September 17th, 2015
Volume LXXXV No. 4
OUT OF THE DARKNESS: MERCER COUNTY WALKS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
This Edition News: • Out of the Darkness: Mercer County Walks for Suicide Prevention
Patrice Mitchell
families, friends, and com- by AFSP (American Founda- tion seeks to reduce suicide and Staff Writer munity members affected by tion for Suicide Prevention) suicide attempts by developing suicide. There are many factors are designed to reach across a and implementing their own inLast week was National novative approaches to suicide Suicide Prevention Week, prevention. The organizaand the sixth annual Out of tion also funds research and the Darkness Walk here in assists with dismantling the Mercer County. negative stigma that comes A lot has changed since the along with mental health Out of the Darkness Walk at that often discourages Bluefield Park last year. One people from seeking the help of the biggest changes is that that could save their lives. Mercer County now has its According to the ASPF own chapter of the American website, suicide claimed Foundation for Suicide Pre41,149 lives in 2013 in the vention. Heather Bennett, United States alone, with the president of the Mercer someone dying by suicide county chapter, says that every 12.8 minutes. A having a headquarters will suicide attempt is made help aid the organization in every minute of every day, fulfilling their purpose: preresulting in nearly one venting suicide and helping million attempts made ansurvivors heal. The chapter nually. Suicide is also the officially opened on August third leading cause of death 21. among the Millennial genPeople gather to honor and remember those who claimed their The purpose of the Out of eration, and Mercer County lived far too soon. the Darkness and Into the has the second highest Photo Courtesy of: afsp.org Light Walk is to raise money for programs such as therapy that contribute to suicide, wide range of needs. The AFSP SEE SUICIDE WALK, P. 3 for suicide survivors and the and the programs sponsored website states that the organiza-
Sept. 17-23
Weather Trivia Mammatus clouds are what shape?
Thursday
Friday
Precip Chance: 0%
Precip Chance: 0%
Sunny 80/53
Sunny 81/56
Saturday
Mostly Sunny 80/58
Precip Chance: 5%
Sunday
Few Showers 74/55
Monday
Few Showers 71/52
Tuesday
Wednesday
Mostly Cloudy Partly Cloudy 75/54 80/58
Precip Chance: 30% Precip Chance: 30% Precip Chance: 20% Precip Chance: 10%
?
Answer: They appear round in shape.
Athens 7-Day Forecast
This Week’s Local Forecast
www.WhatsOurWeather.com
Student Life:
• Small with a Loud Roar • Air Filled Art: The Balloon Man comes to CU • Passing on Passwords • Organization Spotlight: ΣΤΔ
• This is Spartan Racing • Tutoring and Academic Support Services
Opinion
• A 9/11 Tribute Review • Reflection on Flight 93
Sports
• Mountain Lions Clip Falcons Offense
Sept. 17th 2015, Page 2 The Concordian
Student Life
SMALL WITH A LOUD ROAR James Hoyle
Staff Writer To say that Concord University’s football team had one of its best seasons last year would be quite the understatement. In the 2014 season, they became the Regional Champions as well as an NCAA Division II Semifinalist. Hopes are high that the current football season will bring great things. For every great sports team however, one would like to have an equally excellent band that will bring hype and excitement to the action. Concord University’s Marching Band is willing and able to take on this responsibility, though there was initially some concern that too much is being asked of them. The band is a small group this year, according to Dr. David Ball, Assistant Professor of Music. Being in charge of the band, and as such there are two things that are always on his mind. First, he is always concerned about the mental and physical health of the members, and second, he always want
to deliver the most solid, polished, quality and entertaining product that the band possibly can. Because of this, planning has to begin early, not only the music, but also the drilling, instrument maintenance, and so on. Dr. Ball explained the process on how the band this year came to be formed despite some initial worries over the size. At the beginning of last summer, he wanted to touch base with the administration about the band and the upcoming season. His concern was that the group, at the outset, was very small. Many people do not realize this, but being in a marching band is more physically taxing than it appears, according to Ball; since you have to march in time, while blowing on an instrument, it can really take a lot out of a person. At the start of the summer, there were 25 people in the band total. Ideally, with a school the size of Concord, there would have been 100, at least. Ball was worried for his players’ health, that he would be pushing them
