WKU College Heights Herald - March 6-April 17, 2023

LET’S TALK ABOUT

SEX

WHY GEN Z IS HAVING LESS SEX

Print edition published three times each semester by WKU Student Publications at Western Kentucky University. First copy: free | Additional copies: $5

EDITORIAL BOARD

Debra Murray Editor-in-Chief

Tucker Covey Photo Editor

Brittany Fisher Social Media Manager

Megan Fisher Design Editor

Molly St. Clair

Sports Editor

CONTENTS

‘THIS IS DEFINITELY CHANGING SEX’: WHY IS GEN Z HAVING LESS SEX THAN OTHER GENERATIONS?

‘THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO START’ THE STIGMA SURROUNDING SEXUAL HEALTH

Grace Stephens Video Producer Alexandria Anderson

Content Editor

Ella Galvin Newsletter Editor Price Wilborn Commentary Editor

OTHER LEADERS AND ADVISERS

Cristina Betz Cherry Creative Director

Carrie Pratt Herald Adviser

THE IMPACT OF TITLE IX ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

JT Steele Advertising Manager

Chuck Clark Student Publications Director

POLICIES

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

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Let’s talk about sex, baby

Sex has always been a pivotal part of American and university culture but with strides towards acceptance of inclusivity and a better understanding of sex, it was fitting for the Herald to do what we’re calling “The Sex Issue.”

Throughout this issue, reporters will be tackling topics like sex culture in Gen Z and where it has left WKU students, health complexities impacting people’s ability to have sex and more.

I hope you find this issue to be focused on issues that are relevant to you as a college student. I also hope it teaches you about health, cul ture and more.

Enjoy “The Sex Issue!”

‘IT’S OKAY TO BE SEXY’

-Debra Murray, editor-in-chief

‘THIS IS DEFINITELY CHANGING SEX’

WHY IS GEN Z HAVING LESS SEX THAN OTHER GENERATIONS?

that would come as a more long-term committed relationship that I just don’t really pursue.”

Morton’s indifference to sex is not uncommon among his peers in Gen Z –meaning anyone born between 19972012– who are having sex less often and with fewer partners than previous generations.

From 1991 to 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey finds, the percentage of highschool students who’d had intercourse dropped from 54 to 40 percent.

Robin Marty, author of “A Handbook for Post-Roe America,” said Gen Z is less interested in sex than previous generations for a variety of reasons.

Marty suggests that with having a generation that is exposed more to sex, the interest in doing it as a rebellion or to prove independence isn’t compelling like to other generations.

By Debra Murray

‘This is definitely changing sex’: Why is Gen Z having less sex than other generations?

With the ability to swipe right looking for a hookup at any time, Gen Z is surprisingly having less sex than older generations.

Miles Morton, a senior studying political science and international relations at WKU, is choosing to not swipe at all. Morton is one of this growing number of college students who is not participating in dating or hookup culture. To Morton, sex is something he would only experience after being in a long-term relationship.

“I think on a personal level, it’s just not something that I’ve gotten extremely far out of my way to like to try and do,” Morton said. “I don’t think I’d have very much fun with it. And I’m not asexual, but on that spectrum, I’m somewhat close. I also think that in terms of like sex itself, it’s something

“As we have this is a generation that has really devalued and taken away the emphasis on sex because that doesn’t prove anything,” Marty said. “In the same way that it used sex as a way of showing independence because your parents don’t want you to do it. It was a way of showing adulthood because you’re doing a very adult activity.”

With the rise of internet porn, OnlyFans, an Internet subscription site commonly used by sex workers, and sex consistently portrayed in the media, it could be that sex is less interesting than it was to less-exposed generations.

“For Gen Z, these are all things that really don’t resonate with them anymore because they’ve been inundated with sex from the moment that they started looking at YouTube videos when they were six and getting onto Tik Tok like all they have sex coming at them from everywhere,” Marty said. “It almost is some sort of a desensitizing thing where it no longer holds any sort of mystery.”

Experts agree that parents’ involvement in their child’s lives and after school activities has affected their sex lives.

“They don’t have the alone time in the ways that Gen X,” Marty said.”There’s always a parent home [...]

PHOTO BY TUCKER COVEY

basically there’s no ability to sneak out or sneak around.”

Young people spend more time and energy on school and pursuing careers, which might be a factor. Spending more time single is typically associated with lower rates of sex.

Much like the rest of Gen Z, Morton is stressed from work, school and extracurricular activities such as competing nationally on the WKU’s forensics team.

“I’ve got a job,” Morton said. “And then if I’m not at my job, I’m competing on the speech and debate team. That alone takes up almost every weekend I have, and then during the week, there’s school.”

Morton, who is from Los Angeles, loves to travel and fears that a relationship would get in the way.

“Quite frankly, I think I would be really, really bad at committing to something long-term just because of the spontaneity with which I go through my life,” Morton said. “I’m very rarely in like, I don’t know, the same state for longer than like two months.”

For Morton, finding someone who is as interested in travel as he is would be like finding a “unicorn person.”

Despite the time and commitment challenges, Morton has tried out dating apps such as Tinder.

“They [dating apps] largely lack a sort of authenticity that I’d love to see in a relationship,” Morton said. “I think that the best connections I’ve ever made were really, really organic. They were people that I bumped into one day. And started the conversation with, found similar interests with sort of happenstance type things. Dating apps rob you of the fact that it feels really artificial. And not necessarily organic or natural in a way that I find appealing when it comes to meeting new people.”

As a result of this seemingly constant exposure, Gen Z is just less interested in sex.

“If your child is caught smoking a cigarette, you make them smoke the entire pack, and then they’re like, ‘Oh, I never want this again,’” Marty said. “I feel like that’s what our culture has done with sexuality, as essentially they push so much on them so young and so fast.”

