THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
2 | NEWS
Wednesday January 8, 2014
FILE PHOTO /THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Morgantown City Council recently passed two food vendor ordinances that will impact High Street food vendors including the Hotdog Man and other food carts and trucks.
VENDORS
Continued from page 1 “pressure points” along the sidewalk. The push to make the 300 block of High Street safer has been about much more than just moving street vendors, Mikorski said. “Over a year-and-a-half ago, we saw the problems with the 300 block, which originally had a bus stop and a taxi stand,” Mikorski said. “We relocated the busses to the courthouse plaza, and then we moved the taxi stands lower down High Street and off on Chestnut Street.” According to Mikorski, the food truck ordinance was necessary because the trucks started moving into spaces busses and taxis had been moved from, de-
GRADS
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issue then they should have police carrying out more patrols instead of standing outside their squad cars like they do now.” In response to some of the criticism heard at the meeting, Council member Nancy Ganz, 7th ward, said ordinances, such as the two passed at the meeting, are only required because of the drunken behavior of people on High Street. “The main reason we have ordinances like this one is because of the drunkenness downtown,” she said. “The goal of a public entity and the goal of a public right of way is to protect the people using the right of way. “So, the police, fire and rescue, and the city manager got together very appropriately to protect the students and the people of
our town.” Ganz said the measures authorized by the two ordinances are aimed at protecting the residents of the city as much as the students who are enjoying their home away from home. “I’d say only 50 percent of people downtown are students because, if you’ll remember, only 60 percent of students graduate in six years,” Ganz said. Ganz said a good deal of misinformation has been circulating through the WVU student body and Morgantown community. “Misinformation has gotten out … very radical rumors have spread that are just totally untrue,” Ganz said. “We want more vendors, but our No. 1 job is not to promote any one group. (It’s) to keep the people in our town safe.” Ganz said she has per-
sonally sat down with WVU students to explain the ordinances and is disappointed more did not attempt to reach out to learn the reality of the situation. Colin Wood, a member of WVU Students for Liberty, said he believes the ordinances fly in the faces of all those who work or live in Morgantown. “Regardless of what the effects of the ordinance will be, the fact of the matter is that everyone who came out and spoke tonight was in opposition to the ordinance,” Wood said. “If the government really exists to be the voice of the people, then that’s all they need to know: no one wants this.” Wood said he believes Council’s claims the ordinance will make a safer community are nonsensical. “Vendors are basically
periences I got from my professors and everything they taught me throughout my time here,” Truex said. “I’m also thankful for the opportunities that being involved with the rowing team provided me and the many doors that it opened. “If I wouldn’t have come to WVU and have been a Mountaineer, I would have never grown into the person I am today.” Ahmed Champion, a political science graduate, said he could not believe how quickly his time in Morgantown went by.
“My time here at WVU was amazing. Coming into it, I didn’t expect that it would fly by this fast,” Champion said. “For such a large university, the inclusiveness of the community is something that sets our school apart from others. “I think everything I’ve done here and the memories I have with everyone kind of came to a head when they finally had called the last person, and I realized I had graduated. It’s a very special feeling.”
COMMITTEE
Campione said he was pleased and impressed with the three students selected and said he believes they will each be excellent representatives of the student body. “They each have shown tremendous leadership, involvement in various areas within WVU that are beyond the traditional campus academics,” he said. “I am really looking forward to working more closely with them and to see their input in the process.”
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where you came from.” After the ceremony, graduates mingled with family and friends and reminisced upon their time spent at WVU. Some of them, like public relations graduate Micah Truex, reflected on the opportunities they were given during their time as a student. “I’m extremely grateful for all of the great professional and academic ex-
feating the purpose of the city’s efforts. D e sp i te Mi ko rski’s claims of necessity, the public hearing portion of the meeting heard many speeches in opposition of the ordinances. WVU student Maurice Matthews said he believes the ordinance is driving away good people and will not help improve safety. “It’s forcing (vendors) down the street where nobody goes,” Matthews said. “If it’s a pedestrian issue, this ordinance could actually mean more people will have to cross streets like Walnut and Fayette; it’s not really a winning solution.” Matthews said he believes if the city is truly concerned about safety, then it should look to the police for solutions. “Morgantown has wide enough sidewalks,” Matthews said. “If it’s a safety
Campus Student Code JJanuary 2014 Dear WVU Student: D Welcome back! W A WVU you belong to a community of scholars. In our community, there At aare standards for appropriate behavior. The West Virginia University Campus Student Code explains what is expected within our living and learning p ccommunity. The Code is not designed to be punitive or adversarial. The purpose p of the Code is to set expectations for behavior both on and off campus. c
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students face. “Paul, Colleen, and Liz all embody that characteristic, and I fully expect them to ask presidential candidates the tough questions that should be asked,” he said. The three selected student body representatives were submitted to the University Board of Governors for approval at its Monday meeting. Each student representative was approved by the BOG.
living CCTV cameras who are able to call the police, break up fights and take care of drunken people,” he said. “The fact that they think this move will make the drunk-infested downtown area safer (should) make you want to scream your head off.” The ordinances came into effect Jan. 1. Food truck vendors will be able to purchase permits beginning Feb. 2. Mikorski said this gives the city time to work out the logistics of the permit system. City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Morgantown Municipal building. For more information, visit www.morgantownwv.gov/government/ city-council. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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WELCOME BACK!
The entire Daily Athenaeum staff would like to welcome WVU students back to campus and wish students luck during the spring 2014 semester.
Many M student leaders, faculty, and staff collaborated to ensure that this Campus C Student Code clarifies your rights and responsibilities as a West Virginia V University student. The Code is student centered. To read the Code please p visit this website: http://studentlife.wvu.edu/offi h ce_of_student_conduct. Should S you have any questions regarding the University Campus Student Code, C please contact the Office of Student Conduct. The staff may be reached r by visiting Room 84 Boreman North on the Downtown Campus or o by calling 304-293-8111. Sincerely, S G. G Corey Farris Dean of Students
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