy it brings him,” Kathy said. “It just seemed like a natural extension for him to be able to do this.”

One of the most prominent aspects of Larry’s job is the fact it gives people a chance to tell their stories.

“Everybody has a story to tell, and he wanted to be able to incorporate how people can tell their story but without making them feel obligated to,” Kathy said. “I think it’s his personality and SEE LYFT • PAGE B2

Owning your own beauty business, competing in beauty pageants and making time to work in the community can be difficult, but Andrea Denise Bolden has found time to do it all.

Bolden is an Elizabethtown native who went to WKU in 2008 for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in student affairs. She also owns and runs Bolden Beauty Industry, a business that offers services in hair, clothing and cosmetics. She has since become a working piece in the community, and she doesn’t plan to stop.

Bolden currently holds the local title of “Miss Bowling Green” and is preparing for the initial stages of “Miss Kentucky United States,” which will take place from Feb.15-17 in Van Meter Hall.

Katy Moody Cusick, a part-time director of the “Miss Kentucky United States” pageant, said her goal for the upcoming event is to make it bigger and better.

“We have a great number of contestants, but they’re also quality contestants,” Cusick said.

Because she grew up in foster care and took a chance by going to WKU, Bolden said she feels a passion for working with other children who are currently growing up the same way she did. She volunteers with foster care as well as Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana troop 1861, where she helps children, especially young women, feel empowered. She also volunteers with Feeding America, the Warren County NAACP and the Bowling Green Housing Authority’s Mobile Grocery, helping out where she’s needed and lending emotional support to girls and women.

Thursday, Bolden will be attending a service project, “Hearts for Kids,” on campus. The program will be a Valentine’s Day card-writing party.

“I’m going to provide Valentine’s Day cards to a local Head Start program and a foster care agency,” Bolden said. “Just individually wrapped candy and cards.”

After traveling from her hometown to try college life, Bolden said she fell in love with WKU. She was a shy freshman, she said, but she wanted to try new things and get involved. She was crowned “Miss Black Western” and “Miss Black and Gold” during her time on campus.

Bolden stressed the idea of students getting out into the community and getting involved in what WKU has to offer.

“You come to college, and there are all these opportunities,” Bolden said.

“Western has always been good about that—providing tons of opportunities for people to get involved in. I encourage other girls, women, college SEE EMPOWERMENT • PAGE B2

Printmaking Club exhibit focuses on mental health

BY GRIFFIN FLETCHER HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

Of all artforms specialized in at WKU, printmaking is perhaps one of the lesser-known. However, with proper technique and a story to tell, it often yields stunning results.

This is visible through an art showcase named the “WKU Student-Jury Printmaking Exhibition” located in Spencer’s Coffee. The showcase features work of various printmaking styles including intaglio and relief created by over 30 current WKU art majors and recent graduates.

WKU printmaking and art professor Marilee Salvator serves as the WKU Printmaking Club faculty adviser. She said she believes the showcase afforded many printmaking students a professional opportunity to display their art for the community. She said this community focus is especially relevant

to the club.

“Printmaking is very community-based,” Salvator said. “[The printmaking club is] like a special kind of community, sort of family.”

Though the showcase premiered in December, it will remain viewable along the walls of Spencer’s until midMarch. Coffeehouse owner Justin Shepherd said art has always been important to the shop.

“We’ve had art hanging here since the beginning,” Shepherd said. “We like to change it up every so often just to give customers the chance to check out different artists.”

Though Spencer’s originally intended to take down the current showcase during January, Shepherd said he and the shop’s staff enjoyed the showcase enough to keep it in-store awhile longer.

“We really like it,” Shepherd said. “It brings more life to the space.”

Printmaking club President Bronwyn Liddle, an Elizabethtown junior,

said she believes the showcase has remained for other reasons, too.

“I feel like the work that we have showcased here is all stuff that invites a lot of contemplation and really thinking about what’s going on,” Liddle said. “I’d like to think that’s why they wanted to keep it around longer.”

”It’s definitely worth taking the time to go look at all of the pieces and really take them in. There are a lot of stories being told.”

