WKU News

Welcome to Today@WKU, the daily newsletter from WKU Public Affairs, for March 28, 2018.

WKU fans cheered on the Hilltoppers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Utah edged WKU 69-64 in the NIT semifinals.

WKU News

• Dean Katz to Return to Teaching Faculty: Jeff Katz, Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business, will step down from his post June 30 to return to a faculty position in the Department of Management. “The highlight of my career has been serving as dean during the past seven years,” Katz said. “We have consistently advanced our College to national recognition as a student-focused, applied College of Business where students are prepared for life-long career success by world-class faculty and staff.”
• Madison to be featured speaker at Eezy graphic design Meetup event March 29: Bowling Green print designer Jim Madison will be the featured speaker Thursday (March 29) at Eezy’s next graphic design Meetup event. The presentation is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Eezy offices in WKU’s Center for Research and Development, 2413 Nashville Road, Suite 125.
• Traffic advisory: PS1 Exit Ramp on AOC Closed This Afternoon: The exit ramp to Parking Structure 1 on Avenue of Champions will be closed today from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The ramp on University Boulevard will remain open.
• WKU Public Radio Weekday Newscast Schedule: Tune into WKU Public Radio for national and international news from NPR, and local newscasts every half hour during Morning Edition (4-9 a.m. Central), and All Things Considered (3-6 p.m. Central), as well as local news features and interviews produced by the WKU news staff. WKU's Public Radio can be heard on WKYU-FM (88.9) in Bowling Green/Glasgow; WDCL-FM (89.7) in Somerset/Campbellsville; WKPB-FM (88.9) in Henderson/Owensboro; WKUE-FM (90.9) in Elizabethtown/Bardstown; and online at http://www.wkyufm.org/

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WKU Sports

• Men’s basketball: Tops' Season Comes to an End with 69-64 Loss to Utah in NIT Semifinals: WKU Hilltopper Basketball's remarkable season came to an end Tuesday night with a 69-64 loss to Utah in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden. The Hilltoppers (27-11) led by as much as 13 in the first half, but Utah (23-11) made big plays down the stretch – none bigger than Tyler Rawson's 3-pointer with 38 seconds left that put the Utes up for good. WKU's 27 wins this year were the program's most since 2007-08, and their 38 games played tied the program record. The Hilltoppers tied a program record with three postseason victories and advanced to the NIT semifinals for the first time since 1954. They finished the season 4-2 against Power 5 conference schools.
• Women’s basketball: Greg Collins Named 11th Head Coach in Lady Topper History: Greg Collins, who has served on the WKU coaching staff for the last six seasons, will assume head coaching duties immediately as the 11th head coach in Lady Topper Basketball history. Collins brings 16 seasons of experience as a collegiate assistant coach, serving as an assistant at Louisville (2003-07), Arkansas (2008-12) and WKU (assistant coach from 2013-14, associate head coach from 2015-18). More: Statement on Lady Topper Basketball Head Coaching Position
• Baseball: WKU Racks Up 7 Extra-Base Hits in 13-9 Win: In a high-scoring midweek contest typical to Earle Combs Stadium, WKU Baseball outlasted Eastern Kentucky by a score of 13-9 on Tuesday evening. Jacob Rhinesmith went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. The junior center fielder fell a double shy of the cycle while also adding a pair of walks and a stolen base. In all, seven Hilltoppers put up multi-hit games, while the pitching staff allowed only three runs in the final seven frames. Next: WKU hosts UTSA for a Thursday-to-Saturday set in Conference USA action from March 23-25. First pitches on Thursday and Friday will be at 5 p.m., while the series finale will begin at 1 p.m.
• Women’s golf: Lady Toppers Finish Fourth at John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate: WKU Lady Topper Golf continued its ascent up the leaderboard at Georgia State's John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate, finishing Tuesday's final round in fourth place as a team. The Lady Toppers finished day one in ninth, moved to seventh Monday and finished in fourth with a 917 (317-300-300) total at the par-72, 6,043-yard Eagle's Landing Country Club.
• Softball: WKU Game at Indiana Canceled: WKU Softball's Tuesday non-conference game at Indiana was canceled due to weather. A makeup date will not be scheduled. The Hilltoppers will return to action on Friday with a Conference USA doubleheader at Charlotte. The first pitch of the squad's second trip to North Carolina is slated for noon CT. Saturday's finale will commence at 11 a.m. CT.

More: For updates on WKU Athletics, follow @WKUSports on Twitter or WKU Athletics on Facebook.

WKU in the News

• Dance Big Red Raises Thousands: Members of the community danced for hours and raised tons of money over the weekend, all to support the children in a local hospital. More: Dance Big Red totals announced
• WKU students cheer on Hilltoppers in the NIT: Students Tuesday gathered at WKU to cheer on the Hilltoppers as they played Utah in the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament in New York.
• Johnson's career, one of the best in WKU history, comes to a bittersweet close: Justin Johnson gave it all and then some. Then his career came to a bittersweet end Tuesday in New York. WKU’s lone four-year senior and his Hilltopper teammates were on the short end of a 69-64 loss to Utah in the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Johnson scored the game’s first eight points and WKU’s final bucket – a layup with 1:27 to go that gave the Tops a 64-63 lead. Those were the last points of the forward’s career. “You want to leave something better than you found it and leave an impression on it,” Johnson said afterward, taking a moment to reflect on his career that had suddenly just ended. “I hope to have done that and helped those young guys in that locker room along the way, whether it’s in life or basketball. I hope that I’m leaving it in a better spot.”

More: Check out WKU in the News page.

