November 14, 2017 by College Heights Herald

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 93, ISSUE 24

Gall indicted in shooting death of WKU student BY EMMA AUSTIN HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

GRAPHIC BY CRAIG OSTERTAG • HERALD

BY THE NUMBERS Greek life shows low GPAs, higher retention BY SPENCER HARSH HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

Involvement in Greek life can be the cause of lower grade point averages, according to recent national research. However, Greek life at WKU produces strong retention and graduation rates, according to research done by WKU officials. Nationally, undergraduates who join Greek organizations on average lose a quarter of a letter grade on their overall and incoming GPAs, according to research done by Andrew De Donato and James Thomas. De Donato and Thomas also found that students involved in a fraternity or sorority have an algorithm for choosing classes in an attempt to salvage their oftentimes lower GPAs. “There are strong negative effects in some periods but smaller effects in others,” the study said. The study shows students earn lower

GPAs after becoming associated with a Greek organization, which is typically during their first or second semester of college. Charley Pride, director of Student Activities at WKU, has recorded data associated with Greek students dating back to 1994. Pride said he agrees there is a drop in overall GPA among students who join a fraternity or sorority, but he said it is not the same for every organization and there are many other things to take into account. “College does allow your GPA to go down,” Pride said. Pride said students, Greek or not, are prone to lower GPAs when they are in college. Students who are in “Greek-lettered organizations” are simply more identifiable, he said. WKU Greek Affairs has a 2.5 GPA requirement in order for any student to become a prospective new member, Pride said. He said individual chapters can also have their own GPA requirements for new members, most of

which are typically 2.7, although some chapters have the requirement as high as 3.0 for incoming freshmen. In spring 2017, the average GPA for women in a sorority was 3.17, with new members in their respective organizations bringing in averages ranging from 2.4 to 3.4. Additionally, the average GPA for a male student in a fraternity was 2.8 last spring, with GPA’s averaging from 2.0 to 3.4. While some Greek organizations do show lower academic performance, the same cannot be said for every Greek organization, according to grade rankings from WKU Greek Affairs. Pride said he thinks people often overlook positive qualities Greek organizations provide, such as strong retention and graduation rates. “There’s a phenomenal relationship between being Greek and staying at WKU,” Pride said. In fall 2010, the most recent year with complete graduation data, WKU SEE GPA • PAGE A3

A former WKU student accused of fatally shooting his roommate has been formally charged with second-degree manslaughter. Peter Gall, 21, was indicted Wednesday by a Warren County grand jury, according to court records. Gall was arrested Sunday, Sept. 3, after calling the Bowling Green Police Department to report that he had shot someone. Police arrived at the 1600 block of Kenton Street to find WKU student Kenneth “Alex” Davis, 21, bleeding on the floor, according to Gall’s arrest citation. Davis died as a result of the gunshot wound, according to police records. Gall told police he went to get the gun from his bedroom, brought it out and showed the gun to Davis, then it went off when he set it on the couch. Gall told police he and Davis had gotten into a verbal argument and the shooting was an accident. Detective Melissa Wartak of the Bowling Green Police Department testified during a preliminary hearing in September that Gall told police he and Davis had been ribbing each other throughout the night “all in good fun,” Bowling Green Daily News reported. Wartak said witnesses told police there had been no fighting or physical violence leading up to the Peter incident. Gall Gall’s attorney, Alan Simpson, told WBKO Former WKU the shooting “was not student an intentional shooting.” Simpson added that Gall and Davis were “roommates and very good friends, if not best friends.” Gall was released from Warren County Regional Jail Sept. 8 on a $100,000 bond, which included conditions he does not have contact with Davis’s family. Gall is currently living in Frankfort with his family and attending counseling, the Bowling Green Daily News reported. Second-degree manslaughter is a Class C felony punishable by imprisonment lasting between five and 10 years in Kentucky. Gall’s arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 11.

Projects Editor Emma Austin can be reached at 270-745-0655 and emma. austin177@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emmacaustin.

University College professor resigns mid-semester

BY MONICA KAST

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

An associate professor in the department of organizational leadership has resigned mid-semester, according to employment documents obtained by the Herald. Ron Mitchell, an associate professor in the department of organizational leadership within University College, resigned in October. Mitchell

had been an employee at WKU since 2005, according to employment records obtained by the Herald. Mitchell submitted a handwritten letter of resignation to Dennis George, dean of University College, on Oct. 18, according to his employment records. Mitchell’s resignation was to go into effect Oct. 23, according to the letter. George was contacted multiple times for comment, but did

Ron Mitchell Organizational leadership associate professor

not respond in time for publication. Mitchell was hired in 2005 as an instructor in the business and computer studies department of the WKU Community College, according to a letter sent to Mitchell from former-president Gary Ransdell. Mitchell was promoted to assistant professor in 2007 and was granted tenure in 2010. In 2011, Mitchell was promoted again, this time to associate

professor, according to Mitchell’s employment records. In June 2011, Mitchell became the department head of professional studies in University College, according to a letter sent by George in 2011. Mitchell had a semester-long sabbatical during the spring 2013 semester, where he received full pay while on sabbatical, according to employment records. Mitchell’s resignation was effective

SEE RON MITCHELL • PAGE A3

A2 NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

New director of facilities management starts at WKU BY EMMA COLLINS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

WKU has hired a new director of Facilities Management, who will oversee Facilities Management staff and the maintenance of buildings on campus. George Dowling, the new director, comes to WKU from Vanderbilt University where he spent eight years as the Director of Building Services and Renovation, a position he said is similar to the one he now holds at WKU. Dowling said his job is to oversee a staff of around 338 employees who help the university function. “At my level, it’s more so about managing people, managing your resources, being able to keep everybody focused towards the goals,” Dowling said. Dowling said employees in the Department of Facilities Management take care of the buildings on campus. He said they work with both the interior and exterior of the buildings, and their jobs can range from managing the heating and air conditioning equipment to fixing exterior brickwork. “It might be doing general maintenance on doors and locks to replacing ceiling tiles,” Dowling said. The Department of Facilities Management, according to their webpage, provides services in the following areas: electrical, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, painting, custodial, heating and cooling, sustainability and recycling, among others. Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russell said the Department of Facilities Management works closely with the other three units under the Chief Facilities Officer Division. These departments are Planning, Design and Construction, the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety. “All of our staff work collaboratively together to deliver an environment designed to optimize student safety, learning and personal growth,” Russell said in an email. Dowling said the employees in the Department of Facilities Management are employees of Sodexo, a vendor who hires and pays the department’s employees. Dowling, who started at WKU

