March 4, 2014 — College Heights Herald

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TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY • WKUHERALD.COM • VOLUME 89 NO. 38

WKU updates Title IX policy

BY SHELBY ROGERS NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM

Major changes to WKU parking coming next fall

BY TREY CRUMBIE NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM Parking at WKU is about to experience a major shake-up starting next semester.

Jennifer Tougas, director of Parking and Transportation Services, said WKU will be losing an estimated 250 parking spots this fall. Approximately 70 of those parking spots belonged to the gravel lot on Normal Street, which closed on Feb. 24. The rest of the parking spaces belong to the gravel lot on Center Street.

The leased lot has been bought by Trittenbach Development, a construction company based in Missouri. Trittenbach plans to build housing and retail space in the area. The parking lot will remain available for use until May 31.

Dennis Cain, transportation analyst for PTS, said a survey was sent out last month to get feedback on how to handle the parking issue.

“In general, we recognize that there’s a crunch,” Cain said. “And instead of just going in and making decisions on our own, the first thing we did, we asked the campus, ‘What would you like to see?’”

Approximately 2,000 took the survey with a majority of feedback coming from students.

“Parking is something people do feel passionately about,” Cain said.

Cain said out of all of the parking permit groups that responded, commuters were the most unhappy. Sixty percent of commuters said they cannot find parking where they want it and 76 percent are frustrated looking.

“So, we’re looking at ways to make the commuters’ life a little bit better,” Cain said.

One of these changes includes the leasing of the entire Alumni Square Garage, which contains around 450 parking spaces. However, Tougas said the garage will also be used by those SEE PARKING PAGE A3

‘E-Cigs’ offer alternative to cigarettes

Total amount of active permits as of Feb. 26, 2014: 11,749

Top three groups:

Snow daze

WKU’s sexual assault Title IX policies are finally getting a facelift, becoming more streamlined and easier for victims of harassment and assault to find the help they need.

These policy adjustments come after the White House issued their report on rape and sexual assault this January.

“Change still needs to come from many quarters: schools must adopt better policies and practices to prevent these crimes and to more effectively respond when they happen,” the report said.

Huda Melky, director of the Equal Opportunity Department, added “Title IX coordinator” to her list of responsibilities, a title she said she is ready to take on due to its importance.

“The policies have always been there, but now I’m just bringing all the pieces together,” she said.

The new Title IX policies include the addition of an official coordinator who will oversee every aspect of an investigation. The coordinator will be assisted by several deputies, who serve to bridge the gap between students and administrators.

Melky is no stranger to dealing with sexual assault cases, having done so at the university level for more than15 years.

Passed in 1972, Title IX is a portion of the Education Amendments. It states that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excused from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Typically, the policy is associated with athletic departments and equality among men’s and women’s sports. However, Melky emphasized Title IX covers much more than sports.

“Title IX is not just about athletics, but people frequently hear about it in the context of sports,” Melky said.

“These changes impact everyone.”

Thirty-eight percent of female rape victims experience assault between the ages of 18 to 24. Another 14 percent of victims were aged 25 to 34, according to the White House report. One in five women has been sexually assaulted while in college.

Deborah Wilkins, general counsel and Chief of Staff, is enlisted as a deputy for the Title IX revamp.

“The deputy coordinators are there so if anyone needs help, they SEE TITLE IX PAGE A3

WKUHERALD.com

BY JACOB PARKER LIFE@WKUHERALD.COM For the past few centuries, the process hasn't really varied— striking a flame, holding it to the tip, and inhaling burning tobacco to feed a craving for nicotine. However, in the past few years a new alternative has presented itself for people to get their fix.

Vaporizers, or “e-cigarettes,” have begun to enter the mainstream culture as either an alternative to cigarettes or a way to transition away from tobacco and nicotine altogether. Consumers inhale a flavored vapor of their choice, and have the option to adjust the amount of nicotine in each dose.

Compared to a product that causes more than 480,000 deaths annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the tar-less, smokeless vaporizer SEE VAPORIZERS PAGE A2

GALLERY

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF FIGHT NIGHT

TUE 39°/19° WED 43°/34° THU 45°/23° Glasgow junior Molly Shercliff slides down the stairs outside Helm Library on Monday morning. All WKU campuses were closed Monday due to inclement weather. A winter storm warning was in effect until noon Monday. KREABLE YOUNG/HERALD

FRI 57°/37°

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MARCH 4, 2014

VAPORIZERS

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seems to have a certain appeal.

For Henderson freshman Tirsa Spiller, who had smoked cigarettes for roughly a year, it was the latter.

“Before my e-cig, I smoked about a pack a day for about a year,” she said.

Spiller, whose mother smoked, was no stranger to cigarettes. Things changed two years ago, however, when Spiller's mother was diagnosed with bladder cancer caused by smoking.

Cancer is only one of the possible results of smoking cigarettes consistently over time— yellowing of teeth, birth deficiencies and coronary heart disease are among them as well. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death with the capacity to harm nearly every organ in the body.

Spiller said her mother’s cancer inspired her not to smoke, but the stress from life changes only encouraged her smoking.

“With her having the cancer and me starting college, graduating high school and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life— it really stressed me out,” she said.

“When I came to college, I really connected to people who were also smokers and it kind of increased the habit that I already had.”

Spiller and her peers weren't alone.

An estimated 18.1 percent of all adults, or 42.1 million people aged 18 and older are current cigarette smokers according to a 2012 CDC report. Over 822,000 of those individuals are Kentucky residents, roughly 25.2 percent of the state's population.

A year after her mother's diagnosis, a family member purchased a vaporizer for Spiller's mother who, in turn, hasn't smoked a cigarette since receiving it.

This past Christmas, Spiller's mother gifted one to her daughter to help her kick the habit.

“She realized that I was smoking —

Crime reports • Adriene Whitaker reported that she was assaulted by and struck by a vehicle driven by Willie Jennings in the PFT parking lot on March 1. His vehicle also struck another vehicle in the parking lot. Jennings was arrested for first-degree wanton endangerment, fourth-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident.

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

and not just smoking a little bit, but a lot,” she said. “I haven't had a cigarette since. We both kind of quit cold turkey.”

In the two months since Spiller has smoked a cigarette, she said she feels her body rejuvenating.

“I feel a lot better. It was getting to the point it was hard for me to breathe." she said. "When I went to bed or when I woke up I was coughing up really bad phlegm.”

Currently, Spiller is “vaping” a flavor called “mango twist” with 18 milligrams of nicotine, but she anticipates a time in the future where she won’t need even that.

“As time goes along I tend to forget about it, so I tend not to feel the need to smoke as much,” she said. “But when I have it around me when it’s not on the charger, I'm so attached to it I practically cuddle with it.”

Sam Freeman, the owner of the local vaporizer shop Remedy Vapor, said he was able to stop smoking after a decade of using an e-cigarette.

After catching the flu and not being able to recover properly due to his cigarette addiction, a friend recommended that he try vaping.

