WKUHerald.com

OPINION: A review of the Bowling Green Anime-Fest

2024-10-21T01:58:42Z

Attending conventions has been a hobby of mine dating back to middle school, so when I heard the Bowling Green Anime-Fest was coming up, I knew I had to be in attendance.

The Bowling Green Anime-Fest took place in the Corvette Museum on Sunday, Oct. 20. The space was small, but packed wall-to-wall with vendors of every kind. There were people selling figurines, prints and stickers and surprise bags. Anything nerd-related a person could want, they could surely find at this convention.

The energy throughout the convention was palpable– vendors were excited to share their work, while con attendees were excited to find cool items related to their favorite interests. Everywhere I looked people were buzzing around, excited to be in the presence of so many like-minded people.

One of the vendors I was able to speak to was Clint Lindsey, owner of Miniclicks. Miniclicks specializes in creating LEGO minifigures one wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. Lindsey said he loved the convention experience for the “wow factor.”

“People walk up to our booth and their eyes light up,” Lindsey said.

Another vendor I spoke to was Garris. L. R. Coleman, author of the Curse of Crowns book series. Coleman came to the convention hoping to share his book series with more people.

As I wandered the convention and learned more about the vendors and their stories, I found myself falling more and more in love with this small-town convention. Everyone there was devoted to their art, whether it be vendors or the cosplayers. Clearly, the other attendees felt the same.

Echo Frausto, one of the attendees, shared she came to the convention for the culture.

“[I like] to see all the craftsmanship and creativity that people put into their cosplays,” Frausto said.

Throughout the day, the convention hosted fun activities to get people involved, such as anime-based trivia and a cosplay contest.

Cosplay is when people dress up as characters from various forms of media. It can be seen as performance art; some cosplayers work on their costumes for months at a time to make them as screen-accurate as possible.

The cosplayers at Bowling Green Anime Fest were incredible. As they walked across the stage displaying the costumes they had carefully put together, their passion for their craft was evident.

All in all, Bowling Green Anime-Fest was a wonderful convention to attend, whether it be for the con newbie or the well-weathered convention veteran. I would highly recommend attending to support both the community and the local artists in the Kentucky area.

Commentary Writer Emma Hardesty can be reached at emma.hardesty162@topper.wku.edu.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife hosting weekly sessions of ‘Hook & Cook’

2024-10-21T01:29:00Z

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources hosted a ‘Hook & Cook’ event, the first of three sessions of a free statewide program, Monday, Oct. 14 at the Warren County Cooperative Extension Office to educate beginner fishers about fishing, rod and reel setup, cleaning and cooking basics hands-on.

Aquatic Education Coordinator Easton Copley led the instruction, where attendees practiced various skills on provided fishing rods such as attaching hooks, sinkers and bobbers as well as understanding casting mechanisms. After the lesson, “someone who has never seen a pole can set it up and know what the purpose is,” according to Copley.

Future sessions will occur Oct. 21 and 28, with ongoing registration until the 21st. The next session will focus on cleaning and cooking fish. The extension office’s partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Department allows attendees usage of free materials and access to recipes. The final session will take place at Three Springs Park, where attendees will be able to put their knowledge to practice and fish.

One of the program’s main goals is to connect with and service communities. Hook & Cook targets areas with large populations in Kentucky, including Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown and Bowling Green.

Hook & Cook attracts attendees mostly through word of mouth. The event hosted only six attendees despite being held in a city with a population of over 70,000.

“The hard part is behind the scenes… where’s the other 50 to 100 people we could have had?” Copley said. He asked the people attending to invite friends to the next sessions.

The benefits of attending Hook & Cook are not limited to education. Jeremy Krans attended with two of his children. His motivation was “to hang out with my kids and bond with them beyond screens,” as well as general enjoyment of fishing as an art and sport.

The event boasts a hands-on experience of fishing basics.

“You can sit and watch this stuff on YouTube, but feeling it and doing it, it registers easier,” said Copley.

The event connects its attendees to other resources provided by the department. The fishing and boating mobile app lets users access information on water bodies, boat ramps, stocking records, forecasts, and licenses.