‘LOVE WHO THEY WANT’

Gen Z is also the first generation to grow up in a more accepting society resulting in a higher number of people who are open about their sexuality. A record 7.1% of Americans self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than straight, according to a Gallup poll, and this number is likely to grow as the rest of Gen Z enters adulthood.

This number increased from 5.6% in 2020 to 7.1% in 2021, which also represented the largest increase in a single year, according to Gallup.

“I find it really fascinating that the lack of interest in sex and sexual activities seem to be very much corresponded with both the understanding that there is the ability to discover what your sexual orientation is very young, and also what your actual gender is very young,” Marty said.

Lauren McClain, a WKU sociology associate professor, finds that Gen Z is typically more open than previous generations.

“It contributes to the idea that people can be who they want and love who they want and do what they want to do and under that umbrella also comes the option to not engage in any sex if they don’t want to,” McClain said.

Despite strides towards acceptance, some legislation still poses a threat to inclusive sex education and trangender healthcare.

“There’s a reason why we’re seeing bans on transgender care,” Marty said. “There’s a reason why we’re seeing the idea that you cannot have sex [education in] any school or even any sort of pro LGBT material like we’re seeing in Florida, Alabama. It’s because these states recognize that this is like growing up with this idea of acceptance, that it will allow people to be able to express these gender identities and sexual identities but this is definitely changing sex.”

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Another potential factor for Gen Z having less sex is limitations on reproductive rights. In July, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision effectively allowing individual states to restrict abortions.

Several states, including Kentucky, had trigger laws meaning abortion became effectively banned as a result of the ruling.

“As for the pandemic, people who were single couldn’t really meet new people or have casual sexual encounters or

go to bars to pick up strangers so that definitely had something to do with it during that time,” McClain said.

stated there would be no constitution al right to an abortion.

“In November, we voted “no” on amendment 2 which would have denied any constitutional protections for abortion. That vote showed lawmakers what the majority of Kentuckians feel,” Dawn Hall, WKU English professor, said. “Since that vote, lawmakers have proposed more legal restrictions to abortion rights illustrating a disconnect from their constituents.”

With threats towards reproductive rights, Hall believes that people are paying more attention to news surrounding it.

“When Roe vs. Wade was overturned, it woke many people up,” Hall said. “Gen Z, or younger generations have not lived during a time period when laws systematically denied access to safe reproductive health care. It is a shock to lose these rights and freedoms many have taken for granted and didn’t realize could be taken away.”

Hall said that the overturning of Roe affects matter beyond abortion, but could pose a greater risk to access to contraceptives as a whole.

PANDEMIC DATING

Dating that was once dinner and a movie ending with a kiss goodnight shifted drastically during quarantine, and dating hasn’t been the same since.

“During the pandemic people lived in their bubbles,” Hall said. “Many were concerned about their overall health for such an extended period of time, so the idea of being physically close to someone now, may cause some trauma.”

The pandemic created a “bubble” stopping the desire or ability to date.

It seems with stigma – or sex being “taboo” – around sex changing, McClain believes this is one of the reasons younger people aren’t interested in sex.

Whether it is constant exposure to sex in the media, the inability to sneak around or just that Gen Z is too busy, there are numerous factors leading Gen Z to not have sex.

“When something is taboo, we are more curious about it,” McClain said. “You want to do it because everyone says not to or because no one says anything at all so you have to figure it out on your own. But Gen Z was more likely to have parents who talked to them about sex, educated them about it, maybe even taught them to be sex positive.”

Editor-in-Chief Debra Murray can be reached at debra.murray940@ topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @debramurrayy.

‘THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO START’ THE STIGMA SURROUNDING SEXUAL HEALTH

By Alexandria Anderson

As discussions surrounding sex become less taboo, the topic of sexual health and issues that affect it remain cloaked in privacy.

According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is the well-being achieved from access to sexual health care, comprehensive sexual education and knowledge of risks and vulnerability during unsafe sex.

If someone experiences a lack in sexual health, talking about problems they face – whether in physical, mental or educational health – can be difficult due to the stigma surrounding sexual health, dysfunctions, disorders and diseases.

Airelle Railley, a senior health sci-

ences major, has always advocated for and supported those who may deal with sexual health issues and the stigma that comes alongside it.

As a student worker at WKU Health Education and Promotion, their advocacy has only been extended as they meet those that need resources and support that HEP offers.

“Working at HEP has heightened my support, as I found myself meeting all sorts of life that walk through our office, thus I will continue to support [them] no questions or comments asked,” Railley said.

Sexual health includes the idea of sexual dysfunctions and disorders, defined as problems that prevent one from experiencing satisfaction during sexual activities. These could include desire,

arousal, orgasm or pain disorders occurring within the stages of sex.

Railley explained these types of physical hindrances that may affect how people have sex. Those who experience physical deficiencies, non-arousal or pain problems could interfere with sexual activity and how one can “ultimately enjoy sex,” Railley said. They also described the possibility of psychological hindrances that affect sex.

“For example, if someone was to experience hormone imbalances, that plays out in the physical aspect,” Railley said. “With mental [issues], those psychological hindrances, like depression, anxiety, PTSD and even body dysmorphia can definitely not only affect your experience, but if you choose to

Airelle Railley, a senior health science major poses for a portrait in an office at the Health Education and Promotion office on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.

PHOTO BY TUCKER COVEY

have a partner, their experience can be affected as well.”

At HEP, individuals from WKU in need can find sexual health resources and opportunities to learn more about their own sexual health. Railley spoke on their experience in working in an open but professional environment concerning sexual health care.

“You want to keep that professional distance, but at the same time, allow them to know that they can release that baggage of worry when they come to HEP and let them know that their health business is their personal busi ness,” Railley said.

