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WKUHERALD.COM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 • College Heights Herald • Vol. 87, No. 25 • Western Kentucky University
Parking offers backup plans with HS fans in BG By NICK BRATCHER news@wkuherald.com
An expected 35,000 high school football fans will be pouring onto campus Friday and Saturday as WKU hosts the KHSAA state football championships. Campus parking is making some changes to accommodate for the influx of visitors. This will require some extra measures by students today and tomorrow. Jennifer Tougas, director of Parking Services, said it’s important for students, faculty and staff
to be aware of what’s coming. “It’s an unusual circumstance to try and plan for 35,000 people to visit our campus over two days, so that’s why the changes are going into effect,” Tougas said. “They’re going to be here regardless. “We have two choices: we can plan for it or let it be a free for all. We’ve chosen to plan for it.” Both the commuter Parking Structure No. 2 — located between Diddle Arena and Smith Stadium — and the Creason Lot will be used exclusively for paid
public parking all day, closing the Topper Transit bus stop there. Parking and Transportation required all students to remove their vehicles from the Creason Lot by 5 p.m. Thursday to avoid a $100 fine. Students displaced by the lot’s closing should park in other housing lots or Chestnut Street South Lot through Sunday, Tougas said. A temporary Gables bus stop will be added at the intersection of Robinson Drive and Creason Drive at the Gable Apartment Complex. Commuters can also
find parking in the gateway garage that is across from the Student Life Foundation gravel lot. Tougas said commuter students who typically park in PS2 or Chestnut South Lot should also use the Center Street Gravel Lot or the park and ride lots which shuttle students from South Campus to main campus. Buses run from the Campbell Lane and South Campus lots every five to eight minutes for commuting students. The surface lots around Diddle Arena, the South Lawn Lot
A Big Red Birthday
between the Downing University Center and Preston Health and Fitness Center, and the Russellville Road Lot will also be reserved exclusively for game officials and media. Parking Structure No. 1 — located up the Hill from Diddle Arena on Avenue of Champions — will be used for excess public parking starting at 3 p.m. on Friday and continuing into all day Saturday. Unlike the Creason Lot, housing students parked in the structure are not required to move their vehicles.
Block 12 hotel bid possible from Campbell Lane developer By KATHERINE WADE news@wkuherald.com
The developer of a new hotel being built on Campbell Lane may also be interested in building in Block 12. President Gary Ransdell said he received word that the developer of Staybridge Suites, located near the Knicely Conference Center, is also going to bid on the Block 12 property. Earlier this month, WKU released a request for proposal to find a hotel developer for a 90- to 100-room hotel that is planned for Block 12. Block 12 is part of Bowling Green’s Tax Increment Financing District. Currently, WKU is constructing a parking structure with housing built around it and the new Augenstein Alumni Center in that area. Kerra Ogden, project manager for Planning, Design and Construction, said that WKU would like to have a developer locked in by the beginning of 2012, but nothing is confirmed at this stage. The size of the hotel, amenities and number of rooms have also yet to be finalized, Ogden said. Each proposal will be analyzed and compared before a decision is made. Although WKU would not be directly financially involved with the hotel, Ransdell said it’s possible they would be doing a lot of programming with it. “It would clearly be a university asset,” Ransdell said. The current plan for the hotel that may go in Block 12 includes the construction of a restaurant that would be run through ARAMARK and therefore part of the campus program, Ransdell said.
LESLYE DAVIS/HERALD
During Big Red's 32nd birthday party Wednesday night in the Preston Center, Radcliff sophomore Desiree Wilson is tossed off a mechanical bull. The party was in full swing for two hours, with entertainment from a magician, a disc jockey and the Major Redz — a WKU dance group. LESLYE DAVIS/HERALD
La Grange freshman Matthew Lawson has his picture taken with Big Red on Wednesday at the mascot's 32nd birthday party, which was thrown by the Campus Activities Board at the Preston Center.
SEE BID, PAGE 7
Ransdell Hall receives LEED Gold certification By NICK BRATCHER news@wkuherald.com
Ten years of planning and construction peaked in a celebration Wednesday for the gold-level certification of Ransdell Hall in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED, a third-party verification system to determine a building’s environmentally friendly construction and design, has four different ratings — Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum — with each one increasing in difficulty of completion and environmental friendliness. Ransdell Hall is the first building on campus to be built with LEED certification in mind and achieved the level above what was expected by university officials during construction. Kentucky state legislature’s House Bill 2 now requires buildings costing more than $25 million to gain the minimum certification. Ben Johnson, the project manager for
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Ransdell Hall, said construction was a learning process. “It’s a really big accomplishment for us as a university,” he said. “Obviously this has been the first one for WKU, and it really sets the stage for future buildings which will also carry LEED certification status of some sort.” Bryan Russell, director of Planning, Design and Construction, agreed that the milestone will lead to more LEED projects in the future. The new music hall, which is set to open in January, will cost $9 million but is designed to be LEED Silver — a level above the state-required minimum, Russell said. “We continue to strive with each building to be very sustainable,” he said. “We’ve had a very conscious effort in improving behind-the-scenes in an effort to not only improve our environment, but we are reducing our overall energy usage. SEE GOLD, PAGE 7
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Nate Allen, schools advocacy lead for the U.S. Green Building Council, spoke at Ransdell Hall Tuesday as the council announced the building's LEED certification.
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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
DECEMBER 2, 2011 open, but I also won’t Nashville senior Lydia have to hide it,” she said. Dowell is the president of Yelverton added that SIO and is straight, but she had a difficult time said she has always been with her sexuality when a supporter of social jusshe lived tice for in Alabama LGBTQs for a year, ( L e s because she bians, wasn’t acGays, Bicepted for sexuals, who she Transwas. g e n “I was ders and black and Each Friday, the Herald brings you Q u e s gay in the a story inspired by a letter of the tionings). Bible Belt “This alphabet. and shit is a solike that just doesn’t fly,” cial justice issue,” Dowshe said. ell said, “and like the The freshman wears Civil Rights Movement, a gold cross around her enough people have to get neck and said she hasn’t behind this and rise up to taken it off for six years, make a change.” but holds on to it because In the meantime, SIO it was a gift from her dad, is there for support. not for religious reasons. “The organization is “I think Christians are an outlet for campus’ LGextremely hypocritical,” BTQs to be able to meet she said. “They say God each other and talk and to forgives, but then turn know they aren’t alone,” around and say God hates she said, noting how some gays.” people are rejected by She has even had their own families after strangers tell her that she coming out. “It’s imporis going to hell, but the tant to have a strong supworst incident of intoler- port group.” ance was working with a Louisville freshman woman who changed her Landon Shull agreed it work schedule as soon as is important to be around they met. people who understand. Yelverton doesn’t let “Coming out takes discrimination get to her. years to do and it’s hard “I really just don’t no matter what, but it gets care,” she said. “You can better,” he said, “especiallove me or hate me.” ly around people who are However, she noted cool about it.” not all people take hateful Shull said he thought actions or words so easily. people are more mature “Some react negatively and accepting now, but instead of being positive that they still need to learn about who they are,” she more about LGBTQs. said as she held a purple Yelverton also said ribbon, which represents more awareness should be gays and lesbians who raised about the gay comhave committed suicide. munity. She is in the Student “Nobody wants to Identity Outreach (SIO) know, but people need club, whose purpose is to,” she said. “That is to support those who are why I did this interview, coming out or having a so people can read about difficult time with their this and see that I’m like sexuality. everyone else.”
