FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE A freshman’s guide to everything related to WVU and Morgantown TRANSPORTATION For students without cars, WVU offers many alternate forms of transportation.
PAGE 6
BRANNAN LAHODA/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
FOOTBALL An easy guide to tickets for incoming freshmen at WVU
PAGE 40 CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
GOOD EATS Find out the coffee and food options Morgantown has to offer.
PAGE 30 CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
FILE PHOTO
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
INSIDE:
NEWS
Pages 6 - 24
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Trustworthy
EDITORIAL STAFF FOR SUMMER 2010: CANDACE NELSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MELANIE HOFFMAN, MANAGING EDITOR DEVON UNGER, CITY EDITOR BRANNAN LAHODA, OPINION EDITOR TONY DOBIES, SPORTS EDITOR MACKENZIE MAYS, A&E EDITOR CHELSI BAKER, ART DIRECTOR ALEX KERNS, COPY DESK CHIEF DAVID RYAN, COPY EDITOR STACIE ALIFF, BUSINESS MANAGER JAMES CARBONE, CAMPUS CALENDAR EDITOR CASEY HILL, WEB EDITOR ALAN WATERS, GENERAL MANAGER
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FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 3
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
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OPINION
Pages 25 - 28
A&E
Pages 29 - 37
SPORTS
Pages 38 - 47
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4 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 5
Welcome, incoming class of 2014 The Daily Athenaeum is West Virginia University’s official campus publication. As a student-run newspaper, we aim to inform students, faculty and the Morgantown community. This special edition, the Freshman Survival Guide, is all about helping incoming freshman get acquainted with WVU. We have included some key information we would have liked to have known as freshmen, and we give some advice from things we have learned over the years. How to get around campus, when to use meal plans and what to do with your WVU ID card are just some of the helpful articles found within these pages. We also have columnists who write their opinions on freshman bringing cars to campus and what it’s like to have a bad roommate. Included is also a guest column from University President James P. Clements and Student Government Association President Chris Lewallen. These, along with many other articles and columns, are a sample of what we try to deliver to students on a daily basis. During the school year, The Daily Athenaeum is produced Monday through Friday and covers anything related to WVU and the city of Morgantown. During summer, we publish one paper per week on Wednesdays. We were recently named the third best all-around daily college newspaper in the nation by the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Princeton Review named us the 11th-best college newspaper this past year. Our News section covers groups such as Student Government Association, City Council and the Board of Governors, as well as clubs, events and anything of interest to students, fac-
ulty, staff, alumni and community members. As the student newspaper, we try our best to bring to you what you should know about campus and how the decisions made by such people influence your college life. Our Opinion section contains a mix of columnists who offer input on various issues that affect students both on a local level and a national level. Other times, they’ll have a lighthearted experience to share. The Arts & Entertainment section covers everything you’ll need to unwind, refuel and relax during the school semester. Check out profiles of local eateries and coffee shops, find out about the local music scene and where to go to see the latest movies. The Sports section includes anything related to WVU sports, including football, baseball, gymnastics and rifle. As one of the most read sections, Sports includes schedules of games, player profiles and game recaps. In addition to our main content, we have a campus calendar page listing daily WVU and community events. The page also includes Sudoku and crossword puzzles, as well as comic strips for some enjoyment. Our website, www.thedaonline.com, includes all the daily articles and the PDFs of that day’s newspaper. We post breaking news during the day and include extra articles not found in the print edition. You can also check out our website on WVU’s official iPhone app, iWVU. You have the ability to flip through past editions of the DA, as well. In the coming year, we plan to include more multimedia on our website in the form of videos, blogging and slideshows. To get more news, you can fol-
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM E-MAIL US TODAY dasports@mail.wvu.edu
low us on Twitter at @dailyathenaeum or find us on Facebook. It is our main goal to offer you, the reader, more of what interests you. As a student publication, we are always learning and seeking new talent who can help us in our daily operations. If you’re interested in becoming a writer, send us an e-mail at da-editor@mail.wvu.edu today listing the position of a news writer, columnist or copy editor to receive an application or stop by campus to pick up an application. We’re located at 284 Prospect St., which is between Boreman Hall and Arnold Hall. Although it is hard work, working at The Daily Athenaeum is also a lot of fun, and it provides students with a real-world experience. We are available by phone at 304-293-5092 and e-mail at danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu. We look forward to serving you on campus this fall. FILE PHOTO daperspectives@mail.wvu.edu
The entrance to the Mountainlair, the student union, is shown above.
