November 28, 2017

Lady Toppers sent to Lexington for first round of NCAA Tournament on Friday

Job prospects look promising for December graduates

SPORTS • PAGE B6

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017

OPINION • PAGE A4

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 93, ISSUE 26

GRAPHIC BY CRAIG OSTERTAG • HERALD

BUILDING A LEGACY Former president spent nearly $800 million on construction

BY EMMA COLLINS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

A

ugenstein Alumni Center. The Honors College and International Center. And a hall named after the man who helped build them all, Gary A. Ransdell Hall.

These three buildings are among approximately 16 that were built on WKU’s main campus in the last decade. They serve as important places at the university, providing homes for the alumni association, international and honors students and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

They are part of the legacy former president Gary Ransdell left behind when he retired on June 30, 2017, after 20 years as the university’s ninth president.

“For the most part, the beauty of this campus far exceeds that at most campuses, and I have to give Dr. Ransdell credit for that,” Sam Evans, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, said.

However, as the construction sped ahead on campus, faculty salaries began to lag and student costs, including tuition and fees, continued to increase.

“I think that an unfortunate part of President Ransdell’s legacy is that we’re not on a very stable ground,” Patti Minter, former faculty regent and a professor in the department of history, said.

From the time Ransdell stepped into

office to the time he stepped down, he oversaw the beginning and completion of approximately 263 renovation or construction projects, with several projects started but not yet completed during his time in office, according to records from WKU. The result was an increasingly larger campus and, perhaps, a more beautiful one. But, over time, the changes came with a price tag of $796.4 million.

On a per-student basis, WKU again ranks second in the highest spending out of those five universities that responded to open records requests.

Morehead State University, Kentucky State University and the University of Louisville did not respond in time for publication.

Over that 20-year period, WKU spent $796.4 million on construction projects. To compare that to state uni-

WKU spent.

NKU spent $28,690 per student, more than EKU and Murray, but still about $14,000 less than WKU. Only UK spent more than WKU during that time period. UK, with an average student enrollment of about 8,000 more students than WKU, spent $97,923 per student, over twice the amount WKU spent.

“I think that an unfortunate part of President Ransdell’s legacy is that we’re not on a very stable ground.”

Since Ransdell was president, there have been about 279 construction projects on WKU’s campus, with several projects still undergoing construction, according to open records request.

Funding for most of the projects came from four places: state funds, university funds, auxiliary funds and private donations.

State funds come from money allocated from the Kentucky General Assembly to universities. Auxiliary funds come from money made through WKU’s self-supporting activities, such as food services and the WKU Store, according to a financial audit. Private donations come from donors and university funds come from money WKU makes while operating as a university.

To cover the cost of a construction project through university funding, WKU can choose to purchase bonds and then sell them with the promise to repay those who buy the bonds.

Agency-bond sales paid for Parking Structure 2, which cost over $10 mil-

History professor PATTI MINTER

Comparing WKU’s spending with state universities When compared to other state universities in Kentucky, WKU ranks second in total spending during the past 20 years out of the five universities that responded to an open records request, falling behind the University of Kentucky. WKU outspent Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University and Murray State University, which have annual budgets comparable to WKU’s budget. UK, however, has an annual budget that is over eight times the amount of annual budgets of other universities in the state.

versities of various sizes, the College Heights Herald determined the average student enrollment over that time period, in order to arrive at a per-student amount of spending. Over that time period, WKU had an average annual enrollment of 18,623 students, which amounts to $42,766 spent per student.

WKU’s spending per average student enrollment was almost twice that of EKU, at $21,284 spent per student, and Murray, at $23,608 spent per student.

EKU, with the closest average enrollment to WKU, spent $338.2 million on construction projects during the same time period, less than half of what

Paying for projects

SEE CONSTRUCTION • PAGE A2

Departments feel impact from carry forward cuts

BY REBEKAH ALVEY & EMILY DELETTER

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

Last week, different departments across campus received information on how much of their carry forward funds would be returned or reallocated.

During the spring 2017 semester, former President Gary Ransdell changed the university policy on carry forward funds. The former policy allowed departments and revenue dependent organizations to retain their unspent money from a fiscal year and save it for later.

The new policy, however, allows a portion or all of the unspent funds to

be claimed by WKU to cover the university budget shortfall. After the budget is balanced, funds could be reallocated to the departments.

In the 2017-18 Operating Budget, carry forward funds were estimated to make up 7.2 percent of the budget, which comes to $29.8 million.

Kimberly Reed, assistant vice president for resource management and budget director, said in an email that about one-third of total divisional carry forward funds were distributed to the department heads and were in the process of making specific allocation decisions.

Already, revenue dependent programs, which generate funds independently from the university, have felt an impact from the policy change.

In the 2015-16 operating budget,

over 50 organizations, such as the Florist Shop, Imagewest, the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach, or DELO, and the College Heights Herald, were listed as revenue dependent.

The College Heights Herald, a revenue dependent program, was notified of how the carry forward policy change impacted it last week. From the $101,000 in the Herald’s reserve fund, WKU allocated $51,000 to be used toward covering the budget deficit.

Chuck Clark, Student Publications director, said the Herald’s reserves are made up of advertisements primarily sold by students. Clark said it has been a “bad year” for the Herald due to a decline in advertising sales.

Because of this, Clark said the Herald will most likely need to use reserve funds to print the newspaper, maintain

the website and pay student staff members.

“I understand the university’s financial predicament, but I’m disappointed by the choice to take a little more than $50,000 from our reserves,” Clark said.

For DELO, allocation of funds are still uncertain. Beth Laves, associate vice president of DELO, said program offerings such as online, summer, winter, On-Demand and Dual Credit courses generate revenue outside of tuition.

This additional revenue is always transferred to academic affairs, where it is allocated to different departments or programs, Laves said. With the policy change, the generated revenue will

SEE CARRY FORWARD • PAGE A3

A2 NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE A2

lion, according to the 2003-2004 capital budget. To repay the bonds, WKU added a $36 semester fee for students.

Students also paid for the construction of Parking Structure 3, a $10 million project completed this month, with a $30 semester fee.

Student fees also helped pay for the renovation of Downing Student Union, the single most expensive project during those 20 years. The $54 million transformation from Downing University Center to DSU took place from spring 2011 to fall 2014 and was partially paid for with a student semester fee of $70, according to a list of fees on WKU’s website.

University funds covered about two-thirds of the 279 projects started during Ransdell’s tenure, according to

a list of construction projects. Some of those projects include: • the renovation of E.A. Diddle Arena and work on surrounding parking areas, • the construction of a practice football field and several other modifications relating to the project starting in 2002 for $32 million, • multiple campus wide classroom improvements in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 for a total of almost $5 million, • the construction of Centennial Mall in 2006 for $2 million and • renovations on Van Meter Hall beginning in 2008 for about $21.8 million.

No longer a “tired campus” Evans said when he started at WKU in 1990, he found a “very tired cam-

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pus” in need of updates. He said the campus he started at looked much different than it does today.

“There’s absolutely no building that looks old and tired, even the older buildings, Tate Page Hall being included,” Evans said. “They’ve done a phenomenal job of making it look nice.”

As dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Evans oversaw the college’s move from Tate Page Hall to Ransdell Hall in 2011. Evans said the new building needed to replace Tate Page Hall, which had problems with mold and the HVAC system.

