September 29, 2020 by College Heights Herald

COMMUNITY

“I choose Black women every time”

VOLUME 96 • ISSUE 6

MARCHING AT A DISTANCE Big Red Marching Band comes together while social distancing By Maggie Thornton margaret.thornton882@topper.wku.edu

With strict calls for social distancing, WKU’s Big Red Marching Band members were unsure if they would be able to meet safely, or at all. With more than 250 members, social distancing with this many students presents obvious challenges. But Matthew McCurry, director of the Big Red Marching Band, said that with careful planning and the help of his colleagues, he is confident they are doing everything they can to keep everyone involved safe. “This year has been full of learning curves, but I’ve found support from everywhere I’ve turned,” McCurry said. “We knew from the beginning how important the [Big Red Marching Band] was to WKU and to the band members who need that outlet, so we were ready to do whatever it took to make it happen.” The marching band meets three days a week, with one of those days being in the football stadium and the other two on South Lawn. Band members are required to wear masks at all times they are moving and not playing in place. They are spaced apart in a four-step-block, which keeps them 7 feet apart. McCurry said that while the new spacing looks and sounds a little different, it actually works to the advantage of the instrumentalists. Elise McCoy, a freshman band member from Breckinridge County, plays the clarinet and said the new spacing helps to improve her playing. “It helps you as an individual instrumentalist because you can hear yourself clearer,” McCoy said. “You can hear when you missed this scale or skipped that note, and you can critique yourself and play better.” McCurry is a part of the College Band Directors National Association, which gives him updates once a week on studies being performed and new methods of keeping bands around the country safe. One of the studies the College Band Directors National Association commissioned out of the University of Colorado and the University of Maryland involved

AMELIA CURRY The Big Red Marching Band rehearses for an upcoming football game at the Houchens Industries L.T. Stadium on Friday, September 25th 2020. “They’ve been doing a good job, I’m proud of all their hard work despite these new conditions.” says McCurry

testing the aerosol emissions released from instruments. The study found that almost every instrument released a low level of aerosols and the best way to significantly reduce the range of emission is to use masks and apply bell covers to musical instruments. McCurry decided to use bell covers after reading this study to add an extra layer of protection for band members. McCurry said the bell covers slightly affect the sound, but that is something he is willing to look past for the safety of his band. McCurry advises students who think they have been exposed to COVID-19 or

WKU hotline. She followed the guidelines given by the hotline and returned to the band when it was safe. While she is not sure how she contracted the virus, she trusts that the band is taking all of the necessary precautions in keeping its members safe and was happy to be back and healthy in time for the first home game. McCurry said that the marching band makes enforcing these guidelines easy because the students take so much accountability for themselves and their band members. Kelsey Dunn, a graduate teaching assistant from Todd County and the

JOSHUA PACE SENIOR DRUM MAJOR

“Our main goal is to keep being able to do this, so we just abide by these rules so we can keep coming together,” who are experiencing symptoms to call the WKU hotline and notify their section leader. If students have to quarantine or take time off from the Big Red Marching Band for COVID-19 related purposes, their scholarship is in no way affected and they just have to fill out an absentee form for missed events. Taylor Hennings, a junior from Breckenridge County, plays the clarinet in the Big Red Marching Band and contracted COVID-19 in early September. Hennings does not know how she was exposed to COVID-19, but as soon as she began to feel symptoms she took responsibility and messaged her section leader. When Hennings received her test results, she notified the band and called the

captain head of percussion/drumline, agreed with McCurry’s sentiment and said that the Big Red Marching Band has a family mindset. “Band is a very social experience, but everyone is a team player and every week we talk about how what you do outside rehearsal might affect what happens inside of rehearsal,” Dunn said. “We have awesome student leadership that takes personal responsibility, which trickles down to the whole band, which is why I see the whole band from freshmen to seniors approaching this the same way.” Joshua Pace, a senior drum major who has been in the Big Red Marching Band

BIG RED MARCHING BAND • A2

WEEK OF 9.29.20

8 juveniles responsible for recurring water throwing harassment By Easton Reynolds easton.reynolds653@topper.wku.edu

