Eastern Progress

05/11/2024

As the time for seniors at the Eastern Progress comes to a close, they take a moment to say their goodbyes and thanks to the publication, professors, and to Eastern Kentucky University.

Read their columns on our website.

As the time for seniors at the Eastern Progress comes to a close, they take a moment to say their goodbyes and thanks to the publication, and to Eastern Kentucky

05/10/2024

Spring 2024 graduates will receive their diplomas on May 10 not on Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) campus, but at Alltech Arena in the Lexington Horse Park. The change, announced in October 2023, came as construction and renovations began at EKU’s Alumni Coliseum.

Last spring, Alumni Coliseum served as the needed rain location for graduation, as severe weather prohibited any outdoor ceremonies in Roy Kidd Stadium.

Read more about the ceremony, and what to know, on our website.

Spring 2024 graduates will receive their diplomas on May 10 not on Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) campus, but at Alltech Arena in the Lexington Horse Park. The change, announced in

05/01/2024

Eastern Kentucky University students assembled a peaceful protest in support of Palestine on April 30, 2024. The students made signs, marched across campus, and chanted to spread their message. The protest began in Powell Plaza before relocating to the Daniel Boone Statue and ending in the green space outside of the Keith Building and the Combs Building.

To view all of the photos, visit our website. Link in bio.

04/30/2024

As spring 2024 commencement approaches , Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) seniors Grace Kelley, Jenna Riel, and Abbie Thomas have been chosen to speak at the three commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 10, 2024.

Read more about the speakers on our website.

As spring 2024 commencement approaches , Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) seniors Grace Kelley, Jenna Riel, and Abbie Thomas have been chosen to speak at the three commencement ceremonies scheduled for

04/30/2024

Meet the members of the Eastern Progress visuals and sports teams!

Interested in working with the Eastern Progress? Message us or visit us in Combs 325.

04/24/2024

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Violence Prevention, formerly known as Green Dot, is prepared to educate students and faculty on campus.

To shine a light on survivors of sexual assault, EKU Violence Prevention held several events this April for students and faculty to participate in. Their first event, on April 17, was Flags on the Lawn.

“That event specifically is going to be with red flags and green flags in relationships, dating violence, (and) stuff like that,” said sophomore Hilary Koster, the president of Violence Prevention’s ambassadors.

Students had the opportunity to write on the respective flags what they feel are green flags in a relationship, or good behaviors, and red flags, bad behaviors. Once they wrote on the flags, they were placed around campus for the Walk-a-Mile event that was on April 18.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Violence Prevention, formerly known as Green Dot, is prepared to educate students and faculty on campus.

04/19/2024

Since 1992, more than 2,000 journalists and media workers have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Many have been since October of 2023, a total that has been driven heavily by the Israel-Hamas war. According to the CPJ, 90 Palestinian, two Israeli, and three Lebanese journalists have died since the start of the war. In the past, Eastern Kentucky University students have held a memorial in recognition of these fallen journalists. In honor of First Amendment Week, here are those who have died since last year’s event.

Editor’s Note: On April 13, 2024, Iran launched an air raid on Israel in response to the latter’s attack on Damascus, Syria two weeks prior. The media and journalists casualties

04/19/2024

Sarah Mitchell, a senior split blocker on Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) beach volleyball team, earned her 50th career win on Friday, April 12 at the College of Charleston Beach Classic. Mitchell and her partner, junior split blocker Paityn Walker, were able to secure wins at the No. 1 spot at the event.

Before college, Mitchell was a four-year volleyball player at Madison Southern High School. During her senior year, her team won a district championship and individually, Mitchell was named to the 11th Region All-tournament team. She left her legacy at her high school, holding all five kills records in school history and being the first player to achieve 1,000 kills and digs at the school.

PHOTO: Courtesy of EKU Beach Volleyball.

Sarah Mitchell, a senior split blocker on Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) beach volleyball team, earned her 50th career win on Friday, April 12 at the College of Charleston Beach Classic.

04/18/2024

This year’s First Amendment Week pop-up protest was great! Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the First Amendment. Join us tomorrow night at 7:30 in Crabbe Library for Banned Books Bingo!

Want a shirt? We still have some available! Purchase one at Banned Books Bingo.

04/18/2024

According to a report by JMUSports News, Eastern Kentucky University Athletic Director Matt Roan is expected to serve as the next athletic director at James Madison University (JMU). He will replace current JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne.

Roan, who was initially hired at EKU in 2020, recently signed a contract extension to remain at the university until June 2027.

“For me, Richmond is home. My parents live in Richmond, my sister has relocated to Richmond with her family. EKU and Richmond are absolutely home to us,” Roan told the Lexington Herald-Leader in fall 2023.