Fishing locations are available even in largely urban areas through the Fishing In Neighborhoods (FINs) program. The Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide charts the annual stocking of thousands of sizable trout and catfish into FINs lakes. Licensed fishermen are encouraged to catch their limit in these areas, as the fish die when temperatures drop in the winter.

In addition to Hook & Cook, the department occasionally hosts a Field to Fork event. Field to Fork focuses on hunting and cooking basics for game such as deer, turkey and squirrel. Check here for updates about upcoming events.

To participate in Hook & Cook, visit the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource website.

News Reporter Natalie Freidhof can be reached at natalie.friedhiof407@topper.wku.edu

Pardon my Jake: WKU pulls away at Sam Houston

2024-10-21T00:51:16Z

With the fourth quarter on the horizon and a 17-14 Hilltopper lead in jeopardy as Sam Houston drove down the field, it seemed that WKU football was going to find themselves in their first tight test of Conference USA play on Wednesday.

But in the blink of an eye, what seemed to be WKU’s first down-to-the-wire conference contest turned into yet another comfortable C-USA win.

How?

15 Minutes of Seamless Football

Hosea Wheeler field goal block.

Caden Veltkamp to K.D. Hutchinson, 74-yard touchdown.

Sam Houston fumble recovered by WKU.

Veltkamp 19-yard rushing touchdown.

Sam Houston turnover on downs.

This was the sequence in the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter. With tensions high and their backs against the wall, the Hilltoppers played almost perfect football to make a three-point lead a 17-point lead in a matter of moments.

I say almost perfect because nothing in sports can ever be truly perfect, but man, this was close.

“The first half was a total back and forth like I expected and then slowly but surely in the second half we were able to make some big plays,” Head Coach Tyson Helton said.

With a high-stress situation in an already high-stress game, teams can crumble or team’s can live up to the challenge.

The Hilltoppers end their season with Liberty and Jacksonville State, two top teams in C-USA that are sure to give WKU a tough time. But outside of Boston College, when WKU has had their backs against the wall this season, WKU has shown they can live up to the challenge.

Defense

I’ve mentioned WKU’s defense in this column a lot recently, but I feel like yet again they were too good to leave out.

Aside from a few big plays – which have really been the only glaring downfall this season – that resulted in touchdowns, WKU held the Bearkats offense to only 14 points. They averaged 31 points per game beforehand.

The defense has yet to allow over 21 points a game in Conference USA play. WKU has only allowed over 21 to one opponent this entire year, Alabama.

“I like it that way. Defense wins championships,” Helton said. “Anytime our backs are against the wall, anythings happening, they go out there, create turnovers and get stops.”

The Bye Week

If you told me before the season that WKU would be 5-2 heading into the second bye week I wouldn’t be surprised.

Outside of the two Power 4 games, WKU’s schedule lined up to where a 5-2 mark seemed very possible.

But if you told me that WKU would be 5-2 with a stellar defense and a good – and improving – offense under Caden Veltkamp, I’d be ecstatic.

Around the exact same time last season, the Hilltoppers were watching a Jacksonville State kick sail through the uprights, handing WKU their first conference loss of the year. While that loss did not totally derail the year, a loss against Liberty the next week seemed to throw the C-USA championship hopes off the tracks.

This year, the Hilltoppers have their entire season ahead of them after their first big conference test. WKU has not made a C-USA championship since 2021 and has not won a C-USA championship in the Helton era.

Maybe it’s the immaturity of a young college journalist who wants to see his tuition payments go to something exciting, but this year feels different.

Sports Reporter Jake McMahon can be reached at michael.mcmahon480@topper.wku.edu

PCAL Cultural Enhancement Series and Southern Circuit of Independent Filmmakers hosts ‘SANTOS Skin to Skin’ screening

2024-10-20T22:03:26Z

Potter College of Arts & Letters Cultural Enhancement Series and the Southern Circit of Independent Filmmakers hosted a showing of “SANTOS Skin to Skin” at the Captial Arts Center, on Thursday, Oct. 17.

“SANTOS Skin to Skin” is a documentary about the life and music of John Santos, a seven-time Grammy-winning musician, teacher and activist. Santos specializes in jazz and traditional Afro-Latin drumming.

The film’s director, producer and editor, Kathryn Golden, and the director of photography and producer, Ashley James, said that being from the Bay Area in California, they have also been aware of Santos’ work.