WKU
AtoZ
LESLYE DAVIS/HERALD
Louisville freshman Mariah Yelverton, 19, spends time with two of her closest friends, Lauren Cox and Landon Shull, both also freshmen from Louisville. Of her homosexuality, Yelverton said, "I just knew, and it's crazy because my mom did, too."
L
is for Lesbian Student copes with others' reactions to her sexual orientation
By NATALIE WEST
diversions@wkuherald.com
Three. That is the number of churches Mariah Yelverton and her family have been kicked out of since she came out as a lesbian. The Louisville freshman said she came out during her freshman year of high school and since then has finally felt truly comfortable in her own skin despite others’ reactions. “I can now do what I want and be myself,” Yelverton said. “Somebody is attracted to everyone, and
CRIME REPORTS Reports
■ Bethany Coffey, Bowling
I just happen to be attracted to girls.” In addition to her newfound confidence, Yelverton said she was also relieved to be able to dress her own way — in more masculine attire. “I tend to do pretty mannish things,” she said. “My friends even refer to me as one of the guys.” Although Yelverton is strong in sexuality, her process of coming out has not been without adversity. “Sometime people call me a dyke or other names, but I just brush it off,” she said. “I don’t need those people in my life.”
When she first spoke up about her sexual orientation, her mother accepted it, but her father practically disowned her. “I wasn’t his daughter anymore,” Yelverton said, looking down. “It was just me,” she added. “I had to go through this by myself.” Though the selfassured Yelverton said things have been easier since she has been on campus around more open-minded people, she still has worries about the future. “I already have two strikes against me because
Green, reported her property stolen on Nov 29. The estimated value of the property is $225.
I am black and a lesbian,” she said, “and I don’t pay much attention to it now, but I know later, when I go to get a job, people will discriminate against me.” As a military leadership major, Yelverton said she is planning on joining the Army after graduation. Although she was going to join no matter what, she said she is relieved that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has been repealed and she will no longer have to hide her identity. “There will still be people who aren’t OK with it and I won’t be as
■ Joanna Roland, Pearce-Ford Tower, reported her MacBook Pro stolen from her room. The
value of the theft is $1,200. ■ Jordan Shelton, PFT, was cited on Nov. 28 for possession
of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in the Creason lot.
3 WKU Store to open new location in spring
DECEMBER 2, 2011
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
By NICK BRATCHER news@wkuherald.com
The plans are out. The dates are set. Even the name has been voted on. But still not everything about renovations to Downing University Center are known yet. Bryan Russell, director of Planning, Design and Construction, said the location of campus dining, offices and the WKU Store during construction has yet to be decided. “We don’t know a whole lot yet,� he said. “There are a lot of things here that we’re still kicking around.� However, the WKU Store is taking advantage of the haze surrounding the renovation to branch out into the community by opening a new store on Nashville Road near South Campus this spring. Construction on DUC won’t begin
until the end of May, so there’s plenty of time to develop the rest of the details, Russell said. “It’s very tentative, and we’ve been doing this for a while — trying to figure out where everything is going,� he said. “We haven’t gotten permission or an agreement, so we can’t really talk about it.� Jim Sears, assistant director of the WKU Store, said the new location will mainly cater to alumni and fans. “We thought that there’s going to be a need for folks in the community to have a place to shop,� he said. “It’s a nice, visible location.� The reasons for opening the new store are two-fold, Sears said. First, the store will offer a permanent location where the WKU Store can operate during the renovation, receiving ordered items in that central location and then moving them to the other stores.
“With the tentativeness of where we’re going to be located on campus, we knew we had to have a place where we could receive,� Sears said. “We’re going to be in the business now of receiving at the Nashville Road store. “It will be supplying everything for our Glasgow Store, our Owensboro store and our South Campus store – and our main store once we know where we’ll be located.� Second, the WKU Store can reach out more into the Bowling Green community with an off-campus location, Sears said. “We knew we’re going to have to have a presence in the community if we want to keep that community of shoppers,� he said. “A lot of time the community sees parking on campus as being a huge issue, and this will take care of that situation.� The store’s opening date has not
been set, but Russell said the store should be open before preliminary work starts on the ground floor in the spring. “We’re going to put out selective bids to start some work on the ground floor area in the March or April time frame,� he said. Shawna Cawthorn, director of the WKU Store, said when the smoke clears from the renovations, students will find a very different WKU Store in DUC. The new store will be located on the ground level and possibly equipped with an Apple Store or technology center, she said. “It will be the first time campus will have anything new related to the WKU store since it opened in 1970,� she said. “It will have new products, new fixtures, and a new atmosphere of course, but we still want it to feel like home.�
Glasgow instructor represents Habitat in Haiti By ANNA ANDERSON diversions@wkuherald.com
Since the 2010 earthquake, Patrick Brown said Haiti had been on his mind. He said he was looking for opportunities to lend a hand, but had not gotten any promising leads on where to start. The recent WKU graduate, who is now a mathematics instructor at WKU’s Glasgow campus, said many areas of Haiti were inaccessible to large numbers of people until recently. “I kept thinking it would be really nice to pitch in and help out,â€? Brown said. “The poverty there is just astounding.â€? When Brown joined the WKU faculty at the beginning of this school year, he finally got his chance. After becoming a member of the WKU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, he made plans to attend this year’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in LĂŠogâne, Haiti.
