January 22, 2018

The Herald is undergoing a big change this semester, for the first time since 1969 the Herald will be publishing once a week. You can pick up a copy of the paper every Tuesday this semester and 24/7 at wkuherald.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @wkuherald.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKU faces growing budget deficit

BY EMILY DELETTER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

President Timothy Caboni estimated that WKU could have a budget deficit of almost $40 million, if statewide budget cuts proposed by Gov. Matt Bevin go into effect.

WKU would lose $4.6 million a year from state funding, which would go on top of the more than $15 million deficit the university has already acquired, according to a statement from the university. In a meeting with College Heights Herald editors, Caboni said there will be difficult decisions that have to be made, including looking at

a “reduction of staff.”

“I want to be clear, these are going to be incredibly difficult conversations during the next several months,” Caboni said. “They have significant implications for programs, some programs, but more importantly, will affect individuals and their families.”

An increase in the statewide pension obligation for WKU would also add $9 million to the budget deficit. Bevin has previously stated that pensions will be

fully funded, with an addition of $1.1 billion going into the pension system.

“A $40 million lift for an institution of this size is five times the magnitude of any reduction we’ve experienced,” Caboni said. “Eight million dollars is the largest cut the institution has negotiated through.”

WKU has previously used one-time dollars to temporarily cover the shortfall, but Caboni said this method was “not sustainable or a recipe for long-

VOLUME 93, ISSUE 01

ILLUSTRATION BY CRAIG OSTERTAG & SAM FLICK PHOTO BY KATHRYN ZIESIG• HERALD

term success.” Last semester, carryforward funds were used to attempt to cover the budget deficit.

Administrators said they must deal with a decrease in international enrollment, furthering the budget deficit and shift their focus to other types of student enrollment.

Ann Mead, senior vice president for finance and administration, said the current deficit is due to enrollment issues. The WKU Office of Institutional Research reported that 17,215 students were enrolled during the fall 2017 semester, which was a three percent drop from the fall 2016 semester.

In an email, Mead said an additional $10 million is being counted toward

SEE BUDGET • PAGE A2

Construction complete on Ogden College Hall

BY NICOLE ZIEGE HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

Ogden College Hall opened its doors Monday for its first semester of classes after construction was completed in mid-December and faculty and staff moved into their offices over winter break.

The $32.2 million Ogden Hall is about 80,000 square feet, four stories tall and provides about 36 new laboratory spaces. Construction for the new facility had no delays, Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russell said.

“This is the exact schedule we had, so really it went very well,” Russell said.

“It is a great building for our students.

It is providing just brand new teaching spaces.”

The new facility replaced Thompson

Complex North Wing, which was the laboratory building built in 1960 and taken down in 2015. Funding for the renovation project including Ogdentotaled around $48 million and came from money allocated by the state, Russell said.

Owensboro freshman and business data analytics major Shelby Wathen works as a receptionist at Ogden Hall.

Wathen said the facility “has a very fresh vibe.”

“It’s like a pair of white sneakers that you don’t want to wear out because you know they’re going to get dirty,” Wathen said. “I really like the building because it’s new and different from all the other ones.”

Erlanger freshman and chemistry major Hana Floyd has a chemistry lab in Ogden Hall this semester.

SEE OGDEN COLLEGE • PAGE A2

MICHAEL BLACKSHIRE • HERALD

The new Ogden Science Building has been in the works for the past three years and is now open to the public. Professors and staff have moved into their new classrooms over the past few weeks and students, many without ever seeing inside the building before hand, will go to class the first week of class inside a new chapter of Ogden on WKU’s campus.

A2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Ten-year housing plan will focus on students

BY OLIVIA EILER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

The Student Life Foundation is focused on student experience and finances as they progress through their 10-year master housing plan, but obtaining a green-building certification like other new buildings on WKU’s campus is not one of their main priorities.

More recent buildings, such as Gary A. Ransdell Hall and the Augenstein Alumni Center, have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications. LEED provides guidelines “to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings,” according to its website.

WKU committed to obtain a LEED certification for all new buildings and renovations in its 2009 energy policy.

However, the residence halls owned by the Student Life Foundation are not required to abide by commitments made

by WKU. As a result, Hilltopper Hall, currently under construction, will not seek a LEED certification.

Brian Kuster, executive director of the Student Life Foundation, said that although LEED certification will not be sought for Hilltopper Hall, the Student Life Foundation did not ignore sustainability.

“We don’t go through that LEED certification, which quite frankly adds cost,” Kuster said. “You can do all the

MHARI SHAW • HERALD

Construction continues on Hilltopper Hall as the spring semester begins. Construction started during November 2016. WKU has implemented a new energy policy that states that new construction on campus will receive LEED certification, Hilltopper Hall falls under that new plan.

right things without necessarily going through the certification.”

One eco-friendly feature integrated into the design of Hilltopper Hall is composting equipment. The dining hall in the new building will transform food waste into soil-enriching mulch.

Kuster said the ultimate factor in planning was meeting students’ needs.

“We understand that housing is more than a place to live,” Kuster said.

“It’s not just a bed. If it’s just providing some place for people to sleep, we can

get Motel 6, and they’ll keep the light on for us.”

He listed higher graduation rates and greater involvement as benefits of campus living.

“Students have to feel a sense of belonging, and I think that we kind of got away from that at Western,” Kuster said. “With our new strategic plan, we’re really focusing on the student at the center of things.”

WKU Sustainability Coordinator Christian Ryan agreed that student de-

mands will ultimately determine the future of WKU housing.

“I realized long ago that if HRL is to adopt a culture of sustainability, it is going to have to be student driven,” Ryan said.

Ryan was not involved in the creation of the plan but she thinks a LEED certification is important.

“In my perfect world, there would be no question that the building would be LEED platinum,” Ryan said.

The Student Life Foundation began discussing the future of campus housing in 2015. The 10-year housing plan has advanced through Northeast and Southwest halls to Hilltopper Hall.

Plans are not yet finalized for the design and construction of the pod-style hall that will replace Barnes-Campbell Hall.

“We are having a consultant come in in the next several weeks to look at what we talked about in 2015,” Kuster said. “Are there some things that we need to maybe tweak now? What are things that they have seen working at other schools that maybe we haven’t thought about?”

All students are able to provide ongoing feedback on the 10-year housing master plan by contacting Housing and Residence Life. HRL can be reached by email at hrl@wku.edu and by phone at 270-745-4359.

News reporter Olivia Eiler can be reached at 270-745-6011 and olivia.eiler789@topper.wku.edu. Follow Olivia

OGDEN COLLEGE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“I think they did an amazing job on it,” Floyd said. “They really took their time on the construction, and it really paid off.”

The $48 million from the state also included funding for renovations and upgrades to Thompson Complex Center Wing, which consists of about 117,000 square feet, Russell said.

“The fourth floor is completely being renovated and modernized,” Russell said. “There’s going to be minor renovation in other floors, but the fourth is being one hundred percent redone.”

The renovations for Thompson Complex Center Wing also include a new roof, which it has not had since 1967, new HVAC equipment, new lighting and other upgrades. Faculty and staff were moved out of Thompson Complex Center Wing, and construction is expected to start on that facility in the first week of February, Russell said.

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

BUDGET

CONTINUED FROM FRONT the deficit to account for “proposed fixed costs and enrollment changes.”

Mead also said that more will be known “by April as to the actual fiscal challenge.”

To help increase enrollment, WKU has made several efforts toward recruitment, including the Tuition Incentive Program for undergraduate students from specific counties in several states and regional receptions in nearby cities such as Nashville, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri. They are also focusing on enrolling and

MICHAEL BLACKSHIRE • HERALD

Tristian Cusick and Megan Koester discuss the upcoming week of school as the spring semester starts in the new Ogden College of Science and Engineering. “We were really excited about seeing the new building. Koester said “we liked the modern style and look forward to studying and having classes here.”

retaining transfer students from twoyear institutions.

Other public universities in Kentucky would face a similar problem should the proposed statewide budget cuts go into effect, according to the Courier-Journal. Morehead University would lose $2.5 million in funding, as well as an additional $200,000 for the Kentucky Folk Art Center. They would also see an increase of $2.7 million for pension obligation.

The University of Kentucky would face a $16 million cut, with an additional loss of $10 million in state-sponsored programs, including the University Press of Kentucky. They are not a part of the state’s pension system and

would see no changes in that area.

Alongside cuts to higher education, there is also a chance that 70 statewide programs could be cut from the budget, according to Gov. Bevin.

Kentucky Mesonet is a statewide automated weather and climate monitoring infrastructure through the Climate Center located at WKU. They are at risk of losing all of their funding that is provided by the Kentucky government, about $750,000 annually.

Mesonet controls 69 automated weather stations in 67 counties across the state that collect detailed weather observations every five minutes.

