November 29, 2016

WKU ALUM MARRIES IN PAKISTAN

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TTUESDAY, UESDAY, NNOVEMBER OVEMBER 229, 9, 22016 016 > W WESTERN ESTERN KKENTUCKY ENTUCKY UUNIVERSITY NIVERSITY > VVOLUME OLUME 992, 2, IISSUE SSUE 2255

SAE suspended one year for alcohol violations

BY JACOB DICK HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU A WKU fraternity has been suspended from being officially recognized and participating in university activities by the University Disciplinary Committee, according to officials in Student Activities.

Director of Student Activities Charley Pride said the KY Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was brought before

the committee’s consideration after receiving what he refers to as their third strike for having alcohol in their fraternity house.

Pride received the official documentation of SAE’s suspension from the disciplinary committee Monday afternoon. He said this is the first time an organization has been suspended for alcohol since the policy was put in place.

“This was brought to the

committee after an investigation into an incident showed there was alcohol present,” Pride said.

The fraternity will have a brief period to appeal the decision to Brian Kuster, vice president for student affairs, over its suspension. Kuster was reached for comment, but he did not respond in time for publication.

SAE will not be able to participate in spring and fall 2017

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s on Monday after SAE was suspended for

SEE SAE PAGE A2 one year for alcohol violations. Shaban Athuman/HERALD

International, refugee high school gives students new opportunities

Kowser Ali, a junior at Geo International High School, learns about the United States election process Monday, Nov. 28 in Mr. Spalding’s American Government class. GEO International is the first of it’s kind to be opened in the southeast. The curriculum is designed for students to learn English and critical thinking skills. Tyger Williams/HERALD

Strive Success

BY ALEX SANDEFUR

work in groups reading documents from the Civil War. He answers questions, helps them sound out difficult words, but mostly he encourages them.

The teachers at GIHS have learned to modify nside the round annex building of Warren Centheir teaching methods to their nontraditional stutral Haigh School which houses the Geo International High School, Will Spalding stands in dents. The 185 students at the international high front of his students gathered in room 306, asking school come from 20 different countries and speak 29 different languages. 87 percent of the students questions about the bell ringer on the board.

In this American history class, students who are refugees.

According to Skip Cleavinger, director of Enwere born in Somalia, Kenya, Thailand and Burglish learner programs for Warren County Public ma learn about the Fugitive Slave Act and the Civil Schools, this is GIHS’s first semester in operation War. “Can you think of a situation today where some- and the first school of its kind in the southeast.

GIHS is modified from the Internationals Netone would want to run away from a bad situation work school system in New York. According to its they’re in,” Spalding asks the class as he walks in between the clusters of four desks around the website, the Internationals Network is a support room. “We are a school of immigrants; can you re- organization working to make sure immigrant students learning English have access to quality edulate to those on the Underground Railroad?”

The students who sit at desks and mismatched cation with a network of 15 schools.

Cleavinger brought the idea of a similar school tables speak a mix of languages: Vietnamese, Arato Rob Clayton, the superintendent of Warren bic and English.

A boy raises his hand and Spalding calls on him. County, after noticing a rise in the district’s numbers of students in the English learner programs.

“Faisal. Go ahead.”

In 2012, there were 800 English learners in WarFaisal Hassan is from Somalia, but he’s spent most ren County’s school district. In 2016, that numof his life living in a refugee camp in Kenya with his ber swelled to 1,250 with most attending Warren mother and sisters. His family eventually moved to Central, one of the four traditional high schools in the U.S. to live with Bowling Green. his aunt and uncle Bowling Green who have been in itself has seen a rise Kids who are 18 or 19 come into this Bowling Green for in the number of 20 years. country with limited or no high school immigrants since He likes to joke the opening of the experience and are expected to fi nish around usually, reInternational Cenferring to himself high school before they’re 21.” ter of Kentucky. in the third person, Starting in 1981, Program director for Warren County Public Schools but his tone is serithe International ous when he speaks Center has resettled Skip Cleavinger of his home counover 10,000 immitry. He talks of how many people who live there try grants from 30 countries in Bowling Green and to escape across the gulf to Yemen. If the Yemen the surrounding areas. According to Census data, government catches these escapees, it sends them in 2014 Bowling Green’s population was 12.7 perback to Somalia. Hassan, with the help of Spald- cent foreign-born residents, which is up from 10.6 ing, helps compare this to Northerners helping percent in 2012. The two largest cities in the state, Louisville and Lexington, have populations that plantation owners send slaves back to the South.

Spalding spends most of the class period walk- are 6.4 percent and 8.6 percent foreign-born resing around the room to assist students while they idents respectively.

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

I

Will Spalding teaches his American Government class as Faisal Hassan, 17, listens Monday, Nov. 28 at Geo International High School. Faisal is originally from Somalia but lived in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the U.S.. Tyger Williams/HERALD

In 2015, after getting approval from Clayton to begin working on creating Bowling Green’s own international high school, Cleavinger approached Mike Stevenson, the principal of Warren Central about creating a partnership. Warren Central seemed like the natural choice because of its high population of English learning students. Stevenson jumped on board and arranged a steering committee to help with the planning of the new school.

Cleavinger and Stevenson approached Adam Hatcher to be the principal of GIHS. A WKU graduate, Hatcher had been working at Warren Central for six years as assistant principal and head of the English learners department of the school.

“I was excited to be able to be on the ground floor for something so needed in this area,” Hatcher said.

***

Back in room 306 with Spalding and his American history students, the bell rings signaling the end of third period. Students hurriedly pack their bags and rush out to the rounded center of the circular annex building. In between classes, students form little clusters, switching between their native

SEE REFUGEE PAGE A2

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NOVEMBER 29, 2016

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

WKU files suit against state retirement system

BY EMMA COLLINS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU WKU has filed a motion seeking a judgment against the Kentucky Retirement System after the KRS asserted WKU should continue to make retirement payments for former university employees outsourced to a private company earlier this year.

The university asked the Franklin Circuit Court on Nov. 17 to hear the case and to issue a judgment determining whether WKU must continue to contribute retirement payments on behalf of the former employees who now work for the private company Sodexo, Inc. The issue in question is whether those employees are still considered university employees. Tom Kerrick, an attorney for WKU, said WKU believes the employees work only for Sodexo.

The KRS, however, continues to consider these employees to be university employees despite Sodexo being responsible for hiring employees, creating workplace policies and providing salaries.

“As of July 31, 2016, [the employees] were no longer employed by us,” Kerrick said. “They had their own application process and then Sodexo hired them.”