WKU worked to fix the problems in Tate Page Hall as they arose, but had to continue spending money to make more and more repairs, Evans said.

“They knew there was an issue, and we needed to do something and so consequently, we got bumped up to the top of the list,” Evans said.

Work on the $32.7 million Ransdell Hall began in 2006 with funding from the state. Evans said the building itself cost a little over $20 million but the land the building sits on had to be purchased and the houses on the land had to be demolished.

Evans said Ransdell approved the exterior design of the buildings, but he didn’t involve himself after the exterior had been designed.

“I know the architects met with him at varying points, but to my knowledge, he was not involved in any decision related to the utilization, how the building would be laid out,” Evans said.

Evans said he worked closely with those involved in the work on Ransdell Hall, meeting with the architects to design the building specifically to serve the needs of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

“Every classroom, every room in this building, when we met with the architects, the utilization of that space was discussed,” Evans said. “Who would be using it? What was it going to be used for?”

Evans said the construction Ransdell oversaw has given WKU a brand and a vision that helps it compete with other universities.

“You only get one first impression as a university, so you want to make sure that you do everything you can that leaves a positive impression with the students and their families when they arrive on campus,” Evans said.

The original design included a larger building, but the size decreased because the design went over budget, Evans said.

Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russell said the budget must always be considered when working on a new construction project. During every stage of the process, a budget is provided. He said if a project goes over budget, changes are considered to reduce the cost.

“The process is proven and works very well here at WKU,” Russell said in an email.

Evans said he thought the building was named after Ransdell because of Ransdell’s involvement with the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Ransdell held rank and tenure in the college in educational administration, leadership and research, according to Evans. Ransdell’s wife, Julie, was also a graduate of the college.

“He had done a lot for the university in terms of facilities, in not only updating the facilities that existed but in also being, in my books, the driver behind a lot of the new buildings,” Evans said.

Craig Cobane, executive director of the Mahurin Honors College, said the $22 million Honors College and International Center, or HCIC, has created a home for honors and international students and leaves a better impression than the Honors College’s former home, which was located in a trailer at the top of campus.

Cobane said the new buildings on campus help improve “curb appeal.”

Cobane said when people used to drive past where HCIC now sits, they would see a row of fraternity and sorority houses.

He said people who visit WKU now see a beautiful campus that may make them want to attend WKU. “No one ever says, ‘I can’t go there because it’s too beautiful,’” Cobane said.

Cost of expansion

From a monetary standpoint, WKU’s cost of expansion during Ransdell’s tenure nears $800 million. During that same time, WKU’s enrollment increased 39 percent, exceeding 21,000 for the first time in 2011. The campus has at least 10 new buildings, and a new residence hall, Hilltopper Hall, is scheduled to be completed for fall 2018. The residence halls have been renovated and parking has continued to expand with the addition of two parking structures.

At the same time, between 2009 and 2015, the average salary of a full-time

SEE CONSTRUCTION • PAGE A3

NEWS A3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

either with cost of living or at other benchmark institutions,” Minter said.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A2 Full-time professors at WKU received the fourth-highest salaries faculty member at WKU increased ap- compared to the seven other state uniproximately 2.7 percent, while the av- versities during the 2015-2016 acaerage salary of a faculty member in the demic year, behind UofL, UK and NKU, same position at universities similar according to the Chronicle of Higher to WKU increased approximately 4.1 Education database. Data from the percent, according to the Chronicle of 2015-2016 academic year is the most Higher Education database. recent available.

Faculty received a 3 percent pay Minter started at WKU in 1993 and raise during Ransdell’s last year as worked at the university for the enpresident, when WKU announced a tire duration of Ransdell’s presidency. budget reduction plan in the spring She said when she started at WKU, the of 2016. The raise was given in stag- campus “needed some rejuvenation,” es, the first on July 1, 2016. The which Ransdell started. Many following two raises began on of the construction projects, Jan. 1, 2017, and July 1, 2017. like the renovation of Van MeThe raise was given at the same ter Hall or the construction of time WKU increased tuition by Gary Ransdell Hall, were nec4.5 percent. essary to improve the campus, The Faculty Work Life survey Minter said. results show faculty members She said other projects, such have become increasingly disas HCIC and the Confucius Insatisfied with their salaries. In Gary stitute Building, were buildings the 2009 welfare survey, the Ransdell Ransdell wanted, not buildings first set of results available onthe university needed. line, 67 percent of respondents Former Minter served on the Board said they were unsatisfied with President of Regents when the board their salaries. In the 2016-2017 voted to approve the construcsurvey, nearly 78 percent of respon- tion of HCIC. She said she voted “no” dents said they were unsatisfied with because she viewed the building as a their salaries. want, not a need. The staff regent at the Although no direct evidence linking time and the student regent, a student the cost of construction and the Fac- in the Honors College, voted against ulty Work Life survey results exists, the building as well, Minter said.

Minter said she thinks the past adminUniversity funds paid for the buildistration’s focus on construction has ing. A portion of tuition revenue from affected the salaries. She said WKU international students covers the cost employees haven’t received a signif- of the bonds used to pay for the conicant pay raise in approximately 10 struction, Minter said. She said relying years, which was around when merit on international enrollment to fund the raises were ended. building concerned her because interShe said salaries have remained national enrollment can change. Mintmostly the same while insurance pre- er said she asked Ransdell what would miums have increased, so many facul- happen if international student enrollty members have lost money. ment decreased.

“Our compensation has not kept up “And he said, ‘Well nothing’s going

to happen because international student tuition is growing,’” she said. “I said, ‘Well what if it stops growing?

What if something happens internationally?’”

In the past year, international enrollment dropped almost 29 percent, according to the 2017 enrollment report.

Minter said other construction decisions were dependent on the state’s well-being. The state budget fell apart in December 2007, and Kentucky still hasn’t recovered, Minter said.

“President Ransdell had committed the university to a lot of building projects based on the idea that growth and prosperity would continue on campus and in the Commonwealth, so again, there was a lot of decision making based on rosy prospects that have not come true,” Minter said.

Evans said the campus needed construction because a university’s facilities need to be attractive to attract students. He said because the facilities have now improved, the university should move its focus elsewhere.

“If you get the facilities to a level that the facilities can serve the need...then you take quality programs, and you focus on improving those programs, and you focus on personnel related to the programs,” Evans said. “When it’s all said and done, hopefully you have a campus where all aspects are very integrated in terms of what we do, who we are, and those types of things.”

Laves said she hopes the carry forward cuts won’t impact availability for summer, winter or online programs.

Laves said there are about 2,500 exclusively online learners at WKU and according to a previous Herald article, the program was ranked as one of the top schools in the country for distance learning by the U.S News and World Report.

With the cuts to carry forward and the current budget shortfall the entire university, including DELO, will be looking for more effective ways of operating and changing behavior, Laves

said.

In an email, David Lee, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said he “worked with the deans to determine their most pressing needs for the current year.” Lee said the most pressing needs are “largely related to instruction.”

“I then allocated a carry forward amount to each college, and the dean made specific allocations within her/ his college,” Lee said. “Aside from DELO, most of our revenue dependent areas fall within colleges, and the deans made those allocations.”

CONSTRUCTION

CARRY FORWARD CONTINUED FROM FRONT still go to academic affairs. However, Laves said she believes some of the funds will be used to fill the amount of the budget shortfall academic affairs is responsible for.