Printmaking club President BRONWYN LIDDLE

Liddle said almost every student in WKU’s printmaking program submit-

ted work to the showcase, including herself. She said this allowed for an abundance of prints of varying subject matter to be displayed publicly.

“It’s definitely worth taking the time to go look at all of the pieces and really take them in,” Liddle said. “There are a lot of different stories being told.”

She included that many of these stories involve traumatic undertones regarding loss and mental illness. As for her work at the showcase, Liddle said much of it helped her cope effectively with the difficulties that served as inspiration.

“It’s both a way of helping myself work through things and also a way of trying to maybe help out someone else who’s been in the same boat that I’ve been in,” Liddle said. “I personally would like it if someone could look at some of my artwork and find something relatable.”

One of Liddle’s pieces covered the SEE PRINTMAKING • PAGE B2

B2 LIFE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Collecting couple turns hobby into livelihood

BY JULIE SISLER HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

When Bobby and J.C. Mosley began collecting over 20 years ago, they had no idea it would one day become their livelihood.

Bobby has always considered himself a music lover. He began by collecting music: records, tapes, CDs and whatever struck his fancy.

“Records are just now sort of coming back,” Bobby said. “But I was collecting them way before they were considered cool.”

Mosley, a fan of classic rock, eventually found his collection of vintage items to include not just musical albums but also equipment like stereos.

“I really like it all,” Bobby said. “I have quite the collection of stereo systems at home.”

While Bobby focused his collecting on items of a musical nature, J.C. began her own collections. J.C.’s love for games and novelty items led her to begin collecting gaming consoles and games. Like Bobby, J.C. concentrated on finding vintage items.

“I just liked the toys and games,” J.C. said. “I played with them with my boys, and I just started finding more and more of them. So I started looking for more and collecting them.”

J.C.’s collecting also reached into other various categories, including films, books, toys and novelty items.

“Really, we like everything,” J.C. said of her and Bobby’s diverse collections.

As Bobby and J.C.’s collections grew, so did their ambitions. The couple decided to make their collections public by opening a store.

“About two years ago, we got the idea for the store,” Bobby said. “We had started collecting more in the last five

EMPOWERMENT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 students, whoever to just get out there and do it. There’s not a wrong time to be your true self.”

LYFT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 his demeanor that makes them open up.”

In the future, Duncan said he hopes to expand his YouTube channel by not only posting funny videos but by show-

PRINTMAKING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 topic of self-reflection, which she represented via a relief print displaying a woman staring into a mirror. In observing the piece further, numerous details, such as wooden bones and demonic features, are reflected. Liddle said the personal nature of the work initially caused her to hesitate in displaying it.

“Creativity is something that’s so personal to all of us,” Liddle said. “And when you try and open that part of yourself up to other people, it’s really scary … Being an artist of any kind, it really does invite this level of vulnerability that you have to be OK with.”

She said Spencer’s Coffee’s tie to the community helped her overcome this worry, as she hopes the showcase reveals the oftentimes powerful capabilities of printmaking to a wider audience.

years or so, and I knew we really had enough for a shop.”

This idea evolved into Melodies and Memories, a specialty buy-sell-trade shop that Bobby said aims to have the best variety of games and records, providing something for everyone to choose from.

“The store’s name really shows what we’re doing here,” Bobby said. “We’ve got music and a lot of things that will take you back and bring back memories.”

The couple originally opened a small storefront a short distance from downtown Bowling Green but relocated after about seven weeks to a larger venue right in Fountain Square Park, opening officially on Dec. 15.

The new location, though still being worked on, includes two floors full of merchandise. The first floor features bins of records, shelves of movies and games, cases of novelty items and wallto-ceiling coverage by posters—all for sale.

“We’ve had a few times where someone will point straight up at the ceiling because they like a poster, and we’ll just say, ‘Let me grab the ladder,’” J.C. said.

The second floor showcases musical and stereo equipment. The couple said plans are in the works for a stage area for local bands.

The entire building is filled with items new and old such as vintage stereo systems, a record of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors,” a book about the band Queen and a steam whistle at the front counter.

