Feb. 25, 2020

Check out the Housing Guide inside this edition

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 19

Board of Regents committee to raise Caboni salary

BY JACK DOBBS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

The Board of Regents executive committee approved a $22,500 salary increase for President Timothy Caboni

– enough to offset a tax liability the IRS says he must pay on the value he gets from living in the WKU’s owned presidential residence on Chestnut Street.

The pay increase was approved by the Board of Regents at its Jan. 31 meeting. Regents said they were obligated to pay Caboni under his contract

with the university for the taxes he must pay for the benefit of a free home with paid utilities.

Director of Media Relations Bob Skipper said the increase will not take effect until approved by the full board.

The next full Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for March 6.

PRIDE POLICY PROBLEMS ••• Trans students worry their needs are not met by diversity policy

ABIGAIL JAMES • HERALD

Some transgender students disagree with admins on transgender students’ health and safety from WKU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan back in 2017.

BY MAX CHAMBERS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

Transgender students disagree with administration officials on trans students’ health and safety needs two years after WKU adopted a new diversity policy to improve campus resources.

WKU adopted a new University-Wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan on Oct. 27, 2017. It guides policies created during academic years Fall 2017-Spring 2022. Halfway through the policy, administrators applauded WKU’s progress, but students said their needs have changed.

One concrete goal for WKU was to “institutionalize the Pride Center and resources to meet the needs of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and ally,” the plan stated.

Sharon Hunter, parent and family programs coordinator for Housing and Residence Life, said she’s happy with changes WKU has made since adopt-

ing the plan. Hunter said she’s proud of the increase in WKU’s Campus Pride Index score.

“We were at a two star last year, so we made a lot of progress this year, so we’re up to three this year,” Hunter said. “Our metric for the strategic plan — the Campus Pride is one of the metrics, so we have said that we are shooting for a four this coming year.”

The Campus Pride Index, which scores universities based on their LGBTQ policies, gave WKU 3 out of 5 stars for LGBTQ friendliness but 2.5 stars for policies helping trans students. The University of Kentucky, Louisville and Northern Kentucky all hold at least 3.5 stars, and U of L and UK hold 5 stars, according to the CPI’s website.

Martha Sales, executive director of the Cynthia & George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center, said donations help ISEC and the Pride Center give trans students valuable resources. They currently offer a clothes closet, food pantry and LGBTQ friendly Living Learning Community that stays open during fall, winter and spring breaks.

“Donations help students with needs that they may have,” Sales said. “We’ve had donors who provide shelter, clothing for transgender students or students that might need it period, food and other resources.”

But students involved in WKU’s Queer Student Union and Trans-Nonbinary Group feel that WKU’s administration needs to re-evaluate what trans students need.

Mark Clark, a junior and the president of the Trans-Nonbinary Group, said trans students still need basic resources to help them transition. He says that so far TNB has funded transition efforts for its members through fundraising.

“Although the administration does provide important things, they haven’t necessarily provided a lot of things that trans students immediately need,” Clark said. “I feel like that’s mostly been done by the clubs.”

Clark said TNB has used donated funds to pay for legal name changes SEE TRANSGENDER • PAGE A3

School of Media director committee concludes search

BY NATASHA BREU HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

The third search for director of School of Media since 2017 is coming to an end with four candidates up for consideration after interviewing and presenting over the last two weeks in Jody Richards Hall.

Kristina Arnold, the chair of WKU’s Department of Art as well as the search

committee, said they’re interested in moving quickly and they’re excited about the four candidates who were finalists in the search.

The director search committee first announced the search in September 2019 along with its partnership with Parker Executive Search, a global search firm that focuses on clients in higher education as well as other areas according to its website.

The past two searches ended with no

hires, even after the committee narrowed down the candidates. The committee met Monday morning to discuss the candidates and developed a list of strengths and weaknesses for each, but the decision is ultimately left up to Dean of Potter College of Arts and Letters Larry Snyder and the provost, said Mac McKerral, a committee member and the journalism coordinator for the School of Media.

SEE SOM DIRECTOR • PAGE A2

Caboni’s base salary is $400,000, according to his initial employment contract.

The move comes after the federal Internal Revenue Service determined that Caboni should be taxed for the SEE CABONI • PAGE A3

Popular Bowling Green bar closes after just two years

BY ABBEY NUTTER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU A local bar popular for WKU students closed last week. Soon after, the bar’s social media disappeared.

Hideout Bar and Grill operated on Center Street for just two years after opening in February 2018. Often having deals on food like wings and burgers, Hideout closed its doors on Thursday.

Posted on Hideout’s now inactive website is a statement from the establishment’s management: “We would like to thank our loyal customers of the Hideout Bar and Grill. We have made the decision to close down the restaurant effective immediately as construction of more apartments in the building continues, which will eventually take over this space. We didn’t think operating the Hideout amongst the construction and future apartments was compatible and have thus made the decision to close our doors. We thank the customers of Hideout Bar and Grill for your past business and encourage you to frequent some of the other great bars and restaurants in Bowling Green.”

Twitter erupted with the restaurant’s closing and users of the social media app speculated that Hideout had been frequently allowing minors in its doors, claims which Bowling Green Police Department Public Information Officer Ronnie Ward could not confirm.

The bar’s license through Alcoholic Beverage Control in Frankfort upon its closing remained active and would have expired in late April this year.

Despite the speculation that arose on Twitter amid Hideout’s closing, many in the WKU community were sad to see it go, with many users making posts to commemorate the spot’s closing. Others were shocked to hear the bar was no longer in operation.

Hannah Nafziger, a junior healthcare administration major said she and her friends were among those shocked by the news, although her Hideout experience was less than satisfactory.

“Honestly we hadn’t been going there for a few months now,” Nafziger said.

“It always took forever to get drinks, the bouncers could be rude depending on the night, and there really wasn’t a lot of room without the balcony open.”

Hideout’s management stated the reason for the bar closing was due to construction in the building, but it is unclear what will be taking its place.

News reporter Abbey Nutter can be reached at abbigail.nutter168@topper. wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @abbeynutter.

A2 NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SOM DIRECTOR

CONTINUED FROM FRONT The most recent director Loup Langton stepped down in October 2016.

Robert Dietle, who serves as the head of the History department, has served as interim director since June 2017.

The first search for a new director took place in spring 2017 without success, and another followed in the fall.

Snyder reopened the search in spring 2018, but it resulted in no hires. Snyder chose to pause the search for the 2018-2019 academic year to give the School of Media a chance to “reflect and recalibrate.”

Over the past few years, the School of Media has gone through several changes, including a name change from the School of Journalism & Broadcasting.

Additionally, the Public Relations and Advertising programs moved into the Communications department.

