WCU 130 years of growth

Story is co-written/produced with Hallie West Over its 130 years as an institution, Western Carolina University has grown from a one-room school building with just under 20 students to a university with over 11,000 students from not only North Carolina, but around the world. As the university continues to grow and develop, we’ve documented some […]

College students and mental health: an outlook

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines mental health as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.” And, it is impactful at every stage of life, from childhood through adulthood. However, […]

Residential living is accommodating over 4,000 students on campus

This story was produced and edited with Ashley Velazquez Since the founding of Western Carolina University in 1899, the campus has tremendously changed throughout the decades. What started as a Teaching Academy with barely 350 students, today has over 11,500 students that make-up Western Carolina University. This ranges from graduate, undergraduate, students on the Biltmore […]

WCU oldest dorms, Scott and Walker to go offline

Leaky ceilings, damaged furniture and a lack of air conditioning are only a few problems plaguing WCU’s Scott Hall and Walker Hall. Constructed in 1969, Scott is a nine-story building, while Walker was constructed in 1972 and clocks in just a bit shorter at seven stories. Scott houses about 739 students and Walker has 373. […]

New dorm is opening in Fall 2019

Co-written/produced with  Tyler Davis. Western Carolina University’s newest dorm, Levern Hamlin Allen Hall, is almost finished. The new residence hall is projected to be completed and have its first tenants in the fall of 2019. The Levern Hamlin Allen Hall is between Judaculla and Brown. In the summer of 1957, Levern Allen was the first African-American student […]

As Western grows so does sustainability efforts

 Co-written with Hallie West Much has changed at Western Carolina University since its inception in 1889, such as the number of students, curriculum, class sizes and more. Not surprisingly, the growth in the student body over the many years has called for an increase in construction, vehicles on campus, and most importantly, people. Inevitably, as […]