THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Tuesday November 30, 2010
VOLUME 124, ISSUE 65
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Student faces board on hazing charge Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity will learn standing next week BY TRAVIS CRUM CITY EDITOR
Ahmad Alashi, former West Virginia University Student Government Association governor, will face a Student Conduct Board hearing Wednesday for his involvement in an alleged hazing incident that happened at the Phi Sigma Kappa frater-
nity Nov. 14. The Student Conduct Board can punish Alashi, a junior international student industrial engineering major, with anything from a warning letter to possible expulsion from the University. According to reports, University Police Department officers entered the fraternity house, located at 672 North High St., at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 14 after hearing music and seeing an open door. There they found pledges blindfolded and covered in food. Alashi, who is a Phi Sigma
Kappa member, was allegedly slapping those blindfolded in the face. He also ran from police once he was reprimanded and was identified by the other nine members involved. A warrant was out for Alashi’s arrest, and he turned himself in later that afternoon. SGA President Chris Lewallen said he will testify as a character witness on Alashi’s behalf during Wednesday’s conduct meeting. “I just hope he can continue to go to school here,” Lewallen said. Alashi will also face a possible
$100 to $1,000 fine or county or regional jail time no more than nine months, or a fine and imprisonment if found guilty by a state court. Ron Justice, WVU’s director of Student Organizations Services, said his office has already launched an investigation into the incident and the fraternity’s standing at the University. The investigation is based on statements collected from those involved and police reports, he said. Student Organization Services will make a decision on the fraternity’s standing by next
NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, Justice said. Punishments, range from a warning to possible expulsion, and whether the fraternity can remain on campus. “When you have a police report, it’s easier because you have someone to say, ‘this is what happened,’” Justice said. “We are about halfway where we need to be to get it (the investigation) all done.” Hazing is, as defined by the West Virginia State Code, “to cause any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person or per-
managing editor
Story by Tony Dobies – Photos by Chelsi Baker
November 13 WVU 37, CINCINNATI 10
November 20 WVU 17, LOUISVILLE 10
November 26 WVU 35, PITTSBURGH 10
Mountaineers win three in a row, still have BCS shot PITTSBURGH — J.T. Thomas sat on the cold, black bench with his helmet in his lap. He watched as Connecticut hit a field goal in overtime to beat West Virginia. The senior linebacker slumped alone on that bench as the Huskies fans came pouring onto Rentschler Field. It was the feeling of heartbreak
from a loss that put the Mountaineers into a tie for last place in the Big East Conference. Thomas was finally persuaded off the bench and off the field still filled with UConn’s student body. Walking off the field against Connecticut Oct. 24, West Virginia wanted to do one thing.
The Mountaineers, which had just lost two-straight Big East Conference games and sat in last place in the conference, wanted to “Remember November.” That’s exactly what they were able to do. SEE NOVEMBER ON PAGE 2
Fraternity run raises $1K for autism awareness by erin fitzwilliams associate city editor
Members of the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega at West Virginia University and Pittsburgh University ran from Morgantown to Pittsburgh on Nov. 20 to raise money for autism research. The two chapters raised an combined total of approximately $3,000. WVU’s APO raised an estimated $1,000 for the Autism Center of Pittsburgh, said Melissa McGee, APO publicity chair. The event is always centered
on the Backyard Brawl, said Eric Perkuhn, APO president. Thirty-five runners ran the 70 miles from Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Perkuhn said. They always run from the away stadium to the home stadium, he said. Last year they traveled from Pittsburgh to Morgantown. The run featured a relay of the football used in the WVU vs. Pitt game on Nov. 26. The event was planned as a relay event in which three runners
57° / 41°
PROUD PERFORMANCE
INSIDE
The Pride of West Virginia performs in a special concert event. A&E PAGE 5
RAIN, THUNDER, WIND
News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 5 Sports: 7, 8, 10 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 8, 9
would run one-tenth of a mile, stop, and pass on the football to be driven to the next checkpoint. All of the money raised goes toward Autism Speaks, a charity that increases autism awareness and funds research for causes, prevention and treatments. Seven WVU ROTC Army members ran for the first time this year. Cadet Michael Lubinski, senior psychology major and WVU ROTC member, said he coordinated the ROTC cadets to run for the event because of its cause. “I had a lot of fun; got a bit of a
work out though,” Lubinski said. Each runner has to pay a $50 fee to participate, but some runners are sponsored by businesses that donate more. Julia Rine, APO treasurer, said they had more of a turnout this year compared to last. “We had a lot of funding and a lot of people behind us,” she said. “It is my favorite fundraising project. I’ve participated the past two years,” said Lucas Turner, APO vice president of membership. erin.fitzwilliams@mail.wvu.edu
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COMING LATER THIS WEEK West Virginia faces Rutgers this Saturday on Senior Day. For complete coverage of the game, pick up a copy of The Daily Athenaeum all week long.
