WCU might add composting to its sustainability efforts

Story is co-written with Cami Couch Western Carolina University’s (WCU) Sustainability Energy Initiative (SEI) is trying to establish composting as a permanent installment on campus. Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic waste into rich soil. It helps reduce methane emissions, lower one’s carbon footprint, reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and encourages the production […]

WCU increased its recycling 70% since 2016

Jeff White, recycling coordinator at WCU tells the story of a single water bottle that’s washed away in roadside ditch and it ends up in the Tuckasegee river. From the Tuckasegee river, it floats through the Fontana Dam and into the Tennessee river. The water bottle makes its way to the Mississippi river and is […]

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 […]

You’re not alone! Mental health and coping resources at WCU

Story co-written with Cami Couch and edited by Keegan Wiggins Coping is how to effectively manage something difficult going on in a person’s life. This is much easier said than done, which is why both healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms need to be addressed for the students of WCU and the surrounding community to explore options […]

Student athlete mental health at WCU

“If practice runs late tonight I know I’ll have to pull another all-nighter for my exam tomorrow.” Worries like this cross the mind of Bella Pighini, a member of the women’s soccer team at WCU, all the time. As a college student and athlete, a lot stress stems from balancing and managing the two. At […]

WCU talks mental health

This story was written and co-produced with Jillian Kassor When coming to college for the first time, students are braced for a massive change of lifestyle. However, with a high emotion and high stress environment, their mental health may change as well. While this change in mental health has always been a reality, more students today […]