For students, there won’t be an immediate impact, Laves said. However, she said she anticipates changes in the next fiscal year and programs in academic affairs will be “curtailed or severely limited.”

Looking ahead Despite the nearly $800 million WKU has already spent on construction, about $338.7 million worth of projects have been scheduled for the future, according to the 1997-2017 project list.

Of the 11 future projects listed, only two require university funds: phase III of the rehabilitation work on Ray-

mond Cravens Library, at an estimated $600,000, and the capital renewal pool, at an estimated $10 million.

Projects with the capital renewal pool have included HVAC upgrades and water line upgrades, according to WKU’s 2011-2012 Capital Budget.

State-funded projects include replacing both the Gordon Ford College of Business for $120.1 million and the underground infrastructure for $55 million.

The other seven projects include residence hall and athletics renovations and the addition of an indoor sports complex, all paid for with private funds.

Current President Timothy Caboni has said he intends to slow down the pace of construction and focus on other aspects of the university. During his convocation speech on Aug. 18, 2017, Caboni said the university will now focus on “investment in people and in programs.”

Caboni also said the university’s budget will be reevaluated. WKU currently faces a budget deficit of over $10 million.

Minter said she supports changing the university’s priorities and starting to focus on employees, students and programs. She said she thinks WKU needs to transition away from construction and back toward the academic mission.

“I think one of the biggest challenges President Caboni has inherited from President Ransdell was President Ransdell’s privileging overtime of his wants over needs and privileging projects that did not support the academic mission or were not necessary for the academic mission over some things that absolutely were,” Minter said.

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

Lee said colleges received carry forward funds generated by course fees, and Kentucky Mesonet, a statewide weather monitoring network, and the Gatton Academy received their “full carry forward.”

Carry forward funds will cover the entire budget deficit, according to Lee.

Reporter Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and rebekah. alvey660@topper.wku. Reporter Emily DeLetter can be reached at 270-7456011 and emily.deletter304@topper. wku.edu.

A4

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

OPINION SPARSH’S PICK

EDITORIAL

Finish the semester strong with the tunes

BY SPENCER HARSH HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

The end is almost upon us. No, I’m not trying to sound like one of those hate-preachers that somehow has time in his day to harass students in Centennial Mall. Literally, the end of the semester is super close.

You’re probably stressing out over finals and end-of-the semester projects.

Your group project is freaking you out because you’re pretty sure one team member has just straight up vanished from reality. Maybe you’ve realized you shouldn’t have skipped all those classes?

Whatever is freaking you out, here are five tracks that will hopefully help you finish out the semester strong: 1. Crisis (ft. 21 Savage) by Rich Chigga - Although this track title may be an accurate description of my GPA, it’s simply a good track. It’s got a good beat, a chill tone and has catchy lines. Yet again, it’s another single dropped by Indonesia’s up and coming rap superstar, Brian Imanuel. Will he ever drop a full album? We can can only hope so.

2. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac - Throwing in some classics can make anybody’s day better. This track from Fleetwood Mac is great for that morning walk up the Hill, a drive around Bowling Green or when you just need something to relax to. The relaxed tone of the track really helps when you’re up late studying, trying to turn that F into a respectable C minus.

3. Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet Foxes - Whether you’re swinging in a hammock, walking around campus or driving to Tennessee, this track is sure to fit all of those situations with ease. This track features a journey of acoustic and vocal melodies that are sure to brighten any day.

4. Young Robot by Dance Gavin Dance - Want something a little energetic that possibly reminds you of your high phase?

Check out the intricate guitar work, the catchy lyrics and soothing voice of Tilian Pearson. This track is simply fun to listen to when you’re working out, on a drive or just need something to get rid of silence.

5. Desperado by Johnny Cash - Nothing sounds quite like a good Johnny Cash song. One of Cash’s later works, this track is great for any moment where you need to relax or reflect for a moment.

Give it a listen the next time you’re walking around campus or studying.

ILLUSTRATION BY JENNIFER KING • HERALD

ADMIN OVERREACH WKU’s dip into Herald reserves worrisome for independence ISSUE: WKU took over half of the reserve fund for the College Heights Herald, amounting to $51,000 of the $101,000 we once had.

OUR STANCE: The money taken from our reserve fund was accumulated by selling advertising, and the work of selling ads has always fallen on the shoulders of students.

This was not WKU’s money to take.

W

e thought being sued by our own university so they could continue to keep records of sexual misconduct committed by faculty and staff members secret while we rack up our own legal bills was bad enough.

First of all, it is bad enough, but the university’s recent taking of our reserve funds was certainly the cherry on top.

Our reserve funds have helped us provide needed equipment and a reliable cushion in the face of hard times.

We bear the burden for printing, student pay and a wide variety of other costs.

Aside from some operating costs for the building and the university’s requirement to pay the professional staff of Student Publications, the Herald has broad editorial and financial independence from WKU. President Timothy Caboni’s actions, and those of Provost David Lee, have reinforced that the administration views the Herald as a piggy bank for when it’s

getting into trouble, and one that can be silenced through legal means if they are called out on something that could hurt their reputation as a university.

Now that we’re not exempt from the policy here’s our greatest fear: the door has been opened and we have doubts if it will be closed again. We don’t believe the decision to end our exemption from the policy was retaliation by former President Gary Ransdell, however, if the administration ever wished to retaliate against us they could.

We strive for critical reporting at the Herald, so we try to often bring your stories about topics like sexual misconduct at Kentucky universities or in what ways WKU is spending money. Maybe the day will come where WKU isn’t so fond of us, and they decide there’s “something” in the central budget that needs to be covered. There’s nothing to stop them from dipping into our reserves at the end of the year again because now the money is theirs to use.

Of course, this is the worst case scenario but it’s not without merit. If anything, it could be considered a trend.

Universities all over the country have been hindering or censoring their student newspapers.

We realize these are “economic realities” as Bob Skipper, director of media

relations, said in a statement to the Bowling Green Daily News in response to an op-ed written by Herald editor-in-chief Andrew Henderson.

Here are some other economic realities: Over the span of 20 years, WKU spent nearly $800 million on facilities upgrades and construction.

In 2016, WKU spent nearly $10 million in routine personal service contracts, which went towards things like construction or “consulting” services.

Faculty have not seen a substantial pay raise in decades and instead are left to scrap for 1 percent incremental raises.

WKU has spent more than $10 million annually in recent years to prop up revenue deficits in the athletic department’s budget. Athletics usually generates enough revenue to recoup about onethird of that.

These are only “realities” because we want them to be, because we’re comfortable with the way things are. WKU could forge its own reality, a different one, if it chose to fight for it, but why fight when you can be comfortable?

We demand the university place our reserve funds under exemption once again before looking at taking from any reserve funds next year to try cutting the meat instead of the bone.

ABOVE THE FRAY

December graduates enjoy improving economy

BY ERICK MURRER HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

Soon-to-be WKU December graduates might be particularly stressed these next two weeks as they prepare for the home stretch, but the improving state of the U.S. economy provides some relief and encouragement for graduates in pushing forward.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in October, making this the lowest unemployment rate since the year 2000. The unemployment rate for those over 25 with a bachelor’s degree also fell to 2 percent, constituting the lowest unemployment rate for college graduates since the Great Recession. In addition, the rate of individuals working part-time

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

because they could not find full-time employment has now fallen back to pre-recession levels.