Eight juveniles have been identified responsible for a string of multiple harassment complaints on campus, according to a statement released by Tim Gray, Public Information Officer for WKU Police Department. The investigation was conducted after multiple students reported cups of water thrown at them while walking on campus. “These individuals are suspected of engaging in a course of conduct and repeatedly committing acts which alarm or seriously annoy others and simply serve no legitimate purpose,” Gray said. First-hand accounts consistently detailed four to five males driving a blue sedan yelling rude or racially charged remarks at bystanders before throwing water on them. Emma Smith, a senior from Louisville, was one of those bystanders and recalls being “pretty pissed” after the incident happened. “It just made me feel, like, disrespected,” Smith said. Abby Lawalin was also hit after walking with her sister on Park Street. She recalls the cup bursting and Sprite splashing all over her and her sister. Smith and Lawalin’s stories are not alone. According to Gray, five incidents have been reported directly to the WKUPD; however, on the popular Facebook group “Sorority Swap,” over 50 women have described similar incidents, dating back as far as this summer. Victims were flustered and hesitant to contact authorities, leaving most of these incidences unreported. Connor Dhonau, a senior from Hebron, was struck with two cups of water while walking out of Midtown Apartments. He did not contact the WKUPD or the Bowling Green Police Department. “I didn’t think it’d be any use, not sure what they could do,” Dhonau said. Lawalin, however, did contact BGPD. “They were super helpful but also let me know that there’s not much they can do which I totally understood,” Lawalin said. However, of the few that were reported, WKU Police Department were able to identify the registration tags on one of the cars and bring the owner in for questioning, Gray said. “During an interview with the juvenile driver of that vehicle, we were provided with a list of names of each of the individuals who were present in the two vehicles during the cup throwing incidents that took place on the evening of September 15th,” Gray stated in an email. According to Gray, these cases are part of an ongoing investigation, and WKUPD will continue monitoring the situation. “Every member of this campus community, whether a student, faculty, or staff member, has the right to feel safe while here,” Gray stated in an email. “Your personal safety matters to us, and any person(s) who aid in creating an environment that is not conducive to that, can expect to be held accountable for their actions. If you see something, please say something.”

Easton Reynolds can be reached at easton.reynolds653@topper.wku.edu Follow him on Twitter @epdogg5000.

A2 Megan Withers, a junior flute player Hilltoppers for a reason.” CONTINUED campus can see and hear this huge Big Red Marching Band is preparing BIG RED MARCHING BAND • A1 band wearing masks, staying distant from Bowling Green, said that while the for five years, said he thinks it’s because of the family mindset many members have that they want to keep each other and their community safe by following the guidelines given to them. “Our main goal is to keep being able to do this, so we just abide by these rules so we can keep coming together,” Pace said. “From what I can gather the band’s mindset is that they don’t want to spread the virus to someone else and potentially hurt them or their family, so we’re gonna do everything we can to not spread it. It’s less of a ‘me’ mindset and more of a ‘we’ mindset.” The Big Red Marching Band calls itself the “Pride of the Hilltoppers,” and many of its members take that sentiment very seriously. They feel the band can set a positive example for their fellow WKU students to follow social distancing guidelines. “We’re a big group, and we practice three days a week, so students all over

and following the rules, which I think speaks volumes,” Pace said. “If we can do it, so can everyone else, and hopefully when people hear this it can spark a nice change on the hill.” Emma Grace Tuggle, a sophomore from Bowling Green, plays the piccolo and said she thinks the band offers hope to WKU students that things will eventually get better. “There’s nothing like hearing the fight song after a touchdown or walking around campus and hearing the band — It’s heartwarming,” Tuggle said. “I’ve had quite a few people tell me it lifts their spirits to hear us play.” The band has had to make many adjustments this year, and game day is one of those. On a typical game day the Big Red Marching Band would occupy one section in the stadium and march on the field for the halftime show. This year, they are no longer allowed on the field, and they now occupy three stands for a total of 1,200 seats.

new game day guidelines are definitely an adjustment, she thinks it’s really important that the band still gets to cheer on the football team during games. “We bring an element to athletic events because we are always there to cheer and support the team, which is especially important now with the reduced number of fans in the stadium,” Withers said. “We brought our A-game during the first football game of this season, and we had fun, which is what we do in the flute section. We scream and holler and support the Tops.” McCoy offered similar insight into game day and said her first ever college football game exceeded her expectations, despite it looking different than she expected. “The game atmosphere was electric, and we were playing with so much energy, just being silly and letting our personalities show, and it felt like I had regained some sense of normalcy,” McCoy said. “They call us the Pride of the

a pre-recorded halftime show for the WKU Homecoming game to broadcast while they play in the stands. Many of the band members agreed that while the adjustments have been difficult, they are just happy to be able to be there and find some sort of normal in a time when everything is changing. Erin McCurdy, a junior drum major from Louisville, said that while it’s disappointing to not be able to do little things like the band’s traditional handshake or hug your friends, she is just thankful to be on campus and is willing to do whatever it takes to stay together. “Doing band makes it feel like some things are a little back to normal,” McCurdy said. “Band is an outlet for people to feel included and welcome and to express themselves. So to have this organization to come to and feel welcome is a big blessing, especially since many other schools didn’t.”

