THE ISSUE: The Kentucky Supreme Court has selected nine counties to try a plan that would allow some misdemeanor offenders to post bail immediately instead of going to jail.

OUR VIEW: The plan, which could save Kentucky $150 million, is a good solution to several of the state’s problems and should be considered for statewide implementation later next year.

I’m writing to address my concern over the lack of interest pertaining to the shootings and home break-ins at The Registry apartment complex. The most recent shooting happened in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon.

The Registry is only a stone’s throw away from several residence halls. Violence that materializes at The Registry could easily spill over onto campus. In my mind, this makes The Registry’s security issue a Western security issue.

TOPS to having only two days of classes next week. Turkey day here we come.

BOTTOMS to not having a full week off for Thanksgiving. It takes time to recover from all that food.

 
THE ISSUE: Faculty members will discuss a proposal that calls for changing SITE evaluations at the University Senate meeting on Thursday.
OUR VIEW: The current system of evaluating professors is ineffective and the senate should consider a drastic overhaul that would be more beneficial to the faculty.
It’s a practice that’s become as commonplace as tests, quizzes [...]

November 3rd, during the Student Government Association meeting, I asked President Ransdell what the university administration plans to implement to address the needs of a number of students who feel that Western’s campus can improve in the realm of making students of color feel welcome. When posed with this question, Ransdell began referring to South [...]

WKU definitely needed to fire someone in light of its multi-million dollar football fiasco, but the wrong guy was let go. Actually, two people need to be fired: Dr. Wood Selig and Dr. Gary Ransdell. It was Selig and Ransdell, due to their own super-sized egos and desire to make a legacy for themselves with [...]

Dear football search committee members,

With Head Coach David Elson gone after this season, your committee has a chance to inject some much needed enthusiasm into Western football by selecting a new head coach. This will by no means be an easy task. The team is mired in a losing streak that dates back to last year and fan support for the program has hit a new low. To help ensure that Western finds the right man for the job, the Herald would like to offer its suggestions on what to look for in Elson’s replacement.

In the world of BCS football, a coach getting fired for not winning is nothing out of the ordinary. However, in the situation of WKU, we do nothing like anyone else. We have to start at the beginning of this whole scenario to understand the repeated irony of how WKU has handled things.

TOPS to basketball season starting.

BOTTOMS to running out of meal plan dollars before winter break.

THE ISSUE: Gov. Steve Beshear wants a slots bill pushed through the state legislature in January following an Ohio referendum that would allow casinos in four cities.
OUR VIEW: With the added pressure from surrounding states and a budget that’s in shambles, Kentucky’s legislators should begin working on a slots bill now so it can pass [...]