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Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Students, community fight sexual violence Democratic candidate for governor visits campus. Page 2
Sports
Herd softball loses to Kentucky. Page 3
Opinion
Should The Donald run for President? Page 4
Life
BY ASHLEY GROHOSKI THE PARTHENON
Marshall University students and community members participated in the united movement “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” on Marshall’s campus Wednesday. The movement’s mission is to create a public experience, both powerful and educating, with the goal of ending sexualized violence. According to the organization’s website, Frank Baird first proposed the idea for the movement in 2001. “This is an epidemic you cannot get a vaccination or take a pill for, but still affects our health,” said Kat Williams, associate professor of American history and director of women’s studies. “It is an epidemic that is not covered on CNN, yet it is occurring worldwide. It’s an epidemic of sexual violence.” Williams educated the students with data concerning the assaults within high schools. “Data shows young students suffer early, and the likelihood of being assaulted by the time they graduate high school is significant,” Williams said. “Data shows 4,000 reported incidents of sexual battery, and over 800 reported rapes and attempted rapes occur every year in our high schools.” According to Williams, by the time women graduate from high school, more than one in 10 will have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse.
on his years as an undergrad. Page 6
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases are occurring each year in the U.S. The CDC also noted that April is STD Awareness Month, and the goal of this event is to inform the public of the impact that sexually transmitted diseases can have. STDs are becoming a major public issue. The CDC said in 2009, more than 1.5 million cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea were reported. Elizabeth Ayers, public information officer at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, said Cabell County is the second highest county in the state of West Virginia that generates reports of chlamydia and gonorrhea. The CDC did state that gonorrhea infections are at their lowest rates ever, but there is still a risk that certain groups are facing. About 25 percent of the sexually active
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Finalists in comedy fundraiser have personal connections to cause THE PARTHENON
Inside
“These statistics should be on the front page of every newspaper, every university paper and running across the bottom of CNN,” Williams said. Williams said an overwhelming number of sexual assault victims are afraid to come forward, and so the crime becomes a “dirty little secret.”
population is between the ages of 15 to 25, according to the CDC. Ayers said many people are unaware they may even have a sexually transmitted disease. “Everyone needs to know not all STDs have symptoms,” Ayers said. “Anyone who is sexually active should be tested about every six months.” Ayers also said people who are trying to understand anything about a certain STD or symptoms should be searching on the correct sites. Ayers suggested visiting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, cdc.gov. “When someone is searching online about a STD, they first go to Google and receive too much information and some might be invalid,” Ayers said. “It is important that people who want more information about sexually transmitted diseases are looking at the correct sites.” For testing and information about STDs, call Cabell-Huntington Health Department clinic services at 304-526-3380.
BY ASHLEY MANNON
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“When young women get to college, more than 20 percent of them suffer from sexual violence; this also applies to 6 percent of undergraduate males,” Williams said. Victims of sexual abuse are more likely to suffer academically from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and to contemplate suicide.
STDs becoming a major social issue among young people THE PARTHENON
Patrick Murphy reflects
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY GROHOSKI | THE PARTHENON
TOP: Marshall University students and members of the community gathered Wednesday for the Human Ribbon Project to raise awareness for sexual assaults. BOTTOM: The event also included “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” in which men walked in women’s shoes to show their solidarity and educate men about sexual violence.
Finalists will compete for the honor of top comic at the Stand Up to Cancer finale. Two out of three of the contestants have a personal connection to the cause the contest is benefiting. Josh McDonald, RaShad Sanders and Derrick Knopsnyder made it through two preliminary rounds and beat out 17 other comics to make it to the finale on April 14 at 7:30 p.m. This is the fourth consecutive Thursday for the competition at the Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant at Pullman Square that benefits the American Cancer Society. It is sponsored by the Marshall University chapter of Relay for Life. Josh McDonald, 26-year-old native of Martinsburg, W.Va., learned about the competition through his job as a security worker at the comedy club but wanted to get involved for a more personal reason. “I lost my grandmother back in 1997 to colon
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cancer,” McDonald said. “It’s definitely something I’ve thought about while on stage.” Besides his personal connection to the cause, McDonald wanted to compete because he has been an aspiring comedian for about a year and a half. He started performing near his hometown in Baltimore, Md., and moved to Huntington in August with his girlfriend, Michelle, when she began school at Marshall University. McDonald said he feels it’s easier to have opportunities in the comedy scene in the Huntington area than it would have been in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. “In the bigger cities, if you’re not in with someone already who does comedy or is the club’s owner, it’s hard to get in those places,” McDonald said. McDonald had success at comedy competitions at Magooby’s Joke House in Baltimore. He also placed second in a contest at Shepherd University sponsored See CANCER I 5
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Josh McDonald performs at the Funny Bone in this January file photo. McDonald is one of three finalists in the Stand Up to Cancer fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society. The Big Bang Theory 8 p.m. CBS
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Publisher teaches Italian, travels the world BY CHERIE DAVIS THE PARTHENON
The Italian courses taught at Marshall University might be interesting in and of themselves, but the most interesting thing about them might be the man who teaches them. John Patrick Grace, current publisher at Publisher’s Place and part-time Italian teacher, has traveled to 23 countries and lived in three. The Italian course is open to the community as well as Marshall students Tuesday evenings 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. “It really started as a help to the art and design students who are studying in Italy in the summers,” Grace said. “I have a doctorate in Italian,” Grace said. “I spent my junior year abroad in Rome when I was a student at Royal University in Chicago. Then I met, while I was there, one of correspondents for the AP when I was in Rome. I decided that’s what I wanted to do.” Grace went to Columbia for his master’s in Journalism. He worked for the AP in Chicago and was transferred to the International desk in New York. “I had some undergraduate Italian courses in Rome during my undergrad,” Grace said. “When I got to New York, I signed up for Bertilz courses in Italian and French.” Grace eventually did get an assignment from the AP and returned to Rome. Grace is Catholic and covered the Vatican. When in Rome, Grace enrolled in Instituto Dante Alighieri to take more Italian courses which helped him through the five years he lived and worked in Italy. “People would call us from all over the country in Italian to report stories,” Grace said. “One of the hardest things about the job was to understand all the regional accents. It’s just like it is here — someone would call from Alabama or Arkansas, and it’s hard to understand the accents.” After living in Rome for one year as a student and five years, Grace’s Italian became fluent.
