Story by Ragan Harrington
Photos by Jay Byrd
Design by Dylan Wilson
Editor’s Note: This article was originally released in Issue 18 of the WKU Talisman print magazine. Click here to read more articles from the Talisman’s semesterly print.
Over 16,000 students are enrolled at WKU, according to the university’s website. Whether in a classroom, on a path to the Commons or in the line at Chick-Fil-A, those students often cross paths in unexpected ways. During their time on the Hill, students may not interact with all of their thousands of peers on campus, but every student is connected to each other in one way or another. To show just how connected everyone is, Talisman found seven random students who are strangers to one another, and the several ways they are connected. So, the next time you walk on campus and pass a stranger, know that they could be connected to you in some way.
NICHOLAS BASILE
Freshman Nicholas Basile majors in journalism and public relations. Like Hesse and Gehring, Basile is part of a Living Learning Community. He also shares a dedication to his studies and plans to go to grad school like Hesse, Gehring and McClurg. (Photo by Jay Byrd)
LOGAN HESSE
Junior Logan Hesse majors in international affairs and religious studies. Hesse balances academics with extracurricular activities such as involvement in the Queer Student Union and the Dungeons & Dragons club. Much like Gehring, Jones, Finley and McClurg, Hesse spends lots of time in the Commons. Hesse is also in a Living Learning Community, like Basile and Gehring. Hesse plans to attend grad school like Basile, Gehring and McClurg. (Photo by Jay Byrd)
SPENCER WINTERBOTTOM
Junior Spencer Winterbottom majors in interdisciplinary studies like Jones. Winterbottom, like Gehring, lives off campus at the Registry apartments and is a part of the Big Red Marching Band. He is also in a music fraternity, like Finley, who is in a fraternity. (Photo by Jay Byrd)
ALLIYAH JONES
Junior Alliyah Jones majors in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in health. Jones, who grew up in Somerset, also shares a commitment to academics and community involvement. Like McClurg, Jones has an on-campus job and works at Subway. She spends her free time at the Commons, such as Gehring, Finley and McClurg are also involved with the Student Accessibility Resource Center. (Photo by Jay Byrd)
ANNIE MCCLURG
Senior Annie McClurg majors in communication disorders and sciences. She is also minoring, like Finley, in American Sign Language. McClurg, in addition to Gehring, Jones and Finley, spends time on campus at the Commons. Similar to Jones, McClurg also has a job working on-campus. McClurg plans to go to grad school like Hesse, Basile and Gehring. (Photo by Jay Byrd)
ALEX GEHRING
Senior Alex Gehring majors in psychological sciences with a clinical concentration and a music minor. Gehring is actively involved on campus, as a member of the Big Red Marching Band like Winterbottom, Queer Student Union like Hesse and was a Living Learning Community member when they were a freshman. Gehring now lives at the Registry apartments, like Winterbottom. Gehring plans to attend grad school like Hesse, Basile and McClurg. (Photo by Jay Byrd)
ROWAN FINLEY
Senior Rowan Finley majors in Chinese with minors in teaching English as a second language and American Sign Language, like McClurg. Finley also spends time in the Commons like Gehring, Jones and McClurg. Like Winterbottom, Finley is also a part of a fraternity. (Photo by Jay Byrd)