Maggie Thornton can be reached at margaret.thornton882@topper.wku.edu.

Local small businesses work to recover from pandemic losses By Easton Reynolds easton.reynolds653@topper.wku.edu

Small businesses that rely on college student commerce across Bowling Green are still coping with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. When WKU sent students back home in early March, shops, bars and other establishments had to find ways to adapt to over 18,000 students leaving Bowling Green. Similarly, businesses across the country that depend on student commerce are also struggling. According to Yelp, businesses in college towns are 24% more likely than other businesses to permanently close. Hilligan’s, which is situated at the bottom of College Street, instantly took a hit from students leaving campus in late February and not returning until August, said Ashley Bland, General Manager for Hilligan’s. “We missed the May graduation, which is definitely one of our biggest days of the year,” Bland said. Hilligan’s had to modify the business to strictly takeout and delivery while in-person seating was prohibited. Hilligan’s has always had delivery options but with the transition to delivery-only service, it “definitely put a hamper on business,” according to Bland. “The governor opened up alcohol delivery with food purchase, but it had to be probable to what you’re eating,” Bland said. “You can’t deliver a sandwich and a whole case of beer.” When Gov. Andy Beshear lifted restrictions on indoor seating, Hilligan’s was only able to seat 30% capacity. This proved difficult to do in a close bar setting, but Hilligan’s adapted to accommodate the new restrictions, Bland said. “We had to re-shift tables and seating and get rid of bar seating,” Bland said. “We had to utilize a lot of our outdoor space.” When visiting Hilligan’s, customers will notice the emphasis on patio seating and a new area on the volleyball court with tables and chairs that keep to social distancing guidelines. Upon reopening in May, Hilligan’s experienced the consequences of the pandemic first-hand. In mid-June, five employees tested positive for COVID-19, so Hillligan’s had to temporarily re-shut down for deep cleaning and quarantining. “Any of the staff members we thought, or the health department thought, needed to be quarantined,” Bland said. “It

definitely made scheduling a little harder, trying to navigate who can work and when.” However, Hilligan’s has not reported any new positive cases since and is doing everything it can to keep customers and staff as safe as possible, Bland said. “It’s definitely been a roller coaster the last six months,” Bland said. Hilligan’s was lucky enough to receive economic assistance from the federal government, Bland said. Hilligan’s successfully applied for a Payment Protection Program loan that helped ease the financial burden caused by the Pandemic. JC’s Barber Shop, however, did not receive any loans. Junius Carpenter, owner of JC’s Barber Shop, located on Adams Street, said the shop could not get any financial relief in time. “I applied for some, but all the money was gone,” Carpenter said. JC’s was not alone. According to Reuters, 75% of small businesses applied for a PPP loan, but less than 40% actually received help. “I’m a landlord for another business, and he was able to continue paying his rent, so that helped me,” Carpenter said about staying afloat. “We just made it work.” Since reopening, Carpenter said business has been “unstable” with one week being very hectic and the next being very slow. He’s hoping business stabilizes in the future but does not know when that will happen. “People are still nervous coming out,” Carpenter said. Despite the struggles at the barbershop, Carpenter’s second business, JC’s Barber College has grown tremendously. Since reopening, his barber college more than doubled in students attending from four to 10 students. “Here [at the barber shop] it’s been unstable, but over there [at the barber college], it’s the exact opposite,” Carpenter said. Carpenter thinks the sudden increase in barber college students could be attributed to people wanting a career change coming out of quarantine. Once WKU brought its students back to campus, Carpenter has prioritized reaching out to students and letting them know he is still open for business. “Those first two weeks we came back,

now that was crazy,” Carpenter said. “We’ve been advertising on campus, telling the freshmen about us. We definitely appreciate the students coming back because we didn’t know if they would or not. It affects our business too.” Carpenter also realizes the added risk of face-to-face contact a barbershop presents. He said overall customers have been “pretty conscious” of other people when it comes to maintaining social distancing and mask-wearing. “A lot of people look at the door and forget their mask and go back to get one,” Carpenter said. “I’m always wearing my mask, but generally when they get to the chair I’ll ask them to remove their mask to do their face.” He emphasized how vital it is for busi-

ing freshmen, but plans had to change. “We weren’t able to do anything,” Pfefferkorn said. “That’s one of the things we look forward to because we DJ as well.” They also host food trucks, concerts and voter registration inside and outside the shop but have had to cancel many of these events due to the pandemic, Pfefferkorn said. In order to stay connected on campus, Pfefferkorn said they used social media to let students and customers know they were still open for curbside or mail-in orders. “We did a lot of social media, on Twitter, Instagram and even Facebook that helped out immensely with reaching college kids,” Pfefferkorn said.

