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Volume LXXXIV No. 4
NOAM CHOMSKY SPEAKS ON INEQUALITY James Hoyle
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WingSpan will be closing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 10th, 2016 and will remain closed until Monday, March 21st at 11 a.m. SUBWAY is closing Friday, March 11th, at 5 p.m. and will not reopen until Sunday, March 20 at 5 p.m. Libby Alvis Dining Hall will close at 7 p.m. on March 11th and will not reopen until 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 20th. University Campus Store hours during Spring Break will be from 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Gameroom will be closing at 5 p.m. March 11th and will not reopen until Monday the 21st at 10 a.m. Multicultural/International/Disabilities Office will be open from 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. McNair Office will be open 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Post Office will be open from 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Housing and Residential Life Office will be open 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Student Center Office/Switchboard will be open 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Student Support Services will be open 8-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Noam Chomsky is very concerned with the political state of this country and of the current election. Photo Courtesy of The Newyorker.com that the policy decisions made at the top are not considering the lowest, but instead are designed to have the rich and the powerful stay rich and power-
tion of one percent.” Needless to say, poverty remains at extraordinarily high levels in America as a developed nation. It is alarm-
ing, as Chomsky says that, according to articles like the one written for the New York Times entitled “Death Rates Rising for Middle-Aged White Americans,Study Finds,”mortality rates are on the rise in white, middle-aged, male Americans. “Unlike every other age group, unlike every other racial and ethnic group, unlike their counterparts in other rich countries, death rates in this group have been rising, not falling.” the article says. Chomsky said that is something unheard of in rich societies. He added to this by saying that while there’s tremendous growth, it has reached “…very few pockets…” and that a lot of that wealth has been primarily focused in financial institutions, and these institutions know this “…Citigroup,” he said, “a few years ago released a report for their investors, and it urged them to direct their investment to what is called the plutonomy index. The plutonomy is a worldwide system of wealthy people…and that’s where the real investment opportunities lie, and you can disregard the rest.” He added by saying that the world is being divided up into two categories: the rich and the poor. Some would SEE CHOMSKY, P. 2
• Chomsky Speaks on Inequality • Study Abroad Opportunity in Germany • CU Annual Career Fair • The Turnpike Toll Tussle
studeNt Life: • No Labels Chapter Opens at CU • Otaku Guild Celebrates Pokemon • To Sleep or Not to Sleep • Relay For Life Rave
Arts & eNtertAiNmeNt: • Band Concert • Cortez Interrupted • Tactile Art Show
ANd more!
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Spring Break Campus Schedule
Renowned professor of linguistics Noam Chomsky spoke to Concord University students on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 via a Skype call. Though he was a little late for the conference call, the fact that he is a very busy man at the age of 87 years makes such a thing forgivable. Chomsky, known as one of the greatest political theorists and social critics of the 20th century, is concerned with the state of American politics and what the United States is becoming. He began his lecture by stating that though the issues at hand in this election year may seem isolated, the fact is that these same issues are being played out across the First World. In other words, the issues of social and economic inequality are universal, and not reserved to just America. Chomsky continued by saying that despite the promises made by new liberalism (the form of liberalism embraced by much of the west after World War II) it has not solved the problems of worldwide income inequality. According to an annual report from Oxfam entitled “Even it Up,” they found that 90 individuals hold half of the world’s wealth. In 2015, that number decreased
ful, and this is shown in the United States in a report from the OECD, an organization made up of 31 of the most developed countries in the world. According to the report, “The share of top incomes increased in the United States sharply more than any other country. The top incomes meaning the top one percent, by now a frac-
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to 62. Chomsky said that there are “…many very ugly consequences to this.” The report says that 5 million children are dying of starvation every year, which means roughly 500 children had died in the time it took for Chomsky to speak to the students about income inequality. Chomsky added that this could easily be fixed, but
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ernment controlled by the very wealthy. He concluded that this is the reason why candidates like Donald Trump are doing so well. According to Chomsky,, he is playing on the fears of the disenfranchised in order to obtain votes. Despite
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITY IN GERMANY Tsivia Chonoles
Student Life/A&E Editor Summer is coming, and for those of you students who have yet to make plans, I have but one question: have you ever considered studying abroad? West Liberty University’s twoweek, faculty-led, study abroad trip to Würzburg, Germany is happening near the end of the summer and, good news for Concord Students, it is open to any West Virginia college student age 18 and older. Lasting from July 13th until July 28th, the program costs $1590.00. This program fee includes room and board, breakfast, travel insurance, extracurricular activities, and tuition, meaning that students will be responsible for their round-trip airfare and for any other meals during the trip. Led by Dr. Miriam Roth Douglas in West Liberty University’s Education department, the trip is listed as a three credit-hour special topics
class in Education in the West Liberty course catalog. Dr. Douglas has said that students from every discipline are welcome and encouraged to join the trip. However, students should be sure to check with their advisors and/or department heads to ensure that Concord will be able to accept the credit. During the trip students will be a part of life on campus at The University of Würzburg, attending morning classes and guest-lectures related to German culture and community in varying fields, with a focus on Community Education. Extracurricular trips will include outings to worldcultural heritage sites such as Bamberg, Heidelberg, Munich & Neuschwantstein Castle, and Nuremberg, in addition to visiting a German forrest kindergarten where children spend their entire time at the kindergarten out in the forrest, no matter the weather, and a
German bakery. Knowledge of the German language is not a requirement for the trip, as all instruction will take place in English. Students at Concord University wishing to attend the trip will need to discuss thoroughly with their advisor how the trip would count for credit towards their G.P.A. and then obtain a transient student form from the Registrar’s office. Last year, Dr. Douglas took 16 students from varying universities, and in varying disciplines including Arts, Biology, Business, Education, Mathematics, National Security, etc. The trip is first come, first serve, so students who wish to ensure their attendance are required to submit their completed application plus a $600 deposit by April 15, 2016. Contact Dr. Douglas at miriam.douglas@westliberty. edu for more information.