Goldman Sachs analyst Charles Himmelberg said that, “2017 is shaping up to be the first year of the expansion in which growth surprises to the upside,” predicting, “2018 to deliver more of the same.” Citing highly accommodative global monetary policy and easing financial conditions, Goldman Sachs forecasts 4 percent global economic growth. With respect to the U.S. economy, Goldman predicts that U.S. interest rate hikes and tax reform will contribute to a forecasted 2.5 percent growth.

Moreover, career coach Kim Dority notes the unique timing for winter hiring of December graduates, arguing that, “Because of the more relaxed productivity expectations of the holidays, it may be much easier to gain access to those key decision-makers and hiring managers

who are still in the office during December.”

But WayUp, an online job platform for recent college graduates, cautions that although job opportunities during the New Year hiring cycle might be more plentiful, December graduates have not had as much time to lay a foundation for their job search meaning that the job secured after December graduation may not be the most desirable.

December graduates face less competition compared to spring graduates who inundate the job market in May. Some college career service centers also remind December graduates that, should securing immediate employment prove to be difficult, December graduates can instead pursue a spring internship, leading to possible full-time employment upon the internship’s completion.

Although 50 percent of Americans believe that there are “plenty of jobs avail-

able in their communities,” 49 percent of Americans still think that their wages have not kept up with the cost of living.

Conventional economic wisdom dictates that a market flush with jobs requires firms to pay higher wages in order to retain talent, but Federal Reserve leaders are at loss in understanding the “mystery” of slowing wages.

Nevertheless, starting pay for college graduates is the highest it has been in a decade – nearly 14 percent higher than the class of 2007. The highest paying fields include energy, STEM and data analytics.

So with December graduation just around the corner, it’s important that December graduates consider the hiring trends of their target industry. With increasing job availability for skilled workers and overall economic improvement, the December class of 2017 arguably enjoys a brighter outlook.

DISCLOSURES

OUR TEAM

REPORT AN ERROR herald.editor@wku.edu

Andrew Henderson* Editor-in-chief

Julie Hubbell* Digital Editor

Brook Joyner* Asst. Photo Editor

Shay Harney* Managing Editor

Monica Kast* News Editor

Sarah Cahill Ad Manager

Taylor Huff* Opinion Editor

Hannah McCarthy* Features Editor

Micayla Kelly Ad Creative Director

Evan Heichelbech* Sports Editor

Craig Ostertag* Design Editor

Will Hoagland Advertising adviser

Mhari Shaw* Photo Editor

Spencer Harsh* Copy Desk Chief

Carrie Pratt Herald adviser

Tyger Williams* Video Editor

Emma Austin* Projects Editor

Chuck Clark Director of Student Publications

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.

B6

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS THE WALKTHROUGH

This not your father’s WKU team, but it’s a good one

BY EVAN HEICHELBECH HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

Lexington regional are East Tennessee State and the host Wildcats.

This year’s first round will mark the first time WKU has played the Fighting Irish, who posted a 12-8 record in the AACand earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.

“This time of year, you’re going to play an excellent opponent,” Hudson said. “You just hope that you can match up from a physical standpoint, but I certainly think we will be in that match.

That’s all you can ask for around tournament time is to be able to win a match and find a way to advance.”

East Tennessee State earned an automatic bid to the tournament after finishing 12-4 in Southern Conference play and winning the conference championship with a trio of sweeps.

WKU defeated the Bucs on its home floor Sept. 8.

Kentucky earned host honors after winning the SEC Championship for the first time in school history and will play ETSU at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday.

WKU is the only Conference USA team to be included in this year’s tournament. North Texas, who was expected to be a candidate for an at-large bid, fell short of the tournament and instead accepted an automatic bid in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.

The winner of Friday’s first match between WKU and Notre Dame will

Thirteen days ago, Rick Stansbury wasn’t worried about playing Villanova.

He had just earned his first victory of the 2017 season, a breezy 30-point win over Kentucky Wesleyan College, when a reporter asked the second-year WKU head coach about how he planned to prepare for the nationally ranked Wildcats.

Except that’s not what Stansbury was thinking about — not to mention he wasn’t particularly happy about his team’s showing against a Division II opponent that night.

“Well first off, we gotta get ready for Nicholls State. That’s the next one,” he said in response to the question.

A few days later Stansbury’s team proved to be ready for Nicholls State as the Hilltoppers won comfortably and moved to 2-1 on the season. Stansbury’s comments following the 100-86 win over Nicholls were largely centered around getting his team to play a complete game instead of just winning one half.

At the conclusion of WKU’s most recent contest on Friday in last week’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, more memorable than listening to his postgame thoughts was watching a video of Stansbury call his players down a line to run toward him and chest bump him in celebration.

His team had played a couple of complete games, and some meaningful ones too.

WKU returned home on Saturday with two quality wins and an impressive representation of Bluegrass basketball in the Bahamas after knocking off No. 18 Purdue and Southern Methodist.

In what has become one of the best holiday tournament fields each year, Western Kentucky was likely the most unfamiliar brand amongst the eight teams in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Entering the tournament, the odds were stacked against the Hilltoppers even before considering the opposing competition.

Stansbury had only eight players at his disposal (none of which are taller than 6-9), zero quality wins and a team still trying to develop a chemistry good enough to put together two halves of basketball like he had been asking for.

Besides that, WKU was guaranteed to play the No. 5 team in the country/2016 National Champion/No. 1 overall seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament in Villanova, and could’ve played arguably the nation’s most talented roster (No. 2 Arizona), a 2017 Sweet 16 team (Pur-

SEE VOLLEYBALL • PAGE B5

SEE WALKTHROUGH • PAGE B5

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

WKU players celebrate as they win their last game of the Conference USA Tournament in E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, Nov 19, 2017. It was the fourth conference title in the last four years for the Lady Toppers.

WKU lands in-state for NCAA Tournament

BY CLAY MANLOVE HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The WKU volleyball team has been shipped out West over the last two seasons for the NCAA Tournament, ending its season in California and Utah in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

This season, the Lady Toppers will not even have to cross the Kentucky state line.

In Sunday evening’s NCAA Volleyball Tournament Selection Show, the Lady Toppers were drawn to take a trip to Lexington to play Notre Dame in the first round at 5 p.m. EST Friday in Memorial Coliseum.

“We will all get to be around our family and friends, so it will be a good atmosphere,” junior and Lexington native Mary Martin said. “The past two years we’ve been very far from home, so no one has gotten to come and watch. This year, especially since we have a bunch of players from Kentucky and Indiana, they will all have family there too.” `The Lady Toppers earned their firstround date with the Fighting Irish (229) after winning the Conference USA Tournament over North Texas two Sundays ago in Diddle Arena.

This year’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament will be the 11th for the Lady Toppers in school history – all under head coach Travis Hudson –

and the seventh appearance in the last eight seasons. It will also be the fourthstraight NCAA Tournament appearance for seniors Alyssa Cavanaugh, Sydney Engle, Jessica Lucas and Amara Listenbee.

“Every little girl’s dream is to play in the NCAA Tournament,” Hudson said.

“It’s been a pretty magical run for this group of seniors, but it’s not by accident. They’ve worked hard and gotten better year in and year out. It’s only gotten tougher on us as the years have gone by because there is always a bullseye on us.”

