The DA 04-11-12

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Wednesday April 11, 2012

Volume 125, Issue 134

www.THEDAONLINE.com

Esteemed professor hosts The Last Class by lacey palmer staff writer

Robert DiClerico, longtime respected professor of political science at West Virginia University, led “The Last Class” Tuesday after 40 years of teaching. Over the years, DiClerico has earned the titles of West Virginia Professor of the Year, Eberly Professor for Outstanding Teacher, CASE Professor of the Year, WVU Foundation Outstanding Teacher, Danforth Fellow and Amoco Outstanding Teacher. While DiClerico dedicated

his last lecture to what he knows best – the presidency and controversial issues affecting the country, others dedicated the time to thanking him for his service and mentoring. President James P. Clements said when he asks students which professor has inspired them the most, he hears DiClerico’s name often. “He has changed the lives of many students here at WVU. He motivates students to learn and challenges them every step of the way. I’ve heard his classes are tough, but are taught in a way that inspires

students to reach those standards,” Clements said. Ben Seebaugh, WVU’s newest Truman scholar, said DiClerico lives up to the hype across campus. “As many of us did, I learned about DiClerico’s reputation long before I met him,” Seebaugh said. “DiClerico not only teaches you – he enlightens you.” Katherine Bomkamp, who was named a 2012 Newman Civic Fellow for her invention of a prosthetic device to help amputees, also attended “The Last Class.” “Dr. DiClerico is just phe-

UPD investigates disappearance of newspapers by lydia nuzum

associate city editor

Thousands of copies of West Virginia University’s student newspaper, The Daily Athenaeum, disappeared from campus Tuesday morning. Alan Waters, general manager of The DA, said the majority of reported disappearances occurred on the Downtown campus, although some were also reported on the Evansdale campus. “It’s difficult to determine the exact number of papers that were taken, but we do know that it was a significant number taken primarily from the downtown campus,” Waters said. “We have filed a police report with campus police.” Because Tuesday’s edition featured coverage of the Student Government Association debate held one night prior, rumors circulated that The United Party was to blame due to the DA’s edi-

torial endorsement of The Golden Ticket the same day. United Party Presidential Candidate Zach Redding said he had no involvement in the disappearance. “We had absolutely no part in that. We run a clean campaign,” Redding said. “Part of our platform is to repair the image of student government, and there is no way we would do something like that to damage it more.” Newspapers were taken from designated bins in Brooks Hall, the Life Sciences Building, the College of Business & Economics, the College of Law, Woodburn Hall, the Mountainlair and the Evansdale Residential Complex, among others, according to DA Managing Editor John Terry. Golden Ticket Vice Presidential Candidate Devin Sears said she hopes the rumors are untrue. “I would hope that no one

see newspaper on PAGE 2

nomenal,” Bomkamp said. “I had him for my 102 class, and he really changed the way I thought about things. It’s sad to see such an icon leaving our University, but I know he’s going to come and teach a couple of classes, so I’m really glad he’s still going to be around.” DiClerico didn’t only teach the students of WVU, he learned from them, too. “More often, it’s students posing questions to you that start you thinking in your own mind. That then takes you to

see diclerico on PAGE 2

Justice for Trayvon

Matt Sunday/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Krystal Frazier, an assistant history professor at WVU, gives a speech to students gathered in front of the Mountainlair Tuesday prior to marching down High Street in protest of the death of Trayvon Martin.

WVU Center for Black Culture, NAACP host march to remember slain teen

Students get the chance to ‘Meet the Candidates’ by bryan bumgardner staff writer

Forget television ads and bumper stickers – political candidates from across the state came to West Virginia University Tuesday to talk to students face-to-face. The annual “Meet the Candidates” event gave candidates running for the House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, West Virginia House of Delegates and Monongalia County Commission an opportunity to convey their platforms to students. The event was cosponsored by the WVU Young Democrats, the Student Government Association, and the College Republicans. Candidates from both the Republican and Democratic parties were present and spoke about issues ranging from the local economy to drug legislation. WVU Young Democrats President David Tyler George said bipartisanship is important for reaching out to students. “A lot of students are alienated from the party system,” he said. George said he believes many students have difficulty identifying with a party and could benefit from a better understanding of the

