The DA 10-19-2010

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Tuesday October 19, 2010

VOLUME 124, ISSUE 42

www.THEDAONLINE.com

Trojan: WVU No. 15 in sexual health BY MELISSA CANDOLFI STAFF WRITER

West Virginia University ranked 15 out of 141 colleges nationwide on the 2010 Trojan Sexual Health Report Card conducted by Sperling’s BestPlaces Research Company. The rankings serve as a way for students and staff at WVU to see how the University makes progress toward sexual health compared to other colleges. The research does not look at sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases but bases it off of the resources that are provided to students on sexual health,

said Bert Sperling, president of Sperling’s BestPlaces. This is the fifth year for the survey, which looks at 12 categories, such as health center hours, availability of sexual awareness programs, contraception and condom availability and cost, HIV testing and cost, and the availability of sexual assault programs. “The more information students receive to be healthy is better for them,” Sperling said. “They can make their own decisions regarding sexual health and their activities.” It is difficult for students to see what issues colleges are fac-

ing in terms of sexual health, so the research gives them an opportunity to compare colleges, he said. WVU ranked 20 on the 2009 Trojan Sexual Health Report Card, so it is encouraging to see the University has moved higher, said Sera Mathew, WELL WVU Wellness and Health Promotion graduate assistant. Students care about their health and respond to education programs they can relate to, she said. “WELL WVU offers a wide range of services on campus like the Condom Caravan, STD testing and counseling, family plan-

ning services and sexual assault prevention education,” Mathew said. In addition, the rankings not only help students but also parents, Sperling said. “By seeing this, they know their kids are getting the care they need,” he said. Parents and students care about sexual health at campuses, especially when first applying, Mathew said. “WELL WVU is working towards making this campus healthier and to ensure students have a wide range of

see HEALTH on PAGE 2

2010 Trojan Sexual Health Report Card Top 15

1. Columbia University 2. Michigan State University 3. Ohio State University - Main Campus 4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 5. Brown University 6. University of Iowa 7. University of Oregon 8. Princeton University 9. Rutgers University – New Brunswick 10. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities 11. Western Michigan University 12. Cornell University – Endowed Colleges 13. Yale University 14. Pennsylvania State University – Main Campus 15. West Virginia University

Bottom 15

127. University of New Orleans 128. Arkansas State University – Main Campus 129. St. John’s University – New York 130. Troy State University – Main Campus 131. Clemson University 132. University of Notre Dame 133. Louisiana Tech University 134. University of Louisiana Aat Lafayette 135. The University of Alabama at Birmingham 136. Auburn University – Main Campus 137. Chicago State University 138. Marshall University 139. DePaul University 140. Brigham Young University 141. University of Idaho

Students travel the world in Morgantown ap

West Virginia senatorial candidates Republican John Raese, left, Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson, second from left, and Constitutional Party candidate Jeff Becker, listen to West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, right, speak during a Senate debate in the studios of West Virginia Public Broadcasting in Morgantown, W.Va. Monday.

Mining safety, health care major topics in debate BY TRAVIS CRUM CITY EDITOR

Matt Sunday/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

The International Festival at WVU attracts many students from outside the United States. One student, Eid Alhawiti, a Saudi Arabian freshman computer engineering major, visits a booth to learn about Jordan.

International Festival highlights diversity and cultures at University by nick ashley staff writer

Students of all ages traveled around the world while never leaving West Virginia University at Monday’s International Festival. The University invited elementary, middle and high school students from all over the area including Pennsylvania and Maryland, said Karen Bird, international student adviser for the Office of International Students & Scholars. “Our main purpose is to educate students, especially the youth,” Bird said. “So many young students have never been around other cultures, and this event provides a life–long education for them.” The visiting students were given passports to participate in activities of the 23rd annual Matt Sunday/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM International Festival, she said. “The passports that are creShohreh Amini, a student at WVU pursuing her PHD in petroleum engineering, dances in a traditional Persian style at the International Festival. ated have several questions in-

side about the different cultures at the Festival,” Bird said. “Students then respond and visit the different sites that are set up for them.” The event, sponsored by OISS, highlighted countries such as China, Iran, Brazil, Jordan, Nigeria, Romania, Thailand, Mexico, Peru and more. Michelle Leversee, a Spanish teacher at Morgantown High School, has attended the event for seven years. Each year, her students are assigned to speak to someone at the Festival in Spanish, she said. “I bring students here to see the countries that are represented,” Leversee said. “This leads to global awareness, and the event provides hands on activities, which is great to see.” The Festival is a chance for people to learn about different cultures and gain information they may not know, said

see festival on PAGE 2

Safe sex promoted on campus with cheap condoms by Melissa Candolfi STAFF WRITER

The Greek community at West Virginia University and WELL WVU teamed up to promote safe sex Sunday. The two paired to hold the first ever “Wrap It Up” event. The goal was to influence students to practice safe sex, become educated on sexual health and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. “It is not just handing out condoms,” Sera Mathew, Wellness Graduate Assistant said.