The 2017 season will also mark the first time in school history that a group of seniors has made it to the Big Dance in each of their four years on the Hill.

The Lady Toppers will be looking to push a little further this season after not yet making it past the second round in any of their 11 appearances, and Hudson credited what he pulled out of a regular season finale loss at North Texas as proof that this group can be the one to finally break the mold.

“I learned a lot about our team when we lost that regular season finale at North Texas,” Hudson said. “That’s when I knew that we were built for this stage because we played really well in the face of adversity. I don’t think this team is satisfied with how we finished last year, and we’re looking for another opportunity to put our best foot forward.”

Joining WKU and Notre Dame in the

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

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1. Who was the voice of KITT, the crime-fighting Pontiac Firebird on Knight Rider? (a) Mel Blanc (b) Orson Welles (c) William Daniels 2. In what year did the NFL contract Fox to broadcast football games? (a) 1999 (b) 1993 (c) 1987 3. What disaster movie aired on NBC opposite the final episode of M*A*S*H? (a) The Night the Bridge Fell Down (b) Earthquake (c) The Towering Inferno 4. Who was the first African-American actress to win an Emmy? (a) Cicely Tyson (b) Diahann Carroll (c) Gail Fisher 5. What event occured on the day Leave it to Beaver premiered? (a) Sputnik 1 was launched (b) Eisenhower was elected president (c) Castro took control of Cuba 6. How far is it from the Bat Cave to Gotham City? (a) 23 miles (b) 14 miles (c) 6 miles 7. Who was the voice of the Great Gazoo, Fred and Barney's alien friend on The Flintstones? (a) Don Knotts (b) Rich Little (c) Harvey Korman 8. On The Patty Duke Show, for what newspaper did her dad work? (a) New York Chronicle (b) New York Post (c) The Daily Tribune 9. On F Troop, who was the chief of the friendly Hekawi indians? (a) Roaring Chicken (b) Wild Eagle (c) Thunder Cloud 10. What was Radar O'Reilly's real first name on M*A*S*H? (a) Harold (b) Arnold (c) Walter

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66 One of TV’s Simpsons 67 Nettle 68 Cairo’s river 69 Pharaoh’s symbol Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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10 Big dipper 11 Stole 12 Nuptial agreement 13 Matchsticks game 22 Involuntary twitch 24 Cluster of flowers 26 Kitchen light 27 Carpenter’s tool 28 Hither’s partner 30 Deviation 32 Beach 33 Full of rich soil 34 Night spot 35 Most preferred 36 Thickness 38 Complimentary close

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Expected Black, to poets Dust remover Meal Discordant Washer setting Old photo color Tiny organism Month after Adar Lewis’s partner Early days It’s pumped in a gym First name in jeans Beer barrel Gobbled up Wall Street order

previous solution

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

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

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2 5 2 1 4 3 Copyright ©2017 PuzzleJunction.com

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A6

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

PHOTO

Jessica Jackson, 21, of Evansville, Ind., decided to go natural when she started feeling tired of conforming to society. “I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and actually be my true self,” Jackson said.

“There have been many times I’ve been stared at because of my hair. Many people will ask to touch it or ask how long it took me to get it like that. I used to feel annoyed but now I like the attention. It gives me an opportunity to educate people about black hair.”

THE EVOLUTION OF BLACK HAIR PHOTOS AND STORY BY EBONY COX HERALD.PHOTO@WKU.EDU

T

Deion Holts, 34, of Jackson, Miss., started growing his hair out with a group of friends in middle school as a result of a music group “Bone Thugs N’ Harmony.” After about five years the rest of his friends cut their hair, but he kept growing his out.

here is a beauty within black hair. It’s big, bold and makes a statement. Each strand, curl and hair type is different. It’s versatile and able to be styled many ways. For the longest time, black hair has also been deemed unkempt, unprofessional and ugly.

Corporate America oppresses self-expression through hairstyles or the natural state of hair of African Americans. In the workplace women have been asked to straighten their hair or wear a weave while men have been asked to cut their dreads so that it is less distracting.

The significance of black hairstyles stretches back throughout history. Cornrows and other braiding styles were used during slavery, with different hairstyles holding their own meaning. Tight braids to the scalp tied into buns was a signal that slaves wanted to escape while curved braids represented roads they’d use to escape. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the afro became both a popular hairstyle and a political statement.

The significance of black hairstyles are still seen in todays society. Students reflect on personal experiences and their journey of black hair.

Tomesha Perkins, 22, Louisville, cut her hair last October. It was the beginning of a “new her” and made her love her inner self more. Perkins is always getting looks when she wears her Bantu knots.

“I think people forget that Bantu knots are not just for a pre-curl,” she said. It doesn’t bother Perkins because she knows her hair is diverse and her mother taught her that people only judge what they know nothing about.

Gianna Dowell, 22, of Evansville, Ind., wanted to have an “edgy hairstyle.” She realizes not many females have short hair; the sides and back of her hair is shaved. “I get looked at a little weird sometimes, but I like being different,” Dowell said.

Blake Bowden, 21, of Stone Mountain, Ga., has been growing his hair out for over a year and just began the locking process. “When I first started doing it, people were like ‘Blake what are you doing?’

‘What’s going on?’ A lot of people weren’t for it...it’s something different that people aren’t use to,” Bowden said. “I just told myself I’m not going to allow anyone’s opinions stop me from allowing my hair to grow.”

B1

BY GRIFFIN FLETCHER HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

The process of becoming a registered emergency medical technician (EMT) through WKU’s College of Health and Human Services has grown more difficult since WKU’s 2017 budget cuts.

The cuts suspended WKU’s paramedicine program, which served as students’ final step in EMT training before becoming certified and has forced students interested in the field of emergency medical services (EMS) to complete their training elsewhere.

According to an email from WKU’s Dean of the College of Health and Human Services Neale Chumbler, the cut was made “primarily due to resource and enrollment issues,” and because of “a tremendous need for more faculty and staff.”

On account of a pre-existing statewide shortage of EMT professionals and an already unstable pool of potential student applicants, this cut is expected to worsen the situation further.

Elizabethtown senior James Lundy is one the most recent graduates of WKU’s now eliminated paramedicine program and works currently as manager of EMS at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green.

He is set to work at Louisville Metro EMS upon graduating in December.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

LIFE

James Lundy has been an EMT for three years and is graduating from WKU this semester. Lundy is one of the most recent graduates from WKU’s paramedicine program.

This program has now been eliminated from WKU’s teaching curriculum due to WKU’s 2017 budget cuts. It is common for Lundy to work long shifts and then come straight to campus for classes.

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

STUDENT OF SERVICE Student shares experience with EMS Lundy’s father served as a firefighter EMT and sparked Lundy’s interest in volunteering at local fire departments, which he did from high school into college, becoming a certified firefighter EMT along the way.

As a firefighter EMT, Lundy was responsible for medical, motor vehicle accident and terrorist response. In fact, according to Lundy, fire emergencies have become the smallest portion of run volume for the fire department, whereas medical response makes up around 80 percent of runs.

Lundy volunteered at fire departments around the Bowling Green area for most of his time at WKU until he started managing EMS at Beech Bend Raceway.

Lundy transitioned from fire to full EMT because he especially enjoys the medical side of rescue, and because fire department volunteers are not paid.

As an EMT, Lundy’s job is unpredictable and demanding.