According to a report by JMUSports News, Eastern Kentucky University Athletic Director Matt Roan is expected to serve as the next athletic director at James Madison University (JMU). He will

04/15/2024

Celebrate your right to free speech this week during First Amendment Week! The EKU Society of Professional Journalists, alongside the Eastern Progress and other sponsors, are hosting events across campus throughout the week. We'll see you there!

04/14/2024

The Eastern Kentucky women’s basketball team is coming off a record-setting season, and a big part of their success is rooted in Assistant Coach Coretta Brown. During her coaching career, she has held many different positions at other programs and was also the 2003 11th pick in the WNBA draft to the San Antonio Silver Stars before being traded to the Indiana Fever, coming off a collegiate career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brown left the school as being the leader in all time three-pointers made at the time and being named first-team ALL-ACC. Brown played her Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) days with the Atlanta Dream team.

The Eastern Kentucky women’s basketball team is coming off a record-setting season, and a big part of their success is rooted in Assistant Coach Coretta Brown. During her coaching career,

04/13/2024

In our first Staff Saturday, meet the Eastern Progress news team!

Interested with working with Madison and Emily, and getting to know the rest of the team? Message us, or visit in Combs 325.

04/10/2024

Eastern Progress Reporter Emily Keller covers "Eclipse Paddle at Lake Reba," an event hosted by Eastern Kentucky University's Student Recreation Center on Monday, April 8.

04/09/2024

Need advice? Looking for help in a college crisis? Madison Livers and Rose Sievers, hosts of The Eastern Progress’s newest podcast have got you covered! Submit your questions via the Google Form: https://forms.gle/ovWrVVPh5KipsEYA8

04/08/2024

Viewing of the solar eclipse stretched far beyond Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) campus, and the Richmond community gathered to watch the event at Lake Reba.

During the eclipse, EKU’s Campus Recreation program also hosted a kayaking event to view it from a unique perspective: on the water.

04/03/2024

Have you heard the news? A new print edition of the Eastern Progress is out now! Pick up one across campus today.

Can’t find one? Visit us in Combs 325.

04/02/2024

On Jan. 14, 2023 Hope Staley, a sophomore pre-dental major and EKU co-ed cheerleader, stood on the grass at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida holding and kissing the 2024 co-ed cheerleading D-1 Championship trophy with a first-place medal around her neck. It took grit, determination and endless hours of dedication to get to this moment.

Staley remembered being a little kid and watching older girls cheer and thinking, ‘I want to do that’. However, cheer was not her first calling as far as athletics go. Staley was first a gymnast, and she always wanted to play either basketball or volleyball, but her parents never allowed her to.

On Jan. 14, 2023 Hope Staley, a sophomore pre-dental major and EKU co-ed cheerleader, stood on the grass at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida holding

04/02/2024

“Appalachia is strong, and kind, with edges worn from hardships that make us who we are. It would be a disservice to not acknowledge the heartache that ravages this region. It’s almost impossible to find a family not suffering from a “disease of despair,” a phenomenon that is a direct result of a dying coal industry,” writes Editor-in-Chief Rosemary Kelley in her opinion. “We have struggled continuously and have been exploited for as long as we can remember, but stand proud.”

Kelley encourages expectant EKU grads to keep Appalachia with them beyond their time in the region.

“When you go, remember us here.”

https://www.easternprogress.com/opinion/opinion-keep-appalachia-with-you/article_8989f58c-ec88-11ee-965f-136f297fc2a4.html?fbclid=IwAR3oM2uu2UQbh0ExoERvZFbZaPuvh1a4IAJxMvHzuXFJTO3647W94ELgP8w_aem_AXQInOChKwCeSSZBFUv2cRcB1CA88fQXuncxik3C8NuDjcr_uNgtKKDVCFj0sReQ4t1Gs12--4IeQFAYw8tRGflt

There’s something so poignant about the months leading up to graduation; you can feel it, a change whispering on the breeze of what will be an incredibly exciting, and terrifying,

04/02/2024

In response to high chances of severe weather across Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) announced that, beginning at 1:30 p.m. today, university operations and in-person instruction will transition to remote learning, or Plan A.

The University of Kentucky made a similar announcement at 12:30 p.m., canceling classes for the remainder of the day.

The region is expected to continue to receive heavy wind and rain, with numerous Kentucky counties under flood and tornado watches throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

03/29/2024

Kentucky state legislators have put forth an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across the commonwealth.

Out of touch lawmakers have attempted to remove programs that create a safe space for all young people on Kentucky’s public universities’ campuses through Senate Bill 6 and House Bill 9.

The Senate ultimately chose not to pass the most up to date version of SB 6 Thursday night, yet we are not sure this fight is over.