“I quit smoking right away. Within three or four days I started feeling ten times better and said ‘this is it for me, no more cigarettes’ and now I couldn’t even imagine smoking a cigarette,” he said, adding that he has “vaped” for three years now.

The term “e-cigarette” is not one that Freeman uses to describe his product.

“Most people say ‘e-cig,’ but us in the industry use ‘vaporizer,’” he said.

“There's a negative connotation with the word cigarette all together.”

Remedy Vapor has been open for nine months now, and Freeman anticipates the business to continue to be successful as more people realize the detrimental effect smoking cigarettes is having on their body.

“It all just depends on commitment— if you don’t wan to quit smoking, this is not going to make you quit,” he said.

“You still have to have a commitment, it’s not a magic wand.”

• An unknown subject activated the fire alarm at Smith Stadium on March 2.

• Police arrested Madison Moore in the McCormack Parking Lot, who was determined to be under the influence of alcohol after a two-vehicle non-injury collision, on March 3.

WKUHERALD.COM

MARCH 4, 2014

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Academic heading to Chicago after sectional surprise

BY MACKENZIE MATHEWS NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM The WKU Academic Competition Club will be making its second appearance at the National Quiz Bowl Tournament. It will take place in Chicago on March 29.

This is the first year the club has made it to the tournament as a Division I team, meaning it has qualified for nationals at least once before.

The team had to deal with unexpected challenges to qualify this year, Matthew Riggle, a sophomore team member from Madison, Ala., said.

On the morning of Feb. 9, the group set out with two teams for the NAQT Mideast Sectional Championship Tournament at the University of Ken-

tucky. Icy roads caused one of the team's cars to spin out to the median, enabling only one team to continue on to the tournament.

“Because of delays from the accident, they had to forfeit the first three rounds,” Riggle said. “Knowing that, we weren’t expecting to qualify at all.”

The team ended up tying for second place with a 6-4 record, thus qualifying for nationals. Its competition included the University of Louisville, the University of Alabama, Centre College and Wright State.

“We were pretty happy, because we actually played really well,” said team member and Owensboro freshman Ella Shipp. “We weren’t really certain because we got a 6-4, so it was really exciting that we made it in.”

PARKING

staying in the Hyatt Place hotel once it opens.

“But we will have more inventory,” Tougas said. “We’ll be able to sell more parking permits there.”

Cain said over the years, housing parking permit sales have dropped. Because of this, PTS could reallocate how parking is set up between housing and commuter lots.

Tiered parking for students living in housing has also been discussed as a possible change. Tougas said if this were to be implemented for housing students, parking lots closest to the residence halls would be considered “premium” while parking lots on the perimeter of campus would be “nonpremium.” If this were to be done, premium parking permits would be limited.

Tougas said the benefit of this is that those living on campus with premium permits will be more likely to find parking spots because they will not be competing with as many people.

Tiered parking does have its drawbacks, Tougas said.

“The downside of that is that if you’re in non-premium and you really want to be in premium, you’re on a waiting list until a parking space opens up,” Tougas said.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT can call one of us and we’ll help keep things moving,” she said. “We’re not getting a stipend or salary adjustment, it’s become part of our job duties.”

Investigating claims in a timely manner, stopping connection between the victim and accused, preventing further assaults and remedying the situation – both physically and emotionally - are the key foundations for the updated policy, Melky said.

“The problem with these kinds of assaults is that women, and men, don’t know how to report it,” she said.

Informational brochures are being

consists of toss-ups and bonuses.

Toss-ups are questions that can be answered by anyone, and bonuses are a series of questions for the team that correctly answered the toss-up.

Generally, there are around 10 teams in a tournament; the nationals will have 32.

There can be four players in a match with substitutes prepared between games, so the club plans to send around seven members, according to Shipp. All students who played at sectionals will attend.

“They were hoping to have fun and any results beyond that were icing on the cake,” Riggle said. “Honestly, we were in such shock and it’s just really, really exciting, because we were not expecting any of the day to turn out like it did, at all.”

Tiered parking is already available for faculty and staff.

Stephen Rowland, transportation manager for PTS, said the Topper Transit could undergo a change as well. One of these discussed changes is an expanded Green Line, which takes students to shopping destinations. This discussion arose due to the development of Gary Farms.

“We have a lot of interest in with the new Meijer's,” Rowland said. “There’s a Dick’s Sporting Goods that’s attracting attention.”

Other lines of the Topper Transit could change as well, such as the Red Line.

“With the advent of more student housing and more student activities on the north side of campus, we’re seriously thinking maybe using the Red Line up there and not taking it to South Campus,” Rowland said. “Of course all this is speculation right now.”

Tougas said PTS is also looking to work with GoBG, Bowling Green’s public transit system, to increase the frequency of pickup for those who live at off-campus apartments.

The changes will be finalized shortly after spring break. Cain said the changes will be the most significant the campus has seen in several years, but PTS is using the survey responses as the basis for its changes.

“That is our goal, is to make the parking experience at Western better,” Cain said.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

TITLE IX

As a whole, the team comprises 12 students, including Gatton Academy students and undergraduate and graduate students of various majors. This year, they have competed at Georgia Tech, the University of Alabama and the University of Kentucky.

WKU hosted a tournament Feb. 22 and finished third overall and first in the undergraduate division.

The club will prepare for nationals with weekly practices and individual study of material that may be covered.

Questions can derive from any academic subject and are asked in a trivialike manner.

“Part of it is being academically curious and reading and things like that,” Riggle said.

Each Quiz Bowl, or tournament,

made and will eventually be distributed to all staff members, faculty, students, even visitors, Melky said.

“We want to make sure the dissemination process is both internal and external,” she said.

The university has provided incoming freshmen with sexual assault and harassment information for several years, Melky said. However, a majority of students never expect that they would be assaulted. Instances where drugs or alcohol are used to incapacitate victims have increased over the last several years, the White House report said.

“When it happens to them, we want to expedite the process and make it easier on them,” Melky said.

WKUHERALD.com

OPINION TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

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EDITORIAL

DOING YOUR PART

WKU community encouraged to attend Sexual Assault Awareness activities THE ISSUE: March is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Kentucky, and WKU will be participating by holding events throughout the month, including a self-defense class; The Clothesline Project, which helps begin the healing process for those who have experienced sexual violence; and “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” which has garnered national attention in the past.

OUR STANCE: We encourage WKU students, faculty and staff to take advantage of the opportunities provided in March.

Even in 2014 there is still a lot of ignorance regarding sexual assault that could be cleared up by attending these events.

Every two minutes an American is sexually assaulted, with 60 percent of rapes going unreported and 97 percent of rapists escaping jail time, according to Rainn.org, the nations largest anti-sexual violence organization.

To narrow it down, one in four college women have reported surviving rape or attempted rape since their fourteenth birthday. In a typical academic year, the site reports 3 percent of college women surviving rape or attempted rape, and 3 percent of college men reporting surviving rape or attempted rape as an adult or child, according to oneinfourusa.org, With these statistics in mind, the first thing that we as a society need to acknowledge about this is that a rape or sexual assault is never the victims; it is the assaulters. Unfortunately, we live in an age when victim-blaming is commonplace.

