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.

“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.

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.

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. 

The SGA Pink Walk, created and hosted by SGA Vice President Donte Reed, aimed to spread awareness about breast cancer and raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The walk was presented in collaboration with SGA, WKU Panhellenic, WKU Interfraternity Council and the WKU National Pan-Hellenic Council. 

“Knowing it exists is not enough” was Reed’s motto for this event.

“You never know who it’s impacted here on the Hill,” Reed said. “We’re going to try to do as much as we can to spread the word about early treatments and resources that are available.”

Students gathered at the Big Red Statue in the Downing Student Union to walk across Centennial Mall and to the South Lawn. There, SGA provided everyone in attendance with burgers, snacks and drinks.

“It’s just such a great event,” said Daren Denney, husband to breast cancer survivor Michelle Denney. “It’s a good student turnout here tonight and it’s just such a great opportunity for people to get information.”

Speakers Michelle Denney, Robbin Taylor and Tate Sine spoke on their experiences with breast cancer and how it has impacted their lives. Denney and Taylor are breast cancer survivors, and Sine’s mother battled breast cancer.

“Attitude is everything,” Michelle Denney said. “No matter if you’re diagnosed with a medical disease, if you’re going to take a test or you have to speak and you’re scared to death; attitude is everything.”

Tonya Sine, mother of Tate Sine, spoke at last year’s Pink Walk after being diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021. This year, her son shared her story to attendants.

“To be here and witness this is very heartwarming,” Tonya Sine said.

Although breast cancer is predominantly found in women, there was much talk about how men are still susceptible. 1 in 8 women and 1 in 726 men will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer at some point in their lives according to the American Cancer Society.

In addition to the walk and guest speakers, there was also a raffle at the event for the chance to win various prizes. It cost $6 to enter, which will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Additional photos from the SGA Pink Walk can be found here and a video can be found here.

News Reporter Bradlee Reed-Whalen can be reached at bradlee.reedwhalen539@topper.wku.edu.

Bricks & Minifigs sells LEGO products straight from LEGO distribution and “retired” LEGO sets bought from customers or online.

“The way that LEGO works is they’ll typically put something out and it’ll have a shelf life for about a year or two and then they’ll retire it,” Tony Lopez said. “LEGO is one of the few products that actually appreciates in value once it’s gone off the shelf.”

The store, located on Scottsville Road, opened on Sept. 28, 2024.

“Opening the store is one of the things that I knew we needed, because we don’t have anything like this, and I was already a consumer of it,” Tony Lopez said. 

Tony and Jenny Lopez are both extensively familiar with the Bowling Green community. 

Jenny Lopez, lifelong Bowling Green local, graduated from Greenwood High School and attended WKU for two years in the early 2000s. Tony Lopez has been a local since his study at WKU, graduating with a BFA in graphic design in 2001. 

Though Tony and Jenny Lopez shared mutual friends during their time at WKU, their first meeting occurred in the parking lot of a local apartment complex.

“She actually hit my car and then I kept seeing her everywhere around town after that, and then we just kind of started talking,” Tony Lopez said. “And then I actually got her a job at Best Buy.”

Tony and Jenny Lopez eventually migrated from Best Buy to Dell Computers in Nashville and married during their time with the company.

Jenny Lopez stayed with Dell for 16 years before being laid off amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Tony Lopez considers the new store a “passion project” as his day job at Broadcom, a major tech company, consumes most of his time.

“I’ve hired a manager to kind of run it and Jenny runs things as well,” Tony Lopez said. “And I’m here when I can be.”

Tony Lopez frequented the Bricks & Minifigs location in Louisville and delved into the opportunity of franchising from his experiences. 

“We’re related in the name but we’re all independently owned and operated,” Tony Lopez said. 

“It’s very much like a grassroots franchise,” Jenny Lopez said. “We all help each other with problems and send each other different stuff.”

The company has roughly 200 locations nationwide, according to Tony Lopez. 

Tony and Jenny Lopez expressed their gratitude for the community support over the last few weeks. 

The grand opening in September saw over 700 customers that Saturday, according to Tony Lopez.

“The community really came together and stuck it out and supported us,” Tony Lopez said. “ We couldn’t have asked for any more.”

Jenny Lopez said customers filed outside the establishment hours before the official opening at 10 a.m. that day, bearing the rain. Some customers arrived just moments after Jenny Lopez herself got to the store, around 7 a.m.

“One lady pulled up and they had folding chairs and they were the first ones out there with their three boys, waiting in line just as happy as they could be,” Jenny Lopez said.

The shop has already fostered a diverse customer pool of “LEGO adults,” college students and youth, according to Tony Lopez. Some of these customers have become regulars over the mere two weeks the location has been open.