Kentucky Mesonet relies on state funding for three-fourths of their ex-

penses. They also receive a small amount of funding from WKU to employ student-workers.

“When we received [state] funding, it was transformational for us,” Director of Kentucky Mesonet Stuart Foster said. “It was the big push we needed and allowed us to unlock the value of the network and further develop services for people in communities all across the commonwealth.”

News reporter Emily DeLetter can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emily. deletter304@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emilydeletter.

WKUHERALD.COM CONNECT WITH US ONLINE @WKUHERALD

NEWS A3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Chick-fil-A will open late due to renovations

BY EMMA COLLINS

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

The Chick-fil-A located in the Downing Student Union Food Court remained closed when classes started Jan. 22 because of ongoing renovations.

“The renovations include the addition of more cash registers and more cooking equipment,” Steve Hoyng, resident district manager for Aramark, said.

“The changes were initiated to provide a better dining experience to our guests,” Hoyng said in an email.

Hoyng said the renovations started Dec. 16 and will be finished soon, although he didn’t give a specific date.

He said the renovations were part of the new contract to update venues.

Louisville sophomore Tristan Dunlap said he thought the additional registers will help decrease the wait time when standing in line for Chick-fil-A. “The line is extraordinarily long,” Dunlap said. “Sometimes it stretches out to the couches.”

Dunlap said he thought Chick-fil-A was “the most popular place on campus.” He said he eats in DSU almost every day, often at Chick-fil-A. Louisville sophomore Katie Myers said she enjoys eating at Chick-fil-A but she sometimes chooses to eat at Papa John’s instead because the line for pizza is much shorter.

“I don’t even eat [at Chick-fil-A] all that often because the line is so long,” Myers said.

Chick-fil-A had two registers before the renovations began. Hoyng did not say how many registers would be add-

HANNAH LEBOEUF • HERALD

Students await the re-opening of Chick-fil-A in Downing Student Union on Sunday. In an effort to reduce customers’ wait time, more registers are being added.

ed with the renovations.

The area around Chick-fil-A has been surrounded by sheets of plastic.

Myers said she had not seen a sign in front of the area telling students why the restaurant is closed and wished there had been more of an explanation.

“I wish they had a note saying

what’s going on and when it’s going to open,” Myers said.

The renovations delayed the opening of the DSU Food Court, according to an email from the WKU Restaurant Group to faculty and staff. Both Papa John’s and Steak ‘n Shake opened Jan. 20, two days after students were able to move back into residence halls.

Fresh Food Company, Burrito Bowl and Starbucks were able to open as scheduled Jan. 18 when students returned to campus.

News reporter Emma Collins can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emma. collins399@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @_mccain_emma_.

WKU makes plans to combat winter weather

BY NICOLE ZIEGE HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

WKU’s Bowling Green campus was closed for five consecutive days after snow fell over the three-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and prevented the university from opening Friday, Jan. 12 and Tuesday, Jan. 16.

WKU students rejoiced on Friday to find a school cancellation alert on their phones due to 2½ inches of snow in Bowling Green and surrounding areas.

Bowling Green received about five inches of snow Monday, Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russell said, which kept WKU closed on Tuesday.

In preparation for potential winter weather, WKU developed a “snow plan.” Russell said several months ago, he reviewed the snow plan with facilities management and Parking and Transportation and updated it.

“What I would like to say is that each snow event is unique and different,” Russell said. “Depending on the amount of snow that we will get, plus the temperature after the event, [that] has a huge bearing on how we can react.”

For the buildings, Russell said WKU has an energy policy that has “occupied” and “unoccupied” conditions of the buildings, which is done through an automated system. The temperatures are lowered and raised to conserve

energy as part of the campus’ sustainability plan and pursuant to that energy policy, he said.

“We have a plan in place where even during the breaks when most people are gone … we have people walking the buildings to make sure that we capture some of the things that fail during cold weather, [such as] frozen pipes,” Russell said.

Russell said there are 29 miles of sidewalks around campus, which do not include the parking lots and “all the other things that come along with snow removal.” He said there are 25 employees designated for removing snow from those sidewalks and parking lots.

“We have a plan that says that we can’t clean all 29 miles of sidewalks, so each building has a designated door that we make safe pathways to those facilities,” Russell said.

Russell said the employees were able to clear the snow that kept the university closed Friday, but then more snow fell Monday.

“We had the snow event, we came in, we cleared and got things cleaned up by Monday, thinking everything was going to be okay,” Russell said. “All of a sudden, we got another five inches.”

Russell said the problem is people’s expectations.

“People would like to see all the steps cleared, all the sidewalks cleared,” Russell said. “Well, you [have to] remember: we had them cleared by

Monday, but then we didn’t get that snow until Monday night, so we wake up on Tuesday [and] we got five inches of snow.”

Russell said they deployed 60 tons of salt during the snow events on Friday and Monday. More than 30 of those tons were during the second snow event.

“WKU, and Bowling Green as a whole, does not plan well at all for winter weather.”

Elmhurst sophomore JOE PECORARO

“They work really hard,” Russell said of the workers who removed the snow. “I think they did a great job.”

Russell said his number one priority was the students on campus. He said his “primary” areas of snow removal included the Downing Student Union, Preston Center, the parking structures and checking with special events taking place on campus to remove the snow around the event areas. Russell said he also worked with Parking and Transportation.

“We worked every day using the equipment that we have, clearing a little bit more every day,” Russell said.

Russell said once the primary areas were cleared, then the workers started expanding each day, “trying to capture the rest of the campus.”

“Our goal was to get things ready for the move-in on the 18th for our students,” Russell said.

Elmhurst, Indiana, sophomore Joe Pecoraro planned on driving down to campus on Friday, Jan. 12 but was unable to drive down until the next day because of the weather. Pecoraro said there was “still plenty of snow” when he moved in.

“WKU, and Bowling Green as a whole, does not plan well at all for winter weather,” Pecoraro said.

Taylorsville sophomore Josie Schultz drove down to campus on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

“The sidewalk to Southwest [Hall] was a little rough and so was the parking lot,” Schultz said. “Not bad, but there was definitely still ice.”

Nashville sophomore Austin Higgins said he drove to Bowling Green for desk training Tuesday, Jan. 16.

“Once I got there, I was stuck in my dorm all week,” Higgins said.

News reporter Nicole Ziege can be reached at 270-745-6011 and Nicole. ziege825@topper.wku.edu.

Follow Nicole Ziege on Twitter at @nicoleziege.

WKU Floral Shop Welcome back WKU students and staff! Call

Call for Abstracts Oral papers | posters | exhibits | displays demonstrations | performances | videos

today to reserve your Valentine’s Day flowers.

Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm, Sat. 9am-2pm (270) 745-3382

Deadline for submission: February 16, 2018. Submit at wku.edu/studentresearch

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

A4

OPINION EDITORIAL

WKU is no exception to hate crimes. Help us track them.

BY ANDREW HENDERSON

HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

“Hate crimes do happen in small towns like Bowling Green.”

That’s what Emani Boards, a joint enrollment student from Bowling Green, told me towards the end of an interview when feces were smeared and a racially charged note was posted on the door and windows of her apartment unit.

Her sentiments should ring true. Bowling Green and WKU are not immune to hate crimes and bias-related incidents, which is why the Herald is focusing more of our attention on these kinds of incidents.

We’re partnering with the investigative reporting non-profit ProPublica as part of their Documenting Hate project to document instances of hate crimes and bias-related incidents on WKU’s campus and in the Bowling Green community.

The FBI defines a hate crime as a criminal offense “motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.”

A bias incident is an offense motivated in whole or in part by the offender’s animosity toward the victim’s race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other protected status.

Every time something like this occurs, it seems we’re surprised that hate could exist in this year, in our town or on our campus - but it does.

During the fall 2016 semester, a student had the n-word carved into her car, a professor had threatening notes containing racist language slid under her office door and there were several instances of students receiving anonymous notes containing hate speech referring to race, religion and sexuality following the election of Donald Trump.

These are just some of the examples which come to mind, but they cannot begin to even account for the crimes which go unreported altogether.

Information submitted through the Documenting Hate form will not be shared with the university, and victims can remain anonymous on published articles if they so choose. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a legal advocacy non-profit that tracks hate groups and extremism, recommends that victims and witnesses of hate crimes contact law enforcement first.

If you have experienced or witnessed any instances of hate or bias on campus, tell your story to the Herald using the form on our website, or contact herald. editor@wku.edu for additional information on the project.

ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY VOGLER • HERALD

MESO-DEBT

Kentucky cannot afford to lose the Mesonet program

BY THE HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

ISSUE: Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposed budget for the state of Kentucky would eliminate 70 programs while cutting spending by 6.25 percent. One program in particular, the Kentucky Mesonet, is a statewide weather monitoring network being developed at WKU. OUR STANCE: The Mesonet program cannot support its infrastructure of 69 weather monitoring systems without the aid of the state government. While funding the state pension system should rightly be a priority, the data the Mesonet records is used by the weather service’s warning operations during extreme weather conditions. The Mesonet is a service whose benefits the state of Kentucky cannot afford to lose.