too hard. There is nothing wrong with a small band, Ball stated, but with a band that size, if even one person is incapable of playing their instrument for whatever reason, it will be noticed, and the entire band will suffer for it. Since the games will be televised, he wanted to be sure that the band was good. During those early planning stages, he didn’t know if he had the numbers to have a group that would be able to play without putting their health at risk, so other options for the halftime show were examined. He went on to explain that the band had to work hard to prove that they had what it took to overcome their small size and show that they would be able to make the school proud. He told the band that they needed to demonstrate what they can do, because if they don’t care about how they play, then who will? There may have been some confusion that may have led people to believe that those in charge didn’t want the band to play. The administration wants the band to play. Ball
thinks the confusion may have sprung from his worry about the welfare of the band. It would seem that not only does the administration want the band to play, but the band members themselves are excited about the prospect of being seen on television. “We’re small but we’re fine. Like, we still sound louder than we are numbered,” said band member Sabrina Marks. “I love being a marching Mountain Lion!” said Katie Collins, another member. “We are fewer in number this year, but I feel lucky to have the opportunity to march alongside every member of the band. Each student, along with Dr. Ball, works extremely hard, both in group rehearsal and on their own time. We look and sound fantastic this year. The music we are performing is challenging and high-energy, which suits our ensemble perfectly. We have been preparing since before classes began and we get a little better each time we meet. To me, 2 to 3:15 every Monday through Thursday isn’t just another class; it is a chance
to see my friends, to achieve goals, and to make music. I am full of hope that the arts programs here at Concord will continue to attract dedicated and talented students who will grow as much as I have over the past four years.” According to Dr. Ball, the band currently has 33 members, and new people can slowly be incorporated into it yet. It is not too late to sign up. While becoming a member of the marching band is a class, and not a club, those still interested have the chance to do so by requesting an academic exception. The one hour course is Monday through Thursday from 2-3:15. Those interested in joining or those that have any questions or comments are advised to contact Dr. Ball via his email balld@concord.edu, or call 304-384-6090.
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Sept. 17th 2015, Page 3 The Concordian
Student Life
AIR FILLED ART: THE BALLOON MAN COMES TO CONCORD Haley McCord Staff Writer Students gathered in the Student Center lobby on September 9 to witness the amazing and creative Louis Paul, also known as the famous Balloon Man. Balloon Man was on campus from noon to 4 PM and delighted Concord students with his colorful and whimsical creations, including animals, hearts, flowers, and a variety of other objects. Students stood by with smiling faces and eager expressions as the Balloon Man turned tiny rubber tubes into playful works of art. Paul has been given the unique but prestigious title of “The Best Balloon-Artist on College and University Campuses Today” by Andrew Sulgit, the Director of Student Activities and Student Center. Sulgit was responsible for uniting Concord students with the Balloon Man. The Balloon Man was such a hit that Sulgit was awarded an enthusiastic round
of applause by the Student Government Association at their weekly meeting. Board of Governor’s representative Adam Rose led the applause, calling for everyone to thank Sulgit for yet another unique and entertaining campus experience. Paul is a professional bender of latex and he has been perfecting his craft and making people smile with his clever creations for over thirty years. His skills are unmatched and he always creates a variety of fun pieces, but the one thing Paul never fails to create, no matter where he goes, are broad smiles from his audience. Everyone who visited Paul during his stay was encouraged to either keep their balloon creation or give it to a friend so the fun could extend even past his own reach. Students crowded the area throughout the event’s entirety and it was hard to navigate through the chaos. Although each balloon was impressive and fun, the most popular balloon produc-
The Concordian Staff Brittany Strother Editor-in-Chief Sarah White Managing Editor
The Balloon Man wowed Concord University students with his good humor and masterful manipulation of balloons. Photo By:Haley McCord tions seemed to be flowers, cats, and hearts. Overall, the event was small, but students didn’t seem to mind. Instead, each participant
patiently waited in line for their turn to witness the amazing Balloon Man bend and wiggle tiny sculptures into existence.
