The DA 10-07-2010

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Thursday October 7, 2010

VOLUME 124, ISSUE 34

www.THEDAONLINE.com

226 pedestrians struck in 10 years BY JOSH COOPER STAFF WRITER

The Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board is working to address problems related to pedestrian-vehicle injuries in Morgantown. From Jan. 1998 to June 2008, 226 pedestrian-vehicle injuries were reported, according to a report conducted by Christen Seaman of West Virginia University’s Injury Control Research Center. The most dangerous intersections in Morgantown are between Spruce and Wal-

nut streets; High and Willey streets; and South University Avenue and Pleasant Street, the study states. Most pedestrian-vehicle accidents occurred in the early evening hours, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and in transitional months, such as September, October and April, according to the study. A lack of funding from the state and underdeveloped alternate transportation systems may contribute to the pedestrian-vehicle problem in Morgantown, said Bill Reger-Nash, vice chairperson of the Pedes-

trian Safety Board. “West Virginia is dead last when it come to alternate transportation contribution,” he said. Currently, only about 0.5 percent of federal transportation money is put toward alternate transportation, RegerNash said. “We can’t solve our transportation problems by building new roads. We need smarter methods of transportation,” he said. The Safety Board is working to address pedestrian problems in Morgantown by deal-

ing with problems that arise when walking and reviewing statistics. The board is currently working to correct problems such as lighting, warning signs and right and left turns at red lights to make Morgantown a safer place for pedestrians, said Christiaan Abildso, chair of the Safety Board. “We’re analyzing police reports from the last five years to look at pedestrian-vehicle accidents,” Abildso said. Jaywalking is another contributing factor to pedestrianvehicle accidents, he said.

More fun than a toothache

Pedestrians often cross roads when the signal says not to walk. Even if there is no traffic and a pedestrian uses a crosswalk, it is still considered jaywalking, Abildso said. However, if there is a yellow pedestrian crosswalk sign, such as those on High Street, a pedestrian may legally cross the road at any time, he said. This year, two WVU students have been struck in crosswalks on the Evansdale Campus. On Oct. 2, Victoria Gonzalez, a freshman pre-journalism major, was struck by a vehicle at approximately 4:30 p.m. at a

Group does not receive grant after miscommunication staff writer

Tara Mayle/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

School of Dentistry allows children to tour museum during October BY MELISSA CANDOLFI STAFF WRITER

The West Virginia University School of Dentistry is celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month by hosting tours of the Museum of Dentistry. The school is showcasing the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry’s “MouthPower” exhibit. It will be held Oct. 6 to Oct. 25. The exhibit will give tours to children in kindergarten through third grade. The students will be guided through eight hands-on learning stations, which include building a tooth, learning to brush and floss, saying no to smoking, tobacco and its effects on teeth and eating healthy. The goal of the experiences will hopefully encourage the children to maintain a healthy oral lifestyle, said Louise

Veselicky, interim dean of the School of Dentistry. “It will improve behaviors like going to the dentist and getting people to take good care of their teeth,” she said. Amy Johns, director of public affairs for the Health Sciences Center, said the exhibit features a large mouth and toothbrush to allow the children to learn proper brushing and flossing skills. This is the first time the museum has come to WVU, Johns said. WVU is the only dental school in the state, Veselicky said. She hopes by offering an exhibit like this it will encourage the citizens to be more aware of their oral health. “There is more and more research showing that if your mouth is healthy, your body Tara Mayle/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM is more healthy,” she said. Jennifer Wolfe, left, and Dena Reichen, right, run the ‘Play the MouthPower Game’ station Wednesday morning at the Health Sciences Center. This station showed the difference over time the amount of brushing teeth has on the teeth and gums. see dentistry on PAGE 2

Disney internships offer benefits, experience by nick ashley staff writer

FOR MORE INFORMATION

A magical experience, a paid internship and college credit are up for grabs for West Virginia University students. The Disney College Program is an opportunity for students to work with the Walt Disney Company in either Orlando, Fla., or Anaheim, Calif. “It’s a great opportunity for students at the University. We send about 50 students a year,” said Sherri Lilly, faculty advi-

Students interested in the Disney College Program can attend the information session on Oct. 11 or 12 at 6 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre.