Kentucky is currently in the middle of a pension crisis. In an article published by the College Heights Herald last September, our state has over $64 billion in unfunded pension liability which translates to over $15,000 for each individual Kentuckian.

We all knew severe budget cuts were forthcoming so that teachers, government employees and other individuals who positively impact their communities could be rewarded with benefits they were promised after years of dedicated service.

Therefore, it was no surprise that Governor Matt Bevin proposed to analyze the

effectiveness of 70 programs throughout the state in order for the Kentucky legislature to decide if eliminating any of these programs was possible. It’s the financially sensible thing to do.

One of these 70 programs, the Kentucky Mesonet, is a vast weather monitoring network spread throughout the state which has the ability to collect data during extreme weather conditions (i.e. tornadoes, flash floods and heat waves). The network was created in 2006 after current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was able to allocate $3 million in federal funding to sustain the program.

While it is a fiscally responsible move to make cuts to support Kentucky’s massively underfunded pension system, dismantling the Mesonet, which partners with the state weather service, could potentially do more harm than good.

John Gordon, director of the weather service’s office in Louisville, told US News“The Mesonet is critical to [the weather service’s] day to day operations. We use it in our forecasting, and most importantly we use it in our warning operations.”

Joe Sullivan, the warning coordination meteorologist in Louisville, went on to say, in a Courier-Journal interview, “Warnings based on [Mesonet] data are more accurate and give people longer lead times to seek protection from [extreme weather].

Critics of Bevin’s proposed dismantling of the Mesonet system cite his consistent denial that climate change is a direct result of human activity. Extreme weather data collected by Mesonet could further support the scientific claim that climate

change exists and could prove to be devastating to the human race.

Bevin has never been one to shy away from a tough position on climate change.

In an article from US News Bevin was quoted as saying “this idea that we all need to be held hostage to a handful of people … in order to make us jump through various regulatory hoops, as if somehow, we, mankind is solely responsible and is solely going to be the solution, is ludicrous.”

Regardless of the governor’s personal political agenda, the Mesonet saves lives by keeping a detailed record of data when Kentucky faces extreme weather conditions.

If our stance isn’t enough to convince you that the Mesonet deserves to stay, lawmakers from Bevin’s own party are taking action to try and keep the Mesonet.

Republican lawmaker Rob Rothenburger was quoted as saying “[The Mesonet] is very vital to the state. I hope to work with the governor’s office and other legislators to find either substitute funding for it or some other revenue source.”

One important industry in particular could prove to be vulnerable without the presence of Mesonet: agriculture. In the past, these weather stations have allowed scientists to monitor drought conditions and help gain federal disaster aid for farmers that need it.

The services that the Mesonet program provides to the state far outweigh the money it would save for the pension system. It is our hope at the College Heights Herald that funding can be secured to sustain the Mesonet.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Cutting the Mesonet deprives everyone of knowledge

BY JESSICA BYRD

HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

As a recent graduate from WKU’s Geography and Geology Department whose concentration was in climate sciences, I am saddened by the possibility of funding being cut for the Kentucky Mesonet program.

Kentucky is one of a handful of states that has a statewide mesonet program to help collect, monitor and interpret real-time meteorological data and further use it for climatological analysis. Losing funding for this program would not only impact the students whose research interests lie in weather and climate. The impact would reach far beyond the borders of WKU, the city and even the state.

As an undergraduate, the Mesonet was a key tool in my studies and was often a great resource for in-class exercises and examples. The Mesonet allows professors to expand on teaching concepts while offering students a chance to study impacts right here in Kentucky where they

CONTACT US Advertising: 270.745.2653 Editor: 270.745.5044 Opinion: 270.745.4874 Newsroom: 270.745.6011 herald.advertising@wku.edu herald.news@wku.edu herald.opinion@wku.edu 1906 College Heights Blvd #11084 Bowling Green, KY, 42101-1084 www.wkuherald.com

live, work and study. Their office is easily accessible to any student who ventures down the hallways of the Environmental Sciences and Technology Building, and many of my fellow students were employed by the Mesonet to help them gain knowledgeable and rewarding experience in their fields.

By cutting funding to this program, the Kentucky Mesonet would have to reconsider these student positions, taking away impactful experiences and accessibility provided to students throughout their time at WKU. By removing funding to the Kentucky Mesonet, the governor’s budget would also be removing a valuable resource to those in other states. As recently as the past snow events of Jan. 12 and 22, states like Tennessee used road temperature data from Kentucky Mesonet sites to determine road conditions as temperatures dropped before and during the snow and ice events.

The availability of data allows for businesses, administrations and individuals to obtain this data without the need for their own complex instruments and sta-

tions. For example, those employed in fields such as recreation and agriculture can access mesonet data to better plan for upcoming seasons, events and operations.

As a native Tennessean, WKU offered me the chance to pursue my interest in weather and climate, as it is the only Bachelor of Science program in Meteorology in either Kentucky or Tennessee to offer a meteorology degree which meets the Federal Civil Service guidelines for employment with the National Weather Service. Attributes such as this, as well as the Kentucky Mesonet availability, are major influences on prospective students from the states surrounding Kentucky.

I studied alongside Ohioans, Illinoians, Hoosiers and fellow Tennesseans to name a few. The impact of cutting funding to the Kentucky Mesonet would not only affect our current students but could additionally deter future ones as well.

It is my hope that, going forward, the Kentucky Mesonet will be recognized for the extreme value and influence that the organization provides to students, faculty and the average person. The Com-

monwealth of Kentucky has become my second home because it has provided me with resources such as this to expand my knowledge of weather and climate while pursuing a college degree. This knowledge and experience will continue to impact students as they carry it into the workforce and help share their understanding of the Earth’s processes and the changes in these processes that continue to be recorded.

My fellow students and I pursued these fields to help improve ourselves not only as individuals, but as scientists who will help lead the shift in our world’s mindset and influence the change that needs to happen in order to better understand our Earth’s atmosphere, geography, geology and social impacts.

The Kentucky Mesonet is not just a resource for us, it is a resource that provides a better knowledge for everyone. I urge the governor and other governments around the country and the world to reconsider their approaches to meteorology, climate and the collection of data that is beneficial to our well-being as humans.

DISCLOSURES

OUR TEAM

REPORT AN ERROR With Editor’s contact information

Andrew Henderson* Editor-in-chief

Taylor Huff* Opinion Editor

Monica Kast* Print Managing Editor

Jeremy Chisenhall* Sports Editor

Opinions expressed in this newspaper DO NOT reflect those of Western Kentucky University’s employees or of its administration.

*Denotes editorial board members. The Herald publishes on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. The first copy is free, and additional copies are $1 each, available in the Student Publications Center on Normal Street.

Evan Heichelbech* Brook Joyner* Digital Managing Editor Multimedia Editor

Andy Lee Ad Manager Micayla Kelly Ad Creative Director

Mason Davis* Engagement Editor

Nic Huey* Will Hoagland Assist. Multimedia Editor Advertising adviser

Emma Collins* News Editor

Craig Ostertag* Design Editor

Carrie Pratt Herald adviser

Olivia Mohr* Features Editor

Spencer Harsh* Copy Desk Chief

Chuck Clark Director of Student Publications

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

FUN A5

FUN PAGE Across 1 5 10 13

CLASSIFIEDS Classified Advertising Manager: Will Hoagland

herald.advertising@wku.edu

14 15 17 18 19

FOR SALE The Great Escape Records & Comics.

BUY - SELL - TRADE: Games, Records, Comics! Also, Dvds, Toys, CDs, CCGs, RPGs, more. 2945 Scottsville Rd (near Greenwood Mall) (270)782-8092. Open 7 days since 1987.

20 22 23 24 27 30 31 32 35 37

Potpourri

©2018 PuzzleJunction.com

1. Who willed that a seance be held for him every year? (a) Edgar Allan Poe (b) Harry Houdini (c) Vincent Price 2. What war saw the most combat veterans go on to become president? (a) Revolutionary War (b) World War II (c) Civil War 3. Who has the most forged autographs outside the sports world? (a) Elvis Presley (b) Neil Armstrong (c) Marilyn Monroe 4. Which of the following states produces the most wine? (a) Pennsylvania (b) Idaho (c) Texas 5. How many teeth does the average alligator go through in a lifetime? (a) 900-1500 (b) 200-800 (c) 2000-3000 6. What was the first publicly distributed digital film? (a) Toy Story (b) Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (c) X-Men 7. On average, how many pair of sunglasses are turned into lost and found at Disney World each day? (a) 136 (b) 318 (c) 210 8. Chan's Megastick, the longest insect in the world, measures how many inches? (a) 22 (b) 37 (c) 16 9. What Greek goddess is featured on every medal for the Summer Olympics? (a) Athena (b) Diana (c) Nike 10. What pirate's sunken 17th century treasure ship was discovered in 2007? (a) Captain Morgan (b) Captain Kidd (c) Blackbeard

39 40 41 44 46 47 48 49 50 53 56 57 61 62

Solution 1.b 2.c 3.a 4.a 5.c

6.b 7.c 8.a 9.c 10.b

64 65

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

13 14 Siberian city Investigate 18 17 Lassie portrayer 22 23 20 21 With 2 Down, parents 24 25 26 Stitched Self-images 27 28 29 30 31 End of grace 37 35 36 Bearded Legendary 39 40 elephant eaters Pilgrim to Mecca 41 44 45 42 43 Whistle-blower 47 48 Black billiard ball 46 Unbiased 50 51 Fall mo.

