Archives for February 10, 2017

Art exhibit gives literal meaning to “soft” diplomacy

“There are two kinds of power that states can have,” explained Dr. Jennifer Schiff, professor and international studies director at WCU. “States can either have hard power or soft power. Hard power in international relations is the use of military force or economic sanction. Soft power is the power of persuasion – sharing your cultural […]

WCU takes on the Moral March

Jackson County and WCU branches of NAACP will be traveling to Raleigh, Saturday morning, Feb. 11, to take a stand and march for justice on the 11th annual Moral March. The Forward Together Moral Movement & HKonJ People’s Assembly Coalition march is part of a love and justice movement that fights for many social issues such […]

Regional partners tackle substance abuse

This story was written by Tanner Hall, originally published in The Sylva Herald. Officials with Vaya Health, previously Smoky Mountain Center, will form a regional partnership to reduce alcohol and drug misuse, such as prescription-drug addiction, and the number of fatal overdoses. Vaya Health manages public funds for mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability services in […]

County schools: crime rate up, dropout rate goes down

This story was written by Haley Smith, originally published in The Sylva Herald. Jackson County Schools had the eighth-highest rate of reportable crimes in North Carolina for grades 9-13, according to 2015-16 data from the state Department of Public Instruction. Superintendent Mike Murray said it’s because the school system has targeted the problems of drugs and alcohol. […]

WCU employees, students protest ban

This story was written by Quintin Ellison, originally published in The Sylva Herald. Faculty and student leaders at Western Carolina University condemned President Donald Trump’s immigration order as “fundamentally antithetical to the values and goals of higher education and to American values as a whole.” Meeting Feb. 3, Faculty Senate members voted to approve a resolution opposing […]