SUICIDE WALK
Staff Writers: Jacob Adkins Peggy Ballengee Briana Gunter James Hoyle Tyler Jackson Haley McCord Patrice Mitchell Web Master Jonathan Collins Mrs. Lindsey Akers Advisor
FROM PAGE 1
suicide rate in West Virginia. AFSP encourages education about suicide and promotes the importance of recognizing that there is problem before the suicide. The guest speaker at the walk, Michelle Toman, spoke about warning signs and prevention. “80 percent of people that die by suicide gave a verbal warning in the days leading up to their death. What that
means is it is up to us family members, friends and community members to recognize those warning signs before it’s too late,” says Toman The official Out of the Darkness for Mercer County website speaks volumes of their tenacity to keep fighting for everyone affected by suicide: “We have lost many to suicide and many have and are still suffering. But with awareness and research
we are reducing the impact of suicide. We are bringing light to mental health issues. We are starting the conversation to erase the stigma. The pain is real, but so is hope.” The fundraiser raised over $19,000, and will continue accepting donations throughout the end of the year. Their goal is $30,000. The next event hosted by the chapter is the inaugural International Survivors of
Suicide Loss Day program on November 21st. For anyone that would like information on getting involved, seeking counseling, or how they can donate to the West Virginia Chapter of AFSP, you may contact Heather Bennett at heatherbarnettbennett@gmail. com. If you are struggling with contemplating suicide you can call the suicide helpline: (800) 273-TALK (8255).
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Sept. 17th 2015, Page 4 The Concordian
Student Life
CU UPDATES PASSWORD SYSTEM James Hoyle
Staff Writer In the world of information technology, there are two things that are absolutely important: accessibility and, particularly, security. This was proven true when on November 24, 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment was subject to one of the biggest security breaches in recent history. Confidential information, including emails, names of employees, and even drafts of scripts for unreleased Sony films were leaked across the Internet. North Korea took responsibility, and as a result, the film The Interview was pulled from theaters only for it to see a limited release anyway. It was a grim reminder for all about the dangers of being lax in security in the Information Age. To that end, while Concord University’s IT department has
been planning on updating the password system for a while, the breach makes this change all the more poignant. In an official press release, Kathy L. Reed, IT Technology Consultant, states that in order to bring about better customer service to Concord University students, the office of technology services has introduced a new way of keeping track of passwords known as MyPass. “We’ve been working on this for a long time,” said Reed when asked about why this program was chosen, “Our security team meets every week and we tested several different programs to see which one would fit our needs. The MyPass system was the best option for efficiency and accessibility for the situation we have here at Concord University.” With this new MyPass system, students now have the
option to reset or change their password whenever they desire. It was designed with 24/7 access in mind. In addition to those features, if a student’s account becomes locked out for any reason, they need only to come to the MyPass page to unlock it. The hope of this program, according to the official statement, is that this will decrease potential downtime that students are bound to face should they be locked out of their accounts, especially when the IT Desk cannot be reached. Steve Meadows, the director of networking and support service, was able to explain why this change was needed. “Well, the fact of the matter is that about 90 percent of all of our graduate school courses happen to be online. We also have a great deal of nontraditional students here at this school who absolutely have to
have 24-hour access to the services we have. If we were unable to be reached and they could not access their accounts, that is a major problem. The MyPass system is designed to help those nontraditional students and those in our graduate programs get the access they need to complete their work as best they can. Because the world of information security is constantly shifting, we have had to enforce password complexity in order to create a more stable way of safeguarding information. He continued by explaining a few more details of the system and what it meant for the IT department as a whole. “We had some legacy programs from years ago that needed to be retired because they could not keep up with all of the new password complexity. After all, network security is an around-the-clock job, and
we have to balance both security and accessibility.” Students wishing to update, reset, or change their password are encouraged to go to https:// accounts.concord.edu/pm/ and do so as soon as possible. Every student will be enrolled in the program soon, or be locked out of their accounts if they fail to do so. In the official statement, the IT department also recommends bookmarking that page in case access is needed right away. If anyone has any further questions about the new system, they are advised to contact the IT Help Desk on the third floor of Rahall Building, in Room 300, on Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m to 8:00 p.m, or on Fridays from 7:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: ΣΤΔ Briana Gunter Staff Writer Sigma Tau Delta is an International English Honor Society. Concord University’s Alpha Sigma Gamma chapter is one of eleven in the state of West Virginia. Currently, the organization serves over 870 chapters located in the United States and abroad. With more than 1,000 faculty sponsors, and approximately 9,000 members being inducted annually, it is now the second largest honor society in the Association of College Honor Societies. According to their website, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924. They
have modeled their mission to “confer distinction for high achievement, promote interest in English language and literature, foster exemplary character and fellowship, and exhibit high standards of academic excellence. “Promoting the English language, exhibiting academic excellence, and high achievement is just what our chapter here at Concord is doing,” explains Adam Rose, a current member. He says that Sigma Tau Delta “provides members with opportunities to present their academic achievements and be recognized and rewarded for their excellence.”