on Oct. 24, said he is also an employee of Sodexo. “It’s really being out and about, doing walkthroughs, walking through mechanical rooms, walking through this building looking at the cleaning, looking at if things are being done properly, are there things we need to fix that maybe somebody missed,” Dowling said. Before working at Vanderbilt, Dowling worked for UPS for nearly 21 years. He said he spent around 18 years of his time at UPS in a management position overseeing truck drivers. Dowling said he left UPS after 20 years to become a loan officer at Bank of America. He said the recession in 2008 prompted him to return to a management position. “I said well, I’m going to get back into management,” he said. “That’s what I’ve done, that’s what I know, and so I came across the job at Vanderbilt.” Dowling, who is from Tampa, Florida, said when he was in college he did not see himself working in a management position at a university. Dowling said he attended the University of South Florida where he received a bachelor’s degree in public health education. Dowling also has a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University. He said he considered studying physical therapy but decided to work at UPS when he saw an advertisement for a part-time job at UPS. Dowling said he did see himself working at a university later in life but in a faculty position, not a management position. He said he thought he would enjoy teaching, but the job opportunity at Vanderbilt presented itself sooner than he had expected. “The opportunity came to go to Vanderbilt, to move to Nashville, and so I just thought it was a good time,” Dowling said. Dowling said he and his wife still live in Nashville, but they are planning on moving closer to Bowling Green. He said he and his wife have enjoyed living in Nashville and experiencing the four seasons. “People have been very warm and friendly,” Dowling said. “So, it’s been a great experience.” Dowling said he has several goals as the new director of Facilities Manage-

ment that focus on “safety, service and performance.” Dowling said he wants to make sure the employees have safe working conditions. He said he also wants to ensure that the department is providing service WKU needs while being as efficient as possible. Dowling said he and his staff tend to operate behind the scenes, but they are still equally as dedicated to WKU. “You have a lot of people who enjoy what they do, who are really good at what they do, whether it’s a housekeeper or a painter,” Dowling said. Dowling said he, in particular, has enjoyed his time working at a university. “Working at a university is pretty unique and fulfilling because you’re helping young adults with their education in a kind of behind-the-scenes way,” Dowling said.

Reporter Emma Collins can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emma.collins399@topper.wku.edu.

BIG

WITTNEY HARDIN • HERALD

George Dowling is WKU’s new Facilities Management Director. Dowling comes from Vanderbilt University where he worked as the Director of Building Services & Renovation.

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NEWS A3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

GPA CONTINUED FROM FRONT had an overall 51.9 percent graduation rate. However, 57.8 percent of the men who graduated were Greek, as well as 72.9 percent of graduating women, according to Pride’s research. The average high school GPA for first-time, first-year students starting at WKU is 3.27, according to the fall 2016 Quick Facts. However, the GPA for all undergraduate students at WKU is not currently available. Andrew Rash, coordinator for Greek Affairs at WKU, also kept track of GPA rankings since starting his position this year. Rash said he believes that GPAs can go down when students join Greek organizations. Rash said he also believes that going into a Greek organization doesn’t “mystically save people’s GPA’s.” “I find this stuff terribly interesting,” Rash said. “Having an understanding of grades can encourage positive change.” Rash said he believes that Greek GPAs are a “conditional thing.” Organizations that attract students with high GPAs have members who maintain higher GPAs, he said. Occasionally, there are “anomalies” with some organizations, but research done by both Pride and Rash reinforce this theory. Such anomalies can include a low incoming GPA in a Greek organization ending with a high GPA by the end of the semester and vice versa, Rash said. “You reap what you sow,” Rash said. However, senior Matt Millay, president of WKU’s Phi Gamma Delta chapter, said national research may not help others see the whole picture when looking at the Greek community.

RON MITCHELL CONTINUED FROM FRONT Oct. 23, 2017, according to his letter of resignation submitted to George. The Herald also requested Title IX records related to Mitchell, but WKU declined to release them under Ken-

“The research is a rightful cause for concern,” Millay said. “It paints a less-than-pleasing picture.” Millay said knowing what type of image the national research creates makes “an opportunity to rise to the occasion.” Millay said that his chapter and the cabinet for his chapter have always strived for excellence. Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji, has a national award called the Jordan Bowl that is given to the chapter that has the best grades. In 2016, WKU’s Fiji chapter won the Jordan Bowl, Millay said. In spring 2016, WKU’s Fiji chapter had a 3.4 overall GPA, according to

Greek community as a whole works well together. “There’s a strong sense of community here,” Millay said. “One accomplishment for one is an accomplishment for all.” Louisville sophomore Tori Poppe, a member of a sorority at WKU, asked for her sorority to not be named because of their guidelines for talking to the media. Poppe said Greek organization GPAs need to be understood in a more “case-by-case” context. “Some organizations prioritize it more than others,” Poppe said. “Greeks always claim to hold high values.”

“Excellence not being achievable is sometimes a theme in society.” Senior and president of Phi Gamma Delta MATT MILLAY

WKU Greek Affairs. “Excellence not being achievable is sometimes a theme in society,” Millay said. “I disagree with that. It’s achievable in the little things.” Millay said “the little things” can be as simple as how a student takes care of themselves or how they keep up with their study habits. Earlier this year, another Greek chapter at WKU won a national award within their organization. WKU’s Kappa Delta chapter was awarded the 2017 Council Award on July 1. The award is given to Kappa Delta chapters with the best overall performance in many aspects of Greek life, according to a press release from WKU. Millay said while WKU can be stereotyped as a “party school,” the

Poppe said she also thinks it’s not remarkable students can earn lower GPAs while being a part of Greek organizations. She said when a student joins a fraternity or sorority, they are choosing to make being social a priority in their life. “It makes sense because you put different relationships above other things,” Poppe said. “It’s really no surprise.” Laura Bunning, a senior and member of Phi Mu sorority, said students who join anything on campus will have limited time to get things done. “I have a strong GPA,” Bunning said. “Being in a Greek organization has taught me how to manage time effectively.” Bunning said she believes any stu-

tucky Revised Statute 61.878(1)(a) and (k), the state statute outlining public records that are exempt from inspection. KRS 61.878(1)(a) states that records are excluded from inspection if they are “public records containing information of a personal nature where the public disclosure thereof would constitute a clearly unwarranted inva-

sion of personal privacy.” Emails between George and Mitchell and between George and David Lee, provost and vice president for academic affairs, were also requested by the Herald. WKU declined to release the emails because they contain information that does “not reflect any final action, and are thus exempt from dis-

CRIME REPORTS •

Louisville sophomore Michael Patrick Steitz was arrested on Nov. 10 and charged for second degree alcohol intoxication in Diddle Arena.