RILEY GREIF

nesses to adapt to the new circumstances. “That’s just part of it,” Carpenter said. “We just got to adjust.” Adjusting to the current situation was also crucial for Matt Pfefferkorn, owner of Mellow Matt’s Music and More. Mellow Matt’s is a record store located on Smallhouse Road which is known for its involvement in the local music scene, but it had to sideline many of its events due to COVID-19. Specifically, during MASTER Plan, Mellow Matt’s would hold a booth and host a concert on campus for the incom-

Once Beshear lifted restrictions on retail shopping, Pfefferkorn said they received little pushback from mask-wearing or occupancy limits. “That’s the nice thing about our customer base, whether it’s Western students or older people, just anybody, they understand that crazy things are going on and we’re just trying to keep everybody safe,” Pfefferfkorn said.

Easton Reynolds can be reached at easton.reynolds653@topper.wku.edu Follow him on Twitter @epdogg5000.

CRIME REPORTS September 24, 2020 2:33 P.M. A subject was arrested for running a stop sign, no registration plates, no motorcycle operator’s license, failure to comply with helmet law, and possession of controlled substances in the first degree. 6:50 P.M. A female reported her husband had attempted to physically force her into his vehicle. September 25, 2020 1:50 P.M. Drug paraphernalia and alcohol were reported in Rodes Harlin Hall.

PHOTO

Megan Meredith, left, Gracie Nelson, center, and Annabeth Nelson, right, fill in color on the mural at SOKY Marketplace on Sept. 26, 2020. Gracie and Annabeth came with their sister Ella Kate.

ART FOR ALL A

By Allie Hendricks & Preston Romanov

fter several months of very few in-person events in Bowling Green, Andee Rudloff found a safe way to bring people together through art. After painting simple black lines onto a canvas, she set up a colorless mural at SOKY Marketplace on Sept. 26, 2020. The event was organized by Arts for All Kentucky, which works to include people of all abilities into doing art. Children with different disabilities and their families, as well as many others in the community, participated in filling the mural with color. “The mural shows an inclusion of all kids,” Leanne Brown, the mother of a child with down syndrome, said, “Any kind of kid with any kind of disability can be included with their artwork.” A lot of the families that participated have been isolated because their children are more at risk when getting sick, so the mural was a good way for them to be back out in the community.

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Top: Erick Lopez, 6, paints the mural after coming to the SOKY Marketplace with his mother and sister on Sept. 26, 2020. Middle left: Elijah Bemiss uses his brush to paint on the public mural at SoKY Marketplace in Bowling Green on Sept. 26, 2020. Middle right: Friends Chloe Downing, left, and Ella Kate Nelson, elbow bump when seeing each other at the mural painting at SOKY Marketplace on Sept. 26, 2020. Bottom: Artist Andee Rudloff, right, talks with her assistant Megan Meredith as they wait for their next group to come and paint on the Arts for All Kentucky mural in Bowling Green on Sept. 26, 2020. Rudloff became involved with Arts for All to bring the arts to people of all abilities. “To be back out and connecting with people is really my passion,” Rudloff said.

COMMUNITY A

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ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX COX

Gabrielle Bunton: gabrielle.bunton605@topper.wku.edu

was too young to fully grasp what was happening when Trayvon Martin died. I just knew it was bad. I knew it wasn’t right. I remember my mama saying something about the bigger picture. At that point, there were so many murders of Black men across the country at the hands of the police. Then I finally saw it happen — Sandra Bland. I saw two pictures of her that day. Her smiling face was paired with her mugshot, a vacant look in her eyes. This was my first time ever seeing a Black woman go through this. It hurt 10 times more because she looked like me. I watched people post about it and make their noise, but it was a whisper compared to all they did for the Black men. I watched her fade away into a memory in the back of my mind of what could be my fate one day. When I first heard of what happened to Breonna Taylor, I was shocked because not only was it an hour away from me, but also because I was able to final-