In the past, they’ve engaged in community philanthropic events, like holding a book drive for children to promote reading at a young age. When asked what a typical meeting sounds like Rose said; “our meetings occur sporadically, and they are usually used to plan fundraisers, charity events, or discuss conference plans.” By national standards, in order to join Sigma Tau Delta a student doesn’t have to be an English major, but they must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. The student must
also have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Sigma Tau Delta holds an international conference every year, this year’s conference being in Minneapolis, MN. Besides traveling and attending a conference where students are able to network with students and professionals in their field of study, members have many benefits that they can reap from the organization. Members can receive academic recognition, scholarships, writing awards and opportunities, and internships. Members also get experience in leadership and take part in community service. Ultimately, Sigma Tau Delta sets
members up for career advancement and they gain a lifetime of affiliation and fellowship with not only members from their own chapter, but members around the world. While Sigma Tau Delta doesn’t have a regular meeting time, if students are interested in joining, they can contact the chapter’s advisor, Dr. Malkovich at amalkovich@concord. edu. For more information on Sigma Tau Delta as a national organization visit their website at: www.english.org/sigmatd/
Sept. 17th 2015, Page 5 The Concordian
THIS IS SPARTAN RACING Peggy Ballengee
Staff Writer Greek life may take on a whole new meaning at Concord, with the right amount of student interest and a special Spartan twist. Last Wednesday, on September 9, Misty Johnson ran a Spartan table in the student center. The Spartan Race is currently the most popular obstacle course in the United States, and looking to open potential races here on the Campus Beautiful. “The great thing about it,” says Johnson, “is that it can happen anywhere. We can have up to 50 races planned all over the country. We’re here today because if enough people would
like to take part, we’d love to have a Spartan adventure race hosted at Concord University.” Adventure is a light word for the variety of obstacles they’ve been known to incorporate. Every wild obstacle fantasy could come true, the races packed tight with mud, barbed wire, fire and ropes to boot. Johnson is a volunteer for the Spartan street team F.E.A.R., and emphasizes that their adventure races can cater to everyone. Offering everything from a three-mile course to a thirteen-mile course, the races are perfect for newcomers and seasoned sprinters alike. She says, “Our Spartan Sprint is the most
popular course, with three miles and upwards of twenty obstacles packed into it. We also offer the Spartan Super, which goes for eight miles, and the Spartan Beast, stretching into 13 miles. While you can go at any pace, if you miss an obstacle you’ve got to give thirty burpees.” Accompanying her was Noah Cooper, fellow volunteer, who said “Nashville, Atlanta, Miami, Sacramento, Dallas, you name it, these adventure races can sprout anywhere that has a group willing to have some fun.” he explains. “If we could set up here on campus, it would have to be a pretty large venue. It would probably end up near the valley.”