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
WVU police continue to maintain safe campus BY EVAN MOORE STAFF WRITER
While West Virginia University is statistically one of the safest campuses in the country, students must still take care to guarantee a secure experience while at school. “WVU is a safe community, and West Virginia is a safe state if you look at statistics,” said University Police Chief Bob Roberts. “However, if you are out at three and four in the morning in an altered state, you put yourself at risk.” Students can often take significant measures to make their college careers safer, according to Roberts “I think the first thing that students coming to campus need to do is take their time and get accustomed to the campus,” Roberts said. Roberts said simple acts like
locking doors, walking only in lit areas with multiple people and being responsible with alcohol go a long way in the fight against crime. Parents can help keep their children’s belongings safe by clearly labeling items such as electronics and textbooks in case they are stolen. Roberts also suggested checking with insurance companies to see if property is covered under their policy while on campus. “It helps very much to have a really dedicated police force that helps keep our campus safe,” said Tom Sloane, senior associate dean of students, “but part of that effort is educational.” Sloane praises the steps taken by the University Police, Morgantown community and WVU staff specializing in health and sexual assault education for giving students a safety advan-
tage. He also credits programs such as Freshman Orientation, University 101, and Residence Hall education. The University Police offer numerous safety programs such as West Virginia state law seminars for out-of-state students, vision training for alcohol and DUI awareness and safety training at Up All Night. In addition to being cautious and educated, Roberts believes student involvement is one of the most essential ingredients to a safe and secure campus. “We’re here to make the campus safe for everyone,” Roberts said. “In order to do that we need everyone to be engaged, report things and be active in fighting crime on campus. We want (students) to feel like they’re partners with us in that.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Alternate forms of transportation ease traffic and parking BY MORGAN MCCORMICK STAFF WRITER
West Virginia University recommends first-year students do not bring cars to campus due to traffic congestion, however, other forms of transportation are offered. The PRT, a monorail system, Mountain Line bus system and the Blue and Gold Connector all offer services to students for free. “The buses and PRT are the best forms of transportation for freshmen,” said WVU’s Director of Transportation and Parking Hugh Kierig. “Not only does it remove distractions and allow them to focus on academics, but the costs of parking add up in Morgantown.” The PRT connects WVU’s Downtown, Evansdale and Health Sciences campuses. The system has been in place for 35 years, and a master plan is being developed for $92.8 million in renovations for the first time since then. “We are doing new improvements that will go unnoticed by the passenger, but will drastically increase the reliability of the PRT,” said Arlie Foreman, associate director for PRT Administration. “We are replacing the on-board computer system to make the PRT more dependable.” The 8.2-mile track hosts five passenger stations: Walnut, for downtown Morgantown, Beechhurst, for the Downtown Campus, Engineering, for the Evansdale Campus, Towers, for the Student Recreation Center or the Evansdale Campus, and the Health Sciences Center, for the Health Sciences Campus. Students swipe their WVU IDs to ride the PRT for free. The PRT hosts more than 15,000 riders per day. Mountain Line Buses also offers free transportation for those with WVU IDs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.busride.org/ for information about the Mountain Line Transit and its bus routes. It offers services to the Morgantown Mall, University Town Center, a late night bus downtown and the Blue and Gold Connector, which connects the Evansdale Campus and the Life Sciences Building on the Downtown Campus every 20 minutes. The route for the Connector may be accessed at www.busride.org. For students with vehicles, parking permits for decal lots located throughout campus can be purchased through WVU’s Parking Office. Several private parking lots also rent spaces to students, however Kierig recommended parking at an area such as the Law School, where cars can be stored for periods of time. Free parking is also available at the WVU Coliseum for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Restrictions may exist prior to football games, basketball games and other special events, and no overnight parking is allowed. Assistant Director of Transportation and Parking Eric Rosie said in an e-mail that parking spots can be purchased by freshmen after June 1. He said students looking for parking should try the Mountaineer Station on the Health Sciences Campus. “Parking at Mountaineer Station is cheaper than the Mountainlair Garage (75 cents per hour versus $1 per hour), and you can ride the PRT downtown for your classes for free with your student ID,” he wrote. “The Mountainlair Garage is always in high demand, and there could be a long wait for a space to open up.” morgan.mccormick@mail.wvu.edu
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
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FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 7
The Daily Athenaeum publishes Wednesday throughout the summer, but we continue updating stories throughout the week. For breaking news, visit our website at www.thedaonline.com and stay informed.