When it comes to the stigma sur rounding the discussion of sexual dys function, Railley said the conversation begins with accepting whatever sexual health issues you may face.

“I feel like, on a personal level, a lot of it has to do with pretty much accept ing yourself,” Railley said.

Railley said this act is necessary to find the comfortability and confidence to talk about sexual health issues with your partner, as well as stand your ground if said partner rejects this con versation.

“If they [a partner] can’t accept you like that, then honestly, why would you share such an intimate moment with somebody who pretty much does not want to know you through and through,” Railley said.

On a college campus, the topic of sexual health is often coupled with the idea of “hookup culture,” or uncom mitted sexual encounters. While this culture has created a more open envi ronment for sexual expression, it has also made standards for what hookups should be – specifically in the level of involvement of hookup partners in one another’s personal lives.

Railley said with hookup culture specifically, opening the door for conversations around sexual health is difficult. This could be due to the desire not to “overshare” with uncommitted sexual partners.

“In terms of hookup culture, I do feel like a lot of times people don’t talk about anything at all,” Railley said. “Thus, we get things that happen such as STIs and unplanned pregnancies [...] When it comes to hookup culture in general, there’s a lot of ignored ele-

ously, but we just want to make sure our other bases are covered, because if you don't know if, say you have some kind of respiratory disease or diabetes, if you don't have that under control, how are you going to manage your HIV,” Rose said.

For those that have HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, stigma, stereotyping and misunderstanding

then leave information that gives you resources you can get back in contact with.”

According to the Matthew 25 website, the four pillars of HIV prevention are abstinence, regular testing, condom use and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an HIV preventative.

“There's more to it because you can just have so many long term health

effects,” Rose said.

Rose also said Matthew 25 has recently been able to offer PrEP, which is a valuable tool when preventing HIV. For those that may be at risk for the virus, Rose said the usage of PrEP is a prominent step, due to the long-term and untreatable nature of HIV.

“It’s heartbreaking for someone to come in, trying to do the right thing, and then find out that you can’t, this is not reversible, it’s life changing, this is forever,” Rose said.

Physical hindrances and sexually transmitted diseases are not the only health issues that could affect someone’s sex life.

For Yulia Mishchuk, a sophomore clinical psychology major, mental health issues have affected the way she has sex.

Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can cause sexual dysfunction, whether that be through low arousal, low energy levels or low self esteem. Many antidepressant medications used to treat these disorders also make it difficult to receive sexual

satisfaction.

Mishchuk’s PTSD has caused her to have a few sexual experiences “where sex felt like abuse to my brain.”

“Sometimes, when sex is not pleasurable, it can trigger a feeling of like, my brain thinks that I'm back as a kid being abused, because it's a repeated motion or whatever,” Mishchuk said. “And you just shut down or you just get extremely triggered, and it's either bawling your eyes out or wanting to curl up in a ball or something.”

Mishchuk explained mental health issues that affect how you have sex can be difficult to explain to a partner. She also said she believes the biggest issue when it comes to sex and triggering scenarios is the presence of porn and if a sexual partner has a porn addiction.

“Sometimes it's not immediately obvious, but when the person is interested in using all these different instruments or a ball gag or handcuffs [...] the person wants to be so kinky and freaky or whatever,” Mishchuk said. “And you're just like, am I not enough? Just me and my naked body. Is that not

enough?”

Mishchuk said there is not a space to talk about how mental and physical health can affect your sex life. She said “there’s really not that much of a conversation happening about it” and reflected on the low amount of times she has spoken to friends about mental illness and sex issues.

Mishchuk also discussed the stigma surrounding the handing out of sex products, as sometimes students or individuals feel judged for taking free sexual health products. She wishes comprehensive sex education was more widespread, but appreciates the ease of starting conversations about sexual health on a college campus.

“Especially being on a college campus, it's so much easier for us to just do whatever we want and start initiatives and get organizations going to spread the word,” Mishchuk said. “I think this is the best place to start.”

Content editorAlexandriaAnderson

LOOKING FOR CONTRACEPTIVES AND PERIOD PRODUCTS ON CAMPUS?

•Male condoms

•Latex-free male condoms

•Female condoms (FC2) (supplies are limited)

•Dental dams (supplies are limited)

•Cherry Hall – 1st Floor

•Snell Hall – 1st Floor

•Grise Hall – 1st Floor

•DSU – 1st Floor

•Preston Center – Fitness Center

When it comes to embracing your sensuality, there’s no better place than a pole. At least, that’s what Samantha McCormick, WKU alumna and owner of Taboo Dance & Fitness believes.

“I’ve never seen anybody teach a woman how to be sexy… that it’s OK to be sexy,” McCormick said. “Either you’re too young to know how, or you’re married and have kids and you “lose” your sexy. Or you’ve been divorced and thinking ‘What do I do now?’ Nobody was teaching women to be sexy.”

After opening its doors in June 2015, Taboo Dance & Fitness has been a sanctuary for people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. McCormick opened her pole studio with women in mind, emphasizing comfort and community.

“I want people to come as they want,” McCormick said. “As you’re there, the layers start to peel off and by the end of the class, you have that person as their authentic self: vulnerable and naked, not physically, but you see them change.”

Since opening, Taboo Dance & Fitness has faced a fire, a national pandemic, and a tornado that has caused them to relocate, yet their clients remained loyal because of the community they built.

“Going to a traditional gym as a plus sized person, I feel very looked at. Coming here and having such a supportive environment is such a great experience.” Elizabeth Durr, a Taboo client since 2021, said. “No one here is judging you if you have extra pounds or cellulite on your legs.”