Student Life
The Spartan races were born in Vermont, but have led fulfilling and nomadic lives nationwide since their founding. “Our founder, Joe Deena, he was really active in adventure racing. I think he wanted to branch it out and find a fun, challenging way to get people off their couches and into the community. Where better to accomplish that but in a bustling community like Concord?” Among many participants, the races aren’t only to help keep them in shape. The Spartan races can become a way of life, complete with a behavioral code and mission statement. “We welcome challenges, and we embrace discomfort,” says
Cooper, “A lot of the determination we put into the races can be applied to everyday life. We always try to learn to our fullest, live to our fullest, and we keep pushing ourselves until we can achieve our full potential.” Though the races are still in the making at Concord, Sparta is on the move nationwide. In the upcoming week, Spartan adventure races will be happening everywhere from Fort Bragg on September 19 to Lake Tahoe on the 26. Between mud, fire, and net loads of fun, getting out and active in the community has never sounded better. More information can be found at spartan.com or on their Spartan Race Facebook page.
TUTORING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES Student Affairs
Guest Writer Great News! Multiple tutoring and academic support services are provided by Concord University through the Academic Success Center (ASC) and Student Support Services (SSS) to help you with coursework. You can hit the ground running by utilizing these services early in the semester. By starting tutoring early, you will grasp foundational concepts that will be built upon throughout the semester, create a relationship with a tutor, and show your professor that you are taking the course seriously. Other benefits include being held accountable, receiving constant feedback, and building confidence in your abilities. Drop-In Tutoring, Smarthinking, and the Khan Academy are all avail-
able for free for you to utilize as a student. Tutoring is also available through individual departments and academic divisions. Drop-In Tutoring is currently available. Paper schedules are accessible at the Library and Student Support Services and online schedules are accessible at https://apps.concord. edu/tutoring/. Drop-In Tutoring is offered for all freshman courses. Upper division courses with a popular tutoring demand is also available. Smarthinking is a free online tutoring program that provides tutors 24/7 for most classes. Live, online tutoring can be accessed on-demand or by scheduling an appointment. You may also send a tutor offline questions. In addition, Smarthinking offers a writing center for editing and help with essays. A service added in 2014 is Virtual
Nerd, where over 1,500 video tutorials are available. Math topics include Pre-algebra, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, and Geometry. Virtual Nerd are three to six minute-long mini-lecture video tutorials. Students can review a topic before or after meeting with a live tutor. By clicking the link within Academic Resources from their Smarthinking student homepage, users can search the library of available videos, start and stop videos at any time, and see related topics for easy access. You must register for Smarthinking through your MyCU account. The link is located at the bottom of your MyCU home page. Registration and access to tutoring is quick, simple, and user-friendly. Smarthinking also offers an app for iOS and Android. Khan Academy is a free
online resource with over 3,200 videos with instructions on everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history. It also provides hundreds of skills to practice on your own. With over 100,000 peer-reviewed exercises, you can get a personalized experience for help in whatever area you need. Each subject is broken down into specific objective videos. One of the benefits of using Khan Academy is that you can pause and replay videos whenever you may need. In addition, test preparation is offered for many college tests such as the SAT, MCAT, and GMAT. The Khan Academy may be accessed for free by going to https://www. khanacademy.org. In addition to the previous resources available for all students, Student Support Services offers One-on-One Tutoring for SSS
students. For more information on Drop-In and One-on-One tutoring, contact Beth Nelson in Student Support Services at 304-384-5274 or bnelson@ concord.edu. For more information on Smarthinking, Khan Academy, and study skills, visit the Academic Success Center online at http://www.concord. edu/student-affairs/academicsuccess-center or contact Dr. Sarah Beasley at 304-384-6298 or sbeasley@concord.edu or asc@concord.edu. We hope that you take advantage of the wonderful academic support services available for Concord students! Please let us know if there are specific issues with which we can help. Our goal is to help you succeed!
