The Picket

Shepherd University resumed classes on Aug. 24 and campus culture is back in full swing. Faculty, staff and students stood in front of the campus bookstore, Snyder Hall, White Hall, the Pedestrian Underpass and the Center for Contemporary Arts to direct newcoming Rams around campus or answer general questions. “A lot of people needed help finding their classes or didn’t know what to do when they got here,” said Paul Teeter, a Shepherd admissions counselor, who spearheaded the Ask-a-Ram initiative.

shepTV, Shepherd University’s student-run television station, officially launched on April 7, broadcasting more student-produced content to the community. To mark the special occasion, station staff hosted a launch party on April 7 at the Copper Canyon on West Campus, bringing together students, faculty, family and community members. The launch coincided with the 99th anniversary of National Public Television Day.

10 years ago, Mary J.C. Hendrix, Ph.D. stepped foot on Shepherd’s campus again. Not as a student this time, but as the university’s 16th president. Now, she’s stepping back and leaning into her retirement. I recently sat down with Hendrix to reflect on her decade of service to the Shepherd community, coincidentally on April 8, the 10th anniversary of her presidential inauguration. Q. Why do you feel this is the right time to step away from the university and begin this next chapter? A.

Attending capstone presentations recently, it really sunk in that only a few months stand between me and graduation. I’m preparing to say goodbye to my second home for the past three years, when in reality, it seems like I just started my freshman year. As I step away from The Picket, I wanted my last publication to be different — something I’m proud of. And what better way to accomplish that than reflecting on my growth journey at Shepherd.

We take a lot of things for granted in West Virginia.

In its first full season,from November to November,Tabler Farm’s agricultural small business incubator program is helping six farmers establish new businesses by providing access to land, greenhouse space and business support that many say they could not secure on their own. Inside the farm greenhouse, trays of snapdragons, ranunculus, and violas are beginning to sprout for Violet Sparrow, a Baltimore based flower grower using the program to launch her operation.

Members of the Shepherd University community meet every Tuesday and Thursday at the Wellness Center to play pickleball. The sessions have become a regular part of the week for many players, bringing together those who have been involved in the sport for years and others who are newer and continue to develop their skills. While some have an athletic background, others were introduced to the sport through friends. Marcy Bartlett, a Penn State alumna, is one of the regular players in the group.

College is a very weird time for most of us. We’re not children anymore, but we’re not full-fledged adults yet. Or as Britney Spears would put it, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.” For any incoming first-year students (or anyone really) who need advice, here are five things that college actually taught me. Just Say Yes! I know it sounds ridiculous, but this is a phrase I’ve carried with me throughout my college career.

A StoryAbout the People WhoMake Appalachia Beautiful. As a gay man who grew up in rural West Virginia, I have a ton of stories about being harassed and hounded for being “different”, typically by your run-of-the-mill redneck, but this is not about them. This is about the non-run-of-the-mill rednecks, the ones that have always welcomed me with open arms. This is about the people I like to call Red Wine Rednecks. I come from a long line of Red Wine Rednecks.

In November 2024, I experienced my first drive-by slur shouting in years. I was walking down German Street with a friend when the driver of a local construction company truck rolled down the window and simply yelled, “faggot.” It was absolutely no coincidence that this came just weeks after Trump was elected to office. Being queer is hard, especiallyin West Virginia. Being queer in West Virginia under the regime of Trump has been even harder.