The pair said they had never considered making a documentary on Santos until their friend suggested it.

“It’s sort of like you’re in the forest and don’t see the trees. But here was the tree right in front of us,” James said.

The movie follows Santos’s life. He grew up in San Francisco and was exposed to music at an early age through his grandparents, who were musicians on both his mother’s and father’s sides.

Santos in the film explains how it is important for him to educate people as well as entertain them. The film shows him teaching classes or talking between songs in concert on the history of drum rhythm.

Santos said in the film that drumming came to America from Africa, blending with the newly emerging Latin culture.

Golden said it was Santos’ explanation of the history and migration of drumming that sparked her inspiration.

“He was describing the migration of rhythms and how while he was talking, I started imagining like the map of the world just completely differently than any map I’d ever seen before,” Golden said

The film shows that Santos often uses his heritage and drumming to be a voice for social change.

In the film, Santos protests the removal of Latin Jazz as a category from the Grammys, getting the genre reinstated after fighting for over a year.

The film covers Santos’ development in the music world as well as his family life. A major beat of the film was spent on the premature death of Santos’ first daughter who passed a month after birth.

Golden said that Santos originally did not want to speak about the death of his daughter. However, over the film’s nine-year production, Golden said, the relationship she and Santos built allowed him to open up about his experience.

“It was that it just took time to earn trust so that John [Santos] and Aida [Santos’ wife] felt comfortable going near that subject with us on camera,” said Golden.

Reflecting on the film James said he believes he has “the greatest job in the world.” He said that in his own way, he can change people’s lives for the better and he believes this film has accomplished that.

News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at anthony.clauson994@topper.wku.edu.

WKU volleyball sweeps LA Tech, improves to 10-0 in conference play

2024-10-20T18:38:56Z

WKU volleyball kept their foot on the gas in conference play this weekend as they swept Louisiana Tech in two games to improve to 10-0 in conference play.

GAME ONE

To begin set one Louisiana Tech jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead before the Hilltoppers were able to gain control. The Bulldogs and Hilltoppers traded points back and forth before the Hilltoppers jumped to a 19-16 lead which ultimately led to WKU winning set one 25-18.

WKU came out firing in the second set pulling out to a 5-0 lead behind senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox. The Bulldogs closed the gap to make it a 10-7. Despite Louisiana Tech closing the gap the swings from WKU were too much for Techs defense and WKU took set two 25-14.

Much like in the first set the Bulldogs and Hilltoppers traded points before WKU was able to pull away late in the set making it a 23-17 lead. The Hilltoppers put the set and match away after two back-to-back aces from Cox made it 25-17.

GAME TWO

The first set was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than three. WKU looked to get something going with the set tied 17-17, and Kenadee Coyle led the charge as the Hilltoppers scored eight out of the next 11 points.

The Hilltoppers jumped out to a big lead in the second set and never looked back, dominating with a 25-10 win. Louisiana Tech only trailed 6-4 early, but the Hilltoppers dominated by out-scoring the Bulldogs 19-6 for the remainder of the match.

Louisiana Tech fought back in the final set, leading early 14-13. But the Hilltoppers went on another run with five straight points by Kenadee Coyle to set the tone for the rest of the match. WKU would win 25-19, sweeping Louisiana Tech for the second time on the weekend.

Freshman outside hitter Alivia Skidmore had a dominant showing, with 19 kills in the match. Coyle and Cox added on with nine kills. It was a full team effort as defensive specialist Abby Schaefer led the defense with 12 digs.

The Hilltoppers will look to continue their 13-game win streak next weekend as they take on the UTEP miners in a doubleheader.

Sports Reporter Austin Ricer can be reached at Austin.rice714@topper.wku.edu

Sports Reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at Peyton.reid502@topper.wku.edu

WKU soccer draws with Liberty

2024-10-20T17:25:07Z

WKU Soccer hosted Liberty Saturday night at the WKU Soccer Complex, drawing with the Flames 0-0.

Liberty came into the game second in Conference USA at 4-1-1, with their only loss to first place FIU. The Flames managed 17 shot attempts and five shots on goal, and were turned away on all five. The Flames lead the conference in shot attempts and are tied for first in goals scored.

