The DA 08-30-2010

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Monday August 30, 2010

VOLUME 124, ISSUE 7

www.THEDAONLINE.com

SGA outlines governors’ goals, plans BY SARAH O’ROURKE CORRESPONDENT

The master plan for West Virginia University the Student Government Association is a detailed outline of the Board of Governor’s ideas, goals and accomplishments. “The point of the master plan is to get the point across about the governors’ individual personalities and what they intend to do,” said SGA Vice President Ron Cheng. All 15 governors and two athletic councilmen list their

goals within the plan. Such platforms covered include transportation, safety, healthy dining options and residence halls. Cheng said the master plan would be used to inform students on what SGA is accomplishing throughout the year. To cater to each governor’s personality, Cheng said the majority of the plan was in the same format as when it was submitted. Each governor was required to develop a plan that includes four phases. The first

phase is the “planning stage,” Cheng said. The governors were given a template to follow, but it was up to them to chose how to interpret the template to incorporate their plans and goal into its structure, he said. Some governors, such as Gov. Kyle Hess, took a very detailed strategy with their master plan, while others used a more simplistic layout, Cheng said. Hess mapped out four phases of goals that include working with the Office of In-

formation and Technology to improve wireless networks on campus. Hess wrote in the plan that he would like to research and implement the best wireless coverage for weak signal areas on campus such as Ming Hsieh Hall. Cheng said he finds it easier when the governors use a shorter, simpler version of their plan and get the main point across. For example, Gov. Jason Bailey outlined his goals on one page of the plan. Bai-

Downtown Morgantown blackout

ley wrote he wished to promote SGA’s grant writing process and create campus maps with directions to SGA’s meeting room to be placed around town. Cheng and SGA President Chris Lewallen looked over the plan during the summer months. The plan went through two or three drafts before the final copy, Cheng said. “At the end of the day, the governors are the ones who approve their plans because they were voted into their po-

Correspondent

Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

see plan on PAGE 2

West Virginia last in obtaining bachelor’s degrees BY JESSICA LEPPAR

Firemen work to put out a fire in the NAPA Auto Parts building and the Mileground Motel Saturday morning. The fire burned for hours and destroyed both buildings.

sition by the student body,” he said. “I am just the guiding, mentoring force behind the master plan to get them on the right track.” A few governors ran into trouble while developing their plans, he said. Gov. Megan Callaghan had to readjust her plan to fit the demands of MountieRide, a free student shuttle service she is involved in. Her plans had to be

West Virginia placed last in the nation for the number of adults who have received a bachelor’s degree, according to a study by the U.S. Census Bureau. The study showed 18.75 percent of West Virginia adults, ages 25 and older, have obtained bachelor’s degrees. Twenty-five percent of them have obtained associate’s degrees. West Virginia was behind the national average of 24.4 percent with a bachelor’s degree. Roy Nutter, WVU Advisory Council of Faculty representative, proposed a plan to allow West Virginia students to graduate with bachelor’s degrees after completing 120 hours.

Currently, students are required to complete 128 hours before obtaining a bachelor’s degree. “College institutions may need to apply more emphasis on college access and graduation records,” said Rob Anderson, senior director of Policy and Planning of WVHEPC. “Students need support to earn degrees, because it is more profitable for the individual and the state as a whole,” he said. Administrations should provide more advising and tutoring opportunities to help students succeed, Anderson said. The statistic was brought to the attention of Brian Noland, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education

see degrees on PAGE 2

Fire causes approximately 2,100 to lose power early Saturday morning by josh cooper staff writer

The Mileground Motel, NAPA Auto & Truck Parts and Hairspray Salon on Mileground Road caught fire early Saturday morning, causing power outages in downtown Morgantown and the Mileground. The fire began at approximately 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Mileground Road closed at the time of the fire and remained closed until approximately 10 a.m., said Michael Wolfe, deputy director of the Monongalia County Office of Emergency Management, in a press release. Multiple Monongalia Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM County Fire departments and Emergency vehicles line the road on the Mileground in response to a large fire Satur- other county fire departments day morning that destroyed the NAPA Auto Parts building and Holiday apartments. responded to the fire, Wolfe

said in the release. Approximately 20 people were evacuated from the hotel and taken to the River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross for shelter. No injuries were reported, Wolfe said in the release. The fire overheated some of Allegheny Power’s transformers, causing power outages for approximately 2,100 people in Morgantown, said Jeff Straight, company spokesman. Power was restored to about 800 of those customers within 45 minutes, he added. “We had to wait until the emergency personnel were finished with their job before we could deal with the remainder of the customers,” Straight said.

see fire on PAGE 2

Alumni event prepares for Mountaineer football By Ann Compton Staff Writer

School spirit was in the air when the Monongalia County Chapter of the West Virginia University Alumni Association hosted its annual “Countdown to Kickoff” at the Erickson Alumni Center Sunday. Guests found themselves among the WVU pep band, WVU cheerleaders and the Mountaineer mascot, Brock Burwell. The event also had games, food and giveaways, such as Mountaineer T-shirts and mugs. “We also have a coach from the football team come and talk about how they see the season

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SUNNY

INSIDE News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 Sports: 5, 7 A&E: 8, 10 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 9

going,” said Tara Curtis, communications director for the Alumni Association. This year, assistant coach of the WVU football team, Steve Dunlap, spoke to guests about the team, Curtis said. “We’re really grateful that they can clear a spot in the schedule to come and talk to us. We know it’s really busy right now, getting ready for the first game,” she said. J.T. Thomas II, a former WVU linebacker and graduate of the class of 1996, was at the event and said he plans to come more often. Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM “We came last year, and we Cheerleaders cheer as a pep band plays during the “Countdown to Kickoff” at the Erickson Alumni Center Sunday afternoon. The event also featured tailgate-inspired food and games. see alumni on PAGE 2

EMMYS

See commentary on the awards and fashion. A&E PAGE 8

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LATER THIS WEEK West Virginia men’s soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc wants to break an attendance record at this Friday’s game. We’ll have complete coverage.

Traffic on Beechurst Avenue is backed up on move-in day 2009.

file photo

Survey shows parking, travel time a top concern for Morgantown traffic by nick ashley staff writer

A local organization released two surveys on traffic issues that Morgantown residents face every day. The Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization developed one survey for the general population and another for employees and students of West Virginia University, said Bill Austin, executive director of Morgantown Monongalia MPO. The purpose of these surveys was to find out what services people would use if provided throughout the city, he said. “We are looking into many ways to help out the community from van pooling, car-

pooling, telecommuting, employer public transits, providing bicycles and much more,” Austin said. The results found the major priorities of most students and commuters are travel time (67 percent), travel convenience (48 percent) and safety (38 percent). WVU students are most concerned with parking in Morgantown at 76 percent, the survey found. The worst streets for traffic are Beechurst Avenue, University Avenue, High Street, Van Voorhis Street and the Mileground, Austin said. Also, traffic is much worse during traffic delays in the afternoon than mornings, the survey stated.

see survey on PAGE 2

OFF TO A GOOD START New WVU volleyball coach Jill Kramer got off to a quick star in her coaching career this weekend. Check out her team’s results. SPORTS PAGE 5


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