“It takes awhile for Italy to grow on you; I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight,” Grace said. Grace moved back to the United States and taught Italian at UNC Chapel Hill and went on to graduate school there. He got his master’s in Italian with a minor in French, and moved on to his doctorate in Italian with a minor in medieval studies. “I taught about seven years and at least fourteen sections of Italian,” Grace said. Grace then moved to Pau, France. “I managed to intrigue the university (in Pau) then into paying for me to teach the adults in the community Italian,” Grace said. Grace spent nine years in Pau teaching Italian while living in France. “I had come back from living in the French Pyrenees,” Grace said. “I first wanted to help my mother in Chicago who was recovering from a bad hip replacement. I had come back from living in a village with 400 people and I was freaking out about living in such a dense population with no mountains.” Grace and his girl friend soon after moved to Huntington. Grace taught French at Marshall for two years and started working at Publisher’s Place, which is a nonprofit publishing company. “The thing I really admire about him is the troubles, the adversity, that may have happened to him; every day he is trying to be a successful publisher,” Jonathon McCallister, an intern who has worked for Grace for almost two years and a graduate student, said, “He always handled it very well. It’s something I really admire about him. He never gives up, never takes shortcuts and he’s always ready to do whatever it takes.” Publisher’s Place publishes memoirs, true life fiction and anthologies which target a five-state area. Grace has worked for Publisher’s Place for 15 years. Grace said he likes publishing because he is trying to get important books out there. Publisher’s Place has published 40 different books since its birth.
John Patrick Grace and his wife, Paula, visit France in 2004. “I get to bring my dog to work,” Grace said. “How many people can do that?” “He always likes to take time at least once a week to talk to us about publishing and stuff like that,” McCallister said. “He always takes time just to communicate.” Grace has five children and is married. His wife Paula works for the Railroad Retirement board. Grace and his wife have been to France and they plan on going to Italy soon. “I haven’t been to Italy in a few years, so I need to return soon,” Grace said. “I used to say there were two reasons why I would
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN PATRICK GRACE
never leave Italy: Rome and Venice.” Recently, Grace started writing each Tuesday for the Herald Dispatch about the uprisings in the Middle East. “From a journalistic perspective, I am intrigued by the Middle East and what’s going on now,” Grace said. “In all sincerity, I think he is one of the most motivated and passionate people I’ve met,” McCallister said. “There’s been a lot of adversity, but he’s one of the most positive people I’ve ever met.” Cherie Davis can be contacted at davis542@marshall.edu.
Democratic candidate for governor U.S. Senate spares Kessler speaks to Marshall group Pell Grant funding BY CAITLIN CONLEY THE PARTHENON
COREY OXLEY | THE PARTHENON
Jeff Kessler, democratic candidate for governor from Glen Dale, W. Va., speaks to members of LAMBDA on Wednesday. BY COREY OXLEY THE PARTHENON
Students came out to Corbly Hall Wednesday night to hear a hopeful governor candidate.. Jeff Kessler, democrat from Glen Dale, W.Va., spoke to students and community members about his quest to become governor. Kessler graduated from West Liberty University and received his law degree from West Virginia University. “I plan to run for governor no matter the circumstances,” Kessler said. “I filed for precandidacy to run for governor in April 2009 before Sen. Byrd passed away. I believe West Virginia is poised for a breakout decade.” Kessler has served in the state senate since 1997 and is now the serving president of the state senate. He has been very involved in mountaintop removal and promoting the severance tax. “Every state needs energy, and we are currently sitting on a ton of it,” Kessler said. “We are sitting on Marcellus Shale that can supply our nation for 50 years.”
Kessler said he is interested in keeping young people in West Virginia. “If we don’t keep the young people in the state, then we don’t have a chance,” Kessler said. “It should not come as a surprise that we are 49th or last in every category when we continue to get rid of our young people.” Kessler said he doesn’t want his kids to have to leave this state. He said he wants to keep the PROMISE scholarship active for students in West Virginia. “My vision is for West Virginia to become the fastest growing state in the nation in terms of the economy in the year 2012,” Kessler said. “There is no reason for West Virginia to settle for second or third best.” Kessler said West Virginia has to be able to have a diverse economy. He said the government needs to create jobs and provide opportunities for our young people. “It’s terrible we spend the money to educate our young people and then they leave,” Kessler said. “For the last 30 or 40 years, we have spent 65 percent of our budget on education.” Kessler said he supports the national
healthcare plan. He said everyone deserves the right to be healthy. “I also want mountaintop removal to agree with the Clean Water Act,” Kessler said. “For this to work, the inspectors have to do their job and do their job well.” “I think Kessler is an interesting candidate because of his social positions and his environmental positions,” said Zack Miller, junior English major from South Charleston, W.Va. “He has a lot of good plans concerning Marcellus Shale and the Department of Environmental Protection.” Miller said using the severance tax from Marcellus Shale and investing it in West Virginia could be really good for our state. He said those issues are really what makes him an interesting and viable candidate. “He has a lot of plans to make our state grow and diversify, and I think a lot of his ideas are interesting,” Miller said. “Hopefully, he would be able to accomplish a lot of these things if he were governor.” Corey Oxley can be contacted at oxley24@marshall.edu.