Bobby also noted that if the in-store collection does not have what a customer is looking for, he will find it and keep it on hold for the customer.

“Over the years, I’ve bought a couple duplicates of some things, so if the one in-store gets bought, I’ll tell a customBolden said she is just an “everyday woman” who has a passion for her community and wants to empower other people. She said when a person is able to live their own way and follow their own path, they simply shine a little differently from the rest.

CHRIS KOHLEY • HERALD

The Mosley’s moved Melodies and Memories from 10th street to the Square in December. Bobby said the new store location warrants more foot traffic and more space to display their eclectic collection of vintage items.

er to give me a day to go dig it out at home, and I can bring it in for them,” Bobby said.

Putting the items they’ve collected over the years up for sale has not come without challenges, and both Bobby and J.C. admitted they’ve struggled to bring in certain items.

“It can be hard to bring some stuff here,” J.C. said. “There have been some things that I’ll bring here, and if they don’t sell fast enough, I end up taking it right back home to keep it for myself.”

Opening the shop also led Bobby to expand his horizons in terms of what he purchases.

“I’ve always been into older music,” Bobby said. “But now, I’ve been starting to order newer music and getting records of newly released music.”

Bobby said this is an effort to appeal to both new and old collectors. He

said he hopes mixing new in with old will draw in individuals who otherwise might not be interested in records.

However, Bobby said vintage is on its way back in.

“Old music is making a comeback,” Bobby said. “Vintage is starting to be cool. That’s why everyone wants a record player and a record collection.”

The proof is in the foot traffic, which Bobby said has been higher than he expected. He said he’s been able to speak with individuals of all ages, including a great deal of college students.

Bobby said he hopes the store will eventually become a place in Bowling Green people go to when they want what they can’t find anywhere else.

“Because WKU has given me so much, I want to be able to share a little piece of my story with other students,” Bolden said. “Whether they’re first-generation students, students who came from foster care or students who came from adverse backgrounds.”

In the future, Bolden said she plans to continue her work in the community in hopes of empowering others.

Features reporter Julie Sisler can be reached at 270-745-6291 and julie.sisler389@topper.wku.edu. Follow Julie on social media at @julie_sisler.

Features reporter Taylor Metcalf can be reached at 270-745-6291 and taylor. metcalf496@topper.wku.edu.

casing his passenger’s unique stories.

“If I’m going to be out here doing this, I’m going to make it fun,” Duncan said.

Features reporter Kelley Holland can be reached at 270-745-6291 and kelley.holland872@topper.wku.edu.

“Spencer’s is a really familiar place,” Liddle said. “It feels like a safe place to show work that you might be a little nervous about, and it gets it in front of a lot of eyes, which is always really nice.”

Liddle said this drive to share work with the community is not only important to her but the entire printmaking club. She said she believes the act of sharing art inspires elevated confidence, which is vital to sharing personal struggles with others and raising awareness.

“One of the biggest things that in the club we want to do is help people be more confident in doing things in front of the community,” Liddle said. “Every time you have to engage with a stranger about art, it’s just another little brick in the wall of being confident.”

Reporter Griffin Fletcher can be reached at 270-745-2655 and griffin. fletcher398@topper.wku.edu.

WKUHERALD.COM CONNECT WITH US ONLINE @WKUHERALD

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SPORTS B3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

QUIT STAHL-ING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4 recently, especially early in games, a fact not lost on Stansbury.

Banton will be an extremely solid player in the coming years. However, right now, teams have him ďŹ gured out.

He’s still a freshman, though, so some time on the bench should do him some good.

Beyond Banton’s performance, Bearden has absolutely earned the starting job. He shined during the last road trip, going for four assists and 10 points against Southern Mississippi, and in the recent home stand he went for seven assists and 22 points against Texas-San Antonio. “Regardless of starting or coming off the bench,� Bearden said after the

game. “I’m just trying to give the same energy when I came out there.�

Early in the season, it seemed Bearden might be on the verge of squandering his talent. Following an ill-advised temporary entry into the NBA draft, he returned to the Hill and promptly became academically ineligible for the start of the season.