Snyder said the unanimous decision of the faculty to change the name to the School of Media from the School of Journalism and Broadcasting reflects efforts to “refine the mission and priorities of the unit.” Snyder also said he was satisfied with the finalists the committee chose.

“The depth and quality of the applicant pool this time is tremendous,” Snyder said in an email. “I am very pleased that the committee has chosen to invite such capable and experienced candidates, any of whom have the credentials to lead the School of Media going forward.”

Sara Thomason, an assistant professor of film and also a member of the search committee, said the four candidates brought to campus for the director position stood out because of their administrative experience. She said their professional backgrounds in leading faculty and working closely with other department heads as well as a dean and provost is what the committee was looking for. She said the candidates have that experience.

“You know as far as the whole school goes, you know we have four incredibly dynamic programs that have unique vibrant personalities and share a lot of similarities,” Thomason said. “And so, you know, having a leader who recognizes all of those strengths and recognizes those similarities and some of the differences, and someone who can, you know, really bring us together.”

Arnold said this is an exciting time for the School of Media and that the committee is “very pleased” with the four finalists for director. She said Parker Executive Search was also helpful in recruiting “qualified” individuals.

“Among them [director candidates] they have an impressive range and breadth of experience in the field, in academia and as campus leaders,” Arnold said in an email.

The new director will support initiatives to enhance the school’s programs, engage faculty, staff and students from the school’s diverse disciplines, cultivate an active alumni network and foster multidisciplinary collaboration, according to the Parker Executive Search

position description.

Jillian Ryan, a junior broadcasting major, said she is interested in seeing the changes that will occur if a new director is chosen.

“I would like to see someone who likes to engage and interact with all students just to get to know people more,” Ryan said. “I feel like the School of Media is a big family already and a new director coming in, I feel, needs to meet the same ‘family feel’ criteria there is now.”

Grace Wallace, a junior broadcasting major, said she hasn’t faced any challenges as a student from not having a director since she feels as if the faculty, staff and advisers have done a “great job” ensuring they’re there for students and care about them.

“I have such a good relationship with all my professors that I would honestly consider them to be just as good, if not better, than like what a director could do for me,” Wallace said.

Wallace also said she thought there could be improvement in communicating to students via mass email about the director search so they can be more familiar with the role of what a director is supposed to do. Although she knew about the search from her courses, she said each professor in the school could’ve talked about it more.

Although an interim director has been in place since 2017, she thinks instead of paying a director for the School of Media, that money could be used toward the school directly.

“That money can go towards a radio station or new lights or new cameras or literally anything else,” Wallace said.

“I think we’re doing just fine without a director… It’s just very important that, like I said, because our broadcasting program specifically is so close knit, it is extremely important for this person to really get to know the students, get to know the faculty, and just, you know, are there to support everyone to utilize and to have an open door policy kind of thing,” Wallace said.

Hayley Robb, a senior journalism major and creative director of Cherry Creative, like the Herald part of WKU Student Publications emphasized the need for a new director to bring the majors in the School of Media together and bring excitement back to journalism. She also said when she graduates she hopes she can look back and see more of a relationship between student publications and the school.

“I think that’s one thing that maybe I missed out on my college career is that, not the mesh, like the possibility of meshing different majors,” Robb said. “Maybe by creating an environment that encourages the crossover between the different major major options, it will recruit more students to the school… Hopefully different projects out in the community and different efforts to bring students together as more of like a team.”

News Editor Natasha Breu can be reached at natasha.breu597@topper. wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @nnbreu.

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SOM DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

LISA MCLENDON DEBORA WENGER

McLendon is the news & information track chair/Bremner Editing Center director at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She holds a doctorate in Slavic linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin and has previously worked as a graduate instructor, lecturer, teacher and news editor.

••• Wenger is an assistant dean and associate professor for the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi. She holds a doctorate in journalism from Kingston University in London, U.K. She has previously worked as an associate professor of media convergence and new media at Virginia Commonwealth University and as an adjunct instructor at the University of South Florida.

•••

ELANIE STEYN AVI SANTO

Steyn is an associate professor and the area head for journalism at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She holds a doctorate in business management from North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Prior to her position at OU, Steyn taught at North-West University’s School of Communication Studies as a senior lecturer.

••• Santo is currently an associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts at Old Dominion. He also serves on the Faculty Senate at ODU. Prior to his position as an associate professor, he served as an assistant professor in the same department. He holds a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in radio-television-film.

NEWS A3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

CABONI

CONTINUED FROM FRONT fair-market value of living for free in the home as if it were income.

The increase offsets additional taxes Caboni must pay for the value of living in the residence, as well as for the higher rate of pay, said Kristi Smith, interim chief financial officer.

“Any increase received is to bring Dr. Caboni’s net pay back to the original amount before any tax calculations are figured in relation to the taxable benefit,” Smith said in an email. “This increase also keeps WKU in compliance with the contract terms.”

Caboni should not have a tax liability on the presidential residence, since it is owned and operated by WKU, according to the contract, which requires him to live in the home.

Smith said a taxable benefit is defined by the IRS as “a form of employee pay other than cash wages for the performances of services.” Generally, there is a three step test to determine if something is a taxable benefit, Smith

TRANSGENDER

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

and purchase chest binders, compression undergarments used to flatten breast tissue. Many trans people consider binders essential to their daily lives, but Clark said trans students who aren’t members of QSU may not know TNB can fund them.

“Any resources that we do have aren’t very heavily advertised outside of the Pride Center and other places on campus,” Clark said. “And resources that are provided have been because

REED MATTISON • HERALD

WKU President Timothy Caboni meets with the Herald Editorial Board meeting on January 22, 2020.

said.

Smith said an asset is considered a taxable benefit if it is located on the property of the employer, if the employer is required to accept housing as

a condition of employment and if the employee is contractually obligated to use the benefit.

“Since the presidential residence has been identified as taxable, the annual

we provide them ourselves or because trans students had to push really hard for them to become a thing.”

Clark said he and other Queer Student Union members have pushed to improve the preferred name change process. Clark said the preferred name system was used mostly by students who go by their middle name, and it was difficult to convince ID Center employees to use non-legal names on student IDs. Students can now submit their preferred name change request via TopNet and get their new ID a few days later.

Eli Edens, a sophomore and the sec-

retary of TNB, said a big change they want is regular updates to WKU’s “Resources for Transgender Students” webpage.

“It hasn’t been updated in probably years,” Edens said. “There used to be an update of gender-neutral bathrooms and things like that, but it’s kind of fallen under disrepair and been neglected.”