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Late-night shuttle program prepares for WVU fall debut BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
West Virginia University’s Mountie Ride program, which will provide a shuttle for intoxicated students to decrease the number CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM A car with facts and statistics about drunk driving sits in front of the Mountainlair April 22 to promote Mountie Ride, a new transportation ser- of drunken drivers on campus, is vice that will provide a safe ride home for students who have been drinking. The program will begin in the fall. making preparations to begin operating in Fall 2010. Student Government Association Gov. Megan Callaghan has begun the fundraising process by soliciting donations from alumni and other WVU supporters. She said she has also been looking into federally funded grant programs for financing. Mountie Ride will began accepting volunteers in the fall. “We are looking for motivated and caring individuals who want to help keep their fellow students safe,” Callaghan said. “I would really like to see freshman 225 Don Knotts Boulevard participate.” Morgantown, WV 26508 The program will provide free (304) 291- 1170 rides home for anyone who calls the service, but SGA Gov. Cameron Taylor stressed it is not a “drunk taxi service.” Mountie Ride will not take patrons to any location other than their home, and it is not only for students who have been drinking. Liability issues are not the substantial problem they were originally perceived to be, Taylor said. Those issues have been raised as a concern since freshman environmental protection major Ric Hogerheide first proposed such a program in August. Taylor and fellow SGA member Charlie Russell traveled to College Station Texas Feb. 18 to participate in the Safe Ride Programs United 2010 National Conference, where they learned how a similar program at Texas A&M University overcame liability issues. The six insurance programs Mountie Ride will use to cover drivers and vehicles overcome the
primary liability issues. These policies will be purchased through the rental car agency that will provide vehicles to the organization. Riders must also sign a Mountie Ride passenger agreement before they can enter the vehicle. The agreement establishes the premises in which the volunteers driving and navigating can terminate the ride – drivers can make passengers leave the vehicle for dangerous or inappropriate behavior. Volunteers would be trained in first aid, but are instructed to contact authorities if a patron is violent or unresponsive. Training of volunteers takes two days and covers the group’s operating procedures, including alcohol awareness, defensive driving and first aid. Each car will carry two members, a navigator and a driver and there will always be one male and one female. These members will likely be required to pay dues of $10 to $20 but will receive a T-shirt and meals when they volunteer to work. Student safety is the project’s priority, Richmond said. “We want Mountaineers to give other Mountaineers a ride,” he said. The service would be free and confidential. Students would be limited to one ride per night. It would operate from Thursday to Friday, but the exact hours of operation are not set. Taylor said it would likely run from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Richmond said the program had made extensive progress since Hogerheide first brought the idea to SGA’s attention, and he is confident it will begin in the fall. Those interested should contact Cameron Taylor at cameron. taylor@mail.wvu.edu. devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
The Carruth Center Parents Club benefits, bonds offers students free students with their parents psychiatric service BY JERRY HILDENBRAND STAFF WRITER
BY AIMEE SMITH CORRESPONDENT
The Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services at West Virginia University offers a solution for students struggling with depression, anxiety, academic and relationship concerns, and a lack of motivation in their first year of college. With counseling for individuals, couples and groups, testing for learning disabilities and career assessment and counseling, the Carruth Center helps to target and fix students’ concerns. The Carruth Center also has a psychiatrist on staff for medication management and collaborates with Student Health in the hopes of treating both the mind and body.
Al Kasprowicz, the Carruth Center’s interim clinical director, believes the Carruth Center will help students overcome their shyness and inhibition about receiving counseling. “The Carruth Center is safe and receptive,” Kasprowicz said. “Students are able to talk to people licensed to deal with psychological concerns instead of suffering in silence.” Shelley Savage, a multicultural specialist and supervised psychologist who has worked at the Carruth Center for almost two years, said she works with students as well as her colleagues. “I love the college population,” she said. “It’s such an exciting time in life. There are so
see CARRUTH on PAGE 11
The Mountaineer Parents Club offers parents of West Virginia University students a chance to help their children succeed in various ways. Since 1995, the organization has reached out to WVU parents providing information and services to them and their children. Starting with 500 members, the MPC has grown to more than 20,000. Mountaineer Parents Club Assistant Director Lisa Hanselman expects this growth to continue. “Membership has increased steadily over the last 10 years and during New Student Orientation in June; we expect to gain an additional 2400 families,” Hanselman said. “The MPC is designed to increase activity among Mountaineers in a local setting. The lo-
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The “Parents Perks” provides discounts on various goods and services, such as merchants, hotels and motels in the Morgantown area. Another “perk” is the “Move-in, Move-out” parking pass, which allows parents to park in normally prohibited parking lots during the moving days for residence halls. The MPC also hosts events on the WVU campus, including Fall Family weekend, which will be Oct. 1 through Oct. 3 this year. “We invite parents back to campus for this event and offer a weekend filled with fun family activities,” Hanselman said. One of the benefits the MPC offers without membership is the toll-free parent helpline through the Office of the Parent Advocate. The line provides direct and immediate help for parents who have questions or dilemmas not typical to frequently
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cal clubs set up “get acquainted” summer sendoffs for students and parents to connect before heading to college. “ She said the local clubs host speakers from WVU throughout the year and also assist recruitment events in their hometowns or local high schools. Hanselman said there are a wide variety of benefits with MPC membership. After sign up, you receive a lapel pin in the shape of the club logo. The Mountaineer Parents Newsletter, published three times a year, can be received free with a subscription. The newsletter provides updates on the various news and activities surrounding WVU. The Parent Electronic News is a free service provided to all members who provide a valid email address at sign up. Parents registered will receive electronic updates via e-mail about upcoming events on campus.