•

Oak Grove freshman Kiara Linton reported on Nov 2 that she was almost the victim of a fake check scam in Douglas Keen Hall.

CORRECTION A story appearing in Thursday’s edition of the College Heights Herald titled “Construction on PS3 nearly complete” stated that visitors would be allowed to park in Parking Structure 3 on Friday, Nov. 10. According to Parking and Transportation Services, visitors will park in Parking Structure 2, and overflow permit-holders will be relocated to park in PS3. The Herald regrets the error.

Holiday Open House November 3 & 4, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. WKU Floral Design Training Center and Floral Shop 514 Regents Avenue Join us as we celebrate the holiday season Holiday Decor • Gift Items • Door prizes

dent organization, Greek or not, requires students to prioritize things in life. “Anything people get involved in makes it challenging to find a balance,” Bunning said. “It helps more than it hurts.” Bunning said she finds the amount of support that the Greek community can provide to a student is surprising. “It demonstrates to me the strength of Greek life,” Bunning said. “I think a lot of times people see what’s in the media and assume students in Greek organizations only party.” Senior Jordan Bybee said he can believe the correlation between being in a Greek organization and retention at a university. Bybee said he can understand the relation between being Greek and staying enrolled at a university because being in a fraternity could indicate that a student has money, which makes it easier to stay in a school. “Being a senior, it can get tough because your friends transfer sometimes due to money,” Bybee said. Bybee said he is a part of Christian Student Fellowship, or CSF, and finds it easier to stay at WKU because he has a sense of community. He said that a sense of community can help students stay at school, which is something he sees in Greek organizations. Freshman Kat Tyler, however, said that the good retention and graduation rates from Greek students are a surprise. “It’s unexpected,” Tyler said. “It breaks the Greek stereotype.”

Copy desk chief Spencer Harsh can be reached at spencer.harsh755@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ActualSparsh.

closure pursuant to” Kentucky Revised Statutes, according to a letter from Deborah Wilkins, general counsel for WKU.

News editor Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 and monica. kast187@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @monica_kast.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

OPINION A SLICE TO SAVOR

EDITORIAL

The secret ingredient: an open mind BY KELLY BURGESS HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Thanksgiving holiday is the array of diverse and delectable foods, some of which only grace our tables on the most bountiful day of the year. While there are enough staple items to fill anyone’s plate, what about that weird dish that your aunt so-and-so always brings that has always mystified you? Do you dare touch the cranberry salad, broccoli casserole or creamed corn? Thanksgiving is the occasion to keep traditions alive as well as try new things. Thanksgiving food is one part of the holiday we all undeniably look forward to, but the delicious food may come as a package with some less tasty ramifications as well. Family gatherings can either bring everyone together or highlight conflicts and differences. The best approach is to sit down at the table with an open mind, expecting different opinions and personalities, but ready to accept each as they are. Having the same attitude toward the food on our plates would do us well and maybe even lead to finding a new favorite this Thanksgiving. According to wonderopolis.org, our taste preferences actually do change over time, sometimes causing us to have an affinity for new foods or disliking an old favorite. If you always gagged on broccoli or asparagus as a child, you probably aren’t alone. However, as we grow and age, our taste buds change, get replaced and become more or less keen to certain tastes. Since being in college, I now enjoy several foods that I never would have touched when I was younger. I was never a picky eater, but asparagus, black olives and mushrooms were just a few things that I couldn’t bring myself to eat. While I avoided these foods, something in my mouth must have changed, because now I voluntarily eat all of these. Preparation method is just one strategy that might help you come around to a food you wouldn’t have eaten in the past. If you don’t like sweet potatoes, but then you try sweet potato casserole with cinnamon and marshmallows, you might change your mind! Plain cranberry sauce can be embellished by making a salad with fresh apples, crushed pineapple and regular or sugar-free gelatin. If you usually don’t like raw veggies as an appetizer, try putting them in a dip made with low-fat sour cream or yogurt and a ranch dressing mix. Thanksgiving is your opportunity to put a fresh spin on classic foods that your family enjoys. The beauty of the Thanksgiving meal is that each person and family does things a little differently, but there is enough in common for us all to relate. This year, make it an occasion to try a new food individually, or put a healthier spin on a classic food with your family. An open mind is the secret ingredient for welcoming new people, ideas and foods alike! Challenge yourself, you never know what options are on the table.

ILLUSTRATION BY JENNIFER KING • HERALD

STOP SILENCING

The silencing of sexual harassment victims must stop HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

THE ISSUE: While much of the attention toward sexual harassment in the workplace has been focused on high-profile Hollywood cases recently, there is one area that hasn’t gotten as much coverage: the classroom. OUR STANCE: Sexual harassment on any level and in any setting is unacceptable, no excuses. No one should be pressured to remain silent about this issue for the sake of his or her career, or livlihood.

he American public has been bombarded lately with a collection of news stories that have made the terms “male celebrity” and “sexual predator” synonymous. Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. are all merely a preface to the lengthy list of celebrities that are being called out on their inappropriate behavior off-screen. While some of us in Bowling Green and the greater Commonwealth may write this issue off as Hollywood’s problem, anyone that has been affected by sexual harassment and/or sexual abuse knows it can happen anywhere. If we’ve learned anything from the #metoo campaign that recently went viral on social media, it’s that

some of our closest friends and family have likely suffered due to sexual harassment at some point in their lives. Compared to the immoral, “anything goes” attitude commonly associated with Hollywood, the field of academia is one that most people might consider a safe haven, where sexually deviant behavior is ruled out by Title IX precautions and minds that should know better. However, according to a recent survey that measured sexual assault and misconduct at a variety of prominent universities, “more than 20 percent of female undergraduates ... said [in 2015] they were victims of sexual assault and misconduct ... according to one of the largest studies ever of college sexual violence.” What’s even more unsettling is that it is not uncommon for sexual assault allegations to be directed toward university faculty members. A 2015 survey by the Association of American Universities shows that “roughly one in 10 female graduate students states that she has been sexually harassed by a faculty member at her university.” The College Heights Herald is quite familiar with university faculty and staff member sexual misconduct as we are currently being sued by WKU for filing records requests looking into the matter on our very own campus. What’s truly heartbreaking about this particular issue is not just that men and

