UA12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 91, No. 26

Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives 12-1-2015 UA12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 91, No. 26 WKU Student Affairs Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records Part of the African American Studies Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation WKU Student Affairs, "UA12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 91, No. 26" (2015). WKU Archives Records. Paper 6482. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/6482 This Other is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EDITORIAL: PACK STUDENT TAKES SEMESTER THE HOUCH THIS OFF TO DOCUMENT SATURDAY TRANSIENT LIFESTYLES OPINION, PAGE A4 PHOTO ESSAY, PAGE A3 TUESDAY,TUESDAY, DECEMBERDECEMBER 1,1, 20152015 > WESTERNWESTERN KENTUCKYKENTUCKY UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY > VVOLUMEOLUME 990,0, ISSUEISSUE 2266 WKU seeks alternative to noncredit courses BY SHANTEL-ANN PETTWAY [email protected] Students who pay for noncredit courses might have an alternative in the future. Students who do not meet the re- quired benchmarks mandated by ACT or SAT scores are enrolled in noncredit courses. Once they complete the noncredit remedial course, students can move on to courses that will count to- wards graduation. According to a Complete College America report, “Remediation: High- er Education’s Bridge to Nowhere,” nearly 20 percent of those entering four-year universities are placed in remedial courses that do not count to- wards their postsecondary credits for An undated photo of Jack Thacker teaching a class in Glasgow via satellite. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY KENTUCKY MUSEUM ARCHIVES graduation. Sharon Hunter, coordinator of college readiness, said WKU is not re- moving noncredit courses but is in the Colleagues, students reﬂ ect on process of making alternatives avail- able for less prepared students. “We are working toward a process where … [a] student that can success- life of long-time history professor fully complete a credit-bearing course with additional academic support is BY SYDNEY RAE DAVIS was on medical leave for this semester Thacker” he said. “We spoke every day given that opportunity,” Hunter said. Hunter said some students do not meet [email protected] but eager to return to the Hill. he was on campus — usually disagree- “Even while in the hospital, Jack ex- ing vehemently on political issues.” WKU’s college readiness requirements as pressed his eagerness to return to the Thacker's funeral was held with J.C. determined by ACT and SAT scores. On Nov. 18, WKU’s students and classroom. I think it is fair to say that Kirby & Son at their chapel on Nov. 23. WKU wants to provide for-credit campus suffered a loss with the pass- teaching was Dr. Thacker's life,” Dietle While Lawrenceburg junior Taylor courses to students who may need ad- ing of 75-year-old Jack Thacker, a pro- said. Gilkinson did not have a class with ditional help, Hunter said. fessor in the history department since Thacker began his career on the Hill Thacker, she met him a few times at “For example, if we have students the 1960s. in 1964. At that time, WKU was still various history department events. who fall two to four points off the cut- Many remember Thacker for his called Western Kentucky State Col- “As a member of the history depart- off for college readiness … we place kindness and his passion for teach- lege. ment, his passing saddens me greatly,” that student in a college credit course,” ing, said fellow history professor and Thacker would continue teaching in she said via email. “I know of a lot of Hunter said. friend David Serafini. the history department for the next 51 people who had him in class and loved Offering students for-credit courses “Jack truly loved the art of history years. His courses covered a variety of him. I also know that he was very pas- will also help reduce cost for the uni- and truly loved teaching. He loved topics: world history, military history, sionate about teaching and loved what versity and the student, Hunter said. recreating the past, especially in his Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, World War he did.” Hunter said offering for-credit military history courses,” said Serafi- I, World War II and modern Germany. More than anything, Serafini said, courses will benefit students as well as ni. “He could talk about the most min- In 1971, Thacker won the University Thacker’s loss will impact his friends. the university. ute detail of a battle and make it come Award for Teaching and was a visiting “The department just isn't going “Students would spend less time and to life as if you were in the trenches in professor at the U.S. Military Acad- to be the same without him, and for tuition dollars in noncredit-bearing courses,” Hunter