Barbershop Talk brings awareness to legal rights

Barbershop Talk brings awareness to legal rights Barbershop Talk brings awareness to legal rights Abigail Vickers, News Reporter October 15, 2026 Nathan Pennell Jordan Nunnally, a senior broadcasting major and certified barber, is giving fellow peers free line-ups during the Why Knot Us Barbershop talk at DSU on Oct. 14, 2026. Hilltoppers received free haircuts, ate pizza and learned about their legal rights during the semesterly Barbershop Talk in the Downing Student Union, organized by Why Knot Us. The talk, titled “Know Your Rights,” featured local law enforcement professionals, including WKU Chief of Police Mitch Walker, Bowling Green Police Chief Michael Delaney, Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower and Criminal Defense Attorney Dwight Burton. Why Knot Us was founded as a Black Male initiative in 2020. The organization creates a sense of belonging among WKU students and promotes professionalism on and off campus, according to Jaden Marshall, a senior board director for Why Knot Us. Marshall said he joined Why Knot Us in fall 2023 and has been a member ever since. He said the focus of Why Knot Us is to make sure men around campus know they have advocates to help guide them to a bright future. “A lot of our focus is centered around community service, so we have several different community service projects,” Marshall said. Why Knot Us has hosted the Barbershop Talk each semester since the organization’s founding, Marshall said. He said the topic of this semester’s Barbershop Talk aimed at helping members better understand their legal rights and protections, while encouraging them to be productive community members. The law enforcement professionals led Hilltoppers in discussing their rights surrounding traffic stops, vehicle searches, video recordings, drug paraphernalia and more. Attendees asked questions along the way in an open discussion format. Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower talks to students about a recent stop he made with his fellow colleague during the Why Knot Us Barbershop talk at DSU on Oct. 14, 2026. (Nathan Pennell) “You have to know the difference between your rights and privileges,” Burton explained to the group. Jordan Nunnally, a senior broadcasting major, provided free haircuts to attendees during the talk. While he used to be a member of Why Knot Us, Nunnally said he isn’t currently active with the organization. Nunnally officially became a licensed barber this past summer after attending the Kentucky College of Barbering. He said he has provided haircuts at past Barbershop Talks, and he is always more than happy to come to the events. Nunnally said that while these events promote his business, he mainly enjoys connecting with the students who get their hair cut. As a barber, Nunnally said he can bring vulnerability out of students and have in-depth conversations with every client he meets. “I found a love in barbering as a way for me to boost people’s self-esteem,” Nunnally said. “And I feel like events like this are able to bring students to a space where they’re able to open up about their concerns 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Tags: babershop talk bowling green police department downing student union warren count sherrif why knot us black male initiative wku pd wku police department More to Discover More in News / Campus Life Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. to host sixth annual Sleepout for the Homeless Reception Wednesday for student art show When the Clock starts, everyone finds the beat Cadence at the Colonnades: WKU Jazz Band hosts outdoor concert HRL unfolds new laundry policy Lowell Harrison Distinguished Lecture discusses Civil War attire About the Contributors Abigail Vickers, News Reporter Abigail Vickers, a sophomore journalism & broadcast major and Spanish minor, is a News Reporter for the College Heights Herald. Her hometown is Florence, Kentucky. This is her second semester on staff. Nathan Pennell, Staff Photographer Nathan Pennell is a freshman staff photographer for the Herald. He is from Louisville, Kentucky and is majoring in Visual Journalism and Photography.