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Marshall University students can breathe a sigh of relief — the Pell Grant will not be cut. The U.S. Senate came to a decision Friday to preserve the Federal Pell Grant. More than 4,500 Marshall University students could have potentially lost close to a thousand dollars in free government funding if this had been the case. “If a student lost almost $1,000 in gift aid, then that is significant,” said Kathy J. Bialk, director of Student Financial Assistance. “Where are you going to get that money if you can’t pay for school in the first place or if your family doesn’t have the means to contribute it — especially if you’re borrowing the maximum amount of your loan.” The United States House of Representatives passed a bill last month decreasing the allocation of funds for the Federal Pell Grant by 15 percent. This bill would cut as much as $800 per year for students who are already receiving this money. “I don’t receive a whole lot of money in grants any more, but I do get a little,” said James L. Horsley, junior humanities major. “And I can really appreciate the fact that there are tons of people, maybe from low income households, or maybe people who are single mothers trying to pay for school, who depend heavily on the Pell
Grants, and honestly wouldn’t be able to attend school without them.” A vast number of Marshall students sent letters to congress, encouraging their state representatives not to cut the Federal Pell Grant last Monday. “I think that generally both Democrats and Republicans know this is one of the highest priorities,” Bialk said. “It is really important that we maintain our levels.” The University has given $18.7 million in gift aid so far this year. Unlike other types of loans, the Federal Pell Grant does not need to be repaid. “The Pell grant completely covered my tuition and books my first two years of college,” Horsley said. “I received about two thousand dollars a semester, which covered the cost of attendance at the community college I was attending at the time. My first semester at Marshall, I received about the same amount, which obviously didn’t completely cover tuition, but was a good chunk of money that I didn’t have to borrow or come up with on my own.” This grant is given to students from low-income households and is based off a financial need formula. It is often their only means for paying the expensive tuition. “I was a Pell Grant recipient many years ago,” Bialk said. “I am very passionate about making sure people who do not have the means to pay for their education have that opportunity.”
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Softball loses double header to No. 18 Kentucky BY BRANDON ANCICH THE PARTHENON
It was a double-header heavy on the extremes Wednesday evening at Dot Hicks Field as the Marshall University softball program hosted No. 18 University of Kentucky, falling 9-4 and 10-4 in non-conference play. While the two defeats weren’t exactly surprising to Herd fans — those who showed up to catch a glimpse of the 28-10 Wildcats take on a Marshall squad struggling with a 15-23 record — it was in no way a route or Kentucky batting clinic. Rather, it was more of a case study. Kentucky used offensive surges in the first and final innings of both games to cement its victories — but outside of the realm of unlikely errors, the Herd played with a rhythm and competitiveness more than worthy of a Division I powerhouse. Marshall tested the hypothesis that a team could keep up with Kentucky’s offensive pace — and met the Wildcats fairly adequately, posting seven hits to Kentucky’s 10 in the first game, and knocking 11 to Kentucky’s 13 in the second. Inconsistency in stringing those hits, coupled with defensive errors on routine plays, may have muddled the results — but head coach Shonda Stanton managed to provide analysis following the action. “Today, we did so many great things mixed with so many bad things,” Stanton said. “There was no in between.” Marshall did show signs of brilliance, offering up a handful of heads up plays in the field. In game two, Herd slugging catcher Rebecca
Gamby popped up to gun down a runner at second, drawing a bead straight into second baseman Victoria Marvin’s glove for a hairline out. In the first inning of that same game, shortstop Alianna Telles let instincts take over on a charged ground ball; and after her body told her it couldn’t make the throw to first in time, Telles turned on a dime, catching a Wildcat off guard rounding third and picked off the lead runner instead. Erika Bennett, Rachel Rillo and Natalee Pulver contributed to a well-rounded game one on the rubber, with Bennett bearing the brunt of the labor in her four and two-thirds innings, while Rillo and Pulver handled the rest. In game two, Andi Williamson suffered through a 4-run first inning, but he settled down and fought it out through six even before Bennett was called in to close. Williamson ended with seven strikeouts, allowing six earned runs while Bennett’s combined performances garnered her seven Ks as well with four earned runs. At the plate, Marvin went 4-for-7 on the day with a run. First baseman Melanie Stoehr made up for a dismal 0-for-3 in the first game with a wicked 3-for-4 performance in game two, complete with two RBI. Gamby’s 0-for-3 in the first outing was replaced with a 2-for-4 in the second, helping to perpetuate Marshall’s trend of producing more offense in its latter performance of the day. The hits were there. They just weren’t coming in sequence. The errors, however, were. “We need a better start,” Stanton said. “We need to be stronger with two outs, and we just
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Morgan Cottrell, redshirt freshman outfielder, tries to sneak and steal a base. The Herd made costly errors to fall to Kentucky 9-4 and 10-4. The Herd drops to 15-24 in the season. need to minimize our mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen, but we can’t have walk, error, bomb. You know, we can have a bomb, or we can have a walk, or an error — but we can’t have all three, so we can’t have too many mistakes in a row. “The only way you beat a great team in Kentucky, batting 300 as a team, they’re gonna get
their hits. The way you beat them is you keep it scattered, and you keep low scoring — and we weren’t able to do that today. And that’s the difference because we had those mistakes.” The Herd will travel to Orlando, Fla. to take on the University of Central Florida. Brandon Anicich may be contacted at anicich@marshall.edu.
