THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
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Thursday February 10, 2011
VOLUME 124, ISSUE 97
www.THEDAONLINE.com
Hearing dates set for local stabbings BY TRAVIS CRUM CITY EDITOR
Two arraignment hearings have been set and another postponed for three individuals involved in separate stabbings in January. Joseph A Jennings, 24 of Flushing, N.Y., was arrested and charged with malicious wounding on Jan. 30 for his involvement in an altercation in which a West Virginia University student was stabbed four times inside the Mountainlair garage. Jennings was scheduled to have an arraignment Wednesday, but the case has been con-
tinued with no future date set. According to Jennings’ criminal complaint, WVU Police Officer T.E. Thomas was sent to Ruby Memorial Hospital to check on a man who went to the emergency room with stab wounds. Thomas spoke with Shawn Michael Gifford, a pre-business and economics major, who said his friends and another group of friends got into an argument. Gifford said he was punched in the face by a man when he stepped in to intervene in the argument between the two groups. It wasn’t until he went home that he realized he had been stabbed. He then went to the
hospital where he was treated for one stab wound to the chest, one wound to the left side rib, one wound to the left hip and one stab wound in his left leg. Jennings was later identified as the man who did the stabbing. He is not a WVU student. In Jennings’ statement, he said he was being punched in the head by several men and swung a pocket knife in the men’s direction in self defense. WVU Police Chief Bob Roberts said the argument started between the groups over whose hometown was better. There is no immediate threat to the University, and the altercation is
considered an isolated incident, Roberts said. “As long as you avoid getting into altercations, either verbal or with people who are becoming aggressive, you’ll be fine,” he said. “The best thing to do is to walk away or call the police.” A separate stabbing incident occurred on Jan. 29 at the Chateau Royale Apartments. Robert E. Brunswick, 20, of Morgantown, was charged with malicious assault and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. His twin brother, William David Brunswick, was also charged with possession of a controlled substance
Sustainable Awareness Week
with intent to distribute. Williams and Robert are both multidisciplinary studies majors. Both brothers have hearing dates set for Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m. According to the Brunswicks’ criminal complaint, West Virginia State Troopers were sent to The District Apartments for a report of a stabbing at 6 p.m. on Jan 30. There, the troopers saw Timothy Flynn in the parking lot on his knees. Flynn had two stab wounds on his legs and his head had cuts and bumps on it. Two witnesses said Flynn was assaulted during a drug deal that was made at the Chateau Royale
staff writer
Brooke Cassidy/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Water conservation teaches students to shorten showers, teeth brushing by gina damato staff writer
Sustainable Awareness Week has had students at West Virginia University focusing on water and energy conservation. The sustainability week is sponsored by Student Government Association, WECAN and SustainU, an American clothing company which uses recycled fibers for universities and colleges. Energy conservation is today’s theme for Sustainable Awareness Week and will include giveways such as SustainU T-shirts compact fluorescent light bulbs and light switch covers. The booth will be in the Mountainlair 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Water conservation was Brooke Cassidy/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Wednesday’s activity and stuFront to back, senior management major Isaac Perkins, senior public relations major dents were given the opportuLauren Paslawsky and sophomore elementary education major Chelsea Allen register nity to find out how much waonline for the sustainability pledge in the Mountainlair Wednesday. ter they actually use. T-shirts
shower timers and water bottles were offered as giveaways. SGA Gov. Olivia Audia said the Mountainlair booth gave students the opportunity to fill out a survey that asks questions about their water consumption. “They can see how much water they actually use in the shower or by leaving the water on when brushing their teeth,” Audia said. “We are trying to get students to be more sustainable in all aspects, and water conservation is one of them. It’s surprising to see how much water is consumed everyday.” Nick Marks, a senior multidisciplinary studies major and intern for the Office of Sustainability, said students could also take the pledge, promising to conserve more water. “It was surprising how much
see water on PAGE 2
Professor to study treatment for nightmares BY JOEL MORALES STAFF WRITER
Michael Nadorff, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at West Virginia University, is developing a study that empowers individuals to alter their own dreams. The study, which is Nadorff’s dissertation, uses imagery rehearsal therapy to map individuals’ sleep in an effort to prevent bad dreams. “We know that 15 percent of students have clinically significant nightmares,” said Amy Fiske, an assistant professor
of clinical psychology who is overseeing the study. “We are trying to figure out how effective this treatment can be to help people who suffer from nightmares.” The study is looking at how the treatment affects nightmares on a day-to-day basis by tracking nightmares and sleep, Nadorff said. He is currently collecting participants for the study. “We will be tracking nightmares and sleep on a very small level where other studies have looked over a span of months,” he said. “We want to
26° / 11°
DANCE TIME
INSIDE
Students help raise money for Childrens’ Hospital through dance. A&E PAGE 5
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News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 5, 7, 8 Sports: 13, 14, 16 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 15
know how quickly improvements are made and how big they are.” Nadorff’s use of imagery rehearsal therapy places those receiving the treatment in the position to make the nightmare into whatever dream they want. “They’re the ones behind it,” Nadorff said. “It’s up to them in how they change the dream.” He hopes the study will investigate a possible treatment more thoroughly, while giving people access to the treatment. “We have run this study through the institutional re-
view board, and they seem to think it will work fine,” Fiske said. “I’ve done this myself, so we’re focused on figuring out how it works.” Participants will begin the study at Quin Curtis Center, located in the Life Sciences Building, where any potential nightmares will be tracked for a couple weeks. Participants will then be individually subjected to treatment at least one week apart from the other participants, and have their
see nightmares on PAGE 2
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INSIDE THIS EDITION Which West Virginia men’s basketball player needs to step up his performance nearing the end of the regular season? SPORTS PAGE 13
see hearings on PAGE 2
SGA member announces City Council candidacy by Charles young
Board of Governors member Jason Bailey, right, and other members of Student Government Association run the ‘Water Conservation’ booth in the Mountainlair Wednesday, encouraging students to sign the sustainability pledge and giving out free prizes.