ly grasp the concept of what was happening to Black women at the hands of the police. Breonna led me to the discovery of so many Black women who died at the hands of the cowardly and cold-hearted police. She also showed me the light of how the world thought about Black women and how little our lives mattered. I was confident that they would be quick about getting justice for her like they did George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, but the months kept dragging on. They kept poking holes in everything, digging up every aspect of her background, finding loopholes to not charge the three deliberate and dirty police officers. During those months, I watched people put her on magazines, use her name as ammunition in social media wars, use her name on trendy memes to fit the theme of their timelines, make documentaries and even host a barbeque in her honor. Even when Black women would try to

defend her and shed light on our perspectives, we were shut down by everyone, including the men who were always there for Black men. Her death turned into a capitalistic and fun way for people to make money and portray themselves as “woke.” Then we came to the final moments of wondering what would happen to Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove. It was crazy to me how this had played out because Black men had always bashed Black women for everything that we’ve done and had always tried to push the notion that they were going to protect us, but it was a Black man who ultimately gave us the final blow and spat in our face. Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Breonna’s neighbors’ walls deserved more justice than her. He only charged one of the three officers with a meaningless charge and bond that was less than my student debt.

What was an even bigger slap in the face was the fact that the charge was not connected to her in any way. They charged the murderer for firing rounds into her neighbor’s house. Wednesday told me everything I needed to know about how this country feels about Black women. I am hurt beyond measure because a life was taken and covered up with millions of dollars and the false promise of police reforms. I cried real tears that day. I never thought I would find myself connected to someone I didn’t know, but I couldn’t help it. She was a Black woman like me. She went to sleep with the expectation of waking up the next day, just like me. I watched my white counterparts post about her during all of this, while remembering the conversation I had with one of my editors who told me this after I went to a protest: “I would try to stay away from those things. I don’t want your career to end before it starts.” I choose you, Breonna Taylor. I choose you, Oluwatoyin Salau. I choose you, Natasha McKenna. I choose you, Michelle Cusseaux. I choose you, Naytasia Williams. I choose you, Kathryn Johnston. I choose you, Korryn Gaines. I choose you, Charleena Lyes. I choose you, Duanna Johnson. I choose you, Rekia Boyd. I choose you, Aiyana Stanley Jones. I choose every single Black woman who has been forgotten and treated as lesser than. I choose every Black woman who was murdered, harassed, assaulted, bullied, hurt and so much more. I choose Black women every time. I will forever stand on the side of Black women until the day I die. I chose the path of journalism to be the voice of those who were not able to speak, and I will continue to do so. To me, a journalist is someone who exposes what is happening in this corrupt world and gives the people the truth. The truth is, my sisters need someone like me out there. Someone to help them speak. Someone to help them stand on their feet. Someone to help them keep on forever. While everyone keeps using their stylish propaganda to entice you to vote, I encourage you to look into a website called Black Girl Tragic, and they will give you multiple reasons as to why we need a change and why we need it now. Black women matter now and forever, and I stand solid with every Black woman and girl all around the world. “Nobody in the world, nobody in history has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” — Assata Shakur.

OP-ED

Commissioner candidate Slim Nash: ‘Your right to vote is special’ By Slim Nash

Bowling Green City Commissioner candidate In the interest of transparency, I had no idea who YelloPain was before I began thinking about writing this op-ed. I have not heard but the one song from the Dayton, Ohio rapper, but in that track “My Vote Don’t Count,” he spits the untainted, sometimes painful, truth. “My Vote Don’t Count” is ironic. It’s facetious. You see, Yello is actually spitting about the importance of voting. Your vote, my vote, our votes … they do count. Yello says it best when he rhymes, “If we gonna fix the U.S., we gotta start with them two letters, me and you!” The political process will work without your vote, but it only justly works with your vote! While your right to vote is special, it is not so special that the process will shut down if you fail to show up and vote. In fact, the political process will roll right on without ever even giving a moment of thought to your wants and needs. If you choose to not to cast your vote, no one

can make you – this isn’t kindergarten – but I am here to promise you that those politicians, the ones that you didn’t vote for, are going to be making decisions about you. Most people who vote seem more motivated to vote during presidential years. Voting for your preferred presidential choice is important. Voting for your local offices, including Bowling Green City Commissioner is equally important. Non-presidential contests are often referred to as “down ballot races” because the presidential contenders are at the top of the ballot and every other political office contest – federal, state and local – are listed below the POTUS race, with local being at the very bottom. This seems odd to me because in reality, those “down ballot” offices are the ones that truly impact how you go about your everyday life. Local elections are what influence the kind of police officers you may encounter or how quickly the fire department

