THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Tuesday November 9, 2010
VOLUME 124, ISSUE 56
www.THEDAONLINE.com
Student death shocks close friends BY TRAVIS CRUM CITY EDITOR
A West Virginia University student died Sunday morning in the District Apartments, University officials confirmed. The student’s name could not be released and a cause of death has yet to be determined, said John Bolt, director of News and Information Services. However, the student’s roommates have identified him as Neville Williams, a 20-year-old junior general studies major, who lived in the 1200 block of
the District Apartments. Steven Hynson, a sophomore business major who was Williams’ roommate and high school friend, said Williams began complaining of flu-like symptoms early last week. “He said he felt like he had the flu, and he was vomiting,” Hynson said. Williams’ other roommate, Taylor Lewis, a freshman exercise physiology major, said Williams was talking about being dehydrated for most of last week. “For the past week he didn’t really do much. He was just
hanging around the house,” he said. Lewis said he believes Williams contracted meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Hynson, Lewis and a third roommate have moved in with friends until their apartment has been cleared of contamination, Lewis said. Williams’ death came as a shock to those who lived with him, said Meaghan Clark, a freshman pre-journalism major who lives in the apartment be-
low Williams. “I get the phone call that he passed away, and I was completely shocked,” Clark said. “I was down there every day. He complained about headaches, but we thought it was the stomach flu and that he could sleep it off.” Williams will always be remembered by his friends as someone who put others before himself, Clark said. “Neville was the coolest guy ever. He was carefree and had no worries,” she said. “Everyone liked Neville. If you didn’t like
Neville, something was wrong with you.” Hynson said he will remember Williams as someone who was never without a smile. It has been difficult for those who knew him, but everyone has come together to offer each other support, he said. “It’s tough, and it’s hard, but we’re getting through it,” Hynson said. Arianna Pinion, a 21-year-old Morgantown resident who was a close friend of Williams, said he was never alone and was loved by everyone he met.
He loved playing X-box and taking care of his dog, Tyson, she said. “He always had friends around him. He never had anything negative to say and always brought a huge smile upon everyone’s face,” Pinion said. Shanleigh Buck, a junior psychology major, said Williams changed her life in the 10 months she knew him. “Neville Williams is someone who enters a person’s life and will forever change them,” Buck
Coliseum parking policy changes expected today
‘Living history’
by melanie hoffman managing editor
Tara Mayle/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Actors Michael Krebs, left, and Debra Miller, right, act as President Abraham Lincoln and his wife while speaking to fifth graders at the Lincoln Literacy Program at the Erickson Alumni Center Monday morning.
Children learn about Lincoln’s life through WVU-sponsored actors by samantha cossick associate city editor
More than 700 local elementary students saw history come alive at the West Virginia University’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship Education’s program on Abraham Lincoln. The students heard from President Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd on their marriage, the Civil War and his work as a lawyer as part of the Lincoln Literacy Program. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln were played by Michael Krebs and Debra Miller, professional actors from Chicago, said Robert Waterson, director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship Education. “Bringing in live individuals that represent our history give us a better perception on what their struggles were,” Waterson said. “It brings history alive.” Waterson got the idea to invite Krebs and Miller to WVU after seeing them perform at the Chicago History Museum, he said. The CDCE then purchased
about 800 copies of the book “Abraham Lincoln: A Photographic Story of Life” and distributed it to fifth grade teachers in local elementary schools, Waterson said. The teachers incorporated the book and information on Lincoln into their lesson plans, he said. “We were invited to come and thought it was a great opportunity for the students,” said Diana Zelenak, a fifth grade teacher at East Dale Elementary school. The students at East Dale have been reading the book and focused on Lincoln as a poet, said Pam McQuain, also a fifth grade teacher at East Dale Elementary school. The children wrote original poems about Lincoln as part of their lessons before coming to see the Lincolns in person, she said. Krebs read some of Lincoln’s original poems to the children during the event as well as excepts from the Gettysburg Address.
see lincoln on PAGE 2
staff writer
With $14 million in gift donations during the first quarter of this fiscal year, the West Virginia University Foundation has almost matched the amount raised during the first quarter of 2009. Although the Foundation cannot accurately predict the amount of gifts they will receive, this year’s numbers are follow-
ing a similar pattern to last year’s first 90 days, said Wayne King, president and CEO of the WVU Foundation. “This is reason for encouragement given the circumstances in the economy and all the uncertainty these days,” King said. The Foundation’s goal for the 2010 fiscal year is to raise $65 million, King said. That goal can fluctuate, though, depending on the economy and when people can donate.