After raising $5,000 in donations, Brown joined more than 400 other volunteers at the Atlanta airport on Nov. 5 and boarded one of two chartered Delta planes to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was at orientation in Atlanta that Brown met Rodney Goodman, the executive director for the Bowling Green/Warren County Habitat for Humanity chapter. When Goodman, Brown and the other volunteers arrived in Port-au-Prince, they got their first glimpse of what life was like for Haitians still coping with the effects of the earthquake and subsequent flooding and disease. Brown said seeing this helped him to put everything into perspective. “It helped me to focus on what we were doing and why we were there,â€? Brown said. After a long bus ride from the nation’s capital to LĂŠogâne, known as the epicenter of the quake, Goodman said things were worse.
“Nothing could prepare you for the devastation,â€? he said. Goodman said most Haitians in the LĂŠogâne area live on about two dollars per day in tents set up in the aftermath of the earthquake. In order to help Haitians get back into stable homes and to move forward, Habitat for Humanity has pledged to build or renovate 50,000 homes over the next five years. Habitat is also planning to build 26 wells and a school, Goodman said. During this year’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, 100 homes were built. Often times, the Haitians built their own homes or helped out their friends and relatives. “We were as close with the homeowners as we were with each other,â€? Brown said. During their stay in Haiti, both Brown and Goodman said the Haitian people are resilient despite their circumstances. For Goodman, seeing school children leave their tents in neatly pressed, bright-
colored uniforms and head off to school in the morning proved this resilience. “You wonder how you could even have that after what they’ve been through,� Brown said. Although the WKU chapter of Habitat for Humanity does not have any scheduled events for the remainder of the semester, chapter president Noah Onkst, a senior from Erlanger, said the group will be building with local chapters in Meridian, Miss., Athens, Ala., and Eastman, Ga., over winter break. For more information on the WKU chapter Onkst, recommends checking on the WKU Habitat website periodically at www.wku.edu/habitat. Brown hopes to continue his work with the WKU chapter of Habitat for Humanity and would like to return to Haiti sometime over spring break or summer vacation. “It’s a really great experience to be helping out,� Onkst said.
WKU grads hope to create next big social network By CAMERON KOCH news@wkuherald.com
Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are more popular than ever, and two recent WKU graduates are hoping to create the next big one with their website Mindgy. The social networking website Mindgy, which is a combination of the words mind and energy, is the latest business endeavor of Adam McDonald and Antonio Bruna, though it hasn’t been easy. McDonald and Bruna, who both played for the WKU golf team, tried multiple other business ideas throughout their college career be-
fore Mindgy, but each project ran into the same problem — lack of money. Frustrated with the school environment and struggling business endeavors, the duo created a Facebook group called Thought Revolution, hoping to attract likeminded people. The group grew from 30 members to more than 200 in the span of a month and took on a more inspirational and motivational tone. Their senior year, McDonald and Bruna decided to develop the idea further, coming up with the idea of Mindgy, a social networking site with an emphasis on motivation and inspiration.
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From there they found help and guidance in the WKU Research and Development and their Business Accelerator Program. Jeff Hook, director of the Small Business Center and Center for Research and Development, and Matt Whitaker, a small business consultant at the center, provided McDonald and Bruna a temporary office space within the center and offered guidance. Hook said he worked as an unpaid consultant for the two entrepreneurs, helping to review their business plan and working with them on ways to fundraise. The two graduates are raising money for the sit, which is currently
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under construction. McDonald and Bruna want to wait until Mindgy is ready before re-launching the bigger and better website. “We know we have a good product,� McDonald said. “We want to make sure that the users have the best thing we can offer.� Until that time, the duo is using the Mindgy Twitter and Facebook accounts to release content and raise awareness about the site. Eventually the group hopes to catch the eye of Internet behemoths Google and Facebook and possibly be bought up by the companies. “This started as, ‘Let’s see what happens,’� Bruna said. “We dream a lot, and we love to think big.�
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“We see a problem in social media where there’s not substance. It’s kind of airy,� McDonald said. “We really want to bring some substance and depth to social media.� They emptied their bank accounts and created a website that functioned similar to the original Facebook group. Despite their effort, the website failed to catch on and after graduation spring 2011, the pair split, with Bruna moving to Miami and McDonald trying to play professional golf. Unwilling to accept defeat, the pair recently decided to give the website another try and develop it further, with Bruna traveling back temporarily to Bowling Green.
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12.2.11
College Heights Herald • Western Kentucky University
EDITORIAL CARTOON
T & B OPS
OTTOMS
TOPS to the football team finishing 7-5.
BOTTOMS to the Toppers possibly not making a bowl game.
TOPS to hosting the high school football championships.
BOTTOMS to the parking problems the games will cause students.
TOPS to the holidays and winter break coming soon.
COLUMN
Sickening end to the semester With two weeks left in the semester, I’m proud to say that I have great — well, passing — grades, made accomplishments at the Herald, and have experienced one of the most fun semesters of my life. What I would really love to do is celebrate most of these last two weeks (and study some) with bottles of booze at the bars and parties. I would love celebrating the start of winter break and my last semester of college, but guess what? That’s not going to happen. Besides trying to attend some classes these next three weeks, I’ll be on bed rest, pumping myself full of antibiotics strong enough to knock over a horse: Tylenol, Mucinex and cough drops to nurse pneumonia. This isn’t an illness that comes, screws your world for a while and leaves without the slightest goodbye after 24 hours. It’s more of an illness that continually screws
your world in every which way it can. It causes pain in your chest and back, and begins with a throbbing headache. SPENCER JENKINS You’re also Scribbled Words constantly coughopinion@wkuherald.com ing up lime-green mucus beauties. And by the time this column goes to print and sits in your hands on Friday while you should be paying attention in class, I’ll probably still be doped up in bed feeling like absolute crap because pneumonia doesn’t plan on leaving my body any time soon — at all. Hopefully by Christmas I’ll be a brand new person, or rather the old me, full of energy and not fatigued. No wheezing and
no bed rest. I actually miss the classroom, and I miss going into the Herald office because that’s part of my normal life. It’s something like pneumonia that knocks you on your ass that makes you realize the normalcy you miss in your life and the simple things you take for granted. For example, I don’t have a car right now because I can’t drive a car under the influence of some of the medicine that I am taking. Also, pneumonia can cause some confusion, so I wouldn’t want to put other peoples’ lives at risk with me behind the wheel. Sooner or later though, I will be able to celebrate almost being done with my senior year of college, the holidays and bring in the New Year pneumonia-less. At least that would be my biggest Christmas wish at this very moment.
BOTTOMS to everyone getting snow but us this week.
have an opinion? Write a letter to the editor (250 words or less) or a commentary (500 words and a photo). Email them to opinion@ wkuherald.com.