Aside from selling official LEGO products, the store works with small businesses, like Brick Bling by Jill, Big Kid Brix, Go Figure Displays, and Made Happy. These businesses produce LEGO-adjacent and LEGO-compatible products. 

Bricks & Minifigs Bowling Green at 2800 Scottsville Rd. Suite 3 is open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The store can be reached at (270) 495-1118.

“It’s been awesome, and it’s weird to be in a business where people thank you for opening it,” Tony Lopez said.

News Reporter Kane Smith can be reached at kane.smith490@topper.wku.edu.

“As a freshman and sophomore, I remember going and seeing the shows and thinking of these people that were pretty much just my peers as sort of celebrities,” Slayden said. “Then once I noticed that I had a decent body of work that I could show off and was proud of, I just kind of decided that I would love to do a show and sort of start getting my name out there more.”

It was this feeling that led to the creation of the “IN THE EYE OF” exhibit, which features Slayden’s art as well as the work of Ethan Justice, Lance Burdette and Kyra Embra. The walls and three podiums in the gallery are filled with Slayden’s art. Comments left on notecards by both the artists and observers also line the gallery’s walls.

The exhibit boasts a variety of types of art including a charcoal piece of a cow skull, several collages, a human figure made of tape, a head sculpt, a welded sculpture, pottery and more. 

“All the pieces vaguely revolve around identity and how your physical body and self interacts with the conceptual self that you have in your mind,” Slayden said. “ All of the people in the show have an understanding and appreciation for work that isn’t solely graceful traditional art.”

“IN THE EYE OF,” the name of the exhibit, comes from the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Slayden said.

“I just kind of cut out the parts that made it a phrase that made sense. It was interesting because not all the work is necessarily beautiful in a traditional sense,” Slayden said. “Also I draw eyes a lot, so there’s a lot of eyes in the work. It was a play on that too.”

Burdette’s piece “Abstract” features a textured and impressionistic man holding his chest that appears to be bleeding. The note next to it reads the lyrics of “Abstract (Psychopomp)” by Hozier.

“The texture is divine I can feel the heart bleeding,” reads a comment left next to the painting.

The interactive element is one many people have chosen to participate in. The notecards are scattered across the walls filled with thoughts of observers. “The Divine Transsexual” by Embry has two notes left floating adjacent to the pieces. “Beautiful,” reads one note. “Love this,” reads another.

“Mimesis” is the exhibition’s largest piece, hanging in the center of the largest wall of the gallery. It is a collage made by Slayden about the “creation and deconstruction of oneself.” Of Slayden’s work in the gallery, “Mimesis” is the most meaningful to him.

“I started with an oil painting, a self-portrait,” Slayden said. “Then immediately, once it was done, I cut it into pieces. Then I put it on a new thing and took more of my old artwork combined with different magazines and comic books and destroyed them and put them into different pieces. And then, once again, put them back together to create a new piece and then added more back on top of that.”

Slayden said he hoped those who visit the gallery interact with the work he and the other artists created. 

“I just want people to interact with art,” Slayden said. “I like to think, hopefully, people come away thinking. Just thinking about whatever. Thinking about themselves, about other people, or just thinking about coming back to more shows.” 

“IN THE EYE OF” is on display in the Cube Gallery, found at FAC 436, for the remainder of the week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

News Reporter Malone Farmer can be reached at james.farmer674@topper.wku.edu.

Gender-based discrimination in political spaces has been an issue for years, dating back to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and even further. However, sexism reared its ugly head the highest for the first time in the 2016 election. 

Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign for president brought her lots of backlash, most of which often manifested itself in the form of one word: “bitch.” “Trump that Bitch” was a slogan often proudly displayed on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs. The demeaning of Clinton to little more than a dog was an unfortunate side-effect of her campaign. 

And it revolved completely around her being a woman.

When viewing the 2024 presidential candidates, it is impossible to not take a look at one of the key things that divides them and their campaigns; their gender. The disgusting behaviors that plagued Clinton in her campaign have come back to haunt Harris.

Her lack of biological children is one of the things that have been held against the presidential candidate. Harris was criticized by the governor of Arkansas, who said Harris was unable to be humble due to her lack of biological children.

Claims from some conservative commentators about how Harris rose in the political sphere say she “slept her way to the top.” 

Fox News Host Jesse Watters commented that the generals in the Situation Room would “have their way with [Harris].”

Trump himself has done things such as reposting disgusting sexual remarks about Harris on his social media platform, Truth Social. 

People online continually obsess over the prices and types of clothes Harris wears while not once blinking an eye at the repeated, expensive suits and watches Trump wears. 

