Common illnesses in community continue along seasonal norms

As measles cases are on the rise across North Carolina, WCU Health Services says there are no reported cases on campus. COVID-19 is now recognized as a regular respiratory illness, is not being tracked by health officials. Students are urged to wash their hands to minimize the spread of illness. The Centers for Disease Control […]

WCU lifts mask mandate, students and faculty remain neutral

WCU, in an unexpected email, announced that it will no longer require face coverings indoors on Friday, Feb. 25, a day before the first Open House of 2022.    This has brought mixed feelings from faculty and students alike. See student responses below.  Director of WCU Health Services, Pam Buchanan, reiterated the feelings of the student […]

Students isolating in Madison upset; WCU health and dining services look to improve

“It felt like I was in a prison,” said Karey Peeler.  Peeler, a senior emergency and disaster management major, was admitted to Madison on Oct. 27, 2021, along with her roommate Holly Dowell. Both were experiencing COVID-like symptoms and chose to report to the Bird Building to get tested.   Although Peeler and Dowell are roommates, they had […]

Refusal to wear a mask comes with consequences

Article originally published Oct. 7, 2021 in The Western Carolinian. It is no surprise that face masks have become mandatory at Western Carolina University, but did you know that students can get fined for not wearing their face masks?  In the WCU Code of Student Conduct, it has been added to the list of items […]

Back to school or COVID-19?

Western Carolina University is preparing for an in-person fall semester. Events, concerts and more await students for the coming semester. “We are hopeful for the oncoming semester and ready to see students return,” said Sam Miller, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. The 2021 fall semester will be the third semester for WCU with COVID-19 restrictions. […]

The virtual Tunnel of Oppression

The Tunnel of Oppression has been an annual event at WCU since 2016. Its goal to raise awareness on important issues and explore different types of oppression, this year through a ‘pandemic lens’. The tunnel is a virtual tour hosted inside the Intercultural Affairs office and is available online to all WCU students until May […]