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10 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Study abroad, WVU tuition same price BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
The West Virginia University Office of International Programs offers students opportunities to take their academic experience outside of the United States for the same cost required to attend WVU’s main campus. The various types of programs and diverse locales can give WVU students a unique opportunity to enrich their University experience, said Associate Provost of International Academic Affairs Michael Lastinger. He said WVU offers one of the most affordable study abroad programs in the country and believes the study abroad experience is something all students should research. Students who participate in the “Semester in Strasbourg” program can take courses in a
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
wide range of disciplines while living in a 250-year-old French castle. “You can live in a castle and study in Europe for the same price as you can pay to live in the dorm and study downtown or in Evansdale,” Lastinger said. “If you can afford a college education, you cannot afford not to do an international experience.” He encouraged students to speak with advisers about opportunities within their major. Lastinger said gold sheets were available to determine which study abroad program to choose. The gold sheets are study abroad advising sheets that display the equivalent courses offered at foreign universities. These help students incorporate the study abroad experience into their curriculum. “My vision is that the inter-
national experience should fit seamlessly into your curriculum,” Lastinger said. “You shouldn’t have to study longer or stay an extra semester to do an international experience.” He also suggested students seek out foreign language classes early in their careers. Many programs require advanced language courses. “We go to a place in France where there is no university, and no one speaks English,” Lastinger said. “They have to live with host families and work in the community, and so my program requires six semesters of French.” Students interested in studying abroad should visit the Office of International Programs on the third floor of Stansbury Hall or call 304-293-6955. devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu
CARRUTH Continued from PAGE 9 many changes going on. It’s like a flower blooming.” Savage added that she likes being considered a resource for people trying to establish an independent life and develop healthy coping skills. She said that the Carruth Center staff are “some of friendliest people I’ve ever met. They always have the students’ best in-
PARENTS Continued from PAGE 9 called WVU numbers. Some new additions from last year include the “Question of the Month” and a podcast of “Parents 101,” which is a teaching session for parents about what to expect with their student’s first semester of college. It will be available in July.
terests in mind.” The Carruth Center is open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on weekdays. Students are able to walk in to speak with a counselor from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Career testing is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For after-hours emergencies, a telephone crisis consulting service is available until 8 p.m. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Currently, the MPC has 66 local clubs in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. There are also state chairs in Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Texas. To contact the MPC for more information, http://parentsclub. wvu.edu/. The telephone number for the office is 304-293-2506 and the helpline is 800-WVU0096. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 13
City projects to focus on Sunnyside for Fall 2010 BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
New city projects aim to fix some of Sunnyside’s problems before West Virginia University’s fall 2010 semester begins. Summer projects will replace sidewalks, develop two bus stops and install LED streetlights on Grant Avenue financed with Tax Increment Financing obtained by the Sunnyside Up development corporation. TIF is a method of fi nance that pays for community development projects by using anticipated gains in property taxes after an area is developed to cover debt incurred for the project. This summer’s projects will develop Grant Street starting at 4th Street and ending at Campus Drive. The expected cost will be around $1.5 million. Sunnyside Up, a private non-
profit corporation, obtained state approval for a designated district. The Sunnyside Up TIF district encompasses an area from Campus Drive to 8th Street and the Monongahela River to University Avenue. “It’s going to be an exciting summer for Sunnyside,” said Jim Hunt, Sunnyside Up executive director. “This is the first major project that’s been financed in the Sunnyside area with TIF funds.” Hunt said he hopes that new developments will improve safety and spawn investments that will allow them to fund future projects. Much of the infrastructure in the Grant Avenue area has been in place for close to 100 years, and only small maintenance projects have been conducted. This is the first major “rehabilitation” of Grant Avenue’s side-
walks, lights and bus stops, he said. Hunt said some future projects would improve the area’s “accessibility” by turning some of the unused right-of-ways on Grant and McLane avenues to construct staircases linking the two streets. Currently, anyone walking from McLane to Grant must use either dirt pathways or steep sidewalks. “This is a neighborhood that, certainly, our students live in ,and it’s worthy of the city’s attention, and I think it will make a great improvement in the perception that the city has of Sunnyside,” said Thomas Sloane, associate dean of the Office of Student Life. Sloane said the Sunnyside area is historically significant as a neighborhood with strong ties
see SUNNYSIDE on PAGE 14
CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
The ‘Sunnyside Up’ logo is painted on a dumpster in Sunnyside. The ‘Sunnyside Up’ program will work to clean up Sunnyside and improve the neighborhood’s appearance over the summer.