A statement released by the KRS in response to the university’s legal action said those employees remain employees of WKU and must continue to participate in the state’s pension system.

SAE Continued from Front

2017 Rush, among other university activities, but Pride said the fraternity and its members can remain in their house and on campus. Pride said the chapter’s housing corporation would have to decide whether SAE can remain on campus since the fraternity’s house is private property.

It is not determined whether the KY

REFUGEE Continued from Front

languages and English, sometimes in the same sentence.

Ameliah Leonhardt is one of the English teachers at GIHS. She says at the beginning of the school year, students usually hung out with other students who speak the same language as them. She said she is beginning to notice a change as students have become more inclined to mingle with those who don’t speak the same native language as them.

Another bell indicates the beginning of fourth period. Students are reluctant to head to class, but the teachers eventually get them into their classrooms.

In room 303, Leonhardt is teaching a knitting class to a room full of girls. The students sit in a large circle, taking up most of the room. The girls are bent over their brightly colored scarfs, working to count their rows as they knit. They talk with each other as they work, mostly in English, but the conversation flows. The students aren’t focused on translating every word right like they are in other classes.

Leonhardt says she started this class because working with their hands and knitting can be very therapeutic to the students.

“Here they get to focus on something other than English all day,” Leonhardt said. “Yes, they speak English in the discussion circle, but it gives their mind a break getting to do something with their hands.”

The students chatter throughout the class until the bell rings for lunch at 11. Because GIHS has no place for

The disagreement between the two parties began earlier this year. In August, WKU privatized 202 employees in an effort to reduce the 20162017 budget after the state legislature approved post-secondary education budget cuts. The change was anticipated to save $745,000.

The employees terminated by WKU had the option to apply to work for Sodexo, a private company which has held the university’s contract facilities management since 1994.

The outsourced employees included grounds keeping, building services, waste management and custodial employees. As part of the agreement, all employees who moved to Sodexo received a pay raise and a 401(k).

Despite the privatization of these employees, the KRS insists WKU continue to make retirement payments to the Kentucky Employee Retirement Services on behalf of the former university employees.

The KRS, owner of KERS, also requires those employees to continue to make contributions to KERS as well. Those employees have also been denied the ability to withdraw or rollover the contributions they made to the KRS during their employment with WKU. “We think it’s pretty clear that these are former employees of WKU, and we have no continued obligation to pay KERS on their behalf nor do the employees have a continued obligation to pay KERS,” Kerrick said.

The KRS views these 202 Sodexo employees as “common law employees” who still work for WKU. In

a statement, the KRS said although the university terminated those employees, the individuals continued to work for the university in the same positions they held while employed by WKU. KRS viewed this as an attempt to avoid the obligation to contribute to the pension system, according to the statement.

“Kentucky Retirement Systems believes that these individuals are employees of WKU and therefore active members of the state pension system,” the statement read. “WKU is obligated to pay retirement contributions for these persons.”

Because the KRS considers these employees to still be university employees, it too must continue to make contributions to the KERS despite the employees receiving a 401(k) when hired by Sodexo.

A representative for Sodexo did not return calls requesting a statement from the company.

Kerrick attributed the KRS’s demand to the state’s underfunded pension system. According to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce pension report, Kentucky’s entire pension system has been called one of the worst in the nation because of the nearly $36 billion deficit. The portion of the pension system WKU employees make payments to has a $10 million deficit.

“Sodexo, being a private employer, certainly has no connection to KERS,” Kerrick said. “The only way KRS can attempt to get some type of contribution from these people would be if they were employees of

WKU.” The decision to seek a declaratory judgment followed several weeks of discussion between WKU and the KRS. Kerrick said the only way to resolve the problem involved going to court.

“We think it’s pretty clear KRS is just not going to agree with our position so our only choice was to ask the court to enter a ruling on it,” Kerrick said.

Ann Mead, senior vice president for finance and administration, said in an email the university has not made any contributions on behalf of those employees to the KERS since the employees began working for Sodexo in August.

Kerrick said the court date has yet to be determined. After receiving notice of the legal action by WKU, the KRS has 20 days to file their answer.

Because the motion seeking a declaratory judgment was filed on Nov. 17, the KRS still has time to respond.

Kerrick said the two parties will then meet in an attempt to set a court date. If the KRS and WKU cannot agree on a date, a judge will set the date.

Once the court reaches a verdict, either party will have the option to appeal the decision to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

Beta Chapter of SAE is under investigation or review from the national organization. The Herald attempted to reach representatives from SAE’s national organization for comment but did not receive a response at time of publication.

The Herald previously reported SAE was under investigation by Student Activities in September after an incident involving a member was reported to the Bowling Green Police

Department.

KY Beta Chapter was founded at WKU in 1965 and was one of the original social organization’s on campus. It is also the fraternity of President Gary Ransdell.

In their motto “The True Gentleman,” SAE’s pledge to be “the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies.”

The committee which decided on the suspension, made up of six faculty, five staff and two students appointed by the university president, is technically a part of the Office of Student Conduct directed by Michael Crowe.

Crowe was contacted by the Herald, but did not respond at time of publication.

all the students to gather to eat, the students travel down hallway leading outside to Warren Central everyday to eat. *** On the school’s first day on Aug. 10 of this year, the school had 141 students. Today the school has 185 students and administration is looking to add another teaching position to the eight already in place. Since all the classrooms in the annex are currently occupied, the district will have to find another location for the school if an additional teacher is hired.

Students who attend GIHS have to chose it as their school of choice because of its classification as an alternative school. Designed for students who were in English learner programs at the other schools in Bowling Green, students range in age from 15 to 21.

After a student turns 21, they are kicked out of the public school system. If they want to pursue a high school diploma, they must get their GED, which is not always easy for a student whose native language is not English.

“Kids who are 18 or 19 come into this country with limited or no high school experience and are expected to finish high school before they’re 21. They have to have to have 22 credits to graduate or they don’t,” Cleavinger said.

This is a challenge GIHS has been working to overcome. While they are currently working on an exception for international students for that rule, for the time being, GIHS students are treated the same as any high school student.

During second period, certain students who need more credits to grad-

uate come to the library, room 305, to work on their Apex learning classes.

Students in Kentucky are usually given their credit hours by how much time they spend in the classroom.

With Apex learning, students earn credit for assignments completed online, according to Michele Lenoir, another English teacher at GIHS. Cleavinger says there are two principals that make GIHS work — project-based learning and language and content integration — both of which are ideas that come from the Internationals Network.

Project-based learning starts with four students who all speak different languages with varying degrees of proficiency in English. They work together on an assigned project in class and because their only common language is English it encourages them to work on their English skills.