Taboo Dance & Fitness promotes body-positivity and self

tookay be sexy’

care through empowering alternative fitness, such as primal power yoga and pole flow and choreography classes. The instructors, hand-picked by McCormick, specialize and teach their discipline to clients of Taboo.

“I like being able to help other people pole and get the confidence to pole because its not an easy thing to get into,” said Deric Phan, a pole instructor at Taboo. “People come in here and they’re uncomfortable [at first] so I like being able to help them get over that discomfort.”

Aside from teaching pole flow and tricks, instructors like Phan focus on helping their clients become more confident in their bodies, regardless of age or size, by creating a safe atmosphere for them to explore their sensuality.

“The people that come to my classes want to express themselves and feel sexy,” Te’Yasmine Lynn, Taboo pole instructor and WKU student said. “A lot of people aren’t fully comfortable in their bodies so they come here, like a safe space, where they can let loose and have no judgment.”

Taboo Dance & Fitness is not only a sanctuary and safe space for their clients to embrace their bodies and feel comfortable in their sensuality, but also its instructors.

“Working at Taboo has had such a positive effect on my life,” Briana Bell, a yoga instructor at Taboo said. “I can share the sacred practice of yoga as a means to inspire students to accept and love themselves with more compassion.”

Words and Photos by Grace Stephens

Top Left: Deric Phan and Te’Yasmine Lynn practice pole tricks at Taboo Dance & Fitness on Feb. 22, 2023.

Top Right: Briana Bell guides her primal power yoga class through a chair pose twist at Taboo Dance & Fitness on Feb. 21, 2023.

Center: Te’Yasmine Lynn laughs as she attempts a pole trick at Taboo Dance & Fitness on Feb. 22, 2023.

Bottom Left: Amanda Thurmond focuses her breathing during a session of primal power yoga at Taboo Dance & Fitness on Feb. 21, 2023.

THE IMPACT OF TITLE IX ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

By Molly St. Clair

When Katy Tinius became WKU’s first female athlete on scholarship following the ratification of Title IX, which transformed the athletic and academic landscape for women, her team lacked basic resources.

“The whole time we were there, we had no uniforms,” Tinius said, who played on the WKU tennis team from 1975-1979. “We would all go in whatever we had, whatever we brought from home is what we wore and of course you see the men with all the uniforms.”

Over time, female athletes were given uniforms and access to equipment. Tinius and her teammates were the first of generations of female athletes to play at WKU.

Half a century can have a large impact.

Since Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972, both academics and athletics have been turned inside out. Ultimately, Title IX bans discrimination based on sex in any federally funded educational program, which paved the way for the rapidly growing world of women’s athletics.

Title IX, primarily written and supported by former Hawaii Representative Patsy T. Mink, intended to open opportunities for women in teaching positions and academic programs. Prior to the enactment of Title IX, 57% of college students in four year institutions were male and 43% were female, according to National Affairs. By 2020, the numbers seemingly flipped as women made up 58% of all undergraduate students and men made up 42%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL ATHLETES

The amendment quickly transitioned to the athletic world. Not only did Title IX ensure women’s participation in sports on the collegiate level and lower, but it forced schools to provide equal funding.

Before Title IX, according to the Women’s Equity Resource Center, women’s collegiate athletics received on average only 2% of college athletic budgets and athletic scholarships for women did not exist.

According to a report by the Women’s Sports Foundation, in 1972, only 15% of college athletes were women at 30,000, as opposed to 170,000 men. 50 years following the enactment of Title IX, women made up 44% of all NCAA athletes.

For Tinius, the law opened up new opportunities.

“At the beginning I was just so excited, A, I got to go to college, B, I loved the girls on the team and we were all from different places, different backgrounds So that part was so much fun and I never really thought about the people to come,” Tinius said. “[… ]But what the administration and the coaches were going through, you’re thinking, wow, this is going to pay off and hopefully continue and continue.”

Title IX not only provides opportunities academically and athletically, but it also protects both women and men against sexual harassment and assault. Schools are required to take action if they have any knowledge of sexual harassment or violence at any level taking place within a team or academics.

TITLE IX’S IMPACT ON WKU

Despite Title IX’s efforts to level the playing field, there are also some downfalls for athletes who fall victim to school budget cuts and Title IX equity rules.

Under the amendment, schools are required to balance the budgets between

men’s and women’s athletics. Some schools resort to cutting men’s athletic teams before women’s in order to accommodate for bigger team budgets such as football or basketball.

In 2008, WKU students voted to move Hilltopper football to Division 1A, which opened 22 more athletic scholarships for football players and allowed the team to be more competitive.

In order to enable this move, Camden Wood Selig, WKU athletic director from 1999-2010, and other administrative members made difficult decisions regarding WKU’s financial situation and in order to remain in good standing with Title IX.

“We didn’t want to cut men’s opportunities, but the 22 additional scholarships playing at the 1A level versus the 1AA level is millions of dollars more per year[…] so we were hard pressed to pay for the move,” Selig said.

WKU added softball to the mix in 2000. Despite WKU’s efforts to balance the budget elsewhere, the school still fell short, both financially and with meeting Title IX requirements because of the amount spent on football. Ultimately, the decision to cut men’s soccer saved the school around a million dollars and helped meet Title IX regulations. Six years later, in 2014, men’s tennis was also eliminated for similar reasons.

“I mean, you’re losing members of your family,” Selig said. “You’re disconnecting yourself with potentially generations of student athletes and relationships. It’s one of the worst experiences to go through in college athletics.”

According to a Pew Research Survey, more than 4-in-10 women familiar with Title IX say it has not gone far enough when it comes to increasing opportunities for women in sports.

It wasn’t a popular decision, Selig said.

“It was a last resort,” he said. “It wasn’t at the top of our list either as we were looking to make ways to balance our budget and stay competitive across all sports. You can’t be all things to all people.”