arrives in the event of an emergency. The POTUS is important, and so are other federal and state elective offices, but your garbage only gets picked up, the pot hole in the road only gets repaired, dog parks and disc golf courses only get built because of local elective offices. When was the last time you were pissed about a government issue and thought, “I am going to call/text somebody about this #$@&%!” Well, good luck getting ahold of the POTUS or your member of Congress. In contrast, my personal cell phone number is 270.392.0776. You can be my “friend” on Facebook, we can follow each other on Twitter, we can even share pictures on Insta if you’d like – all of which I manage myself, no third party. If you reach out to me, your local elected official, you WILL TALK WITH ME. Like Yello, I feel it is “mandatory” for me to motivate you to vote. Again, it is not mandatory that you do so, but I feel

mandated to encourage you to do so. 2020 has been a difficult time for many, but the one thing remains clear: the importance of electing leaders at every level who put the welfare of everyday people – you – first. This election cycle offers a variety of ways to cast your vote. Visit SlimNash. org and click on “How to Vote” to learn all the ways. Remember Yello’s rhyme, “So every time you sit out an election, every time you don’t show up because you think it doesn’t matter, someone else is happy that you didn’t show up. So they can make that decision for you.” Make your voice heard! Don’t believe what “they” tell you … every vote matters, and so does every single race on the ballot – including Bowling Green City Commissioner.

DISCLOSURE REPORT AN ERROR:

OPINIONS...

*DENOTES...

herald.editor@wku.edu 270•745•5044

...expressed in the College Heights Herald are those of student editors and journalists and do not necessarily represent the views of WKU. Student editors also determine the news and editorial content and likewise reserve the right to reject submissions.

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

Hilltoppers look to bounce back against MTSU

By Matthew Hargrove

matthew.hargrove426@topper.wku.edu

WKU football (0-2) had a week off this past Saturday. Middle Tennessee State University (0-3), (0-1, C-USA) is the next team up on the schedule as the Hilltoppers look for their first win of the 2020 campaign. The Blue Raiders welcome the Hilltoppers to Murfreesboro, Tennessee this Saturday for a 4 p.m. kickoff after dropping three straight games. MTSU fell on the road to the University of Texas-San Antonio 37-35 last Saturday. MTSU’s redshirt junior quarterback Asher O’Hara threw for 372 yards completing 31 of 47 passes. O’Hara also threw two interceptions against the Roadrunners. The veteran added 61 rushing yards to his credit at UTSA on 21 attempts. WKU’s defense has allowed 192 rushing yards to quarterbacks through two weeks of play while giving up four rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks as well. “Honestly, we don’t need any extra juice,” redshirt freshman lineman Ricky Barber said when asked about WKU’s upcoming matchup. “We’re just playing our game. We don’t need to get extra riled up just because they’re our rival. We bring the same energy we bring everybody else.” WKU will travel roughly 100 miles south to play its cross-state foe as it aims to claim its first Conference USA win of the season as well. With two weeks of preparation for the Blue Raiders, the WKU coaching staff knows what they need to work on in order to get into the win column on Oct. 3. “Offensively, the first down is really important for us as far as getting good positive yardage,” WKU Head Coach Tyson Helton stated. “We definitely need to focus on not having the negative yards.” These negative yards have most notably come from the running game, specifically talking about veteran running back Gaej Walker. The redshirt senior had a total of 252 rushing yards after WKU’s first two games last year. He has only accumulated 53 rushing yards in that same span this season. And not only has there been a lot of negatives on the field, off the field situations have plagued the Hilltopper offense as well.

Across

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

3 2 5

7 8

61 City founded by Pizarro 62 Tugboat sound 63 District 64 Archipelago name 65 Malarial fever 66 Vermin 67 English prep school 68 Deteriorates 69 Requirement 70 Soak ﬂax Down 1 2 3 4

Single-master Incomplete Yang’s opposite Horse opera

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 19 20 23 25 27 28 29 30

Haiphong locale Aquatic plant ___ Cayes, Haiti Sir Walter, for one Fishing need Inactive Freshwater duck Distress signal Inquire Doctor’s charge Bright star Daughter of Ea Vigor Castle part Zingy taste Nanjing nanny In perfect condition 31 Alpaca young 32 Phone button

33 34 38 40 44 46 48 49 50 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 63 64

Arrow poison Debate side Swiss river Seafood delicacy Egg dishes Howl Kind of truck Riviera season Takes out Banquet Kitchen light Gulf sultanate Dissenting vote Antares, for one Like some pizza orders Drubbing German title Pitcher’s asset Mal de ___