Sept. 17th 2015, Page 6 The Concordian
Opinions
A 9/11 TRIBUTE REVIEW Haley McCord
Staff Writer The novel Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer was published in April of 2005, four years after the World Trade Center was struck by two individual airplanes, demolishing both towers and resulting in the untimely death of 2,996 innocent Americans. Drawing inspiration from the tragedy that changed the lives of every man, woman, and child in the United States, Foer weaves an emotional tale of loss and triumph. Oskar Schell, a nine year old boy whose father was lost in the tragedy of September 11, and who unfortunately battles depression and suffers from insomnia as a result of the shock and devastation of losing a parent, narrates the story. The
story begins after the attacks and after Oskar’s father has died. Oskar ventures into his father’s closet for the first time after the accident and discovers a vase containing a key. The key inspires Oskar to further investigate his father’s death. He searches New York City high and low before finally making a joyous and fulfilling discovery that does not solve death’s equation but ultimately heals him in the end. Although I aim to treat books with upmost respect and I feel terrible after bending spines and writing within the page margins, I obsessively underlined and highlighted several quotes, folded over top edges and almost ruined the binding of this book from reading and re-reading it while sobbing uncontrollably. The raw emotion conveyed throughout the text
and the painfully accurate description of grief and how people handle it in difference ways were exceptionally relatable. In one passage, Foer condemns the idea that there is always tomorrow, saying, “Why didn’t I learn to treat everything like it was the last time. My greatest regret was how much I believed in the future.” For anyone who has lost a parent, I would strongly recommend picking up this read. Although I have not experienced the death of a parent personally, I felt a strong connection with this novel and can only imagine how much more closely someone else could identify with Foer’s prose. Because the story is narrated through the eyes and heart of a nine-year-old boy experiencing the devastating effects of death at a very young age, it has the
power to tug at even the strongest heartstrings. Foer’s use of truth and wonder is eloquent and braids itself within every sentence: “What did thinking ever do for me, to what great place did thinking ever bring me? I think and think and think. I’ve thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.” I found myself rereading so many of Foer’s sentences and catching chills frequently. Not only is Foer exceptional at describing grief, sorrow and devastation, he easily captures his audience through laughter and acceptance: “Feathers filled the small room. Our laughter kept the feathers in the air. I thought about birds. Could they fly if there wasn’t someone, somewhere, laughing?” Oskar Shell is a peculiar and detached little boy yet becomes enlightening
REFLECTION ON FLIGHT 93 Johnnie B. Linn III
Guest Writer We were late in leaving Penn State after our conference, so it was unlikely that we could reach Shanks Ville before dusk in the shortening October days, so we took our time getting there. We rolled up onto the ridge in Rothrock State Forest where black vultures coursed along the ridge top tinged with autumnal colors. We descended to Interstate 99 at Hollidaysburg and turned south. At Bedford we turned west onto U.S. 30, the Lincoln highway, as it went through the old town. West of Shellsburg we passed a huge Wayne Fettro mural that took up the whole east side of an old
barn-like building and showed how the Lincoln Highway had looked at that same spot years before. Presently the highway bent south and took us up the Allegheny Front to the top of the Plateau before turning west again. At Reels Corner we turned south to go through Shanksville and come up to the Flight 93 memorial on its west side. My plan was to take us up the road that goes east up a hill and over it to the makeshift memorial. This is the road I had taken on my first visit there. It had been fenced off, though, for it was not to be used in the design of the new memorial. We found enough room to park there with the fence at our back. We gazed
at the fading light in the west. I had to be content with telling my ladylove what it had been like to ascend the little hill. It had been a bright day in early May, also after a conference. I came south through Lambertsville to reach the turn to the memorial. A narrow, paved road mounted straight up the hill towards the top. I felt that I was ascending to heaven, with nothing but the road, the grass, and the sky. I topped the hill and the memorial came into view: a small wooden building that housed the visitor center, a chain link fence on which memorabilia could be hung, flags of special design commemorating the attacks, and engraved monuments of dark granite upon
which visitors laid coins and medallions. The memorial lay at the near side of a vast grassy bowl. Hidden field sparrows sang their accelerating, ascending trills all around. On the far side of the bowl stood two draglines. These had been brought to prepare the ground for the extraction of coal, but as things turned out, they were like two men come to make all things ready and prepare the bed into which the doomed Flight 93 was to fall. If one had thought to stroll through the grass toward one of these draglines, one would discover that these were not your ordinary power shovels. They were immense. Now they stood as mute sentinels over the scene.