University officials have been hesitant to take a stand, which is why we, the editorial boards of independent, student-run newspapers at seven of Kentucky’s public universities, felt we must.

EDITORS’ NOTE— This editorial was drafted and approved by the editorial boards of the WKU Herald, the Eastern Progress, the Murray State News, the Louisville Cardinal, the Northener, the Thorobred News and the Kentucky Kernel.

Find this editorial at each of our publications’ websites.

Kentucky state legislators have put forth an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across the commonwealth’s public university campuses, failing to recognize these initiatives are the best way to

03/27/2024

Meet your Spring 2024 Eastern Progress staff. Over the remainder of the semester, we’ll share with you each of our staff’s “why.”

Be on the lookout to hear from each of them. Interested in being involved? DM or visit us in Combs 325.

Not pictured: Gracy Kelley, Reese Wheatley and Kevin Murphy.

03/27/2024

News editor Madison Livers asks Eastern Kentucky Colonels about influential women in their lives in this edition of Eastern Speaks Out.

Reporter Madison Livers asks Eastern Kentucky Colonels about influential women in their lives.

03/23/2024

Across the U.S., public and private universities are becoming test-optional, no longer requiring ACT or SAT scores as a requirement for admission. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is no exception, making the decision as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a number of private universities announced in late February that test scores would return as an admission requirement, such a change is currently not planned for EKU, said Gill Hunter, assistant vice president of retention and graduation.

Melissa Bell, vice president for academic affairs and student success at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), said the decision to drop standardized ACT testing as a statewide college admission requirement came in 2018.

Read more on our website:

CORRECTION: A correction has been made to this story’s ACT benchmark data from the print edition.

03/21/2024

In the back hills of Eastern Kentucky circa 2016, country music singer Tyler Childers began writing a song. Feeling it could be improved, he enlisted a friend to take a stab at it. That friend was Geno Seale, and the song was “In Your Love.” Seven years later, the tender love ballad would garner critical acclaim as well as nominations for Best Country Song, Best Music Video, and Best Country Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Alongside Childers, Seale was nominated for Best Country Song for his writing contributions.

Read more on our website: https://www.easternprogress.com/kentucky-songwriter-leaves-the-holler-for-the-red-carpet/article_27a99346-e7be-11ee-944c-effb2875882a.html

PHOTO: Courtesy of Silas House.

In the back hills of Eastern Kentucky circa 2016, country music singer Tyler Childers began writing a song. Feeling it could be improved, he enlisted a friend to take a

03/21/2024

Candidates for Eastern Kentucky University's Student Government Association's (SGA) upcoming elections sat down to share their ideas and plans for candidacy in a debate on Monday, March 18.

Editor-in-Chief Rosemary Kelley reports on the event.

Candidates for Eastern Kentucky University's Student Government Association's (SGA) upcoming elections sat down to share their ideas and plans for candidacy ...

03/20/2024

The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) women’s basketball team has not made postseason play in 11 years, but that changes now.. After going 22-11 this season, 9-7 in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), the women’s basketball team was invited to the prestigious WNIT tournament. They’ll start off the tournament run against Purdue Fort Wayne, who hold a season record of 21-12, 13-17 in the Horizon League Conference.

Read more on our website:

The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) women’s basketball team has not made postseason play in 11 years, but that changes now.. After going 22-11 this season, 9-7 in the Atlantic Sun

03/20/2024

According to a 247Sports article, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) men’s basketball player Leland Walker will enter the transfer portal, which opened on Monday, March 18.

The 6’1’ guard from Indianapolis, Indiana earned First Team All-ASUN honors and averaged 15.4 points and 4.1 assists during the 2024 season. Walker was the second leading scorer for the team this past season, where they placed first in the conference during the regular season.

Read more on our website:

According to a 247Sports article, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) men’s basketball player Leland Walker will enter the transfer portal, which opened on Monday, March 18.

03/19/2024

Will Lampert, a junior History major and political science minor, from Lawrence County, KY is running for student body president of the Student Government Association (SGA). Kelsey Beedy, a junior accounting major and personal finance minor, from Garrard County, KY is running as his vice president.

Their campaign statement, “Keep Eastern Growing,” is a callback to when SGA was run under parties and not individual sets of people.

Read more on our website:

Will Lampert, a junior History major and political science minor, from Lawrence County, KY is running for student body president of the Student Government Association (SGA). Kelsey Beedy, a junior

03/18/2024

As students prep to cast their votes for the 2024 Student Government Association (SGA) election, hear from candidates running for the vice president of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) position and motivations behind their candidacy on our website: https://www.easternprogress.com/news/election-q-a-sga-campus-activity-board-vice-president-candidates/article_4d58e612-e54a-11ee-a57d-fbfaffd9bde2.html

Voting will take place on MyEKU on Tues., March 26.