women at the collegiate level are being violated by their teachers, and in many cases, their mentors. It’s that many undergrads and graduate students alike, predominantly women, are often silenced because they know the risks involved with reporting sexual abuse by a male superior. Often the consequences of reporting the truth means forfeiting one’s life’s work, specifically through the loss of one’s funding, tenure or even his or her job altogether. This is unacceptable. Not only are victims scarred from the experience of being abused by someone they should be expected to trust, but then they are promptly pressured to remain silent on the issue so that they don’t sacrifice their livelihoods. It is crucial the general American public, even those who haven’t been affected by this issue in some way, remain educated on the hard truths of sexual misconduct at universities across the country. What is encouraging through all of this mess is that more victims who were once abused by Hollywood predators are now speaking out against those who wronged them. Once one individual speaks out against an injustice, more who have suffered are likely to speak out as well. Hopefully this trend will extend to the world of academia. People should not be pressured to remain silent about sexual assault for the sake of their future.

SYNTHESIS

Bird machine broke: is Twitter beyond fixing? BY DAVID HORMELL HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg gleaned positive reviews last week when users took note of Facebook’s algorithmic knack for targeting words and phrases potentially pointing to traces of suicidal ideation. The perceived at-risk users received a confidential message stating: “We’re sorry if your post was misunderstood. We checked in with you because we care about your well-being.” Along with the message was a list of resources, including The Trevor Project, the Veterans Crisis Line and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In stark contrast, Twitter raised some eyebrows for the wrong reasons when it awarded its implicit approval to Jason Kessler in the form of a covetous blue verified check mark. Kessler, a self-proclaimed

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member of the alt-right, was the organizer of the Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally taking place in August earlier this year. Heather Heyer was slain at the event when 20-year-old neo-Nazi James Alex Fields drove his Dodge Challenger into a crowd of counter-protestors. Although he was an Ohio resident at the time, Fields was born in Kenton, Kentucky. After the rally fizzled out like a halfspent firecracker, Kessler took to Twitter as a means of commentary, writing: “Heather Heyer was a fat, disgusting Communist. Communists have killed 94 million. Looks like it was payback time.” Kessler later backpedaled and blamed the now-deleted tweet on prescription drugs and alcohol. As controversy surrounding Kessler’s verification swelled, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey brought the verification process to a grinding halt. Twitter Support tweeted: “Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of impor-

tance. We recognize we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon.” Twitter’s esoteric explanation lends itself to more confusion. It’s true, Twitter has loosened its standards for verification in recent years. The blue badge initially indicated a degree of celebrity, to sift through real people and the inevitable impersonators. The process was predicated on Twitter dodging ensuing lawsuits and it worked. The current verification process prefers applicants who have a website, brand and some degree of influence. Even in odd instances of manufactured fame and bought followers, Twitter is still required to greenlight the blue check. As a result, the process is inherently an indicator of importance. However, users shouldn’t take Twitter at their word. Twitter has a long history of issuing useless platitudes like “we’re work-

ing on this,” but rarely are its problems ever addressed. Problems of harassment are still especially prevalent. Unfortunately, Twitter is too thirsty for engagement to recognize the very real problem on its hands. Jack Dorsey acts as a man of moderation, because Twitter is afraid of alienating the right or the left when it comes to minimizing extremist voices on their website. After Milo Yiannopoulos was permabanned for promoting hate and inspiring racist rhetoric against comedian Leslie Jones, the alt-right’s backlash was swift. The negative response ultimately worked, because it effectively castrated Twitter from consistent future moderative action. Twitter offers some tools to quell abuse. There are options to block or mute other users. However, neither of these actions stop actual abuse from happening. Only Twitter can fix Twitter. And from the looks of it, that’s a lesson Jack Dorsey hasn’t learned yet.

DISCLOSURES

OUR TEAM

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

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

FUN A5

FUN PAGE Across

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1. What was the most expensive piece of Civil War memorabilia ever sold? (a) Flag (b) Letter (c) Sword 2. What was F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel? (a) This Side of Paradise (b) Tender is the Night (c) The Great Gatsby 3. What country held the first televised Olympics? (a) United States (b) Germany (c) France 4. What company replaced their logo nicknamed Scissor Eagle in 2013? (a) US Postal Service (b) Fed Ex (c) American Airlines 5. What Old Testament book contains the most chapters of any book in the Bible? (a) Exodus (b) Psalms (c) Proverbs 6. John Williams won his first Oscar for what Steven Spielberg film? (a) Jaws (b) Schindler's List (c) E.T. 7. Australia produces 95% of what gemstones? (a) Rubys (b) Opals (c) Topaz 8. What historical figure coined the term 'United Nations'? (a) Winston Churchill (b) Woodrow Wilson (c) Franklin Roosevelt 9. Flavr-Savr was the first genetically-modified brand of what food? (a) Apple (b) Tomato (c) Banana 10. What animal is the most dangerous to humans? (a) Hippopotamus (b) Lion (c) Chimpanzee

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

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

20 23

62 63 64 65 66 67

Kindled anew Concur Flurry Appears Legions Trouser part

Down 1 Henry or Clare Booth follower 2 Uttar Pradesh city 3 Member of the flock 4 Bema occupants 5 Try 6 Route for Ben-Hur 7 Checkers, e.g.