and inspirational, and I believe that a tiny piece of that broken little boy could be found within us all. Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close was made into a movie in 2011 for those that find it hard to pick up a book; however, I will always stand by the book along with several of Foer’s other novels like Eating Animals, Everything Is Illuminated, and Tree Of Codes. As we mourn those lost in the tragedy of 9/11, we should also rejoice and remember that there is always something to be joyful about. As Foer says, “You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” For more information about Jonathan Safran Foer, visit his Facebook page or read a few reviews on any of the novels mentioned.
Nothing less could confer the requisite dignity to the site than these two behemoths. At the eastern, lower end of the bowl, an American flag marked the place where the plane had crashed. This was the last part of the memorial to be seen as one took the road that left it to the east. This is where the first counterblow in the War on Terror had been struck. At the foot of our little hill, we offered a prayer for those who had risen against their captors and kept them from completing their murderous mission. Far off, in the dying light, was a cloud in the shape of a broken airplane.
Sept. 17th 2015, Page 7 The Concordian
Sports
MOUNTAIN LIONS CLIP FALCONS OFFENSE Tyler Jackson
Staff Writer The Concord University Mountain Lions rolled to a 27-10 win over Fairmont State University on Saturday, September 12, at Callaghan Stadium. The Mountain Lions started the game with an eight play, 62 yard drive that resulted in a two-yard touchdown run for Preseason All-American Senior running back Calvinaugh Jones. Senior kicker Andy Ellington missed the point after attempt, which kept the score 6-0. Neither team would score again until the Mountain Lion offense hoisted an eleven play, eighty yard drive that resulted in a touchdown from senior fullback Shaun Workinger. Concord would hold a 13-0 lead until the last seconds of the first half when Fairmont State successfully kicked a field goal to make it a 13-3 game at intermission. The Mountain Lion defense would be stout throughout the entire game, as they forced a
Fairmont State punt to open the half. On the ensuing drive, Junior quarterback Brian Novak hit Sophomore wideout Jermeil Douse for a 49 yard pass, which put sophomore halfback Jamal Petty in prime position to score and he capitalized, giving Concord a 20-3 lead after a successful point after attempt. With a smothering defensive effort, the Mountain Lions were once again able force a Fairmont punt and put up their final point of the day on the ensuing drive that consisted of eleven plays and ended in Jones rushing a touchdown. After taking a 27-3 lead, the Mountain Lions rested their starters and that still wasn’t enough for the rival Falcons, as Fairmont State was only able to score their lone touchdown in the closing seconds to make the final score 27-10. The Concord defense was the story of this game as they allowed their fewest yards since October 2013, when they played West Virginia Wesleyan in the first year of Mountain East Conference play. Line-
backer Austin Dotson led the team in tackles with nine, while senior defensive lineman Ervin Moore, who led the team in sacks in 2013, recorded one in this game, becoming only the fourth player in Mountain Lion history to have 40 tackles for a loss in his career. Novak finished 10-of-13 for 161 yards passing with no touchdowns, but also no turnovers. With the win Concord gets their first win on the year, improving to 1-1 on the year and in conference play. The win is a breath of fresh air after a heartbreaking loss to open the year last week against West Liberty where turnovers doomed the Mountain Lions. Concord will be on the road this weekend, September 19, as they face Urbana in Ohio. Last year the Lions beat Urbana pretty handily at home by a score of 50-20. Following an away game at Urbana, the Mountain Lions will return to Callaghan Stadium to face West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, September 26.