Although there were other factors that contributed to the removal of WKU men’s soccer, Title IX does not force universities to end men’s athletic teams. Instead, the amendment holds schools accountable for their decisions.

Author Kelsey Evrick is a former Division I goalkeeper for Xavier University from 1990-1993. Evrick’s book “The Keeper” depicts how Title IX shaped Evrick’s life as an athlete and changed equality in athletics.

“I don’t like when it is framed as ‘oh this women’s team came in and forced out a men’s team.’ Universities are free to make their own decisions about how they create equal opportunities,” Evrick said.

Despite the prevalence of Title IX in the academic and athletic world, there appears to be a lack of awareness of the amendment that protects the rights of over half of college undergraduates.

According to a poll taken in 2022 by the Washington Post - University of Maryland, upon the 50 year anniversary of Title IX, roughly 67% of Americans have little to no understanding of what the amendment is.

“I think we still have a long way to go, but I think some good steps have been made,” Evrick said. “I think people's awareness of the 50th anniversary of Title IX helps when there are more discussions about it and people are reflecting on it.”

Title IX continues to protect the rights of women to equal education and athletics decades after its legalization. The effect Title IX has in the athletic world stems much further than high school or college.

“Title IX is basically why we have all

these women winning gold medals at the olympics and why we have won all these world cups in soccer,” Everick said. “It goes beyond our universities and high schools, into our professional athletes[…] Now we have this professional women's soccer league that's doing well and the WNBA is doing really well and that doesn’t happen if we don’t have Title IX.”

Throughout the 51 years that Title IX has been in place, there have been challenges and interpretations that have both weakened and strengthened the amendment. Today, the amendment still faces many changes as there are proposals to make Title IX more inclusive and specific for those a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

For now, the 37-word law continues to catapult women’s athletics forward and ensure the rights to equal education opportunities between men and women.

SportsEditorMollySt.Claircanbe reachedatmollyjane2020@gmail.com.

Med Center Health at WKU Health Services: Now Seeing Patients

At WKU Health Services, we are committed to the health and wellbeing of every WKU student, faculty and staff member. We are here to provide care for you through offering a variety of services.

• Primary care, including appointment-based services, telemedicine and walk-in urgent care

• Allergy treatments and immunizations

• Lab services

• Mental health services

• Sexual health services

• X-ray and acute injury services, including physical therapy

To schedule an appointment, call 270-745-CARE

WKU Health Services is open Monday-Thursday from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Find the care you need at wku.edu/HealthServices

Noma Moyo-Peters, D.O.

Abigail DeBusk, D.O.

Emily Cecil, M.D.

CHERRY CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Healthy Strawberry Lemonade

Cocktail/Mocktail

Prep time from start to finish: 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups water

1 cup ice

2 lemons

Makes: 2 servings

1/4 pint strawberries

1/2 teaspoon sugar alternative

2 Shots of Vodka (optional)

Photo by Emma Bayens

1

Cut lemons into halves. Rinse and slice strawberries. Squeeze lemon halves into a large pitcher, add water, ice, strawberries and sugar alternative.

4 5 1 6 7

Add vodka. If only a mocktail, skip this step. Using a mixing spoon, stir the mixture until well combined. 2 3

Place beverage in refrigerator to chill for five minutes.

Serve!

Why Nutrition Matters

engagement of the student body through social media and various events. One of those students, Spring Hill, Florida, junior Delaney Webb, said they have a variety of resources that students should look into.

“We offer resources such as one-onone nutrition counseling, disordered eating support, food allergy counseling, medical nutrition therapy, grocery store tours, cooking demos and presentations,” Webb said.

Murray senior Ryan Messenger, a student working with Hilltopper Nutrition, said there are many healthy options for meal plans that are detailed in a guide on their website.

“Some of my biggest advice for students looking to eat healthier with a meal plan is to make sure they eat three balanced meals a day,” Messenger said. “Do not skip breakfast. Incorporate fruits and/or vegetables into each meal. Look for lean protein sources, and plan meals into your schedule just as you would homework.”

Hilltopper Nutrition knows eating healthy meals on and around campus can be a challenge. Maggie Vincent, a senior from Henderson who works with Hilltopper Nutrition provided tips to do so.

“Ways to eat healthier on and around campus include looking at nutrition facts at restaurants,” Vincent said. “Also, checking out our resources on how to save at the grocery store and how to buy nutritious food.”

As WKU’s nutrition associate manager, Kelci Murphy enjoys meeting with students about different options that are available for them through meal plans on campus.

College life is the bridge between adolescence and adulthood. It’s a time for students to develop healthy habits that will shape their adult lives and impact their wellbeing for years to come. While food and nutrition are only one aspect of health and wellness, it’s important to make intentional and healthful eating choices.

Hilltopper Nutrition was created to help educate and engage students in healthy eating habits and ensure they get the necessary nutrition they need. Kelci Murphy, a registered dietitian nutritionist who works for the WKU Restaurant Group, manages the program.

“Food and nutrition are not only vital for survival and growth but are also key to maintaining good health and preventing chronic disease,” Murphy said.

It’s often difficult to translate the science of nutrition or put the information into

practice. Hilltopper Nutrition was created to help students navigate the ever-changing field of nutrition, Murphy said.

“I want to help others. College was a pivotal time in my own life, so I know how important and transformative these years are for our students,” Murphy said. “If I can help them cultivate sustainable habits and achieve their nutrition-related goals, then I have met my goal.”

Murphy works to teach students how important nutrition and healthy eating habits are in college and said she wants to help them understand how to take care of themselves so that they can stay healthy throughout their lives.