travis.crum@mail.wvu.edu
Staff eliminates Carruth Center waiting list by Melanie hoffman
West Virginia players celebrate as Pittsburgh defensive back Jarred Holley walks off the field with his head down. The Mountaineers upset the Panthers 35-10 last Friday.
sons or causes another person or persons to destroy or remove public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into any organization ... operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education.” The term includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced physical activity.
The staff at West Virginia University’s WELL WVU Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services has worked to eliminate the more than 30-person waiting list that plagued the center in early November. The staff has shifted its hours, put off “nonessential administrative meetings,” contacted students to discover their availability and moved students depending on how often they need to be seen, said Al Kasprowicz, director of the Carruth Center. “The Carruth Center always wants to be accessible and in every way available for students,” said Cathy Yura, vice president for WELL WVU. “We recognize that asking for help is difficult. We try to base our reputation on making certain that we see students.” The wait list occurs when
students are matched to counselors, Kasprowicz said, and then the schedules become “a bit more tight.” Matching depends on the student’s preference of a female or male counselor, younger or older and the availability of hours, Kasprowicz said. “We’re trying to, on that initial visit, ask students to give as many possible hours as they had so we could more effectively match them,” he said. Of the more than 30-person waiting list, Kasprowicz said more than a dozen students were able to expand their hours. The center called all students on the waiting list, he said. Many students don’t use the Carruth Center from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Kasprowicz said, but
see center on PAGE 2
Local apartments warn students on increased break-ins BY NICK ASHLEY STAFF WRITER
Students at West Virginia University have seen an increase in apartment theft in recent months, police said. The most common items reported stolen are iPods, laptops, jewelry, digital cameras, televisions and GPS devices, said Lt. Harold Sperringer of the Morgantown Police Department. The College Park Apartments, which are owned by the University, were robbed of $5,660 worth of equipment on Nov. 20 at approximately 4:46 p.m. The burglars stole four hot water tanks, two furnace systems, two stoves, one counter top, cabinets, 48 light fixtures, copper metal and tubing, and 16 padlocks, according to the University Police Department’s incident summary report. One of the key factors in helping the police crack down on apartment theft is to communicate with local pawn shops. “Any time something is reported stolen or missing, we send a list of stolen possessions to all the local pawn shops,” Sperringer said. “They report back to us if anything
turns up on the list.” Several apartments have sent out memos to help inform their tenants on how to avoid any possible thefts such as the one at College Park. “We base our notices on news reports that go on in the community,” said Kim Lake, assistant manager for Metro Property Apartments. “Our apartments try to let our residents know what goes on at all times.” Even with information provided to students on the precautions of stolen property, sometimes local residential apartments cannot avoid theft at their buildings. “We had one incident that occurred a few weeks ago that dealt with stolen property. That was the only incident that happened on our property, and the police dealt with the issue immediately,” said Chad Titus, assistant property manager of Mountain Valley Apartments. Some apartments suggest obtaining renters insurance to protect against cases of apartment theft. “We require all of our residents to have renters insurance so that if anything comes up missing it will be taken care of,” said Kristen
see apartments on PAGE 2
BACKYARD BLOWOUT The WVU football team routs Pittsburgh 35-10 last Friday at Heinz Field in annual borderstate rival game. SPORTS PAGE 10