Usually in English learner programs, students will have one class where they learn vocabulary words for their other classes. However, with language and content integration, students learn the vocabulary in each of their individual classes.

*** after the stuFifth period comes dents return from lunch. They file back into the round room at GIHS, rowdy from their free time.

Lenoir sweeps into room 302, where her fifth period dual-credit public speaking class waits for her to begin the day’s lesson. In this class, students earn college credit for passing the class. Today the students are helping their classmate, Frederic Ndayirukiye with his upcoming speech.

Ndayirukiye will be speaking about success and failure the follow-

Reporter Emma Collins can be reached at 27-745-6011 and emma. collins399@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @_emma_collins_.

Jacob Dick can be reached at 270-7456011 and jacob.dick@wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @jdickjournalism. ing day in front of the whole school.

His speech is a part of the school’s GEO Talks, a series Lenoir is hoping to make a regular event at the school.

“It gives the students confidence,” Lenoir said while moving a lectern onto the stage. “And they’re good role models for the other kids who see them get up there. They think they want to do that someday and I’ve had a lot of students who have an interest in giving their own speeches.”

She instructs some of the students to stay in the classroom to make posters of quotes from Ndayirukiye’s speech that will hang behind him as he speaks. The other students will sit on the floor around the perimeter of the round middle room in the annex and listen to Ndayirukiye’s speech as he practices.

Ndayirukiye walks to the lectern and starts his speech.

“You only fail once you stop trying,” he starts, shaky and quiet at first.

Lenoir motions for him to speak up. His classmates listen as he speaks to them about success and failure.

Most of them lived in refugee camps before coming to the U.S. Some have lost a parent, work full-time jobs outside of school and most have faced ridicule for their English. Now, they are listening intently to their classmate in a high school structured for kids like themselves.

“Today I encourage you to strive for success and to not let anyone tell you you are less because everyone is equal.”

Reporter Alex Sandefur can be reached at 270-745-6011 or alexandra.sandefur059@topper.wku.edu.

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

Greek adviser removed after Twitter post

BY MONICA KAST

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU The coordinator of Greek Affairs has been removed from her position after a post she made following the presidential election last week was shared around the university community, according to student activities administrators.

Alexandria Kennedy, student activities coordinator and former adviser for Greek organizations, used explicit language in a tweet and referred to Trump voters as “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic.”

Kennedy was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.

Charley Pride, director of student activities, confirmed that Kennedy still worked for student activities but was no longer an adviser for Greek organizations.

After protests on campus last week, President Gary Ransdell released a statement calling for unity and respect across campus. The statement was also posted to Ransdell’s Facebook page.

While most comments on the Facebook post were positive, others commented on the post with screenshots of Kennedy’s tweet, and accused Rans-

dell of discriminating against white people.

“Hey Gary why don’t you just come out and say that you don’t think white people work for what they have and that you’d like to see less of them,” Chris Carmichael, a 2013 WKU graduate, wrote on Facebook.

Later, Carmichael said his statement was an “observation based on the views of the employees of WKU to which [Ransdell] is a sponsor.” He also commented, “Gary ‘Death threats against white students are fine. Triggering a minority is expulsion’ Ransdell.”

Carmichael also sent Kennedy an email, which was obtained by the Herald, saying that he was “shaking in anger,” and “sick” because of Kennedy’s comments.

In an email obtained by the Herald, Kennedy forwarded Carmichael’s email to Brian Kuster, vice president for student affairs, and wrote she did not respond to it.

Beth Kelley posted a screenshot of Kennedy’s tweet on Facebook, calling Kennedy’s language “unacceptable especially with the position that she currently holds. She does not speak for all students.” In response to Kelley, Amy Bishop wrote she was “happy,”

and thought the post would “begin dialogue.”

Kelley responded by writing that Kennedy had “stooped to Trumps [sic] level of social media posts/rants” and “not getting any message across by name calling.”

After Kennedy’s tweet, she posted on Facebook later that night, saying that she was “literally SHAKING from fear.”

“I’m so disappointed right now,” Kennedy wrote on election night. “I cannot cry enough tears. I cannot pray enough. I can only hope and I can only make sure that I’m there fore [sic] those who are more scared than I am.”

According to Corie Martin, director of web services and digital marketing at WKU, there is no official social media policy in place for faculty and staff. There is a Communications and Branding Manual, which “serves as a guide to faculty and staff departments and offices of how to use social media … specifically for official WKU-sponsored social media and web-based accounts,” Martin said.

“It is not a mandate, but more of a best practices set of guidelines,” Martin said in an email. “The one that is public on the WKU Marketing and Communications website right now

is 6-years-old, and very outdated. We have a new version that has been updated significantly that will soon go before the WKU Administrative Council for approval as formal policy.”

However, Martin said there is no official policy for social media use or reprimanding for misuse by WKU faculty and staff.

According to the WKU Discrimination and Harassment Policy, any student, employee or third party who believes they have experienced discrimination or harassment can make a formal report within 30 days of the discrimination or harassment. Included in the definition of discrimination and harassment is behavior or abuse “based upon ... political belief.” The report will be investigated and “corrective action” will be taken if the report is found to be true.

It is not known at this time if a report has been filed for this incident by Kennedy or other faculty members.

Reporter Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 or monica.kast187@ topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @monicakastwku.

List of campus safe spaces available online

BY REBEKAH ALVEY

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU To combat the feeling of discomfort and stress some students are feeling after recent events, a list of “safe spaces” has been posted on the WKU Diversity and Community Studies Campus Safety page.

Safe spaces and services include the WKU Police Department, the Student Government Association offices, the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, the Center for Citizenship and

Social Justice in Tate Page Hall, Potter College Academic Commons in the Fine Arts Center, Southwest Hall, the Women’s Studies Center, Safe Walk and the Title IX hotline.

The search for safe spaces was initiated by Kristina Arnold, associate professor of art, after students told her about feeling unsafe on campus. Arnold said her students were afraid and “in various levels of crisis.”

“The first job as a campus is to make everyone feel safe,” Arnold said.

It took Arnold and the other depart-

ments collaborating with her several days to arrange details like hours and location of each safe space. They tried to make sure there was an accessible area at all parts of campus, Arnold said.

Jane Olmsted, department head of diversity and community studies, said there is no defined criteria for a safe space.

“We understand it as a place where if someone feels threatened by some kind of act of discrimination, hate, bullying or disrespect, can come here to cool off, possibly talk to someone and problem solve,” Olmsted said.

While the spaces were created as an immediate response to post-election stress, they can also be used for academic stress.