Comments like, “Her skirt was too short,” “She led him on,” “If he paid for dinner she owes him sex. She’s just a tease,” “He was weak, he could’ve fought

back if he was a real man,” pervade many conversations and frankly, we’re sick of it. Unless a person verbally consents to sexual intercourse or interaction, one should always assume the answer is no, with no exception.

Another unfortunate symptom of the way society currently treats sexual assault is that so many people have become rape apologists.

A recent national example of this comes from the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case, which occurred on Aug. 11, 2012, when two high school football players allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl. The players were later arrested and convicted of the crime, and the case garnered national media attention.

Unfortunately, much of the media attention, including coverage from CNN, focused on the ruined careers of the football players and the loss of their “promising futures,” according to Huffington Post.

Never mind that a 16-year-old girl was raped and may never recover from the experience of the actual event and the horrible derogatory comments made about her on the Internet. No, instead CNN found the loss of the boys’ potential professional football careers the real tragedy in the case.

And this is just one example of something that unfortunately continues to happen.

Does this example make you angry?

Good.

Do you want to do something about it?

Attending the events on campus during the month of March are a good way to start.

This editorial represents the majority of the Herald's 9-member editorial board.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Upcoming event allows for men to ‘Man Up’ I am not generally fond of expressions like “Man Up.” I don’t care much for anything that creates the impression that there is something distinctly different about men and women. I don’t care for stereotypes, I don’t care for ideas like “men are from Mars and women are from Venus.” I don’t like putting people into rigid categories.

That being said, I do think it is time for men on campus to “Man Up.” I am talking about the “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” event held this year on March

18th at Centennial Mall. This is an event in which men are asked to take a public stand against sexual assault, sexism, and all the other really sad stuff we, as a society, tend to dump on women.

Those who participate put on red high heels and walk around campus.

You know, you might even argue that a man walking in high heels is kind of sexist, as if the standard shoe for all women is a high heel. But that isn’t the point. It’s a convenient symbol; it doesn’t matter what we wear while

walking. The point is that all of us men, young and old, have made it this far in life in no small part because of women who loved us and cared for us.

Guys, we know how some men talk about women, and we know how some men treat women, and those women are our mothers, our aunts, our grandmothers, our sisters, and our daughters. As a son, a husband, a brother, and a father, it breaks my heart to think of all the sexist crap I hear on a daily basis

from young boys (I won’t call them men just yet) who still see women as objects. And it makes me mad to think my mother, my wife, my sister, and my daughters have to hear it as well.

If you feel the same way, then register for the “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” event. It’s time for all good men to… yes…“man up!”

–Karl Laves Assistant Director of the Counseling &Testing Center

HEALTH MATTERS

Mental disorders do not define a person

BY RYAN HUNTON OPINION@WKUHERALD.COM

Like all aspects of wellness, mental health is something we try to balance. And in our pursuit of happiness we can help each other along.

Although a person’s struggle with a mental disorder can affect his life HUNTON (academics, social life, Columnist emotions and self-image), he remains a human with a great potential for change, discovery and growth.

Betsy Pierce, a licensed psychological associate at WKU, sees students on a regular basis at the WKU Counseling

and Testing Center.

“In our center, we consistently see people coping with anxiety or depression,” she said. “Age can be a factor for mental illness. For example, schizophrenia tends to evidence itself in the early twenties, and anxiety and depression often occur in adolescence and early adulthood.”

A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found psychological problems to be a growing concern at college campuses, with 46 percent of students reporting anxiety and 39 percent reporting depression.

Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults (age 15 – 24), and ex-

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The Herald publishes on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. The first copy is free, and additional copies are 50 cents each, available in the Student Publications Center on Normal Street.

perts agree that it is largely connected with mental disorders. “The causes of mental illness may be genetic, social, affected by family and learning, due to trauma,” Pierce said. “Individual differences play a role in that not all people with the same contributing factors will develop the same problems.”

For many, mental disorder does not become severe enough to cross the threshold in which an individual begins to show noticeable signs. For some, mental disorder takes over life.

Here are some guidelines: 1. Talk to someone: It may help you to talk to a friend or family about your mental struggles. If you would like to speak with a professional, WKU Counseling and Testing Center includes a team of licensed

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therapists and offers mental health help.

2. Cut out risk factors that you can control: Try to moderate certain factors like sleep habits, caffeine intake, alcohol intake, and stress level. One of these factors may be at the root of your depression or anxiety.

3. See a health care provider: Pierce said that medications can be an important method of treatment for some people. Mental health nurse practitioner, Leta Whited, sees students at WKU Health Services and can assess if medication will help in your case.

And of course, don’t give up. Life contains opportunity for each of us.

Move forward in life and good health with the support of those around you.

VOICE YOUR OPINION Opinion 270.745.4874 opinion@wkuherald.com The Herald encourages readers to write letters and commentaries on topics of public interest. Here are a few guidelines: 1. Letters shouldn't exceed 250 words. Commentaries should be about 500 words and include a picture.

2. Originality counts. Please don't submit plagiarized work.

3. For verification, letters and commentaries MUST include your name, phone number, home town and classification or title.

4. Letters may not run in every edition due to space.

5. The Herald reserves the right to edit all letters for style, grammar, length and clarity. The Herald does NOT print libelous submissions.

6. Submissions must be received by 7 p.m. on Sunday and Wednesday.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newspaper DO NOT reflect those of Western Kentucky University's employees or of its administration.

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THE FUN PAGE ACROSS 1 Rosary counters 6 Fall faller 10 Long hike Classified Advertising Manager: Ashley Edwards 14 Review of business books advertising@wkuherald.com 15 Girl in a J.D. Salinger short story ELP ANTED 16 Wound-up fire engine item 17 Jim who sang “You Don’t Forest Park Baptist Church Mess Around With Jim” is seeking part-time Music Minister. Contact Debbie 18 Prohibition-era saloon Lanham at (270) 782-9187 or send resume with references to: 20 Budget accommodations FPBC, 520 Old Morgantown Road, Bowling Green, KY, 42101, 22 Chafing dish heaters or office@forestparkbaptist.org.

23 Basilica recesses 25 Spanish “a” City of Bowling Green 26 John Kerry’s domain SUMMER AQUATICS 33 Flirt with Applications are currently being accepted for the following Parks and Recreation Aquatics positions for the Sims Aquatic 34 Tops, as cupcakes 35 Stephen of “The Crying Center. Hours, salaries, and job requirements will vary Game” depending upon position.