14 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Incoming freshmen concerned about living with roommates BY AIMEE SMITH CORRESPONDENT
A new roommate is a worry that most incoming students have when coming to school. Difficult roommates are one of the most common problems college students encounter, but West Virginia University has taken steps to try and prevent roommate issues. Hillar Klandorf, a professor of animal and veterinary science and resident faculty leader at Pierpont Hall, believes it’s best if students can resolve these conflicts on their own. “Roommate disagreements are normal,” Klandorf said. “You have to establish clear boundaries and expectations.” If a student is unable to resolve the situation on his or her own,
Klandorf recommends discussing it with a resident assistant. He believes roommate contracts are helpful because they “raise issues you might not have otherwise spoken about.” WVU has established a new process for roommate selection to minimize roommate conflicts, Klandorf said. This system asks students to choose their preferences, such as whether they are neat or messy and whether they are “morning people” or “night people,” and attempts to match them with students who have similar preferences. Klandorf said the system has been a great success so far. Taylor Richmond, a junior political science major and former resident assistant at Towers, also rec-
ommended roommate contracts as a solution to disagreements. Richmond said the most common problems deal with cleanliness, loudness and guests. “Students also often become annoyed if their roommate’s boyfriend of girlfriend comes over too much,” he said. Richmond says if the problems become too severe, the student should ask for a room change. However, he believes this should be the last resort. He added at Towers, only one or two students request a room change per year. “It’s not that often, but you do see it every year,” Richmond said. “It really just depends on how it goes.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
FILE PHOTO
An aerial view of the Evansdale Campus as seen from the top of the Engineering Sciences Building.
SUNNYSIDE Continued from PAGE 13 to the University. Staff, faculty and students have lived there and walked to work for decades. Sloan said he remembered numerous businesses such as barbershops, bakeries and a drugstore that were once in the Sunnyside neighborhood. He would like to see more
businesses return to the area to serve the needs of students. “What I like about it personally is that students leave for the summer, they will go home and literally, the way construction is going to happen, when they come back this fall, Sunnyside will truly be a different neighborhood,” Hunt said. devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 15
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
WVU ID important card for meal plan, PRT BY SAMANTHA COSSICK CORRESPONDENT
The WVU ID has become a staple in every West Virginia University student’s life. “Having one card to do everything is popular,” said Carolyn McDaniel, coordinator of Mountaineer Card Services. Mountaineer Cards, known as WVU IDs, are issued to students at New Student Orientation. Th e cards remain active and are used by the students for as long as they are registered for classes. McDaniel said the ID Card became available about 15 years ago when the University combined the Meal Plan Card with the PRT Card. Since then, the WVU ID has evolved to make many other services available to students. Th e WVU ID serves as students’ payment for the PRT and buses, and a ticket to meals. The card also functions as a library card and provides students with access to the Student Recreation Center, computer labs and Student Health Service. Students can also choose to put money on the card in the form of a debit plan called Mountie Bounty. “Having debit on it allows
(students) not to carry a (debit) card,” McDaniel said. Mountie Bounty can be used at many WVU locations including the dining locations, the copy centers, bookstores, JACS (in the Mountainlair), parking offi ce, technology support centers, Carruth Center, Up All Night, Mountain Line Transit Authority Bus Service, sporting events, laundry facilities at the residence halls and at more than 80 University vending machines. Robbie Chaney, a statistics graduate student, said the many services provided by the ID Card make it easy and convenient to use. “It’s probably easier because everything is all on one card,” Chaney said. “If you lose it or it breaks, it’s pretty inconvenient.” He added that the card is more efficient than if the University provided access codes to everything. “It’s a lot easier than putting change in the bus machine or putting change in the printer,” he said. English graduate student Allison Hitt said she mainly uses her card for access to the resource room in the English Department and the PRT. “I like that it provides you
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with a chance for free transportation,” Hitt said. Although the card already serves students in many ways, it is still evolving. “One of the most requested services is online deposit,” McDaniel said. “We have selected
the software and are working with the administration.” The new feature will allow students to make Mountie Bounty deposits online, check their balances and view their past transactions. Lost cards can be replaced by
calling or visiting the Mountaineer Card Services Office located in the Mountainlair or at Bennett Tower. A $20 fee is charged to a student’s account for a replacement card. samantha.cossick@mail.wvu.edu