“Just like gas fuels a car or electricity fuels a lightbulb, food or nutrition fuels the human body,” Murphy said.

Hilltopper Nutrition employs student assistants who help with the hands-on

Mount Juliet, Tennessee, senior Skylar Lawrence, another student working in the Hilltopper Nutrition Program, said there are many reasons for students to visit a registered dietitian, including learning about more healthful food choices, figuring out unusual eating habits, navigating a food allergy and more.

Hilltopper Nutrition is working to show students the many ways they can fit healthy eating into their busy schedules. Through social media posts about ways to find nutritious meal options on and off campus, tabling events around campus promoting nutrition, community education talks to classes or groups, and much more, Hilltopper Nutrition works to promote positivity around food and healthy eating habits. To take advantage of resources, visit www.wku.edu/ hilltoppernutrition or follow @wkudietitian on Instagram. To schedule an appointment or to book for a class or group, contact Kelci Murphy, RDN, LD at 270-745-4650 or kelci. murphy@wku.edu.

Like This? Try This!

Eating healthy can feel like a chore sometimes. Students might miss all of the comfort foods they enjoy but luckily there are healthier favorite food alternatives.

Like chocolate chip cookies? Try dark chocolate and whole-wheat flour! “Oats and whole-wheat flour provide the whole grain, and a little dark chocolate never hurts,” according to Cleveland Clinic.

Like fettuccine alfredo? Try a cauliflower blended sauce! “The key to a tasty fettuccine alfredo is a creamy sauce. By cooking and blending cauliflower to a smooth puree, you get the mouthfeel of butter and cream without the high calories and fat,” according to Food Network.

Like ice cream? Try adding protein powder and healthier toppings! “Chocolate protein powder adds staying power to tasty protein ice cream. Maple syrup lends a touch of sweetness, while peanut butter powder provides nuttiness for a flavorful sweet treat. Toppings like cacao nibs and crushed peanuts provide a satisfying crunch,” according to EatingWell.

Story by Emma Dock | Illustrations by Nicole Johnson

WKU Walking Routes

Illustrations by Abby Neltner

Staying active on campus can be made easier by following these on-campus walking routes. Students can get their steps in and their heart rates up by taking advantage of the Hill.

*Route distances are an approximation.

Building and Maintaining Healthy Habits

“We have nutritionists and dietitians that can talk about what you need to eat and caloric intake,” she said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to be accessible to students so they can feel comfortable coming here.”

Dr. Moyo-Peters also gave advice on how to manage health in college, including staying away from carbohydrates, choosing the stairs over elevators and leaving for classes early to take a longer route.

“A lot of patients have complained that they’re not eating as well as they did when they were at home, so increasing your activity level helps,” Dr. Moyo-Peters said.

Dr. Moyo-Peters also said Med Center Health at WKU Health Services cares about students' mental health just as much as their physical health.

“We do psychiatric medication management, and The Medical Center at Bowling Green offers behavioral health services if a patient is in crisis,” Miranda Bonner, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, said.

lifestyle changes, Bonner said the easiest way to get in contact with her is to schedule an appointment over the phone, but she also accepts walk-ins at Med Center Health at WKU Health Services.

Bonner also said that physical and mental health are closely connected, so getting plenty of sleep, exercise and eating a healthy diet can positively impact mental health.

“People don’t think about sleep as helping your well-being overall, especially if you’re in college and you have to study for a lot of things,” Dr. Moyo-Peters said. “Good time management and making sure you get plenty of sleep will go a long way.”

Bonner said all students are welcome at Med Center Health at WKU Health Services and the staff’s top priority is making students feel safe and comforted.

“Everything is confidential, unless you’re at risk of harming yourself or others,” Bonner said.

Dr. Moyo-Peters said Med Center Health at WKU Health Services takes time to build rapport with students in order to develop a baseline and understand patients better.

“We’re welcoming to all students, including members of the LGBTQ+ community,” Dr. Moyo-Peters said. “We want to know what you want to be identified as and what you want us to call you.”

Dr. Moyo-Peters said Med Center Health at WKU Health Services meets students where they are to give them the best possible care.

“We want students to do well and be healthy,” Dr. Moyo-Peters said.

Being a college student can be difficult. Being a college student and juggling mental health, physical health and academics can feel almost impossible. It’s essential for students to understand the necessity of maintaining their physical and mental health and be aware of the resources available to them. Med Center Health at WKU Health Services is one of those resources.

“We know some things can be expected with being in college and away from home,” Dr. Noma Moyo-Peters, a primary care physician, said. “With patient care, we deal mainly with preventative care, wellness visits, shots, pap smears and acute care.”

Dr. Moyo-Peters said because Med Center Health at WKU Health Services is a primary care facility, students can bring their medical records from home and be connected to doctors locally, which allows them to get the proper care without distracting students from their education.

Bonner said she assesses and evaluates mental health conditions and offers medication management for psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression or ADHD.

“If you’re struggling to get out of bed, sleeping too much, not meeting your social expectations, canceling dates and plans or not responding to your social network, those are all red flags that something is wrong and you’re not meeting your normal behavior,” Bonner said.

If you’re noticing some or all of these

For more information, visit the Med Center Health at WKU Health Services website at www.wku.edu/healthservices or call 270745-2273.

Med Center Health has taken root in the health services building on campus, providing an accessible resource for students.

Dr. Noma Moyo-Peters, a primary care physician with Med Center Health, focuses on creating a calm and comfortable environment for patients on campus.

Quick Workouts to do on a Busy Schedule

While in college, the thing students lack the most is time. Even if time is limited, staying healthy should be at the top of everyone’s priority list. These students have provided their quick 30-minute workouts for when they are in a time crunch.

Louisville senior Olivia Day recommends that the best workout with limited time is a short full-body day.

