THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Wednesday March 7, 2012
VOLUME 125, ISSUE 117
www.THEDAONLINE.com
City Council discusses future budget by carlee lammers staff writer
Members of the Morgantown City Council discussed several potential budget cuts to local improvement projects during its first reading of an ordinance adopting the budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. The council discussed changes in the city’s $24 million budget, including cuts made to Sunnyside Up, the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization
Corporation, the city arts council and a sidewalk gum removal machine. The council hopes to collectively save $51,000 through these amendments. “I see it as not saving $51,000, but taking $51,00 from projects I feel are meritorious,” said sixth ward councilor Bill Byrne. The council proposed a $25,000 cut to Sunnyside Up, which is dedicated to revitalizing the student off-campus residential area. Byrne said funding for Sunny-
side Up is a partnership between the City of Morgantown and West Virginia University, and the school matches the city’s annual contribution dollar-for-dollar. “If it wasn’t for the collaboration between the University and the city and their commitment to revitalization, the project wouldn’t happen,” Byrne said. “I see it as a lack of good policy if we cut an area we all recognize as very important.” Mayor Jim Manilla said he believes cuts to the Sunnyside
Up budget are necessary, and the money saved could be invested in organizations such as Main Street Morgantown, which is designed to improve the downtown Morgantown community, which faced various budget cuts in the previous fiscal year. “I’m not against Sunnyside Up,” he said. “ I just think that it could do a little bit better as to how they get their revenue and do it just like Main Street does. Main Street is struggling – they
WASTE WATCHERS
were slashed.” Other issues debated included a $40,000 cut to arts programs in the community, and eliminating a $20,000 sidewalk gum removal machine. “It’s not smart financing if you’re not taking care of investments,” Byrne said. Jenny Selin, fourth ward councilor, said she believes the council should be more conscious of the budget cuts and amendments being implemented. “If we want to make cuts we
staff writer
matt sunday/the daily athenaeum
Office of Sustainability conducts waste audit in dining halls by carlee lammers staff writer
The West Virginia University Office of Sustainability is conducting a week-long waste audit across dining halls on campus to measure the recyclables generated at the University. “We’re trying to quantify a productive use capacity of waste materials produced in the dining halls,” said Office of Sustainability Intern Dan Bissinger. Bins labeled “compostable” and “landfill” will be placed in each dining hall, and volunteers will aid
students in placing their waste in the appropriate containers. Dining service employees will then weigh each individual bag of waste generated and document the numbers. The information recorded from the audit will aid the Office of Sustainability in finding an effective waste diversion method to implement on campus. Future revisions could include the elimination of certain materials, prepared foods and the gradual removal of trays,
see waste on PAGE 2
by lydia nuzum
The West Virginia University School of Dentistry raised “Pennies for Pins” in its local bowling fundraiser Tuesday to benefit nonprofit dental clinics in the state. Danielle Bishop, a third year dental student and coordinator for the event, said the event is an opportunity for students to perform community outreach, and impact other parts of the state. “I think it’s good for us to do events like this and bring money to clinics in the state,” she said. “Often people come here, and there aren’t a lot
of opportunities in our state, so this event helps to build more connections in areas and places that are in need.” Individuals are asked to pay $10 to bowl, Bishop said, and all proceeds from the event are divided between the only three nonprofit dental clinics in West Virginia, which include the Susan Dew Hoff Memorial Clinic in West Milford, Ebenezer Medical Outreach Clinic in Huntington and the West Virginia Health Right in Charleston. “The reason we chose these clinics is because they are not government aided, so they’re funded primar-
see dentistry on PAGE 2
64° / 44°
SONGS FOR SINATRA
INSIDE
Creative Arts Center hosts ‘Come Fly Away’ A&E PAGE 9
Sunny
News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 9, 10 Sports: 6,7,8 Campus Calendar:5 Puzzles: 5 Classifieds: 10,11
West Virginia University alumnus Jason Siniscalchi has created three free applications for the Apple iPhone designed to bring users closer to nature. The apps, Tree ID, Garden ID and Fish ID are e-reference guides, Siniscalchi said. “The apps started with Tree ID, which I attempted to start while working on my doctorate at WVU. To clearnews my head during the dissertation process in 2004 I would often go to the Arboretum,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed the restorative benefits of being outdoors, and as a Forest Resources Ph.D., I felt I should be familiar with as many trees as possible.” Siniscalchi said Tree ID, when the new update goes through Apple, will have more than 600 trees across North America and allows users to search by tree characteristics, name, location or binomial key. “I like technology and found using tree guides to be bulky, so I began to compile a database of tree characteristics and photos to attempt to make a tree identification app,” he said. Siniscalchi used the startup company, MEDL Mobile, to get started. “Having started my app years earlier and noting there was no comprehensive tree