• Pool Attendants I & II 36 From the U.S. • Pool Lifeguards 37 Dwindled • Swim Instructors 39 “The Wizard of Oz” lion • Concessions/Admission Manager Bert • Recreation Staff Assistant I 40 Little, in Lyons • Pool Manager 41 Fictional plantation • Assistant Pool Manager 42 In __ fertilization • Laborer 43 Supermarket convenience Interested applicants should obtain an employment application and additional information from the Human Resources Department in City 47 Tolkien giant Hall, 1001 College Street or from our website at www.bgky.org. The City 48 Le __, France 49 Rodeo rider, at times of Bowling Green is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free 53 Put on an extra sweater, Workplace. say Note to Readers: The College Heights Herald screens ads for 57 Complete ninny misleading or false claims but cannot guarantee any ad or claim. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when asked to send money 59 Alvin of dance or provide credit card information. The College Heights Herald is not 60 Midday responsible for the content or validity of these paid classified ads.

61 __ Reader: alternative media digest PREVIOUS CROSSWORD SOLUTION 62 Sunday song 63 PDA entry 64 Lewd look 65 Itty-bitty

CLASSIFIEDS H

W

DOWN 1 Composer of fugues 2 Multinational currency 3 Big fusses

4 Absolute ruler 5 Increase the slope of 6 Tenant 7 Psychic’s claim 8 Iowa State home 9 Showcased 10 Aries 11 Chestnut horse 12 Petro-Canada rival 13 Janitor’s janglers 19 Adoptive parents of Superman 21 ‘60s hallucinogen 24 Popeye’s favorite veggie 26 Physical condition 27 “It takes a licking ...” watch 28 Wolfed down

29 King beater 30 Muse for a bard 31 India’s first prime minister 32 Fortunetelling card 37 Opposite of thrifty 38 Horace’s “__ Poetica” 39 “Ditto” 41 Choir member 42 DVD forerunner 44 Take exception to 45 Boxer “Marvelous” Marvin 46 Adam’s mate 49 Roman moon goddess 50 Perched on 51 “Quit it!”

52 Repetitive learning 54 Actor Alda

55 Kinfolk: Abbr.

56 “Goodness gracious!”

58 Single in a wallet

HILLTOP HOROSCOPES SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -Don't get overimpressed with your greatness. Nourish your inner child with a sense of humor and humility. Do a good job at work. Have fun with it. Invest in your infrastructure and equipment.

Advancement could seem sudden.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Don't try a new trick now.

An amazing development requires steady feet. Someone makes sure you have what you need.

Take time to let your mind wander.

The pressure on you eases soon. Rest and relax.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -Controversy arises, draped in chaos.

Confront authority. Get answers in private. A change in the game surprises.

Try new tactics.

Friends think you're brilliant. Consider sentiments when engaging in reorganization or new structures. A party ensues.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Hear from an unusual point of view. Keep talking until you reach a compromise, for a pleasant surprise. Figure out what you want to accomplish first.

Someone who seems dumb is actually brilliant. Listen openly.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Prepare to do the backstage research. Do what you promised. Everyone wants to be at your house. Ask them to help with dishes.

Spend wisely. Take care with details.

Relax without worry. It works out.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You know exactly where your work will take you now. Upgrade your technology.

Adventure beckons. Become fully involved. Follow through, then you can relax. A brilliant suggestion or idea could postpone chores. Your credit rating's going up.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Postpone social activities and extensive travel for a bit. Take care of business now.

You're especially convincing, and a project needs your talents. Follow a hunch... the crazier the better. Later, results can beat expectations.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) -- Suddenly your thoughts come together. Consider relevant theories.

Don't advertise your winnings. Find out how much you really have. Provide verbal leadership. Put all your ideas on the list. Save a bunch on household items.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You're good at solving puzzles. You may disagree with a critic. Power your way through tasks.

Heed a partner's considerations. Go out on a limb. Don't get stopped by past failures. The response rewards.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Start with an intellectual connection. Listen to an expert you admire and learn a new angle or technique. Don't make assumptions. Put it to the test. Be careful not to break things. Provide well for family.

SUDOKU PROBLEMS

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -There's no room for padding. Choose your words carefully. Meditation leads to a brilliant insight.

Let your partner handle arrangements. Keep your surprise a secret.

Step carefully and avoid a disappointment. Gather valuable information.

LIBRA (Sept.

23-Oct. 22) -- You gain insight about a work issue, but don't know how to solve the problem yet. There's a possibility for error.

Talk over what you're learning. Get advice from partners. Create an optimistic view.

Use imagination.

PHOTO

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

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BOTTOM LEFT: Justin

Rodriguez receives water from trainer Randall Venson during a break in his fight against Kyle Dahl Thursday night. After three rounds of fighting Dahl would win by decision. LUKE FRANKE/

HERALD

BOTTOM RIGHT: Kristin

Weddle, a freshman from Louisville, and Cody Menard, a freshman from Destin, Fld., share a moment in the parking lot after the Sigma Chi's "Battle of the Greeks" Fight Night at the Blue Dome in Lampkin Park on Friday. JABIN BOTSFORD/HERALD

MIDDLE: (L to R) Brentwood, Tenn. senior Jason White, Bowling Green senior Emily Gott and Beaver Dam senior Nick Bratcher cheer for Jeff Creech of FIJI during the first bout of Sigma Chi's fight night on Thursday.

LUKE FRANKE/HERALD

TOP: Justin Rodriguez punches Kyle Dahl during the 3rd fight of the night during Sigma Chi fraternity "Battle of the Greeks" Fight Night at

the Blue Dome at Lampkin Park on Thursday. Dahl beat Rodriguez. Sigma Chi donates the proceeds to the Huntsman Cancer Institute to raise money for cancer research. JABIN BOTSFOR/HERALD

Battle of the Greeks

LIFE

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

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RING WARRIOR

Bowling Green sophomore Chase Proctor celebrates with Bowling Green juniors Austin Disney and Will Porter after defeating Kyle Dahl to win Sigma Chi Fight Night. Dahl had won the event three years in a row before losing to Proctor. IAN MAULE/HERALD

First-time fighter dethrones reigning champion at Fight Night

T

BY LEAH BROWN & SRIJITA CHATTOPADHYAY LIFE@WKUHERALD.COM

he boxer took his last punch in the championship match and the crowd went wild.

Reigning Fight Night champion, Kyle Dahl, lost his title Friday night to new champion Bowling Green sophomore Chase Proctor.

To an unfamiliar passerby, Proctor, 20, is just an average student. But to those involved in Sigma Chi’s Fight Night, he is a fighter.

The two-day “Battle of the Greeks” event, also known as Fight Night, took place over the weekend to raise money for cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. This is their ninth time hosting the tournament.

Fight Night provided the Bowling Green sophomore with a platform to achieve one of his many goals – fighting. Being an amateur to this sport didn’t stop him from giving it his best.

“I feel I am in good condition,” Proctor said.

“My studies aren’t too focused, so I thought it would be fun to go out and do it.”

Greek organizations each sponsored a fighter in the event. Kappa Delta sorority sponsored the two boxers in the final match.

