The DA 08-25-2010

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”

da

Wednesday August 25, 2010

VOLUME 124, ISSUE 4

www.THEDAONLINE.com

Police receive 481 calls over weekend by josh cooper staff writer

Two significant crime incidents happened during the first weekend and Monday students returned to West Virginia University, police said. The Morgantown Police Department reported an unlawful assault as well as carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Both occurred in the downtown area, said Lt. Harold Sperringer of MPD.

Police are unsure whether the person assaulted was a student. He was taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released over the weekend. MPD reported a total of eight arrests, 15 charges and received 481 calls this weekend. “There was nothing extremely bad this weekend other than the assault,” Sperringer said. “It was about average for this weekend.” The University Police Department reported similar

FOR MORE INFORMATION For a full list of incident summaries, visit http://police.wvu.edu/ incident_summary. incidents. “We had a number of (underage drinking violations) and a few drug calls,” said Chief of University Police Bob Roberts. “(The weekend) was pretty

typical in comparison to last year.” There were five drug offenses, one report of battery, two thefts, one arrest and several liquor law and underage alcohol consumption violations reported over the weekend, according to UPD’s incident summary report. A dumpster fire was reported outside of Braxton Tower at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday. No citations were issued at the time of the incident.

Learning to live ‘WELL’

A citation for the improper use of horns and warning devices was also issued near 11 p.m. on Prospect Street. UPD also reported few disturbances at FallFest despite large crowds and alcohol consumption, Roberts said. An incident summary report for FallFest was not available by press time. University Police advise students to report any suspicious activity as soon as possible. “The number one thing for

STAFF WRITER

Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Freshman mechanical and aerospace engineering major Joe Power drives a WVU maintenance vehicle wearing drunk goggles to simulate the feeling of driving while intoxicated. WVU police Sergeant Peggy Runyon supervises the simulation during Wellness Day at the Mountainlair Tuesday.

Drunk goggles, ‘Drop a Cop’ all part of WELL WVU sponsors Wellness Day STAFF WRITER

A student who texts behind the wheel has a reaction time three times worse than a drunk driver. Booths and representatives with information on nutrition, calorie intake, sexual health, self-defense, drinking and texting while driving made up part of Wellness Day Tuesday. Organized by WELL WVU, the day was designed to inform students on how they can make their lives healthier, said Colleen Harshbarger, director of Student Wellness and Health Promotion. “Any way we can help and give the students an opportunity to make them pause about the choices they make can help their well-being,” Harshbarger said. Information such as texting while driving being equal to drinking and driving shocked most students, said Kati Seel-

bach, a senior multidisciplinary studies major who works with WELL WVU said. If a student driving 55 miles per hour looks down and texts for five seconds, it is comparable to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed, she said. Other booths were made available on topics such as driving under the influence prevention, which allowed students to see what it is like to drive under the influence. “The drunk goggles and blood alcohol calculator really I think are most influential,” Seelbach said. “Most people don’t realize how much and how quickly you take alcohol in.” Seelbach said WELL WVU is not trying to stop students from having fun, but they want them to be safe and healthy while doing it. In addition to the booths

see WELLNESS on PAGE 2

STAFF WRITER

The Student Government Association will have its master plan unveiled at tonight’s meeting. The plan will detail all the goals West Virginia University’s SGA hopes to accomplish during the school year. “We want to give students an idea of what SGA is actively involved in,” said SGA Vice President Ron Cheng. “We want the people who are there for the first time to say, ‘this is what SGA is doing, and I might be interested.’” Governors will discuss what they’ve accomplished on their platforms since the summer began, said Vice Chair Ali Mols.

BY TRAVIS crum CITY EDITOR

Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Senior multidisciplinary studies major Kati Seelbach practices self defense techniques on WVU police patrolman Jeff Wright during Wellness Day at the Mountainlair Tuesday.