this, the picture is not entirely bleak. America remains the richest nation on earth, and if we as an American voting populace can vote for people that align with issues we care about, then this situation of income inequality can be turned around.
Chomsky’s lecture is available for free via Concord’s Youtube Page: Concord University West Virginia.
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Guest Writer A group of Graham High School Art students visited Concord University’s Art Department on January 22, 2015. The visit was a collaborative effort between Holly Wood, Graham High School Art teacher and Concord University alumni, and the Concord University‘s art department. During the recent visit the students were given a guided tour of the art studios located in the Alexander Fine Arts building. During their visit they were also given the opportunity to view various demonstrations including pottery and graphic design. Jamey Biggs, Associate Professor, demonstrated his skill as a potter by throwing a large pot on the pottery wheel and discussing the ceramic’s program. Assistant Professor Kevin Bennington, talked about the Graphic Design Program and showed past student work from all of the different graphic design classes. He also shared some of
After the tour, many of the students left enthusiastic about art and with a desire to attend Concord after high school. Photo By: Dr. Reidmiller his own interactive work with the students. The students enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria and were given a tour of the campus by the Admissions office. Their visit was concluded by learning about Aesthetics and the Art Education program. Associate
While on the tour, the students were given demonstrations for several different art mediums. Photo By: Dr. Reidmiller
Professor, Dr. Lauri Reidmiller, lead a hands-on art lesson with the students. The students worked in teams to create sculptures out of ice. Graham’s High School student, Mckenzie Riffe said, “The project was really fun and I learned so much. It really educated me in art”. Each team was given specific criteria and Principles of Design that they had to incorporate into their sculpture. “The project challenged us to think about structural integrity and our creativity. Working in groups was a lot of fun and it was by far my favorite part of the trip,” stated Alicia Boyd, Graham High School student. The students were very involved in the creative process and had to use cooperation and their problem solving skills to complete their sculptures. “The project seemed nearly impossible at first but after putting all of the teams ideas together, we created a unique piece of art. It was really fun
and messy, ” explained Kara Compton. After the groups completed their sculptures they were asked to present them and explain how their piece fulfilled the requirements. I was very impressed with their sculptures and their presentations.
The groups were photographed with their projects and copies were sent to Mrs. Wood. “The project was fun and challenging. I never thought of using water balloons that way. That will be a memory I will never forget,” stated Brittiany Ratliff. After their visit Graham student Shannon Woods shared, “The project was really fun. I went home telling everyone about it and even asked my mom if we could get the stuff and do it at home. I’m glad I was able to experience it.” During their visit many students expressed their desire to attend Concord. Brittney Kuehling stated “The project we did was awesome. It was really fun to do. I loved going to Concord,” I believe there is no substitute for the experience of visiting a University campus. Visitors can see firsthand why students choose to come to Concord University. Perhaps we will see more students from Graham High School on our campus in the next few years.
The tour was a great opportunity for students to see what Concord’s art program has to offer young artists. Photo By: Dr. Reidmiller
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do not vote is because they feel like nothing represents them, as according to a recent study from Gilens and Page at Princeton University, the economic elites have the most influence, and that America is slowly becoming a plutocracy, or a gov-
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argue that this is the result of the economy, and that this is a side effect of the recession. However, Chomsky sees it as the policymakers looking out for the rich rather than looking out for those that they represent. He said that the reason why citizens
Dr. Lauri Reidmiller
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GENDER ROLES IN RUSSIA Cassidy Justice
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as capable as men are and are not looked down upon for it.” So what does this mean for professions for men and women? Although there seems to be equality between the two genders, there seem to be professions that differ between the two. Olga states, “Occupations for men are things like fireman, police officers, CEO’s or even doctors. While women’s jobs are things like teachers or nurses. My mother is an English teacher in Russia for example. It is very similar to women and men’s professions in America.” So, does the inequality wage gap problem occur in Russia like it does in America due to different professions? Olga says, “Women choose careers that pay less, but that does not necessarily mean they are less skilled than men. Women
HANDLING COLLEGE STRESS Michelle Laneave
Guest Writer What causes stress for you as a student-exams, papers, reading multiple chapters in several subjects…all of the above? According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, a 2011 national survey shows that more than 62 percent of students withdrew from college because of mental health problems. How do you deal with stressprocrastinate, hang out with friends, work out, or feel like crying? You are not alone. Here are ten tips to help you deal with stress in healthy ways:
•Stay organized. Use a planner, and have a folder for each class. •Eat a well-balanced diet and get enough sleep. Did you know that foods like avocados, yogurt, salmon, asparagus and oatmeal are good mood foods that help reduce stress? Also, students vary in the amount of sleep needed to function well, so listen to your body. •College is competitive, but try making studying and getting good grades fun. Possibly study with a friend. •Do your work little by little and don’t overload yourself! •Although it can be easier said than done, balance is so important to prevent stress.