Administrators and trans students both see the need for a student healthcare policy that covers hormone replacement therapy. Hunter said there is no coverage for HRT under the 20192020 student healthcare plan through

CORRECTION •

A story which ran on the front page of the last edition about postal services at apartment complexes included a quote from an employee of The Columns apartment complex who was not aware of the action the complex is taking in the dispute over mail delivery with the U.S. Postal Service. The story has been updated with a comment from the property management office.

CRIME REPORTS Feb. 17, 2020 A faculty member of the Department of Theatre and Dance reported that a mixing board, speaker and Blu-ray player from Gordon Wilson Hall went missing over the previous weekend.

Feb. 17, 2020 @ 11:05 p.m.

A student reported that $40 had been stolen from him in a fraudulent online transaction.

Feb. 12, 2020 @ 11:25 p.m.

Four students were cited for possession of marijuana in the Poland Lot.

Feb. 24, 2020 @ 1:49 a.m.

A student reported that her bicycle had been stolen and her bicycle lock had been damaged at a bicycle rack located near Gilbert Hall.

rental fair market value of the house will be added to Dr. Caboni’s pay and will be taxed at the same level as cash wages are taxed,” Smith said.

Smith said this is different from a pay raise, because a raise describes an increase in cash wages, whereas this increase is being done to ensure Caboni’s net pay remains the same.

“The net pay is lower because the taxes associated with the house are deducted from Dr. Caboni’s cash wages,” Smith said. “At this point, Dr. Caboni has incurred tax liability related to residence on campus.”

Smith said because of this, the university is obligated to fix this tax liability since not doing so would violate WKU’s contract with Caboni.

Reporter Jack Dobbs can be reached at 270-745-0655 and jack.dobbs469@ topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @jackrdobbs.

UnitedHealthcare Student Resources.

“We don’t have anyone who prescribes hormones right now,” Hunter said. “Finding a prescriber, that’s number one. The trans healthcare and support is an area that has always been ripe for improvement. But I am happy to say that we are making progress.”

Copy Desk Chief Max Chambers can be reached at max.chambers873@topper.wku.edu. Follow them on Twitter at @chambers_max_e.

STORIES YOU MISSED THIS WEEK • SGA motion to host professional etiquette dinner passes unanimously • WKU partners with UNESCO and Mammoth Cave to host May 2020 conversation and sustainability workshop • WKU basketball manager Evan Stock dresses for Hilltoppers, recieves praise on social media • 5 novels to read to honor Black History Month • Celebrating the benefits of pets for national Love Your Pet Day • The job resource on campus that you may not know about

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OPINION

A4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 , 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

ILLUSTRATION BY MADALYN STACK • HERALD

COWS ON CAMPUS Cows on campus could improve enrollment and agricultural literacy

JAKE DRESSMAN HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU Students in the agriculture department have to drive 15 minutes away from campus to visit WKU’s “Farm”— 800 acres of rolling green pastures that most WKU students will never get the chance to see.

The WKU Agriculture Research and Education Center has beef and dairy cattle, horses, goats, a vineyard, various crops and even a two-hole golf course. However, the farm is located about 15 minutes from campus, according to junior agriculture major Alysha Kittle.

Kittle said it can be an obstacle for some students to get there, though a lot of professors and other students are willing to help students get rides.

“The AREC center is also very beneficial for students to be able to get hands-on experience with animals,”

Kittle said.

Integrating elements of the farm, such as cows, closer to the main campus would benefit the university and students of all majors in a variety of ways.

First, consider WKU’s main competition in bringing in new students: the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.

These schools offer more degree programs, more resources, better athletic programs and larger city life. But WKU is cheaper and has a nice campus. The cherry trees, the hills and the architecture all contribute to an aesthetically pleasing environment.

The campus visit is the single most important recruiting tool for colleges, according to a study published in the Strategic Management Quarterly journal.

So strengthening the already attractive campus should be a top priority for the school. Having an area for dairy cows, open greenhouses and a wider array of plants on campus could create

an unforgettable campus visit experience and increase enrollment.

For students, these improvements could not only benefit mental health, but also improve agricultural literacy for people from urban areas as well as provide a homey feel for students who grew up on farms or in pastoral environments.

A vast array of scientific literature has shown the connections between mental health and environment, but it shouldn’t be necessary to prove. Most people understand that pleasing environments reduce stress.

Cows and more greenspaces would also expose students to agriculture, and it would increase their chances of learning about where food comes from and how to grow and manage plants.

One Department of Agriculture study from the ‘90s found that one in five adult respondents did not know that hamburgers were made from beef.

Some schools already have cows on campus. At the University of California, Davis, the dairy cow has consecu-

tively won the Best On-Campus Animal award, according to the school newspaper, the California Aggie.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is well known for their dairy science program and cows. Kent Weigel, the head of their dairy science department said, “Having a dairy herd in town is rather unique. I think it shows the importance of dairy science here,” Weigel said. “And having the cows on campus is a great recruiting tool. Students don’t have to travel off campus to take part in labs and live animal instruction.”

Incorporating more natural life and programs to learn about agriculture will benefit prospective students, agriculture majors and current students in any major. #CowsOnCampus

Opinion Editor Jake Dressman can be reached at jacob.dressman200@ topper.wku.edu.

LOCAL MUSIC

Tidball’s showcases Bowling Green’s best rock’n’roll

BY CASEY WARNER

HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU It was like any other ordinary night at Tidball’s.

The clock read 9:30 p.m. as three men set up their equipment on stage.

On this particular night, music was set to begin around 10:30 p.m.

Like usual, a crowd started to settle in about a quarter after 10 p.m. as the band El Astronauta took the stage. Led by bassist and vocalist Dean Collier, this three-piece group of rockers started the night off with a kick.

Other than stating the title of the next song to be played, there wasn’t much said between the riffage being laid down. With a 45-minute set of grooves, hooks and killer riffs, El Astronauata was determined not to disappoint.

It was easy to see the trio’s music is very bass-driven as they progressed into their set. As pleasing as the music on stage was, even more pleasing to see was an interactive and lively crowd that has grown by the time El Astronauta brought their set to a close.

It seemed everybody knew somebody among the audience and was there to see quality music. Great music is without a doubt the best way to de-

CONTACT US

scribe that night at Tidball’s.

Next up on the bill was the dynamic duo of Josh Hines and JD Minor, Dos Cobros. For a band with only a drummer and a guitarist, an immense amount of bone-crushing sound is produced by this band.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of elaborately thought out songs between these two guys, and that’s a good thing. There doesn’t need to be. It works, and it rocks.

In a style similar to El Astronauta, Dos Cobros belted out their set in 40 minutes or less, proving that on this night it was more about quality than quantity. Above all, the chemistry between Hines and Minor is what sticks out about this band.