Last week’s crossword solution:

2 4

1 7

4 6

2 4 7 5 8 9 2 8

1 3 5

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Football beat reporter Matthew Hargrove can be reached at matthew.hargrove426@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewHargrov1

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guys are pretty big dudes,” White said. “They have a big tight end, and you know I think those are the things that stand out and how tough they run the football.” That Blue Raider run game is led by redshirt junior Chaton Mobley, who has been shut down this year so far having 82 rushing yards in three games played. “You know they haven’t started out the way they probably wanted to, but I know they’re working at the same things” coach White said. Fans can watch the Hilltoppers matchup against the Blue Raiders on ESPN 3 or by radio on 100.7 FM. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. in Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium.

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Not only have the Hilltoppers struggled on offense, but the team has also had some confusion on the defensive side of the ball as well. “Bringing the juice back, man, playing like how we playing last year, together,” senior defensive back DeAngelo Malone said. The “juice” is something that will very much be needed when going up against Blue Raider quarterback O’Hara. “He’s a guy that can run and throw, but I tell you probably the one thing that impresses me about him is he just fights for every yard he gets,” Helton said. Helton and defensive coordinator Clayton White have already begun watching film on MTSU’s offense and have picked up on some things to focus on. “The size of their O-line — if you take a really close look at those guys, those

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Redshirt junior Jahcour Pearson followed his fellow wideout Jacquez Sloan into the transfer portal. It’s not yet clear where the receivers will play football next. The top wide receivers for WKU coming into the season are now no longer with the team, which invites more challenges for graduate quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome. “We haven’t struggled on offense because of the quarterback in my opinion,” offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis said. “He hasn’t turned the ball over, which that’s kind of been our formula for winning games.” That’s shown in the stats. As of Sept. 21, Pigrome is one of six quarterbacks in the nation that have 4 plus touchdown passes and no interceptions. Other signal callers on the list include Clemson University’s Trevor Lawrence and the University of Texas’ Sam Ehlinger.

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PRESTON ROMANOV

Redshirt freshman Dalvin Smith catches his first collegiate touchdown against Liberty on Sept. 19

BUDGET UNCERTAINTY By Nick Kieser

nick.kieser036@topper.wku.edu. WKU Athletics’ revenue for football season looks different this year following changes to adapt to COVID-19. According to the WKU intercollegiate athletics department’s financial data for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019, the football program generated a department high $8.6 million in total revenue. The total operating revenue came in at $30.7 million while student fees amounted to $3.9 million. Athletic Director Todd Stewart said there being budget shortfalls this upcoming year. It’s not yet clear as to what those specific shortfalls are other than not having as many fans in the stands for football games and an opponent paying WKU more than $600,000 for a game this season. This season the Hilltoppers were slated to play at Indiana University on Sept. 12, but the Big 10 announced that it was only playing conference games this season. According to the contractual agreement, the Hoosiers were going to pay WKU $550,000, a payday not due to come at least for another season. The contract stipulates three games between WKU and IU. The cross-state rivals had the other two games planned for Sept. 25, 2021, at WKU, and at IU on Sept. 17, 2022. “I’m very encouraged by the dialogue we’ve had there, that’s definitely going in a good direction,” Athletic Director Todd Stewart said in an Aug. 27 interview. “We’ve played them in the past and there’s a lot of good relationships there.” In place of the IU game, WKU played at the University of Louisville on Sept. 12, losing 35-21. According to Associate Director of Football Bryan Fyalkowski, in the agreement with Louisville, the Cardinals paid WKU $600,000 for the game, which is the highest dollar amount any opponent will pay the Hilltoppers this season. Unlike the pay from Louisville or any other non-conference opponent WKU plays this season, the Hilltoppers got one of their biggest pay cuts of the 2019 season defeating Arkansas 45-19. The win over the Razorbacks amounted to $1.5 million against a struggling SEC program that finished last season (2-10.)

