Picture taken by Patrick Coe.  Go to his flickr account here to see a larger version of this photo.

EKU seems to be peaking at a very good time.  The Colonels have now won five straight games, with great margins of victory in the last four games.  After tonight’s game with Southeast Missouri State, EKU is now in sole possession of third place in the OVC

Thu. Jan. 24 - at Tennessee State     W:65-63
Tue. Jan. 29 - at Tennessee-Martin     W:74-60
Sat. Feb. 02 - at Tennessee Tech     W:87-77 
Thu. Feb. 07 - Murray State     W:60-47    
Sat. Feb. 09 - Southeast Missouri State  W:80-69

From "The Star Press:"

BSU to play Eastern Kentucky in ESPNU Bracket Buster StoryChat Post Comment Ball State will play at Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 23 in a non-conference basketball game arranged through the O’Reilly ESPNU Bracket Buster pool. Eastern Kentucky, located in Richmond, Ky., is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Colonels are 4-0 all-time against the Cardinals, but the schools haven’t met since 1979.  Original Post:  BSU to play Eastern Kentucky in ESPNU Bracket Buster | The Star Press - www.thestarpress.com - Muncie, IN

The Meditation Chapel was one of my favorite places on Eastern’s campus.

As the story below attests, EKU won an offensive thriller of a games against cross-state rivals Murray State University.  This means that Eastern only needs to win one of its remaining two contests in order to advance to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in what used to be known as Division 1-AA.   Since it has been a decade (1997) that EKU has been in the play-offs (an eternity in college football), I am getting excited about their return to national prominence in their Subdivision.  Eastern is now ranked 16th nationally, has a record of 7-2, with its only two loses coming at the hands of Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly 1-A) teams, which have, I believe, 20 more scholarship players than 1-AA teams.

Colonels Outlast Murray State in Offensive Thriller, 46-35
EKU Sports - Richmond,KY,USA
The #17 Eastern Kentucky University football team piled up 533 total yards of offense and forced four turnovers to hold on for a 46-35 conference victory …

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In this day and age, it is amazing that there are people agitating to let students carry concealed weapons on campus.  Of course during my time at EKU, this was allowed.  In particular, I remember one guy named Chuck, who lived on the 5th floor of Dupree Hall for several years at the same time I did, who even had a gun collection stashed in his dorm room. I think his off-campus job in security was the reason he could do this.  Anyway, an editorial from UK’s student paper, rightly speaks against concealed weapons on college campuses.  A snippet follows.  To read the whole editorial, click on the link.

Editorial: For safety’s sake, campus gun ban should remain Kykernel.com Lexington,KY,USA
Students may have noticed some of their peers wearing empty gun holsters around campus. While this choice in attire may seem bizarre, these students are participating in a weeklong national peaceful protest of state and university policies banning concealed firearms from campus.

We unequivocally support these protesters’ right to express their opinions peacefully, and we are glad to see students exercising their First Amendment rights. But UK should not change its firearms policy.

UK is currently a deadly-weapons-free campus, a fact that UK’s Students for Concealed Carry on Campus hopes to change. Students at Western Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, along with local gun shops, are also participating in this event, according to a Kernel article on Tuesday.

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I remember attending the Madrigal Dinner at EKU at least once with my then girlfriend during those halcyon days of yore. It was a great experience with really good food,  I’d love to go back sometime now that it has returned to what it used to be like.

Madrigal Dinners Return to Traditional Format
The 37th annual Madrigal Feaste at Eastern Kentucky University returns this year to the traditional format that made it such a popular community favorite.

The 25-member University Singers, under the direction of Dr. Sue Ellen Ballard, will join with Aramark Dining Services to present the Feaste on Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Grand Ballroom of the Keen Johnson Building. The doors open at 6 p.m. nightly, with seating beginning at 6:30. The first fanfare will sound at 7.

Tickets, at $25 apiece, go on sale Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Colonel 1 Office, Room 17 of the Powell Building. Visa and MasterCard reservations may be made by calling 859-622-2178.

The Feaste, which recreates 16th century English madrigal dinners, is divided into two segments. First, the guests will enjoy a seven-course meal, during which the Singers will entertain with light Christmas selections. This year’s meal consists of Wassail Bowle, Quiche Lorraine, Stilton Cheese and Ale Soup, English Round Breads, Fairest Wilde Fowle Served over Long Grain Wilde Rice, Haricot Vert, Christesmesse Pudding, and beverage.

Following the meal, the Singers, accompanied by faculty and student instrumentalists on period instruments, will present a concert consisting of familiar madrigal selections from leading composers such as William Byrd, Thomas Morley, John Dowland, Orlando di Lasso and others.

“We will do our best to make this an event patrons will eagerly anticipate each and every year and one they consider a ‘must’ to begin their holiday celebration,” Ballard said, noting that this year’s event will emphasize the music and meal and be shorter in duration.

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Some other news about EKU this week includes:

Eastern takes nine-city tour to improve enrollment
EKU The Eastern Progress Online (subscription) - Richmond,KY,USA
The plan says southeast Kentucky is Eastern Kentucky University’s "area of geographic responsibility." That includes a population of nearly 600000. …

Derrick Huff Named A National Player of the Week by the Sports Network
After picking up OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sunday, Eastern Kentucky University defensive back Derrick Huff was named one of four national players of the week for the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) by the Sports Network.

Men’s Cross Country Team Ranked Fifth in the Southeast Region
EKU Sports - Richmond,KY,USA
After an impressive victory Saturday at the OVC Championships, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s cross country team is now ranked fifth in the Southeast …

Women’s Soccer Plays Austin Peay to 1-1 Tie
EKU Sports - Richmond,KY,USA
In its final conference match of the season, the Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team traveled to Austin Peay and played the Lady Govs to a 1-1 …
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Sports:

Hockey team takes down EKU
News Record - Cincinnati,OH,USA
The University of Cincinnati’s semi-varsity hockey team improved its record to 2-0 on Friday, defeating the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels 5-2 at the …
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Huff Named OVC Defensive Player of the Week
EKU Sports - Richmond,KY,USA
Huff notched his 10th career interception in the 49-7 win over Tennessee State this past Saturday as the Eastern Kentucky University football team tallied …
See all stories on this topic

Administration:

Whitlock Named 11th President, Awarded 3-Year Contract
EKU News Center - Richmond,KY,USA
Dr. Doug Whitlock, who was selected in August as president of Eastern Kentucky University for a one-year interim period, was named the University’s 11th …
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EKU names new president
Doug Whitlock was named the 11th president of Eastern Kentucky University on Monday by the Board of Regents.Whitlock, a longtime EKU administrator who retired in 2003 as vice president for administrative affairs at the university after …
The Richmond Register–Local News - http://www.richmondregister.com

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