THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Thursday March 21, 2013
Volume 125, Issue 122
www.THEDAONLINE.com
Students raise disability awareness by megan calderado staff writer
Earlier this month, West Virginia University students released a video they made to raise awareness in the Morgantown community called “Spread the Word to End the Word.” The nationwide campaign strives to raise awareness about how harmful using the word “retard” in the wrong context. The campaign encourages
schools and communities to rally together to take the pledge against using the “R-word” in order to help build a more accepting environment. “I want people to be more aware, because you never know who’s around you,” said journalism graduate student and editor of the video Whitney Godwin. “Anyone can be affected by it.” The video features WVU men’s basketball coach
Bob Huggins, WVU football coach Dana Holgorsen, President James P. Clements and his wife Beth, Mountaineer Mascot Jonathan Kimble, Miss West Virginia and numerous students sharing reasons they think it’s important to take the pledge to not use the R-word. “Since it’s for the Morgantown community, we wanted to use prominent people in the University (who) support the cause in
the video because it’s people that students and others will recognize,” Godwin said. Amber Murphy, a junior public relations student who also worked on the video, said she hopes people take the time to to actually think about what it means. “I just really hope people think before they speak. It’s a really harmful word to say in a negative context,” Murphy said.
KINDNESS FOR KIDS
“Spread the Word to End the Word” was created by participants, both with and without intellectual disabilities, in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. They felt the campaign was necessary to support the positive contributions people with intellectual disabilities make to communities, and to stop the use of the R-word as a de-
staff writer
Katie Flowers/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
MCCAC offers helping hand to children, families in Monongalia County BY Carlee Lammers City Editor
There are more than 1,000 reports regarding child abuse and neglect made to Child Protective Services in Monongalia County each year. For eight years, one local organization has been working to help victims become children again. The Monogalia County Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit agency that advocates for young victims of abuse and neglect by providing a child-friendly, safe environment where children and their non offending family members can be interviewed, educated and healed. One of the MCCAC’s primary purposes is to host forensic interviews for cases sent by Child Protective Services and local law enforcement agencies. “Basically, that’s an opportunity for a child to talk about any inappropriate activity going on in their life,” said MCCAC family advocate Dianna Dickins. “What makes that the best practice for children is that, traditionally, if there is a concern or suspicion of abuse in a child’s life, they would have to go and speak to either a police officer or a CPS worker or a prosecutor – not in the most child-friendly environment. So they’d be going out to the court house, or they’d be going to the police station, and those are very intimidating circumstances for children.” The agency offers preventative community outreach efforts and counseling for both children and families. Dickins said the child-friendly and welcoming
Katie Flowers/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Crayons placed on a desk in the waiting room in the Child Advocacy Center.
see children on PAGE 2
March deemed ‘sleepWELL’ month By carlee Lammers City editor
With spring break right around the corner, WELLWVU: The Students’ Center of Health wants to ensure students are resting as best they can. The WVU Office of Wellness and Health Promotion will teach students how to enhance their sleep habits in a lecture today. WELLWVU’s Office of Wellness and Health Promotion has designated March as “sleepWELL” month. Two sessions will be held to give students the resources they need to adapt better sleep practices.
The educational sessions will include a live simulation called “Sleepy Justin.” Sleepy Justin is an interactive tool that provides individuals with information about how to optimize a good night’s sleep while reinforcing sleep-enhancing behaviors. “Complete with acting and sound effects, ‘Sleepy Justin’ has received great reviews,” said WELLWVU graduate assistant Meghan Halbrook. “This sleep habit simulator is a hands-on game that challenges students to create an ideal sleep environment by removing items in
33° / 25°
WRONG MOTIVE
INSIDE
A recent vaccine research study has produced shoddy results. OPINION PAGE 4
SNOW SHOWERS
News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 6, 7, 8 Sports: 9, 10, 12 Campus Calendar: 5 Puzzles: 5 Classifieds: 11
the room that detract from sleep and adding items that aid sleep.” According to WELLWVU, college students are sleeping less. On average, college students receive 6-7 hours of sleep each night. WELLWVU officials said college students are known for lack of sleep, due to the vast amount of activities and responsibilities they take on. Recent research on the correlation between college students and sleep indicates an insufficient amount of sleep impacts a variety of factors in a student’s life, including health, moods, GPA, ath-
letic performance and safety. The first session will take place in the Mountainlair 11 a.m-1 p.m. The second session will be held in Braxton Tower at 8 p.m. Students will be given the opportunity to learn about products and habits that help facilitate a healthy night’s sleep, as well those that can result in less sleep. Halbrook said it is her hope the event will not only equip students with the tools they need for a more restful sleep but will guide them in adapting to
see sleep on PAGE 2
CHECK OUR SPORTS BLOG Get the latest on Mountaineer sports in our WVU Sports Insider Blog at http://blogs.thedaonline.com/sports/.