“I like to warm up with cardio, do a pushing movement, pull and then legs, finishing off with some core if there’s time,” Day said.

Since the number of repetitions is lower for time’s sake, she recommends using heavier weights to account for a shorter workout.

• 10 minutes on the stair stepper to warm up the muscles

• 3 sets of 6-8 incline chest press with dumbbells to hit the upper chest and front deltoids

• 3 sets of 6-8 on lat pulldown or seated cable row to target lats/back

• 3 sets of 6-8 Bulgarian split squats to hit quads, glutes and adductors

• 1 minute front and side planks or sit-ups

• Stretch!

Story by Chloe Sharp | Photos by Wyatt Richardson

Louisville senior Olivia Day works out on the double leg extension machine at the Preston Center during her 30-minute full-body workout.

Paducah senior Ray Hamilton likes to get a quick chest and tricep workout in when he is running low on time.

• 4 sets of 12 dumbbell bench press

• 3 sets of 15 cable flies

• 3 sets of 12 reps incline bench press

• 3 sets of 15 rope pull-downs

• 4 sets of 12 dips

• 3 sets of 8-10 on single arm rope extension

Decatur graduate student Bailey Watson starts her quick workout with a short jog outside, followed by these simple steps.

• 3 sets of 10 bodyweight squats

• 3 steps of 10 dumbbell Romanian deadlifts

• 3 sets of 10 Bulgarian split squats

• Light stretching to cool down

Paducah senior Ray Hamilton recommends including cable flies in a quick chest and tricep workout routine.

Day performs cable flies while using the cable machine at the Preston Center.

Find Your Movement

Students

WKU Campus Recreation and Wellness provides a diverse array of programs and events that allow all students to find their movement. No two programs are alike, which is why it is important to find which one works best for every student to stay active and healthy on the Hill.

The programs offered by Campus Recreation and Wellness extend far beyond the fitness center and are all unique and beneficial in their own ways.

For students who like to be held accountable and work well with others, intramural sports will be a great fit. Intramural sports provide an opportunity to engage in physical activities within a controlled, fun and moderately competitive environment, while also providing social engagement with fellow peers, said Danville sophomore Coleman Clark.

Clark loves the intramural sports offered, with his personal favorite being pickleball, which he participates in every Tuesday.

“There is no better time to be a student who enjoys intramurals than this spring. There is a plethora of new sports to participate in

which allows students to either try something new or compete in their passion,” Clark said.

The aquatics program is a perfect match for those who like a full-body workout but may not enjoy going to the gym. Swimming builds muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance in a non-traditional workout setting. In addition to all of these benefits, aquatics also aids in maintaining a healthy heart, weight and lungs, said Aquatics Coordinator Kate Comley.

The aquatics department has several events coming up. Registration is open for a lifeguard certification course being held April 14-16. Private and group swim lessons are held throughout the spring semesters. Registration for April’s group swim lessons opens on March 20.

For lovers of the great outdoors, the Outdoor Recreation Adventure Center, also known as ORAC, is the perfect program to suit those needs. ORAC provides numerous opportunities to experience the beautiful forests, wildlife, trails and waterways of Kentucky, Tennessee and beyond.

Louisville sophomore Ashton Hoelscher is the student program assistant of ORAC. Hoelscher knows all about the many benefits students gain from ORAC, such as skill development, as well as strengthening participants’ mental, social and physical health.

“Being outside can boost your mental health, and making new friends while on trips can strengthen your bond with your peers,” Hoelscher said.

ORAC offers many events throughout the semester that students can register for on the WKU Campus Recreation and Wellness app or in person at the Preston Center.

Some of the upcoming events include a Full Moon Float at Shanty Hollow, which takes place on April 8, as well as rock climbing at King’s Bluff on April 15.

For students who like to work out but don’t know where to begin, GroupX classes will be an ideal match. GroupX offers many classes to choose from so that everyone can find a class that best suits their taste. Zumba, indoor cycling, pilates and yoga are just some of the classes offered through GroupX.

tip-off in an intramural basketball game at the Preston Center. Intramural sports include basketball, volleyball, pickleball, cornhole, capture the flag, soccer, battleship and E-sports.

Classes are held daily; registration can be found on WKU’s website, under Campus Recreation and Wellness, then GroupX.

For those experiencing tension and stress from a tough semester, check out the massage therapy program at the Preston Center and look into all the services they offer, such as Swedish, deep tissue and hot stone massages. Appointments can be made by calling 270-745-6531.

Massage therapy has many mental and physical health benefits, such as decreasing anxiety and muscle stiffness,

GroupX allows students to experience a variety of workouts, under proper guidance from certified instructors, with many benefits, from physical, to social, intellectual and more, that can help them achieve a more balanced lifestyle, said Alissa Arnold, the assistant director of health and fitness. Joining a GroupX class is fun and can help participants discover new abilities, while also finding a community of people on a similar journey, Arnold said.

as well as improving restorative sleep and flexibility, said Sabrina Pate, the massage program coordinator.

“Often we think of massage only in a ‘spalike’ sense, picturing a serene and romantic vibe,” Pate said. “While it certainly can be that, massage is a great resource to aid our bodies in reaching their full range of motion potential.”

Health Education and Promotion hosts numerous events for students to attend throughout the semester.

Free HIV testing will be held on March 28

from 1-4 p.m. and April 28 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Grocery Bingo will be held on March 22 and April 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Veronica Portillo, a graduate student from English, Indiana, regularly attends grocery bingo.

“My favorite thing about grocery bingo is being able to meet new people and win some free groceries at the same time,” Portillo said. The options are almost endless when it comes to programs offered by WKU Campus Recreation and Wellness. Try something new this semester and find your movement!