COMMENTARY
Academics should stress quality over quantity DANIEL DUNSTON Williamsburg senior Three pages into a five-page report and the blank page is mocking me. No way to fill this space with the information I have. Nothing left to say. It’s not for lack of research, lack of writing ability or even lack of effort. I was told to present a case about a certain subject and accompany it with evidence to support my claim. That does not always take long, overly wordy sentences being forced
together into bulging paragraphs of repetition. This is the problem I have with length requirements for assignments. I understand maximum page lengths because nobody has the time to read 50 30-page papers. Employers, if you are in a profession that requires you to write often, prefer conciseness. Get to the point of the matter instead of trying to show off your writing endurance. If you make a convincing, well-informed argument in three pages, then
why do we need to write an extra two pages of filler for no reason other than meeting an arbitrary length? Requirements are not restricted to academic essays. Many of the stories or poems or scripts I have written have struggled with the same problem. Why should a story be a certain length if it doesn’t need to be? I’ve read brilliant short stories, both by students and professional authors, which were only two or three pages long. On the other hand, I’ve
read some absolutely awful short stories that dragged on longer than the average human life span. Yet, to many professors I have had over the years, the longer ones were better quality because they met the minimum length requirement. How is this fair to the content of these stories that they are treated as second rate to stories that are long and pointless? The question is how we are judging the work and creativity of others. Why do we consult the numbers rather than the
material? Why are students required to provide filler rather than content? There’ve been few times in my education where I was judged more on the quality of the work rather than the quantity I provided and those are the classes where I do my best work. The truth is if you are asked to care about your work, you just might start caring accidentally. This commentary doesn't necessarily represent the views of the Herald or the university.
college heights herald Jonathan Lintner* editor-in-chief Alexis Gonzalez-Lopez* managing editor Tessa Duvall* news editor Emily Patton* diversions editor Cole Claybourn* sports editor Brad Stephens* assis't sports editor Ariana McLaughlin* photo editor
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DECEMBER 2, 2011
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
Take a Break
...for g goodness sake!
from the hill @mblakeharrison: Just called @BBVACompassBowl w/out tying myself to a school. Guy kept saying, "keep doing what YOU All are doing." Said only #WKU fans call. -sent
Wednesday 11/30
@WKUPTS: Parking @wku will be hectic on Friday. 3 local teams in the KHSAA. It will be a good day to leave you car at home. Carpool if you can! -sent
Wednesday 11/30
@KBizzle1963: I guess I need to find a park for the end of the week since WKU bout to take away the student parking I paid for to host football games...
-sent Tuesday 11/29
@CourtneyLee2211: @BBVACompassBowl need to see wku in a bowl game lets go!!!!! -sent
Tuesday 11/29
@JeffWKU: The outpouring of support for #WKU on the @BBVACompassBowl Facebook page makes me a proud Hilltopper! #SpiritMakesTheMaster -sent Tuesday 11/29 @X_DaintyDulce: Like everyday at WKU is cuddle weather lol -sent Tuesday 11/29 @Spugman: @BBVACompassBowl The drive from Bowling Green to Birmingham can't be any tougher than the trip from 0-12 to 7-5. WKU can do it! -sent
Tuesday 11/29
5
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ACROSS 1 Affirmative 4 Out of the way 9 Smell 13 Chopping tools 15 Whale's blow- hole, for one 16 Nat King __ 17 Deep mud THE TH HE Daily Daiily Commuter Commuter Puzzle Puz by Jacqueline E. Mathews 18 Caster of spells 19 Tight __; some football players 20 Bring to an end 22 In case 23 Fluctuate 24 Sorority letter 26 Sell directly to the public 29 Baaing 34 Make right 35 "Don't __ on me"; words on an old U.S. flag 36 Automobile 37 Tug or dinghy 38 Inhumane 39 Paper towel brand 40 "__ an ill wind that blows..." 41 Worries 42 Imposed a monetary penalty on 43 Similar to Bambi 45 Mutilate 46 Wheel center 47 Autry or Kelly 48 Whirlpool 51 Wet thoroughly 56 Outscore 57 Moses' brother 58 Assists 60 Take a __; suffer heavy financial loss 61 Fruit on a vine 62 Become furious 63 Close noisily 64 Penetrate 65 Deli loaf 45 More cruel 30 Bruce and Brandon 9 Spotted wildcat 47 Feel one's way in the dark 31 Cake topping 10 Finished DOWN 48 Recedes 32 Belly button 11 Alero maker 1 Sweet potato 49 Pass out cards 33 Report card mark 12 Take a break 2 Go out 50 Facts & figures 35 Journey 14 Domestic worker 3 Dried up 38 Game played with 52 Merit; deserve 21 Hired housekeeper 4 Whirling around 53 Mild oath cards and pegs 25 Possessed 5 Covered with thorns 39 Oil and __; salad dressing 54 Fib teller 26 Overly zealous 6 Tiny bit 27 Try too hard to get the part 41 Upper respiratory infection 55 Nervous 7 Air __; vent 59 Behold 42 Viper's tooth 28 Josh with 8 Heavenly 44 Tempo 29 Cruel fellow
Have or
suggestions
ideas for the fun page?
@Wm_Codell: @BBVACompassBowl enjoyed B'ham last year when UK played. Highlands Grill & @dreamlandbbq were great. Please invite #WKUso I can go again
Be sure to pick up
STRESSBUSTERS on stands Dec. 12
for a chance to win a
NEW Samsung Conquer 4G handset Dec. 14
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Friday, 12/2 Mark Williams Scholarship Cornhole Tournament, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., South Lawn KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl, 11 a.m., Smith Stadium Choral Winterfest, 7:30 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church Winterdance, 8-10 p.m., Van Meter Hall
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6
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
DECEMBER 2, 2011
Former WKU athlete works at new running store By MONTA REINFELDE diversions@wkuherald.com
Bonita Paul worked hard every day while she was in college competing for WKU in crosscountry and track. Now the WKU graduate is tapping back into her running experiences. Paul works at the newly opened TRAXrunning store, located in Kereiakes Park at 1240 Fairview Ave., helping runners purchase the newest products. “I love it here,” Paul said. “It is like a family. I’ve been adopted.” Paul came to WKU from South Africa in 2004 to compete in cross country and track on a full-ride scholarship and attained a degree in exercise science. She completed her graduate studies in 2008. Paul said the skills and knowledge gained during her time at college are invaluable for life and career. The was opened Aug. 15 by owners Lilly Wheet, Joe Wheet, Nick Wheet and Chris Healy. Because of all the employees’ athletic backgrounds, the atmosphere in the store is great, said Joe Wheet. His main concern is not to make a lot of money. It is, however, to promote sports in Bowling Green. “We want people to come in here and to hang out,” Joe Wheet said. “The rule of the shop is: If there is coffee and
food on a counter, it is free. Everything else costs, because we have to have our lights on.” Joe Wheet said he is looking for people such as Paul who are disciplined and well rounded personalities. “She is great. People love her,” he said. “Bonita is very humble. She is like an adopted daughter to me.” Paul said competing in sports helped her find a job after graduation. “I can relate to people who are injured or struggling to get motivated,” she said. “I know how it feels. I know it is hard, so that is a good connection and a benefit that helped me a lot.” Paul has always put academics before everything else. A degree is more important to employers, she said. However, athletics is something that sets a person apart. “Actually it was more my background into my major than anything else,” Paul said. “You have to have an education to back up your knowledge, plus experience. “It is a juggle. You have to figure it out.” Her sophomore through senior year, Paul worked at ARAMARK, a catering company. “It does break up your life,” she said. “That way it is not just running and studying. It gives you something else to do, and I don’t mind being dirty in the kitchen.”