Energy 53 54 55 56 57 Dash widths 62 63 61 Heating fuel Skillets 66 65 Mound on the ground 68 69 Leading the pack Copyright ©2018 PuzzleJunction.com Ghostlike Playacting 66 Spiral-horned 34 7 Dog tag datum Endocrine gland antelope 36 8 Bovril, e.g. output 67 Land of the 38 9 Byrnes of “77 Theologian’s leprechauns 42 Sunset Strip” subj.

68 Hoosier humorist 43 10 Jeopardy Unagi, at a sushi 69 Elaine ___ 44 11 Wide-eyed bar (“Seinfeld” role) 12 ___ Fyne, First family 70 Relax 45 Scotland member 16 Retired flier inits. 50 Put in rollers Down 51 21 Eager to start Followers 52 23 It got dyed Sound from the 1 Moonfish 53 25 White House fold 2 See 13 Across souvenir Sis’s sib 3 Zipped 26 Bed-and-breakfast 54 Spunky one 4 System for writing 27 Proposal 55 Yin’s opposite Japanese using 58 28 Felony Ancient region adapted Chinese 59 29 Its capital is of northeastern characters Innsbruck Africa 5 Prostate test 60 32 Entitlement Blood’s partner 6 Encloses a present 62 checks (Brit.)

Axis of ___ again 33 Dress with a flare 63

11

12

15

16

19

32

33

34

59

60

38

49 52 58 64 67 70

Winter hazard Winter hrs. in L.A. Hesitation sound Butterfly catcher Spherical item Romance novel lead Egg cells Golf score City-like Like a beaver Exiter’s exclamation Basalt source Oklahoma city Seconds Discordia’s Greek counterpart Monthly check Kan. neighbor Infomercials, e.g.

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

8 2 5 3 To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

8

1 3 2 4

9 8 1 7

7 3 5 3

6 5 7 2

6 4

2 4 9 5

Copyright ©2018 PuzzleJunction.com

5 9

3

7 2 6

9

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

8 3 4

1

8 6

8 1 2 5 7 8 4

Copyright ©2018 PuzzleJunction.com

4 9

1 3 6 7 2

6 8 7 5 2 9 7

1

3 4

8

5 2 1

2 7

9

Copyright ©2018 PuzzleJunction.com

Looking for sales experience?

Want to gain relevant skills for the workplace?

Join the wku herald adve rtis ing team ! apply online at wkuhe rald.c om or email william .hoagla nd@wk u.edu

1

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

A6

PHOTO

KATHRYN ZIESIG • HERALD

Women’s March participants stand in front of counter-protestors chanting “No Hate. No Fear. Everyone is welcome here” on Saturday in downtown Nashville.

MARCH LIKE A GIRL Women’s march in Nashville STORY BY BROOK JOYNER HERALD.PHOTO@WKU.EDU On the anniversary of the inaugural Women’s March, thousands of

people donned pink hats and took to the streets of Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday. Protestors used the opportunity to voice their opinions on a wide range of social issues including race, gender and politics.

“None of us are free until all of us are free,” said Smyrna, Tennessee native Kacie Dickinson.

Security at the march estimated a crowd between 5,000 and 6,000 people.

KATHRYN ZIESIG • HERALD

KATHRYN ZIESIG • HERALD

Two sisters play on the ground with their home-made sign while thousands of peaceful protesters gather in Public Square Nashville in front of First Circuit Court for the Women’s March on Saturday.

There were many families at the protest bonding together while standing up for social change in the world.

Nashville resident Walter Spinks yells at counter-protestors as the march begins during the 2018 Women’s March on Saturday, through downtown Nashville. The protestor held a sign reading “Jesus saves from hell” while using a megaphone to speak to the crowd.

KATHRYN ZIESIG• HERALD

KATHRYN ZIESIG • HERALD

Angdelique Johnson leads a groups of marchers through the streets of downtown Nashville during the 2018 Women’s March on Saturday, Johnson, a Music City Riders United worker, led a group in different empowering chants as they walked down the street.

Thousands of people gather in Victory Park outside of the Tennessee Department of Treasury Saturday, for the second annual women’s march in Nashville, Tennessee. According to the women’s march official website, their mission is “to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change.”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

B1 SPORTS

SPORTS

GRAPHIC BY NIC HUEY • HERALD

ON THE TABLE

Athletics could face cuts, while student fees could rise

BY EVAN HEICHELBECH & TYLER EATON HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

In light of potential budget cuts and an overall budget crisis at WKU, spending across the university is in a very delicate situation and the athletics department is no exception.

A database compiled by USA Today analyzing NCAA finances at all Division I universities shows that in 2016, the latest year for available data, the WKU sports programs brought in a lower total revenue than the previous school year for only the second time in the past 11 years.

Additionally, the fee for athletics is the highest mandatory student fee at WKU, and signs aren’t pointing toward a decrease in that number.

“I don’t know how that student fee was put in place, but I don’t anticipate that student fee increasing,” President Timothy Caboni said. “Yes, there is a high student fee. And that revenue in student fees has been declining for the past four to five years.”

However, as WKU’s funding into the athletic department has decreased in the past, the student fees have increased as a result. That trend could take effect in the near future when the next round of budget cuts are announced.

In the 2015-2016 school year, WKU funding decreased by almost 19 percent while the total revenue student fees rose by almost 11 percent.

The athletics fee has seen small fluctuations over the past five years, with a slight dip from $216 in 2013-2014 to $212 in 2014-2015 before the fees

went back up to $218 for the 2015-2016 year and have remained at that number since.

According to the 2017-2018 budget summary, students pay a $218 fee each semester directly toward athletics. The next highest fee is the student centers fee which is $62.

Since 2005, the sports program has failed to turn a profit. Annually, the athletic department’s total revenue has been propped up by school funds and student fees to match the expenses, which include scholarships, coaching and facilities. This is not a rarity for non-Power 5 universities who allocate funding to their athletic departments to meet expenses, and few of these types of universities turn a significant profit.

WKU allocates 55 percent between school funding and student fees.

Texas A&M, a Power 5 school, generated the largest profit, bringing in almost $60 million from its athletic department with no allocation from the university, according to the database from USA Today.

“I came from the University of Kansas,” Caboni said. “If you ask someone what they know about the University of Kansas, they will tell you one of two things: Jayhawk or basketball.

They don’t know that it was the No. 2 pharmacy school in the nation for research.”

In the spring of 2016, the University Senate passed a resolution about what it wanted from Caboni, asking him to “make academics a priority under the budget.”

Under the tenure of President Gary

SEE FINANCIAL • PAGE B2

Hilltoppers remain in position for posttseason run

BY SAM PORTER HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

With just 11 games left in the 201718 basketball season, WKU is in a prime position to make a postseason run. The Hilltoppers currently sit at 14-6 (6-1 Conference USA) which is a major step up from their 9-11 record mark through 20 games a season ago.

Those 14 wins include a 77-73 victory over now No. 3 Purdue, which is the best victory any C-USA team has had this year. The Hilltoppers are currently tied with Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee atop the C-USA standings.

“Across the top there’s some really good teams in our conference,” senior forward Justin Johnson said following WKU’s loss to MTSU on Saturday. “But we’ve got to take care of us. As long as we take care of us we’re going to be okay. Most of the time when we struggle it’s not what anyone else does, it’s stuff we do to ourselves. It’s self-inflicted stuff we do to get behind. We’ve got to learn to keep it going for 40 minutes.”

One reason that has sparked WKU’s recent success is the late arrival of freshman guard Josh Anderson and redshirt sophomore forward Mousta-

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

WKU redshirt junior Lamonte Bearden (1) shoots while Karl Gamble (25) attempts to block his shot during WKU’s game vs MTSU on Saturday. WKU lost to MTSU 62-66.

pha Diagne. The Hilltoppers played all of non-conference play and a portion of C-USA play without both of them.

