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Elections 2020: NC-11 candidates for US Congress

As election day comes upon us, it’s crunch time for voters to decide who they want to represent them. Voters need to know who aligns more with their standards and look past the soundbites they hear from news outlets, social media and attack ads. Candidate profiles are extremely vital to […]

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Covid Cluster Rocks Western Students

On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Western Carolina University released a statement exposing a cluster of 17 COVID-19 cases from students, all residing from Harrill Residence Hall. This is the first and largest cluster of cases we have seen yet this school year and raises some concerns with parents and students alike. […]

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WCU to enforce mask policy

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Aug. 27, 2020.  BaShaun Smith, Western Carolina University’s associate vice chancellor and dean of students, has announced that students may face WCU Code of Student Conduct Violations if mask requirements are not followed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Shared community standards remind us that […]

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Maggie Valley protests to reignite Aug. 1

The July 18 march in Maggie Valley had managed to catch some Saturday afternoon rain, though it was less of a portent and more of an annoyance, I would imagine.  I wouldn’t know, I was sitting at home, watching the protest on Facebook live via Smoky Mountain News. A camouflaged […]

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WCU students up in arms over 2020-21 housing agreement

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on July 16, 2020.  Western Carolina University’s 2020-21 Housing Agreement has left students angered and concerned for the upcoming school year. “Residents acknowledge that, in the event of such temporary closures, restrictions, and/or adjustments to the housing services schedule, WCU shall not have the […]

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Factions War Over Sylva’s Confederate Statue

Editor’s note: JB is in favor of removing the statue but has attempted to present this article relatively free of bias. In the wake of the George Floyd protests, the 2017 call to remove the local confederate statue “Sylva Sam” from the steps of the old courthouse is reawakened and […]

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WCU trustees drop Hoey name in unanimous vote

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on July 2, 2020.  Western Carolina University’s Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved changing the name from “Hoey” to “University” on a campus performance facility. Hoey Auditorium was named after Democratic politician Clyde R. Hoey. Hoey, served in both houses of the state […]