“A safe space can be a place that everyone should be feel comfortable and is staffed with a willing ear,” Arnold said.

These places were created “in wake of graffiti and hateful notes,” Dean of Potter College Larry Snyder said. Peo-

ple have also had objects thrown at them, according to Olmsted.

“Feeling safe and not threatened is necessary to the fundamental pursuit of a real education,” Snyder said.

Snyder and other faculty members have shown support by wearing safety pins signifying to others they are a person to talk to if feeling targeted.

Olmsted hopes a clearing house will be created from the list. A clearing house is a public source of information that is easier to access than what is currently available.

The current list of safe spaces can be found at http://www.wku.edu/dcs/ safety.php and is being updated as new resources come in.

“It’s just a tiny little step in the right direction,” Olmsted said.

Reporter Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and rebekah. alvey660@topper.wku.edu.

CRIME REPORTS

Start your spring semester early with WKU On Demand.

JOIN US FOR THE SPRING REGISTRATION KICKOFF Tuesday, November 29 at GCC Wednesday, November 30 at DSU 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Giveaways, snacks, and information!

•Zena Grimes reported on Nov. 19 the mulch on the east side of College High Hall was smoldering. The Bowling Green Fire Department extinguished the mulch.

• Bowling Green senior Rayan Alaswad lost his cell phone on Nov. 21 near the WKU Black Cultural Center. It was valued at $400.

• Dodge City, Kansas, senior Brittiny Moore reported on Nov. 22 she lost a university key on Nov. 18.

• Letavius Thornton was issued a citation on Nov. 22 for criminal trespassing in the third degree. Thornton was also arrested for a warrant from the Bowing Green Police Department.

•Greenville sophomore Madison LeGrand reported on Nov. 27 her cell phone was stolen from the Downing Student Union.

•Hopkinsville freshman Aaron Shaw, Owensboro freshman Hunter Shaver and Pembroke freshman Chandler Campbell were reported on Nov. 28 for being in a parked Honda Accord smoking marijuana. Shaw stated the drugs and paraphernalia belonged to him.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKUHERALD.COM CARTOON

OPINION

Have an opinion? Tweet us @wkuherald or find us on Facebook at WKUHerald as well. Let us know your thoughts about the editorial, or write us with what is on your mind.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Educate yourself following election

Illustration by Jennifer King

WKCHEW

Smokey Bones is back at it again

BY CHRIS DIMEO HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU When it comes to aggressive rebranding, the newly opened Smokey Bones on Scottsville Road is a shocking success story.

After suffering a devastating fire in September 2015, the entire restaurant was burned to the ground and was put out of business for 14 months. However, it was rebuilt and redesigned over the summer, and made its debut on Nov. 10.

But the building wasn’t the only thing that underwent a makeover. The restaurant’s personality had a massive overhaul as well.

The old Smokey Bones had a very homey, log cabin aesthetic. Even on weekends and Friday nights, it was rarely so busy that there was a wait for a table, making it a good place to take the family on a weeknight, even if it was a little dull.

The redesigned restaurant, however, is nearly unrecognizable from its former self. Exciting, aggressive and modern, it now seems to be appealing primarily to the young college crowd.

The change is apparent even as you walk up to the restaurant, with raised

banks of fire at the front doors catching the eye right off the bat. Inside, the logs and Southern memorabilia have been ditched for exposed brick and metal piping.

The high ceilings, pumping music and completely open floor design make it very loud and difficult to hear others. Furthermore, it’s also extremely popular right now, so larger groups may have to wait up to 45 minutes to be seated.

However, there are a sizable number of efficient waiters and waitresses, many of whom are WKU students, so that once you get seated, the service is quick, but still friendly and personal.

If you’re hoping for a quiet evening out with the family, you might want to go elsewhere, but the exciting atmosphere and bar-prominent arrangement make it ideal for a night on the town with friends.

As for the food, many of the favorites from before the redesign are back along with a few new dishes. One of these newcomers is the skillet cornbread. This appetizer doesn’t pop out in the menu, but it’s a surprisingly delicious find. What really makes this dish memorable is the pecan butter that comes with it. The unexpected

sweetness works perfectly with the savory flavor of the bread, making the dish refreshing and exciting.

A Smokey Bones classic is the slowsmoked baby back ribs. The meat is as tender and flavor-packed as before, but the sauce seems to have been kicked up a notch. The flavor is smokier and richer than before, and it soaks into the meat to give it an extra kick.

To wrap up the meal, the menu brings back its signature dozen donuts. Our waiter recommended this dish, noting that it was their most popular dessert and had won awards in his hometown. It lived up to the hype.

The small, teacup-sized donuts were coated in cinnamon and brown sugar and served with two dipping sauces. The chocolate sauce was good but not exceptional, but it was really the raspberry sauce that stood out. It was both tangy and sweet, ending the meal with a light, refreshing taste.

With its established culinary repertoire and fiery new personality, Smokey Bones is taking Bowling Green by storm. This homey family restaurant has been reborn from the ashes as a trendy, exciting hub that is already drawing in Bowling Green’s youth in droves.

With the recent election and its precedent indicating a president-elect that has put the nation in a whirlwind, I thought the time was precise to address a few things.

As I’ve read numerous posts on Facebook from both sides of the coin I’ve been distressed to say the least.

The election has taken a toll on my already ongoing depression and I’ve at times wondered whether living at all, let alone in this country during this time period, is worth my sanity of existence.

At a time where many are viewing this as a historical replication of the 60’s, I see very vast similarities. Athletes are starting to institute control of their platform once again like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson and countless others. I hear Gil Scott-Heron in bits and pieces in some rappers (If you dig long enough you will find some too). Just maybe we will have another Angela Davis (well that might be a lot to ask) and an ideological party that will withstand the test of time and learn from past mistakes.

War of words, social backlash for freedom of speech and much more.

All to which reveal the underlying veil of our nation today. In high school I can attest to the fact that the majority of the time I was physically present but sometimes my mental state was at lengths afloat. The material was always not so much uninteresting, I was just always thinking ahead about the real problems that seemed to be under the surface.

Artists I connected to like Lupe, Talib and Yaslin all spoke the truth to that!

I always felt like I grew up at the wrong time in history but maybe not, just maybe God placed me in this point in time for this exact reason. Now more than ever, God has also placed in my life Destinee MaKia, who’s company and intellectual stimulation has provided a unique aspect to my relational desires.

Justly, as leaders before have acknowledged as we approach this vindication, organization must be implemented and properly carried out. Thus, the greatest thing you can do is to continue to educate yourself on policies, housing allegations, institutions and revolutions which all make up your history. Then you will be properly equipped to defend your declarations. Peace.