When Anderson entered the game against Marshall, he became the highest-rated recruit (he was a four-star,

Order now at donatos.com or

with the Donatos app

unanimous top-60 recruit) to take the

SEE MBB • PAGE B2 PROMO CODE: 2 4 3

10% OFF WITH WKU ID

WE ACCEPT BIG RED DOLL ARS

WE DELIVER!

BOWLING GREEN 270-715-5111 E AT- I N , P I C K - U P O R D E L I V E R Y

861 Fairview Ave. Bowling Green, KY

Tax and Delivery extra. Not Valid on any other offer or catering.

Mention offer when calling. SHOW AT TIME OF PURCHASE.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

B2 SPORTS FINANCIAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Ransdell, a large priority was placed on the athletics program focusing primarily on the exposure of the athletic teams to draw students to WKU. WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart agrees.

“There’s nothing really on our campus that’s going to get 7,500 people together and 20,000 people together on a Saturday,” Stewart said, prior to WKU’s basketball game in front of a sell-out crowd. “There’s nothing else our university can do to get that many people together. You see how many students are here tonight. If we’re not successful, and you don’t have the students getting together for football and basketball games the way they do now, as a university, we need people coming to our campus.”

Per the University Senate report on budget trends since 2004, WKU educational and general funds increased by more than 100 percent from 2004 to 2015. In contrast, athletics has seen an increase of nearly 140 percent in funds over that same period of time.

MBB CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

floor for WKU in the modern era. In his debut against Marshall, Anderson poured in 16 points while helping the Hilltoppers defeat the Thundering Herd 112-87.

Diagne has stepped into the role of relieving senior forward Justin Johnson and graduate transfer forward Dwight Coleby. He’s currently logging 9.5 minutes per game.

“He’s one of those guys who just makes basketball plays,” Stansbury said of Anderson. “He’s a guard that can finish above the rim. I think he’ll become a terrific defender over time.”

The success of WKU basketball this year has led to a change in the atmosphere in Diddle Arena. In Saturday’s loss to MTSU, tickets were sold out days before the game actually took place. Despite the loss, Stansbury and the players admired the crowd and the tough environment it created.

“I think they sold 400 more tickets

It is important to note that, as of 2015, athletics funding made up less than 10 percent of the budget, as compared to academic affairs accounting for nearly half.

“For us to be in Conference USA, a 14-member conference, and we’re 11th in budget, and to have four million, close to five million cut from our budget over the last five years, it’s really

led the conference in school funding in 2015. Despite ranking second in school funding in 2016, WKU finished ranked ninth in the conference in total revenue.

The leader in sports revenue in C-USA in 2016 was Old Dominion, who joined the conference in 2013. Their sports programs brought nearly $45 million in total revenue, but did not re-

“There’s nothing really on our campus that’s going to get 7,500 people together and 20,000 people together on a Saturday,” WKU Athletic director TODD STWEART

pretty amazing that we’ve been as successful as we’ve been,” Stewart said.

“My concern is, already ranking 11th in budget, if we do continue to face cuts, I am concerned about it affecting our ability to successfully compete.”

WKU was second in C-USA in school funding last year behind only Alabama - Birmingham. This was after WKU

ceive a single dollar in school funding.

Old Dominion relies primarily on student fees for its sports revenue, bringing in almost $29 million in student fees alone in 2016, or approximately $1,200 per student. That student fee revenue was only $711,048 less than WKU’s total sports revenue from the same year.

WKU ranked second to last in C-USA in student fees last year at just over $4 million, finishing ahead of Louisiana Tech, who had no student fees at all.

This makes it extremely likely that, as school funding decreases, student fees will increase.

“WKU made the decision to be in Division I athletics, and anything that we’re going to do we need to do as well as we possibly can do,” Caboni said.

“Will there be reductions to which athletics will be deducted? My assumption is that the budget council is looking at every unit across the enterprise, including athletics.

“I think everything is on the table.”

Reporter Evan Heichelbech can be reached at 502-415-1817 and evan. heichelbech059@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @evanheich.

Reporter Tyler Eaton can be reached at 270-776-6797 andtylereaton1022@ yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ at_eaton

than we have seats in there is what they told me,” Johnson said. “I hope they keep coming back. They were a big energy boost. It stinks we couldn’t get a win in front of them, but we’ll be back next Saturday to play in front of the crowd again and I hope they come back.”

WKU takes on Marshall (14-6, 5-2 C-USA) in Diddle Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. Stansbury doesn’t believe it’ll be as easy as the Hilltoppers’ 25-point victory over the Thundering Herd earlier in the month.

“It’ll be a totally different team and game,” Stansbury said of Marshall. “It won’t be easy. They spread you out.

We played about as well as we could’ve played the first time around. We’ve got to bounce back and get ready for them.”

Sports reporter Sam Porter can be reached at 270-799-8247 and sam. porter270@gmail.com. Follow Sam on Twitter at @SammyP14

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

WKU forward Justin Johnson (23) is guarded by Brandon Walters (1) during the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry game on Saturday. WKU lost to MTSU 62-66 in front of the largest crowd Diddle Arena has seen since 2003. WKU will play Marshall University next on Jan. 27.

WKUHERALD.COM CONNECT WITH US ONLINE @WKUHERALD

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS B3

WKU getting defensive effort on a nightly basis

BY TYLER MANSFIELD HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

WKU head coach Michelle ClarkHeard has made it clear many times this season that her WKU team puts a majority of its focus on defense and lets the offense come as a result of their play defensively.

The way WKU has performed on that side of the ball this year has helped the team win games when the offense isn’t clicking.

In the Lady Toppers’ Conference USA opener back on Jan. 4 against rival Middle Tennessee, they struggled shooting the ball but used their defense to earn a 57-43 win. WKU forced 18 turnovers that evening and scored 18 points off those takeaways, while holding MTSU to 33 percent shooting from the field (13-of40) on the night.

“We couldn’t throw a ball in the ocean if the ocean was sitting right there,” ClarkHeard said after the win over MTSU. “But you know what? That’s OK. I’ve been on this team so much about defense, and man, the way we played tonight – just our pressure, our helping, just everything. It was great team basketball.”

The Lady Toppers are holding their opponents to 63.7 points per game, forcing 18.3 turnovers per game and turning those turnovers into 18.9 points of their own. WKU is out-rebounding its competition by 3.2 rebounds nightly, recording 10.1 steals and blocking 3.9 shots each game.

WKU leads C-USA in steals, turnover margin (+6.9), offensive rebounds (16.6) and offensive rebound percentage (.425).

Against Florida International on Jan. 11, WKU rolled to a lopsided 101-47

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

Head coach Michelle Clark-Heard talks to the team during a timeout in the game against Notre Dame Tuesday, Nov. 14 in EA Diddle Arena. Clark-Heard has preached defensive effort this season.

SEE WBB • PAGE B4

Track and Field opens at Purdue and Vanderbilt

BY ALEC JESSIE HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

WKU track and field has now finished two meets in their indoor season following their season-opening meet at Purdue and their trip to the Vanderbilt Invitational last weekend.

Purdue hosted the Gene Edmonds Open Jan. 13, where the Hilltoppers earned 22 top-10 finishes. The men accounted for 13 and the women tallied nine.

Head coach Erik Jenkins was very happy with his team’s effort.

“These early season meets always provide valuable lessons,” Jenkins said in a WKU press release. “We had a few good things happen, but we saw several areas to improve upon with the team. Overall, we gave a competitive effort against quality teams.”

Senior pole vaulter Morgan McIntyre led the way for the Lady Toppers in the field events. McIntyre notched a third-

place finish after a 12’6” clear. As she rounds out an impressive career, she ranks fourth on WKU’s indoor list.

Getter Lemberg set a personal best with a 12’0” height, which also came out to be the fifth-best clear of the day.

Ariel Terrell led the Lady Toppers on the track with a 7.75-second finish in the 60-meter preliminary, earning a spot in the finals. She also set her new season best mark in the hurdles event, finishing in just 9.50 seconds.

Chard Muhwanga was the top male performer in field events, registering top-10 finishes in shot put and the weight throw. The freshman set a new personal best in both events.

Alec Tanksley competed in both track and field events, and was one of four Hilltoppers to clock top-five showings in the 600.

Both Eli Minor and Will Bush earned a spot in the 60 finals. Minor registered a 6.91-second finish to qualify and Bush finished in 6.99 seconds.

BROOK JOYNER • HERALD

Sophomore Mark Stice, of Sycamore, Illinois, leads the pack during the men’s 3000 meter distance event at the Music City Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 11. This was the WKU Indoor Track and Field team’s last meet before heading to conference championships.