WKU Football 2020 budget explained

BRITTANY FISHER

Redshirt senior. Jahcour Pearson, being tackled by graduate safety, Cedric Stone, on Sept. 19.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga postponed its season due to COVID-19 concerns. Originally WKU was to kickoff against UTC on Sept. 3, but will now play on Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. in Houchens-Smith Stadium. “Instead of having a scrimmage at the end like we do in the spring, our guys will have a chance to compete against a quality FBS opponent,” UTC Head Coach Rusty Wright said in a press release. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, WKU will pay $350,000 to the Mocs’ lone game of the 2020 season. UTC had 10 other games to play in before the Southern Conference announced the postponement of all fall sports on Aug. 13. On Halloween, the Hilltoppers will travel to Brigham Young University for

COLUMN By Kaden Gaylord kaden.gaylord559@topper.wku.edu

BRITTANY FISHER

Graduate quarterback, Tyrrell Pigrome, breaks loose in the pocket on Sept. 19.

the seventh game of the campaign. After the online mascot competition between Big Red and BYU’s Cosmo the Cougar, the two programs will meet between the lines of the gridiron. The time of the game has yet to be announced; however, the payout for WKU has been agreed on. According to the contract, BYU will pay the Hilltoppers’ football program $475,000 to travel to Provo, Utah. As of Sept. 28, BYU has a (2-0) record while WKU (0-2) is coming out of its early bye week of the season. Fyalkowski said the WKU football program would be netting $750,000 in guaranteed games this season. As for what the consequences will be for athletics, WKU will have decisions to make once more sports resume play. “We are certainly running projections

and have already run them in terms of what it might look like from a revenue standpoint due to crowds being in the 25% range,” Stewart said of the athletics budget. As of Sept. 15, the NCAA had updated its guidelines for the 2020 basketball season with the regular season beginning Nov. 25. Along with the men’s and women’s basketball teams returning, the Lady Topper volleyball program resumes with a match against Mercer University on Oct. 3 at noon.

Sports Editor Nick Kieser can be reached at nick.kieser036@topper. wku.edu. Follow Nick on Twitter at @ KieserNick.

Views from the bottom of The Hill Should Every Team be Bowl Eligible? With the announcement of the proposal to allow all teams that are playing college football this season to be bowl eligible, it begs the question if this is a smart move to make. The answer is yes and no. I realize that’s not a straightforward answer, but it really can go into multiple directions, good and bad. On the good side, giving everyone a chance will drive up the competition aspect of games that may seem pointless. As seasons progress, teams can obviously tell if they will make it to bowl eligibility or not, and that can affect the effort they put into games. Knowing they have a chance to make a bowl game, no matter how bad the team is doing, can drive up their spirit and competitiveness to become better and still game plan for a full season. Giving teams who don’t usually make bowl games a chance to play in the postseason can lead those teams to the exposure that they normally wouldn’t get. Especially during the year that is 2020, fans want to soak up as much sports as possible. Sponsors of these bowl games do not want to lose money by any means. Let a team with a loyal fan base or heavy following that isn’t that good play in a bowl game and they will still have big numbers. The NCAA can’t afford to lose money especially after the cancellation of March Madness. Now on the negative side, a lot of people will ask, “who wants to watch terrible teams?” Which is a valid question. Who will want to watch Rutgers? Or even worse, Tennessee? We all know if it isn’t in the national media attention it won’t get much love or TV viewing from fans. And we can’t forget the coaches. I would say 99% of coaches have a clause in their contracts that say if they get to a bowl game they will receive a bonus. If this decision goes through it’s a payday for everybody, except for the players of course. Yawn. It keeps certain coaches off the chopping

block especially if they have a bad season but win a bowl game anyways. The Big 10, Pac-12, Mountain West and Mid Atlantic Conference recently announced that they would be returning to play this season at some point. That makes 127 out of 130 FBS football teams that will be playing this fall. If all teams become bowl eligible, wouldn’t that cause more power five to get leadway than a deserving group of five team? This will make college football more political than it’s ever been. We all know the SEC is the biggest conference with the biggest fan base in the nation. When deciding between teams who do you think will get the nod to play? South Carolina or Rice? But the pending decision could work in WKU’s favor if the season doesnt turn out like we expect. Don’t get me wrong, I believe the Hilltoppers will turn it around and win more than the six games usually needed for bowl eligibility. But if it doesn’t, WKU has been in the national media attention for multiple years and has a good enough history to have an edge on many other teams. WKU fans travel as well, which is a huge point in deciding where teams play. Look at last year and how the bowl game against Western Michigan ended. One of the most dramatic bowl games of the year while Lucky Jackson set a school record for catches with 17 and 148 yards receiving. Whichever way you swing on the impending decision, it will cause rifts in the college football world for years to come. While it could lead to exciting, historical matchups, it could also give us terrible, boring games.

Men’s basketball beat reporter and sports columnist Kaden Gaylord can be reached at kaden.gaylord559@topper. wku.edu. Follow Kaden on Twitter at @_KLG3.