“We had a game plan tonight. They have some very good attacking players and we felt like we needed to shut those players down,” Head Coach Jason Neidell said. “I thought our players did an excellent job of understanding and executing their individual roles and understanding our game plan as a team. We executed defensively very well tonight. I thought we were really disciplined in what we did.”

The Hilltoppers managed five shot attempts and just one shot on goal, held away from the goal by the Liberty defense. This is the third straight game WKU has not scored a goal.

Senior goalkeeper Maddie Davis recorded five saves in the game. It’s her fifth clean sheet of the season and 13th of her career.

The Hilltoppers move to 3-7-4 (1-2-4 C-USA). With just two games before the C-USA Tournament, WKU sits eighth in the conference.

WKU will travel to Miami, Florida to play the FIU Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 27th.

The game can be watched on ESPN +

Sports Reporter Michael Givner Jr. can be reached at Michael.givner586@topper.wku.edu

‘Our budget is in great shape’: Regents approve first quarter FY 2025 revenues, expenditures

2024-10-19T03:53:42Z

The Board of Regents approved a summary of revenues and expenditures during the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 during its Friday morning committee meeting in the Jody Richards Hall Regents Room.

FY 2025 quarter one, which ended Sept. 30, saw expenses of $112.8 million, 34% of the $334.6 million budget, and revenue of $138.6 million, 41% of the budget, detailed in a statement here. This compares to expenses at 33% and revenue at 39% after the first quarter of the FY 2024 budget.

“In my opinion, that’s excellent progress from prior years,” Susan Howarth, executive vice president for strategy, operations and finance, said.

2024-25 Statement of Revenues & Expenditures (Board of Regents)

Howarth said net tuition revenue is “the single strategic focus on the revenue side of the budget” since schools can lose revenue through increased enrollment. Net tuition revenue saw almost $64 million in quarter one, per the statement.

WKU President Timothy Caboni said statewide, there can be an internal “complete focus” on student headcount. He said while population metrics are important, “the reality is that you can buy those numbers.”

“What we’ve been focused on ensuring is the fiscal health of the institution, not focusing on a number of students, but rather ensuring that net tuition is stable and growing,” WKU President Timothy Caboni said.

Howarth said personnel expense is similar to last year while operating expense has increased, primarily in the “Other Financial Assistance” category due to more PELL and CAP awards and in the “Supplies & Operating” category due to higher property insurance.

Howarth said she, Caboni and Provost Bud Fischer continue to monitor inflationary increases and all campus units “to make sure that everybody is staying within the tails and no one is getting out of control.”

“Our budget is in great shape,” Caboni told the Herald. “We’re in better shape than last year and we’re going to be in better shape next year as well.”

Shane Spiller, faculty regent, asked Caboni how it is decided which “competing” units receive additional funds or personnel if it’s sought.

“I think it’s pretty simple,” Caboni responded. “This is the amount of money you have, don’t overspend it. And if you need more, we can talk about how we allocate revenue to meet those needs. But until someone has the conversation around ‘this is absolutely mission critical,’ then don’t add it.”

Caboni said it is important to recognize the RAMP model makes it easy for units to understand what money is allocated, which must be taken into account when planning. He said he’s seen “good progress” from Athletics, which he expects to continue.

Regents Melissa Dennison, left, and Gary Broady discuss notes during the Board of Regents meeting on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Eli Randolph)

The Regents also approved:

The auditor’s report and financial statements for FY 2024. Jennifer Williams, Forvis Mazars audit partner, said the financial reports provided to the agency present fairly.
A resolution to secure a $10 million line of credit through JPMorgan Chase Bank to be used “only in the event the timing of revenue collections does not match expense payment timing,” according to the meeting agenda.
Faculty and staff personnel actions from March 1 to Sept. 30 and one-time compensation payments in the Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 payroll period.
A recommendation for revising BOR bylaws, which will shift the responsibility of auditing from the Executive Committee to the Finance and Budget Committee, which will be renamed the “Finance, Budget, and Audit Committee.”

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at ali.costellow453@topper.wku.edu.

Lisa Genova paid over $66,000 for Presidential Speaker Series

2024-10-18T20:59:42Z

WKU paid author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova $66,500 for the most recent installment of the Presidential Speaker Series on Oct. 15.