Mols said the governors will also discuss what they have planned for the year. “President (Chris) Lewallen and Vice President Cheng will also talk about SGA as an administration, our goals and what we have accomplished so far,” she said. A meet and greet held by Student Connection will be held at 7 p.m. in Hatfields of the Mountainlair before the regular 7:30 p.m. SGA meeting. “Student Connections is the best way for students to get their foot in the door and involved with SGA,” Lewallen said. “If students have had some problems during their first days of classes and want to see some changes or have ideas, this is an opportunity to voice them to

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O-LINE WOES

INSIDE

No WVU offensive linemen have a secured spot on the team yet. SPORTS PAGE 9

ISOLATED T-STORMS

News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 7, 8 Sports: 9, 10, 12 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 10, 11

The Upper Big Branch fundraiser for the families affected by the April 5 mine explosion in Montcoal, W.Va., has raised $100,000. The organization has been accepting donations and holding fundraisers, like a benefit concert at De Lazy Lizard last school year, in order to raise money for the 25 children who were affected by the explosion. “We are going to give them enough to get them through college, and they can use it for rent or for buying their textbooks,” said Chris Lewallen, board of directors for the Upper Big Branch Fund. Members have teamed up with NASCAR to raise money and created a website and Facebook page, which has helped with donations, Lewallen said. People have been donating money to the fund since the first Monday when the accident occurred, Lewallen said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION To donate to the Upper Big Branch Fund, visit http://upperbigbranchfamilyfund.com. Even if it is $10 every week, Lewallen said donators are doing the best they can. The fundraisers help show the families that people are there for them and willing to help, Lewallen said. “People send them money and things but the money isn’t the issue to them,” Lewallen said. “It’s the fact that people are showing they care.” West Virginia is a unique place, something the fund has highlighted, Lewallen said. “There are only 1.4 million people, and it’s proving the true definition of what a rural community is – looking out and taking care of each other,” Lewallen said. C.J. Belknap, a parks and

see FUNDRAISER on PAGE 2

Hechler speaks against mountaintop removal at Lair campaign rally

SGA administration to release master plan today BY SARAH O’ROURKE

joshua.cooper@mail.wvu.edu

Fund raises $100K for mine disaster by melissa Candolfi

by Melissa Candolfi

students is to keep their doors locked,” said Lt. Brian Hoxter of the UPD in a previous report. “Most crimes are crimes of opportunity.” Students should also travel in well-lit areas and lock up their valuables, Hoxter said. The UPD provides safety tips and information on its website, which recommends students consider the consequences of alcohol and drug use.

their student representatives,” he said. All students are welcome to attend the SGA meeting and meet and greet, Cheng said. “If you’ve never been to an SGA meeting, it can be quite intimidating,” he said. “The point of the meet and greet is to have the governors mingle with the students casually and talk to the students about themselves so that there is a friendly face to SGA.” He plans to keep the general meeting “purposely short,” he said. He doesn’t want to scare students away with a long meeting, he added. Cheng said tonight’s meeting will run as normal, lasting an hour or less. Every following

Wednesday will have a Student Connections meeting at 7 p.m. with the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. “It is a formal meeting, but we also want to establish a comfortable environment so students can voice their opinions and get involved,” he said. During the meeting, Cheng said he is going to unveil the SGA master plan. Mols encourages students to stay the entire time to see if SGA is right for them. “I am very confident that all the right information will be conveyed during the meeting and that students can actively participate and see if they really want to get involved,” Cheng said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu

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A MUSICAL AN0MALY Student rapper An0maly’s YouTube success gains him attention from major record labels. Read more about AJ Faleski on page 7.

A crowd of more than 50 people gathered Tuesday night to sing a version of “Country Roads” by John Denver with the lyrics changed to “Almost level, West Virginia.” Ken Hechler, 95, a candidate for the U.S. Senate opposing Gov. Joe Manchin, held a campaign rally in front of the Mountainlair in support of his anti-mountaintop removal mining agenda. “Mountaintop mining is leveling this state,” Hechler said to the crowd. “We need to put an end to this devastating practice.” The mining process was re-

sponsible for trees, rocks and soil being dumped onto people’s homes due to dynamite blasts to extract coal, he said before the rally. Hechler said he plans to introduce a bill to abolish mountaintop mining if elected. Jim Sconyers, chair of the West Virginia Sierra Club, announced an endorsement for Hechler by national branch of the Sierra Club. “(Hechler) has a long history of serving the people of West Virginia and the environment,” Sconyers said. “He’s the greenest candidate, since I’ve been alive, that has even run for office in West

see hechler on PAGE 2

Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

US Senate Candidate Ken Hechler speaks about his plans to eliminate mountaintop removal in West Virginia if he is elected during his campaign rally held in front of the Mountainlair Tuesday evening.

WOODBURN GOES GAGA A crowd of Lady Gaga dancers took over Woodburn Circle as part of a flash mob sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages. A&E PAGE 7


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