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 […]
News
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. […]
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 […]
Western Carolina University adds 22 new COVID cases during first week of instruction
Editor’s note: As a result of an ambiguously-worded COVID “dashboard,” the original version of this article, first published Aug. 20, erroneously listed the number of new cases as 8 and not 22. University administration convened a working group Aug. 21 to address the website to ensure the accuracy of future […]
The Husk and The Helm’s delay leaves WCU students anxious as classes start
Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Aug. 20, 2020. Move-in weekend is usually a joyous occasion for Western Carolina University students and their parents. For many occupants of The Husk and The Helm apartment complex, this has not been the case. The Husk and The Helm faced various code […]
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 […]
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 […]
Four Sylva businesses in three days close temporarily from employees testing positive for COVID
North Carolina, despite logging record numbers of new cases over the past two weeks, including a new single-day record of almost 2,500 on July 11, still maintains the “safer-at-home” phase 2 of reopening. One of the defining provisions of this phase is the 50% capacity allowance for dining-in at restaurants. […]
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 […]
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 […]