You need to know that school comes first and social situations second. •Learn to manage your finances. •You don’t have time to do everything, especially if you work and go to school. Make a schedule, including extracurricular activities, time for studying, and prioritize. •Busy schedules are likely to mean stressful days. It is important to understand how you respond to feeling overwhelmed in order to help you prepare and maintain more balance when you have a busy schedule. •Gain perspective on problems by discussing them.
•Have a strong support system. There are times when it helps to vent. If you need additional help to cope with stress and anxiety, please contact: the
in Russia enjoy careers that include nurturing which helps others but that often pays less.” Though it seems obvious that women are significantly equal to men in Russia, is it possible that the roles of women have changed over the last twenty years? Olga says that, “Although there seem to be more changes for women in America, I believe women in Russia are reaching that level. There are some women gaining more powerful positions, so we are obviously getting there, we just have not reached it quite yet.” Although Russian and American societies share these similar gender roles, the way these roles are viewed is different.
Tsivia Chonoles
Student Life/A&E Editor Thursday, March 4, saw the return of Concord University’s annual Career Fair. The fair included representatives and recruiters from over 40 different businesses and establishments. This list included the Greenbrier, the Marine Corps, the Peace Corps, and 59 News, among others. Usually organized by a class from Concord’s Recreation and Tourism Management program, this year the fair
was organized by Bren Yeager, new to Concord University’s Advancement Office. Yeager began putting everything together in November 2015, and ended up with 48 different registered organizations attending. Among the representatives present were two Concord alumni, Amber Bennett and Kate Armentrout, working for Adventures on the Gorge. Adventures on the Gorge is an establishment that regularly attends the Concord University Career Fair, and students
who end up working there come from a variety of majors and usually end up in summer positions while still attending school. “It’s a very fun place to work. We have 569 of some of the most exciting people that you can imagine,” said Bennett, who works in Human Resources. There were also representatives from several Concord University graduate programs, as well as a representative from Radford University, which offers 22 graduate programs and three doctorate programs
in physical therapy, nursing, and psychology. The Career Fair is a great opportunity for students to branch out and begin to meet contacts and start networking within their desired job fields. However, many of the participants of the career fair seemed to be offering only temporary summer jobs or unpaid internships rather than actual job postings, making it seem ineffectual for graduating seniors seeking jobs and careers come May.
The Concordian The Concordian office is located on the bottom floor of the Alexander Fine Arts Center, Room M-08.
Brittany Strother Editor-in-Chief Patrice Mitchell News/ Opinions Editor Tsivia Chonoles A&E/Student Life Editor Staff Writers: James Hoyle Christian Pridemore
Concord Counseling Center, the Concord Academic Success Center, or the Bonner House second floor.
