WWCU FM begins broadcasting online due to frequency transition

Story co-written with Patrick Clemons. For the first time in its 73-year history, the student-run radio station at Western Carolina University is silent. But not for long. Feb. 1, 2021, marked a new challenge for Western students as WWCU FM began the transition to its new frequency of 95.3 FM, with the potential to reach […]

WCU adopts new grading guidelines for Spring 2020 semester

Western Carolina University adopted a new Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading policy for the Spring 2020 semester. Richard Starnes, Interim Provost of Western Carolina University, announced the new guidelines on Friday, March 27. The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading resolution was proposed and passed by Faculty Senate on Wednesday and was followed by acceptance by the upper administration.  The university will now be […]

Election 2020: Libertarian Party

Story co-reported with Samantha Lughart.  Although America is often seen as bipartisan, other parties attempt to chisel away at the image of a two-party system, such as the Libertarian Party.  The Libertarian Party of North Carolina has existed since 1976, with 28,000 people registered as Libertarian in the state. With a platform built on freedom, party […]

Whee Lead: WCU’s upcoming conference on inclusive leadership

The 2020 Whee Lead Conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29 in the University Center at WCU. The conference is free and open to all students, staff and faculty. WCU has been holding Whee Lead conferences since 2011. This year’s conference focuses on inclusive leadership. The conference is […]

Smoky Mountain High School spreads loves and breaks records on Valentine’s Day

Story co-written with Sara Stanley. Story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 20, 2020 Smoky Mountain High School attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘most people hugging soft toys simultaneously’ on Friday, Feb. 14 in the school’s new gymnasium. Over 800 students and staff from SMHS and the Catamount School […]

Whee Talk with the founders of From Privilege to Progress

WCU’s upcoming Whee Talk event focuses on the national movement, From Privilege to Progress (P2P), that aims to desegregate conversation about racism. Melissa DePino and Michelle Saahene, the two women behind the P2P movement, will be speaking in the WCU University Center Grand Room at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. DePino and Saahene met […]