Clinton and Harris’s campaigns have shown not just the worst side of Republicans, but the worst side of men in the modern era. It’s an almost proud display of disrespect and hatred for people whose only crime is being a woman. 

With the constant sexist behavior towards these, and many other women in politics, it must be asked– what does this show to future generations?

Do we as a society want young children to think it’s okay to proudly display signs saying “Trump that Bitch” in their yards? Do we want the next generation to think it’s okay to demean a woman’s entire career by saying she “slept her way to the top”? 

The fear of the unknown is often a defense for people who are against these women in power, however that cannot be an excuse. There have been numerous female presidents, prime ministers, and other various chief executives across the entire world. The world kept spinning, even with these women at the helm. Women are leaders around the world, yet some Americans act as if that idea is asinine. 

Another fear of having America’s first female president is a fear of what comes next for her. How will the country react to having a woman in such a powerful position? Will the onslaught of sexism she faces only become worse as she guides the nation? Will her every movement be criticized simply because she wore the wrong pair of shoes that day?

At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter what type of earrings she’s wearing. It shouldn’t matter that she chose to put on an expensive necklace she bought with her own money. It shouldn’t matter whether she wears dresses or suits, heels or flats, glossy or matte lips. None of it matters. 

What matters are her goals for the country. Her policies matter. Her ambition, her knowledge, all of that matters so much more than whatever she decides to wear on that particular day. They matter so much more than the fact that she is a woman.

If you’re going to criticize Harris, criticize her for things that relate to her policies. Criticize her for her platforms. But don’t criticize her for the one thing that she has no control over; her gender. Have enough respect to see her for what she is: a human being.

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

With Halloween just around the corner, many people will be looking for some new horror films to keep them from sleeping too easily or some spooky classics to revisit. 

Here are some modern and classic horror movies to enjoy as the 31st approaches move towards the 31st.

“Freaky” (2020)

Millie Kessler is a high school outcast who swaps bodies with serial killer the Blissfield Butcher, forcing her and her friends to stop the possessed Millie. “Freaky” takes key influence from both “Freaky Friday” and “Friday the 13th,” so much so that the original title of the movie was “Freaky Friday the 13th.”  

Director Christopher Landon brings both concepts together in a slasher comedy that has the staying power of a modern classic. Landon brought much of his style from his “Happy Death Day” duology, and that style earned the movie positive reception from both critics and audiences.

“Freaky” can be watched on Peacock for free or rented on most digital movie retailers. 

“The Evil Dead” (1981)

“The Evil Dead” was the first movie by acclaimed director Sam Raimi who would go on to direct the original “Spider-Man” trilogy and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” 

The movie features Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) and his friends who go to a cabin in the woods where they find a mysterious book in the basement. 

Despite being a micro-budget indie horror film by a first-time director, “The Evil Dead” found large success upon its release. Through this movie, Raimi inspired generations of horror fans and filmmakers with his unique and unpolished style. The legacy of Raimi’s first feature has extended to this day with plans for a sixth movie announced earlier this year.

“The Evil Dead” can be watched on AMC+ with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers. 

“The Strangers” (2008)

“The Strangers” is a psychological horror film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. Harkening back to home invasion classics from the 1970s, “The Strangers” finds a couple in the midst of a fight for the future of their relationship that turns into a fight for their lives. 

The movie has spawned a sequel and reboot that is fresh out of the theaters. It is an eerie and frightening sendup to a beloved era of horror films.

“The Strangers” can be watched on Max with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Cabin in the Woods” (2011)

Written and directed by Drew Goddard, “Cabin in the Woods” is a loving homage to horror classics like “The Evil Dead,” “The Thing,” “Night of the Living Dead” and many others. 

The movie follows a group of college students going to a cabin in the woods, leading to one of the most inventive horror comedies ever made. The movie stars a young Chris Hemsworth and was written by “Avengers” director Joss Whedon and is a terrific collage of humor and horror that sends up the genre’s long and storied history. 

“Cabin in the Woods” can be watched on Peacock with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is the feature-length debut of Poltergeist director Tobe Hooper and inspired countless horror films. 

Hooper’s horror classic follows a group of teenagers in 1970s Texas who find themselves in the hunting ground of a family of cannibals. 

Despite its name, TCM is not a gore-fest. Instead, the movie is more of an art-house psychological horror that focuses on the human fears of the protagonist.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” can be watched with a Prime Video subscription, on Tubi for free, or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Barbarian” (2022)

“Barbarian” was released in 2022 to both critical and commercial success and focuses on Tess arriving at her Airbnb to find a stranger named Keith. To avoid spoilers, I won’t talk much more about “Barbarian’s” plot because the movie is best watched without knowing much. 