WKU Alumni

• Upcoming WKU Alumni events: For a listing of events, visit the Alumni website and click on the Events Calendar. Or contact the WKU Alumni Association at 888-958-2586. For a list of Alumni news, visit the Alumni News page. More: WKU SpiritFunder
• Topper Travelers Program 2018: The WKU Alumni Association is planning a Baltic Cruise across Northern Europe June 21-July 2. The 10-night cruise across the Baltic Sea aboard Marina will begin in Copenhagen, Denmark, with stops in Berlin, Germany; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; and Stockholm, Sweden. For information, visit alumni.wku.edu/baltic2018 or contact the Alumni Association at 800-842-9023 or alumnievents@wku.edu.

More: Visit the WKU Alumni website.

WKU Admissions

• #ClimbWithUs: The WKU Office of Admissions helps future Hilltoppers as they start their journey on The Hill. You can reach us by calling 270-745-2551, emailing admission@wku.edu or connecting with us on social media. Upcoming Important Dates/Deadlines: Admitted Student Nights; Housing Priority Deadline March 31; Spring TOP Dates: April 13 (Honors), April 14, April 20, April 28 and May 4. Students can reserve their TOP date and take their placement exams at www.wku.edu/top
• Useful links for prospective/admitted students: Campus tours; Let’s Talk, Topper; Admissions Timeline; Topper Orientation Program; Scholarships; Housing; MASTER Plan
• Admitted Student Nights: The WKU Office of Admissions is hosting several admitted student nights in various communities. These events are for high school seniors that have been admitted to WKU and their families. The Admissions Counselor for your area will be there to discuss your next steps and answer any questions you may have. Visit https://www.wku.edu/admissions/counselors/ or call 270-745-2551 to get in touch with your WKU Admissions Counselor.

More: Visit the WKU Admissions website; Information for Prospective Students

What’s Happening At-WKU

Ongoing/continuing events

• Exhibits at Kentucky Museum: Instruments of American Excellence; A Culture Carried: Bosnians in Bowling Green (through June 30); Kaleidoscope: Kentucky Museum Quilts (through Dec. 18); US Bank Celebration of the Arts (through April 7); plus other gallery and on-campus exhibits. (Museum hours/visitor information) Contact Kentucky Museum, (270) 745-2592.
• Exhibits at Downing Museum: The Story of Joe Downing: Select Works From the Collection. Downing Museum, 4801 Morgantown Road. Contact Jack LeSieur, (270) 842-7415.
• International Year of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Various events and locations during 2017-18 academic year. Contact International Programs, (270) 745-5334.
• Arts at WKU 2017-2018. Various events and locations. Contact Potter College of Arts & Letters, (270) 745-2344.
• Photographic Exhibition: Bosnia and Herzegovina: Then and Now. Through April 13. Jody Richards Hall Gallery. Contact Tim Broekema, (270) 745-3055.
• Art Exhibition: Proof of Existence: An Exhibit of Work by Contemporary Artists of Bosnian and Balkan Origin. Through April 6. Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Gallery. Contact Art, (270) 745-3944.
• 2018 Fulbright Week. Various events and locations. April 2-6. Contact International Programs, (270) 745-5334.

Wednesday, March 28

• 7:30 a.m.: WKU Learn and Earn Big Red Breakfast. The Club at Olde Stone. Contact Learn and Earn, (270) 745-3454.
• 1 p.m.: Student Health Fair. Preston Health and Activities Center. Contact Student Wellness, (270) 745-6531.
• 3 p.m.: Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. Downing Student Union, room 2081. Contact Center for Local Governments, (270) 745-6192.

Thursday, March 29

• 5 p.m.: WKU Baseball vs. UTSA. Nick Denes Field. Contact Athletic Communications, (270) 745-4298.
• 6:30 p.m.: Presentation: Madeline McDowell Breckinridge: A Kentucky Suffragette by Kelley O’Connell Brengelman. Odgen College Hall Auditorium. Contact Jonathan Jeffrey, (270) 745-5265
• 7 p.m.: Hardin Planetarium Show: Starry Tales for a Winter Night. Hardin Planetarium. Contact Planetarium, (270) 745-4044.
• 7:30 p.m.: Clarinet and Saxophone Recital. Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. Contact Music, (270) 745-3751.
• 7:30 p.m.: Harrison Distinguished Lecture: Good Muslims, Bad Muslims: Colonial Enlightenment Discourse and the Genesis of Salafi Movements in West Africa by Dr. Ousman Kobo, Ohio State University. Jody Richards Hall Auditorium. Contact Tony Harkins, (270) 745-3841.

Friday, March 30

• Noon: Good Friday Service. Chandler Memorial Chapel. Contact Student Activities, (270) 745-2459.
• 5 p.m.: WKU Baseball vs. UTSA. Nick Denes Field. Contact Athletic Communications, (270) 745-4298.
• 6 p.m.: Faraway Flix Film Series: Ida. Cherry Hall, room 125. Contact Shaden Melky, (270) 745-5139.
• 7:30 p.m.: Senior Recital: Jose Carlos Rodriguez. Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. Contact Music, (270) 745-3751.

Saturday, March 31

• 11 a.m.: WKU Baseball vs. UTSA. Nick Denes Field. Contact Athletic Communications, (270) 745-4298.
• 2 p.m.: Senior Recital: Carrie Moscoe. First Christian Church, 1106 State St. Contact Music, (270) 745-3751.
• 6 p.m.: WKU Forensics Showcase. Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. Contact Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340.

For upcoming events: Visit the What's Happening at WKU page, Events@WKU page or WKU’s online events calendar

About Today@WKU

• Today@WKU is a service of WKU Public Affairs. For more from WKU News, become a WKU Facebook fan, follow us on Twitter, visit the WKU News page, or check out What's Happening @WKU, “View from the Hill” segments, more News from Around Campus, WKU on You Tube or WKU webcams. Email us at wkunews@wku.edu