WHEELife

Here about the Fall 2026 season of the WCU football, soccer and volleyball with interviews with players, reporters and expert analysis of the games.   

This week, we're covering the early voting in jackson county, what the numbers tell us about voter turnout and what you need to know before election day. Early voting ends Oct. 31 at 3 pm. 

The second half of this episode we will get you into the Halloween spirit with local ghost stories, a look at Western Carolina University's ghost club and events happening around the area. 

We promise... No tricks in this episode, only informational treats! 

Learn more about the new polling site in Jackson County, what voters need to know before heading to the polls, the safety of our elections, voter fatigue and deadlines to keep in mind.

If you plan to vote in Cullowhee, there’s a change you’ll want to keep in mind about this election.

The Jackson County Board of Elections voted to move the Cullowhee election day polling site from the Cullowhee recreation center to Western Carolina University’s Health and Human Sciences building for the Election Day on Nov. 3. During early voting period from Oct. 15 to 31 you have two early voting sites at the HHS and Cullowhee Rec Center. 

This week we have a special edition commemorating  second anniversary since Hurricane Helene devastation of Western North Carolina. 

Hear from our guest on the recovery efforts, the distribution of funds for projects and politics from Cory Vaillancourt, special Helene Recovery reporter for The Asheville Citizens Times and former editor at the Smoky Mountain News. Experiences and what are various people at WCU during Helene but also what have they done to assist the recovery, document the experiences and volunteering opportunities through the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. 

We start this season with looking at the largest freshmen class in the history of WCU. It is an adjustment not just for new students but for upper classmen, faculty and staff since there are more people on campus wanting to park, get to food and more people in the classes. It takes time and our sources say give yourself time to adjust and enjoy the ride. 

Hear from graduates on their experience at WCU, involvement within their programs, and advice for those still in college. Sam Scroggins talks about how she found the Communication major through the advice of a professor, and Halle Stanley gives advice on why managing your time as a student is important.

For graduate and doctoral degrees, the ceremony starts on May 8 at 7 p.m. For honors and undergraduate degrees for the Arts and Sciences, Education and Allied Professions, and Fine and Performing Arts, the ceremony starts on May 9 at 10 a.m. For honors and undergraduate degrees for Business, Engineering and Technology, and Health and Human Sciences, the ceremony is May 9, starting at 3 p.m.

All graduation ceremonies will be held at the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center. 

For more information on graduation click here.

The podcast was produced by WCJ Editor-In-Chief and WWCU General Manager, Halle Stanley and WCJ News Editor, Sam Scroggins. They are both graduating. Congrats to all and …GO CATS!

 This week on Whee Life, we’re focusing on arts and entertainment at Western Carolina University. We’ll share details on current campus exhibits, highlight recent performances, and preview events still to come. You’ll hear from Bardo Arts Center marketing manager Rachel Hood, along with student reporters, about standout art exhibits, events at the Bardo Arts Center, and the upcoming Controlled Chaos Film Festival. 

NASA accomplished something historic. We are step closer to going back to the Moon. Artemis 2 mission to orbit the moon and come back in 10 days was successful and as NASA says on their website “the first crewed Artemis flight marks a key step toward long‑term return to the Moon and future missions to Mars.”  

For WCU geology professor Dr. Amy Fagan the Artemis missions are personal.

Scams are not new and happen all over the world. But with advancements in technology, it has become shockingly easier to fall victim to a scam. From email and online scams to bank fraud, technology has helped thieves steal from seasoned professionals and even it employees.  

Technology has also helped many professionals through shortening projects and keeping patient records electronically.  

Hear all this and more in this week’s Whee Life news magazine.