SEE TRACK AND FIELD • PAGE B4

FOOD • FUN • PRIZES Join us TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH from 11 AM TO 1 PM. Located at TOWER COURT next to PFT. ORIGINAL GRAND SLAM®

© 2018 DFO, LLC.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

B4 SPORTS

One loss doesn’t dash conference title hopes DOWN TO THE WIRE

BY JEREMY CHISENHALL HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

Despite WKU’s 66-62 loss to Middle Tennessee in Diddle Saturday, the Hilltoppers have proven that they’re one of a few teams with a legitimate shot at taking the Conference USA crown this season, and they still sit in a three-way tie for first in the league.

Prior to the MTSU loss, WKU won its first six conference games by an average of 11.2 points, including a seven-point win over Old Dominion, which sits atop the conference alongside WKU and MTSU, and a 25-point win over fourth place Marshall, the Thundering Herd’s first (and currently only) loss at home this year.

The 6-0 start certainly put WKU in the conversation for the conference championship, which is pretty impressive by itself considering WKU was predicted to finish sixth in the C-USA preseason poll. And it’s not often that a team loses to MTSU and is still right at the top of the conference. The Blue Raiders have won back-to-back conference tournaments, and they won the

WBB CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3

win, and it was a result of its defense limiting FIU and leading to opportunities on the offensive end. Dee Givens finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds that night and earned recognition for her play defensively.

“Dee started out on defense and then let her offense carry over,” Ivy Brown said of her teammate’s performance.

“She rebounded huge, and we need another person like that to rebound for us. For her to come in and do that, we just need her to carry that over and be consistent in the rest of the games as well.”

WKU’s defense took another step

TRACK AND FIELD CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3

In the final day, the Hilltoppers got two more top three finishes in the 4x400 relay. The ‘A’ team and the ‘B’ team finished in second and third place, respectively.

IUPUI, Kennesaw State, Purdue and Murray State were among the competitors in the event.

WKU followed up the Purdue meet with the Vanderbilt Invitational where Julius Morris and Jonathan Hayden both recorded top-five times in program history. Morris’s 60 preliminary time of 6.70 was a personal best and the second-fastest time ever recorded by a Hilltopper indoors. Hayden notched a 8.14 finish in the 60-meter hurdles preliminary, earning the senior a spot in the finals. Hayden went on to run WKU’s fourth-best indoor mark in the event, posting a 7.99 to take fourth place.

Jenkins said after the meet that he knows there is work to be done, but he’s happy with the progress made.

“We had some pretty good things happen for us today,” Jenkins said in

conference outright in the regular season last year.

“Until somebody beats Middle they’re the best team in the league, that’s why they’re picked first,” WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said after the loss to MTSU. “Like I told my team, it counts as one win, one loss. We had a chance to separate ourselves [Saturday] a little bit, and we didn’t take advantage of that. Middle got that loss back they had at Marshall by coming here and winning.”

But if WKU wants to go beyond the conference tournament and into the NCAA Tournament this year, odds are they will have to win the conference.

Despite the 6-1 conference start, the Hilltoppers still have losses to Missouri State (at home), Ohio and a Wisconsin team that’s having a down year. In a mid-major conference, WKU likely won’t be able to get an at-large bid with losses like that.

If they are going to make the tournament on an at-large bid, their stellar regular season conference play will have to continue. Multiple in-conference losses, especially to any team that’s not MTSU, would really hurt the Hilltoppers’ resume. Running the ta-

“This thing is going to go right down to the last weekend. It’s going to be an unbelievable Conference USA race.”

MTSU head coach KERMIT DAVIS

ble in conference play would give WKU the regular season championship, and at least keep them in the conversation for an at-large bid if they don’t win the conference tournament.

The Hilltoppers have certainly grabbed the attention of those with a pulse on mid-major basketball across the country. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and Jay Bilas have each listed WKU as a capable tournament team (Lunardi even named WKU as his mid-major Cinderella on Twitter), as has CBS’s Jerry Palm. And Mid-Major Madness has listed the Hilltoppers as the No. 8 mid-major team in the nation.

The national media has taken notice

“We couldn’t throw a ball in the ocean if the ocean was sitting right there. But you know what?

That’s OK. I’ve been on this team so much about defense, and man, the way we played tonight – just our pressure, our helping, just everything. It was great team basketball.”

WKU head coach MICHELLE CLARK-HEARD forward in its latest home game vs.

Texas-San Antonio last Thursday. The Lady Toppers forced UTSA into 25 turnovers, turned those takeaways into 19 points on the other end of the court and held the Roadrunners to 20 percent shooting from the floor.

a press release. “There were several schools from Conference USA, the SEC and the ACC that provided quality competition in a very good facility. We have a lot of work to do but I like the direction we are headed.”

Tanksley continued to impress with a personal best long jump of 22’6.25”, which ranked 13th on the day.

Ariel Terrell and Savannah Ames stood out for the Lady Toppers. Terrell ran 9.24 seconds in the 60 hurdles, which is the best finish from any Lady Topper this year. Ames ran a WKU season-best 2:23.68 in the 800.

In the 4x400 relay, the ‘A’ team ran a season-best time of 3:53.48 in the Invitational.

Twenty-two teams competed in this event, including Alabama, Auburn, Maryland, Memphis and Oklahoma.

The Hilltoppers will be back in action on Jan. 26-27 for the Indiana University Relay.

It was the best field goal percentage WKU allowed in a single game since holding Interamerican University to 16 percent shooting Dec. 20, 1993.

Additionally, WKU held UTSA’s leading scorer, Marie Benson, to just nine points in the 73-38 thumping. “We

celebrate

of WKU’s huge win in the Bahamas back in November. The Hilltoppers upset No. 18 Purdue, who has jumped to No. 3 since then. The Boilermakers haven’t lost since playing WKU and are regarded as one of the favorites to win the National Championship at this point.

WKU will have several chances to prepare for the biggest games of the regular season and the conference tournament. After the Hilltoppers take on Marshall in Diddle Arena Saturday, they’ll have seven straight games against teams with losing records in C-USA play. After that, they’ll play ODU, MTSU and Alabama-Birmingham — all top-five teams in the conference — to close the season. The final week and a half will likely decide the regular season champion.

“This thing is going to go right down to the last weekend,” MTSU head coach Kermit Davis said. “It’s going to be an unbelievable Conference USA race.”

Sports Editor Jeremy Chisenhall can be reached at 270-745-6291 and jeremy.chisenhall921@topper.wku.edu.

Follow him on Twitter at @JSChisenhall.

really focused on that. It was huge for us,” Ivy Brown said of WKU’s defensive intensity. “We always talk about letting our defense dictate our offense instead of the other way around. We just played aggressive – and that led to our offense.”

WKU, which is coming off an 86-66 win Sunday at Marshall, returns to action Friday at North Texas. In the last meeting between the two sides, the Lady Toppers beat the Mean Green 78-51 in the quarterfinals of the 2017 C-USA Tournament.

Sports Reporter Tyler Mansfield can be reached at 270-935-0007 and tylermansfield@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @_TylerMansfield.

sleep

Sports reporter Alec Jessie can be reached at 502-648-7190 and alec.jessie226@topper.wku.edu Follow Alec Jessie on Twitter at @Alec_Jessie.

eat University Plaza

GET A FREE ROOM FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM When you purchase 20 guestrooms or more OR When you book your reception for a minimum of 100 guests *

*based on availability, must book by February 28, 2018

1021 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, KY (240) 745-0088 HIBowlingGreen.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

C1

LIFE

ABIGAIL DOLLINS • HERALD

Junior Bailey Dahlquist, and senior Chloe Hohlbein, prepare for the opening of their raw cookie dough business. Dahlquist and Hohlbein not only hope to draw in the business of fellow students but the children and families in Bowling Green, as well. “[Bowling Green] is a tight knit community and I think that’s the greatest thing about it,” Dahlquist said. “We want to give back to the community just like they’ve given to Western and given to all the success that they bring the Western students.”

BRING IN THE DOUGH Students to open “Raw,” an edible raw cookie dough shop

BY LAUREL DEPPEN HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

Bailey Dahlquist grew up frequenting edible raw cookie dough shops in the Chicago area. Now a junior studying entrepreneurship at WKU, Dahlquist decided to open up his own edible raw cookie dough store.

Set to open in early February, Raw is located at 432 E. Main Ave. in downtown Bowling Green across from Fountain Square Park, an area Dahlquist said was in need of more foot traffic.

“I would love to see all of these businesses around here either being shops, clothing stores, restaurants, bars…anything that could get a little bit of foot traffic down here,” he said.

“This is such a cool little area. We’re two blocks away from campus.”

Dahlquist hopes not only to generate publicity in the Square, but to give back to the Bowling Green community.

Because it is close to campus, Dahlquist

hopes campus organizations, including sororities and fraternities, can use Raw as a place to fundraise.

Raw will focus on customers of all ages, not just college students.

Dahlquist spoke of plans to collaborate with elementary and middle schools in the area. He said students with a certain GPA will be able to get a free scoop of cookie dough.