8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22 24 25 26 27 29 31 32

Slalom path Shoulders motion Contract problem Leaning against Broadway brightener Floral curlicue Myrna of “The Thin Man” Break bread Bashes Per se Insider’s vocabulary Motor type Russian cash Magazine Boo-boo

33 35 36 38 43 46 47 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 59 60

Rise Treat like a dog? Absorbed, as a loss Declare Night club River islet Nutritional fig. Takes five Teases Old salts Nautical direction Digestive juice Blocks Wither away Jumper Scrooge’s cry Popinjay’s problem

Previous Solution

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

1 Fond du ___, Wis. 4 Ring 9 Loose talk? 14 “That’s disgusting!” 15 Abominates 16 Mead ingredient 17 French vineyard 18 Roasters 19 Chopper part 20 Before before 22 On one’s back 23 “The Last of the Mohicans” girl 24 “Brideshead Revisited” author 26 Grayish 28 Clutch 30 Unlocks, poetically 34 Gas station abbr. 35 Small lakes 36 Argus-eyed 37 Search blindly 39 Eskimo knife 40 ___ incognita 41 Blatant 42 Bowling game 44 Kind of chamber 45 Foe for El Cordobés 46 Top dog 47 Parachute part 48 Bawls 50 Actor Pitt 52 Lozenge 55 Officer of the court 58 Cover title 59 Goatee 61 Elevator part

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

7 8 2

5 1 4

7 2 5 9 6

8 7 1 9

9 3 4 8 6

4 6 7 1

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

PHOTO

Sara Elizabeth (left), Susana Alves (center) and Corrissa Fusco (right), give an aerial chandelier performance at Cirque Italia’s Water Circus on Sunday. Elizabeth and Fusco are both from the United States, while Alves is from Portugal. This was the ﬁrst time the Water Circus came to Bowling Green, and it included a variety of performances.

WATER WORKS PHOTOS BY LYDIA SCHWEICKART & TYGER WILLIAMS HERALD.PHOTO@WKU.EDU

anuel Rebecchi created the traveling show Cirque Italia back in 2012 performing all over the United States. The Italian entertainment company brings this aquatic performance for the first time in Bowling Green this weekend starting on Thursday and ending Sunday. The performance consist of many talented artists from all over the world including the U.S., Portugal, Cuba, Brazil, Bulgaria, Columbia and Italy. The artists performed many acts such as aerial, hand balancing, contortionists and other surprising acts on a custom built water stage.

TYGER WILLIAMS • HERALD

LYDIA SCHWEICKART • HERALD

Alex Acero, 32, of Sao Pouco Brazil, is a 3rd generation circus performer and is one of the two comedians that ﬁrst perform the opening act for Cirque Italia and perform in between the diﬀerent acts.

Sandy Giannuzzi performs a contortionist act at Cirque Italia’s Water Circus on Sunday. This was the ﬁrst time the water circus has come to Bowling Green, and included a variety of acts.

TYGER WILLIAMS • HERALD

LYDIA SCHWEICKART • HERALD

Terence Giannnuzzi, of Italy, performs his solo act rola bola at the Cirque Italia on Saturday, Nov. 11,. Terence later performs the roller skate act with his family. Rola bola is an act that requires the artist to balance on a board while creating creative ways of intensifying the diﬃculty.

7-year-old Lily Walden gets her face painted before performances at Cirque Italia’s Water Circus on Sunday. Walden attended the event with her family, and was one of many children from the Bowling Green community who came to see the circus. This was the ﬁrst time Cirque Italia had come to Bowling Green, and their performances included a variety of acts for all ages.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

LIFE

LYDIA SCHWEICKART • HERALD

Darix Giannuzzi performs on a trapeze for audience members at Cirque Italia’s Water Circus on Sunday. This was the first time the water circus has come to Bowling Green, and it included a variety of acts.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A6

WATER WORKS

CHRIS KOHLEY • HERALD

Darix Giannuzzi prepares to preform his trapeze performance at the Cirque Italia in Bowling Green on Sunday.

Cirque Italia creates water spectacular BY LAUREL DEPPEN HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, the parking lot of the Greenwood Mall was filled with something out of the ordinary. Flags from nations around the world circled around a large white tent adorned with flashing lights reading “Cirque Italia.” A line of hundreds of people, young and old, formed under an arch welcoming them to the water circus. Though it originated in Italy, Cirque Italia is a travelling circus that features

performers from all over the world. It is unlike a traditional circus because it places a heavy emphasis on water. As a part of its traveling performance, Cirque Italia features a 35,000-gallon tank of water. According to its website, performers “bring unique aerial acts, hand balancing, contortionists, and many more surprise performances that are breathtaking.” The company prides itself on being more similar to a Broadway production than to a traditional American circus. The tour is split into two groups: one traveling east, the other traveling west. The eastern tour, named “the gold unit,” stopped in Bowling Green before heading to Lebanon, Tennessee

next week. Started in 2012 by Manuel Rebecchi, Cirque Italia has been said to be “one of the most innovative traveling shows to be staged in the United States,” according to their website. Rebecchi had experience in the European circus scene for most of his life. His family is well revered as being a prestigious circus family. By combining technology and design, the water circus’ mission is to bring this display of elegance to as many people as possible. The company emphasized the affordability of their tickets, and offered a free child ticket per family. Representatives of the tour described the tour as, “bringing Las Vegas to each city.”

Families from the Bowling Green area were attracted to the mystery of the water circus. People waiting in line described it as “something new,” and saw it as a unique opportunity for family bonding. A representative of the tour commented on how the entire touring company was like a family. She spoke highly of the “vibe” and “emotion” that went along with the production and said it was much more pleasant than any other circus tour she’d ever worked with.

Reporter Laurel Deppen can be reached at (270)745-2655 and laurel. deppen774@topper.wku.edu.

WKU a capella brings community joy through song BY GRIFFIN FLETCHER HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

WKU’s men’s and women’s a capella ensembles, the Redshirts and Treblemakers, respectively, performed Saturday at First Christian Church in downtown Bowling Green. The Redshirts kicked off the concert soloing, harmonizing and beatboxing to a variety of modern and classic hits, including James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Panic! at the Disco’s “Death of a Bachelor,” all performed with great energy and group cohesion. The Treblemakers took to the stage next, singing everything from Abba’s pop staple “Dancing Queen” and the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” to “Dog Days are Over” by Florence + the Machine and “Say Something” by A Great Big World. Many of the songs performed included heartfelt work from various soloists and visibly engaged the audience, who responded with excited applause. After a brief intermission, the Redshirts returned to the stage, this time executing a theatrical and crowd-in-

volving rendition of TLC’s “No Scrubs” and ending by paying homage to WKU’s original popular singing group, the Hilltoppers, by performing “P.S. I Love You,” one of its hit songs. Next, the Treblemakers again took up where the Redshirts left off, singing a number of songs, such as Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” wherein a Treblemaker alumna was invited to perform with the group. The concert ended with the Redshirts and Treblemakers singing a choral rendition of “You’re All I Need to Get By” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Not only featuring great vocal performances, the Redshirts and Treblemakers alike made the recital feel like a legitimate theatrical production. Given both groups’ use of humor and theatrics throughout, it’s no surprise that each group more resembles a family than a college a cappella ensemble. According to Georgetown senior and Treblemakers Director Maddie Hughes, who’s been a member of the Treblemakers since her first semester at WKU, the 14 women who make up the Treblemakers are very close-knit