59° /35°
MEET THE IDOLS
INSIDE
Check out a profile of Idol Dan Whiteman. 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
The West Virginia University Faculty Senate approved a motion Monday to investigate the decision-making process in the change to the Coliseum’s parking policy on men’s basketball gamedays. The motion was approved with a 52-17 vote, and five people abstained. The Athletic Department made the decision and announced it Thursday night prior to the Friday exhibition game, said Michael Szul, associate athletic director for business operations at WVU, and charged $20 to park in the only free lot on campus when the team plays. Students, faculty and staff park at the Coliseum and cross Monongahela Boulevard to the Engineering Campus to take the PRT or go to class. Bernard Schreurs, a professor in WVU’s physiology department, created the motion. Russ Dean, senior associate provost for Academic Affairs, said though he does not disagree with creating this motion, the Athletic Department is currently having meetings with faculty and staff to “solve the
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Where do you plan to park when the Coliseum is restricted on gamedays? “I will either park in paid parking, which is always crowded or at Kroger and walk,” –Muhannah Kamal, senior Industrial Engineering major “I’ll probably try to park downtown or at a fast food place, where I’ll probably get towed. I might just stay home,” – Michael Pool, freshman Engineering major “My dad works at Advance Auto Parts on the boulevard so I can park there or maybe take the Westover Parking Ride Program,” – Melissa Ackerman, freshman business major
Photos and reporting by Brooke Cassidy
New time management system errors need resolved before use BY TRAVIS CRUM CITY EDITOR
Tara Mayle/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Listeners raise their hands to participate in the Abraham Lincoln reenactment Monday morning at the Erickson Alumni Center.
Foundation receives $4 million in donations by sarah o’rourke
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“Timing depends entirely on each donor’s circumstances as to when he or she makes a gift,” he said. The donor base for the Foundation is composed of alumni, friends of WVU and various corporations, foundations and small businesses, King said. The Foundation reaches out to potential donors in many ways such as in-person visits, events, phone calls, electronic communication and newslet-
ters, said William Nevin, director of communications for the Foundation. There is no maximum or minimum amount a donor can give to WVU, King said. “Over the last few years, we’ve seen gifts as small as $1 and some up to $25 million,” he said. About 97 percent of donations received are restricted by the donor who states how they intend
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HIRING ASSOC. CITY EDITOR Inquire about paid positions at The Daily Athenaeum at DA-editor@mail.wvu.edu or pick up an application at our office at 284 Prospect St.
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INSIDE THIS EDITION The West Virginia rifle team won two meets over the weekend against Memphis and Murray State. SPORTS PAGE 8.
More improvements are needed to the new My Access time management system before it can be fully implemented, according to members of West Virginia University’s Faculty Senate Monday. My Access, which was installed this summer, is meant to replace Kronos, WVU’s current clocking system, said Narvel Weese, vice president for Administration and Finance. The time management system would benefit employees because it can accurately keep track of overtime and vacation hours on a biweekly basis, he said. However, some faculty such as Donald Hall, a professor of English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, said the new system gave error messages and delays. The system can not make the full transition until all the errors are resolved, he said. The transition would not happen until the University
was comfortable with the system and its performance, Weese said. Currently, potential overtime employees must swipe in at both Kronos and My Access stations, he said. “We’re not going to roll it out until we know it has the capacity to pay people accurately,” Weese said. Weese said he was unsure of the date the University would make the transition. In a Sept. 13 meeting, the Faculty Senate agreed to make the transition by Jan. 1, 2011. Also during the meeting, Nigel Clark, chair of the Strategic Planning Council, gave an update on the 2020 Strategic Plan. The plan outlines many of the University’s goals such as boosting research, fostering diversity and international activity and advancing the quality of life in the state. The plan is meant to be broad so that it can be concise, Clark said. “If you think we have not
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WOMEN IN NCAA TOURNEY One day after winning the Big East Conference Tournament, the West Virginia women’s soccer team was selected to play in the NCAA Tournament. SPORTS PAGE 10