The team was less than thrilled with Bearden’s attitude at that time. “We told him, ‘You got to get your stuff together, man, and understand that we need you on this team,’� freshman center Charles Bassey said. “So right now he understands, he knows that we need him, he needs us.�

Following his return, Bearden started out slowly. He played decently against Troy, scoring 12 points, followed by an 11-point performance against Belmont.

However, with both contests ending in

defeat for the Hilltoppers, Stansbury was looking for more out of him. “I thought Monte came off all those ball screens really looking to score way too much,� Stansbury said after the Troy loss. “Way too much. You gotta get the ball moving.�

Following some games where Stansbury buried him on the bench, with even the television announcers speculating that he was in the doghouse, Dalano Banton started struggling, especially early in games. Bearden started playing more and more minutes, starting after a tough home loss to Florida International.

Bearden played 26 minutes against Florida Atlantic, going for 11 rebounds and an assist in the loss and has played more minutes than Banton every game since. The UTSA game was his real coming out party, and even though he

LADY TOPPERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4 UTSA Convocation Center, 81-62.

Collins said he was proud of his team’s effort in what could have been a trap game. “It was a great atmosphere with all the kids in here,� Collins said. “There were probably two or three thousand kids making a lot of noise, and so, obviously, if we don’t get off to a great start, then the game stays real close, and there’s a lot of energy in the gym for them. And so, we kind of took some of that steam out of that air and got rolling early.�

The Lady Toppers appeared ready to run UTEP off the court two days later on Sunday, but WKU was in for more of a ďŹ ght than the team could have ever expected.

After leading the Miners by 10 points in the ďŹ rst quarter, the Lady Toppers trailed UTEP by 12 in the second period. WKU played from behind for most of the contest but stayed in the game thanks to the foul line. The Lady Toppers went 13-for-15 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and got away from the Don Haskins Center with a win, 64-61. “I told them that we didn’t play our best game, but you played hard, and we survived, and this is exactly what it will feel like in the ďŹ rst round of the conference tournament,â€? Collins said. “The team we’ll play will likely come off of a game before that and will have won and will have some positive momentum, and so, we might have to survive a game like this in order to advance to the second round and be able to play another game.â€?

Along with their ďŹ rst-ever sweep of the West Texas road trip, the Lady Toppers also gained valuable insights on how they can continue to execute as the season rolls on.

WKU pounded the ball inside offensively, outscoring UTSA 38-28 and UTEP 39-33 in the painted area. On defense, the Lady Toppers forced exactly 23 turnovers in both games and also translated those takeaways to over 20 points in each contest.

Redshirt junior forward Dee Givens and sophomore forward Raneem Elgedawy modeled WKU’s ideologies on both ends against the Roadrunners and Miners. “We’re resilient, and we’re tough,�

Givens said. “Even though our offense wasn’t there [against UTEP], we focused, we got our minds back on defense, and we came out with the win.

You know, we just learned that if your offense isn’t there, you can still win the game. You just got to focus more on de-

JOSEPH BARKOFF • HERALD

Junior guard Whitney Creech charges to the hoop during the Lady Toppers’ game against Southern Miss in Diddle Arena on Jan. 24.

fense.�

Givens tallied 25 points and ďŹ ve steals against UTSA, while Elgedawy racked up 16 points and four rebounds against the Roadrunners. Givens followed that performance up with 26 points and four steals against UTEP, while Elgedawy snatched her fourth double-double of the season with 27 points and 10 rebounds against the Miners.

The Lady Toppers are the only squad in C-USA with two players in the top ďŹ ve in scoring since conference play began. In nine games, Givens is averaging 20.2 points per game (second), and Elgedawy is scoring 20.0 points per contest (tied for third).

Collins said that although Elgedawy is playing well as of late, he expects even more. “Raneem does a great job of posting up in there and working, and we’re not really great at ďŹ nding her when she needs the ball,â€? Collins said. “Sometimes we’re late, sometimes we miss her altogether. And so, we’ve got to continue to work and get better at that, and when we do, that’s going to make us a better basketball team altogether, because then we can play inside-outside more often.â€?