Football player balances being a student and athlete BY WILLIAM LINEBERRY THE PARTHENON
James Rouse wouldn’t have gone to college if it wasn’t for football. “I might have gone to community college or something, but not a place like Marshall — just because of money and stuff like that.” Rouse, sophomore criminal justice major from Harrisonburg, Va., us a defensive end for Marshall, abd said he has receive several opportunities by being allowed a chance to come to Marshall and play football. “I think that some people don’t realize that along with being a football player, you also get a free education,” Rouse said. “I think some of the people get caught up in trying to balance two separate schedules.” According to Herdzone.com, Rouse was also recruited by Virginia, Virginia Tech and Duke as a potential player. “I chose Marshall because it was far enough away from home, but not too far,” Rouse said. “I wanted to get away from home for awhile.” Rouse, who was admitted to Marshall on a conditional basis, said the pressure of having to maintain a certain GPA and fully devote himself to a team was difficult at first. “My first semester I had to get used to balancing my football schedule and my academic life,” Rouse said. “It wasn’t easy at first, but eventually I got used to it.” Rouse gained full admission to Marshall after the completion of a course and GPA requirement were met. Rouse said during a normal week while football is in season, his schedule runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with little breaks in between. “You usually have class at 8 a.m., class until 11 a.m. and tutoring until practice starts,” Rouse said. “Practice is usually either 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.; after that, you eat and go to more tutoring.”
Rouse said he has always enjoyed helping people. “I couldn’t really see myself working at a desk the rest of my life,” Rouse said. “I know I like helping people, so I figured majoring in criminal justice would be a good place to start with a career that would benefit people.” Rouse is no stranger to helping people. Rouse volunteered to clean up debris in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, “My high school made a program that sent some of the football players and other students to help with cleanup after the hurricane,” Rouse said. “It was a great experience to have. It was also really humbling in a way.” With football as a main focus, Rouse said, his grades do not suffer from his commitment to the football team. “With school, I’m pretty comfortable,” Rouse said. “I know that I’ll get my degree and a job after school. I try to focus both my commitments to the team and to school.” Rebecca Preston, 21, senior English major from Milton, W.Va., had some words to say about her fellow classmate. “James kind of altered my perception of football players,” Preston said. Preston said she has had two classes with Rouse while she has been at Marshall. “He’s not what you would think,” Preston said. “He is really nice and hardworking when it comes to class work.” The most rewarding thing, Rouse said, is being able to balance it all. “I think that you can be a student and dedicate yourself to school, but being an athlete on top of that and maintaining good grades is really the biggest reward to everything. Just knowing that you were able to do both is a reward.” William Lineberry can be contacted at lineberry2@marshall.edu.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION
James Rouse, sophomore from Harrisonburg, Va., tackles an Ohio University player. Rouse said he commits himself to the team and does his best being the team’s defensive end.
Baseball sweeps past Coppin State HERDZONE
The Marshall University baseball team captured both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 9-0 and 3-2 against Coppin State Wednesday afternoon at Linda K. Epling Stadium. Marshall improves to 13-18, while Coppin State falls to 3-26 on the season. Game 1: Marshall 9, Coppin State 0 The Thundering Herd used multi-hit games from four different players and fired its first shutout of the season, cruising to a game one victory over the Eagles. The Gomez and Stafford brothers combined for nine of the Thundering Herd’s 14 hits, led by Rhett Stafford’s perfect 3-for-3 day.
Nathan Gomez (three RBI), Victor Gomez and Gray Stafford each rapped out a pair of hits, while Victor Ramos and Isaac Ballou added a triple apiece. Leading 3-0, the Herd busted out the whooping stick with a six pack of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Highlighting the scoring spree was a two-run single by N.Gomez and sac flies from iron man Kenny Socorro and Huntington’s own Justin Maynard to round out the scoring. The shutout marked the first for the Herd since March 7, 2010, when Marshall blanked Georgia Southern, 8-0 in Statesboro, Ga. Game 2: Marshall 3, Coppin State 2 The Herd trailed CSU 2-1 entering the top of the sixth and the Eagles would
threaten against reliever Josh King (1-1). The visitors would load the bases with one down, but King buckled down and posted back-to-back strikeouts to escape any damage and swing the momentum pendulum in the Herd’s favor. It was clear King getting out of the jam ignited the Gomez brothers in the bottom half of the frame. Following R.Stafford being plunked by a Jim Vagnier (0-7) offering, V. Gomez hit a laser off the right-field wall for a RBI triple to bring the score even, 2-2. Younger brother Nathan hit a sac fly to left, which proved to be the game winner. Ian Kadish fired a scoreless bottom of the seventh to tally his third save in secure of King’s first collegiate victory.