-By Kijana Beauchamp

HUFF’S POST

Taking a look back at the Obama presidency

BY TAYLOR HUFF HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU

“Thanks, Obama.” It’s a phrase many of us have heard thrown around sarcastically these past eight years.

Whether it’s a flat tire or the rise of ISIS, it’s become commonplace to hear that same exasperated claim.

Over the past 18 months, President Barack Obama has dealt with criticism from both sides of the aisle on his performance in the White House. Our shiny, new president-elect has even labeled him as “one of the worst presidents in the history of our country.”

Now that he’s a lame duck, what better time is there to examine what Obama has accomplished in office? As many prominent Republican leaders likely said on election night, what do we have to lose?

Politicians make a lot of promises

when they’re trying to get your vote.

508 to be exact for Obama, according to Politifact.

Regardless of whether you lean left or right, it’s unrealistic to think a president will prove faithful on all of his promises. We’re lucky enough to live in a society with checks and balances where compromises are necessary for a government to properly serve the people.

If a president can address many of the major issues across all areas, areas like economic, social, foreign policy, etc., while leaving the country in better shape for the next person in power, that should be considered a job well done.

When we as citizens expect one man or woman to be our saviors and solve the countless problems in this world, we set ourselves up for failure.

That being said, a president should be held accountable for the major

promises he or she makes while campaigning. For Obama in 2012, these were universal health care, a cap on carbon emissions, immigration reform and economic recovery following the housing market crash to name a few.

Perhaps the most important task for Obama was to improve relations between Republicans and Democrats to initiate a more bi-partisan government.

In his defense, Obama’s health care bill passed, he raised fuel economy standards and created new financial regulations to stabilize our economy.

Unfortunately, the relationship between the two major parties is pitiful.

It’s as if we’re living in a country that has two completely different plans for its future.

Take the recent vacancy in the Supreme Court for example. After the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Obama did his job, as outlined by the Consti-

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tution, and nominated Judge Merrick Garland.

Knowing Obama only had a short time left in office and needed Senate approval, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked Obama’s nominee in hopes that the new president would elect someone more conservative.

That’s the level of pettiness this country’s federal government has reached.

So if we’re judging Obama solely by the current political climate of the country that he promised to improve, then yes he has failed.

But if we look at how he has helped millions of Americans afford healthcare, the steps he has taken to address climate change and the millions of jobs he has helped create, the phrase “thanks Obama” may start to sound more genuine.

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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

NOVEMBER 29, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKUHERALD.COM

LIFE

» Sewing Project: Turn to page B3 for a look at the International Center’s new sewing class offered to refugees.

Newlyweds, Ayaz and Ayesha Sadal (center) are harrased for money by their friends and family for drinking milk from a silver chalice during their Baraat ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan. Baraat is a portion of the wedding event where the groom takes his bride home to her new family. In Pakistani tradition the bride and groom are pestered by their friends and family to fork over money in exchange for acceptance by the ‘in-laws.’

A new start WKU graduate travels home for wedding, reunites with family

LEFT: Ayaz Sadal reacts to seeing his bride, Ayesha Sadal for the first time after they are married. In traditional Pakistani weddings, the couple signs their vows separately in a ceremony called “Niccah” and are brought together as a married couple after the groom comes home from the Mosque.

BELOW: Sadaf Sadal waits in the bridal suite before her Baraat ceremony where she will be taken away from her family and brought home with her new husband. “My family, my brothers, they’re everything for me, and thinking of letting them go, it’s just too hard,” said Sadaf through tears, her hands covered in henna pressed against her face. After the wedding Sadaf planned to move to Chicago to live with her husband and his family.

She believes her parent’s plans for her marriage are best, but still worries about what the separation will mean for their relationship.

PHOTO STORY BY ALYSE YOUNG

HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

On Oct. 11, Ayaz Sadal stepped out of Allama Iqbal International Airport and into the familiar haze of Lahore, Pakistan. The short drive along the runway’s edge was all that could separate him from his family, whom he had not seen in years.

Ayaz is the middle child in his family with an older brother, Zia Sadal, and younger sister, Sadaf Sadal.

Ayaz had left his home in Pakistan to study in America, where he would receive his master’s degree in Public Administration from WKU. Seeking citizenship, Ayaz remained in the United States, living and working in Chicago.

While home on a break from classes in 2012, Ayaz was introduced to his now wife, Ayesha Sadal.

“If I fall in love with somebody at this point of time, it’s going to be her,” Ayaz said, recounting his thoughts of their first meeting. “It took me about a year to propose to her.”

Ayaz did not originally plan to marry this year.

“You never know where you end up,” Ayaz said, recalling a conversation with his father encouraging him to go ahead with the wedding plans knowing that it may be the last time his family is together under one roof.

“I see my parents getting old, I see my brother, sister getting married, so everything is happening too fast at this time for me,” Ayaz said, explaining his decision to agree with his family’s plan for a triple wedding in mid-November of this year.

The bond Ayaz shares with his siblings is deep, despite their separation across continents.

“She used to hold my finger in her hand and I can still see that whole memory of her,” Ayaz said of his sister, Sadaf, who planned to move with her

husband to Chicago shortly after the wedding.

“Now when I see her being all grown up, getting married, that just, you know, tells me that I miss the 25, 26 years growing up with her.”

SEE WEDDING PAGE B2

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

B2

Ayesha Sadal turns to her new husband, Ayaz to consult about a bargain during a wedding game at the Sadal family home in Lahore, Pakistan.

WEDDING Continued from LIFE Zia Sadal planned to move to Germany with his wife Farheen after the wedding.

Both his brother, Zia, and sister, Sadaf, had marriages arranged by their parents, a common practice in Pakistani society.

Ayaz plans to return to Bowling Green in December and is still uncertain about whether his wife will be granted approval for her visa.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the future,” Ayaz said. “People tend to think that life in the US, is way much more better, than anywhere else -- that’s not true. It is completely on yourself, how you take it,” Ayaz said, addressing concerns that he may not be

ready to take on married life in America.

“We’re going to step into this country together,” Ayaz said.

Ayaz holds out hope that his prior experience abroad will help him to be a good guide for his wife.

“She has never left Pakistan before; the U.S. is a far, far thing for her,” Ayaz said.

Ayaz described his marriage as a new start.

“Whatever I was before this, that was completely different; now it’s gonna be completely different,” Ayaz said. “I think this is going to be a turning point of my life.”

