The DA 09-21-2010

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Tuesday September 21, 2010

VOLUME 124, ISSUE 22

www.THEDAONLINE.com

PRT upgrades to decrease wait time BY TRAVIS CRUm CITY EDITOR

Two multimillion dollar projects are expected to upgrade the PRT at West Virginia University in less than a year. The upgrades won’t correct the PRT’s heating, ventilation and cooling problems, but will decrease waiting time, said Arlie Forman, associate director of the PRT, in an e-mail. The projects include renovations to the PRT’s on-board computer system and vehicle propulsion system, he said. The on-board computer system project is expected to be done by the end of 2010 and

the propulsion system done in about a year, Forman said. The projects will provide 11 new on-board computer systems and five new propulsion units, he said. “We anticipate this will increase the fleet size thus reducing the amount of wait time at stations,” Forman said. The on-board computer system will cost $1.6 million and will require an additional $3.56 million to outfit the rest of the vehicles, he said. The vehicle propulsion system will cost $7.2 million and will take an additional $7.64 million to outfit the rest of the fleet, Forman said.

Recently, the PRT has been experiencing problems with the vehicle’s HVAC system at the Medical Center PRT. The Medical Center PRT was out of operation Sept. 14 through Sept. 16 due to a primary and secondary cooling system failure, he said. “Due to the tremendous heat generated by the old computer hardware, which runs the station, and with the lack of replacement components, the station had to be shut down in order to avoid permanent computer damage,” Forman said. Replacement parts had to be ordered and shipped to make the repairs, he said.

The Medical Center PRT was in operation Saturday morning at 3 a.m., in time for the football game, he said. PRT staff worked until 7 a.m. Saturday to ensure it was operational. Upgrades to the on-board computer system and vehicle propulsion system would not correct the problems with the HVAC, Forman said. “(HVAC) replacement is the best option, and we plan to replace the system at Medical Center Station soon since it has been giving us a lot of trouChelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM ble,” he said. Students get in a PRT vehicle on its way to the Engineering station Monday. Problems with Thursday, the PRT system the air conditioning system inside the vehicles have caused the PRT to malfunction over the past several days. Future upgrades, to be finished by the end of 2010, are being made see prt on PAGE 2 to help resolve PRT system problems.

Flipping for Campus Cup

Students unaware of new Student Health Center by nick ashley staff writer

Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Residents of Lyon Tower dance during the Campus Cup on the Mountainlair Green Monday evening.

Competition between residence halls has pride, plaque at stake BY TRAVIS CRUM CITY EDITOR

Students in each of West Virginia University’s residence halls will compete for the Campus Cup and bragging rights as the “best hall on campus.” Monday night marked the Opening Ceremonies with a tug-of-war competition. Braxton Tower won the competition in a finale with Lincoln Hall. “We definitely have the most residents that come out, even if they don’t play, they support us,” said Mercedes Jones, resident adviser at Braxton Tower. Last year was the first year Braxton Tower did not get first or second place, Jones said. This year they hope to Chelsi Baker/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM make a comeback and win Freshman biochemistry major Nicholas Scholz, right, clotheslines freshman petroleum en- bragging rights, as well as the gineering major Cody Smith, left, during a skit put on by members of Bennet Tower Mon- Campus Cup plaque. day afternoon. The skit was part of the opening ceremony of the Campus Cup, a competi“We call ourselves the ‘hall tion among dorms on the Downtown and Evansdale campuses. of winners’ because we are

the engineering dorm,” Jones said. “We have a lot of athletes and scholars that come out to play.” Sunita Doktorski, wellness coordinator for Lincoln Hall, said her dorm did an amazing job by coming in second place to Braxton in the tugof-war competition. “Braxton always has the best turnout, but I’m proud of us because we got this team together in the last minute,” Doktorski said. Justin “TEX” Griffiths, president of the Residence Hall Association, said the Campus Cup is a great way for freshmen to meet friends. “It’s a good way to get active in the WVU community,” Griffiths said. “It’s an opportunity to meet people in your hall and from other halls, too.” Other activities will take place between today and Friday until one hall is

see cup on PAGE 2

Stolen street signs an ongoing issue for city by erin fitzwilliams staff writer

Replacing stolen street signs costs the city of Morgantown about $60,000 each year. The issue has been brought up in past City Council meetings; however, the council has yet to address the issue. Councilor Charlie Byrer said police, fire and emergency vehicles are unable to locate homes due to inadequate or missing signs. Byrer has suggested the

fine for stealing street signs be raised to $500 and a reward be offered to anyone with information on the theft. Currently, anyone found stealing a street sign would be charged with vandalism, said Dan Boroff, city manager of Morgantown. Anyone found with stolen street signs can be charged for possession of stolen goods even if they didn’t steal the sign, said Brent Burton, assistant city attorney. Most street sign charges end

