Top of the Week

It’s Black History month. As Black men, how are we perceiving each other and how are we being perceived? This week’s podcast tackles how we see ourselves and our role in society. How can we continue the conversation while exploring our points of view?

Co-hosts Myles Middleton, Dale Young, Coy Booker and Elijah Gaines hope to spread knowledge and ideas through discussion and interviews with various figures on and off of campus. This program is a production of the College Heights Herald at Western Kentucky University.

Status Quo is a podcast designed to spark dialogue among students staff and faculty at WKU around topics that are often disregarded. Co-hosts Myles Middleton, Dale Young, Coy Booker and Elijah Gaines hope to spread knowledge and ideas through discussion and interviews with various figures on and off of campus. This program is a production of the College Heights Herald at Western Kentucky University.

College Heights Herald sports staffers Luke Edmonds and Michael Givner Jr. discuss the world of college basketball, the recent College Football Playoff change, EA College Football 25, the upcoming MLB season as well as Hilltopper and Lady Topper basketball. This program is a production by the College Heights Herald of Western Kentucky University.

This week co-hosts Debra Murray and Grace Stephens revisit a story by content editor Alexandria Anderson from the January print edition "The Climate Issue", as well as a sneak peek into Grace Stephens' story "It's Okay to Be Sexy" in the Herald's upcoming March print issue "Let's Talk About Sex (Or Not)".

Co-hosts Debra Murray and Grace Stephens talk to reporters Alexandria Anderson and Michael Crimmins about their upcoming stories on student sustainability and WKU President Timothy Caboni's Faculty Senate attendance. 

In this episode co-hosts Debra Murray and Grace Stephens interview news reporters Alexandria Anderson and Damon Stone about the upcoming Kentucky elections and gerrymandering. In addition, co-host Debra Murray talks about the developing situation regarding the potential suspension of WKU's Folk Studies master's program.

In a special edition of Top of the Week, co-hosts Debra Murray and Grace Stephens talk to Co-Editor-In-Chief Jake Moore, reporter B Turner, and photo editor Tucker Covey. In our interviews, we talk about various aspects of the newly released issue of the College Heights Herald magazine, such as the production, stories, and the visuals of the newsprint.

In this episode, co-hosts Debra Murray and Grace Stephens talk with Molly Dobberstein and Michael Crimmins about the upcoming general election and the new ownership of Dublin's Irish Pub in downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky.

This week co-hosts Debra Murray and Grace Stephens talk to Herald reporters B Turner and Michael Crimmins about their articles from last week. B Turner provides information of a tornado support group for those affected by last December and Michael Crimmins details the events of the potential explosive threat on WKU's campus last Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. 

Audio production and mixing by Grace Stephens

Theme music by Jacob Latimer

After a year hiatus, Top of the Week returns with co-hosts Grace Stephens and Debra Murray. On this episode, Grace and Debra talk with Herald reporters Alexandria Anderson and Michael Crimmins about the top stories of the week.

Remembering 9/11 twenty years later, featuring comments from our commentary editor Shane Stryker.

Our first episode of the year, introducing new hosts Debra Murray and Jacob Latimer.

The 125 WKU employees taking early retirement could impact how WKU operates. Plus, meet the new hosts of Top of the Week, Jacob Latimer and Debra Murray. 

Top of the Week centers on retirements and new hires. 

Reporter Gabrielle Bunton speaks about historically Black locations in Bowling Green that have disappeared because of redevelopment projects.

Top of the Week centers on how to get a vaccine on campus and what a recent WKU decision could mean for its lawsuit against the Herald.

After four years at WKU, Caboni has signed a new contact. Here's what's changed.

The Herald staff recalls where they were when COVID-19 hit, plus more headlines. 

Last week, a student was arrested on rape, sodomy and imprisonment charges in the Sigma Nu chapter house. A judge found probable cause in the crime, and the accused will face a grand jury on March 23. This week on Top of the Week, we hear from community activists and WKU's Title IX coordinator for response.

Herald Managing Editor Ellie Tolbert on how the lift of the federal Muslim ban has impacted Bowling Green and WKU.

On Top of the Week, Copy Desk Chief Hannah Crisp talks about homesickness in college students. In honor of Student Press Freedom Day, the Herald is calling for WKU to protect students and end its lawsuit against the Herald.

Acting Provost Cheryl Stevens is retiring after nearly a decade at WKU. Herald Reporter Debra Murray shares what she learned about Stevens.