16 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Work study offers option of Mountain Line offers WVU student employment regional buses home BY MORGAN MCCORMICK BY NICK ASHLEY CORRESPONDENT
For many college students, it can be hard to find a job that one enjoys, and can fit his or her daily schedule. West Virginia University offers a work study program for students looking for employment. When looking for jobs, students often wonder what work study jobs the University provides, said Damia Dobbs, financial aid counselor and work study coordinator. “The number of work study jobs varies from year to year. Last year during the 2009-10 school year, 71 departments employed federal on-campus jobs for students. The University also worked with 23 agencies for off-campus community service jobs for students,” Dobbs said. Steve Riffon, assistant director of Financial Aid, said a majority of jobs are on-campus, but there are
some opportunities within the community, pay for each type of job is relatively the same. “Seven percent of all work study students are off-campus community service. Anyone who is employed for work study receives an $8 hourly rate, and offcampus jobs pay $8.25 per hour,” Riffon said. Not everyone can be accepted for a federal work study job because you have to meet certain credentials, Dobbs said. “The biggest factor for becoming eligible for a work study job is submitting your FAFSA information before the March 1 deadline. During this process they will determine your estimated family contribution. The sooner that the University receives your information, the better chance you may have to obtain a work study job,” she said. To be accepted for work study, students must also be enrolled in school with a minimum of six credit hours. Students must meet
satisfactory academic progress, which means maintaining a 2.0 GPA or higher and completing 70 percent of class hours attempted. Once all information is processed the work study jobs are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis due to the limited amount of money available. Work study jobs are available throughout the WVU academic year, but students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible because of the limited acceptance. “Work study offers huge advantages for students who are eligible. You meet a lot of people through networking, you gain great work experience from it and build great time management skills,” Dobbs said. Riffon also mentioned the networking benefits and possible academic benefits of holding a work-study job. “Work study is a fantastic program to join, with many opportunities for students. It looks really good on resumes, and students who are involved in work study on-campus jobs generally have a higher GPA than students who are unemployed,” Riffon said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
STAFF WRITER
Don’t have a car and need a ride home for breaks and holidays? West Virginia University has a holiday bus service for students who need to travel out of town during breaks. WVU Transportation Services offers, in conjunction with the Mountaineer Parents Club, bus service to many regional destinations, such as to Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Philadelphia during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break. “We have been doing these trips for over 10 years now,” said Lisa Hanselman, associate director of the Mountaineer Parents Club. “We started them as another way to help students and parents because we know it’s hard to find rides home for the holidays and breaks.” Other local chapters of the MPC offer students rides to their hometowns. These are to Columbia, Md., northern Virginia, and Long Island, N.Y., Hanselman said. The MPC charters luxury
Offer Expires 06-30-10
FOR MORE INFORMATION Mountain Line can be found at http://busride.org/. More information for MPC trips can be found at http://parentsclub.wvu edu/ schedules.
motor coaches for the trips. Movies are shown and there is plenty of room for luggage and carry-on bags. Morgantown’s Mountain Line Bus service also provides rides to Pittsburgh through the Grey Line. It operates two daily trips from Morgantown to downtown Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Airport. Students must make a reservation by visiting www.busride.org to guarantee a seat. This service runs daily, Monday through Sunday leaving downtown Morgantown at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. It arrives at the Pittsburgh Greyhound Station at 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the Pittsburgh Airport at 11:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. Return trips to Morgantown arrive in downtown Morgantown at 2:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The cost for general seating is $20 to downtown Pittsburgh and $25 to the Pittsburgh Airport. The Grey Line also makes trips to Clarksburg, Fairmont and Waynesburg, W.Va. Mountain Line marketing officer Maria Smith said in an email additional service to Pittsburgh has been proposed. “The Mountain Line Transit Authority is considering a tentative proposal that would go into effect as of July 1, 2010. These changes would increase Grey Line service to Pittsburgh.” The proposed expanded service would add one additional departure time for daily service to Pittsburgh. morgan.mccormick@mail.wvu.edu
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 17
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
First-year students required to take class about Univ.