Paul said that sometimes people who she works with are intimidated by her athletic background. “Just because I ran in college doesn’t mean I am a better athlete by you in any means,” she said. “Because athleticism is a lot of aspects, dedication, determination, all those things fall into what makes a true athlete.” Paul said she likes working at the store, because selling shoes and apparel is not the only concern. The owners and staffers are interested in customers’ well-being as well. “We evaluate people individually,” she said. TRAXrunning store also offers professional gait analysis that is done by a doctor of physical therapy and one of the owners of the store, Nick Wheet. “We place a person on a treadmill and video tape them doing a full body assessment,” he said. “It helps to diagnose knee, ankle, hip or back pain.” The store also suggests people to join its daily running groups. The store owners plan to launch Bowling Green's first marathon on Nov. 12, 2012. The store has not gained many customers from WKU yet, but Joe Wheet said all WKU students who show their ID cards will get 10 percent off. “You don’t have to be an athlete to run,” he said. “Anybody can run.”
MICHAEL RIVERA/HERALD
Owners of TRAXRunning (left to right) Nick Wheet, Joe Wheet, Lilly Wheet and Chris Healey opened the location last August. The store is the first of its kind to specialize in running shoes and apparel in Bowling Green.
WKU graduate taking shoe donations at TRAX, WKU Store By MONTA REINFELDE diversions@wkuherald.com
If you’re planning to get a new pair of shoes for Christmas or have gently used shoes that you’re not wearing anymore, don’t toss them in the trash. Daniel Locke, a 2009 WKU graduate, collaborated with a Nashville-based charity organization Soles4Souls to start a shoe donation campaign that will take place until Dec. 19 in Bowling Green. People can drop off their used shoes at TRAX Running store or at the WKU Book Store on campus for students, Locke said. “My personal goal is to collect 1,000 pair of shoes,” he said. “However, I would like to get more.” Locke said at the end of campaign, donated shoes will be delivered to Nashville and then distributed to people in need all around the world. “We will donate shoes to people in Africa, India and
Thailand,” he said. “Anywhere in the world where people need them.” In Dec. 2009, when visiting Africa on his mission trip, Locke saw the terrible condition of the kids’ feet. “It broke my heart,” Locke said. Now he said he encourages all people to donate their shoes, because they can change the conditions of others’ lives. “It is very easy way to reverse that problem,” Locke said. “Everyone has shoes that they don’t wear.” Soles4Souls accepts any type of shoe as long as they are new or gently used. Monetary donations are also encouraged. If checks are made out to Soles4Soles, it is a tax deductible donation. Locke said Joe Wheet, a partner of the TRAX Running store, wanted to get involved in a charity as well. Wheet said people who will drop off their shoes at TRAX Running will get 10 percent off a new shoe purchase.
DECEMBER 2, 2011
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
7
WKU professor featured in prominent science journal By CAMERON KOCH news@wkuherald.com
Chris Groves, a professor of geography and geology, made WKU’s slogan of “A Leading American University with International Reach” ring true with his recent appearance in the internationally read academic journal “Science.” Groves’ expertise was used in a sidebar feature story in the Nov. 18 issue of the journal, called “An Unsung Carbon Sink,” revolving around how China is working to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. Excess carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, manmade or otherwise, is responsible for global climate change, making it a hot topic in today’s scientific community. “Science” is an academic journal that publishes a wide range of scientific research, but also sciencerelated news and opinion. GROVES Many journals scientists publish in are very field-specific, but two journals, “Science” and “Nature,” are
more broad, with a large and international readership. Groves has been working in China with Chinese colleagues studying how the dissolving of certain types of rock, such as limestone, consumes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere acting as possible inorganic carbon sink and reducing carbon dioxide levels. The earth in the area of China where Groves conducts his research is very similar to the karst limestone landscape of south central Kentucky. David Keeling, geography and geology department head, said Groves is at the top of the
field in land-use management and carbon sequestration. “He’s one of the world’s leading experts,” Keeling said. “It’s good for WKU to have somebody like Chris.” Groves said “Science” is a journal that’s highly ranked and receives a lot of attention. “People all over the world are reading it,” he said. That a WKU professor is quoted in a journal article highlighting the collaboration between himself and Chinese colleagues fits into WKU’s motto of international reach, Groves said. “It’s talking about collabo-
ration between some of us at Western and working in China…The fact that Western is this idea of international reach and go beyond south central Kentucky — it lets people know we are working internationally,” Groves said. Keeling said he believes having an internationally recognized professor such as Groves featured in a journal like “Science” is great for WKU. “Science is pretty high-end,” Keeling said. “It’s recognition that the research is recognized and that it supports the institution’s goal of international reach.”
Priority registration proves difficult for some students By JOANNA WILLIAMS news@wkuherald.com
Although many students have adapted to waking up at 5 a.m. to register for classes, there are some students who will not get into the classes they want no matter what time they set their alarms. Priority registration, which takes place before the end of the semester, allows students to register ahead of each other depending on number of credit hours a student has and whether they are in good standing with the university. University Registrar Freida Eggleton said that there are several categories of students who are allowed to register on
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“Even though we’ve been expanding with new buildings, we have been able to reduce our overall usage which helps us now and in the future.” WKU’s desire for Ransdell Hall is more than a decade old, but state funding was secured for the building in 2006. In April 2008, WKU completed
the first day of priority registration. They include students with disabilities, Honors students, participants in Student Support Services, forensic team members and student athletes. These groups were decided by the Council of Academic Deans. Eggleton said that students not being able to sign-up for the classes they want is a problem that has been around for a long time. If anything was to change, the decision would have to be made by the Council of Academic Deans, she said. “I have had a few individuals who have made comments about not getting the specific classes they need during priority registration, but that problem
has persisted for a number of years and not because a certain group are allowed to have priority registration,” she said. Paige Bickerstaff, a junior from Onsted, Mich., majoring in exercise science, said that when she woke up to register this semester, the classes that she needs for her major were full. “I woke up at 4:50 (a.m.),” she said. “I was checking my classes, and they were all closed. “There wasn’t one open that I needed to take.” Bickerstaff, who has completed almost all of her general education classes, said she considered transferring schools because she has only taken one of her major classes so far.