“Anyone can do that; we are trying to educate the students to practice safe sex.” Wrap It Up is part of WELL WVU’s “loveWELL” month, also promoting MTV’s “Get Yourself Tested” campaign. WELL WVU and members of fraternities and sororities were at a booth near the Mountainlair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Mathew said the event is different than other safe-sex events since students were getting information from other WVU students rather than the University.

62° /41°

GUITAR MAN

INSIDE

A profile of acoustic-pop singer and WVU student Nick Cozine. A&E PAGE 5

MOSTLY SUNNY

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

WELL WVU thought teaming up with Greek members would be more influential to the students since they aren’t hearing facts from their parents or doctors. A major part of health education is peer influence, she said. “Since the Greeks are students who are showing they care about safe sex, other students may take it more seriously,” she said. Mathew said that since the Condom Caravan was selling condoms at five condoms for a dollar, it is much more affordable and sensible then buying

condoms at a drug store. “Most people feel uncomfortable going into CVS and buying condoms,” she said. “Here the students are influenced by their peers and can buy cheap condoms.” Mathew said all the money that is earned goes back to WELL WVU to buy more condoms for future events. In future months, WELL WVU plans to hold Condom Caravans at various locations on campus. They will be selling condoms at similar prices, she said.

see condoms 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 THIS EDITION The West Virginia men’s soccer team faces No. 5 Connecticut today in a crucial Big East Conference matchup. SPORTS PAGE 10

Four West Virginia Senate candidates discussed health care, coal mining safety and campaign attack ads during a televised debate Monday in Morgantown. Hosted by West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism and the Associated Press, the debate was the only one scheduled to feature all four candidates. Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Democrat Gov. Joe Manchin, Republican John Raese, the Mountain Party’s Jesse Johnson and Constitution Party’s Jeff Becker took questions from a panel of journalists. The candidates were asked about their stance on the Patient Protection and Affordable

Care Act, which will prohibit denial of health care coverage based on pre-existing conditions, provide incentives for businesses to provide benefits and establish health insurance exchanges. Raese said he would work to repeal the entire act because it takes away the doctor-patient relationship Americans have. “Under ‘Obamacare,’ something Gov. Manchin has always supported, you’re going to have a patient-bureaucrat relationship,” he said. “The first person that that patient will have to go to is a bureaucrat or a panel. I disagree with that.” The act is considered socialism and is the worst bill to come out of the U.S. Senate and Congress, he said. Johnson disagreed with

see debate on PAGE 2

Diversity important to students in 2020 plan BY SARAH O’ROURKE STAFF WRITER

Diversity is the most important aspect of the 2020 Strategic Plan released last week, according to some students at West Virginia University. The new 2020 Strategic Plan will have five main goals that include engaging students in a challenging environment, excelling in research, fostering diversity, advancing international activity and enhancing the quality of life for the people of West Virginia, said University President James P. Clements during the State of the University Address Oct. 11. After reading about the plan, some students formed opinions on the issues it addressed. Akeya Carter–Bozman, a graduate social work student, said the outreach aspect of the plan is a great idea, but other things need to be considered when addressing it. “If you don’t have people at the University already who can relate to international students and give them a one-on-

one experience, then there’s really no point of bringing them,” she said. The plan should focus more on student needs rather than just enhancing diversity within the student body, said Amber Piper, a freshman psychology major. “The plan is very broad,” she said. “I would like to see more specific realistic goals.” Erick Benyak, a junior business management major, was interested in what the plan said regarding diversity. “Its nice to see West Virginia University dedicated to going outside of the state as well as outside of the United States,” he said. “But at the same time, there’s only so much diversity you can have.” Freshman engineering major Raj Sarvaiya heard about the 2020 Strategic Plan when one of his professors spoke about what it included, he said. Promoting and encouraging diversity on campus is a very important issue,

see plan on PAGE 2

DEFENSE DOMINATES West Virginia Head coach Bill Stewart credits defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel for the defense’s ranking in the top 11 in each NCAA category. SPORTS PAGE 10


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