guide for the iPhone at that time, I thought MEDL might be interested,” he said. “Out of thousands of submissions they selected Tree ID as one of seven to develop.” Tree ID was in the top 100 reference apps downloaded within its first few months and reached the top 25 in the U.S. and 12 in Canada. Siniscalchi said the success of Tree ID led to MEDL Mobile asking him to create Garden ID and Fish ID. Garden ID is an app that teaches users about more than 70 different vegetables and herbs and provides users with tips about growing and harvesting crops. “Garden ID uses frost and freeze dates and a user’s current location to determine when he or she should plant,” he said. Fish ID is the most recent app developed and includes information about more than 200 freshwater fish including characteristics, habitat, location and name. “I put a lot of time into each. Seeing them as real, working apps is very fulfilling. I also enjoy seeing how my apps are helping others enjoy the outdoors,” he said. “There is always a way to make a dream happen of you put the time and effort in.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Betty Puskar Center offers same-day mammograms by jessica lear staff writer
matt sunday/the daily athenaeum
A WVU student empties his leftover food into a specially marked bin at Boreman Bistro as part the Office of Sustainability waste audit.
School of Dentistry’s ‘Pennies for Pins’ benefits nonprofit clinics associate city editor
danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
WVU alumnus creates mobile app for nature lovers by mike atkinson
Sammi Gissendaner, left, a junior forensic science student, and Becky Lellyn, right, dispose of the their leftover food at the Boreman Bistro on Monday night. The WVU Office of Sustainability is conducting a waste audit throughout dining halls this week to measure the capacity of waste materials generated on campus.
need to examine the groups and issues we are cutting,” she said. “We need to look at percentages rather than individual organizations – we don’t know what we’re hurting when we make cuts like that.” City Manager Terrence Moore proposed the continuation of the High Street Streetscape Project, and the council voted unanimously in favor of the project’s execution.
Kristen Basham/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Scott Young, a first year dental student, participates in the WVU School of Dentistry’s ‘Pennies for Pins’ fundraiser on Tuesday to support nonprofit clinics across the state.
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ON THE INSIDE The West Virginia baseball team split its double header against Niagara Tuesday while improving to 6-6 in the season. On page 7
The Betty Puskar Breast Care Center at West Virginia University’s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center has begun offering same-day screening results for mammograms. Patients can receive a mammogram at the Breast Care Center from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and learn the results of the test that same day. “We know it is a worry for women to go home and wait for their results,” said Barb Menear, manager of the Betty Puskar Breast Care Center. “By providing same day results while they are in our facility we can alleviate some of that anxiety.” Menear said one of the biggest advantages of same-day mammogram results is being able to detect breath cancer quicker and begin treatment as soon as possible. “Mammography can detect breast cancer much earlier than it can be felt either on self-breast exams or clinical breast exams by the patient’s physician,” she said.
“Early detection means earlier treatment.” Another advantage of sameday screening is being able to perform any extra tests that may be needed, such as additional mammography views or an ultrasound, on the same day as the screening, Menear said. “If a woman needs further work of an area seen on her screening mammogram we strive to take care of it while she is there,” she said. “After review of this additional imaging the patient can be told to return in a year for her annual mammogram or if she should need a biopsy, we can set her up with a date or time prior to her leaving our facility. This takes the anxiety out of waiting for the result.” Menear said a combination of mammogram screenings, self-breast exams, and physician breast exams are the most effective way to catch cancer before it’s too late. “There is a small percentage of breast cancers that are not detectable via mammography,” she said.
see puskar on PAGE 2
SHOWDOWN IN THE GARDEN The West Virginia men’s basketball team will face Connecticut in the second round of the final Big East Conference tournament. SPORTS PAGE 6