Proctor said he was surprised when Kappa Delta asked to sponsor him. He had asked mulSEE FIGHT PAGE B3

Bowling Green sophomore Chase Proctor rests after doing a live shadow boxing drill at Bowling Green High School in preparation for Sigma Chi Fight Night. “I don’t feel like an underdog but I definitely feel like an outcast doing this by myself‚” Proctor said, who was sponsored by Kappa Delta sorority. IAN

MAULE/HERALD

Ring returned to former coach after four years

BY ALLYSON BEASECKER LIFE@WKUHERALD.COM A WKU red towel hangs on the black front door of a brick house. Inside, a silver ring lay on a wooden coffee table. The face is deep red with a solitary diamond resting in the center, and “WKU Basketball” and “Richards” are engraved on the cold metal band.

Four years have passed since the ring last graced the left hand of former head basketball coach Jim Richards.

Richards’ last coaching season was in 1977-78. It was a season of success and ample memories. The Hilltoppers

beat Syracuse, then ranked number 5 in the nation, in their second-to-last game.

They lost to Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the 1978 NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional Semifinals. The ring commemorated the team’s success and Richards' final coaching season.

“My assistant coaches thought highly enough of me to all chip in and have a diamond put in my ring,” Richards said.

31 years later, in 2009, Richards took two of his grandsons on a baseball trip with the WKU team to the University of Kentucky.

SEE RING PAGE B2

Former WKU head basketball coach Jim Richards, an Adair County, Ky. native, coached WKU from 19711978. Highlights of Richards career included capturing the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 1978 and beating No. 5 ranked Syracuse to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1978 NCAA Tournament. JEFF BROWN/HERALD

B2

MARCH 4, 2014

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

Model UN course goes to Chicago

BY JOHN CORUM NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM For years, the WKU Model United Nations course members have attended the annual Model U.N. conference in Chicago to compete. This year, however, student members of the class aspire to evolve into an officially recognized student club.

Thus far, the Model U.N. group remained only a class due to scheduling conflicts with its student members.

Model U.N. is a team-based activity that emulates the real-world international policy making of the United Nations. Every team in attendance represents a specific country.

According to student member Taylorsville junior Chase Thomas, this helps to foster an appreciation of how countries around the world cooperate to produce the best policy outcomes possible.

“Model U.N. taught me how the nations of our world interacted, and how they come together to make decisions that help our world go around,” Thomas said.

Of course, in the real world, countries don’t always approve of U.N. proposals. Louisville senior Bailey Mack said that the club also examines this resistance of certain countries to new policies.

“If you’re North Korea, you can’t approach a discussion on water rights the same way that a delegate from Western Europe or the U.S. would,” Mack said.

Thomas said this examination of both cooperative and uncooperative U.N. members allows for a well-rounded understanding of the globalized nature of politics.

“This opened my perspective on how procedural the U.N. is and how the different views of nations make a difference in resolution making,” Thomas said.

Bowling Green junior Chelsea Cornett said the proposal would take this to the next level by moving it beyond the classroom.

However, the recognition process is lengthy and complex, entailing discussions with multiple departments.

“We’re hoping for fall of next year,” Cornett said.

ACADEMICS BRIEF

Search continues for CHHS dean The search for the new dean of the College of Health and Human Services continues this week as the search committee meets to discuss process developments and the qualifications of each candidate.

The committee has been sifting through applications and review assessments regarding the candidates since the process began in November.

After narrowing the selection, the final three contenders, Sylvia Gaiko, Dean May and Carmen Burkhalter, were brought on-campus for interviews Feb. 10-18.

“The interviews went very well with excellent attendance at all sessions, especially the presentations and open forums for faculty, staff and students held at the Mass Media & Technology Hall,” said Jeffrey Katz, dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business and chair of the committee for the CHHS dean search.

The committee will now spend the next few weeks deliberating on the qualifications of the candidates and the response from their visits. The new dean’s term will begin July 1 of this year.

Katz does not regret the process of choosing a new dean.

“It has truly been a pleasure serving with dedicated and outstanding faculty, staff and students who have generously provided their time and talents into identifying an important leader for the College of Health and Human Services,” Katz said.

The position became available after the former dean, John Bonaguro, decided to return to a faculty position after serving as dean for 10 years. Formed in 2002, CHHS is WKU’s newest college, and Bonaguro worked as the founding dean.

–Mackenzie Mathews Academics Reporter

RING

every game within driving distance.

“We bleed red,” Annette said.

CONTINUED FROM B1 The couple thought the ring was lost forever until two weeks ago, when they The trio rode on the team bus. Rich- received a phone call from a Tennessee ards had his 1978 championship ring state trooper.

The trooper made an ordinary trafon one hand, a different season ring on the other and an arm around each fic stop and the driver had some sports memorabilia piled in the front seat, ingrandson. cluding Richards’ lost ring.

Richards' youngest grandson, “His verbiage to me was they Casey Richards, got motion sickweren't very well off financially,” ness from the rolling movement Richards said. “He asked her of the large bus. Richards took how she had possession of the his rings off and put them in his ring and I think she told him she jacket pocket in order to comfort had found it when she cleaned Casey. the bus out.”

Later, Casey was cold so RichThe trooper seized the ards placed his jacket around his ring and did some investigatgrandson’s shoulders. Little did Richards know, the small act of RICHARDS ing to track down its owner.

The “WKU” and “Richards” consolation would result in the engraved on the band led investiloss of an irreplaceable prize.

“When we got off the bus I was con- gator Amy Cole to the former head cerned about Casey, not about putting coach.

“Amy Cole called the President’s the rings back on,” Richards said. “I didn’t think about the rings until later.” Office because she saw Jim and Gary One of the two rings—the one from Ransdell were friends on Facebook and his final coaching season—had fallen thought we could get her contact with out of his jacket pocket. When Richards Jim,” Lauren Ossello from the Presicalled the bus company, the ring was dent’s Office said.

When Richards and his wife received was nowhere to be found.

Richards said he was extremely dis- the good news, they were ecstatic.

“It was such a wonderful surprise,” appointed when he lost the ring because of its sentimental worth. The ring Annette said.

The ring was mailed to Richards and was more than a token of his final season at WKU. It held a meaning of suc- was received last Monday, but he has cess and marked all of the special years yet to wear it. The special silver ring spent at WKU. went from the wooden coffee table to a Richards’ wife, Annette, was part of place of safekeeping. every year her husband spent with the “I’m sure I’ll be wearing it again in basketball team at WKU and attended the near future,” Richards said.

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MARCH 4, 2014

B3

Grants help Enactus achieve entrepreneurial goals

BY WHITNEY ALLEN LIFE@WKUHERALD.COM

Enactus, an international entrepreneurial organization, comes full circle right here on WKU’s campus with projects that reach internationally by working to solve problems through business means.

The WKU chapter of Enactus recently received two grants that will help the program to continue its project Community Threads, which works with the Burmese refugee population in Bowling Green.

Enactus provides the Burmese women in the program with materials to make scarves, baby wraps and purses. Then Enactus sells the products to local stores in Bowling Green and gives the women the profits.

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., senior Denise Range is the project leader for

Community Threads.