In effortless fashion, the two gentlemen rip out every note with a fiery passion that portrays hours of collaboration between the two. There are no gimmicks with Dos Cobros. They come straight out, ready to jam.

Dos Cobros drummer Josh Hines showcases his talents not only with this duo, but in other local bands as well. He is also a guitarist in the metal band Bihargam, as well as guitarist and vocals in the ‘90s cover band Peter the Freshman.

Hines praised the audience that showed out and was able to express how unique he thinks Dos Cobros can be.

“Saturday night’s crowd was pretty good,” Hines said. “Dos Cobros is still finding our footing a little bit because there aren’t many similar bands for us to play with here. We were very pleased with the crowd though.”

In an era where mainstream radio waves have taken the attention of most music listeners, Tidball’s always showcases Bowling Green’s most talented artists week in and week out. This is something a lot of folks in the area should open up to, Hines said.

“The scene has a rich history and people are carrying on the legacy — we just need the fans to come take the chance on bands they don’t know,” Hines said. “People need to diversify their tastes, or at least attempt to.”

To end the bill, there was definitely diversity to say the least. The Daddy Sisters closed the night with a bang, and playing along to the same trend as Dos Cobros — with just two band members.

The drummer and guitarist fit right in: simple, powerful, groovy, rock ‘n’ roll along with flamboyant outfits made for a great spectacle.

The similarity in El Astronauta, Dos Cobros and The Daddy Sisters is easy to see.

Don’t overthink things. Just get on stage.

Keep it simple, and play good rock ‘n’ roll.

When asking Dos Cobros drummer

DISCLOSURES

Josh Hines about his thoughts on the trend of bands having just two or three members, it’s easy to understand why it works so well.

“We get older and frustrated with all the years of juggling big groups, so when we start something new, we just keep it as simple as possible with less members,” Hines said. “I’ve been in bands before with five to seven members and it’s great, but man, the act of juggling schedules is tough.”

Not only is gathering members in extensive bands tough, but seeing the musicianship and passion in bands with two to three members is satisfying to see. Smaller bands mean more ideas coming from creative individuals rather than a mix of one big group that throws together ideas.

As far as what this all means for the Bowling Green music scene, Hines seems to believe times have never been brighter for local musicians.

“Right now bands seem to just be doing whatever they want and not trying to fit that old mold, and I think it’s great,” Hines said. “People just need to come out and give it a chance.”

Opinion writer Casey Warner can be reached at casey.warner161@topper. wku.edu.

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FUN A5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

FUN PAGE Across

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FOR SALE The Great Escape Records & Comics.

BUY - SELL - TRADE:

Last week’s solution:

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

5

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

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64 Before, poetically 15 Sleepy aircraft 40 Like the White 65 Small whirlpool 22 Fleece 43 Trial figure Rabbit 66 Physics 24 Reply to a captain 44 Down Under bird 41 Chicago trains calculation 25 Mount SW of 45 King’s title 42 Kaput Messina (Abbr.)

43 Numbers game Down 26 In apple-pie order 46 Sharp narrow 44 Expunge 27 A deadly sin ridge 45 Wicker material 1 Sunscreen 28 Fine-tune 47 Joystick 46 Ex’s due, at times ingredient 29 Racetrack 48 Boiling mad 49 Sunday seats 2 Declare openly 30 Anchovy 49 Fencing move 50 Summer TV 3 Give a hoot containers 51 Garden intruder offering 4 Family 31 Sarcastic 52 Pop 51 Like some hair 5 School affairs 34 Light bulb unit 53 Bookie’s quote 52 Blubber 6 Willa Cather’s 35 Jazzy James 54 Ottoman Empire 55 Actress Bartok “One of ___” 36 It’s a gas governors 56 Organic 7 Hackneyed 38 Actor Cain or 57 1967 Monkees compound 8 Sandpiper Stockwell song 59 Waste away 9 Sister of Calliope 39 Effortless 58 Guitarist Nugent 61 Hanoi holiday 10 Persian Gulf ship 40 They may be 60 Piña colada 62 Like some lingerie 11 Fire starter drawn ingredient

CLASSIFIEDS

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Labor History ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com

1. What was the average time served by an indentured servant? (a) 4 yrs (b) 2 yrs (c) 8 yrs 2. Where was the first labor union formed in America? (a) Chicago (b) Detroit (c) Philadelphia 3. When was the first eight-hour workday introduced? (a) 1891 (b) 1867 (c) 1902 4. When did Labor Day become a national holiday? (a) 1894 (b) 1882 (c) 1905 5. Where was the first major sit-down strike? (a) Pittsburgh, Pa (b) Akron, Oh (c) Flint, Mi 6. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was the first Africian American union. When was it organized? (a) 1945 (b) 1957 (c) 1925 7. When were cost of living raises first worked into union contracts? (a) 1926 (b) 1948 (c) 1939 8. When and where was the first U.S. strike by doctors? (a) 1975 New York City (b) 1968 Los Angeles (c) 1969 Boston 9. How many air traffic controllers were fired during the 1981 strike? (a) 9,600 (b) 5,800 (c) 11,600 10. What was the approximate combined membership of the AFL and CIO when the two unions merged in December 1955? (a) 25 million (b) 15 million (c) 36 million

Solution

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

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

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9 6 1 8 3 2 5 4 7

A6

PHOTO

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Brooke Stovall and her family wait to be seen by dentists at Smiles from the Heart. When asked about other options for her and her family, Stovall said, “Pay out of pocket and go hungry that week.”

Dennis Legawiec has suffered from chronic tooth pain for the past year, but was not able to get the services he needed until attending Smiles from the Heart. “I’m insured, but I’ve called 14 places in Bowling Green and none of them accept Medicare or Medicaid,” Legawiec said.

SMILES FROM THE HEART COPY AND PHOTOS BY ZANE MEYER-THORNTON

P

Diana Proffitt started volunteering for Smiles from the Heart five years ago to honor her late friend, Kim Jackson. Jackson was the wife of Eli Jackson, a dentist at Chandler Park Dental Care. Proffitt and Jackson became friends while working as ambulatory nurses at the Bowling Green Medical Center.

Proffitt promised Jackson she would volunteer for the organization as long as she was physically able to in memory of her friend.

eople from numerous states gathered at Chandler Park Dental Care for the 10th annual Smiles from the Heart on Saturday, Feb. 21. The event offers free cleanings, filings, extractions and x-rays for those who would otherwise not be able afford them. The event was started to fill a void left in the community. Many people are unable to acquire the dental care they need due to lack of finances or inadequate insurance. With the prices of dental procedures being so high, many individuals are left to make tough decisions on whether to tend to their oral needs or pro-

vide themselves and their families with basic human services. Edwina Cannon has been to Smiles from the Heart three times because of her lack of dental insurance. She said she thinks the program is wonderful and thanks the doctors for going above and beyond to help her get the treatment she needed, at the best price, even if it was at another location. “I was wanting get the [dental] implants, but the [dentist] said [prices] were ‘so high’ and he knew I was on disability, so he recommended I go to affordable dentures and I really appreciated that,” Cannon said. Smiles from the Heart provides people with professional level dental care at no cost at all as long as they are over 18 years old and not pregnant.

