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 […]

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 […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on June 25, 2020.  BaShaun Smith has served as Western Carolina University’s interim associate vice chancellor and dean of students since June 2019 but permanently accepted the position as of May 1. “I decided to stay at WCU because of the amazing students we […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on June 11, 2020.  Work has begun on a facelift of the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University. “Addressing the water leak issues in the existing curtainwall is the primary goal of the Ramsey Activity Center Curtainwall Replacement project,” according to the website of […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on June 11, 2020.  After much anticipation, Western Carolina University has officially announced changes to the fall semester calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WCU will hold its first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 17, as previously scheduled, but has decided to eliminate […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on May 28, 2020.  As a kid, Mark Zoran built model cars from his favorite movies and TV shows with his father, Daniel. Now he recreates them in full scale in his Whittier shop. Zoran and his wife, Angela, founders of Razorfly Studios, replicate […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on May 21, 2020.  A data collection company is keeping an eye on how the United States is following social distancing guidelines and handing down grades. Jackson County received a “C,” according to data from Unacast. “Our goal in developing this and our COVID-19 […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on April 16, 2020. On Wednesday, April 8, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors announced Dr. Jennifer Schiff as one of 17 faculty members to receive the 2020 Award for Excellence in Teaching. The recipients represent all 16 of North Carolina’s public […]

On Friday, March 6, rising senior Dawson Spencer was announced as Western Carolina University’s Student Body President-Elect for the 2020-2021 academic year. Spencer earned a total of 649 votes while opponent Tristan Benson acquired 406 during the March 2 and 3 election. Spencer has always been involved with student government […]

On Thursday, Feb. 27 Student Government Association’s debates continued in the UC theater, this time for the vice-presidential candidates – Aaron Speyer and Kasson Mitchell. The debates were moderated once again by Alejandra Cespedes, the elections committee chair, Ashley Faulkner and Jordan Waldroop. Questions were pre-written and submitted by students […]