“I already pay out-of-state tuition and to have to stay here and only take prerequisites and not classes in my major was pointless,” she said. Bickerstaff said that she ultimately got into three of her major classes after emailing her professors and more spots opened up. She described this process a “hassle.” Gordon Emslie, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said there are no proposals to change priority registration at the time. The students who are able to register for classes on the first day are a small group of people, Emslie said. “It’s unlikely that a class would be completely full be-
cause of priority registration,” he said. “I understand it takes up a few slots, but it wouldn’t fill a class.” The groups who are able to register on the first day do so because they would be at a disadvantage considering their responsibilities, such as traveling or having stricter course requirements, Emslie said. “It would be a great inconvenience for them,” he said. Bickerstaff proposed a change be made to make registering more fair for everyone. “I think all juniors should sign up on one day. All seniors should sign-up on one day,” she said. “That would make it more fair because you can’t change your name to sign up early.”
the design process, and Ransdell Hall was registered with the U.S. Green Building Council, the third party which developed the LEED process. Ground was broken in October 2008 and construction was completed in November 2010. The building was opened for classes Jan. 25, and the building’s dedication ceremony to President Gary Ransdell took place April 29. The U.S. Green Building Council issued its rating last Wednesday,
but WKU waited to release the information until today when a ceremony could take place. The experience gained in the long process of constructing Ransdell Hall will benefit all future construction at WKU because each building will meet LEED certification standards, said Sustainability Coordinator Christian RyanDowning. “First, we know we can do it, so there is nothing to hold us back now,” Ryan-Downing said. “Also,
LEED design and certification process is very complicated. Having gone through the experience once prepares us for the next project, and with each LEED project, we will get better at it.” Nate Allen, schools advocacy lead for the U.S. Green Building Council, was in attendance Wednesday evening. He said the building was a “landmark accomplishment” for WKU. “This is huge for WKU,” Allen said. “Twenty-first century students
need 21st century schools.” The celebration consisted of three small speeches and was a small affair with about 30 staff members attending from the Department of Facilities Management and the Department of Planning, Design and Construction. But the occasion was a “big” one for the future of construction at WKU, Russell said. “It’s fun and really exciting,” he said. “It’s one of those compliments that makes you smile.”
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Ransdell said he was surprised when he learned that ground had been broken on a hotel on Nashville Road. “It’s great, but it does not really relate to the one in Block 12,” he said. “They are separate projects, but it is conceivable
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The scoring didn’t come as a surprise to Kaspar, who said much of his summer was spent toward working on his shot. But he still considers himself a passing guard. “Obviously I’m a guard. I’ve got to feed my teammates,” he said. “I think I look for the pass first. Scoring is the second thing in my mind.” Before the season started, McDonald and the players noted how high the team chemistry was. The only thing that could change that, McDonald said, was when players started competing for starting roles. Kaspar said there haven’t been any hard feelings between he and Crook since he became the starter. “We go at each other. That helps the team,” Kaspar said. “Every practice we go hard so everybody’s going to win at the end of the season… I love my teammates.
that they could become interrelated if the same developer gets the bid.” The hotel on Campbell Lane, which had its official groundbreaking on Nov. 15, is being developed by Dellisart LLC, a Georgia-based development company. According to the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, the hotel will have 124 all-suite rooms. That’s how we’re gonna get somewhere. Team chemistry is the most important thing.” McDonald said he hasn’t “given up on anyone,” indicating that he still wants Crook to play a larger role in the offense. But he said Kaspar, though young, exudes the confidence that it takes to run a team. “He’s pretty fearless shooting the ball,” McDonald said. “He’s one of our best 3-point shooters. I think he always wants the ball. He’s got a lot of savvy about him, and he doesn’t hesitate at all knocking in a big shot.” Kaspar’s sudden emergence has been met with a great deal of respect from his teammates. “I try to listen to him as best as possible, try to make out what he’s saying,” freshman forward George Fant joked. “He’s a floor general out there. He talks loud, and whatever he says makes sense ,and we do what he says.”
8
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
DECEMBER 2, 2011
Schedule break comes ‘at the right time’ for WKU By BRAD STEPHENS sports@wkuherald.com
The Lady Toppers haven’t had much time to regroup in the last two weeks. WKU played five games between Nov. 20 and Tuesday, going 1-4 in the process. So Head Coach Mary Taylor Cowles said the sixday gap between the Lady Toppers’ last game on Tuesday and WKU’s next game on Monday against Louisiana Tech “came at the right time” for her team. “It allowed us to get back to kind of the drawing board and break some things down in practice,” Cowles said. “The timing of this break and allowing us to get back on the practice floor was really, really good for us.” The Lady Toppers moved to 1-6 on Tuesday with an 86-62 road loss to Bowling Green State. WKU fell victim to a blistering offensive performance from the Falcons, who hit 10 of 11 three-point shots in the first half.
The Lady Toppers trailed BGSU by as much as 38 en route to the loss, which sent the team to the first 1-6 start in program history. It was the third straight loss for WKU in which the opponent made at least 40 percent of its three-point shots. “That’s been a weakness of ours,” Cowles said. “We’ve got to do a better job of covering that three-point line.” The Lady Toppers will soon have plenty of chances to showcase any improvements made during this schedule break, as they play four games in a six-day stretch between Monday and Dec. 11. Cowles said the quick turnaround will be a good challenge for a team that’s still working to get the most out of its mix of five seniors and seven freshmen. “We’re having some growing pains all over the court right now,” Cowles said. “The one positive about
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Social media posts have included videos of fans rushing Feix Field after the Toppers’ Oct. 22 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, pictures of Head Coach Willie Taggart and mascot Big Red and the lyrics to “Stand Up and Cheer,” the school fight song. Twitter and Facebook WKU lobbyists to the Compass Bowl have varied from players (senior defensive end Jared Clendenin) to legislators (Warren County State Representative Jim DeCesare) to past WKU athletes (Houston Rockets guard Courtney Lee). Traffic increased after the Compass Bowl posted on Monday night, “There is no denying the enthusiasm of the WKU fan base… There is a lot of football left to be played this weekend but we are certainly well aware of your credentials.” Bjork on Tuesday said the Compass Bowl would be a good fit for the Toppers. “I believe our fans would really jump
this team is that I think they’re coming back hungry…If they had laid down on us and COWLES given up, then obviously it’d be a totally different story.” The game with the Lady Techsters Monday will be an opportunity to play in what used to be WKU’s biggest rivalry game. The two teams were in the Sun Belt Conference together between 1991-1992 and 2000-2001, meeting in seven league title games along the way. Louisiana Tech has a 2613 all-time edge in the series and is 2-4 in its third full season under former player Teresa Weatherspoon. “They’re just a very wellcoached team,” Cowles said. “They’re always extremely athletic, and they’re an extremely talented rebounding basketball team.”
