Hurricane Helene devastated the lives of many throughout Western North Carolina. As people start to rebuild, mental health is often not prioritized. Mental health is often a stigmatized topic in many different ways which can have a number of negative consequences. “The more prevalent stigma is related to dangerousness, particularly […]
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WCU communicates guidelines and rights to faculty and staff in case of potential visits from federal immigration officials
On Jan. 28 WCU staff and faculty received an email informing them how to respond to federal immigration officials if an interaction occurs. The email gave guidelines on how to respond in various situations including an immigration official visiting campus, an official making a written or phone request, or if […]
What Title IX changes mean for WCU students
Western Carolina University students, faculty and staff received an email on Feb. 5 announcing a Title IX update. The email sparked confusion and anger across campus about what these changes mean for WCU students. “I got the email when I was in class and then I had to drive to […]
Jackson County opens first indoor pools
After a long time coming it’s finally here, Jackson County celebrated the completion of its new aquatics facility on Saturday with a host of grand-opening festivities. “To finally have it come about has been a really big deal for Jackson County,” said Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hopkins. “We’re really […]
Schools in the UNC System testing for dangerous chemicals in older academic buildings
In 1888, WCU first began as Cullowhee Academy, one teacher training 100 students how to be “competent teachers.” By 1929, the school grew into Western Carolina Teachers College. Finally, 38 years later in 1967, WCU was recognized as a university by North Carolina state legislature. Through the evolution of the […]
HOMEBASE Set to Expand
Eight years ago, WCU and Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina collaborated to create HOMEBASE. The program originally supported students who had aged out of foster care or were otherwise independent. Over time it has evolved into a resource that provides a range of services to suit community needs. HOMEBASE […]
WCU graduates weather chaotic semester
Amid a chaotic semester, graduating seniors experience mixed emotions but are mostly feeling hopeful for the future. The 2024 presidential election and Hurricane Helene have brought additional worries to graduating seniors during a time in life that already tends to be stressful. According to the American College Health Association, 76% […]
Indigenous fashion flourishes on Qualla Boundary
Last month the Kananesgi Committee, made up of members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, held their sixth annual Kananesgi Fashion Show, providing a look into the blossoming Indigenous fashion scene. Kananesgi is a fashion and art show focused on work by Cherokee people. Its namesake, meaning spider, was […]
Professors navigate course changes amid unexpected university closures
All classes at WCU were suspended from Sept 26 through Oct 11 due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. WCU’s fall break, Oct 14 through Oct 18, continued as scheduled, leaving students out of the classroom for nearly three and a half weeks. To accommodate, professors had to restructure their […]
Lending a helping paw: How students have volunteered in the wake of Hurricane Helene
Cullowhee came out of Hurricane Helene with minimal damage, however many neighboring counties were less fortunate. Flooding and loss of utilities devastated communities across Western North Carolina and the cancellation of classes left many WCU students eager to get out and help. Every student had a different reason to volunteer. […]