two-party system. “In order for students to accept a party, they have to learn about it in an environment where they can hear both sides,” he said. WVU students make up nearly half of the Morgantown population, and George said students should exercise their power to vote to ensure they are fairly represented in government. “I don’t think students realize the impact they could have if they mobilize to vote and use their voice,” he said. Students who are U.S. citizens and have lived in Monongalia County for at least 30 days can reregister to vote in Morgantown. George said students should register to vote because local legislation affects the student population. “It is extremely important that students get involved in these local issues, because decisions are made that affect students,” he said. Primary elections for the aforementioned positions are May 8. To register to vote, visit w w w . t i n y . c c / w v v o t e rregistration, and to learn more about the candidates, visit www.tiny.cc/ wvcandidates12. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu

by mackenzie mays city editor

Matt Sunday/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

A group of students march across campus chanting ‘Justice for Trayvon’ Tuesday.

by lacey palmer staff writer

The effort to “Stop Kony” is more than a viral video for one West Virginia University professor. WVU sociology professor Daniel Brewster will hold the Invisible Children Roadies presentation at 7 p.m. in 202 Brooks Hall and will give attendees information on the longest-running war in Africa, Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army. The KONY 2012 movement was an initiative created by the Invisible Children organization to bring awareness of the atrocities of the LRA and its leader, Kony. According to

IC, Kony has abducted more than 30,000 children in Central Africa and forced them to be child soldiers in his LRA. The IC Roadies are representatives of the organization and will host a presentation designed to educate the audience on the group and its platforms. The organization’s KONY 2012 campaign employs film, social media, street art and face-to-face interaction to make the case for the arrest of Kony within the year. Brewster has hosted the Invisible Children Roadies on campus since 2008 and said awareness of IC and its causes have dramatically increased since the KONY 2012 cam-

JAM FOR JUSTICE

THE DA IS HIRING EDITORS

INSIDE

Local acts play at the Cue to benefit coffee farmers. A&E PAGE 8

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.

News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 6, 7, 9 Sports: 9, 10, 12 Campus Calendar: 5 Puzzles: 5 Classifieds: 11

West Virginia University students marched across campus Tuesday in memory of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old from Sanford, Fla., who was shot and killed by a community watch coordinator in February. The case gained national attention when the shooter, George Zimmerman, claimed self-defense, but Martin was found unarmed – carrying only a bag of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea. Many accused Zimmerman of racial profiling and protestors across the country rallied for Trayvon’s justice. Members of the WVU community also made a stand against the controversial case, marching across campus wearing

see justice on PAGE 2

Event to bring light to Ugandan ‘invisible children’

50° / 34°

RAIN/SNOW

Cassia King/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

One of WVU’s most beloved professors, Robert DiClerico, hosted ‘The Last Class’ Tuesday night as a part of the David C. Hardesty Festival of Ideas.

CONTACT US Newsroom 304-293-5092 or DAnewsroom@mail.wvu.edu Advertising 304-293-4141 or DA-Ads@mail.wvu.edu Fax 304-293-6857

INSIDE THIS EDITION West Virginia running back Shawne Alston has emerged as one of West Virginia top threats in the running game this spring. SPORTS PAGE 9

paign was released. “I read a story on National Geographic on Invisible Children in 2006, and I went on a Yahoo search for it, but I couldn’t find another story anywhere,” Brewster said. “There were no stories on Google, no stories on CNN, no stories on Fox News – nothing.” Brewster said he came across Invisible Children’s website in 2008 and invited them to campus for their first visit that semester. According to the Invisible Children website, Kony took leadership of an existing rebel group and renamed it the Lord’s Resistance Army in 1987. The LRA has since

earned a reputation for its cruel and brutal tactics. When Kony found himself running out of fighters, he began abducting children to be soldiers in his army or as “wives” for his officers, and he encourages the Lord’s Resistance Army to rape, mutilate, and kill civilians. Brewster said it began in the Republic of Congo, but the Congonian army was able to resist the LRA into Uganda. The Ugandan military and government, as well as other countries, have assisted in pushing the Lord’s Resistance Army out of Uganda, and now they’re in other neighboring

see invisible on PAGE 2

A BRIGHT FUTURE West Virginia tennis coach Tina Samara is confident in her ability to turn the WVU tennis program into a national contender. SPORTS PAGE 9


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