Story co-produced with Callia Addikis “I think the biggest thing is how [being gay] set me back, with being able to love who I love, and not living my life based off of an artifact,” says Kinley Lewis, a student of environmental science at WCU. WCU has a diverse student population, with students who […]
Queer and Christian at WCU: navigating faith, identity and acceptance in local churches
Swain County passes alcohol referendum
On Nov. 6, 2024, Swain County voted to allow the on-premises sale of wine and malt beverages. Prior to the 2024 election, businesses inside of Bryson City city limits were allowed to sell alcohol. This decision has shown Swain County residents’ trust in business owners to safely and responsibly sell alcohol. This trust has given […]
“Shark Tank” winner and WCU alumni praises entrepreneurship program
Story co-produced with Julian Vanderhoef. For people that go onto “Shark Tank” to make a deal, most walk out empty-handed. That wasn’t the case for WCU graduate Garrett Ozar. Ozar is a WCU entrepreneurship graduate and the CEO of Eterneva, a company that won $600,000 on “Shark Tank” in 2019, came to WCU to discuss […]
Project FIRE: Providing firewood for low income and elderly Jackson County residents
Project FIRE held one of their final volunteer workdays of the fall semester on Dec. 4 at Cullowhee United Methodist Church. A few WCU students showed up to chop wood in the near-freezing weather. The wood they chop will be given to people in need on Dec. 7 at Firewood Day. Project FIRE was created […]







