The DA 12-06-2011

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Tuesday December 6, 2011

Volume 125, Issue 71

www.THEDAONLINE.com

Mobile app showcases local businesses by lacey palmer staff writer

Public relations students at West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism have worked to create a project that promotes social media and community through a geolocation-based mobile application called SCVNGR. Twenty students enrolled in professor Jensen Moore’s public relations writing and applications course this fall, worked on the project and brought SCVNGR to the Morgantown

community. “This is the first college community that this project has taken place in,” Moore said. SCVNGR is a popular mobile phone app that allows users to check in, complete challenges and “treks,” earn points and earn rewards from businesses around Morgantown. The students personalized a version of the app for the Morgantown area. “You get points for simply checking in, but it goes further by having users complete challenges at the businesses to re-

ceive more points,” said Evan Bonnstetter, a public relations student and SCVNGR codeveloper. “After you receive points, you can redeem them for discounts and other rewards at the businesses.” Participants can check in at the Morgantown Ice Arena to receive points, complete a challenge by striking their best pose on the ice, post the picture to SCVNGR and earn even more points that can be redeemed for a free skate rental or a complimentary hot chocolate to enjoy at the establishment, he said.

Bonnstetter said with SCVNGR you can do more than check-in to locations, the main draw to applications like Foursquare. Users can complete different challenges within the businesses, or users can complete a “trek,” which is a scavenger hunt across town involving businesses that are all involved with SCVNGR. The first person to complete a “trek” and its challenges earns a larger reward than they would at one business. “This helps connect local businesses and allows them to work together on a bigger

DEALING WITH DEAD WEEK

scale,” Bonnstetter said. Moore said the students involved in the project benefitted from the experience of creating the app. “It’s benefitting the students because they are learning how to create mobile promotions,” Moore said. “More and more public relations and advertising are going to online, social media and mobile applications, so the fact that they’re getting this experience and designing promotions for this geolocation-based application is going to set them apart from others in the field.”

Bonnstetter said the application will also benefit local small businesses in Morgantown by encouraging users to frequent the vendors involved with the project. “SCVNGR builds customer loyalty and helps businesses engage with their consumers and strengthen their consumer base,” Bonnstetter said. “It’s helping Morgantown by keeping us on the forefront of technology when it comes to social media and business.” The students were provided

see SCVNGR on PAGE 2

All Good Music Festival relocates to Ohio

Matt Sunday/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

More than 44,000 people attended the All Good Music Festival & Campout this year in Masontown, W.Va.

by mackenzie mays city editor

Patrick Gorrell/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Students take advantage of the library when preparing for this semesters finals.

WELLWVU helps students prepare for finals, cope with school-related stress by mike atkinson staff writer

WELLWVU: The West Virginia University Student’s Center for Health and Wellness offers students a variety of options for coping with stress during dead week and finals week. “It’s important to focus on positive thinking,” said Alyssa Iannamorelli, graduate assistant for WELLWVU Wellness and Health Promotion. ChillWELL, a WELLWVU initiative created to offer relaxation techniques for students, offers many different services to assist students during dead week and finals week. Some of these services include HeartMath, a program that uses a computer-based biofeedback system to help reduce stress by providing smoother heart rhythms; Lego Calendar, a program that focuses on teaching students to be more aware of where time is being spent; and Chill Packs, which help students focus on their daily gratitude, Iannamorelli said. She said the office has also created a new scavenger hunt for Facebook and Twitter created by chillWELL. “The scavenger hunt is designed to help students see the world more positively. There might be tasks listed to ‘journal a certain number of things you’re thankful for’,” she said. WELLWVU also provides the Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services, where students can receive free counseling. Appointments are available, but not required. “Students can always go to the Carruth Center, Patrick Gorrell/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Junior speech pathology student Dana Gregg studies for her upcoming finals at the library.

see wellwvu on PAGE 2

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The WVU Chamber Winds perform at the CAC tonight. A&E PAGE 6

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ON THE INSIDE The West Virginia women’s basketball team turned up its defensive pressure in the second half Saturday against Boston University. SPORTS PAGE 7

After nine years of bringing a variety of live jam band music to West Virginia, the All Good Music Festival & Campout is moving to Ohio. The festival, which was formerly hosted at Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, W.Va., will now be held in Thornville, Ohio, due to conflicts with county officials and issues such as traffic congestion, according to All Good founder Tim Walther. “One of the main reasons for leaving was definitely the roadways available. Getting so many people up a onelane country road was always problematic,” Walther said.

“The new site is more accommodating. Before, people were sometimes waiting in four-hour lines.” Despite the traffic issues, Walther said legal conflicts with Preston County officials ultimately pushed him to look for a venue elsewhere. “I feel like we would’ve tried to work with the traffic aspect of it if we felt more welcomed by the county. There was an ordinance directed straight at us, and it put a huge amount of stress on us,” he said. “We didn’t feel it was fair or just. We’ve been here for years, and it’s something that made us start to look around.”

see all good on PAGE 2

University to recognize 1,500 students at Dec. convocation by jessica lear staff writer

West Virginia University will recognize more than 1,500 December graduates at the annual convocation to be held at the Coliseum at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Those in attendance will hear remarks by WVU President James P. Clements and professor Laurie Badzek, as well as music by the University Choir and the Trombone Troupe from the College of Creative Arts. “The Coliseum will be abuzz with excitement and anticipation as students celebrate their accomplishments at West Virginia University and look ahead to their next endeavors,” said Stephanie Conrad, director of University Events. Conrad said although many students graduate in December after staying an extra semester to finish an internship or complete a minor, many students

are graduating early. Conrad said not receiving a diploma at the graduate ceremony is the main disadvantage of graduating in December. “At WVU’s spring commencement ceremonies, we are able to hand graduates their diplomas as they are recognized,” she said. Conrad said December diplomas can’t be printed until later due to the timing of finals and the ceremony. “I’m an out-of-state student, so I knew tuition was going to be ridiculous. I decided to graduate early so that I would have fewer loans,” said Analisa Gagnon, a graduating criminology student. Conrad said graduating in December can be an advantage in the job market. “Fewer students graduate in December than graduate in the spring, thus the job market

see graduation on PAGE 2

GOING BOWLING Orange Bowl Committee Member Jeff Rubin was in Morgantown Monday to discuss why West Virginia was the right fit. SPORTS PAGE 7


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