said. “This would help France during World War I or landing emy in 1982. me, this is a very personal loss as he retain students at a higher level and ul- at Normandy.” Although Thacker is often remem- was my buddy,” he said. “Like Mor- timately would raise graduation rates.” History department head Robert Di- bered for his kindness, Dietle also re- gan Freeman said in ‘Shawshank etle said Thacker taught until the final members him for spirited debates. Redemption,’ ‘I guess I just miss my day of the spring 2015 semester. He “I was a friend and colleague of Dr. friend.’” Come work for us Hoverboards included in WKU recreational mobility policy BY MONICA KAST [email protected] Signs went up in Downing Student Union last week reminding students We're hiring for the that hoverboards and other motorized vehicles are not allowed in any build- Spring 2016 Semester! ings on campus, including DSU. Positions include: The signs were posted as a reminder to students that motorized vehicles can’t be ridden around campus build- Reporters ings. The reminder came after a num- ber of students began zipping through Opinion Columnists DSU on hoverboards and unicycles, Photographers which have grown in popularity this semester. Page Designers According to the WKU Student Code of Conduct’s section on Recreational Mobility, skateboards, scooters and Pick up an application at other motorized vehicles, like the two-wheeled hoverboards, unicycles the Student Publications and scooters, “may not be used inside Building buildings or within 50 feet of building entrances.” Signs banning the use of motorized scooters and skateboards hang on entrance Due December 4 SEE HOVERBOARDS PAGE A2 doors at Downing Student Union on Nov. 30 SHABAN ATHUMAN/HERALD a2 DECEMBER 1, 2015 COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD WKU receives awards for treatment of military students, veterans BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT from other universities, the only understanding. tional support. [email protected] Veterans Upward Bound program in “Flexibility and an understanding “It tells our faculty and staff — the state of Kentucky, an Air Force of their needs is an essential element whether they counsel, provide sup- Victory Media named WKU a Military ROTC program, an Army ROTC pro- in serving them properly,” Archey port, teach, advise and accommo- Friendly School for the seventh year in gram, a therapy dog [that is] the only said. date their calls to service — they are a row, and the Military Times ranked one in the state, the nation’s largest Joshua Smith, Military Student Ser- providing exceptional service,” he it among the top 20 in its Best for Vets: scholarship program of its type, Text- vices consultant, said these awards will said. Colleges 2016 rankings. books For Troops, and much more,” provide excellent publicity. Smith said these awards highlight the WKU was also recognized as one of she said. “Our personalized service “Prospective students searching for a hard work put in to make sure military the Best Colleges for Veterans of Re- and attention to their needs sets us school are going to read about WKU’s students, veterans and their depen- gional Universities in the South by U.S. apart.” high quality support provided without dents are taken care of. News and World Report. Archey said military students face us having to tell them,” he said. “This “The awards and accolades we have Tonya Archey, the director of Mili- challenges different from the tradi- is amazing publicity for WKU and all received help spotlight this specific tary Student Services, said she believes tional student population, so universi- our departments serving this student student population and the work that WKU earned these awards through its ties need to provide additional services group.” WKU has put into place to make sure multitude of programs. and programs to help them. Smith added that the recognition that the military, veterans and their de- “WKU offers course credit for mili- She added that to assist these stu- shows faculty and staff that Military pendents are taken care of during their tary training, flexible transfer credit dents, schools need to be flexible and Student Services are providing excep- time with us,” he said. HOVERBOARDS pus, as long as it’s not raining,” she buildings. pus is that signs were put up reinforc- Continued from FRONT said. Charley Pride, director of Student ing the current policy. She added that not allowing the hov- Activities and Organizations, said “I think that this will make people “Skateboards, skates and bicycles erboards in buildings will not change the signs were put up to inform stu- safer,” Katelyn Essex, a sophomore may be used on sidewalks for safe the way she uses her own hoverboard, dents that hoverboards are included from Louisville, said.

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