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WINDY

INSIDE News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 5, 7 Sports: 8, 9, 11 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 10

sor for the program and event coordinator at the WVU Career Services Center. The program gives students the chance to work for the Walt Disney Company as interns for either four months or six

PINK AT WVU

The Victoria’s Secret PINK concert begins at 5 p.m. today. A&E PAGE 5

months beginning in January, Lilly said. Students have become increasingly interested in the program, and WVU has begun to grant college credit for the internship as well, she said. Participants of the program can gain up to 12 college credits each semester through various departments, Lilly said. There are currently 25 members of the Disney College Program at WVU, she said. Steve O’Neil, a senior marketing major, was part of the

program for two years. “One of the hidden advantages is the networking,” O’Neil said. “It’s a great place to meet people during the jobs that you aspire to do in the future.” Participating in the Disney College Program gave Mike Fontanesi, a junior marketing major, the opportunity to meet other students from all over the country as well as international students.

see disney on PAGE 2

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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 THIS EDITION The West Virginia men’s soccer team could not keep an early lead en route to a 1-1 tie with Elon. SPORTS PAGE 8.

joshua.cooper@mail.wvu.edu

student government association

by SaRah o’rourke

Cheat Lake Elementary third graders visit the ‘Let’s Brush and Floss’ station at the MouthPower exhibit while Dental hygienist Jen Grilli, right, explains the proper way to brush and floss teeth on the giant model of a mouth. Students could take turns brushing the mouth.

crosswalk on Evansdale Drive near Towers. Gonzalez sustained bruising to her face and the left side of her body, a black eye and a cut above her left eye as a result of the incident. In April, Jason Forman, a sophomore engineering major, was hit by a Mountain Line bus while using the crosswalk near the Student Recreation Center. Forman sustained a fractured wrist and trauma to his body from the incident.

The West Virginia University Student Government Association tabled a vote for a grant request at its Wednesday meeting after a miscommunication. The Indian Student Association applied for a SGA grant, it but failed to attend Wednesday’s meeting. According to the Student Body constitution, approved during February’s election, members of the organizations must be present at the meeting before grants can be approved. SGA will vote on the grant request when the two groups meet. SGA Treasurer Shannon Veyon said there was communication issues between the group’s adviser and the ISA member who submitted the grant application. She said she was in contact with both parties. The Student Body Constitution also states SGA’s treasurer must facilitate, monitor and promote the access of student organizations that apply for grants. Chief of Staff Dan-

iel Brummage spoke on behalf of the ISA during open student forum, stating the organization was unaware it was necessary to attend the meeting. No one from the group could attend after such short notice, he said. “This is the biggest event held in the Mountainlair all year,” he said. “Almost a thousand people attend this event, and it’s the kickoff for International Week. They really need this money this week, so it’s really ultra-time sensitive.” Attorney General Matt Gutta responded by explaining that ISA has worked with SGA in the past and should have been aware of the regulations for the grant approval process. Gutta informed the Board it can handle the situation “retroactively.” “If, for some reason, they can go and have their event and apply for a grant retroactively then we can grant that to them within the next week,” he said. “It is a group’s responsibility to be here whenever they present this.” SGA President Chris

see sga on PAGE 2

University goes pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness month By Jessica Leppar Staff writer

The West Virginia University Mountaineers bleed blue and gold but are donning pink this month. Pink OneWVU shirts are being handed out to the West Virginia University community in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The shirts are part of the OneWVU campaign developed by the President’s Office for Social Justice in collaboration with the cancer center at Ruby Memorial Hospital, said Charles Morris, associate director for Social Justice. “It’s a way of communicating that when we articulate that we are one WVU, that includes everybody,” he said. “A part of that is making sure that we are healthy and that we’re taking care of each other.” The shirts are handed out during meetings and events, but all members of the WVU community are welcome to pick one up in Stewart Hall, said Jennifer McIntosh, executive officer for Social Justice. Other members of the WVU

community are also supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month in many ways. WVU’s main website is displaying a pink background this week in support of the month. Several of WVU’s athletic teams are involved in raising awareness. The WVU football team will wear pink ribbon stickers on their helmets throughout the entire month, said Mike Fragale, assistant athletic director for communications. The WVU volleyball team is hosting a “Dig Pink” night during their Oct. 8 game against Georgetown during which fans are encouraged to wear pink, he said. In addition, the WVU men’s soccer team is hosting a “Think Pink” night and the women’s soccer team will be wearing pink during their Oct. 17th game against Georgetown, Fragale said. Members of the women’s soccer team will also present a check of money they raised to fight breast cancer at the game. The women’s basketball

see pink on PAGE 2

JOCK CLOSE TO RECORD West Virginia senior slot receiver Jock Sanders needs just 31 receptions to be the school’s all-time leader. SPORTS PAGE 8


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