86° / 66°

RANDY TRAVIS

INSIDE

Country superstar Randy Travis in a DA interview. A&E PAGE 5

SUNNY

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

up being possession of stolen property, which does not result in jail time, Burton said. “Under those, we have a fine up to $500, and we have instances where they require restitution,” he said. In the past, the Morgantown Police Department has tried to crack down on the theft and vandalism of street signs, Boroff said. Mayor Bill Byrne said the missing signs are an ongoing issue, and the replacement costs are too much for the city.

“It does seem to happen in cycles. But it’s really just immature vandalism,” Boroff said. There have been instances of people not only stealing the street signs but also the poles they are on, he said. Students at West Virginia University are believed to be the ones taking the street signs from their neighborhoods or their streets of residence, Boroff said. “It does appear to happen

see signs on PAGE 2

CHECK US OUT ON iWVU In addition to our print coverage, The Daily Athenaeum posts version of its print edition on iWVU. Download it in the iTunes Store.

CONTACT US Newsroom 304-293-5092 or DAnewsroom@mail.wvu.edu Advertising 304-293-4141 or DA-Ads@mail.wvu.edu Fax 304-293-6857

INSIDE TODAY’S EDITION Get to know West Virginia’s new soccer coach Tina Samara. Why was she selected over the other candidates? SPORTS PAGE 8

The newly approved plans for the construction of an improved Student Health Center is something West Virginia University has discussed for decades. However, some students at WVU have yet to learn about the plans or what they entail. Brian Ruehle, a junior multidisciplinary studies major, said he works at the Student Recreation Center and drives around the proposed construction site on the Evansdale Campus every day. However, he still didn’t know about the new facility. “I go to the Rec Center often, and I have even seen the Wellness University tags,” said Francesca Pascucci, a sophomore pre-occupational therapy major. “But I have not heard anything about it.” The new facility is proposed to be located at the Printing Services and Copy center near the Rec Center. Senior industrial engineer-

ing major Mike Austin, elementary education graduate student Austin Hamilton and sophomore sports and exercise psychology major Fernando Said said this was the first time they heard about the new facility. “I have not heard anything at all,” said Michael Denman, a junior political science major and Erin Montgomery, a senior psychology and anthropology major. Janae Roberts, a freshman general studies major, said she walks past the proposed construction area all the time for WVU Dance Team practice. “No one has mentioned anything about this to students,” Roberts said. Some student said they found out about the new facility through their Mountaineer Information Express account. Others said they only heard about it years ago. “When I used to work at the Rec Center we discussed it about two years ago,” said

see facility on PAGE 2

student government association

SGA members discuss new pedestrian path, textbook prices in DC BY SARAH O’ROURKE CORRESPONDENT

Student Government Association members met in Washinton, D.C., Thursday to talk about issues facing West Virginia University. Chris Lewallen, SGA president, and other SGA members, met with Rep. Alan Mollohan’s staff member to address a new pedestrian path and textbook prices. “The main reason we went to the meeting was to thank Congressman Mollohan for all his years of service to Monongalia County and WVU,” Lewallen said. “We also discussed appropriations for the Campus Connector.” The Campus Connector is a proposed trail that would begin on 8th Street near Grant Avenue and connect the Evansdale campus, Lewallen said. The estimated cost of the path is approximately $700,000. The Campus Connector has been an initiative of SGA for about four years, he said. Lewallen said he hopes to finally complete the project with his administration.

“The trail promotes walking instead of driving or taking the PRT and encourages a healthy way of living,” Lewallen said. The path has to meet the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. SGA is looking for federal and state funding for the project, he said. “We’re aware Congressman Mollohan has 28 years of service and knows who to contact and the people to talk to about funding,” he said. SGA City Council Liaison Nelson France was also present at the meeting. “We understand the Campus Connector costs upwards of $700,000 and we need to have support,” France said. “We’re looking at different avenues to support the situation and deal with them effectively.” SGA plans to have as much presence as possible in Charleston and in Washington, D.C., France said. Another meeting has been planned with Congressman Mollohan next month. Mollohan might come to campus, he

see dc on PAGE 2

WVU REPS BIG EAST The West Virginia football team heads to No. 15 LSU this weekend to take on the Tigers in what is expected to be a big game for the Big East. SPORTS PAGE 10


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