Smiles from the Heart has been going on for the last 10 years and is the only option many have for dental care. Some patients arrived as early as 6 a.m. to get free x-rays, cleanings, filings and extractions. The only patient requirements is that they must be over 18 years old and not pregnant.

LIFE

B1

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

ABOVE AND BEYOND •••

ADDISON LEBOUTILLIER • HERALD

WKU Senior Kimber Morris, 21, Portland, Tennessee, participates in the JUMP Program, and is currently majoring in Corporate and Organizational Communication.

BY OLIVIA MARSHALL HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

As a college student, it’s already hard enough trying to fit in schoolwork, keeping up with friends, taking care of yourself and possibly working all in 24 hours. Kimber Morris, a senior from Portland, Tennessee, is proving to the world that she can do all of that and more.

Morris is a student worker, undergraduate and graduate student at WKU. Studying organizational and corporate communications, Morris’ day is filled with classes, tutoring, working in the communication department and driving 45 minutes to and from her house to come to campus.

“Kimber is our lead student worker and has taken on work that is almost at the level of an office associate,” Helen Sterk, head of the communication department, said. “So Kimber organizes our tutors, our student workers and she organizes me.”

Morris doesn’t skip a beat when she arrives on campus at 8:10 a.m. every weekday, where she checks in with the communication department office associate or department head to see what needs to get done that day.

“I am in charge of keeping, helping and working with all of our student workers, as well as acting in the same role as the student workers whenever

needed,” Morris said.

Abby Baker, a junior from Nashville, is one of the student workers in the department. Morris hired her to the staff after taking a class with Baker. Baker sang praises of Morris and the work she does for the department.

“I think Kimber is really innovative,” Baker said. “She has a lot of really good ideas about ways to further the department and grow our students. She’s really nice and helpful. If you mess something up, she’s willing to help you and talk it through with you.”

When she isn’t in class, Morris sticks around the office, helping out however she can.

“Sometimes we don’t have enough office workers to fill the whole day,” Morris said. “So I’ll fill in for them to take care of scheduling appointments, making posters and getting information out for the department.”

Morris also works at the Communications Success Center tutoring students who need help with writing papers in APA style or writing speeches.

Morris’s hard work and dedication to the department haven’t gone unnoticed. While Morris works for the department in more official ways, she also serves as a role model for the students within the department.

“I aspire to be like her when I’m a senior because she gives off the impression that she has it all figured out, which is not true for anyone,” Baker said. “She is a hard worker and makes

Meet the student who may be doing it all me determined to want to work and do better for her.”

Figuring out how to balance her schedule is something Morris was proud of. She said her planner is her best friend.

“I try to, at the beginning of each week, write a list of everything I need to get done. Sometimes I’ll put extra things I want to get done, but if they don’t get done, I’ll just push them back to the next week,” Morris said. “I even have an Excel file on my computer that has an hour by hour schedule of my day.”

Morris emphasized the importance of creating time for friends and family in her busy schedule.

“Scheduling in time with friends and family is important to me,” Morris said. “Because I really don’t want to neglect that.”

Challenging herself is something that Morris is used to. She said that she is known for putting a little more on her plate than she should. Morris sees multiple different benefits of being so involved with her department.

“I think it’s almost better because I get to see the department in multiple different facets, all at the same time,” Morris said. “It helps me have a better understanding of what is happening.

As a worker, seeing the graduate side as well, helps me to understand what I need to do as a worker for the graduate students and how to advertise for the department.”

Being able to have a greater understanding of her department is something Morris is grateful for. She is able to connect and identify more with her department by being in these roles.

“I get to know all of our staff and faculty, and I feel like I have a really good relationship with most of them,” said Morris. “It’s awkward a little bit because I may have them in a class at that time, but it’s really cool because I feel a connection to them that I might’ve not had if I did not work with them in this way.”

One of the relationships she’s been able to develop is with Sterk. Sterk said that she got to know Morris when she took her graduate class in gender and communication.

“She doesn’t require a lot of oversight,” Sterk said. “She takes initiative, she understands how things work and moves them along.”

Sterk knows that Morris has a bright future ahead of her.

“She has an unlimited future,” Sterk said. “There are a million things that woman can do, and I’m dying to figure out what they look like.”

Features reporter Olivia Marshall can be reached at 270-745-6291 and olivia.marshall688@topper.wku.edu.

Follow Olivia on social media at @marshallolivia_.

What you should know when studying abroad

BY GABBY BUNTON

HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU College offers many opportunities, including the chance to see the world.

The chance to travel to a different part of the world while also earning credits seems very appealing, but where do you start? What do you need to know when taking those steps?

“I went to Harlaxton for four months and then stayed a couple of weeks after for an Italy trip,” junior Seth Newby said. “It’s really cliché, but it was the best four consecutive months of my life. I really liked it.”

Junior Brooke Bledsoe describes her experience of living in the English countryside as a fairytale. “Every single day, I woke up and forgot where I was because it did not feel real,” Bledsoe said. “I got to travel to 14 different countries in the matter of four months, and most people don’t even get to do that in a lifetime.”

Studying abroad also met them with surprises — with not only a different scenery, but different people.

“I was surprised to get as close with people as you do,” Newby said. “You spend practically 24 hours a day with them for four months or so. You learn a lot about people over that time and grow close to them. That is the thing I loved the most.”

Studying abroad also offers other benefits that students rarely consider, like internships and service-learning projects.

“They are very popular and can stand alone as your global experience or be combined taking classes,” Caryn Lindsay, director of Study Abroad & Global

Learning, said.

She also expressed that this can help students set themselves apart when going against other job applicants.

“A study abroad experience is more than just the course,” Lindsay said. “You can show success in the sought-after skills of adapting to a new environment and interacting with people who are different from you.”

While enjoying their experiences, students said reality set in, and they began realizing things they wished they had known before boarding the plane.

How to budget

One thing Bledsoe stressed was the budgeting. When talking with people, many had told her studying abroad would keep within the budget she had set.

“A lot of people who went abroad gave me a number to stick with, but they did not take into account the hiccups while traveling like missed flights, sicknesses, late trains, etc.,” Bledsoe said.

How to keep an open mind

Newby expressed the importance of keeping an open mind.

