Author: Brandon Schafer

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Dwindling tomato crop causes price increase and changes

This winter’s abnormally cold weather may not have only gotten you out of class—it may have affected your sandwich. Florida, the United States’ leading supplier of fresh winter tomatoes, lost an estimated 70 percent of this year’s crop during a January cold snap. While restaurants on or near campus are […]

Sports

2009 Catamount Cross Country Schedule and Outlook

Head coach Danny Williamson announced the 2009 cross country season on July 8. The season, which will consist of four regular season races before the Southern Conference Championship, will kick off Sept. 4 with a WCU Invitational. “We are looking forward to our upcoming season,” said Williamson. “The schedule will […]

Sports

Concepcion Previews 2009 Lady Catamount Volleyball Team

Western Carolina volleyball Head Coach Manuel Concepcion is optimistic for his team’s schedule, which includes matches with 14 non-conference opponents and a full slate of Southern Conference opponents. “The schedule is designed to be a huge challenge for us,” Concepcion said. “We want the team to be ready to play […]

Sports

Golf Teams Look Forward to Upcoming Season

Coaches Gorham Bradley and Steve Lott of the men and women’s golf teams (respectively) have released their teams’ 2009-2010 play schedule. Both teams will play in 11 tournaments throughout this fall and spring semester. Coach Gorham Bradley posted the men’s schedule On July 23. The schedule is divided into five […]

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Discover Precious Stones by Visiting Franklin’s Gem Mine

One of the driving forces in the settlement of this country was the pursuit of wealth. Settlers pushed ever deeper into the unknown wilderness, as rumors of gold and other precious minerals reached civilized lands. Today, gem mining in areas like Franklin offers the public a chance to experience the […]

News

Salamander Named After WCU Professor

Western Carolina University has a rather small claim to fame to the Urspelerpes brucei, a recently discovered species of salamander. Named for WCU professor Emeritus Richard Bruce, the amphibian is only 2 inches long—and the second smallest known species in the U.S. This salamander was discovered in Stephens County, Ga., […]

News

Obama’s Green Initiative Includes White Roofs

Energy Secretary Steven Chu has a revolutionary plan to fight global warming. If it works, Chu claims it will have the same effect as removing the world’s vehicles for 11 years. The plan? Whitewash roofs and roads. Chu’s proposal to paint all roofs and roads white is based on research […]

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WCU Gets New Chief Information Officer, Craig A. Fowler

On July 10, the university announced that Craig A. Fowler will be joining Western as the new Chief Information Officer (CIO). As of July 27, Fowler will be in charge of continuing to keep all television and Internet systems running smoothly.   As CIO, Fowler will be responsible not only […]

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Enjoy a Day at Lake Glenville

In 1941, the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) finished construction of the Thorpe Dam just outside of Glenville in southern Jackson County. While the dam was only intended to provide power for ALCOA’s aluminum factory, it had the secondary effect of creating the Thorpe Reservoir, which became commonly known as […]

News

Credit Card Age to Rise to 21 in U.S.

There are a number of ways that students can pay for school supplies: cash, debit cards, and student loans, to name a few. But in February 2010, freshmen will find themselves with one less option: credit cards. President Barack Obama recently signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act […]