If you need additional help to cope with stress and anxiety, please contact: Concord Counseling Center Bonner House 2nd floor 304-384-5290 Concord Academic Success Center Rahall 243 304-384-6074
Jonathan Collins Webmaster A long list of organizations were represented, showcasing everything from tourism to the sciences. Photo By: Tsivia Chonoles
Students are invited to hand out resumes and network with potential employers. Photo By: Tsivia Chonoles
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In America, gender roles are very important. In some ways they help us establish our identity or even help create order to our families. Whether the need for gender roles in our society is biological or a socially constructed view, it still seems to play a part in America’s culture. Olga Novikova is from Vologda, Russia which is close to Moscow, the capital. She gives us a personal insight to her experience of gender roles in Russia. When asked about stereotypes of gender roles for women and men in Russia, Olga states, “Gender roles are very similar to those here in America. For the most part, men are responsible for working, and the women are responsible for
that sometimes girls are pushed more towards reading and language arts, while on the other hand, boys are sometimes pushed more towards math and science. Olga says that, “Where I come from, I do not see any education differences between boys and girls. People in school are pushed more towards what they are good at, not based on gender. It is very equal in the educational system.” A result of a great educational background is power. Although men sometimes can seem to have more of an advantage in Russia just because of the positions they hold, a powerful woman is not looked at as a bad thing. Olga says, “Although there are not a lot of women in power, the powerful women in Russia do not have a diminished image. We are just
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housework.” Olga believes that a man’s strength gives him the advantage of having more power in the family. However, Olga thinks that the world for women in Russia is changing and that they are now starting to work as well as men. As a result of gender roles, there are sometimes stereotypes that form of a certain gender. Olga says, “Although women and children take care of the house and men are in charge of the construction of the house, it does not make women unequal to men. It can simply be a result of occupation segregation by gender.” It is obvious that equality is something that Russia is well on their way to achieving. A lot of times, stereotypes of gender roles can relate to educational differences. For example, in America it seems
CU ANNUAL CAREER FAIR
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SENSE-ATIONAL ART
THE TURNPIKE TOLL TUSSLE
Tsivia Chonoles
Patrice Mitchell
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three months. But, I don’t like paying money to travel to school because I already pay money to attend school,” says Williams. In May 2019 the West Virginia Parkways Authority will have paid off the construction bonds for interstate 77. Toll booths throughout the 88 miles of road between Princeton and Beckley charge each traveling vehicle two dollars per booth. Trucks pay about three to twelve dollars depending on their length and size. There is also one booth that costs forty cent off the interstate in Beckley. For southern West Virginians, the total cost to travel to and from the state capitol on Interstate 77 is twelve dollars. When the bonds are paid off, the tolls are expected to be removed. Senate Bill 397 will extend The West Virginia Parkway Authority and allow for the
continued operations of the turnpike tolls. The official website for the West Virginia Legislature gives a summary of the bill stating, “Maintaining status quo in event bond indebtedness to Parkways Authority is eliminated.” In simpler terms that means if they continue to balance the Department of Highway budget, maintain state roads, and retain jobs in the event the toll booth operations cease and the state loses that revenue. According to the official West Virginia Parkways Authority website, only 16 percent of cars that pass through the toll booths are West Virginia passenger cars, and eight percent are West Virginia commercial vehicles. Meanwhile 76 percent of the 85 million dollars in revenue brought in by toll operations is from out of state commercial and privately owned vehicles.
The tolls have been positioned on the West Virginia Turnpike since 1989. The plans were originally to only keep the tolls in operation until the construction bonds were paid off. However, West Virginia is currently experiencing a budget deficit with no clear solution to the complex systematic issues that we face throughout the state. In order to help balance the state budget deficit of 353 million dollars, law makers proposed an “across-the-board cut” of 4 percent for most West Virginia government agencies this legislative session. State funded public schools received a cut of 1 percent, even though this area hasn’t been subject to budget cuts in the past few years. The tolls throughout the interstate from Princeton to Charleston bring in about 85 million dollars in revenue. Because the West Virginia turnpike receives no money
from the state or federal government, maintenance for the road is paid for by the West Virginia Parkways Authority. However, if the tolls are removed, maintenance such as snow patrol, pavement repairs and other upkeep and preventative operations will become the financial burden of the WV Department of Highways. Regardless of the outcome of this legislation, the impact will effect local economies as well as the economy statewide. Hundreds of jobs will be lost, including 160 toll collector positions. Many of the bridges along I-77 also are in need of repair, which will have to be done without toll money if something isn’t done.
You can check on the status of SB 397 as well as other pieces of legislation at www.legis.wv.us Are you a commuter that passes through one or more tolls traveling to Concord throughout the week? What do you think about the toll booths along Interstate I-77, and the bill to extend operations? We want to know! Use the hashtag, #tolltussle to share your story on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Don’t forget to tag us!
Have you ever had the urge to just reach out and touch a piece of art? Come March 24, students at Concord University will be able to do just that. A tactile art show, put together by Concord University Professor Dr. Lauri Reidmiller and student Keri Svendsen, will be hosted in the Butcher Art Gallery for one week, opening at 6:00 p.m. on March 24. “Keri Svendsen was taking a class with me, and during my class I actually had her feel artwork that was created for a show when I lived back in Ohio,” said Reidmiller, “so I had her experience some of the artwork from that show and a conversation got started ‘why don’t we do a show here that is full tactile for all audiences?’ and that’s where the idea came from.” Artwork for the show is still being submitted and the full range of artists will include students at all levels, professors from Concord, and professional artists from out of state including Queen Brooks, Patty Kahn, Andrew Ross from Virginia who is attempting a
Pictured above is one of the pieces that will be on display, submitted by elementary school student GraceAnne “Gracie” Ennis. Photo By: Tsivia Chonoles 3-D photograph, a glassblower also from Virginia, and Eloise Philpot, who has created interactive mazes. Artwork for the show is still being accepted, works in the show will be fully tactile and touchable, including paintings, found objects, sculptural pieces made of tissue paper,
clay, and metal, and a tactile quilt among many other pieces. “We will ask that everyone just use a baby wipe to wipe their hands before they start touching the work,” Reidmiller said. “We do expect some damage, unintentional damage, but that’s just part of the touching experience, but we’re not going
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Beckley resident and Concord commuter student, Porsha Williams, travels the interstate from Beckley to the Athens campus daily. In her near thirty miles of commute, she passes through two toll booths: one coming and one going. In addition to books, tuition, gas, and other school expenses, commuters traveling the Turnpike also have the additional fees from toll booths. Like may other residents throughout West Virginia and commuting Concord students, Williams opted to purchase an EZ Pass. Also like many southern West Virginians burdened with paying tolls to travel to and from the state capitol on interstate I-77, she does not feel like the toll fees are necessary or fair. “I use to pay [for the tolls] every day, but for the last few years I’ve purchased an EZ Pass quarterly. That’s $25 for
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A piece that was submitted for the exhibit anonymously. Photo By: Tsivia Chonoles to deny anyone from touching it.” The show is meant to be all-inclusive, with all labels in
large print and in braille and the art being hung lower than in traditional shows.