“Most students, I think, have an open mind, but you really have to be intentional with keeping an open mind, especially when going into a plethora of different cultures,” Newby said. “It can be tough for others but easy for those who are more outgoing. It may be hard for those who are more introverted, but it won’t devalue their experience. They can learn from that.”

How to personalize your experience

Lindsay said students should look

GEORGIA MALLETT • HERALD

Flags wave in front of the Mahurin Honors College on Western Kentucky University’s campus.

into what they want and personalize their experience.

“It is about where you have always to go, what you want to learn about,” Lindsay said.

She also suggests early planning, so that you can find a program that will fit smoothly into your academic program at WKU, suit your budget and explore places you may have only dreamed of.

Who to ask for help

While students’ minds can be plagued with worrisome aspects of studying abroad, WKU’s Study Abroad & Global Learning Office can help calm and inform students.

The Study Abroad & Global Learning Office not only helps inform students

about programs, but also help with the specifics of what to pack, getting passports, scholarships and helping set up pre-departure orientation where you will hear from past students and other experts on what to pack for your individual program.

Bledsoe attritbuted some of her resources to the Study Abroad & Global Learning Office.

“The WKU Study Abroad & Global Learning Office was the best in guiding me through all the right steps to ensure that I was prepared as possible,” Bledsoe said.

Features reporter Gabrielle Bunton can be reached at gabrielle.bunton605@topper.wku.edu.

B2 LIFE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

‘Home for Bowling Green’: Fans reflect on Spencer’s Coffee

BY OLIVIA MARSHALL HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

ing less crowded.

“Hopefully, it will be less crowded in the original location so there can be enough space for everyone,” Stephanie Berec, a senior from Bowling Green, said.

But what draws WKU students into Spencer’s in the first place? For most students, it’s a great place to study.

“I’m excited to have another space to study and hang out,” Berec said.

Preston mentioned how she prefers

The Bowling Green coffee scene is going to get a second location of what’s already a community favorite. The new Spencer’s Coffee is set to open on the 31-W. Bypass.

Although an exact opening date has yet to be set, the local coffee shop announced previously that they will open sometime in spring 2020, and fans of the shop couldn’t be more excited.

“I am excited about it for sure,” Tyler Cox, a WKU alum, said. “I’m excited about the same type of culture and experience but with a different environment.”

The new store will feature a drive-thru, an aspect that piques the interest of Abby Preston, a senior from Georgetown.

“Especially since I am student teaching, on-thego a lot, driving to different schools, it will be such a nice thing to have in the morning,” Preston said.

Some people believe that this feature will allow Spencer’s to reach a new audience and gain new customers.

“I feel like the new location is going to be more commuters, people going to work, and going through the drive-thru will offer a totally new experience,” Cox said. Students study at Spencer’s Coffee on Feb. 21, 2020.

“It’s going to be a little more convenient but the same quality product. So people who are on the atmosphere of Spencer’s over tratheir way to work in the morning or nev- ditional study spots. er come downtown will still be able to “I like the combination of people be served by Spencer’s.” studying and how there are always peoSpencer’s employee Sam Clark no- ple you know, conversations going on — tices the possibility for new customers and it’s never the quiet study space that to be reached due to its location. you’d find at a library or something, so “Something that deters people from there’s always a bustle,” Preston said. coming here is the bad parking,” Clark Many say that the biggest reason peosaid. “If they can’t find a parking spot, ple keep coming back to Spencer’s is the they just don’t come in. Since we will have feeling of home. Customers can walk in a drive-thru there and it’s in the center of and see their friends and classmates, town, it’s going to be a really good spot.” be greeted by a barista that knows their Another highlight of the new store name and enjoy drinks or food that they opening for frequent customers is the know are made with care. This feeling possibility of the original location be- of home led to Spencer’s becoming a

staple in the community.

“As a Western student, I feel like it’s almost a rite of passage,” Preston said.

“You go to Spencer’s and you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ve heard all these people talking about it, and now I understand.’ So it’s become a staple in the community. Everyone knows about it, everyone knows what it is, and for the most part, everyone loves it.”

Even though Berec has only known

to be all around Bowling Green, but to have two Spencer’s where they are all local, it’s super cool for other small businesses to have that inspiration.”

“Bowling Green is a great place for small businesses, and I think it’s kinda cool that this place is growing,” Olivia Thomas, who works at Pet Central, a local pet store in Bowling Green, said.

“It means good stuff for the rest of us.”

Clark said that Spencer’s has been great for other small businesses on the square, so he doesn’t expect anything less for the new location.

“I think it will be really good for other small businesses where it’s at,” Cox said. “With Spencer’s opening another location, it will bring more traffic to that area, so I feel like it will be really good for other businesses in that area.”

Will customers choose to go to the new location over the original? It depends on the customer.

“I don’t know,” Berec said. “I feel like I might stay at the original, but I’d probably check it out once or twice. This one is closer to my house anyway, so I’d hang out here a little bit more.”

Thomas said that she is a stubborn person and would most likely BRITTANY FISHER • HERALD keep coming to the original location but at least would “try out the new location.” about Spencer’s for five years, it has “Probably just double the amount of quickly become a spot where she feels time I’m going to Spencer’s between comfortable and at home. the two,” Cox said.

“I feel like this is home for Bowling No matter which location customers Green,” Berec said. “And you always see will go to, the growth of this local small someone that you know here, regardless.” business provides a bright future for the What will this new location do for tight-knit community of Bowling Green. other local small businesses in Bowl- As Spencer’s keeps providing a meeting ing Green? Some think that this will spot for students, families, church groups encourage others to grow and expand. or friends who are catching up, it will con“I think it’ll give a little boost for other tinue to be the cornerstone of the Bowlsmall businesses because I think Spen- ing Green and WKU community. cer’s growth shows that you can’t only have one successful business but have Features reporter Olivia Marshall can another one in a different location,” be reached olivia.marshall688@topper.

Berec said. “It’s really easy for Starbucks wku.edu. Follow Olivia on social media

SPORTS B3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKU softball finishes 3-2 in Hilltopper Classic

BY KADEN GAYLORD

HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The WKU softball team (11-4) hosted the WKU Hilltopper Classic at the WKU Softball Complex last weekend, kicking off a long home stand that will feature 14 games over three weeks with a 3-2 showing against the other three teams in the tournament field.

The Hilltoppers defeated Green Bay (3-12) twice and Indiana State (5-9) once, but WKU had its nine-game winning streak snapped against Ball State (10-5) on Feb. 22.

“A little disappointed in our performance overall, but proud of the way the team bounced back today — got a shutout and responded with a win to close out the tournament,” head coach Amy Tudor said after WKU’s final game on Sunday afternoon.