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EDITORIAL
Should Trump run for president 2012? No one is really sure, but there are rumors that Donald Trump is running for president in 2012. He stated in a video on the website, shouldtrumprun.com, saying “If I run and if I win, then this country will be respected again.” According to a poll from Facebook’s group “Should Trump Run,” 19,583 have voted that Trump should run for president. Trump has released a statement about the current state of the U.S. and comments on which direction it should go toward.
“Our elected officials are mortgaging away our future by spending money that we do not have; and in the process, they are creating unsustainable deficits,” Trump said. “We need to stop the bleeding now and Donald Trump will help to heal our economic wounds. We cannot afford to allow foreign countries to take advantage of us, improve their economies and leave our citizens without jobs.” Trump said he will even out the playing field and develop a legitimate plan to reign in the country’s
BISHOP NASH
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massive trade deficits. USA Today reported Trump is willing to invest $600 million of his own money in a run and would invite Americans to invest alongside him. Although he is willing to invest money, many have their own ideas of what direction the United States needs to go in. And for all his supporters, there are just as many people saying he shouldn’t run. His investments in casinos and resorts have previously caused him to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Trump would have a
difficult time running his companies and the United States. Another negative aspect about Trump is his stance on political issues. The last time Trump tested the presidential waters, as a prospective Reform Party candidate, a decade ago, he favored abortion rights, campaign finance reform and universal health care. Recently, Trump has not stated his political stances on hot topic issues such as abortion, gay marriage, health care and global warming. Trump will make an
MATT TELLAM
EDITORIAL CARTOON I LEE JUDGE I KANSAS CITY STAR
OREGON DAILY EMERALD UNIVERSITY OF OREGON UWIRE
Put the right criminals in prison
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 7.2 million Americans are incarcerated. The fact that one out of every 32 adults is behind BISHOP bars blows my mind NASH almost as much as the COLUMNIST scarcity of voices bantering on about how to fix it. How the distant, third most populous nation in the world can consider holding 23 percent of the world’s prison population as if it’s business as usual is ridiculous in my opinion. Finding a solution to decrease the prison population often gets mixed opinions and even more diverse propositions. One reason for America’s incredibly high incarceration rate is the general length of our prison sentences. The average sentence for burglary is around 16 months in the U.S., while comparatively seven months in England and only five months in neighboring Canada. The same crime lands you over twice and three times as much prison time than in our most culturally similar allies. And guess what: England and Wales, combined, rank 92nd while Canada sits at 123rd in the world for incarcerations per 100,000 citizens. America? Of course, we’re No.1! But why does the land of the free lock so many up? Some argue it’s because we’re one of the most urbanized nations in the world. Makes sense: More people living together, naturally you would assume more crime. Try telling that to the megalopolis-containing Japan and the 62 jailed in Japanese prison per 100,000 heads. It goes without saying: We don’t live in Mayberry anymore. The “war on drugs” has brought on a surge of violent crimes to the nation. But you’ve got to remember: Drugs themselves don’t directly hurt anyone except yourself. The problems drugs bring are the broken families, the rehab costs, the deals gone bad and so on. The use and possession of drugs is not a violent crime, and therefore should not be treated as such. The point is, unless you’re jumping on the rights of others, you’re not a true criminal. True criminals belong in jail, and the first step to decreasing our prison population is to make sure only crooks get put inside the barbed wire. Contact Bishop Nash at nash24@marshall.edu.
announcement in June after the end of his show, “Celebrity Apprentice”, about running. To abide by election law, if Trump were to make a formal move toward running for office, NBC would have to end his show. Until the time comes, we can only speculate what the particulars of the situation will be; but having a candidate like Donald Trump in the presidential candidate pool sure will mix things up a bit.
Media overhyped government shutdown
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The First Amendment
Online poll
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
■ Very effective ■ Not effective ■ Somewhat
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble; and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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RESULTS
Do you feel safe on campus? ■ Yes, absolutely ....................................................61% ■ Sometimes ............................................................ 26% ■ No ......................................................................... 13%
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A crisis was “averted” Friday evening when leaders of Congress and President Obama compromised on an agreement to shave roughly 38.5 billion of the 2011 budget — a whopping 1 percent. Included with the agreement was a spending bill that will fund the government for about the next week. Both the compromise and the spending bill still have to be approved by the House and Senate. The reason for the quotations above is the shutdown was extremely unlikely to happen, despite what the media was saying. It probably isn’t shocking to anyone that the media used the vague possibility of the government “shutting down” to attract viewers. News agencies played off the fear and uncertainty to keep the American public glued to their laptops and television screens. To the media’s credit, if the government had shut down, it would indeed have been a crisis. It would have been unthinkable if military families or federal employees hadn’t been paid. But what the media really should have focused on was how likely a governmental shutdown actually is. However, the likelihood is less than the percentage cut of the budget. News agencies chose to focus on the visible players of the process, mainly President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House John Boehner. They noted down what these individuals were saying and how far apart their opinions and goals were. According to their statements, a deal was not likely. The deal seemed to come at the last possible moment — what the media dubbed “the eleventh hour.” Many people were rightfully upset that it took so long to develop. If my paycheck was predicated on a funded government, I would probably be more upset about the politicians bickering when my family’s livelihood depended on their decision. The only real “loser” was the media itself, which devoted its time to predicting what would happen if a shutdown were to occur. They would have been more useful examining what would happen if an asteroid collided with earth.