CASINO NIGHT HITS THE JACKPOT Christian Pridemore Staff Writer If you’ve ever wanted to go to Las Vegas, or have a flare for card games and betting your bottom dollar, chances are you’re one of the approximately 100 people who went to Concord’s casino night. Wednes-
day, February 2, saw students playing blackjack, poker, shooting craps and spinning a wheel of fortune to earn big money. Big money was indeed earned, mostly in the form of poker chips ranging from one to five hundred dollars in theoretical value, with a wide selection of prizes from candy and
soda being in the one thousand dollar end, to gift cards, DVD’s and headphones being the high end prizes. Andrew Sulgit, who oversaw the event, said that they decided to go with more prizes to suit a larger turnout. “A lot of times when we’re doing prizes, we tend to go big, which is cool,
it’s a good incentive, but with limited resources it also means we can only offer so much,” Sulgit explained, “If you offer smaller value prizes, but buy more, more people, in theory, could win. I feel like almost everybody that was there walked away with something, and a lot of them played all night.”
There was much fun to be had, and students are urged to attend future events for lots of prizes and lots of fun.
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ArTs And EnTErTAinmEnT CU CONCERT BAND CLEARS HOUSE James Hoyle
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Dr. Ball conducting the Concord concert band. Photo By: James Hoyle Korean Conflict, was written in the late 1950s. It was published in 1965 and, in 1966, won the American Bandmasters Association’s Oswald Award. Though these folk songs were written for instruments that are not commonly used in orchestras or in a band, Barnes was nonetheless able to translate the melodies of these tunes to western instruments well. Following this, the band
played “American Riversongs.” Unlike the previous two songs played, Dr. Ball did not conduct this one. Instead, he handed the conductor’s baton off to Concord University senior Austin Bolden. Bolden, a music education major from Bluefield, West Virginia, according to Dr. Ball, has an interest not only in musical composition, but also in conducting. Bolden did well, and the piece was performed admirably by the band.
CORTEZ CONCERT INTERRUPTED Christian Pridemore
Staff Writer This leap year, Kipp Cortez, the new Assistant Professor of Music at Concord, decided to commemorate the extra day in the year by filling it with music. On February 29, Cortez performed several pieces on the Fine Arts building’s organ ranging from early 18th century to as modern as 1992. The pieces performed ranged in style. “The reason why I picked the pieces that I’m doing is I want to pick pieces that demonstrate a little bit of everything in terms of
the organ literature that’s out there,” said Cortez. The pieces performed were composed by artists as early as Johann Sebastian Bach and as recent as William Mathias. Cortez performed 13 pieces demonstrating the complexity of the artistry that went into their composition and achieving his goal of accurately portraying how music for the organ has evolved over time. However, the performance experienced a slight hiccup when, near the end of the show, the fire alarm went off. When the alarm went off, Cortez was still perform-
ing, and an air of confusion swept over the audience, not knowing whether to file out of the building or finish listening to the piece. Luckily the piece was nearing its completion. Once Cortez had finished, he led his audience outside to wait out the alarm. During this time, Cortez got to interact directly with his audience and ask how they were enjoying the performance, and the general response was positive. The alarm had sounded at approximately 8:30 in the evening, and after roughly 20 minutes had passed, Cortez was remorsefully telling the audience that
if the alarm had not been dealt with by 9:05, he was ending the concert early. It wasn’t until about 9:00 that maintenance finally came and turned off the alarm, to the relief of everyone, including Cortez. After the incident with the alarm, Cortez returned to the stage to perform his final two pieces, which took about 20 minutes. In all, it was an interesting display of the different sounds the organ could perform as well as an excellent demonstration of Cortez’s talent with the organ, where at any given time Cortez could go from quiet sounds to very
loud and boisterous sounds. “Basically the things to listen for are the different sounds, the different colors that you hear coming out of the organ,” Cortez said, “Things both loud and soft, deep and high… between all the pieces, you’ll get a little bit of everything.” It was a night to remember, and students are encouraged to attend future musical events to both get a feel for the emotions that the instrument can elicit and vicariously experience the visible enjoyment that performers such as Cortez experience when playing.