“I like that it empowers women,” Range said. “You get to see how your impact helps someone else, especially being a woman.”

Enactus just received the $1,500 Wal-Mart Women’s Economic Impact Grant and the Coca-Cola Uncapped Opportunity for Women Project Grant.

Enactus will submit a final report on the Community Threads project and will compete to win an additional grant.

The money from the grants allows Enactus to provide the materials for the women as well as the weekly English as a Second Language classes the group provides.

A large portion of the grant helped pay for the ESL lessons and tutor. Range said it wasn’t difficult to figure out how to sell the items or get inventory, but

language was the biggest barrier the group faced with this project.

Medellin, Colombia, sophomore Jessica Hehao Barragan is a member of Enactus and said the language barrier is something she understands.

“I really like it because I’m an international student,” Barragan said.

“I pretty much understand how difficult it is to communicate when you don’t know the language, and it really inspires me to get more involved with this project.”

Louisville junior Brendon Dodge is the Chief Financial Officer of Enactus.

“We saw that the Burmese women had a natural artistic talent,” Dodge said.

“We thought we could help them out by providing English lessons and then we could sell their products and give them the profits,” he said, adding that the next step is to teach the wom-

en to make bow ties.

London senior Wheeler Painter, president of Enactus, oversees each of the projects.

Painter said that in the beginning, the main focus of Community Threads was to simply help the women sell their products, but now the broader focus is to help the women assimilate in the American society.

“I can definitely see the change I’m making in other people,” he said.

“Whether it’s the people I work with, other students or especially these women.”

In addition, Painter said their efforts were helping the women learn English and earn a living.

“Without our initiatives and impact they wouldn’t be in the same spot they would be in,” he said. “Whenever you think about that on a real level, that’s awesome.”

FIGHT

CONTINUED FROM B1

tiple sororities before to sponsor him, but they told him they weren’t able to.

“I am going to do it as one and done thing,” he said. “It’s just something I wanted to try, but it’s not something that I want to make it an annual thing.

But while I am doing it I will give it my fullest.”

Proctor has been practicing for the past two months and gets his inspiration and determination from Muhammad Ali. “I watch Muhammad Ali a lot and just try to emulate what he does,” Proctor said.

Even though Proctor was confident and proud of himself for being a part of Fight Night, he was extremely nervous and terrified as well.

“There were fifteen hundred people,” Proctor said. “And a lot of people I knew were there. I felt the crowd on my side. But I was nervous, I tried to tell people I was not, but I really was. It was good nervous.”

After watching Sigma Chi’s Fight Night last year, he knew that he could get in the ring this year and win the whole tournament.

“When I got up to fight I told myself, this is what I wanted,” he said. "It’s here.

Let’s do it. And I ended up winning.”

Bowling Green sophomore Chase Proctor waits to weigh-in for Fight Night. Each fighter had to weigh-in to make sure no one fought anyone 10 pounds lighter or heavier than them. “I was lighter than I thought. I feel good. I feel like I can hang with anyone in that room‚” Proctor said after his weigh-in. IAN MAULE/HERALD The key to Proctor’s success at Fight Night was the unconditional support provided by his family and friends, said his cousin Lincoln Chasteen.

“I already knew that he was ready, so I was not surprised,” Chasteen said.

Proctor also found support from his girlfriend, Hendersonville, Tenn. senior Kristen Robinson.

“I was so nervous, especially the first night, but more than anything, I was extremely excited for him,” Robinson said. “It was definitely an emotion I never felt before. I knew he’d do great.”

The thought of losing never entered Proctor's mind.

“Even if I didn’t get to win, I wouldn’t have been upset,” he said. “I would be thinking that ‘he deserved it; he probably worked harder than I did.’

“So if I wanted to be doing these things, I better start putting more time and effort in order to get there,” Proctor said.

Alex Neihoff Sigma Chi’s philanthropy chair said he wasn’t surprised to see Proctor win.

“He trained hard for the event and I’m happy with the outcome. I was happy to see Chase win,” Neihoff said.

The event was held at the Jaycees Pavilion, or the Blue Dome, both nights.

“It’s an event that all Greeks can agree is better than any party,” Louisville sophomore Chris Peege, Sigma Chi member said.

The event raised $10,000 Thursday night alone through ticket sales. In previous years, that was the around the total amount the event made over the course of both nights.

Sigma Chi’s goal was to raise $20,000 at the event. Neihoff said they made around $26,000.

An estimated 1,500-2,000 people were at Fight Night each night.

Georgetown senior Elizabeth Mulholland said there were many fights Thursday night, but only seven on Friday night.

Mulholland, one of Sigma Chi’s ring girls, said this was her second year being a ring girl. Fight Night is the last event in Sigma Chi’s Derby Days.

Kappa Delta sorority accumulated the most points throughout the week and won an “Italian Wedding” with the fraternity.

Proctor said the atmosphere was overwhelming with excitement before, during and after the fight as he competed in the event. Since he’s from Bowling Green, he had a lot of supporters cheering him on in the crowd.

“It was fun to see all my friends be so proud of me,” Proctor said.

B4

MARCH 4, 2014

BASKETBALL

Toppers prep for ULL on Thursday

BY TYLER LASHBROOK SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM

Last Thursday, WKU manufactured a 12-point comeback against Texas State. Two days later, the Toppers surrendered a 19-point lead at UT Arlington.

Junior forward George Fant led the Toppers (19-10, 11-5 Sun Belt) with 14 points against Texas State and provided bucket after bucket down the stretch to help seal the victory.

“George Fant was huge late in the basketball game,” WKU coach Ray Harper told WKU Radio after the game. “That's who he has to be - he was attacking that basket late, he wanted the basketball and we did a good job of getting it to him late.”

But against UT Arlington, the Toppers went cold late, as the Mavericks outscored them 31-14 in the final 10 minutes.

“We couldn't guard them,” Harper said.

It was one of the few times all year that the Toppers struggled on

the defensive end; the 80 points they gave up against UT Arlington were the most in conference play since they surrendered 87 points against Arkansas Little-Rock on Jan. 16, but that game also had five minutes added on in overtime.

“We couldn't guard Reger Dowell and we put them at the free throw line,” Harper said.

Dowell, a senior transfer from Oklahoma State, ripped through WKU for a career-best 37 points.

The Toppers shot well from behind the arc, 10-of-28 (35.7 percent), but connected on just 15 of their 27 free throw attempts and never could get the game close in the waning moments.

But WKU doesn't have much time to fret on a loss against UT Arlington.

It hosts third-place Louisiana-Lafayette (19-10, 10-6) on Thursday in its final home game of the season.

WKU currently holds the coveted No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt. The second-place team gets a bye into the Sun Belt semi-finals, so holding

Name Georgia State WKU UL Lafayette Arkansas State UALR UT Arlington UL Monroe Troy Texas State South Alabama

onto that advantage is important for the Toppers.

But holding that position against Lafayette will prove difficult.