When Kamala Harris became vice president on Jan. 20, she made history. WKU professor Saundra Ardrey specializes in political behavior, including minority and women's politics. Ardrey speaks with Laurel Deppen about identity politics and its relevance. Top of the Week is a production of the College Heights Herald.

Top of the Week is back for the spring 2021 semester. Laurel Deppen breaks down WKU's Healthy on the Hill guidelines, including the ones that have changed and the ones that have stayed the same. She also speaks with Gary Houchens, a WKU alumnus and current professor, about his role in a think tank. Top of the Week is a production of the College Heights Herald at Western Kentucky University.

This episode of Top of the Week includes news from WKU about plans on restarting WKU in the fall and donations to the Opportunity Fund to aid families struggling financially during the pandemic.

Franklin, Kentucky is a city of about 8,000 people nuzzled between its two larger neighbors Bowling Green and Nashville, Tennessee. Herald reporter Jack Dobbs took a look at how a smaller Kentucky city is managing the pandemic.

Top of the Week takes a look at services on and around campus and how COVID-19 is affecting them.

Top of the Week looks at the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week including the transformation of parking lots into WiFi hotspots to assist students in the completion of their online coursework.

Following the decision to move the rest of the Spring 2020 semester to an almost entirely online format, the WKU Office of Academic Affairs announced Tuesday a new grading system option: PDF. Top of the Week outlines what that means and what's going on at WKU and in the state. 

WKU has suspended in-person classes for the rest of the semester and switching to online only in the wake of COVID-19. Here's what we know. 

This week the Herald outlines why WKU's Arabic program stands out compared to the rest of the state. It also looks at how the Coronavirus is affecting WKU students,  but no cases have been reported in the Kentucky region.

This week the Herald looks at how Transgender students feel their needs aren't being met entirely by the university's diversity and inclusion plan, the president's salary raise and the closing of a popular bar.

This week the Herald looked at sustainability, as well a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service by several Bowling Green student apartment complexes.

Laurel Deppen explains the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week including how WKU is recognizing Black History Month and why Gen Z students are pursuing a paycheck over passion. Cameron Coyle joins her to discuss the implications of a Faculty Senate resolution calling for athletic funds to be directed to athletics.

Laurel Deppen gives the run down on the top stories from the Herald this week including how the coronavirus is affecting WKU students traveling in China and more. Katelyn Latture and Emma Steele share what they learned from writing about a Bowling Green woman's lasting legacy on the community.

Welcome back to WKU. Laurel Deppen gives updates on two stories left open at the end of last semester. Opinion Editor Jake Dressman asked students their opinion on free speech to celebrate the Herald's birthday and Student Press Freedom Day. Finally, Features Editor Julie Sisler discusses some of 2010's trends that we'll probably regret later. 

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey discuss the biggest stories from the Herald for the Fall 2019 semester — each of which had national implications.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week, including WKU's new agreement with China and how DACA could affect some WKU students. Laurel interviews volleyball beat reporter Kaden Gaylord about the volleyball team's big win.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the Herald this week, including updates from the Kentucky gubernatorial election and the new master's degree program at WKU.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight and summarize the importance and significance of Kentucky's gubernatorial race. Andy Beshear and Matt Bevin had drastically different focuses, they found.

In this episode of Top of the Week, Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey discuss a recent Herald story which took an in-depth look at a racial slur's historical, cultural and social uses.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the Herald this week, including updates on the First Year Village and LifeWorks projects.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week. They also learn which decade they belong in after taking a Herald Homecoming personality quiz.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the Herald this week, including new bus routes and the Bowling Green Pride Festival. Editor-In-Chief Jeremy Chisenhall speaks about the Herald's coverage of racial slur usage on campus.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey discuss the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week, including a controversial sorority video, scholarship requirements changing and registering to vote.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories of the College Heights Herald this week. Laurel interviews Features Editor Griffin Fletcher about his experience auditioning for reality TV series "Survivor."

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the Herald this week, including an interview with reporter Lily Burris, who spoke to students, faculty and staff about their faith in WKU president Tim Caboni.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week, including construction projects for Greek houses, the demolition of Bemis Lawrence Hall and a Generation Action chapter at WKU.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey highlight the top stories form the College Heights Herald this week, including renovations to the police department and reusable water bottles.

Laurel Deppen and Rebekah Alvey discuss the top stories from the College Heights Herald this week, including what to know as you start the semester.