Genova was signed to give a 50 minute lecture followed by a 10 minute question and answer session. In addition, WKU was responsible for “professional commercially insured round trip ground transportation from hotel to venue and hotel accommodations up to two nights,” according to the contract between WKU and the Washington Speakers Bureau, the agency representing Genova. All other travel and event costs were included in the fee.

The contract was signed in May 2024 and included an itinerary for the day of the talk. This included an “Informal Q&A session with select students” for an hour, as well as two 30 minute periods of downtime, one before dinner with “University and guest VIPs” and one just prior to her lecture.

$33,500 of the full price was due to WSB on July 15, and the remaining $33,000 was due by Oct. 1. WKU was unable to publicize the event until full payment was made, according to the contract.

Genova spoke as the second installment of the Presidential Lecture Series. Her lecture followed last fall’s lecture by deep sea explorer and oceanographer Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreckage of the Titanic. The lecture was held in Van Meter Hall and was free for all students, faculty, staff and the Bowling Green community.

Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Hosts annual ‘Sleep Out for the Homeless’

2024-10-18T21:00:57Z

WKU students gathered on South Lawn Thursday evening, setting up camp for a night of activities in the annual Phi Beta Sigma’s “Sleep Out for the Homeless” event.

The Epsilon Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, a historically African American fraternity, holds the event each year to raise awareness of those facing homelessness. This year it also collected donations to be sent to local shelters.

Yhon Bazira, sophomore Phi Beta Sigma Director of Social Action and event coordinator, introduced multiple guest speakers to share personal stories and inform attendees of resources in Bowling Green.

Carlos Bailey, Bowling Green city commissioner, highlighted various causes of homelessness and called for the youth of Bowling Green to make a collective effort to solve the issue.

“We live in a world where many people are just one unexpected event from being homeless,” Bailey said. ”Whether it’s volunteering, raising awareness, donating to charities or simply offering a kind word and dignity to someone who is struggling, you can make a difference.”

Amelia Kolb, Assistant Director of Student Activities, shared her perspective of seeing students on campus who struggle to find a consistent shelter while studying at the university.

“WKU receives an influx of calls for students who have no home to return to [during breaks],” Kolb said. “Staff works to the best of their ability to ensure these students are housed. However, limited resources can often make this a challenge.”

Local organizations gave out business cards and resources for students to volunteer and find more information on the cause.

House on the Hill co-chair, Beth Wheeler presents her speech during “Sleep Out for the Homeless” hosted by the Epsilon Theta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. on Oct. 17, 2024 (Ava Davis)

Beth Wheeler, House On the Hill co-chair, emphasized the importance of stable housing.

“It’s been proven that having stable, reliable, attainable housing is a key to thriving as a human being,” Wheeler said. “When people get into a shelter that they feel safe in at night, they are dramatically more likely to reach out for other services they may need.”

Wheeler also shared long-term plans for her to help resolve the housing issue in Bowling Green.

“We are working on getting funding through grants and private donors to purchase 14.3 acres here in Warren County, where we will build a hundred single-family affordable housing homes,” Wheeler said. “We really want to build not just houses but community for people.”

The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity accepted student donations of things like canned goods, non perishables, and hygiene products that will be sent to local shelters.

“This is my second year coming here and I came back because it’s for a good cause, I want to give back to the community in any way I can,” said Kamari Mozee, a sophomore dental hygiene major who brought canned goods.

After all the speakers and activities took place, Phi Beta Sigma members and many other students spent the rest of the night sleeping in their tents until 7 a.m.

Javeon Manning, a senior sports management major and the President of Phi Beta Sigma was pleased to see how far the event has come since its introduction in Fall 2021. He’s hopeful that the event can grow much larger in the future.

“Homelessness can happen to anybody, so by any means, we’re going to do what’s necessary to decrease the issue in Bowling Green,” Manning said, “We’re at the age where we can still develop and learn, so it’s always good to pick up on what we can do to help people while we’re here.”

News Reporter Larkin Ivory can be reached at larkin.ivory045@topper.wku.edu.

VIDEO: SGA holds Second Annual Pink Walk

2024-10-18T21:08:24Z

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Student Government Association, in collaboration with the Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, and the National Panhellenic Council, hosted their second annual Pink Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event included a lap around campus, a meal for participants, and guest speakers to share their stories.