Amidst the blue-lit backdrop and 800 occupied seats of the Capitol Arts Center, a solitary woman stood center stage behind a drum half her size. Her first strike on the instrument resonated, relieving the year-long anticipation of Western’s final Cultural Enhancement Series performance of the school year – “Taikoproject: (re)generation.

Mittens intact and banners in hand, 3,000 people swarmed the Capitol amidst a snowstorm Monday ending Power Shift ‘09.

“We, as a generation, have to decide whether we are locusts or honeybees,” said Van Jones, founding president of Green for All and New York Times bestselling author, during the opening session on Friday.

The crack of bowling pins and sound of laughter reverberated through the fourth floor of Downing University Center Tuesday for the 26th annual Bowl for Kids Sake hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Kentucky.

Bowl for Kids Sake events account for 50 percent of the organization’s yearly budget, according to Robin Pemberton, special events director.

The dorm room door opens to a small replica of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings that ominously forewarns, “You shall not pass!” Darth Vader looks on from a corner.

“People look at me and think I’m a scary dude,” said Hazard, Ky., sophomore Jacob Turner.

Long black locks drape his shoulders, and size 13 shoes adorn his feet.