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Political science professor an inspiration to students, others department look good. That’s an overall quality that she had before she was chair and that she brings to the department.” Another quality Beller brings, Sowards said, is a passion for A typical day could find her teaching either in Huntington or the field of political science. Beller said she believes political Charleston, chatting about politics with students and faculty, science is relevant and significant for everyone and, thus, deperforming administrative work for Marshall or caring for her votes herself to encouraging others to be politically involved, daughter and husband. whether they be a Democrat like her or But despite all the various jobs, it seems Maa Republican. Editor’s Note: rybeth Beller, associate professor of political “My study of the history of American The stories “Political science pro- politics leads me to believe that no party, science, wouldn’t be found without a smile. Affessor an inspiration to students, including my own, has all the answers,” ter all, the duties are self-selected. “I’m used to chaos, but I like it,” Beller said. “I others” and “Businessman running she said. “I think we grow best by having for governor on Republican ticket” healthy debates.” like wearing lots of different hats.” It is this enthusiasm and dedication that from Wednesday’s edition of The Sowards suggested this is a lesson he makes Beller, who has been with Marshall since Parthenon were published incom- has taken from Beller. 2000 as an adjunct professor, full-time professor plete. We are re-publishing the “Something Dr. Beller always tried to and now department chair, such an inspiring in- stories in their entirity. We apolo- instill in us as students, and also as we dividual, according to her students, colleagues gize for any confusion. people who are politically active in the and family. democratic process, was to not only be “Ultimately, I think one of the most important tolerant of the views of others but to also things about Professor Beller is her absolute passion, and that never be afraid to express your own self and your opinion ... is her passion for everything she does — whether it’s politics or and to encourage dialogue and to facilitate that dialogue.” teaching or advising students or her own individual research,” For Beller, getting involved in that political dialogue has been said Matt Sowards, past president of the Cabell County Young a large part of her life ever since she was young. Democrats. “She puts everything that she has into doing that “My parents were inclusive,” Beller said. “If they were talking work and into being the best and into helping the most. She’s politics, it was fine for children to be in the room, and I wanted literally this whirlwind of energy that is so impressive and so to hear everything.” amazing to watch and so incredible to be around that that’s alBeller’s parents were so active, she said, that they enlisted ways what struck me.” her help in persuading a particular family to vote for their preAlong with teaching and advising students, Beller performs ad- ferred candidate at a rather young age. ministrative tasks as the chair of the department of political science. “I could contact the family because I went to school with “I love advising students and all the information about op- that family’s daughter,” she described. “So at 8-years-old, I was portunities that are available to them — so that they can see instructed to call Mr. and Mrs. Gallon and tell them how we all of the choices that they have to mold their careers and their would like for them to vote please.” academic opportunities — but I have another side that really Beller said her parents, who were very active at the local and enjoys administrative work,” Beller said. “I like policy-making. state level, were not much involved in the national or interI like to look at big picture issues to see how we can try to figure national level, however, and, consequently, neither was she. out what incremental steps to take.” Travelling to Hamburg, Germany at age 19, however, changed Simon Perry, emeritus faculty member and past chair Beller’s outlook. of political science who had Beller in class, said he thinks “It hadn’t occurred to me that there might be groups of Beller has exactly the qualities needed for an administrative people who disagreed with what America does,” she said. “So, position. suddenly I’m aware of the political needs of Germany, for ex“I think also that she is not just a leader of the department but ample, or certainly Iran because I was living with Iranians, and she is an outstanding citizen of the department as well,” Perry aware of disagreements over how the U.S. used its power and said. “She tends to be fully cooperative with the other members the role that the U.S. had in the world. As a citizen of the U.S., of the department, and she gives everyone an opportunity to I might be able to act politically then, if I ever disagreed with express their views with regard to any issue that comes up to American politics.” the department, arranging from minor to major ones.” Acting politically has since come in the form of getting inJamie Warner, a colleague of Beller’s, added that Beller has volved in the state Democratic Party and, while she has thought spearheaded many projects thus far. of running for a public office, Beller said she is dissuaded to do “I think she’s a very optimistic person,” Warner said. “And because of fundraising requirements, an aspect of the job she she’s very much interested in what we can do … to make the said she wouldn’t much care for.