all over those tickets,” he said. “I think Birmingham gives us the best shot because it’s a drivable distance. It’s a Saturday. It’s after the holidays. “It makes sense in a lot of ways. But at this point, we’ll go anywhere that will take us and reward our players and coaches for a job well done.” Several games on Saturday need to play out in WKU’s favor in order to keep the pool of other at-large teams as low as possible. Cincinnati beating Connecticut, Brigham Young beating Hawaii, No. 6 Houston beating No. 24 Southern Mississippi and No. 12 Georgia upsetting No. 1 Louisiana State would all help the Toppers’ at-large chances. But even if all of those results play out the way WKU wants, there’s no guarantee the Toppers would go bowling. Bjork said that bowls could trade teams based on various contracts between bowls and conferences, further clouding WKU’s bowl forecast. “I guess anything’s possible at this point in time when you’re an at-large team,” he said.
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DECEMBER 2, 2011
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD
9
New contract on the way for Taggart By BRAD STEPHENS sports@wkuherald.com
Head Coach Willie Taggart’s base salary is one of the lowest across college football. Taggart makes $225,000 a year before bonuses, putting him in a tie for 108th out of the 110 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision whose salaries were reported to USA Today. But that may soon change, as Athletics Director Ross Bjork said on Tuesday he and Taggart
will sit down and discuss a new contract package. The announcement comes on the heels of a 7-5 regular season for Taggart in his second year at WKU. The Toppers went 7-1 in TAGGART Sun Belt Conference play one season after finishing 2-6 in the league, the
largest turnaround in conference history. “That’s what you have to do — we were prepared to do that even before we won seven games — is to protect this staff and Coach Taggart at the helm,” Bjork said. According to Taggart’s current contract, he’ll receive various bonuses for benchmark goals the Toppers have met this season. He’s due $10,000 for signing the Sun Belt Conference’s
WKU prepares for dual-meet without 'top-end ' swimmers By KURT CARSON news@wkuherald.com
The WKU swimming and diving teams will head into Saturday’s dual-meet missing a few key components from their lineup. Most of the team is preparing for a dual-meet against Marshall and Fairmont State at the Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium in Huntington, W.V. However six swimmers, two men and four women, are participating in the AT&T Winter Nationals in Atlanta this weekend and will be absent from the dual-meet. The two men competing at nationals are juniors Billy Kunkel and Luke Musser while the four Lady Toppers are seniors Stephanie Martin and freshmen Claire Conlon and Hannah Runyon-Hass. Head Coach Bruce Marchionda said he knows they’ll be missing some “top-end” swimmers on Saturday. “We’re just hoping that our depth will help fill those voids,” Marchionda said. “That’s kind of what we’re working on — trying to develop the freshmen, trying to develop some of the sophomores that are starting to come around. It’s time for them to step up and see what they can do.” Marchionda said his biggest con-
cern is on the women’s side against Marshall. “They’ll be pretty good, and we’ll be missing four of our top girls,” he said. Junior Adam Dajka, named Sun Belt Swimmer of the Week on Tuesday, said he’s confident the team can fill the void on the men’s side. “The relay is definitely going to be a little bit weaker and slower but I think we can handle that,” Dajka said. Marchionda said the preparation will remain the same for every other meet despite missing those six swimmers. He said this meet will require more strategic planning than other meets. “We don’t prepare any differently other than taking a look at the lineup to see where they’re weak, see where we’re strong and where we can take advantage of those weaknesses,” he said. “So we might have to shift a few swimmers around in events. Freshman Allie Duff said her mindset will also remain the same it has all year. “My goal is to win all my races to get the most points I can for the team,” she said. “I’m sure everybody else will go in with the same mindset.”
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top recruiting class, $20,000 for the team’s seven wins and could receive an extra month’s salary should WKU receive a bowl bid. He would also receive $10,000 should he be named Sun Belt Coach of the Year. Bjork said he’d have more details in the coming days on he and Taggart’s specific negotiations, and said the university wanted to “secure Taggart for a long time” at WKU. Several jobs have opened in recent days, and Taggart’s name
HISTORY CONTINUED FROM SPORTS
Hudson’s optimism goes beyond his team’s ranking. He thinks the Lady Toppers are playing their best volleyball of the season right now. “Our kids really seem to be in a good rhythm,” Hudson said. “I think they’re in a good frame of mind. I think we’re ready to play and I hope that translates on Friday.” The Lady Toppers left Bowling Green for Champaign on Wednesday and had two practices planned before their match Friday afternoon. Marquette, their first-round opponent from the Big East Conference, is ranked No. 40 in the latest RPI poll and is also vying for its first NCAA Tournament win. The winner of Friday’s match will face either Central Michigan or host Illinois — currently ranked No. 1 in the RPI — on Saturday. Sophomore setter Melanie Stutsman said the Lady Toppers have been preparing on and off the court all week to face Marquette. “We’ve watched film on Marquette and we’ve kind of gotten to know how they run their offense,” she said. “We’ve worked on
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“I think my family would come anywhere, but since it’s a little closer it’ll be fun to have a lot of my family come and watch,” she said. “I’m glad it’s easier for them” WKU’s past in Champaign may also be good for some of the older players. Sophomore setter Melanie Stutsman said she thinks familiarity with the venue will help members of the team who played there last season get adjusted. “We know it. We’ve been there. We’ve
has popped up in conversations of young FBS coaches on the rise who could fill those openings. Taggart compared that speculation to the various bowl projections being tossed around for his Toppers. “My name is popping up the same way those bowl predictions, those people that really don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “I have no comment on that. I haven’t talked to anyone about anything.”
serving a lot because we feel like that’s going to be a major part of the match. If they can’t run their offense then they won’t be able to score against us.” The Lady Toppers have played postseason matches in Champaign twice in the last three years, losing both times in the first round. Hudson said if his team plays against Marquette as well as it has in the past month, WKU has a good chance to move on to the second round. “It’s a good matchup,” he said. “I expect it to be a really good, competitive, long match. But I like our chances if we play well.”