GRIFFIN FLETCHER • HERALD

Katie Vogel sings solo at The Treblemakers/Redshirts concert at First Christian Church on Saturday, Nov. 11

and committed to both their music and each other. “It’s a family, honestly,” Hughes said, discussing her relationship with the ensemble and its individual members. “It’s a community.” The community of both the Treble-

makers and Redshirts consists primarily of music education and vocal performance majors. After college, many members of each group will look to teach and direct choirs. Given the independence of each orSEE TREBLEMAKERS • PAGE B2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

B2 LIFE

Pop culture program presents diverse topics

BY NOAH MOORE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

“Thoughts on Pop,” a biannual series of presentations on all aspects of popular culture, will be presented tonight sponsored by the Popular Culture Studies program of the WKU Department of Communication in Downing Student Union 3020 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. The Pop Culture degree program is directed by Tony Harkins and was created in 2010 as a way to “to provide a space for faculty and students to share their research into popular culture studies and to help students and the WKU community think about the many ways it shapes society and is shaped by society,” Harkins said. “Previous series topics have ranged from Beyonce’s feminism, to messages of freedom in “V is for Vendetta”, to the construction of the idea of “Flyover Country” to the Tour de France,” Harkins said.

This will be the 15th biannual presentation of the series, dealing with two presentations, the first of which is “Burka Avenger and Other Heroes: Muslim Bodies, Veiling, and Islamic Feminism” presented by Sophia Rose Arjana. “My presentation will be showing how graphic narratives contrast to more negative depictions of Muslims in popular culture,” Arjana said. “We will also be viewing part of an episode of the Pakistani animated series Burka Avenger, which features a Muslim schoolteacher Jiya who is also a superhero.” Arjana is an assistant professor of philosophy and religion and has a repertoire of experience in the field. She received two master’s degrees from Columbia University and Candler School of Theology at Emory University, along with receiving her Ph.D from the University of Denver. Not to mention, she has published a novel dealing with the presentation topic, titled “Superheroes: Islam Feminism and Popular Culture.”

The second presentation will be “Millionaire to Crorepati- the Globalization of Pop Quiz Shows” presented by Enakshi Roy. “I am going to talk about the globalization of pop-culture by taking a deeper look at the gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire?,” Roy said. “This talk is based on my master’s thesis work that I undertook as student at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University.” Roy has a Ph.D in Journalism and Mass Communication from Ohio University and has been published in numerous news journals including The Journal of Health Communications, International Perspectives” and “The Journal of Magazine and New Media Research.” Both Arjana and Roy are new professors to WKU this year and come with vast knowledge about a diverse set of topics. “I am excited that both presenters are brand new faculty at WKU who can keep expanding our understanding of popular culture in new ways, partic-

ularly because both their topics, and their teaching and research in general, are largely focused beyond the United States and Western culture,” Harkins said. This series will be the final presentation of the 2017 calendar year, preceded by such series as “Who Tells Your Story: Hamilton as History” and “A Strike for Justice: Educational Reform at Hampton Institute,” which were presented on April 26, 2017. Thoughts on Pop has since become an integral part of the Pop Culture program in efforts to make it a more prevalent part of campus. “I think a forum such as ‘Thoughts on Pop’ is an excellent opportunity for the WKU faculty such to showcase their research,” Roy said. “I hope some students will be interested in my work and will work with me on pop-culture projects that interest them.”

Reporter Noah Moore can be reached at (270)745-2655 and noah.moore768@ topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @noah_moore18.

Students receive Global Scholars Grants BY SARAH YAACOUB

written account with which to memorialize her trip. HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU Kamali is an international affairs major with a minor in political science. She will be taking classes in her major, For WKU students, educational oplike European politics and history, but portunities abound, both on campus will also study introductory Italian and and around the world. Sophomores Spanish while in Rome and Madrid. Sofia Kamali and Hayley Robb will be While she has never studied abroad, living the university’s goal of interKamali is looking forward to the expenational reach starting this January, rience, hoping to build on what she is when they embark on the Council on learning about international International Educational Exaffairs and round out her educhange’s Open Campus Procation. gram. “I’ve always wanted to study The study abroad program abroad,” Kamali said. “I feel allows participants to study in like with my major, it’s importthree different countries over ant to experience more of the the course of an 18-week seworld.” mester, all the while taking Sarah Her advice to those who are classes in their majors. Yaacoub considering study abroad is Both Kamali and Robb are to start planning and applying also recipients of the Global Features early in order to maximize poScholars Grant, a scholarship reporter tential financial aid. She said awarded by CIEE in the amount it’s a valuable experience, parof ten thousand dollars in honticularly for those who plan to or of Nelson Mandela’s dream pursue a career in the foreign of inclusion. The grant removes much relations field. of the financial burden of studying “There’s a lot of dealing with people abroad, allowing students to travel and from different backgrounds and differearn credit for a fraction of the original ent cultures ... in order to go more in cost, a benefit Robb says impacted her depth, you have to immerse yourself,” decision to participate. Kamali said. Robb, a journalism major and writer The program, while a unique opporfor the WKU Talisman, will be an intertunity, is not without its downsides. national columnist for the student-opRobb said her closeness to her family, erated lifestyle website and magazine particularly her mother, made the denext semester, documenting her expecision to leave the country for an entire riences abroad. semester a difficult one. “It’ll be really cool to have someShe had first looked into shorter thing to bring home and look back on study abroad trips over winter and later,” Robb said. summer terms but found those were She said she is excited to represent far less cost-effective due to WKU’s WKU on a global stage and to have a

TREBLEMAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

ganization, members have the opportunity to do so now within their respective ensemble. Louisville junior Trevor Neaveill is the Redshirts’ social media chairman and is in his fifth semester with the Redshirts. Neaveill notes the Redshirts “are completely student-run” and “not sponsored by the music department,” which holds true for the Treblemakers and demands that each group designates two student directors. One of the Redshirts’ directors is Bowling Green senior Hardin Butts,

who’s been with the Redshirts for seven semesters and has helped lead as director for the past six. As director, Butts helps run rehearsals, which last between one and a half to two hours and take place every Tuesday and Thursday, sometimes sets rehearsal times and helps arrange vocals for each of the Redshirts’ 11 members for songs performed at Redshirt recitals. Through his experience as director, Butts believes he’s more prepared for his eventual career in music education. “Basically anything to do with music, I kind of do it,” Butts said. “Being music director, it kind of helps me and gives me practice before I get in front

LYDIA SCHWEICKART • HERALD

Sophomore Hayley Robb has been awarded a Global Scholars Grant to study abroad for a semester in Madrid, Rome, and London. She will spend six weeks in each different country. “The scariest part is being alone for four months,” Robb said. Robb is from Georgetown, Kentucky and majoring in Journalism. “I want to get a new perspective,” Robb said. “I haven’t seen a lot of the world, it’ll be eye-opening.”