BY ANNA SWIFT THE PARTHENON
Businessman running for governor on Republican ticket BY ANNA SWIFT THE PARTHENON
A business guru is running for the Republican ticket in the May 14 primary because he said he feels West Virginia needs new leadership — leadership with a business perspective. Bill Maloney, R-Monongalia, is a native of Pennsylvania and graduate of Lehigh University but, he said, has lived in West Virginia since 1981. Maloney said he co-founded North American Drillers, among other companies, in 1984 and is also a principal of Cow Run Energy LLC and Drill Leader LLC. Given his business experience, Maloney said his primary goal for West Virginia would be to create job growth and diversify the economy. “It’s all about jobs,” Maloney said. “I’ve created jobs my whole life, and it seems you’ve got to make it easier for people to get in business.” To attract business, Maloney said his first step would be to fix the court system. West Virginia does not have an intermediate court system, meaning that companies cannot appeal local court decisions if the Supreme Court will not hear the case. “You just don’t have a chance,” Maloney said. “So we need an intermediate court to hear an appeal, where there’s an automatic right to get an appeal … That would be the number one thing I think we could get done.” Second on Maloney’s list would be to eliminate the regressive tax and rules that specifically target companies and, thereby, discourage businesses from setting up in West Virginia. Third would be the elimination of bureaucracies. Maloney said his platform mirrors that of Ronald Reagan. “Reagan’s principles were less tax, less regulation, less bureaucracy; you have lasting growth and more jobs,” Maloney said. “And we’ve got to go back to that.” Maloney said Marshall students should vote for him because he would work to create opportunities for them. “My two girls live in Charlotte because they didn’t have the opportunities for them,” Maloney said. “I have a 28 and a 25-year-old. I’d like to have them close to home, and we just don’t have a diverse enough economy to have the jobs that other states do.” Maloney also said that, despite not having held any public offices, he feels he is qualified. “It’s all about leadership, and I’ve learned how to lead through
Cancer
Continued from Page 1 by comedian Dan Cummins. Despite these accolades, McDonald still gets nervous each time he steps on stage. “Even though I know I’ll get laughs and I’ve worked on my material, it’s the fact that you never exactly can pinpoint how people will react to anything,” McDonald said. “Comedy is a subjective art form. It’s hard to know if people have the same sense of humor that you do.” McDonald said he knows firsthand how important the cause is because of the cancer battles his grandmother and other
ANNA SWIFT | THE PARTHENON
Mary Beth Beller, a political science professor, instructs a class. Beller has been at Marshall since 2000 serving as an adjunct professor, full-time professor and department chair. But Beller, who has already worked as the director of a senior citizen center for many years and even as a wedding caterer during her graduate studies, said she is still growing and finding new challenges, such as cooking. “I love to cook, and I particularly love studying ethnic cuisines and trying them on,” she said. “Middle eastern cuisine is probably my favorite.” Another hobby of Beller’s is sewing. “When I was a little girl, my mother would take me to a woman who would make my clothes,” she said. “And I’ve always wanted to see how it was done, so I’ve made wedding gowns and drapes and tons of different clothes.” Beller’s husband, Gerry Beller, said he thinks she has never understood that such things are supposed to be difficult. “She just goes ahead and does it, whether it’s cooking really complex food … or doing her statistical stuff,” Beller said. “So I think that that is a characteristic of hers: She’s willing to try do things that are a little difficult because she’s not intimidated by it.” Overall, Beller said she counts herself a lucky person. “So many people are in bad marriages or don’t like the jobs that they have, or they have tragedies,” she said. “I don’t have any of that. I’m just lucky … I have a marvelous home life, our daughter is active and healthy and beautiful, my marriage, we’ll be married 20 years this year and I have the best job. I love what I do.” Anna Swift can be contacted at fahrmann3@marshall.edu.
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make people know this is a problem,” Williams said. “A Continued from Page 1 lot of those voices need to be Williams said although male voices.” women in this state may lag “We have to care enough behind in some areas, such to be angry,” Williams said. as access to health care — of “And we have to be angry the number of women with enough to make change.” college degrees and who parWilliams said if the status ticipate in the political process, quo isn’t working, and what West Virginia’s women are the has been done for decades strongest, most hardworking, hasn’t given the quality of life dedicated women she has ever that victims deserve, then it’s met. time to change the status quo. “The way we are going to Ashley Grohoski can be stop this epidemic is to bring contacted at Grohoski1@ it out from the shadows and marshall.edu.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL MALONEY
Bill Maloney, R-Monongalia, is running for governor in the May 14 primary. The businessman says he wants to create job growth and diversify the economy.
my experiences,” Maloney said. “I think much better leadership skills develop in the business world than in the political world.” Associate professor of political science, George Davis, said the fact that Maloney is not a politician could be an obstacle but could also give him an upper hand. “People in the state, as with national politics, are frustrated with sort of business as usual,” Davis said. “So if you run as sort of an outsider, that might give you some attraction … It’s an uphill battle, but sometime that is the person who gets the vote, especially in a state like West Virginia where the Legislature is made up of those people who aren’t full-time politicians.” Davis said something that will matter in the upcoming primary, however, is name recognition. “Those Republicans who are going to compete are the ones with bigger name recognition,” Davis said. “The less name recognition you have, the more difficult it is to actually break through. Even if people support your issues, it doesn’t always work out that way that you win.” Maloney is one of nine candidates running for the Republican ticket to replace acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. He said if he wins the primary and then the general election in October, he plans to run in the following general election for the full 4-year term. Anna Swift can be contacted at fahrmann3@marshall.edu.
family members have fought, and he hopes to provide laughter for a good cause. Finalist RaShad Sanders also had personal reasons for wanting to participate in the competition. Both his mother and grandmother are survivors of ovarian cancer. Sanders moved to the Huntington area to live with his grandparents after his mother’s diagnosis. He is now attending Marshall University working toward his master’s in business administration. Sanders learned about the competition while attending a show at the Funny Bone. He has been doing standup comedy since December when he opened a show at the Funny Bone.
“It was something I’ve always wanted to try,” Sanders said. “Everybody has told me I’ve been funny since I was younger. It kind of came naturally to me.” The third finalist, Derrick Knopsnyder, was unavailable for an interview. The Stand Up to Cancer finale will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant. Admission is $10 and 100 percent of door proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Of the proceeds, 80 percent remain in the area directly helping cancer survivors and families and 20 percent go to research. Ashley Mannon can be contacted at mannon11@marshall.edu.