“It’s random,” Lundy said. “No call is the same. No shift is the same.”

EMTs must be able to perform medical interventions, interpret heart rhythms, diagnose possible drug dosages, understand when a contraindication, a specific situation in which a particular drug or procedure should not be performed as it might harm the person receiving it, is necessary and possess an advanced understanding of

anatomy and physiology.

“We are basically the emergency room on wheels,” Lundy said.

Notwithstanding these extensive responsibilities and expectations, working multiple jobs has become the norm for EMTs across the country.

“Everybody that works in EMS and fire, they work multiple jobs,” Lundy said. “Nobody goes into this field for the money.”

Lundy describes the majority of current EMS jobs as “underpaid, understaffed, with high run volume,” and notes that “[it’s] not uncommon for multiple agencies to be on mandatory overtime because they can’t staff their ranks fast enough.”

Paramedicine program cuts across the state, including those at WKU, have left Kentucky with only four areas wherein potential EMTs may receive their necessary certifications, according to Lundy.

Lundy said he believes a lack of adequate training areas, the public’s growing distrust of public service officials, namely the police, and the profession’s low-pay and intense demands are all partly responsible for nationwide first responder deficits.

“It’s a very dangerous job, and it’s a very low-paying job, and that’s why so many don’t do it,” Lundy said while mentioning the often dangerous conditions EMTs face, such as during the recent Las Vegas shooting. “I mean,

you can go in McDonald’s or Lowe’s and make almost as much as I do without the risk. Why not?”

Paired with potential pension cuts and the trauma first responders encounter on a daily basis, it’s no surprise that EMTs are in high demand.

“We all compartmentalize,” Lundy said on how EMTs cope with the graphic nature of the job. “Once you’ve seen enough, you just kind of get used to it.

You get numb.”

However, not all adjust so easily.

Lundy attributed the majority of line of duty deaths among first responders to suicide, a crisis substantiated by JEMS, Journal of Emergency Medical Services, and EMS1.com, a website designed by and for the EMS community.

Despite the current state of EMTs nationwide and the always shifting nature of medicine, Lundy said he believes EMS will adjust accordingly and continue to improve upon and advance its treatment capabilities.

“We get asked all the time, ‘Why do you do this?’ The simple answer is not a damn one of us knows,” Lundy said. “Everybody’s got that sense to help other humans around them, but for some, it’s just their way of life, and that’s how it is for most of us.”

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

B2 LIFE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

PCAL project offers many creative opportunities

BY LAUREL DEPPEN HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU “Create It Forward,” sponsored by the Potter College of Arts and Letters, is what coordinator Shura Pollatsek defines as, “a game of telephone, but with art.”

It began this September when Pollatsek selected a quote to which artists are to respond. Though the quote will remain a secret until the exhibit is opened in April, Pollatsek explained she selected a quote from a Bosnian author to coordinate with the International Year of Bosnia at WKU. September participants responded to this quote in different ways.

Musical theatre major Shyama Iyer participated in the first round of “Create It Forward.” She responded to the original quotation by producing a solo show in her Contemporary Performance Studies class. Iyer, who is very active in both the theatre and dance departments, also responded to other artists’ work later on in the chain.

Iyer commented on the value of what she was doing as a part of the “Create It Forward” process.

“This project is so cool because it really encompasses the power of creativity,” Iyer said. “Normally when artists make something, they want it to make statements or express something, this process takes that idea to the next level, because not only does each creation make a statement and express individual artists, but it actually inspires something tangible to come after it.”

Artists in the month of October then responded to the September artists’ work, but they did not see the original quote. This process will continue with each group of artists each month until March.

Pollatsek explained “Create It Forward” participants include students and faculty members. The artists featured are not only painters or performers, but also people involved in creative writing and advertising.

Meghen McKinley teaches a dance

improvisation course at WKU. Her students responded to an art image from a previous group.

“They used movement exploration to examine the image both individually and as a community of dancers,” McKinley said.

McKinley commented on how she saw the project as beneficial to her students.

“It was heart-warming to see the excitement on the dancers’ faces when they saw the art work,” McKinley said.

“As a group of creative individuals, the dancers were so impressed and inspired by the work that was created in a different medium. They were immediately invested into the process and challenge of bringing life to the picture through movement and felt a responsibility and ownership as their work was being passed along.”

McKinley then went on to describe how she views the merit of a project like “Create It Forward.”

“The process of being a part of a larger community is something extremely important in the arts, as well as in being a sympathetic and collaborative part of society,” McKinley said.

“A deeper level of appreciation of perspective, talent, and innovation was brought to the forefront. These skills are elements that all students at WKU should experience and are capable of.

Art forms allow us to speak the same language and unite even-though we may be from very different walks of life.”

The “Create It Forward” process is still underway, and Pollatsek said there is still time for more participants to join. Participants are welcomed to sign up for a slot in December and January or February and March by emailing Pollatsek at shura.pollatsek@wku.edu.

All of the work that has been submitted as a part of the “Create It Forward” process will be showcased in the Kentucky Museum at the end of April.

TA L I S M A N

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

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LIFE B3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Hackathon draws students, inspires coding ingenuity robotics major and Gatton Academy graduate Aaron Brzowski approached HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU a group of students studying in computer science with the idea of starting a hackathon at WKU after participating A sophisticated computer program in a number of them at other univeroften takes weeks, months or even sities. years to create, build and perfect, but “He really enjoyed it and last weekend, student hackers thought it’d be a good opporfrom around the nation were tunity, so it happened last year. challenged to design and imWe had about 30 or so [particplement one of just a day. ipants],” Chandler Staggs said.

More than 40 students parStaggs is a computer science ticipated in Hack the Hill, a major and senior. He said he 24-hour hackathon event held acted as one of the organizers in WKU’s Snell Hall and open for Hack the Hill.

Sarah to undergraduate and gradu- Yaacoub Since then, the program has ate students from anywhere in grown, with the majority of its the world, in addition to a few participants coming to WKU Features admitted high school students. reporter from colleges outside of BowlThe hackathon started in 2016 ing Green. and is now an annual occurEven as it grows, though, rence with corporate sponsors Hack the Hill retains its small, in addition to financial backing community-oriented atmosphere. from WKU and support from profes“That’s what makes us unique,” Trevsors and faculty in the Ogden College or Brown, Hack the Hill organizer and of Science and Engineering and the Russellville native, said. “People really School of Engineering and Applied Sciseem to enjoy the relaxed nature of the ences, or SEAS. event.”

The idea first started last year, when He also described Hack the Hill

BY SARAH YAACOUB

as friendly and homier than similar events. The hackathon begins with a planning period and then a pitch, in which each team presents its idea to the rest of the participants. This concept was new to many of the hackers, including first-place winner Brandon Marcum, a senior in the computer and information technology program who built a game that taught players Japanese characters through a fun and interactive process.

“This was my first hackathon,” Marcum said. “I wasn’t expecting the pitches ... it was very impromptu, but impromptu, fun and embarrassing is better than normal and boring.”

Taking risks seems to be part of the hackathon’s purpose. As Hack the Hill organizer and senior Lucas Cook put it, the only enemy to the participants is the time constraint, and the range of ideas and projects is wide. Some hackers choose to create games, while others, like co-winner William Lifferth, design websites and apps used to improve people’s lives. Lifferth’s project was an app called Toolbox which would allow users to virtually interact with mental health professionals with rel-

ative anonymity at their convenience, providing features like a daily journal and a mood tracker. Lifferth is a junior from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville who is double-majoring in computer science and machine learning.