This week, WKU will return home for its ďŹ nal two-game homestand of C-USA action.

The Lady Toppers will begin their home stretch with a matchup against Rice (18-3, 9-0 C-USA) on Thursday.

Rice, the only C-USA squad with an unblemished conference record, received a vote in the AP Top 25 poll a week ago.

The ďŹ rst-place Owls boast C-USA’s best scoring defense since league play began, while WKU has the best scoring offense.

WKU will welcome eighth-place North Texas (11-10, 4-5 C-USA) to Bowling Green two days later on Saturday. Junior Anisha George is averaging 10 rebounds per game for the Mean Green in league play, good for third in C-USA. George is also shooting 63 percent from the oor, which is the best

didn’t show as much on the scoresheet, Bearden played extremely well against UTEP, making some key passes, including a nice bounce pass under the basket to set up a monstrous dunk by Bassey. “He’s a true point guard, you understand,â€? Bassey said. “He knows how to control the game, he knows how to ow the game, the game goes to him.â€?

For now, Bearden is the answer at point guard. Maybe he won’t be next week, maybe he won’t be in the conference tournament, and maybe he won’t be in the NCAA tournament, but for now, he’s playing well, and the team is responding to him, which is all Stansbury can really ask for.

Sports Editor Matt Stahl can be reached at 270-745-6291 and matthew. stahl551@topper.wku.edu. Follow him

ďŹ eld goal percentage among qualiďŹ ed players.

Now more than halfway through its conference slate, WKU will have only ďŹ ve regular-season games remaining after Saturday, including each of its next four on the road.

The Lady Toppers have road rematches with fourth-place Marshall (13-9, 7-2 C-USA) and North Texas on the horizon along with a home-andaway series against second-place Middle Tennessee (17-5, 8-1 C-USA) and an away showcase versus sixth-place Alabama-Birmingham (18-4, 6-3 C-USA). “I think the schedule for whatever reason has worked out for us the way it’s kind of building and ramping up toward some key matchups down the stretch,â€? Collins said. “And so, I’m really excited about these matchups. I think it’s going to mean a lot, I think our players have some big opportunities ahead of them ‌ It should be a lot of fun.â€?

WKU will look to halt Rice’s ight through C-USA Thursday at 6 p.m. in Diddle Arena.

Women’s basketball reporter Drake Kizer can be reached at 270-745-2653 and clinton.kizer287@topper.wku.edu.

Follow him on Twitter at @drakekizer_.

GET $15 FOR EVERY $100 DINING DOLLARS YOU ADD TO YOUR WKU ID FROM FEB 4-18 PURCHASE ONLINE AT TOPNET.WKU.EDU FOR MORE INFO: VISIT WWW.WKU.EDU/WKURG OR CALL 270.745.2416

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS

B4

BRITTANY MORRISON • HERALD

WKU senior guard Lamonte Bearden goes toward the hoop during WKU’s game at Diddle Arena on Feb. 2, 2019. The Hilltoppers came out on top beating UTEP with a final score of 76-59.

PLAYING FOR KEEPS Hilltoppers find success by cutting turnovers

BY ALEC JESSIE HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

After struggling for much of the season, the Hilltoppers may have turned a corner on the issue of turning over the basketball. Sixteen giveaways in the season opener turned a nine-point halftime lead into a blowout loss at Washington. WKU also turned it over 16 times in a closer loss to Belmont in December.

The number ramped up during conference play. Coming into their Thursday matchup with Texas-San Antonio, the Hilltoppers averaged 16 turnovers per game in Conference USA play and turned the ball over 15 times in the first half alone in a win over Marshall on Jan. 21.

“That’s been something we’ve struggled with,” Stansbury said. “We haven’t been the most consistent passing team. It’s not one of our strengths. We have to find a way to limit easy baskets

QUIT STAHL-ING

Bearden, at this point, is Stansbury’s best option

BY MATT STAHL HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU Lamonte Bearden is certainly not without his flaws. He takes stupid shots, can be a ball hog and might not take the game seriously enough at all times.