Reporter Alyse Young can be reached at 270-745-2655 and alyse.young878@topper.wku. edu.

After Ayaz and Ayesha Sadal’s Niccah ceremony, they take time away from family and friends to be alone together outside of Ayaz’s family home in Lahore, Pakistan.

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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

International Center to offer sewing class

BY MEGAN COLE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU Through the International Center of Kentucky, Bowling Green has become a place where many who are resettled in the United States seek refuge when they flee their home country.

During the struggle to integrate into an entirely new culture, many creative abilities can be pushed aside rather than given dignity and celebration.

Natalie Martin, WKU alumna, has plans to change that with a new sewing class at the International Center of Bowling Green, open to refugees who call Bowling Green their new home.

Martin says the process of the International Center is to help refugees become self-sufficient within roughly 180 days including a job placement.

One of the places the International Center has connections with and receives job references from is Fruit of the Loom, which has jobs with sewing skill requirements.

“I could do arts and crafts and fun things, but I wanted to teach something more practical,” Martin said.

“The goal is to help some women find full-time employment, or help stay-at-home moms earn a little extra money for their family or even teach them how to alter their kid’s clothes.”

Our goal is to create a sense of community and empower the women by providing a skill class that may be relative to background skills.”

International Center volunteer coordinator Emily Hurt Ma Pa Wa, a native from Kawkareik in Myanmar, moved to Bowling Green nine years ago as a refugee from the civil war in Burma.

Living with her family and three children, Ma Pa Wa says she sews clothes for her family and friends as her job.

“I started sewing when I was 17 years old in my country,” she said.

“It was my job and I would sew traditional Burmese clothes.”

Ma Pa Wa said she hopes to work as a seamstress for a very long time.

“I love to sew, and it helps my family and community,” she said. “It also helps my kids, and I want them to have a good life here in the US.” Martin said she knew many men and women with similar stories to Ma Pa Wa who are currently residing in and coming to Bowling Green.

“Most are fleeing war and violence, and we don’t acknowledge often where they are coming from,” Martin said. “Because of that, we forget that

they are seeking a place of refuge and safety.”

As a follower of Christ, Martin said she believes we are called to welcome and to love our neighbors. She said it is written throughout the Bible in the Old and New Testaments, and this has been her motive to be involved with the refugee population.

“There are such great parallels to the physical refugees here and how we have all needed welcoming,” Martin said. “I know that I identify with that spiritually as I have sought refuge and a safe place.”

Martin says she feels there is a strong calling on not just Christians but people in the community to love and welcome these people who are fleeing war.

“Before knowing someone we have a tendency to place unfamiliar people in an unrelated place in our mind but we are forgetting what they are coming from in their countries and what they are looking for in the

United States,” she said.

The goal is to welcome them and celebrate their skills through the class, Martin said. This will help them find jobs while teaching them a practical skill they can use at home and in the workplace.

“Our goal is to create a sense of community and empower the women by providing a skill class that may be relative to background skills,” Emily Hurt, International Center volunteer coordinator, said.

Martin said sewing has been one of the most practical skills she has ever learned; she learned in third grade from her mom and picked it up as a hobby during her teen and college years.

“I’ve been able to earn money selling ties and bow ties, and am now working on sewing garments,” Martin said. “My hope is to be able to get a group of women together to do the same for them with whatever they are most comfortable with and talented in sewing.”

Martin said for the class they already have roughly six sewing machines and garments, but are still in need of thread, pins, and scissors, as well as ironing boards and irons.

“The goal is to get them in the direction of self sufficiency,” Martin said. “That’s the goal.”

Reporter Megan Cole can be reached at 270-745-2655 and megan. cole775@topper.wku.edu.

Community celebrates art, holiday season

BY EMMA AUSTIN HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU Families were greeted by Christmas music, festive decorations and the smell of gingerbread upon entering the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center last week to celebrate art and the beginning of the holiday season.

SKyPAC hosted its second annual Gingerbread Homes for the Arts holiday kick-off event the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The community day invited families and organizations from the area for various Christmas-themed activities, functioning as a fundraiser to support SKyPAC’s arts education outreach.

“It’s open for everybody to come in and enjoy and celebrate the arts,” Jessica Snodgrass, marketing and visual arts gallery director at SKyPAC, said. “It’s been a hit. We’re packed to the brim in the visual arts gallery.”

SKyPAC hosted a gingerbread house contest with 50 entries on display in the gallery, giving visitors a chance to vote for their favorite house. The contest included three categories: professional, amateur and youth. Participants included the Ultimate Christmas Gift Basket

It’s open for everybody to come in and enjoy and celebrate the arts.”

Marketing and visual arts gallery director at SKyPac Jessica Snodgrass WKU architect club, Chi Omega sorority, girl scout troops and bakeries and schools in Bowling Green.

The gallery also displayed an exhibit titled “Ninety-Nine Candy Canes on the Wall,” a collection of drawings and paintings of various candy cane-inspired artwork, including visual portrayals of elves, rabbits and birds.

A “merry market” was set up in the lobby of the theater where local artisans sold their work.

Bowling Green wire artist Jill Gentry, owner of Blue Malibu Wire Jewelry, displayed an assorted collection of jewelry she made by hand from stones and wire.

“It’s a lot of fun to see the families come in,” Gentry said. “I get lots of kids interested in the rocks, and they

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like looking at them.”

Bowling Green resident Brittany Wimpee came with her family for the first time after finding out about the event on Facebook. She said the event provided an opportunity for kids to learn more about art.

Snodgrass said the activities are a great way for families to have a hands-on experience with visual art.

“It’s kind of a way to merge performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, dance arts,” Snodgrass said.

If they weren’t busy decorating gingerbread houses or taking pictures with Santa Claus, visitors could also sit and watch musical and theatrical performances throughout the day. Members of the Public Theatre of Kentucky performed a scene from “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”;

dancers and singers also performed, including WKU Dance and church choruses.

“It’s really about collaborating and being inclusive and celebrating the arts together and enriching the lives of the community through the arts,” Snodgrass said.

Reporter Emma Austin can be reached at 270-745-2655 and emma. austin177@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emmacaustin.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2016

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

Lady Tops head to Stanford for NCAA tournament

BY MATTHEW STEWART

HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

After going 30-2 and 14-0 in conference play, the Lady Topper volleyball team is headed to the NCAA tournament once again. This time the team will face Boise State University (25-6) in Stanford, California.

Head Coach Travis Hudson and company have put together another winning season with wins over NCAA tourney teams like the University of Cincinnati and the University of Pittsburgh.

“I think that at this point if we lose, that’s the end of our season.