Christian Pridemore
Staff Writer 2016 is shaping up to be one of the most influential election years in American history, and as American citizens, it is our civic duty to be well informed on the issues concerning our government, our economy, and the state of the world’s affairs. It is not our duty, however, to be concerned with the candidates’ emails, personal religious views and backgrounds regarding race-relations, however radical they may be. Yet in all the hype, the American public tends to get caught up on issues that might not necessarily contribute to how a president does their job, and more pressing and important matters will fall to the wayside when considering who will become the next leader of this nation. Fear not, for there is a solution: No Labels. Margaret Kimbell, Executive Director for the No Labels organization, gives an excellent synopsis of the objective of the No Labels group, saying “We can’t let party affiliation be the enemy of productivity and progress. At some point, the nation needs its leaders to place loyalty to the country ahead of loyalty to the party. True leaders don’t just point out problems. They solve
them.” No Labels is a political movement that is recent to America. Beginning in December of 2010, 1000 citizens from each of the 50 states gathered in New York in order to begin the No Labels movement, and in the few short years they have been organized, No Labels has already had a monumental impact on the government in America. Within three years, legislation that has been directly influenced by No Labels includes No Budget, No Pay, where if Congress cannot pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members should not get paid; the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act, decreasing the number of presidential appointments subject to senate confirmation; and the Healthcare for Heroes Act becoming part of the National Defense Authorization Act. No Labels has been one of the most influential organizations to benefit American legislation since the NAACP. So what does this mean for Concord? As it turns out, Concord University will be the first college in West Virginia to have a chapter of No Labels. George Myers, a senior Political Science major and chapter president, founded this chapter in the hopes that it will increase
George Myers, a student at CU and a military veteran, started this organization. Photo Courtesy of Myers’ Facebook public awareness about the importance of this organization to the nation. “We spread the word, we get people involved, and this is how students are able to voice their opinions,” Myers says, “Our mission is trying to get the president to be a problem solver. Instead of the politicians thinking about themselves or their party, they
need to start thinking about the nation.” Myers has high hopes for this chapter of No Labels, and says that he hopes to achieve some lofty goals for the future. Myers hopes that this chapter can help No Labels create 25 million jobs over the next 10 years, secure Social Security and Medicare for the next 75
years, balance the federal budget by 2030, and Make America energy secure by 2024. Myers states that the way this chapter can achieve these goals is by starting the Concord No Labels chapter and having more chapters established in other schools around West Virginia to get more support from not just students, but citizens as well. One of the greatest aspects of this nation’s democratic system of government is the fact that it puts the power for change in the hands of the people first, and not just the politicians. George Myers agrees by establishing the No Labels chapter at Concord that it’s time to take control of the power to bring the necessary change that the citizens want to see in the nation. The best way to start is by getting informed, not only by going to the weekly meetings of the No Labels chapter (the dates of which are still subject to change), but by getting informed about politicians’ stances on important issues. For more information about the stance that your party’s politicians have on issues, go to http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm. For more information about the mission of No Labels, go to http://www.nolabels.org/.
OTAKU GUILD CELEBRATES POKEMON Christian Pridemore
Staff Writer Many students on campus have distinct memories of a childhood filled with endless hours of games about mythical creatures with supernatural abili-
ties being pitted against man, nature, and themselves. These creatures go by a more familiar name: Pokemon. Pokemon, as a game series, as an animated series, as a trading card game series, and through other forms of merchandise, has
become more than a trope in today’s society. For some, it has become a way of life; for others it has become a way to earn a living; while still for others it has been a beloved hobby since the elementary school days. This year, on February 27,
Pokemon celebrated it’s 20th anniversary. Pokemon as a concept originated with Satoshi Tajiri, who came up with the idea back in 1990 and worked on it for six years before the first two Pokemon games were released
in Japan in 1996. In addition to this, Tajiri also established the company that would continue to produce the Pokemon games, Game Freak. Japan saw SEE POKEMON, P. 6
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Concord University’s Concert Band performed in the auditorium on March 4, at 6:00 p.m. Dr. David Ball conducted for the majority of the hour-long performance. The theme of the evening was decidedly American literature, though there were examples of many different variations on certain cultural pieces to be found. The songs played for the concert were a smattering of tried and true older tunes. First up was the song “Review”, a song that was first written and published roughly around the same time as the founding of Concord University. Dr. Ball said that he chose this piece since it is almost as old as the school itself, he wanted to have a kind of unity. Up next was “Variations on a Korean Folk Song.” This piece, by John Barnes during his tenure in Korea during the
It is evident that a lot of care and practice went into it. One could almost hear the whale as it slammed into the side of the ship in the notes. Finally, after all of the other songs had run their course, Dr. Ball ended the concert with “Benguine for Band”, a piece written in 1935 by Cole Porter. Soon after its publication, it was introduced by June Knight into the Broadway musical “Jubilee.” In 1938, it became popular thanks in part to performances by Artie Shaw, one of the most popular clarinet players and band leaders of all time. It was he that revised it and lengthened it for a swing orchestra. When Shaw signed on for a recording contract with RCA Victor, Shaw insisted that “Begin the Beguine” would be one of the first six recordings with his new band. Overall, the concert band did well, and Concord University, as always, has much to be proud of.