The Ragin' Cajuns have two of the best players in the conference: Junior point guard Elfrid Payton and sophomore forward Shawn Long. Payton and Long are second and third, respectively, in the league in scoring - Long averaging 19.5 points per game and Payton following with 19.

Long is also the only player in the Sun Belt to average double-digits in rebounding (10.4). Payton leads the conference in steals (2.3 per game) and Kasey Shepherd has the highest three-point percentage at 54 percent.

“Elfrid Payton is special,” Harper said. “He's probably a first round draft pick next year. He creates a lot of problems. If he could shoot the ball like Reger Dowell, he'd be unguardable. He gets the ball to the paint; he's tremendous. It'll be a tough game for us.”

Conference 15-1 11-5 10-6 9-6 9-8 8-8 6-9 4-11 4-12 3-13

BASEBALL

Toppers end weekend tourney with win over Pittsburgh

BY BILLY RUTLEDGE SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM

Despite going 1-2 over the weekend in the 11th Annual Keith LeClair Classic, WKU coach Matt Myers likes where his team is early in the season.

The Toppers (7-4) took East Carolina into extra innings and it took Ohio State an eighth inning comeback to get the best of the Toppers. It wasn’t until the final day of the tournament that WKU got its first win of the weekend against Pittsburg.

With a 2-2 record on the week against national teams, including an upset victory at No. 4 Vanderbilt, Myers said big competition is molding his team.

“We could have gone 3-1 this week against national teams and, who knows, may have produced a ranking,” Myers said. “Nonetheless, we’re a better team now by the competition we’re playing.”

East Carolina took advantage of a two-out error with runners at the corners to win against WKU Friday, and Ohio State rallied off four runs in the eighth to defeat the Toppers.

“We were disappointed the first two games went the way they did because I thought we were the best team there,” Myers said.

Senior Jake Thompson was the first to set the tone for the Toppers Sunday against Pittsburg as he went a careerlong six innings with four strikeouts and no runs allowed. Thompson has now thrown at least five innings and surrendered no runs in two of his five career starts.

The game was a stalemate at one run apiece until two outs in the bottom of the 11th when Myers decided to pinchhit junior Ryan Messex.

Messex drew a walk and senior David

Simmons came to pinch run for him. After a wild pitch and an intentional walk, junior catcher Ty Downing provided the heroics, hitting a walk-off single.

It was WKU’s first walk-off hit since April 23 when sophomore Trevor Lowe hit one in the 18th inning to defeat Kentucky.

“We had some guys (Sunday) make some pitches.” Myers said. “Ty Downing had a great day and he’s played very well for us, but I think the big at-bat was Ryan Messex drawing a walk with two outs. We don’t have that inning if Ryan doesn’t have a good at-bat with two outs.”

The rest of the weekend was a heartbreaker for the Toppers. In the first game against East Carolina, WKU was up against one of the projected top picks in the 2014 MLB draft in pitcher Jeff Hoffman. The Pirates were able to win the game in the 10th inning off of a WKU error.

In day two of the tournament against Ohio State, the Toppers held a 4-1 lead headed into the eighth inning until the Buckeyes rallied and scored four runs to take the game 5-4. Senior Austin Clay put together his second consecutive scoreless outing, striking out four and allowing five hits in six shutout innings.

“We played extremely well, and I thought we played really well Friday and Saturday, we just couldn’t get one inning, and unfortunately it was one where we gave up a three-run lead in the eighth inning and it was tough,” Myers said. “But our guys showed their character by coming in and playing a 10:30 a.m. game after losing in two heartbreak losses.”

WKU’s game against Lipscomb scheduled for Tuesday will be rescheduled for Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. due to the inclement weather.

WKUHERALD.com

Overall 22-7 19-10 19-10 17-10 14-15 13-15 9-15 10-18 8-21 9-20

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

WKUHERALD.COM

NOTEBOOK

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS blast by senior infielder Amanda Thomas, who tallied five RBI’s on the day.

“Before we go up to bat it was just like take it one hit at a time,” Thomas said. “Get hits in a row, do your job, and then it will all work out in that way.”

Miniard responds after first loss Freshman pitcher Hannah Miniard was lights out for the team last weekend in the Hilltopper Spring Fling, pitching two complete games and only allowed two hits and one run. In those two starts she also struck out 17 batters.

However, in relief work on Friday against Green Bay, Miniard struggled.

In just 1.2 innings of work Miniard allowed four hits and four runs.

Green Bay, down three, scored the four runs in the last frame to edge the Lady Toppers 6-5.

The next day was a different story for the freshman, who came in against Wright State in relief of senior Emily Rousseau.

In 3.2 innings Miniard gave up no hits and no runs to earn the win and move to 5-1 on the season.

She also struck out six Raider batters in her relief appearance.

“The facts are the facts and (Miniard)

RECAP

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS nothing was really working for us,” senior infielder Olivia Watkins said. “So we decided to come in as a team and fight for the rest of the tournament.”

Fellow classmate and infielder Amanda Thomas contributed the turnaround from Friday to the energy level and everything coming together.

“I feel like we had a lot more energy warming up,” Thomas said. “That’s a small part but it’s just pretty much how our team is. It transferred to the field.

We just all played together. Every aspect of the game was there, pitching, hitting, and fielding.”

In the first game against the Sycamores of Indiana State, the Lady Toppers used a big fifth inning to propel them to victory.

In that inning, WKU scored six runs on five hits and an error to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 6-2 lead. The team added another run in the sixth inning to win the game 7-2.

In the second game the story was much the same. After allowing four runs in the top of the fourth, the Lady Toppers responded with a seven-run bottom of the fourth to take the lead and ultimately the game 8-5. “(Coach Amy Tudor) really didn’t say much, but just staying positive,” Watkins said. “We got a little rowdy in the

BASKETBALL

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

Less than a month ago, WKU was coming off a three-game losing spell, but since the Lady Topper’s first win of the streak on Feb. 12, they rank fourth nationally in points per game, fifth in field goal percentage and second in steals per game.

According to Heard, the team met after its third-straight loss to discuss a game plan moving forward.

“After that road swing and after those losses, we had to sit down and talk about the things we needed to do for us to get better,” Heard said. “…I kept talking about playing our best basketball in February and March, and right now, I believe we’re right there.”

MARCH 4, 2014 knows it and she’s a freshman and she’s learning,” coach Amy Tudor said. “She did a good job (Saturday) bouncing back and that’s what I’m most proud of.”

Despite losses, Lady Toppers bats still strong Although the team went 2-2 over the course of the weekend, in three of the four games the Lady Toppers out-hit their opponents. In the one game they did not, they only had one hit less than opponent Northern Iowa.

The team rattled off 35 hits and 23 runs over the course of four games.

Senior infielder Amanda Thomas played a big part in the offensive success as well. In four games Thomas went 5-for-13 and had eight RBI’s.

She came up big on Saturday, recording five of those eight RBI’s on the second day of play, including a two-run homer against Wright State in the big fourth inning.

She contributed the turnaround from Friday to the energy level and everything coming together.