FRIDAY WKU took on Green Bay in the first game of the tournament, and sophomore pitcher Kennedy Sullivan stole the show by hitting the Hilltoppers’ first grand slam since 2018.

After giving up a two-run homer in the second inning, Sullivan came up to bat with the bases loaded in the third inning and sent a pitch soaring beyond the outfield fence.

Sullivan ended her day with two earned runs on one hit, two walks and 10 strikeouts in 5.0 innings in the circle before being replaced by freshman pitcher Katie Gardner.

The Phoenix took advantage of the freshman, as Gardner yielded four runs and three walks on two hits. These miscues allowed Green Bay to tie the game.

Sophomore outfielder Taylor Davis, who finished 4 for 4, hit an RBI single for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Her hit proved to be enough, as junior pitcher Shelby Nunn closed the game out and earned the decision in a 7-6 win for the Hilltoppers.

Kelsey Aikey took the circle for the second game of the day against ISU, and she dominated the Sycamores all game.

The senior only gave up one hit on an infield single, adding a 4-0 shutout to her team’s impressive start to the season.

SATURDAY The Hilltoppers opened their second day of play against Ball State, the only other undefeated team left in the tournament field after the conclusion of day one.

The Cardinals took advantage of a couple of WKU errors to bring home a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Senior left fielder Gabby Magnifico sent a two-run shot over the wall to extend the BSU lead to 4-0 in the third inning.

WKU gained some momentum, scoring three runs in the fourth inning after loading the bases on multiple occasions. The Hilltoppers battled back from a 5-3 deficit in the seventh inning to tie the game at 5-5 and send the contest into an extra inning.

BSU first baseman Janae Hogg secured the game-winning RBI after smacking her second solo home run of the day down the right field line in the top of the eighth inning.

BASEBALL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4 WSU scored six runs in the fourth and two runs in the eighth, eventually claiming a blowout win over the struggling Hilltoppers. WKU batters struck out eight times, while the Hilltopper

GEORGIA MALLETT • HERALD

The WKU softball team participates in the first day of the Hilltopper Classic against Green Bay at the WKU Softball Complex on Feb. 21. The Hilltoppers beat Green Bay, 7-6.

WKU had a chance to score in the bottom half, but a fly-out double play ended the game at 6-5 and gave BSU the No. 1 seed for the elimination games later in the day.

About three and a half hours later, the second-seeded Hilltoppers faced No. 3 seed ISU in their second game of the day.

WKU had completely shut down the Sycamores just one day prior, but the opposite happened during the second meeting between the two teams in as many days.

WKU scored two runs in the first and third innings, translating four ISU errors into an early 4-0 lead. The Sycamores battled back after scoring a combined four runs in the fourth and fifth innings, tying the game at 4-4.

ISU took the lead and never looked back after tallying four hits and an RBI single in the sixth inning. The Sycamores capitalized on WKU errors, adding two more runs in the seventh.

The Hilltoppers’ comeback attempts failed, resulting in a 7-5 defeat to cap day two.

SUNDAY After losing back-to-back games for the first time during the 2020 campaign, WKU looked to get back on track in the consolation game against Green Bay. WKU scored the game’s first points in the third inning when junior catcher Kendall Smith tallied a two-RBI single to get the Hilltoppers on the board. Junior outfielder Maggie Trgo scored freshman outfielder Brylee Hage in the sixth, giving WKU a 3-0 lead it never relinquished.

Aikey (6-2) showed out on the circle, tying her career-high strikeouts with 13 Ks in another complete-game shutout win. pitching staff combined to allow 13 hits and nine runs.

UP NEXT WKU will be back in action at home and on the road this week, hosting Austin Peay (3-4) on Tuesday and traveling

MEGAN FISHER • HERALD

Sophomore Princess Valencia (25), freshman TJ Webster (3), senior Morgan McElroy (23) and junior Maddie Bowlds (28) stand for the National Anthem before the start of the game against Ball State on Feb. 22, 2020 at the WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green.

“I know our hitting started out good in the beginning, but I think it was a little bit of a reality check for us to know how the rest of the season is going to work for us,” Aikey said about the team’s tough weekend. “It’ll pick us up for next weekend.”

UP NEXT

games over the next two weeks.

The tournament field consists of IUPUI, Illinois State and Austin Peay.

WKU faces IUPUI on Friday at 3 p.m., Illinois State on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and APSU on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Hilltoppers will also play two more games, but those are to be determined.

WKU will host the WKU Hilltopper Spring Fling at the WKU Softball Complex this weekend, continuing a long stretch that includes nine more home

Reporter Kaden Gaylord can be reached at kaden.gaylord559@topper. wku.edu. Follow Kaden on Twitter at @_KLG3.

to USC Upstate (6-1) for a three-game set on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Governors are located in Clarksville, Tennessee, while the aptly named Spartans call Spartanburg, South Carolina, their home.

First pitch against APSU is set for 3 p.m. The Hilltoppers and USC Upstate

will get going at 3 p.m., 1 p.m. and noon, respectively, during WKU’s first weekend road swing of 2020.

Reporter Nick Kieser can be reached at nick.kieser036@topper.wku.edu. Follow Nick on Twitter at @KieserNick.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS

B4

‘BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS’

Lady Toppers reach 8th straight 20-win season

FIRST LAST • HERALD

PHOTO COURTESY OF WKU ATHLETICS

Lady Topper head coach Paul Sanderford gives direction to one of his players during a practice session.

GEORGIA MALLETT • HERALD

MIKE CLARK • HERALD

Lady Topper head coach Michelle Clark-Heard reacts to a Lady Topper 3 -pointer during the second Lady Topper head coach Greg Collins gives direction from the sidelines of WKU’s game against Florhalf of WKU’s 81-55 win over South Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 in Diddle Arena. ida Atlantic on Thursday, Jan. 30. WKU won 68-59 in Diddle Arena.

BY MATT GADD HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The WKU women’s basketball team (20-6, 12-3 C-USA) entered its 2019-20 campaign as one of only 18 Division I teams with an active streak of at least seven 20-win seasons, and the Lady Toppers successfully set a new program record with eight straight 20-win seasons by defeating Marshall (11-15, 6-9 C-USA) and Florida Atlantic (12-14, 6-9 C-USA) over the weekend.

The previous program record for consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins was seven. That long-standing mark was established by former Lady Topper head coach Paul Sanderford, a recent nominee for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, from 1982 to 1989.

A combined effort from former Lady Topper head coach Michelle ClarkHeard and second-year head coach Greg Collins — who served as an assistant coach under Clark-Heard for six seasons — finally toppled Sanderford’s vaunted streak of consecutive 20-win seasons. “[Paul Sanderford] is a Hall of Fame coach, and he has 99.9% of all the records that are here, so if I got one, I got

one I can tease him about just for a little bit,” Collins said with a hearty laugh.

