Tar Heel politics: A look at what 2018 offers

This story was originally published in The Sylva Herald. Given the turbulence of politics in 2017 in North Carolina, The Herald decided to turn to Chris Cooper, professor and head of the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University, for his thoughts on what lies ahead here in 2018, a year that […]

In 11th, Meadows is ‘about as invulnerable as they come’

This story was written by Jim Buchanan, originally published in The Sylva Herald. “Meadows is about as invulnerable as they come,” according to Chris Cooper, a professor and department head of political science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University. If anything, Cooper, widely regarded as the go-to political expert for this region, might be understating the […]

‘Everything WCU does works’

This story was written by Quintin Ellison, originally published in The Sylva Herald. Who’s the baddest band in America? Western Carolina University, that’s who, according to CollegeMarching.com, operated by Blue Line Media. The organization provides nationwide news coverage and information about marching bands. Here’s what the article says: “There are halftime shows and then there’s the Western Carolina […]

WCU student shot at off-campus apartment

This story was written by Quintin Ellison and Dave Russell, originally published in The Sylva Herald. Jackson County detectives are investigating another shooting involving a Western Carolina University student, less than three weeks after a WCU junior was shot and killed at the campus’ back entrance. Corey Ladarrius Alston, 19, was shot in the leg at […]

WCU to greet record freshman class

This story was written by Quintin Ellison, originally published in The Sylva Herald. You might want to go ahead and pump some fuel into the car and get your big-box store and grocery shopping done. Along with an expected flood of eclipse visitors into the area, about 2,000 Western Carolina University freshmen move into residential halls Friday, […]

Sylva: The region’s most literary town

This story was written by Quintin Ellison, originally published in The Sylva Herald. One day last week, Catherine Carter, a poet and professor in the English department at Western Carolina University, started sketching a bubble chart to illustrate how literary and artistic engagement dovetail in this community. She didn’t complete the task. “I ran out of paper. […]