Jones named Eberly College Dean
BY MARLI RIGGS CORRESPONDENT
Every first-time student or first-time transfer at West Virginia University must take University 101 before he or she can graduate. University 101 is a one-credit class offered once per week and taught by faculty or student affairs staff. It teaches students about classroom etiquette, campus resources and health and wellness, among other things. The WVU Faculty Senate approved the course in 2002. It is now required to graduate. “There are no transfer equivalents for this course,” said Rhonda Hall, University 101 program coordinator. She said only WVU Potomac State University 101 can transfer. Not only has the course name changed frequently, but the textbook has as well. The book has gone from a bound textbook to a spiral notebook, then to a binder notebook and back to a regular textbook because the cost of the textbook fluctuates. “Last year it was cheaper for a binder, this year it is cheaper for a perfect binding book,” Hall said. The textbook is custom published, meaning that some sections of the book relate only to WVU. The course’s textbook also changes because of feedback, solicited from students and instructors, along with focus groups. The groups talk about the pros and cons of the course and what should be implemented or changed. The department takes feedback from end of the semester surveys and make recommenda-
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit the University 101 website at http://university101.wvu.edu/. tions to the committee. Hall said students are assigned to sections by residence halls and that this helps students build a community within their dorm. Different sections are catered toward commuters, which emphasizes specialized issues like parking and time management. Hall said that the class is a team effort across the University. “We want to make them a part of our community,” she said. Rileigh Johnson, a junior human nutrition and foods major, said the class only taught her a few things. “(University 101) taught us how to send a properly formatted e-mail to professors,” Johnson said. She added that she disliked going to functions that weren’t relevant to her major. Johnson said some of the course work, like outlining every chapter in the book, was tedious. Attendance was also a key factor to the class, according to Johnson. “Most people who didn’t show for class received a bad grade by either not paying attention or they just didn’t come to class,” she said. “I am just relieved to have it over with and happy to have my A. My work paid off,” Johnson said. Different colleges within WVU offer courses equivalent to University 101. Some examples are Engineering 199, Journalism 115 and Honors 199. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
BY NICK ASHLEY STAFF WRITER
Making the transition from Hokie to Mountaineer, Robert Jones was selected as dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University. This is the first time he has held the position of dean in his career. Jones comes to WVU from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he served as head of the Department of Bio-
logical Sciences. Prior to his time at VT, he worked in the School of Forestry at Auburn University from 1995 to 2002. “His background at land-grant institutions and his commitment to their role in higher education, make him a perfect choice as this University moves forward,” said Michele Wheatly, provost and vice president of academic affairs at WVU, in a press release. CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Jones said he chose to Robert Jones, new Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, answers students’ questions in the Mountainlair April 14. see JONES on PAGE 18
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JONES Continued from PAGE 17 apply here because certain attributes made WVU stand out, and the position more appealing to he and his family. He said this was the right fit for him because he loves looking for “new challenges” and “complex duties” to help make a difference not only at the University but within the community. “West Virginia University is the single largest institution in the state, with a very large and growing population,” Jones said. “It has a great reputation as an institution for its academics but has even better people within the University.” He has established a few goals he would like to accomplish. He wants the University to increase the number of scholarships offered to students in natural resource programs. He hopes to implement a vigorous plan to create more funding for the faculty and staff and keep recruiting strong students to the University. Jones said his knowledge and experience working in the field of higher education made him stand out as a valuable candidate for the job. He said the University has a great new leadership team and is very excited to have the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff. His wife Jeri will be working in the Animal and Nutritional Sciences Department. The hiring process for Jones involved first being selected by a search committee led by Eugene Cilento, dean of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. He was interviewed over the phone and later invited to a two-day on-campus visit to participate in open forums for faculty and students. Provost Wheatly was in charge of making the hire. Rudolph Almasy has served as interim dean since Mary Ellen Mazey left the position to become the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Auburn University in 2009. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu.
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 19
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Residence halls offer more than a place to stay BY ERIN FITZWILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Residence Halls at West Virginia University are spread over all campuses and offer a wide variety of activities, tutoring, dining and other services to help residents. Tutoring, mentoring and other academic-oriented help are offered in each dormitory, said Trish Cendana, director of residential education . “We’re working on developing new initiatives to bring more academic focuses on the residence halls, such as more review sessions. We’re already doing that, but we want to broaden that,” Cendana said. The Evansdale Residential Complex includes Brooke, Bennett, Braxton and Lyon Towers, where about 1,800 students re-
side during the school year. Pierpont Tower, Fieldcrest Hall and Lincoln Hall are also dorms on the Evansdale Campus. Lincoln is directly next to Towers and Pierpont is next door to the Erickson Alumni Center, with Fieldcrest nearest to the Health Sciences Campus. Downtown Campus residence halls include Arnold, Boreman North and South, Dadisman, Honors, International, Stalnaker and Summit. Boreman North is an all female dorm adjacent to Boreman South and is directly behind the Mountainlair Green. Residents of the dorms all have to purchase a meal plan to use at any of WVU’s dining halls. All dorms are within walking distance of PRT stations and Mountain Line bus routes. Residence halls have support