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After these songs, what Dr. Ball called the “appetizers” of the concert, the band was ready to move forward with the main course of the night. The next song played was “Of Sailors and Whales,” a song in five movements by Pierre La Plante. This piece, based on the classic American novel “Moby Dick,” premiered in February 1990, and was performed by the California All-State Band. The piece was dedicated to Robert Lanon White, a Commander in the United States Navy who went to sea. In between each of the five movements, lines from the novel the piece was inspired by were quoted. These quotes were delivered by Dr. Gabriel Rieger, professor of Medieval and Renaissance literature here at Concord. With an authoritative voice, Rieger described what several of the characters looked like as well as the final clash between the White Whale and Captain Ahab. It was an intense piece.
“NO LABELS” CHAPTER OPENS AT CU
March 10th 2016, Page 7 the CoNCordiAN
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POKEMON
The Nintendo Pokémon 20th anniversary celebration logo Photo Courtesy of theverge.com Nintendo news site by Shawn Taylor, the Pokemon company rakes in a whopping 1.5 billion dollars annually from all the
products listed above. In celebration of all of Pokemon’s success, Concord University’s very own Otaku Guild
TO SLEEP OR NOT TO SLEEP Rhian Hobbs
Guest Writer As college students there is so much we attempt to cram into one day, especially at the end! But does staying up, even if it’s to get things done, leave us less prepared and energized for what’s to come the next day? When it comes to getting sleep we all know we’re supposed to get a certain amount, but do we really? The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep a night for young adults, ages 18-25. If your sleep doesn’t meet those requirements, you might be depriving your body of benefits you didn’t even know you were missing. I truly believe we’re forgetting what it feels like to be well rested. If you think about it, when was the last time you ac-
tually felt like you got enough sleep? According to Medical News Today, a mere 30 percent of students get the amount of sleep they actually need. From a college perspective, sleep is needed for two very significant things: restoring energy and crucial cognitive activity. Sleep and energy levels significantly coincide. Getting enough sleep is necessary to have a healthy amount of energy throughout the day. When you feel well rested, you will feel better emotionally and physically. If you are consistently getting less than 6 hours a night you can build up “sleep debt,” from which it is difficult to recuperate. Simply put, you cannot catch up on lost sleep! Sleep is also imperative for crucial cognitive activity. Most of us know that when we sleep our bodies uses that
time to organize and properly store information. But do you think about the side effects if you aren’t sleeping enough? If you don’t get enough sleep it impairs your ability to concentrate, retain information, and learn. To me, sleep sounds like a relaxing tool we could use to help set ourselves up for success. For example, going over information for a test right before bed should do wonders with helping retain and properly store that information. If you have a hard time sleeping or you want to build better sleeping habits, here are some tips for you: • Create sleep rituals. Sleep rituals condition your body to sleep. I believe this to be the most effective way to help someone who has a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep, like me. A sleep ritual
is simply always doing the same few things every night before going to bed. For me it is: brushing my teeth, turning the fan on, and reading before I go to sleep. A fan is an amazing trick to both go to sleep and stay asleep. This white noise will help you fall asleep and cancel out other interruptions that might otherwise wake you, especially in the dorms. • Sleep on the correct side. The correct side to actually sleep on is your left. Research shows sleeping on your left side improves circulation to the heart, allows the brain to remove waste more easily, takes pressure off the liver, minimizes symptoms of acid reflux and more. • Sleep Consistently. The hardest to accomplish and commit to, is waking up and going to sleep at the same time
every day (even the weekend). This will help you fall asleep and wake up naturally, allowing you to work with your body’s clock. • Harmful Habits. Something you should consider if you’re having a hard time sleeping is whether or not you are practicing habits that are not helping. Alcohol and Smoking can contribute to your inability to get a good nights rest. Prioritizing sleep into your schedule is important but it can also be tricky, particularly at first. However, the benefits more than pay off, physically, mentally, and emotionally. So I encourage you to plan your sleep for a few weeks and note the difference it makes. Maybe you will consider a permanent change in your sleep routine!