Sophomore Sofia Kamali has been awarded a Global Scholars Grant to study abroad for a semester in Madrid, Rome, and London. “I wanted to study abroad to gain more understanding of the world,” Kamali said. Studying abroad will give Kamali, an International Affairs major, the opportunity to immerse herself in a new culture.

policies on the application of university scholarships toward outside study abroad programs. Ultimately, she chose a full-term program that allowed her to use her tuition to pay for the courses she would be taking abroad. Robb said that while she will miss her family, she is thrilled to be granted such an opportunity. “I’m going to come back more mature and open-minded with so many new perspectives ... it’s going to be worth it,” Robb said.

So far, the upcoming excursion has brought on mixed feelings, but mostly, it’s surreal. “I’m in a weird place right now,” Robb said, laughing. “It doesn’t seem real — I’m not sure it will till I get on the plane — but I’m really excited to see the world.”

of a classroom.” Despite the effort put into rehearsals and arrangements, members of each organization enjoy and take pride in what they do. “I really enjoy performing for others and just bringing joy to people through music,” Neaveill said. “Being able to take music and make it beautiful, make it somethi ag people can really enjoy, is just one of my favorite things.” Hughes says that singing’s ability to personally influence others appeals to her specifically. “We’re really lucky. Vocalists are the only kind of musician who actually gets to use words,” Hughes said. “Because of that, we get to communicate

WKUHERALD.COM CONNECT WITH US ONLINE @WKUHERALD

Reporter Sarah Yaacoub can be reached at 270-745-6291 and sarah. yaacoub214@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @sarahyaacoub1.

so much better with people. We can actually communicate stories and feelings and emotions and thoughts, and we can really influence people that way.” Through such influence, each ensemble hopes to draw attention to a capella and expand within the WKU community. The Redshirts and Treblemakers will next perform at Holy Spirit Catholic Church for its “Winterfest” event Dec. 2, per the WKU Music Calendar.

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS B3 players to have the chance to play against a great team.”

WBB CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4 come here and play us,” she said. “This a big game – I’m really excited for our community, I’m excited for women’s basketball and just for our

FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4

targets. One is Cameron Echols-Luper, a graduate transfer who made Bowling Green his third and final home during his college career. The former TCU Horned Frog has emerged as of late, catching 19 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns in the last three games he has dressed. Another notable senior receiver is a player the city of Bowling Green has been familiar with for a long time. Nacarius Fant is a hometown player who has caught a team high 46 passes in 2017 and developed a chemistry with White before either of them found themselves in the starting lineup. “He was the very first person I talked to when I came here,” White said of Fant. “He said, ‘We’re lucky to have you on campus. Just let me know when, and I’ll meet you and we’ll start working.’ That’s the kind of mindset Nacarius has, that’s how he’s made his legacy. He’s our utility guy, especially on third down. When we need a big play on third down, I’m finding wherever No.

Reporter Tyler Mansfield can be reached at (270) 935-0007 and tylermansfield@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @_TylerMansfield. 1 is.” On the defensive side of the ball, seniors such as defensive lineman Derik Overstreet and cornerbacks Joe Brown and Leverick Johnson have helped a defense improve each year over the past three seasons. The Hilltoppers have given up an average of 186.8 passing yards a game in 2017, a drastic improvement after giving up 279 yards per game in 2016. The senior class has gone 36-15 over the past four years including this season, and will have the opportunity to push its postseason record to 6-0 if the Hiltoppers can qualify for a bowl game and win. “This senior class has stuck together and been through a lot,” redshirt junior defensive tackle Julien Lewis said. “I’ve sort of gotten to to grow with them. Some of them are in my class, some are in the class before. No matter what, everybody is going to do their best to help them leave with a happy mindset.”

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

CHRIS KOHLEY • HERALD

WKU wide receiver Cameron Echols-Luper (23) looks on from the sideline in WKU’s loss to Vanderbilt 31-17 at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS Seniors ready for final home game against rival MTSU BY SAM PORTER HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

TYGER WILLIAMS • HERALD

Junior guard Lamonte Bearden (1) pushes through the defense of Missouri State Bears to gain possession of the ball on Fri. Nov 10 at Diddle Arena.

SILVER LINING Bearden stands out in WKU’s opening loss BY JEREMY CHISENHALL HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

WKU fell to Missouri State in its season opener, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of production from redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden in his first action as a Hilltopper. Bearden was the Hilltoppers’ top scorer on the night, as he dropped 24 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and 3 of 3 shooting from 3-point range. The team as a whole shot just 39 percent from the field, and 38 percent from 3-point range. Bearden also went 9-10 from the free throw line, and converted multiple and-one opportunities. Bearden also tacked on five rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist, doing a little bit of everything. “Lamonte’s a huge playmaker, and it’s hard to stay in front of him,” senior guard Darius Thompson said of his teammate. “First game out there, scoring like he did, he really helps the team.” Bearden is a transfer guard from Buffalo, where he was a standout for two years averaging 10.9 points on 40 percent shooting, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Bearden was a part of Buffalo’s backto-back Mid-American Conference Championships from 2015-2016, and averaged 13.5 points in two NCAA Tournament games over the last two

seasons. He was a key component of WKU’s comeback effort. The Hilltoppers went down 22 points within the first eight minutes of the game. Bearden helped the Hilltoppers outscore MSU 30-19 in the last 12 minutes of the first half, as they outscored MSU in the second half 46-40. If not for the 26-4 run to start the game, Bearden may have been the