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Sept. 17th 2015, Page 8 The Concordian
Millennial Beat MILLENNIALS NEED PLANNED PARENTHOOD Patrice Mitchell
tissue from that procedure to Staff Writer medical research, and by law the abortion provider can request In a few weeks, the United nominal reimbursement $30 to States Congress will vote on $100 in most cases -- for saving, legislation to fund the govern- packing and shipping the tissue ment. One particular organiza- to a research firm.” tion’s funding could lead to a In addition to aborted fetuses, government shutdown. Senate cadavers and donated organs and House republicans have are not transported to research vowed to push for the defund- facilities for free either. ing of Planned Parenthood. Choicespregnancy.org statisConservatives in Congress have tics show that there were an esbeen trying to defund Planned timated 1.21 million abortions Parenthood for many years, in the U.S. in 2008, approxithe reason being the abortion mately 3,322 abortions per day. services that are offered, and This number is down from an the fact that they provide more estimated 1.29 million in 2002, abortions in this country that and 1.31 million in 2000. Those any other single organization. who oppose the funding of Over the summer, a series Planned Parenthood are those of videos were released that who do so on “religious moral” showed top Planned Parent- grounds due to their high aborhood administrators appearing tion rates. There are many fato be placing prices and selling cilities across the country that human tissue from aborted perform abortions. Planned fetuses. The videos were heavily Parenthood allows teenagers as edited and manipulated to make young as 16 to have an abortion it seem like a shady transaction without parental consent. Teenwas happening, and that the agers under the age of 18 make Planned Parenthood officials up 17 percent of all abortions were encouraging abortions for in this country. A teenager that profit. Regardless of the efforts wanted to get an abortion on to discredit the organization, their own, and safely, without that is just not the case. telling their parents would be Errol Louis of CNN reports, inclined to choose Planned “By law, women getting abor- Parenthood. That explains why tions can voluntarily donate the their abortion rate is higher
overall than many other organizations that provide the service. Also, federal money is not used to fund abortions. It is illegal to do so. It is a myth that Planned Parenthood mainly provides abortion services. Incidentally, abortion only makes up about three percent of the services provided every year by Planned Parenthood. The organization , which has facilities all across the country, offers many services for men and women that could otherwise not afford it. Many low-income individuals would have no other option without Planned Parenthood for life saving treatment and care. Adoption, birth control, body image, men and women’s sexual health, pregnancy, general healthcare, sex and sexuality, counseling services, body image, relationships, and sexual orientation are all some of the topics and services Planned Parenthood addresses. The organization also helps patients sign up for healthcare and/or Medicaid. Another big debate on the funding of Planned Parenthood is the Affordable Care Act, A.K.A. Obamacare. Many people think that Americans should not have to pay taxes for
“Planned Parenthood, short for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), is a non-profit organization which started as a birth control clinic established by Margaret Sanger in 1916 in New York. It was then organized into the American Birth Control League which then found its way into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in 1942. Just as the name has changed over the years, so have the services provided. Many new services have been added since 1916.” -Planned Parenthood Website Planned Parenthood if they are also paying taxes for universal healthcare. The truth is, one does not cancel the other, but they both go hand in hand in providing sufficient healthcare. Some states have chosen to opt out of expanding Medicaid, meaning there are still over 30 million uninsured Americans. In the most free, industrialized, powerful nation in the world 30 million people still don’t have access to the healthcare that they may need. In addition to public funding, Planned Parenthood also receives private funding from individual and organization donations. In 2014, the US government provided 500 million dollars in funding for Planned Parenthood, with 600 million dollars coming from private donors and other non-governmental funding. In my opinion, the Millennial generation, and the generation after us needs Planned Parenthood. While many of our communities, churches, schools, and local government officials choose to ignore the fact that sexual health and reproduction are major issues within our generation, we are the ones that live with the consequences of not being properly educated,
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or being informed. We have the power to build the country we want to grow old in. Whether we do so in poor health is all up to us. We all do not have to agree with pro-choice ideology to accept the fact that our reproductive and sexual health is an important aspect of all of our lives.
Patrice Mitchell is the columnist for the Millennial Beat. She is a senior Broadcast Communications major with a Journalism minor. After transferring from Marshall University, she has spent the past three years on the Concordian Newspaper staff and also as a WMLT Reporter staff. “I love writing and I’ve grown to have an appreciation for politics; which is why I choose to have a political style Beat this semester. I choose this topic because I want to learn more about politics and also encourage my generation to do the same.”