“Bowling Green is very in-depth with WKU,” Dahlquist said. “You can touch most of Bowling Green through WKU, but the people that you can’t, that’s who we’re also going after.”

Raw plans to expand its reach further. Dahlquist said that each month, a portion of sales earned on cookie dough will be donated to an organization. Dahlquist used the example of February as Heart Health Month, during which proceeds would be donated to the American Heart Association.

Chloe Hohlbein, a WKU senior studying public relations and a Raw collaborator, recalled how Dahlquist first approached her with the idea for

the business.

“I never thought it would come together, but little did I know he had already done the research, called a realtor, set up tours to look at places,” Hohlbein said. “It came together almost too easy. It was one thing after another. It all just fell into place. That’s what made us know that it needed to happen.”

Dahlquist and Hohlbein recalled several early morning trips to the Barren River District Health Department in order to make Raw a reality.

“You’ve got to know the ins and outs,” Dahlquist said. “You have to know everything. You have to cross your t’s and dot your i’s. That was one thing that I knew nothing about.”

Dahlquist commented on how being young and being an entrepreneur aren’t mutually exclusive.

“Age doesn’t stop anything,” he said. “You can really make anything happen.”

Dahlquist and Hohlbein emphasized the importance of the communi-

ties of both WKU and Bowling Green.

“I think Western grads seeing Western students doing things really help out also,” Dahlquist said. “As we all know, it’s a tight knit community, and I think that’s the best part about it.

We want to give back to the community just like they’ve given to Western.”

With the help of Hohlbein, family and friends, Dahlquist managed to turn Raw from a concept into a set plan.

“It’s cool walking in and realizing that it’s something that we did,” Dahlquist said. “We didn’t hire out for anything. We all did it.”

Features reporter Laurel Deppen can be reached at 270-745-6291 and laurel. deppen774@topper.wku.edu.

‘Women in Business’ receives Adobe sponsorship

BY NOAH MOORE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

Women in Business, a WKU organization dedicated to promoting professional skills and making training more accessible, received a sponsorship with Adobe over winter break, a sponsorship given to only 85 campuses across the United States, including the University of California Berkley and Northwestern University.

The sponsorships are given to institutions and nonprofits globally to use their programs, including PhotoShop and PremiereCut Pro, to promote creative expression and social advocacy.

Women in Business will receive the programs in exchange for spreading word about Adobe’s Student Cloud.

Junior Kyla Scanlon founded Women in Business, formerly known as Women Economics, two years ago.

“It began when I saw a need on campus for professional networking opportunities and access to resourc-

es such as interview skills,” Scanlon said. “We have those resources, but they’re not always easily accessible to students.”

With the help from students such as sophomore Lexi Herman, vice president of technology for Women in Business, the club grew and received its RSO certification last semester, meaning it is a registered student organization. Herman says the growth is attributed to a rise in vision from the team.

“As the organization grew, we started to really find what we wanted it to be and our vision definitely got more precise,” Herman said. “We are constantly evolving and changing, but our end goal of creating an inclusive environment for young professionals will always stick with us.”

Aquesha Daniels, assistant professor of management in the Gordon Ford College of Business, serves as Women in Business’ adviser and has witnessed the growth and hard work within the program.

SEE WOMEN IN BUSINESS • PAGE C2

MICHAEL BLACKSHIRE • HERALD

Kyla Scanlon and Lexi Herman are both sophomores at Western Kentucky University and are apart of the organization Woman in Business. Scanlon started the group to be both empowering and informative for creating your own self-made business.

SEE WOMEN IN BUSINESS • PAGE C2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

C2 LIFE

EMILY VOGLER • HERALD

Review: “The Post” boasts strong performances from all

BY CAMERON COYLE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

Director Steven Spielberg’s latest Oscar-hopeful begins with the true events of the “Pentagon Papers,” the 1970s controversy which swept the nation after the United States government was exposed for continuously lying about the Vietnam War. After a brief war scene in the jungle and a token Creedence Clearwater Revival song, which seems to be prevalent in every Vietnam War film, the film shifts stateside where another shot is never fired on-screen. Instead, the audience is treated to a movie where the antagonist is those who try to silence free speech, whether it be for profit or

to avoid humiliation.

Once a portion of thousands of pages taken from the Pentagon are printed by The New York Times, President Nixon and the White House attempt to cease any further information from being released by issuing an injunction on the Times.

The owner of The Washington Post, Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep) and its editor-in-chief, Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), are soon given the opportunity to publish the same papers, but the possibility of an injunction or investors pulling out leave them with a conundrum.

Streep and Hanks knock both of their performances out of the park. Streep’s performance is a reserved, yet strong one. The scenes where she’s at her quietest are the ones where the audience

can practically see her decision-making process in her eyes. She ultimately grows throughout the film, commanding more attention every time she is on screen.

Hanks makes Bradlee brash but still a lovable editor-in-chief. He’s forward in both his speech and decision-making which makes him feel almost like the rough rider of the newsroom.

These differing approaches naturally result in conflicting opinions on how to handle the leaked papers.

Graham and Bradlee’s love for The Washington Post is shown in juxtaposed ways, but both are completely understandable, which forces the viewer to have to side with one of the two main protagonists multiple times.

These confrontations are one of the brightest spots of “The Post.” The script

is filled with sharp, realistic dialogue, so these conversations never seem to drag on or bore, and comedic relief never feels forced or out of place.

The pacing of “The Post” slows down some toward the end of the second act.

After a brilliant scene where reporters stay awake all night working on stories together, the energy of the film takes a dip. The film plods its way to the climax and then partly rushes through it.

However, this is a minor setback in “The Post” which doesn’t deter its entertainment or educational value. The film shows the importance of journalism without being preachy and simultaneously boasts strong performances which will for sure be talked about at upcoming awards shows. Don’t miss it while it’s in theaters.

WKU Tour Guide finishes two-year career

BY NOAH MOORE HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

Whether you’ve seen him as a TOP Guide, a Spirit Master or on the IFC Executive Board, junior Juan Pinilla is a familiar face. After serving as a campus tour guide through the Office of Admissions, Jan. 16, was his last day as a tour guide after two years.

The WKU Office of Admissions gives roughly 12-13 tours per week to prospective students, and it also gives tours during the winter months. On Jan. 16, Pinilla gave his last tour because he will be studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic this spring semester. Temperatures dipped to 5 degrees Fahrenheit in Bowling Green that day, so Juan gave his last tour to four students who braved the cold.

“Although the weather was against us that day, my group was very talkative and asked a lot of good questions,” Pinilla said. “There is one part of the tour where we take a picture of each tour group in front of the Big Red statue in DSU, and since it was my last tour ever, I decided to get in it with them. It was a bittersweet way to end my two years with the Office of Admissions.”

Pinilla has given over 200 tours since he started working as a tour guide, and he said that when he began, it was a bit

WOMEN IN BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE C1

“Credit must be given to the students working diligently behind the scenes, the WIB executive board,” Daniels said. “They have worked hard to establish a name for themselves, which has paid off in an Adobe collaboration.

The collaboration means WIB can support and provide a medium for members and other organizations to utilize Adobe Creative Cloud tools to enhance their own coursework and organizational missions, alike, in effective and

nerve-wracking.

“I have always loved meeting new people and speaking in front of large audiences, but I always felt extremely nervous to do so,” he said. “I knew that I wanted to improve my communication skills in college, and working for the Office of Admissions has given me more confidence in myself than I could have ever expected to receive.”

As Pinilla reflected upon the tours he has given, he recalled no certain individual moment as his favorite, but he said that seeing students he has given tours to enrolled on WKU’s campus has been his most rewarding experience.

“Taking an official campus tour was for me the biggest reason I chose to attend WKU, so, in a way, it is an honor talking to incoming students and playing a role in their decision to become a Hilltopper,” he said.

Through the Office of Admissions, tour guides serve as Admissions Ambassadors, and they give tours, answer students’ questions and work the front desk of the office.

Coordinator of Campus Visits Laura Thornbury said that though Juan wore many hats in the office, he truly thrived during tours.

“I loved working with Juan because I could always trust him to make the best decisions and to always do his very best,” Thornbury said. “People would request to be on Juan’s tour because they had heard of other guests’ experiences. I

never worried that he may not give it his all with a group. I knew their WKU tour would rise above any other college visit.”

Though Pinilla’s career as a tour guide has ended, his sister, WKU freshman Valentina Pinilla, started as an Admissions Ambassador Monday through the Office of Admissions.

“I am super excited to follow in his footsteps, even though I’ll miss him,” she said. “WKU has been such a huge

creative ways.”

They will be hosting various workshops throughout the semester to acquaint students with the programs and will also work with local businesses such as Back Down South, a clothing boutique, and Raw, a new edible raw cookie dough shop opening in downtown Bowling Green in February.