“A friend suggested I see a therapist, and it was a great experience,” Lifferth said of his idea’s origin. “I think everyone should have the ability to talk through things, but realistically, not everyone can or wants to set up an in-person appointment.”

Brown said he considered this year’s hackathon a success, and he hopes to see it expand even more in coming years. Some of the future goals of Hack the Hill include more faculty involvement, especially from WKU’s Computer Science Department, in the planning process. Brown said there’s also talk of gearing the event toward high school students as well.

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

SoKY Ice Rink opens downtown for holiday season

the different skill levels you see on the rink,” sophomore Lexi Herman HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU said. “You have people like me who can barely skate to save their life and some people who are borderline OlymSharpen your skates because the pians. It’s always so funny to see them second Annual SoKY Ice Rink skating next to each other and I is now officially open for the think this rink’s size is perfect holiday season. for that.”

The ice rink, sponsored by The rink itself is located in Wiesemann Orthodontics, downtown Bowling Green, at opened Nov. 17 to welcome the the SoKY Marketplace Pavilion holiday season with the popuat the corner of 6th and Cenlar holiday activity. ter Streets, with a venue open The rink is esentially a cul- Noah for parties and events just next mination of many different Moore door at Historic Taylor’s Chapvital parts of Bowling Green. el. The rink also offers holiday Several local businesses such Features concessions with everything as Warren County Inline Hock- reporter from gingerbread lattes to ciney League, SoKY Marketplace, namon pretzels.

Scott Waste Services and SKySeason passes are $75 for PAC sponsor the rink. unlimited skating until the rink If you’re not a pro, the SoKY Ice Rink closes Jan. 7. However, the fee for a has plenty of space to accommodate a one-night skate is $10 for adults and range full of ice skaters and their vary- $8 for children, military personnel, ing skill sets. With a 6,000 square foot emergency responders and WKU stuice rink, SoKY Ice Rink assures that dents, and includes the price of skate there is space for up to 175 skaters, rentals. both tiny and grown.

“The rink is super nice quality and “My favorite part about skating is

BY NOAH MOORE

the price with my ID is too good to pass up,” freshman Valentina Pinilla said.

“It’s nice to see the rink back this year.

It’s always a fun thing to do when a lot of my college friends go home for winter break.”

Tonight kicks off the rink’s event

The rink remains open during winter break, open 1-9 p.m. on Sundays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“My favorite part about skating is the different skill levels you see on the rink. You have people like me who can barely skate to save their life and some people who are borderline Olympians. It’s always so funny to see them skating next to each other and I think this rink’s size is perfect for that.”

WKU sophomore LEXI HERMAN

season with the “80’s and 90’s Dance Party.” The event will take place tonight from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature music from those decades.

Reporter Noah Moore can be reached at 270-745-2655 and noah.moore786@ topper.wku.edu.

The second annual SoKY Ice Rink opened Friday, Nov. 17 and is located at the SoKY Marketplace Pavilion where skate rentals and concessions are available.

TYGER WILLIAMS • HERALD

B4 SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKU using consistency to win tight games

BY TYLER MANSFIELD

very good Mercer team.”

Following Friday’s victory to open HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU their play in the tournament, the Lady Toppers were tested again Sunday against host Georgia State.

After facing late deficits in their WKU trailed 38-35 at halftime and last two outings, the Lady Toppers rethen by as many as seven points three sponded effectively, using their condifferent times in the third quarter, the sistency to pull through against a pair final time coming on a fast-break layup of tough opponents in Mercer and by the Bears’ Madison Newby at the Georgia State to win the Georgia State 6:08 mark that put the Lady Toppers Thanksgiving Classic. in a 46-39 hole. But, from that Against Mercer, WKU jumped point, they answered with eight out to a 15-4 lead after the first straight points to take a 46-45 quarter but was outscored by advantage. the Bears, 44-37, throughout From there, WKU’s lead grew the next two periods to hold a to as many as four but GSU reslim 52-48 advantage entering sponded with a 3-point play to the fourth. make it 52-51 in the Lady TopFacing their first deficit of Tyler pers’ favor entering the final the night with just 90 seconds Mansfield quarter. remaining, the Lady Toppers WKU put its foot on the gas rallied to score 10 of the game’s Women’s in the fourth and outscored final 12 points to earn a 67-62 basketball the Panthers 22-12 while forcvictory. All 10 of WKU’s points beat writer ing 10 turnovers – which led to during the stretch came at the 11 points at the other end – to free throw line while freshman secure a 74-63 win for its first Sherry Porter, who made her first catrue road victory of the year. reer start, sealed the win with two free “Great team win today against a very throws of her own with just five secgood Georgia State team!,” Clark-Heard onds left. posted on Twitter Sunday evening. “So “Proud of the fight in our team toproud of how the team stepped up to night,” WKU head coach Michelle the challenge at halftime. Anytime you Clark-Heard said in a tweet following can get a road win it is a plus.” her team’s win over Mercer. “Wasn’t In Friday’s win over Mercer, WKU pretty but we figured it out against a senior forward Ivy Brown surpassed

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

WKU senior forward Tashia Brown (10) drives in for a layup during WKU’s game vs Notre Dame on Nov 14, 2017 in E.A. Diddle Arena. WKU lost 65-78.

1,000 points in her Lady Topper career on her first basket of the night. Now the 39th member of WKU’s 1,000-point club, Brown finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season.

Coach Heard was proud of her fouryear player’s accomplishment, posting this tweet: “Congrats @ivylynnbrown so proud of you! The sky is the limit for you. Proud to be your coach. Love ya.”

Following their championship, WKU returns home to host Evansville on Thursday at 7 p.m. inside E.A. Diddle Arena. It will be the Lady Toppers’ first home game since Nov. 14 against Notre Dame.

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

Ohmer explodes onto the scene in Battle 4 Atlantis

BY JEREMY CHISENHALL HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

WKU’s roster features a four-year senior, graduate transfers from Virginia and Kansas and Kentucky’s 2017 Mr. Basketball. And yet, in the Hilltoppers’ run to a fifth-place finish in the Battle 4 Atlantis, it was the 6-1, 170-pound twostar freshman from Scott High School that made all the difference.

Jake Ohmer put together one of the best weekends of basketball anyone could ask for. He scored 15 points on 5-6 shooting including 3-3 from 3-point range against No. 18-ranked Purdue, helping lead the Hilltoppers to their first Power 5 win in nearly a decade. He then followed that up with a game-winning 3-pointer against SMU to finish off a double-digit comeback win over a team that had defeated No. 2 Arizona just one day before.

Ohmer’s emergence as WKU’s star of the tournament was sudden and unexpected, but that’s nothing new for him. In high school, Ohmer’s chances of playing Division I basketball were zero, as he had committed to the University of the Cumberlands, an NAIA college.

At the Kentucky state tournament in March, Ohmer scored 106 points in three games and carried Scott to the semifinals. With WKU head coach Rick Stansbury and senior forward Justin Johnson in attendance, Ohmer had made his presence known and earned his Division I opportunity.

