World traveling college student during a pandemic

Traveling the world was easy, but becoming a freshman in college during a global pandemic was harder. Brenna Dunn, a 20-year-old out-of-state freshman at Western Carolina University is experiencing college in a different way than most normal freshmen have in years past. However, now she is living through a global pandemic. Before attending WCU, Dunn took […]

Travel, study, grow: All you need to know about studying abroad

The world is at your fingertips! For WCU students, a trip abroad could range from a couple of weeks to a full year with the ability to chose from over 60 countries including Japan, Germany and the U.K. The Study Abroad Fair showcased these opportunities for students from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, […]

Culture of being an Appalachian Trail hiker

“Hiker Trash” is a term many within the long-term hiking community take on with pride. According to The Trek, a website dedicated to the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, this phrase is used affectionately to refer to a hikers that have sunken down to a lower standard of living than the standard they lived at before embarking […]

Adventuring on a budget

As a 22-year-old who is completely enveloped in the idea of traveling the world, I am continuously trying to find the cheapest way to do so. Between flights or other means of transportation, room and board, and basic means of living costs, traveling can be expensive. “I have a lot of experience traveling cheap, that’s […]

Forget the gym, go backpacking!

Many students need a break from their studies as the semester comes to an end. A great way to escape the hustle and bustle is to take a weekend break to explore and experience new things in the area. Being located near the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smoky Mountain National Park, WCU offers different recreational opportunities for students, including […]

Why don’t students take advantage of study abroad?

In the United States, less than two percent of college students study abroad. This number scales with Western Carolina University where, according to International Programs and Services, out of over 8,000 students, only about 200 decide to study abroad. With the benefits and experience that this program can offer, why are students not taking advantage of […]