"I feel like we had a lot more energy warming up,” Thomas said. “That’s a small part but it’s just pretty much how our team is. It transferred to the field.

We just all played together. Every aspect of the game was there, pitching, hitting, and fielding.”

dugout and that helps a lot, so a lot of positive energy involved.”

Tudor contributed the turnaround Saturday to pitching, saying the team hit well both days but pitched better Saturday.

Those wins came after WKU began the tournament against Green Bay, who was seeing action for the first time the season.

With the game tied 2-2, WKU broke through in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. But in the last inning, the Lady Toppers allowed four runs and lost the game 6-5.

Freshman pitcher Hannah Miniard (5-1) lost her first game of the season as she came on in relief of the started Janna Scheff. Miniard only went 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and four runs.

“It starts in the circle and we lost it a little bit,” Tudor said. “The facts are the facts and (Miniard) knows it, and she’s a freshman and she’s learning.”

The second game pitted WKU up against Northern Iowa. The Panthers used the long-ball Friday to get the best of the Lady Toppers, blasting two home runs in the game. In the end, UNI took the game 6-3.

WKU will be back in action this weekend in Knoxville, Tenn., for the Tennessee Tournament. The first game for the Lady Toppers will be Friday against Holy Cross. The team will play five games over the course of the tournament.

One of the biggest surprises during WKU’s five-game streak has been the stellar play of redshirt freshman guard Kendall Noble, who is averaging 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 5 steals on 70 percent shooting in each of her last five games.

Since Feb. 12, Noble is tied for first nationally in steals per game and holds two of the 18 performances of 7 steals or more.

Following a 75-45 win over Texas State on Wednesday, Noble said getting the team involved is easier when she’s getting her hands in the passing lanes.

“It was a really big win,” Noble said. “I was just trying to be aggressive. Coach told me to come out aggressive…I got some steals and assists early and got my teammates involved and everyone played good tonight.”

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B5

SPORTS WKUHERALD.COM

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

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SWIMMING

Swimming wins first C-USA title

SOFTBALL

SPRING

SPLIT

BY ELLIOTT PRATT SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM The WKU mens’ swimming and diving team is bringing a Conference USA championship to the Hill for the first time.

The Toppers dominated the CUSA Men’s Swimming and Diving Invitational with 1,225 points, while East Carolina followed in second for the meet with 1,038 points.

Coach Bruce Marchionda was named Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.

“Anytime you get recognized by your peers it’s very special,” Marchionda said. “We have a great coaching staff and the credit goes out to the entire staff, not

Bruce Marchionda, Men's Coach

We’re proud to represent the university to hold the first Conference USA title.” me. We work well together and it’s the hard work of the entire staff that put us in a position to be able to win.”

Junior Fabian Schwingenschlogl earned the Swimmer of the Meet honor after tallying a team-high three individual wins and three relay victories, sealing his place in the NCAA Championships.

“We were hoping that was going to be the case – for him to put up the numbers he did, especially in the 100 breast stroke,” Marchionda said. “It’s going to put him in the top 10 in the country. That’s what we were hoping for and he really did step up and show us what he can do.”

Schwingenschlogl set a C-USA meet in the 200 breast, clocking in at 1:54.33, setting a new school record.

In the 200 breast, T.J. Bland finished third with a time of 1:58.05 and Connor Dwyer finished in a close fourth place at 2:00.75.

In diving, sophomore Giorgi Meyer placed third with 260.30 points and freshman Amy Crayne placed fifth with 200.70 points.

Nadine Laemmler and Allie Duff took the top two places in the 100 back, with both posting NCAA B times – Laemmler clocking in at 53.68 and Duffer finishing in 54.89.

Junior Claire Conlon set a school record in the 100 breast (1:00.83), good for second place and a NCAA B-cut time.

The Men’s NCAA Championships are Mar. 27 in Austin, Texas.

“We’re extremely excited and proud of what we were able to accomplish over the weekend,” Marchionda said. “We’re proud to represent the university to hold the first Conference USA title.”

Senior infielder Olivia Watkins (17) attempts to tag out a base runner at second base at the women's softball game against the University of Northern Iowa on Friday at Buchanon Park in Bowling Green. The Lady Toppers lost 3-6. KREABLE YOUNG/HERALD

RECAP

NOTEBOOK

Softball splits weekend tournament

Big innings propel Lady Toppers

BY AUSTIN LANTER SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM

BY AUSTIN LANTER SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM

T

he games may have been held in Bowling Green, but the Hilltopper Spring Classic

T

he fourth inning was a make-or-break inning in both of WKU’s games on Saturday.

felt more like an away tournament at Buchanon Park

The softball team found itself trailing in the bottom

over the weekend.

of the fourth inning or later.

WKU and five other teams played four games

In the first game, down 2-0 to Indiana State,

over the course of the weekend with the fifth game,

WKU used a six-run fifth inning to take the lead and

scheduled for Sunday, canceled due to weather.

control of the game with a 7-2 win.

For WKU (11-6-1), the tournament had a

Wright State followed and the Lady Toppers

night-and-day difference from the first day of the

allowed their opponents to have a big inning in the

tournament to the second.

top of the fourth - the Raiders scored four runs to

After dropping two games to Green Bay and

break the 1-1 tie and take a 5-1 lead.

Northern Illinois, Saturday’s wins against Indiana

However, WKU had a bigger inning in the

State and Wright State came as a result of shifting fo-

bottom of the frame scoring seven runs on seven hits

cuses.

and one error.

“We talked a lot after our first two games and

The highlight of the inning was a two-run

SEE RECAP PAGE B5

SEE NOTEBOOK PAGE B5

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Lady Toppers dominating Sun Belt play

BY KYLE WILLIAMS SPORTS@WKUHERALD.COM For the first time since the 1984-85 season, the Lady Toppers have notched five-straight victories by at least 24 points and aim to make it six straight against Louisiana-Lafayette in Diddle Arena on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

A pre-game ceremony will be held for senior guards Chaney Means and Bianca McGee prior to Wednesday’s game for Senior Night.

A WKU (19-8, 11-5 Sun Belt Conference) win against ULL would mark the first six-game conference win streak in program history.

Over WKU’s current five-game victory run, the Lady Toppers have held a halftime lead of at least 21 in each game, which is a program record. In

addition to its dominating offensive performance, WKU is forcing 20.4 turnovers per game during its hot streak.

Coach Michelle Clark-Heard said that she’s excited for her group following WKU’s 94-70 win over UT-Arlington on Saturday.

“I’m just super proud of our group every day,” Heard said. “The starters come out and they set the tone. I talk to them a lot about just taking it one game at a time, and I’m just really proud of them because that’s what we’ve been doing. Playing with energy, playing hard, controlling the things we can control.

“I’m just happy for them that we’re doing the things that we’re doing right now and they’re able to enjoy some success.”

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WKU freshman guard Kendall Noble tries to block South Alabama guard Breanna Hall's shot during the first half of WKU’s game against the Lady Jaguars on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KREABLE Ky. YO U N G / H E R ALD