“We got to eight and he couldn’t get past seven, so I’m going to let him have that one a little bit, but it won’t go very far.”

Collins said Clark-Heard had a vision for the program, and it took a lot of work from both of them — along with players, fans and the administration — to get WKU “back to where it was.”

“I wanted to get to 20 for Todd Stewart and for this program,” Collins said.

“There has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to this point. I am really proud of this accomplishment.”

The 2018-19 Lady Topper squad didn’t notch its 20th win until game No. 34 — a 68-65 home victory over Morehead State in the WNIT that pushed WKU to 20-14 on March 24, 2019.

The 2019-20 Lady Toppers obliterated the benchmark set by their predecessors, reaching their 20th win one month quicker with a 69-56 triumph in FAU’s RoofClaim.com Arena on Feb. 22.

“It means a lot to keep the streak going,” senior point guard Whitney Creech said. “You don’t want to be the team that ends the streak, so we’re just trying to win games every day. We just want to get more than 20 wins this season. We want

to keep on rolling — get to 21, 22.”

WKU adopted a “one-game championship” mentality after dropping three of its first five games in Conference USA play, and now the Lady Toppers haven’t lost a single decision since a 76-65 road defeat in Old Dominion’s Chartway Arena on Jan. 16.

Defense and rebounding have been WKU’s main focus during the closing stretch of the regular season, and the Lady Toppers will continue emphasizing those areas as they battle ODU and Rice for a shot at the coveted No. 1 seed in the upcoming C-USA Tournament.

Alexandria, Egypt, native Raneem Elgedawy recorded double-doubles against both Marshall and FAU, reaching her seventh double-double in her last nine outings.

Elgedawy tallied 17 points and 12 rebounds against the Thundering Herd, and she followed that up with 20 points and 14 rebounds against the Owls.

FAU held Elgedawy to two points and five boards in the first half, but she exploded for 18 points and nine rebounds after halftime.

Creech and redshirt senior forward Dee Givens combined for 10 steals and one block across two games over

the weekend, showcasing the type of defensive effort Collins said he’s been looking for every time his team takes the hardwood.

The Lady Toppers will play just once this week, travelling to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for a repeat matchup against rival Middle Tennessee State (18-9, 10-5 C-USA) on Saturday.

WKU defeated MTSU 71-63 in Diddle Arena on Jan. 11, but the Blue Raiders will get a crack at halting their nemesis’ 10-game winning streak in the Murphy Center on Feb. 29.

“We’ve won a couple of games and we’ve kind of got ourselves in a spot where we can compete for a bye in this conference tournament,” Collins said.

“We can’t look at the big picture behind us. We have to stay focused on the game and the moment and the minute in front of us.”

The Lady Toppers and MTSU will get started at 5 p.m. on ESPN3.

Reporter Matt Gadd can be reached at matthew.gadd474@topper.wku.edu.

Follow Matt on Twitter at @themattgadd.

WKU baseball claims 2nd straight series win

BY NICK KIESER

HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU The WKU baseball team (5-2) snagged two wins against Wright State (2-5) over the weekend, but the Hilltoppers stumbled in the final game of a three-game home set for the second consecutive weekend, resulting in another 2-1 series win at Nick Denes Field.

WSU knocked off Power 5 Louisville (4-3), the current No. 3 team in the country, just two days prior to its trip to Bowling Green. The Raiders also managed to snap WKU’s three-game winning streak, a solid feat head coach John Pawlowski said WSU deserves credit for.

“You win two out of the three and you feel good about what you did,” head coach John Pawlowski said following the completion of the series on Sunday. “Although today didn’t go our way, give them credit. We have to get ready to play again on Tuesday, and the nature of this game is you play a lot of games. This game got away from us.”

GAME 1 Redshirt junior Michael Darrell-Hicks drew his second consecutive series-opening start against WSU.

Darrell-Hicks pitched 4.1 innings for the Hilltoppers, walking five batters and fanning three while allowing two earned runs on three hits.

Neither team registered a hit through the first two frames, but Raider redshirt junior Quincy Hamilton broke the silence by reaching first base on a fielder’s choice in the third. Senior infielder Jack Wilson refrained from committing an error after he lost his footing.

The Hilltoppers struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Graduate infielder Davis Sims grounded out, but senior infielder Richard Constantine scored to put WKU ahead 1-0.

Redshirt sophomore Jake Kates relieved Darrell-Hicks in the fifth inning.

The Raiders took a 2-1 lead after redshirt sophomore Gehrig Anglin tallied a two-RBI triple off Kates, but WKU rallied back and eventually added five unanswered runs to claim a 6-2 decision over WSU.

GAME 2 Junior Sean Bergeron slotted into the No. 2 position in the WKU rotation for the second straight series. Bergeron worked 6.0 innings for the Hilltoppers, picking up his first win after allowing six hits and one run with three strikeouts.

WSU tagged Bergeron for one run in

ing for the third time this season.

“As a catcher — whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior — you’re kind of looked at as the quarterback on the field where you’re kind of directing traffic and letting everyone know how many outs there are,” Phipps said in a release. “Being a senior, and being a catcher, I feel it’s important for me to have a leadership role on this team.”

GAME 3 BRITTANY FISHER• HERALD

WKU pitcher Hunter Crosby (39) fist-bumps catcher Matt Phipps (25) after defeating Wright State 7-2 at Nick Denes Field on Feb. 22, 2020.

the first inning after an Anglin RBI single, but WKU jumped in front at 4-1 by tallying four runs in the second. The Hilltoppers were silenced for a while, but WKU exploded for three additional runs in the eighth inning.

Sophomore Hunter Crosby closed the game for WKU, and although redshirt senior outfielder Alex Alders scored an unearned WSU run in the ninth, the Hilltoppers held on to secure a 7-2 win and the series victory.

Senior catcher Matt Phipps paced WKU, going 2 for 4 with three RBI and one run. He also caught a runner steal-

The Hilltoppers outscored the Raiders 13-4 through two games, but WKU was routed 9-5 in the series finale.

Junior Aristotle Peter started the final game of the series for the Hilltoppers, giving up seven hits while fanning one batter in three innings of work.

WKU gained a 2-0 lead in the first frame, teasing a series sweep after Sims and Phipps both singled. WSU rallied in the second, hitting an infield single to make the score 2-1.

Peter, redshirt sophomore Mason Vinyard, junior pitcher Ryan Luckett, senior Jack Lambert, junior Dalton Shoemake and junior pitcher Connor Stephens all took the mound for WKU, but nobody wearing red had any answers for the hot-hitting Raider batters.

SEE BASEBALL • PAGE B3