But I think we have nothing to lose,” senior defensive specialist Georgia O’Connell said. “We can go out play as hard as we want; we have nothing to lose, we have no pressure. I think that’s when this team plays best.”

Hudson said that believes Boise State resembles much of what the Lady Toppers do well while also complimenting the players’ ability on the court.

“They are physical, very in control, like we are,” Hudson said. “From watching them on film, I think this may be one of the best matchups in the first round. I think if we play well we are going to have a chance to win.

This is Boise’s first NCAA appearance and so, hopefully, we can use our experience.”

The 20th ranked Lady Tops held the 15th spot in the RPI rankings while also boasting a 30-win season and they still came up short on the opportunity to host NCAA tournament matches.

“We wanted to play here [Diddle], we felt like we deserved to play here but I enjoy going on the road with this team, there’s a lot of distractions here,” Hudson said.

FOOTBALL

Continued from SPORTS of the season after yielding 27.5 points per game on average through the first month-and-a-half of the season.

With an average margin of victory of 34 points per contest since traveling to play the West division cham-

LADY TOPS

Continued from SPORTS “When you look at the stats across the board, I think everything was pretty much even, but they made eight three-pointers and we made four,” Head Coach Michelle ClarkHeard told the Bowling Green Daily News after the opening game. “There were some open shots that went in and out that were missed and they made some plays down the stretch. It was a really good game. I’m proud of the team and players, but we have to find a way to close that out.”

BASKETBALL Continued from SPORTS

ing 33-5 scoring run. The Toppers couldn’t get anything going on offense in the matchup.

Washington shut down the Tops on the offensive end of the floor as WKU was held to their lowest point total of the entire season. The Huskies would go on to win by a final score of 86-47.

The Toppers were led by senior guard Que Johnson with 12 points.

The only other Toppers to finish in double figures were seniors Anton Waters and Pancake Thomas with 11 and 12 points, respectively.

Despite not getting the bid to host tournament contests, the Lady Tops have experienced success away from Diddle Arena as they are currently 11-0 on the road. The team believes they actually get closer while they are on the road.

“This team is just a team of 12 sisters, we always are together on the road, always together as one,” O’Connell said.

“I have never been to California, so that will be a new experience, and I think one of the best parts about this team is we bond whenever we travel, so being able to have that long trip I think will be a good bonding experience for all of us,” junior All-American Alyssa Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh sees the team chemistry as one of the qualities in the team that can help them succeed in the tournament.

“Everyone gets along so well together and I really think that clicks on and off the court,” Cavanaugh said.

The Lady Tops have prepared all Freshman outside hitter Sophia Cerino (23) celebrates with senior defensive speseason to play in the NCAA tourna- cialist Kaelin Grimes (17) after scoring a point against UAB Friday, Oct. 14, at Diddle ment. Now that the time has come, Arena. Jeff Brown/HERALD they are ready for the challenge and “Stanford is big, and they’re good,” They are six seven, six five, six three the opportunity to play on the big O’Connell said. “Every team is good, and it’s just a different level of physistage.

“You can’t really play thinking that you can’t underestimate any team cality and we won’t shy away from it.”

“This time of the year I think you this might be our last game,” Cava- whether that’s Boise State or Denver. naugh said. “You need to go out and I’m just really excited to go. It’s my last have to convince your kids to go out give it your all and try to advance chance, so why not have fun with it. I and be fearless,” Hudson continued. and go as far as you can. That’s what want a crack at the west coast teams “There’s a lot on the line and there’s we’re trying to do towards the end of just to prove that we’re up there too.” no way around that. They all know Hudson knows Stanford will be there’s no tomorrow. We just need the season. We have nothing to lose going out there [California]. We’ve a big challenge for his team, but to go out and be who we are, be the worked really hard to get to the NCAA he sees it as a good opportunity to best version of ourselves. If we leave so there’s no point in working so hard showcase what Lady Top volleyball it all on the court whenever this thing all season just to go out there and is all about and that he and his team ends I think we can all live with it.” will not back down from the size that fear what could happen.”

Reporter Matthew Stewart can be The Lady Tops will get the chance Stanford possesses.

“Stanford is big, physical and tal- reached at 270-745-6281 and matto take on perennial powerhouse Stanford University if they can knock ented, playing well,” Hudson said. thew.stewart015@topper.wku.edu.

“Their physicality is what is hard to Follow him on Twitter at @MES_ off the Broncos of Boise State. match. We’re six foot, six foot, six one. WKU22. pion Bulldogs in Ruston, Louisiana, it is only fitting the two teams will square off in Bowling Green for the C-USA title.

“It’s a big game for us because last time we didn’t have our best game and now as a team, we look so much better, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” junior defensive tackle Chris Johnson said. “We’ll be

excited to get out there and show them what we’re really about.”

The C-USA Championship between WKU and La. Tech (8-4, 6-2 C-USA) will kick off at 11 a.m. this Saturday and will be broadcast on ESPNU. “This will be the final exam against a very good football team that put a

lot of points on us the last time we played and we’re looking forward to this challenge,” Brohm said.

The Lady Tops found redemption on Saturday against Kent State in a consolation game. After falling behind 41-27 in the third quarter, the Lady Tops began to find their groove.

Noble drained a three pointer and junior forward Tashia Brown nailed two free throws to give the Lady Tops the spark they needed.

Noble scored 9 of her 28 points in the final quarter as WKU tied the game at 65 late in the game with Tashia Brown at the free throw line.

Tashia Brown nailed two free throws to give WKU the lead. However, Kent State’s Larissa Lurken

matched Brown at the free throw line to send the game into overtime.

Noble tallied six of her 28 points in the overtime period as the Lady Tops pulled away for a 79-73 victory.

In the final game, the Lady Tops fell behind 12-2 early and never recovered. Despite Tashia Brown’s third straight double double, the Lady Tops struggled to get anything going offensively, scoring just 18 points in the first half.

Midway through the third quarter, the Lady Tops went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 45-32. However, that would be as close as WKU would get

as George Washington pulled away for a 68-49 victory.

The tournament drops the Lady Tops to 3-3 overall. WKU will travel to Richmond tomorrow night to take on Eastern Kentucky University (2-3).

WKU leads the all-time series against the Lady Colonels 28-7 including a 76-60 victory last year.

Senior forward Ben Lawson managed to finish with a game-high five blocks in just 15 minutes of play.

WKU had a difficult time taking care of the ball as well as turning the ball over to the Huskies 15 times in the contest. Washington in comparison only had 10 turnovers in the game.