CONTACT US Newsroom 304-293-5092 or DAnewsroom@mail.wvu.edu Advertising 304-293-4141 or DA-Ads@mail.wvu.edu Classifieds 304-293-4141 or DA-Classifieds@mail.wvu.edu Fax 304-293-6857
ON THE INSIDE Nathan Pennesi will represent the West Virginia wrestling team at this week’s NCAA Championships. SPORTS PAGE 9
see awareness on PAGE 2
SGA welcomes incoming administration by summer ratcliff
Books, toys and other forms of entertainment are available in the waiting room of the Child Advocacy Center.
humanizing and derogatory term. “A lot of people know that we have a daughter with special needs,” Beth Clements said. “So, that word is very offensive to us and does not define our daughter in any way. It doesn’t define anyone’s son or daughter. The term is totally outdated and inaccurate to describe a human being.”
The outgoing members of the West Virginia University Student Government Association gave their final reports and welcomed the 2013 board at Wednesday night’s “changing of the seats” ceremony. President Zach Redding gave his farewell address and wished the new administration luck in their upcoming term. “I’ve been involved in student government since the beginning of my college career, and it has taught me who I am,” Redding said. “It’s been a great year, and I really want to thank everyone for their hard work. I wish the new board the best of luck.” The outgoing administration passed two resolutions during their final meeting. The first resolution stated the WVU SGA supports Congressional passage of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, a bill in the U.S. Legislature that would allow housing improvement donations for nonprofit campus organizations like fraternities or sororities. The second resolution establishes a Student Government Alumni Association that will strive to connect past Student Government members with future members. Vice Chair Bridgette Boyd gave a farewell address and encouraged the incoming members to always be true to themselves.
“SGA has really taught me who I am and to stand for what I believe in,” Boyd said. “I urge the incoming board to not forget who they are when your character gets challenged.” The newly elected board took their seats and quickly went to work by presenting their plans for the upcoming term. Executive applications are now available on the SGA website. Student Body President-Elect Ryan Campione encouraged any interested student to apply for a position. “Anyone interested in serving in student government is encouraged to apply,” Campione said. “ We are working to increase student involvement – we have 42 positions and six new committee appointments that have never been offered before.” Campione also encouraged the entire student body to hold SGA accountable. “This is the beginning of a brand new journey. Our campaign put down the foundation, and from here, we are building the house,” Campione said. “If anything we have talked about or campaigned on isn’t being fulfilled to the fullest extent possible, let us know. “We encourage everyone to join us in the journey.” Student Government Association holds open meetings every Wednesday in Hatfield’s B at 7:30 p.m. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Deadline approaching for Diversi-Tea nominations Award nominations for the fourth annual DiversiTea celebration are due Monday. During the event, which takes place April 11, individuals or groups that have promoted cultural understanding within diverse populations of the Morgantown and University community will be recognized. Criteria for nominations include being a student, a West Virginia University faculty or staff member or a member of the greater Morgantown community. Individuals or groups also must have sustained their service for more than one year and per-
formed above and beyond normal University responsibilities. In choosing the award winners, the selection committee will interpret diversity in the broadest sense, including viewing it as creating and sustaining an atmosphere of respect and inclusivity. Up to three individuals and/or groups will be awarded. Those interested in nominating an individual or group for the award can visit diversity.wvu. edu/2013-diversi-tea and fill out the nomination form – provided as a link at the bottom of the page. — ccs
DEFENSIVE LEADERS Senior defensive linemen Will Clarke and Shaq Rowell are providing the WVU defense with leadership this spring. SPORTS PAGE 9