Helmed by comedian Zach Cregger, the movie fuses the styles of David Fincher and Sam Raimi to create a truly unique film. 

You can watch “Barbarian” with a Prime Video subscription or it can be rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Scream” (1996)

“Scream” is a tried and true classic that I recommend to everyone. The whole movie is a send-up to the horror genre, specifically the golden age of 80s slashers. 

“Scream” follows Woodsboro teen Sydney as she and her friends are tormented by a serial killer wearing a ghostly mask. “Scream” is filled to the brim with good scares, creative kills, funny jokes that don’t feel out of place, a terrific cast and terrific direction from Wes Craven.

If you haven’t watched it, you absolutely should. If you have, you should watch it again. “Scream” deserves all the hype it’s been given as one of the best horror films of all time.

“Scream” can be watched on Max with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Hush” (2016)

Mike Flanagan, director of “Doctor Sleep” and “Haunting of Hill House,” brings his A game with this movie. 

“Hush” follows deaf writer Maddie as she faces off against a sadistic serial killer who tries to get into her house. Flanagan succeeds on every front with “Hush.”  He brings suspense, likable characters, visually engaging chase scenes and well-earned scares. 

There isn’t much else to say about “Hush” besides how highly I recommend it.

“Hush” can be rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Nope” (2022)

Most people know who Jordan Peele is, whether it be from his successful comedy career or his Oscar-winning directorial debut, “Get Out.” While “Get Out” is an amazing movie, I would argue that “Nope” is even better. 

“Nope” is a fusion of blockbuster and horror that results in a movie that goes between impressive and beautifully shot setpieces and genuinely eerie horror. 

The movie follows OJ and his sister Emerald who try to take a picture of the alien living above their farm. It boasts amazing performances from Steven Yuen, Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. This is a movie that truly anyone can enjoy, so you shouldn’t stop yourself from doing so.

“Nope” can be watched on Starz with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers. 

“Halloween” (1978)

Directed by WKU alumn John Carpenter, this classic film ignited the popularity of slashers. 

Though it is not the first slasher, that honor arguably goes to “Black Christmas,” “Halloween” brought the subgenre to prominence and critical success. 

Laurie Strode is the victim of escaped serial killer, Michael Meyers, on Halloween night of 1978. 

This movie is a classic for a reason, and it would be borderline sacrilegious to not include it on this list. So my recommendation is to enjoy October 31st watching John Carpenter’s “Halloween.”

“Halloween” can be found on AMC+ and Philo with a subscription, on Crackle and Plex for free or rented from most digital movie retailers. 

News Reporter Malone Farmer can be reached at james.farmer674@topper.wku.edu. 

The festival featured a variety of activities including a “Chili Cook Off,” pumpkin painting, candy apple decorating and corn hole. 

Keyonna Whaley, educational leadership graduate and Campus Activities Board advisor, said networking is one of the “most important things” for students who come to events like the Fall Festival. Whaley said it was important for students to attend these events to network with different people on campus.

“I would say just to bring awareness to each other, give thanks, have fun, paint, get to know each other, network,” Whaley said. “Just have fun.”

Gabrielle Winston, sophomore clinical psychology major and Campus Activities Board operations director, said this was her first time planning this event. Winston said they thought of the Chili Cook Off because it made sense with the cold, fall season.

The event was an “opportunity to make new friends,” according to Winston. She said candy apple decorating was her favorite activity at the event.

The “Chili Cook Off” consisted of three contestants who each prepared their own chili for students to taste. 

Desean Tyrus, senior business management major, received the most votes in the cook off. His prize was a goodie bag with WKU spirit items inside.

Tyrus told the Herald the Campus Activities Board reached out to him and a few friends to participate in the competition. The Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) hosted the “Chili Cook Off” according to Tyrus, which is an organization he’s participated with previously.

When asked why students should attend these events, Tyrus said that Campus Activities Board events “always have a good turnout” and “interesting ideas and concepts” to gain students’ attention on campus. 

“It’s a good time for everybody to come together and get to know one another outside the class,” Tyrus said.

Miratia Coyle, junior criminology and psychology double major, said she attended the Fall Festival to get more involved on campus before she graduates.

“I’m trying to get more involved with stuff because I’m a junior, so I don’t have much time left,” Coyle said. “And I really did want to paint a pumpkin.”

Jayme Thompson, freshman Chinese flagship major and attendee of the event, said that she would recommend this event as a fun way to celebrate Halloween away from home.

“When you’re in college, when it comes to getting caught up in classes and things, you don’t really stop and celebrate how you normally would with your family,” Thompson said. “This is like a fun way to fit that in.”

News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be contacted at abigail.vickers153@topper.wku.edu.