The last several weeks have seen a marked increase in reports of criminal activity at Western Carolina University. Since Jan. 15, there have been three reports of sexual assault, one report of assault on a female and one report of armed robbery. Two students have been arrested in connection with two of the crimes.
Gibbs Knotts, interim dean of the college of arts and sciences, professor of political science and public affairs and faculty athletics representative at Western Carolina University, will be leaving at the end of this school year.
Western Carolina University's UNITY took part in a statewide campaign on Jan. 27 to fight a proposed amendment that would make marriage between a man and woman the only recognized union. The campaign, Race To The Ballot, kicked off last Friday on WCU's campus.
A Cullowhee bridge undergoing construction for deterioration repairs is causing delays and inconveniences for residents who are accustomed to crossing it. Bridge 82, on State Road 1002 near the intersection of Rogers Road, will be closed for reconstruction for 150 days.
Western Carolina's search for a new provost is nearing its deliberating moments. A 16-person committee, tasked with finding and recommending a candidate to Chancellor David Belcher, has narrowed its selection down to three. The original 23 applicants were judged based on criteria outlined by the committee in their template of desired characteristics.
The Western Carolina University Campus is experiencing a transition in decoration and direction. New signs of all sizes have popped up in front of campus buildings and roadways directing students, faculty, staff and visitors where to go and how to get there.
Western Carolina's Student Government Association has jumped into the new semester with new resolutions and an initiative to listen to the student voice at WCU. Ryan Hemance, Service Learning Senator, and Ricky Greene, Academic Senator, are collaborating together to build a resolution that will establish a Service Corps program at WCU.
The State Employees' Credit Union located across Highway 107 from campus was robbed Dec. 14 and a WCU student was arrested for the crime. He later admitted to robbing the bank and has been sentenced to jail. A timeline of the updates from the day of the robbery and news that has broken since are listed inside.
Randy Eaton, former senior associate director of athletics at the University of Maryland, is the new director of athletics at Western Carolina University. Western Carolina Chancellor David O. Belcher announced Wednesday the selection of Eaton, who brings more than 20 years of athletics administration experience to the post.
Two accusations of sexual assault, one on campus and one off, involving WCU students came to light in the past few weeks, prompting concern in the community because they had not heard of the crimes. The first, which occurred on Nov. 3 according to police reports, involved WCU student James William Derrickson, 18 of Raleigh.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Sylva's oldest fast food chain restaurant, closed unexpectedly on Nov. 21. The Sylva location, owned by KFC franchise-holder Fulenwider Enterprises, based in Morganton, was open as usual the day prior and gave customers no advanced notice they would not be open the next day.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced last month new increases to postal service rates nationwide. These new increases include a new price for first-class "Forever" stamps, with a price increase to 45 cents per stamp. This is a 1 cent increase from the 44 cent first-class stamp that has been in use for 2 1/2 years.
Student Government Association President T.J. Eaves held a private student forum last Thursday after a meeting with The Leadership Institute to get a sense of the student body's opinions on major campus issues. The forum was only open to students, and it offered a secure setting where students could voice their opinions on subjects concerning Western Carolina University.
As motorists enter Sylva on Highway 107 North, new construction is evident in front of the Ingles Supermarket near the intersection of Highway 107 and East Webster Rd. Construction on the new CVS Pharmacy is progressing rapidly, and will soon be complete.
UNC Chapel Hill might charge their students for Internet usage that does not pertain to their academic studies. This means UNC would charge for usage on sites like Facebook, online gaming and streaming video to offset their technology costs.
For the 2012-13 school year, WCU's tuition and costs will again increase. The increases will be felt by all students attending the university and will be spread throughout the various charges and fees that make up the total cost of attendance.
Dennis Wagner, the head football coach at Western Carolina University since 2008, has announced his resignation from the program effective immediately. Wagner met with Fred Cantler, interim director of athletics, on Sunday morning to inform him of his decision.
Apart of Western Carolina University since 1989, the University Club has worked to promote the bond of community both with WCU and the surrounding area. In June, however, the club experienced an obstacle to their goals when a tree was struck by lightning and fell onto the meeting house.
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