RELAY FOR LIFE RAVES FOR A CURE James Hoyle
Staff Writer Cancer is a silent killer. In the blink of an eye, a life can be forever altered or cut down due to its insidious nature. Of all of the things on this earth, it is one of the few things that does not judge. White, Black, Latino, gay, straight, it does not matter. Cancer will take a person just as they are. There are many groups of people that wish to give the sufferers of this disease a chance at life and a possibility of a cure. One such organization is the American Cancer Society. Founded in 1913, the American Cancer Society is committed to not only finding a cure for cancer, but to also
fund cancer research. One of the ways that they do this is an event called Relay For Life. During this event, people walk to raise money for cancer patients and to seek a cure. It is as much about the future as it is about remembrance. It has been several years since Concord University has had a Relay For Life. That however, is about to change. On Thursday, April 14, Concord University will be hosting a Relay For Life from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m in the Carter Center Gymnasium. All proceeds donated in order to participate in Relay For Life and for generosity’s sake will go directly to the American Cancer Society. At the time of
this writing, according to the Relay’s Concord Page, 10 teams of 50 participants have raised almost 3,000 dollars for cancer research. However, to get the word out, as well as to have some fun, the organization decided that there was much more that they could do. On Tuesday, March 4, Concord University’s Relay For Life organization hosted a rave in order to raise money for its event. The rave lasted from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A live DJ played, and there was food and T-shirts that could be purchased, alongside free popcorn and drinks. The trappings of a rave, such as glow-sticks were also sold. Those in attendance seemed to be in good spirits, as
the cause was worthy. Students could request songs for the DJ to play, and several got up to do group dances. Chief among these were “The Cha Cha Slide Part Two” and “The Cupid Shuffle.” The music choices were fun and upbeat, and those in attendance seemed to have a good time. On top of all of this, every 15 minutes for the two hours that the rave occurred, prizes were given out. Attendees were given tickets with numbers on them, and as a result, everyone had a chance to win. Prizes included Concord University merchandise, with the grand prize being a 100 dollar Visa gift card. The winner of the 100 dollar gift card was Haley McCord, who
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION IN ACTION Megan Webber
Resident Director Let’s set the scene: you and some friends are at a party. From the corner of your eye, you see a girl and a guy talking. The girl is leaning against a wall to hold herself up. You think to yourself that she looks like she’s had too much to drink. You see the guy try to kiss her and she looks like she’s not into it. She pushes him away but they continue to talk.
You’re paying more attention to what is going on with them this time. You see the same thing happen again. You see the guy put his arms around her and the girl try to unsuccessful squirm away. You’re starting to feel uncomfortable. The guy pulls on the girl’s arm in an attempt to get her to walk outside with him. The girl gets up and you watch as she has to lean on him to make it outside. What do you do? We all have the potential
to step up and intervene to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occurring. Bystander Intervention centers on the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. It can be applied to any situation. In the case of the earlier scene, how much harm would have been done to walk over and ask the girl if she was feeling okay? What about if you asked one of her friends to go check on her because she looked uncomfortable? The important part
is doing SOMETHING. Be an active bystander and do something instead of a passive one who does nothing. Being an active bystander is about safely intervening before a dangerous situation happens. A few ways to be an active bystander: distract the person acting inappropriately or aggressively, make sure the potential victim makes it home safe, get a friend or two to help you intervene, or act like you need to speak with the poten-
had also won one of the 15 minute prizes. Altogether, the Relay For Life Rave earned about 150 dollars from students and participants. As previously mentioned, all proceeds will go directly to the American Cancer Society. Though the Relay for Life is not for another month, there is still time to join and create a team to participate in the event. In order to sign up, one need only go to Concord University’s Relay for Life page and follow the instructions there or one may also contact Lindsey Akers. She may be reached via her email: lakers@ concord.edu, or by phone at (304) 384-5302. O
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the release of the true first two games, Pokemon Green and Pokemon Red for the Nintendo Gameboy, in 1996, but the U.S. didn’t see a Pokemon game release until 1998, which were the iconic Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue, also for the Gameboy. In 1997 the famous animated series got its debut in Japan, and came to the U.S. in 1998 along with the games. Since then, Pokemon has experienced an enormous growth, with 25 main series titles, over 40 spin-off titles, 67 different trading card expansions, 19 different seasons of the show, and merchandise that is beyond measure. According to an article on the official
tion. The two winners were Michael Bailey and Roman Runyon. Pokemon has an amazing history, and they’re still going strong. Game titles to watch out for this year include two new main series games, Pokemon Sun and Moon, which will be the 7th generation of Pokemon to be released. In addition, a few spin-off titles will be released sometime this year, including a fighting style game known as Pokken Tournament and the first game for smartphones officially sponsored by Nintendo, Pokemon GO. For more information about the history behind the Pokemon franchise, visit http://www. pokemon20.com/en-us/timeline.html.
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decided to host a week’s worth of events. On February 29 and March 1, the Otaku Guild had showings of three of the many movies: Pokémon: The First Movie, Pokémon: The Movie 2000, and Pokémon Origins. On March 2 and 3, the Otaku Guild held their own version of a Pokemon league. Brandi Pugh, president of the Otaku Guild, said “It was the Otaku Guild Region Leaders, which there were 8 of, and it was made up of members who were ‘gym leaders. It was a tournament to see who could get past them, and they then went against the Elite Four.” Those people that were able to defeat 12 of the top Pokemon trainers in the Guild were awarded the prize of a digital download of one of the three original Pokemon games re-released this year as part of the 20th anniversary celebra-
tial victim privately and lead them away from the situation. Put yourself in that person’s shoes. Help them make the first move to help themselves. For more information on an active bystander’s role in bullying, visit http://us.reachout. com/facts/factsheet/ bystanders-role-in-bullying To take the pledge to end sexual violence (and find out information), visit www.itsonus.org
The First Amendment 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 peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.