But right now, Bearden is the best option at point guard for Rick Stansbury’s Hilltoppers.

“I think he’s been for sure the best he’s been all year long for us,” Stansbury said. “I think he’s getting a little more rhythm, continuity to his game.”

A good part of this is the fact Dalano Banton has not looked good as of late.

After balling out in some games early in the season while Bearden was academically ineligible and even following his return, Banton has struggled SEE QUIT STAHL-ING • PAGE B3

off of live-ball turnovers.”

However, last week’s overtime win over UTSA seemed to spark the WKU offense. The Hilltoppers scored 96 points in the victory, which is the highest point total WKU has registered this season. Moreover, WKU only turned the ball over six times and dished out 17 assists in 45 minutes of basketball.

The Hilltoppers followed up the efficient offensive outing with another against Texas-El Paso. WKU shot 52 percent in the second half and turned the ball over just nine times in a 16-point blowout win. After averaging 16 turnovers a game in conference play, WKU limited the total to 15 during the two-game homestand. The Hilltoppers have maintained a 27:15 assist to turnover ratio in the last two games, which is a major improvement from the previous trends.

“We probably haven’t turned it over in transition like we’ve always done,” Stansbury said. “We haven’t done that as much lately. That starts with the point-guard play to initiate the offense

and create easier plays for your teammates.”

One of the key switches head coach Rick Stansbury made to boost the offensive production was in the starting

“We have to find a way to limit easy baskets off of live-ball turnovers.”

Head coach RICK STANSBURY lineup. Over the last two games, senior Lamonte Bearden took over for freshman Dalano Bearden at point guard with solid results.

Bearden has 14 assists to just three turnovers in his two starts and hit the tying free throws against UTSA to send the game to overtime. With the se-

nior guard running the offense, WKU scored on eight of 10 possessions in the final five minutes to pick up a very important home-conference win.

After the victory over UTSA, Stansbury called Bearden’s play the key to the win.

“I thought Lamonte was very steady for us,” Stansbury said. “I thought he was a huge key. Seven assists to one turnover. That’s the best we’ve had from him.”

Even with starting, Bearden sees his role as similar to when when he came off the bench.

“Whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, I’m just trying to give the same energy when I come out there,” Bearden said.

WKU will look to keep the ball rolling at Rice on Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Men’s basketball reporter Alec Jessie can be reached at 270-745-6291 and alec.jessie226@topper.wku.edu. Follow Alec on Twitter at @Alec_Jessie

Lady Toppers get sweep on Texas trip

BY DRAKE KIZER HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

Prior to last week’s excursion to West Texas, the WKU women’s basketball team had not fared particularly well during its road trips to the Lone Star State. WKU had posted a 2-3 record in road games against Texas-San Antonio (6-15, 1-8 C-USA) and Texas-El Paso (4-18, 1-8 C-USA) since joining Conference USA in 2014-15.

The Lady Toppers had never won in San Antonio and dropped last year’s regular-season finale in El Paso, which cost WKU a share of the C-USA regular-season crown.

“I think there are a lot of competitive teams in this conference,” head coach Greg Collins said. “There are a lot of teams that play better, like everybody else, at home, and it’s a tough road trip … They get some energy from the crowd, and so, it’s always a challenge, and we’re looking forward to that challenge. It’ll be another test for this team.”

Defeating both the Roadrunners and Miners was far from a forgone conclusion, but the Lady Toppers knew they

JOSEPH BARKOFF • HERALD

Freshman forward Jae’Lisa Allen charges toward the hoop during the Lady Topper’s game against Marshall on Jan. 12.

had to rid themselves of past woes and reverse their curse.

WKU began blazing a path to that goal against UTSA on Thursday.

The Lady Toppers silenced an early-morning crowd, shooting 46 percent from the floor and 43 percent

from deep. WKU also won the rebounding battle, 31-29. WKU was no Wile E. Coyote, as the Lady Toppers foiled the Roadrunners in short order and scored the program’s first-ever win inside the

SEE LADY TOPPERS • PAGE B3