“Me and coach were sitting at the state tournament,” Johnson said, “everybody kept coming to coach, and people wanted to say things [Ohmer] couldn’t do. Me and coach were sitting there like, ‘that dude can play.’ He

TYGER WILLIAMS • HERALD

Freshman guard, Jake Ohmer (21) looks for an open player during a game against Missouri State on Nov. 10, 2017 at Diddle Arena.

shows it every day. With his toughness, that dude could play with anybody on the court.”

Stansbury has complimented Ohmer repeatedly on his shooting ability.

That was no different after Ohmer hit a corner 3-pointer over an SMU defender with 4.5 seconds left to give WKU back-to-back upset wins.

“He did what he does; shoot that basketball,” Stansbury said. “And he can do that about as good as anybody.”

Ohmer’s 3-pointer was perhaps the biggest single play of WKU’s season thus far, and Ohmer doesn’t shy away

from those big plays.

“I just try to make big plays on offense, so that’s what I did,” he said after his game-winner.

Ohmer’s emergence caught many by surprise, but Purdue head coach Matt Painter knew what he was up against.

“Ohmer’s the difference,” Painter said following WKU’s upset win over the Boilermakers. “I’ve seen guys just like him. They walk through, they don’t pass the look test, and they’ll kill you...

That’s what he did. I told our guys, I said ‘do not leave him, do not let him shoot, he averaged 29 points in high

school.’”

With just eight eligible players, Ohmer has played a bigger role than most would expect. He’s played more than 20 minutes in all but one of WKU’s games this year, and he’s averaging 10.7 points per game on 47 percent shooting. With the success he’s had, there’s no way that role will be reduced any time soon.

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

Postseason uncertain for WKU after season finale

BY SAM PORTER

82 teams could end the season bowl eligible.

HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU One team, and most likely two or three teams with a 6-6 record, will not be going bowling despite getting the This WKU football team’s senior typically standard six wins to qualify. class has an opportunity to accomplish WKU could very well be one of those something very few senior teams. classes are able to accomplish: The Hilltoppers finished 6-6 win four straight bowl games.

(4-4 Conference USA) and their On Sunday, Dec. 3, the WKU most impressive win on paper football team will know what was a 41-38 triple overtime vicbowl game it will be playing in tory against another 6-6 team and its opponent; that is, if the in Middle Tennessee State. The Hilltoppers get a bowl bid. walk-off victory against the As of today, a total of 79 Sam Blue Raiders sits as the only teams at the FBS level are el- Porter win WKU has against a bowl eligible to play in a bowl game. igible school, which definitely With 39 total bowl games, only Football beat won’t help its case.

78 teams will get the opportu- writer The Hilltoppers concluded nity to play one more time this their regular season with a 41season. Three teams-- Florida 17 road loss to Florida InternaState, Louisiana-Lafayette and tional, a team they hadn’t lost New Mexico State-- sit at 5-6 with one to since 2010. The senior class has game remaining, meaning potentially won 37 games throughout four years

on the Hill, and will have to wait until next Sunday to find out if they’ll get a chance to push that number to 38.

“Hopefully the young guys learn from this year. I know the seniors as a class as a whole left their mark on this program,” redshirt senior quarterback Mike White said following the loss to FIU. “Hopefully we get a chance to get our fourth straight bowl win.”

C-USA has six guaranteed bowl tieins, and it appears WKU picked the wrong year to finish 6-6. A total of 10 C-USA teams finished the regular season bowl eligible, the most of any conference in all of college football. The ACC currently has nine, and will have 10 if Florida State wins its last game which was rescheduled due to a hurricane.

Three teams (WKU, MTSU and Louisiana Tech) finished the regular season 6-6 while Texas San-Antonio finished 6-5, meaning none of those four teams will receive the six guaranteed bowl

games for C-USA since there are six C-USA teams with at least seven wins.

“I’ve had a heck of a three years here,” White said. “I just hope we haven’t played our last game because I know we can go out better than this.”

Sports Illustrated currently projects WKU to play Army (8-3) in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 23. Other bowl projections have WKU in the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida on Dec. 16 and the Frisco Bowl in Frisco, Texas on Dec. 20.

If WKU was to be left out of a bowl game, it would be the third time since moving to the FBS level that the Hilltoppers finished bowl eligible but weren’t invited to a bowl game.

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

SPORTS B5

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WALKTHROUGH CONTINUED FROM PAGE B6

due), the defending American Athletic Conference champion (SMU) or two teams who went on to prove their worth in pulling upsets of their own (Northern Iowa and North Carolina State).

The competition was there, and WKU gave it its absolute best shot.

After hanging tough and losing by single-digits to Villanova, the Hilltoppers outrebounded a significantly taller Purdue team and grabbed their first win over a Power 5 school since 2008 behind a breakout game from freshman guard Jake Ohmer.

A day later, the Hilltoppers faced a well-coached SMU team fresh off taking down Arizona the day before, and, behind the heroics of a late Ohmer 3-pointer, stole another win to finish 2-1 in the tournament.

If not for the all the noise Arizona made by dropping all three of its

VOLLEYBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE B6 play the winner of Kentucky and East Tennessee State on Saturday at 7 p.m.

games in the tournament, the Hilltoppers’ national statement would’ve been made even louder.

Just to provide some perspective, let’s anchor down a timeline of the past two months.

On Sept. 18, the wildest offseason imaginable concludes with Mitchell Robinson leaving for a final time. Less than a month later, Stansbury loses yet another assistant coach when Ben Hansbrough resigns on Oct. 15, two days after getting arrested for a DUI. WKU falls in its opening game to Missouri State on Nov. 10.

Thirteen days later, Stansbury notches the program’s first win in nine years over a Power 5 opponent.

With all of the potential distractions from the roulette of players coming in and out of the program in the past year, the Hilltoppers’ wins last week further prove that Rick Stansbury is immune to the sense of fear. And that mentality is clearly translating to his players.

Stansbury’s squad is a team your grandpa would love. The roster didn’t come together as anticipated, but it’s a collection of a few scrappy players, some pure athletes and an overall mix of different talents that flat out plays hard.

The bad news is the Hilltoppers are still waiting on two ineligible players to be cleared to put them over the top. It doesn’t matter who the players are. As long as they are healthy humans who know what a basketball looks like, they would be incredibly valuable in providing a cushion of depth to the eight current players.

But the good news is, the two players anxiously waiting aren’t “just a couple of bodies” to help run a full scrimmage in practice. If Moustapha Diagne and Josh Anderson are eventually cleared this season, they could position Stansbury’s team for a serious run at a Conference USA title.

WKU’s success despite the lack of

EST in Memorial Coliseum.

“You really have to adjust to the physicality when you get to the tournament,” Hudson said. “Conference USA has a lot of great teams, but there are

a lot more physical teams out there.

More than anything, we have to manage our emotions and continue doing what we do. If we do that, we’ll be in that match against Notre Dame.”

eligible players really can make one wonder just how good the Hilltoppers could be had they not lost the talent they did right before the season started.

But the optimists in the crowd shouldn’t be wondering, they should just be smiling.

Because this is not your father’s WKU team and even though he would love to watch them, it’s not necessarily your grandfather’s team either. This group of Hilltoppers is different. They are their own team. They won’t always win in a conventional fashion, and they may lose some games that won’t make a whole lot of sense, but they’re going to show up no matter how big the obstacle is.

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

Reporter Clay Manlove can be reached at 270-724-9620 or at clayton.manlove475@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ctmanlove58.

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