I expect it to be a really good, competitive, long match." —Travis Hudson Volleyball Head Coach
played there, so it’s not all new,” she said. “It’s kind of nice to be able to go out there and know your surroundings and everything.” WKU is one of four teams scheduled to play its first and second round matches in Champaign this year, along with Marquette, Central Michigan and host Illinois. Despite bad luck at Huff Hall in the past, Stutsman hopes the Lady Toppers can turn it around on Friday. “Last year was a big upset with losing in three and Tiff getting hurt,” she said. “It was really disappointing, but we’re hoping this will be our year and we’ll go out there and get the W.”
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12.2.11
COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • Vol. 87, No. 25 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
VOLLEYBALL
Lady Toppers ready to stop losing curse in Huff Hall By LUCAS AULBACH sports@wkuherald.com
team in school history to do that is just really exciting.” WKU has a lot of momentum coming into its first-round match in Champaign, Ill. The Lady Toppers are riding a 10-match winning streak, including three wins in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, and haven’t lost since Oct. 18. WKU was ranked No. 21 in the most recent RPI poll and No. 24 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, the highest the school has ever been ranked. Head Coach Travis Hudson said the national attention could give the Lady Toppers a mental edge over their competition. “It’s nice going into an NCAA Tournament match as a ranked team,” he said. “I think that certainly gives you a level of respect, and hopefully we’re worthy of that ranking.”
If the Lady Toppers are going to get their first NCAA Tournament win in school history this weekend, they're going to have to conquer some past demons. When WKU takes on Marquette in the first round Friday, it will be the third time in four years they’ve played postseason matches at Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill. The Lady Toppers have lost every tournament match they’ve played there. That hasn’t stopped Head Coach Travis Hudson from being optimistic about his team’s return to the arena. “It’s a great atmosphere for volleyball. They really support it there,” he said. “It’s a little odd to be going there for the third time in four years, but again, it’s a quality NCAA atmosphere and that’s all you can really ask for.” Senior middle hitter Tiffany Elmore has had particularly bad luck in Huff Hall. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament against Cincinnati in the first round of the tournament last season and had to go through months of physical rehab over the offseason to get back into playing shape. Hudson said he doesn’t think Elmore, who opted not to talk about the injury, will be affected by playing in Champaign for the first time since then. “I’m sure it’ll run back through her mind when we get back in there, but I think Tiffany’s story is a very positive one,” he said. “That’s a kid that tore her ACL on that very floor a year ago and look at all she’s accomplished in the 12 months since then. I think it’s an inspiring story more than anything else.” The Illinois location benefits some people associated with the WKU program, though. Many athletes on the team have family members living in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan and will have a shorter drive to Champaign than Bowling Green. Junior outside hitter Jordyn Skinner’s parents live in Grand Rapids, Mich., and usually drive to Bowling Green for home matches. Skinner said she hopes the shorter drive brings out more supporters.
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The WKU volleyball team celebrates after beating Middle Tennessee State to win the Sun Belt Conference championship. The Lady Toppers play Marquette at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Champaign, Ill.
A Chance at History WKU seeking first NCAA Tournament win By LUCAS AULBACH sports@wkuherald.com
It’s been a historic season for the Lady Toppers, and they’re hoping to make some more history this weekend. If WKU beats Marquette (23-10) in their 4:30 p.m. match this afternoon, it will be the first NCAA Tournament win for WKU (31-3) in school history. It’s win or go home in the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Toppers have two seniors — middle hitters Tiffany Elmore and Lindsay Williams — playing the last competitive volleyball of their college careers this postseason. Elmore said the match is a chance for the Lady Toppers to reach one more of their goals this season. “That’s any senior’s dream, is to get to the NCAA Tournament and having this chance,” she said. “One of our goals has been to advance in the NCAA, and just having that chance to be the first
FOOTBALL
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WKU will learn its bowl fate by Sunday
Guard Kaspar proving tough as a freshman
JABIN E. BOTSFORD/HERALD
Senior running back Braxston Miller scores a touchdown against Troy last Saturday. Miller and the rest of the WKU football team are bowl-eligible, but may not get a bid.
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WKU’s annual end-of-the-year football banquet will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday. During that banquet the Toppers may learn whether their 2011 season is indeed over, or if they will be playing in the first bowl game of the program’s Football Bowl Subdivision history. WKU (7-5) is waiting to hear if it will receive an atlarge berth to one of the FBS’ 35 bowl games. The bowl schedule will be announced at 7:15 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. “(The banquet) would be an ideal time to make an announcement, so we’re tracking on that timeline to know one way or another,” Athletics Director Ross Bjork said. The Toppers are in the running for several bowls, but the one which has gained the most attention from WKU fans is the BBVA Compass Bowl Jan. 7 Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. The bowl, which has direct tie-ins with the Big East and Southeastern Conferences, has become one of the more likely destinations for the Toppers because of the relatively short four hour drive from Bowling Green to Birmingham and the possibility that neither the Big East nor the SEC will have enough eligible teams to fill those slots. Topper football fans have been tweeting at the Compass Bowl’s official Twitter account and posting on the wall of the bowl’s official Facebook page in recent days, lobbying for the bowl to invite WKU.
Kevin Kaspar drew comparisons to former WKU point guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez from Head Coach Ken McDonald. It wasn’t for his ability to hit clutch shots like MendezValdez did during his career, but rather because of his toughness. That toughness that has helped the freshman from Istanbul, Turkey, claim the starting role on a young Topper team. “We always knew he was tough,” McDonald said. “He’s taken advantage of the opportunity to get that starting role. Bigger minutes, bigger role…he gives you a fearless guy that is going to play both ends of the ball.” Junior guard Jamal Crook started the Toppers’ first two games and played at least 20 minutes in both. But when WKU played in the Charleston Classic, it was Kaspar who got the start. He hasn’t relinquished that spot yet. Through seven games, Kaspar is averaging 8.7 points per game and is second on the team in assists, averaging two a game — just behind fellow freshman guard Derrick Gordon. His minutes have gone up as well, averaging 27 per game compared to Crook’s 14.3 per game. Kaspar also emerged as a scoring threat in Charleston, averaging 11.6 points per game during the tournament — highlighted by a 15-point performance against Louisiana State.
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