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Student body president graduates with lasting impression
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Patrick Murphy speaks during the ceremony for the anniversary of the November 14 plane crash. Murphy is currently the student body president and will graduate in May. BY TREVAN J. HANNAHS THE PARTHENON
With a shirt and tie and the shake of a hand, Mr. President might look like he is on his way to Washington. With graduation approaching, Student Body President Patrick Murphy leaves a lasting impression on the campus of Marshall University. Murphy, 22, was born and raised in New Hartford, N.Y, and is a 2007 graduate of New Hartford Senior High School. Later that summer, Murphy packed his bags and headed to Huntington to begin his college career. The son of an associate health care director and brother of three siblings, he has been surrounded by the medical field all his life. Murphy said he majored in biology during his freshman year because he believed he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I thought I was going to do medical school or do something medical-bound,” Murphy said. He said he has had a love for camping all his life. Murphy said after taking an ecology class and taking a camping trip back home he then came back to Marshall with plans to change his scenery from a hospital environment to greener pastures. “As a boy scout, that’s all we did was camp and learn about the environment,” Murphy said. “That’s just what I wanted to continue to do after I took that first class.” An ironic thing about Murphy is he said he did not participate in student government during high school. He said he was still involved in the school though. Murphy said he was a brass man. He said he enjoyed playing the trumpet, trombone and baritone. “I played a lot,” Murphy said. “I was in the marching band; I was the lead in plays and stuff.” One of the reasons he can move from meeting to meeting faster than the average president is because of his love for running. Murphy was a track star in high school and still runs in his spare time today. “I ran cross-country for a year, and then I did track for the rest of them,” Murphy said. He said he was a sprinter on the track team and competed in several 400-meter relays. “We won a couple of sectional titles during our junior and senior year,” Murphy said. Murphy said he missed being on a team after graduation. Little did he know his new governmental team would soon form. Murphy said a friend invited him to a student government meeting during his freshman year. He said he didn’t know much about the organization at the time but decided attending the meeting would be more enjoyable than the video game he was playing. He said after the meeting, he was given the opportunity to get involved with the organization he is most associated with today. “I was a senate associate first, and then I was appointed to the position of Senate Pro Tempore,” Murphy said. He said the he was only in SGA for a semester before he was appointed as Senate Pro Tempore. Murphy said everyone left after one semester, and he, along with two others, were the only senators left from the previous term. “Even though we were only in it for a semester, we were kind of the veterans already in it and no one else wanted to do it,” Murphy said. “So I said sure I’ll do it and that’s how I got Senate Pro Tempore.” He said after working with Sean Hornbuckle during his term of student body president, he believed he was capable of doing the same job. He filed and campaigned for student body president his junior year. He said he didn’t realize how demanding the job was during his campaign. Murphy said he lost sleep during the campaign because he would lie down and think about new ideas for organizations until the morning. He said the
hard work paid off and in return he received a rewarding experience. “It was just eye opening and probably one of the greatest things I’ve done during my college experience,” Murphy said. He said he values the task of accountability and said if there is any task at hand, he will accomplish it. His attitude has shown forth through SGA. During Murphy’s presidency, each resolution he wrote was passed and written in the constitution. “I don’t sugarcoat,” Murphy said. “I don’t try to appease people or baby them or sidestep an argument.” Murphy said through SGA he has learned the value of a true friend. He said working alongside Ray Harrell has given him a new best friend. “If it wasn’t for friends like Ray — where you can be able to unload some of the things going on in your life, then you seriously wouldn’t be able to get through the day or week,” Murphy said. Harrell is the current SGA business manager and student body president elect. He said he and Murphy met during his term as Senate Pro Tempore. Harrell said he was the freshman council president and Murphy was his adviser. He said Murphy asked him to help campaign. “I could see that Pat was a ‘down-to-earth’ guy who legitimately cared about the students and their representation on campus,” Harrell said. Harrell said once Murphy was elected he was asked to join his cabinet, thus beginning a life long friendship. “In just a year’s time, Pat has become one of my best friends; and, although it’s a term usually reserved for elders, he’s become a true mentor to me with regard to SGA and leadership in general,” Harrell said. Harrell said Murphy doesn’t go by his title outside of the office. He said around their friends he is just known as “Pat.” Harrell said he looks forward to the future and working alongside Murphy in whatever the case may be, and he said he gives Marshall credit for making them such a great team. “I am thankful that Marshall could facilitate what I believe will be a lifelong friendship,” Harrell said. Roommate Steve Frantz said one quality Murphy exemplifies better than anyone else is his great sense of humor. He said Murphy can laugh about anything. “He just has a good time not matter what,” Frantz said. Along with fellowshipping and conversing with friends, Murphy said he enjoys scenic views on a day away from the office. He said during the summers in New York, he travels to his favorite campsites, pitches a tent and then hikes his favorite mountains. Murphy said he never stops until he reaches the top and said he plans to use this attitude to reach important goals. “One goal of mine is that there are 46 peaks in the Adirondack in New York and my goal is to climb everyone one of them,” Murphy said. Murphy said if he accomplishes the goal he will be a member of the 46ers club in New York. He said other goals are to graduate in the summer and attend graduate school. Murphy said, with his experience in student government and the environment, his ideal career would be in environmental policy. “I feel I have a good take on the political side of it — like making and initiating policy — and then I also have the scientific side of it down,” Murphy said. “So, I think that goes well together.” He said all his life he will always keep two sides to him. Murphy said you can find him in a shirt and tie showing the professional side, but he said he will never take jeans, T-shirts and a good time for granted. Trevan J. Hannahs can be contacted at hannahst@ live.marshall.edu.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICK MURPHY
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