There will also be a “Lean In” session on March 7 which will include a roundtable where they will discuss resume-building, interview techniques, and energy techniques. The idea of a “Lean In” is inspired by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who emphasized the

importance of outreach along with women in business.

Scanlon said the organization wants to expand its openness throughout the campus.

“We are called ‘Women in Business,’ but we are truly open to everyone, regardless of gender,” Scanlon said.

“Anyone in the community can come to share their experiences and benefit from the professional sessions.”

While Women in Business deals with professional skills, Daniels said that “most of all, the students have gained an appreciation for their whole selves, which is an inward process developed

ABIGAIL DOLLINS • HERALD

Juan Pinilla, WKU junior and former admissions tour guide, prepares for a new adventure through study abroad in Prague. Pinilla began giving tours for WKU during his freshman year and gave his final tour Jan. 16. “I’m going to miss working with admissions and also being a spirit master,” Pinilla said. “I’ve worked with so many students and parents and I think just interacting with them and seeing myself once in their position, I’m going to miss that.”

part of both of our lives, so I think this will bring us even closer.”

The WKU Office of Admissions begins tours this week through May.

Features reporter Noah Moore can be reached at 270-745-6291 and noah. moore786@topper.wku.edu Follow him on Twitter at @noah_moore18.

through connecting with others who have been where they are going.”

Features reporter Noah Moore can be reached at 270-745-6291 and noah. moore786@topper.wku.edu Follow him on Twitter at @noah_moore18.

LIFE C3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Students share experiences from Hawaii missile alert

BY OLIVIA EILER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency sent out a mobile alert Jan. 13 advising individuals to seek shelter from a ballistic missile threat.

Thirty-eight minutes later a second message described the initial alert as a false alarm attributed to human error.

Two WKU seniors, Taryn Mitchell and Evan Mattingly, experienced the incident firsthand.

Mitchell traveled home to the island of Oahu to visit her parents, while Mattingly flew into Kauai for a family vacation.

The alert, which occured around 7 a.m., woke Mitchell. She sought shelter with her family in their home’s basement. She said the lack of sirens and

television news coverage assured her that the alert was false.

“When we watched the news, there was absolutely nothing about a missile coming,” Mitchell said.

Mattingly was stuck in bumper-tobumper traffic when his mother received the message.

“My initial reaction was that it wasn’t real,” Mattingly said. “After about 20 minutes, it started to sink in that it might actually happen. I started calling my closest friends and family members with what I believed to be my final words.”

The second alert confirmed the safety of both students but left them feeling relieved.

“Being a journalist myself, I was very disappointed in the way the media covered the false alert here in Hawaii,” Mitchell, a broadcast news major, said.

She believed the local media should

have followed the event with live coverage.

“Even if the news did not know what was going on, they still should have been broadcasting live to keep giving people updates,” Mitchell said. “It goes to show that we are not prepared if something like this were to actually happen.”

Although Mattingly believes individuals should be held accountable for sending the false alert, he has not lost confidence in the government as a whole.

“I still trust the government for the future to make a more sound system so that this doesn’t happen again,” Mattingly said.

Both Mitchell and Mattingly said their experience with the false alarm will have no impact on their future safety. Both said they would take any future alerts as seriously as the first.

“I feel like now, I would be a little more prepared,” Mitchell said. “But is anyone really prepared if something like this were to actually happen?”

News reporter Olivia Eiler can be reached at 270-745-6011 and olivia.eiler789@topper.wku.edu. Follow Olivia on Twitter at @oliviaeiler16.

EVAN MATTINGLY • HERALD

Evan Mattingly, a WKU photojournalism student, was in Hawaii when he received a notification signaling a missile threat for the island. Mattingly said one of the first things that went through his mind was, “I really hope this isn’t happening.”

Start the semester off strong with these tips

BY OLIVIA MOHR HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

Winter break is over, and it’s time to snap back to reality and get back into the rhythm of work and classes. With a new semester ahead of us, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, lose track of time and focus, so here are some tips to get you back into the swing of things so you can have a great, productive semester.

Make your mental and physical health a priority. It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself when you’re balancing classes, a social life and maybe even a job, but you won’t be able to do well in those aspects of your life if you don’t keep yourself healthy and you feel exhausted. Take just 30 minutes out of your day to go to the gym.

Take GroupX classes. Keep track of how much fast food you eat and try to eat as little as possible. Lighter foods will make you look and feel not only healthier, but also more energized.

Make sure to spend time by yourself and use that time to read, write or spend time outside instead of staring at your phone. And seriously, get some sleep. It’s important to recharge.

Step out of your comfort zone.

It sounds cliché, but it’s important.

Usually the things that will leave you feeling fulfilled, proud of yourself and accomplished are the things that seem daunting and difficult at first, so take that difficult class that sounds interesting. Join the club you’ve been meaning to join. Get involved in things not only because they will look good on your resume, but because

they will push you to challenge yourself, meet new people and try new and exciting things. It will be difficult, but when you look back on it later, it will be worth it.

Reach out. Don’t wait for people to approach you. Approach them first.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, otherwise you might get left in the dark.

Talk to someone who looks, acts or believes differently than you do. It’s good to befriend people who are like us, but when we befriend people who are different from us, it enriches our lives, opens our minds and crushes our stereotypes.

Socialize. If you’re focused on classes and work, it’s easy to forget how important it is to make friends.

People need people, and no matter how hard we try to deny it, it’s true.

When you have people by your side who push you to do your best, offer encouraging words, make you laugh, laugh at your lame jokes and help you when you need it, it makes even the most difficult tasks and situations seem easier.

Keep up with the goings-on around campus. Check the WKU events page online for upcoming events and the calendar on the Herald’s website. You might find a fun activity you’ve never tried before, a new interest or a way to get involved on campus.

Find your niche. There are tons of ways to get involved on campus.

No matter what you’re interested in, there’s probably a club or group on campus that is full of students interested in the same thing. When you look up WKU’s student activities and organizations online, you’ll find ev-

erything from fraternities and sororities to campus ministries and intramural activities.

Come with plenty of quarters. You never know when you’re going to need them. Chances are you’ll need them for laundry, parking or just for extra change.

Manage your time wisely. This is a tough one. It’s tempting to push off work and watch Netflix, hang out with friends or scroll through social media instead, but try to work before

you play, and limit the time you spend doing things that aren’t productive.

Seek meaning before pleasure, and ask yourself whether or not you’ll regret spending a huge chunk of time on the internet doing absolutely nothing of value instead of studying or having actual face-to-face interactions.

Features editor Olivia Mohr can be reached at 270-745-6291 and olivia. mohr564@topper.wku.edu.

C4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

PHOTO

MICHAEL BLACKSHIRE • HERALD

Tristian Yochum, freshman, makes his way to his 8 a.m. class in Cherry Hall, History 101. “I’m making sure I get to class on time because I know I have an early schedule this semester,” Yochum said.

RING IN THE NEW SEMESTER Students attend their first day of classes

BY SARAH YAACOUB HERALD.PHOTO@WKU.EDU

The rainy chill of Monday morning found a number of students bearing umbrellas and dashing through the rain as they walked up the Hill for the first day of classes. Students welcomed the start of the semester with mixed feelings: there was excitement for new classes and to reunite with old friends, and perhaps a sense of mild dread to be back working and studying after winter break.

For art history major Olivia Bowers, last semester was rough.

“I got really, really anxious about school,” Bowers said. “But this time, I’m trying to stay stable and get more comfortable with my classes. I’m aiming for all A’s.”

Bowers also wants to focus on time management and self-care in order to move forward. She believes dedicating equal time to each of the courses she’s taking will help her stay on top of her work.

Junior exercise science majors Emma Thomas and Caitlyn Kirby agreed that coming back to school was refreshing after break.

When asked about her goals for the semester, Thomas laughed.

“Just to make it through,” Thomas said. “My classes aren’t too hard, and I think [this semester] is going to be a good one.”

Features reporter Sarah Yaacoub can be reached at 270-745-6291 and sarah. yaacoub214@topper.wku.edu.

Follow her on Twitter at @sarahyaacoub1.

MICHAEL BLACKSHIRE • HERALD

Mitchell Daniels, a sophomore transfer student from the University of Kentucky, asks junior Abby Haynes, a public relations major, how to find the advising office. Daniels is still needing to get enrolled in classes for the semester. “I just got accepted into WKU last semester so I hope I am able to at least get enrolled in a few of the classes that I need for the semester,” Daniels said.

HUNTER HALLORAN • HERALD

HUNTER HALLORAN • HERALD

Freshman Adriane Leon prints off her syllabus in Jody Richards Hall for the first day of class. “It sucks that it’s raining. I hope that I get good grades this semester, and don’t procrastinate,” Leon said.

Freshmen Erin Rigdon (left), alongside Aubrey Hulsey (right), make their way to class on a rainy first day back on Monday. Hulsey said she was “hopeful” for the upcoming semester.