Apartments. Collin Tierney said he and Flynn tried to buy prescription pills from the men who live in the apartments. Flynn tried to grab the pills and run, but the other men beat him up and stabbed him, Tierney said. Flynn and Tierney drove back to The District where they called the 911. They identified the men as the Brunswick twins. The Brunswicks told troopers Flynn had tried to grab a wallet and a laptop after he and Tierney came to their apartment. William tried to stop Flynn, and
Nelson France, a graduate public administration student at West Virginia University, announced his candidacy for Morgantown City Council at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Student Government Association. France, who serves as SGA’s liaison to City Council, is one of the first students in Morgantown’s history to run for the position. He hopes to represent the third ward. “Tonight is a historic moment, not just for the city of Morgantown, but also for this University,” France said. “This is a dream come true; I’m extremely excited to get started.” France said his campaign will focus on promoting the downtown area, environmental sustainability and neighborhood issues. “Morgantown City Council has declared this to be the year of the neighborhood. I promise if I am elected, I will be the number one advocate for neighborhoods,” France said. In preparation for his announcement, France said he has spoken to several community activists, students and faculty members. He said the response to his candidacy has been positive so far. “No one could do a better job than Nelson,” said SGA
President Chris Lewallen. “I wish him all the best.” Randy Jones, a sophomore political science major who attended the meeting, expressed his excitement for France’s candidacy. “I don’t think there is anyone better for the job than Nelson France. With him on the Council, the city will be a better place,” Jones said. During the meeting, Gov. Allison Rollins announced the completion of her club sports handbook. The handbook, which lists all club sports practice times, can be viewed on the Student Recreation Center website. “I am just so excited because the handbook is finally done and on the Internet,” Rollins said. Gov. Tracy Speilman invited any student interested in campus safety to attend a safety walk Saturday. Speilman and other members of SGA will walk around campus identifying areas of danger. The group will meet at the SGA Office on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Tiffany Pratt, intern to Gov. Ryan Campione, also announced the addition of a comment box to SGA’s website. Any student can leave feedback for the governors, executives, president or vice president. charles.young@mail.wvu.edu
‘Intern Queen’ lends expertise to School of Journalism students BY MELISSA CANDOLFI STAFF WRITER
Students at West Virginia University received pointers on how to land their dream internship from the “Intern Queen” Wednesday night. Lauren Berger, who is known as the “Intern Queen” because she has held more than 15 internships, met with journalism students in Martin Hall. “I want students to get excited about internships,” she said. “I want them to be ready, sit down and take the necessary steps to get the opportunity.” Berger graduated from the University of Central Florida with 15 internships with media companies such as MTV, FOX and NBC. When Berger started her website, InternQueen.com, in 2009, she began traveling to schools nationwide to lend out her expertise. Some of Berger’s pointers
were to wear a business suit to internship interviews, send out hand-written thank you notes after the interview, stay in connection with bosses even after the internship has ended and always have a letter of recommendation on hand. During Berger’s presentation, she spoke about a conversation she had with a client who said they would rather have an intern who has worked three years at McDonalds than one who has three different jobs for a day. Mel Moraes, senior public relations major, said she first heard Berger speak at a Public Relations Student Service Association event. “I heard many professionals speak at the conference,” she said. “But after Lauren spoke, I had two pages of notes. I was very impressed.” After hearing Berger speak
see intern on PAGE 2
TRYING TO GET ON TRACK The West Virginia men’s and women’s basketball have lost a combined four straight games – three against top 25 foes. How do they regroup? SPORTS PAGE 16