After falling to Washington on Friday, the Tops took to the hardwood again Saturday evening. The opposition for Saturday’s game was the host school of the tournament, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

WKU struggled out of the gates against the Rebels as UNLV led 21-11

with 6:17 remaining in the first half.

A three pointer from Que Johnson allowed WKU to gain the lead at 2423. A steady defensive effort helped the Toppers hold its lead at halftime 30-28.

However, the second half was a much different story as with 5:12 to play the Rebels held a 58-52 lead and didn’t look back.

The Tops lost to UNLV by a final score of 71-61.

Que Johnson led the way once again for theToppers with 16 points followed by Thomas and Waters with 13 and 10, respectively. Justin Johnson finished with the only WKU

double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.

Up next for the Toppers will be a rivalry matchup with Eastern Kentucky University this Wednesday night at 7 p.m in Richmond.

Reporter Evan Heichelbech can be reached at 270-745-6291 and evan. heichelbech059@topper.wku.edu.

Follow him on Twitter at @evanheich.

Reporter Sam Porter can be reached at 270-745-6291 and samuel.porter841@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @SammyP14.

Reporter Matthew Stewart can be reached at 270-745-6281 and matthew.stewart015@topper.wku.edu.

Follow him on Twitter at @MES_ WKU22.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2016

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

NOVEMBER 29, 2016 > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKUHERALD.COM

SPORTS

» Football: Junior kick returner Kylen Towner was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.

Senior wide receiver Taywan Taylor (2) tries to escape a tackle by Marshall University safety Kendall Gant (14) during Hilltoppers’ 60-6 win over Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 26, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W. Va. Evan Boggs/HERALD

never a doubt wku quiets thundering herd in blowout 60-6 victory

BY EVAN HEICHELBECH

HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU The outcome of WKU’s regular season finale was never in doubt Saturday, as the Hilltoppers (9-3, 7-1 C-USA) throttled Marshall University 60-6 to win the C-USA East division for the second consecutive season.

The game turned into a points party for the Tops from the opening play as junior return specialist Kylen Towner took the opening kickoff back for a 93-yard score.

At the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard read 28-0 in favor of the Hilltoppers.

“We understood there was a lot riding on that football game,” Head Coach Jeff Brohm said. “A lot of upsets were going on throughout the

week and we had to win to advance.

Our guys understood that and we wanted the pressure on us. We try to invite that every week and put it on ourselves every time we step on the field.”

Starting redshirt junior quarterback Mike White kept the momentum going early on for the Toppers, throwing three first-half touchdowns after starting the game 7 of 11 for 132 yards. He finished 16 of 27 passing for 233 yards through the air.

Brohm’s offense was able to find a good balance early on as well, as redshirt senior running back Anthony “Ace” Wales found the end zone on a 19-yard scamper.

Wales also managed to catch a touchdown pass as well with under a minute left in the opening quarter.

Wales finished with 147 total yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.

“We did have balance and I think that that’s been the key on offense,” Brohm said in a postgame radio interview with Randy Lee. “We’re not just completely relying on passing the football. The offensive line does a great job with that and our running backs have been hitting the holes.”

After Marshall snapped a streak of 48 straight points by the Toppers in the third quarter with a touchdown of its own, the extra point attempt was blocked and returned for two points by junior defensive back Joe Brown, giving WKU its second special teams score of the game and increasing its lead to 50-6.

As productive as the offense was,

the Topper defense was equally solid, allowing just six points on 230 total yards of offense from the Thundering Herd.

“That’s our mentality, to be aggressive, and we came out and showed that today,” graduate senior linebacker Keith Brown said in a postgame radio interview with Randy Lee. The step forward for the team’s leading tackler in Brown and the defense as a whole has been a major factor of the Toppers’ six-game winning streak since early October.

After giving up 55 points and 561 yards of offense in a 55-52 loss to Louisiana Tech University on Oct. 7, the Topper defense has clamped down, allowing just over 17 points per game through its final six games

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Lady Tops finish 1-2 in tournament Tops drop

Junior forward Ivy Brown (23) fights for the ball during the Lady Toppers’ 85-74 win against Indiana University Saturday Nov. 19, 2016 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Evan Boggs/HERALD

BY SAM PORTER HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU The WKU women’s basketball team traveled to Estero, Florida, this past weekend to compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University.

In the tournament the Lady Tops fell to 18th ranked DePaul University 77-69 and defeated Kent State University 79-73 in overtime before dropping a 68-49 decision to George

Washington University.

The eight-team tournament featured Associated Press Top 25 teams such as fifth ranked Baylor University, eighth ranked Ohio State University, 11th ranked Syracuse university, as well as Florida Gulf Coast University.

After coming off a win over previously ranked Indiana University Bloomington, the Lady Tops were hoping to keep that momentum in the tournament.

Despite three double-doubles by junior forward Ivy Brown in the showcase, the Lady Tops lost two out of three games to finish sixth overall in the tournament and dropped to 3-3 in the season.

The Lady Tops opened the tournament looking for its second straight win over a top 25 ranked opponent against DePaul.

The Lady Tops jumped out to an early 11-4 lead thanks to four early points from freshman forward Sarah Price who made her second consecutive start.

However, DePaul hit two of its eight threes back to back to pull within one point early in the game.

The Lady Tops led 19-15 after the first quarter, but a 8-0 Lady Deacon run to open the second quarter propelled DePaul to a 39-36 lead at the half.

DePaul’s Jessica January scored four of her 24 points to open the second half to extend the lead to 43-36, a lead the Lady Deacons never gave up.

The Lady Tops closed the gap to 61-60 after sophomore guard Sidnee Bopp nailed a bucket to make it a one-point game.

However, the Lady Deacons hit 10-11 free throws in the final quarter to pull away for a 77-69 victory.

Redshirt senior Kendall Noble led the Lady Tops with 19 points while Tashia Brown tallied 12 points and 12 rebounds.

SEE LADY TOPS PAGE B4

two games in Global Sports Classic

BY MATTHEW STEWART HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The Hilltoppers lost both of its tournament games by a combined 49 points at the Global Sports Classic tournament in Las Vegas this past weekend.

First, WKU (3-3) would face off against the University of Washington (4-2). The Huskies were an athletic squad which featured star freshman guard Markelle Fultz who is being considered by many scouting websites as a consensus top-five draft pick in next year’s NBA Draft.

The Tops were to able to hang close with the Huskies in the first half only being down by eight points heading in to the halftime 39-31.

Once the second half opened up, Washington was in the driver’s seat.

At one point in the second half the Huskies manage to go on a dominat-

SEE BASKETBALL PAGE B4