“I just came out thinking about defense, didn’t know how the game was going to go, if I was going to score zero or 30,” Redshirt junior guard LAMONTE BEARDEN

star of a double-digit WKU win. “I just came out thinking about defense, didn’t know how the game was going to go, if I was going to score zero or 30,” Bearden said after his first game in a WKU jersey. Bearden did not play in any of WKU’s exhibitions, as he was dealing with an ankle injury. He was a gametime deci-

sion for the season opener, and came off the bench early in the first half. As he gets back to full health and works in WKU’s system, the potential for his game -- and his team’s game -- will grow exponentially. With one assist and four turnovers, head coach Rick Stansbury said that Bearden didn’t even do what he does best. “When we get some rhythm with him -- I don’t know how much rhythm we had tonight, it was get it and go a little bit. “He’d lower his head and go, but you better be able to stop him going,” Stansbury said. “He can score, but that’s not his main deal. He’ll get a bunch of points just because of his ability to get in that lane, but what he can really do is pass the basketball.” But that rhythm isn’t something that Bearden’s worried about, as he says his focus is just on his team getting better. “I’m just worried about us getting better, not my rhythm, just us getting better as a team,” Bearden said. WKU will continue its season on Wednesday against Kentucky Wesleyan at 7 p.m. in Diddle Arena, and after his performance in game one, it’d be a surprise if Bearden isn’t in the starting lineup for game two.

Reporter Jeremy Chisenhall can be reached at 859-760-0198 and jeremy.chisenhall921@topper.wku. edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ JSChisenhall.

On Friday night, one of the more successful senior classes in WKU football history will play its last game at Houchens-Smith Stadium when the Hilltoppers host rival Middle Tennessee State. Following a three-game losing streak, the unit’s final home game hasn’t arrived quite the way many of those players envisioned. At this time of the year the past couple of seasons, the Hilltoppers were looking to wrap up the C-USA East division and a berth in the Conference-USA championship game. Now, the Hilltoppers need to win one of their last two games to become bowl eligible, and likely need to win both games to guarantee that 13th game. “This senior class has a chance to be the first senior class [of the FBS Era] to beat Middle Tennessee three out of four times which would be a tremendous accomplishment,” head coach Mike Sanford said. “This is one of those legacy-type games that defines your class’ legacy, and that’s the challenge for these seniors.” Some of those players played under three different head coaches, some are hometown natives and some transferred from another university and made an immediate impact. One of the most notable of the players playing their final game in Bowling Green on Friday is redshirt senior quarterback Mike White, who is second in program history in career touchdown passes with 54. White transferred to WKU from South Florida, and after sitting out one season due to transfer rules, won the starting job after former WKU quarterback Nelson Fishback suffered a season ending injury before the season even started. White took the job and ran with it, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2016 while leading WKU to its second consecutive C-USA Championship. As a result, White earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Year preseason honors in 2017, and currently leads the C-USA in passing yards. “It was the best decision I’ve ever made and I stand behind that,” White said. “I came in as a transfer and outcast. I didn’t know the people or the town. This place did a great job of welcoming and me and treating me like their own. We’ve won some championships and lost some heartbreakers. Everything that comes with the sport of football has happened on that field.” Two other notable players playing their final game at Houchens-Smith Stadium are two of White’s favorite

SEE FOOTBALL • PAGE B3

Lady Toppers ready to battle with Notre Dame BY TYLER MANSFIELD HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU After opening its 2017 season with an upset over No. 16 Missouri in the Hawkeye Challenge last Friday, WKU now turns its attention to an even larger task. The Lady Toppers (1-1 overall), fresh off their second-place finish in the tournament in Iowa City, Iowa, will host perennial powerhouse Notre Dame – the No. 6 team in the country – inside Diddle Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. “It’s fantastic.” tAthletic Director Todd Stewart said Monday. “I give Michelle [Clark] Heard credit for scheduling this game and I give Notre Dame and Muffet McGraw credit for playing it because it’s become a challenge for us to have good opponents come in here,” Notre Dame travels to Bowling Green for the first time after the Fight-

ing Irish tipped their season off on Sat- lead of 45-35 into halftime. Missouri urday with a 121-65 victory over Mount tied the game at 70 with 2:04 remainSt. Mary’s. In what marked the Fighting ing, but junior guard Sidnee Bopp anIrish’s 23rd consecutive season-open- swered with a 3-pointer. Brown then ing win, junior guard Arike Ogunbow- scored the last six points for the Lady ale led the way with 21 points, seven Toppers to seal the deal. rebounds and four assists. With the 79-76 upset, WKU “I think it says a lot for our has now knocked off a Top 25 program.” senior forward Ivy team for a third-straight seaBrown said. “For a top team in son. the country year in and year out “We have an elite program to come into our arena first and here, too,” Stewart said. “In play us, it’s huge, I’m really exthe five years that Michelle has cited to get out there and com- Tyler been here as our head coach, pete again.” we’re averaging 26 wins a year, Mansfield In the Lady Toppers’ conbeen to three NCAA tournavincing win over Missouri, Women’s ments and you look at this past senior guard Tashia Brown basketball weekend – beating Missouri scored 13 of WKU’s 18 points in beat writer and taking Iowa into overtime the fourth quarter and finished on the road. In the last three with 30 on the day. Sophomore years, we’ve beaten a ranked guard Dee Givens, who didn’t see team from the ACC, the SEC and the much playing time last year, scored 20 Big Ten. Michelle has done a great points for the Lady Toppers. job.” WKU outscored the Tigers 27-17 in Notre Dame will be the highthe second quarter to carry a 10-point est-ranked opponent WKU has hosted

since No. 4 Louisville visited on Nov. 27, 2013. Throughout the preseason to now, Clark-Heard has reiterated that she sets out every season to find the toughest competition to put on her team’s schedule, especially for the home fans. “I am so grateful for Coach Muffet because there are a lot of teams that won’t come here and play us,” ClarkHeard said during WKU’s media day in October. “I set out every year to try and get the best here for our fans, our community and just for the game of women’s basketball. I hope on Nov. 14 that people really, really understand that this place should be packed.” Clark-Heard mentioned again Monday about just how special it is to have the opportunity to welcome a club like Notre Dame into Bowling Green. “The ability that we’ve been able to do the things we have in the past five years, it’s been hard to get teams to SEE WBB • PAGE B3