US, North Carolina Must Prioritize and Address Vaccine Hesitancy

With an average daily death toll of over 3,000 Americans and 25,000 daily new infections, the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new phase of accelerated spread since this holiday season. In North Carolina, there has been an average of 8,032 cases per day and a daily average of 90 deaths. To date at least 659,840 […]

Parking availability on WCU campus diminishes further

Co-edited by Marina Cooper Parking at WCU will remain a problem this semester with the constructions of new buildings and parking garage. WCU’s parking services announced on Jan. 26 that the Baptist 4-tier commuter lot will be closed for the remainder of the spring 2021 semester due to construction. Located next to Hunter Library, this […]

Cullowhee Valley School mascot to be removed

Story co-written with Emma Hodes.  Since 1958, the Rebel has represented Cullowhee Valley School as their mascot. But after a Jackson County Board of Education meeting on January 26, the Rebel will be retired. The topic of the mascot change was one main topic discussed in the meeting, along with COVID-19 vaccinations, spring season sports, […]

Alex Gary: From student athlete to Athletic Director

Western Carolina University’s athletic director, Alex Gary, has already had his fair share of tribulations less than a year into the role. Gary has had to deal with a global pandemic, athletic cancellations and postponements, racial issues and protests on campus. Despite these challenges, student athletes, coaches and colleagues are thrilled with his performance and […]

Students and professors on how the pandemic impacts education

Story co-produced with Kenneth Goode. Before the pandemic, all lecture classes were face-to-face instead of in front of a computer screen. Professors would work in their offices until it was time to walk to their designated classrooms and teach. Everything has changed. Everything has changed for students as well. Instead of walking to classes, they […]

WCU Equestrian club president makes the best of COVID-19

Western Carolina University senior Madison Kitchen took on the role of equestrian club president for the 2020-2021 school year. She knew it would come with challenges, but a pandemic was not one she thought she would face. The equestrian club voted for leadership positions in early 2020, just when the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading into […]