ORAC offers outdoor resources to students including bike rentals and repairs, outdoor activities and trips, equipment rentals and other outdoor resources.

Students socialize before Grocery Bingo, a monthly event sponsored by WKU Health Education and Promotion, giving students an opportunity to win free groceries by playing bingo.

STUDENT WELLNESS EXPERIENCE

FINANCIAL: Be a good consumer. Live within your means. Plan for future financial wellness.

ENVIRONMENTAL: Take care of the global environment. Create satisfying personal spaces.

PHYSICAL: Prioritize exercise, sleep, & balanced nutrition. Seek medical & dental care.

EMOTIONAL: Cope effectively with life. Have a healthy sense of self. Ask for help when you need it.

INTELLECTUAL: Stay curious. Think critically. Expand your knowledge & skills.

SPIRITUAL: Have a sense of purpose & meaning in life.

SOCIAL: Develop & maintain meaningful relationships & support systems.

OCCUPATIONAL: Find fulfilling work. Contribute to society.

The mission of CHHS is to prepare health and human services professionals who will work to improve the quality of life in their communities and beyond. We recognize this effort must start with improving the quality of life for our students while they are in the WKU College of Health and Human Services. Focusing on the eight dimensions of wellness (or the wellness wheel) we encourage balanced, optimal wellness for CHHS students, especially first-year students transitioning to college life.

Marsha Hopper

CHHS Student Wellness Navigator

Phone: 270.745.4172

Email: marsha.hopper@wku.edu

/wkuchhs #chhs_wku /chhs_wku/

#ClimbWithUs

Amy Wininger

CHHS Student Wellness Navigator

Phone: 270.745.2699

Email: amy.wininger@wku.edu

wku.edu/chhs

#experienceCHHS

8 DIM E N S IONS OF W E L L NESS

Wellness Navigators Help CHHS Students Thrive

Working to address student needs postpandemic, WKU’s College of Health and Human Services is implementing the CHHS Student Wellness Experience.

Falling in line with their mission to prepare students to become professionals who will work to improve the quality of life in their communities and beyond, CHHS recognized they must start with improving the quality of life for students while they are on campus.

Behind this initiative, Marsha Hopper and Amy Wininger serve as the student wellness navigators assisting students, especially first-year students transitioning to college life, and teaching CHHS 150 Enhancing Quality of Life for Health and Human Services Professionals.

An innovative concept initiated by CHHS Dean Tania Basta, the CHHS Student Wellness Experience is a comprehensive program focused on a wellness wheel, or the eight dimensions of wellness, which include emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. Using each of these dimensions of wellness as a reference, the navigators serve as resources to help students find their niche on campus, get connected and experience a better and more balanced quality of life.

“Research suggests that the more engaged first-time students are on campus, the more likely they are to return for their second year,” Basta said. “Furthermore, most of our

students are being prepared for high-stress careers, so we want to ensure they learn how to take care of themselves before they take care of others.”

Basta said faculty can refer struggling students to navigators each semester. Navigators will work to engage them in activities and services on campus that meet the eight dimensions of wellness.

These navigators are not meant to replace existing services but instead to connect students with the many resources WKU offers, Wininger said.

“Our mission as student wellness navigators is to encourage students to develop wellness strategies during their time on the Hill, readying them for careers typically high in rates of stress and burnout,” Wininger said. “We serve as an extra layer of support for students, providing follow-up, encouragement, and guidance.”

Wininger said CHHS also encourages students to join intramural teams, seek counseling services or run for student government as well as guide a student through financial challenges.

For Hopper, the navigator role is all about helping students.

“I have a heart for students, for students in transition and for student success,” Hopper said. “I had a great college career, and I believe that a thriving, active campus is one of the best, safest and most exciting places to mature, learn, grow, make lifelong friends,

network and solidify career goals for ideal professions.”

As part of the program, Hopper and Wininger each teach three sections of a newly developed one-hour class for CHHS first-time freshmen and transfer students.

Hopper said the CHHS 150 Enhancing Quality of Life for Health and Human Services Professionals curriculum has a strengths-based approach.

“I hope with increased awareness and selfreflection, such as identifying old habits, creating new habits and improving on positive behaviors, students will gain a better sense of themselves,” Hopper said.

Wininger and Hopper hope to make a difference in the lives of CHHS students by increasing their knowledge, awareness and skills for living optimally balanced lives.

“They will become more grounded, come out stronger and wiser, and will hopefully one day want to establish broader connections to their communities and to the world, as well as want to volunteer and give back, as they become more highly educated, confident and competent,” Hopper said.

Wininger said their ultimate goal is for students to make a difference in their communities after graduation and to be more resourceful, resilient and poised.

For more information about the CHHS Wellness Experience, visit www.wku.edu/ chhs/wellness.php.

Students in the College of Health and Human Services relax as they watch “Dallas Buyers Club” during a movie night provided by the CHHS Student Wellness Experience. Wellness navigators regularly hold movie nights relating to the majors within CHHS.

Gym Necessities

Photos By Rhett Helland

Gym necessities for these students include a gym bag, weight-lifting belt, resistance bands, jump rope, preworkout and a protein shaker. “I use these resistance bands when I’m at home or don’t have time for the gym,” Jones said.

Bowling Green freshman Emma Bridges is wearing Nike Pro shorts and a Lululemon shirt.

“I like wearing Nike Blazers in the gym because they keep my feet flat while I lift and provide good traction,” Bridges said.

Bowling Green freshman Hunter Bland is wearing an oversized t-shirt band shows off his weight-lifting belt. Bland said he uses a weight-lifting belt to keep his back straight while deadlifting and squatting.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. junior Vincent Jones is wearing a Lululemon shirt and Gymshark sweatpants.

Illustrations by Lexi Ocampo