staffs for students, including a resident faculty leader, resident hall coordinators, resident assistants, night staff, desk staff and a newer position: hot shots. Hot Shots are upperclassman volunteers and residents of the dorm who help incoming students move in, in exchange for being able to move in a day early. Resident Faculty Leaders are on site professors organize activities and other resident hall events. “I just want them to learn good habits,” said Tim Pearson, Brooke Tower RFL. Pearson has been a RFL for 11 years and is also an accounting professor at WVU. “I love every minute of it,” Pearson said. RFLs also coordinate study abroad trips students can participate in over Spring Break to earn
class credit. “We’re in the process of planning several,” said Cendana “We will definitely be going to Italy, Paris and Greece.” All students can participate regardless of whether or not they are residence hall students. Some halls offer interest groups or are homes for the various clubs or major groups at WVU. A group in Arnold Hall offers civic engagement and Dadisman has a group for business. Evansdale Campus groups include creative arts and forensics at Bennett Tower, engineering and science at Braxton Tower, business and pre-professional programs for health care and law at Brooke Tower, agriculture and forestry at Lyon Tower and WVU Collegiate 4-H Club at Fieldcrest Hall. The residence halls regularly
FILE PHOTO
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Tuition frozen for in-state Professors advise students after Gov.’s request students to create BY MELISSA CANDOLFI STAFF WRITER
Gov. Joe Manchin asked and West Virginia University obliged. WVU increased out-of-state students’ tuition to $16,402 per year while in-state tuition remains at $5,304 per year. Due to the economy, tuition for out-ofstate students attending WVU has
increased 4 percent, adding $257 to the cost of attendance. Keeping the tuition at the current price for in-state students allows WVU to function in the best possible way, while allowing West Virginians to have some pressure lifted from them, said Carolyn Long, Board of Governors chair. “This gives them some breathing room,” Long said. “We all know
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the economy terms are not good, and in West Virginia, it sort of came to us after everyone else.” Though only out-of-state tuition increased, both in-state and outof-state students will pay an extra $51 in fees. “Whatever we get from our students’ tuition and fees is to be used in the most effective and frugal way,” Long said. “This still lets us provide a highquality education for the students at WVU. It’s a win for everyone because it shows the students we are trying and shows the staff and faculty we appreciate what they do but that we have to be very effective and efficient with the money we get.” Long said the University recognizes everyone is affected by the struggling economy, but raising tuition a small amount will help balance WVU’s budget. “We are a land-grant University, which means it is our charge in life to make sure that all of our students are treated as fairly as possible,” Long said, “But it is also our charge as a land-grant to make our University as accessible to the students in West Virginia and out of state,.” The University looks over WVU’s budget each year, including the number of faculty and what it will be paid to determine next year’s tuition. Long said, due to how the economy has affected West Virginia, the BOG believed this would be the least disruptive way to help WVU but still offer students the choice of courses and maintain a high quality staff and faculty. The University believes it cannot sustain the tuition freeze due to rising prices involved with the University year after year, said Faculty Senate Chair Nigel Clark. “At this point in time, it’s acknowledged that WVU (tuition) is a little lower than at some competing institutions, so that pressure also exists.” Clark said. “We do have a history of having
see TUITION on PAGE 21
schedules to study BY BRIAN YOUNG CORRESPONDENT
The first day of the classes in the fall semester is Aug. 23, and for most freshmen, it will be the first classes of their college career. Students can get their books from stores around campus or by ordering them online. Most students use the is least expensive method. “I don’t care how my students get the books as long as they have them,” said Robin Hensel, assistant dean for the freshman experience in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. When sitting in classrooms,
Hensel said to always sit toward the front, and if there is no room, sit in the middle. Hensel advises students print any notes teachers have online and take additional notes on those. She tells her students to make a study schedule every day for every class. “Spend a minimum of two hours studying for every hour of class time,” Hensel said. “Don’t forget, though, to schedule some free time, and schedule a decent time to go to sleep.” Former Student Government
see SCHEDULES on PAGE 21
Time management key to college success BY AIMEE SMITH CORRESPONDENT
West Virginia University works to promote strong time management skills within its students. WVU’s Extended Learning website provides several useful tips for structuring time to prevent student procrastination. The website recommends determining the requirements for each course and creating a study schedule. Even with a schedule, students can still have difficulty concentrating on their studies. “What you accomplish when studying is not just about the amount of time you spend studying but how you use that time,” the website reads. “Concentration is your ability to focus your attention on one specific task and ignore everything else.” Other website suggestions
include: Make a “to do” list every day Study in short time blocks Use spare minutes wisely Reward yourself Don’t waste time agonizing Keep things in perspective Set goals that “are difficult, yet reachable.” Warren Myers, associate dean of engineering at West Virginia University, is a firm believer in prioritizing. Myers works by an agenda, reviews things on a daily basis and prioritizes; all things he recommends to freshmen. “(Freshmen should) eliminate the things that don’t concern them, and focus on the important things,” Myers said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 21
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Sartarelli hired as dean of B&E BY MELISSA CANDOLFI STAFF WRITER
West Virginia University announced the new Milan Puskar Dean of the College of Business and Economics Jose V. Sartarelli May 4. Sartarelli came to WVU from Johnson & Johnson where he worked as a pharmaceutical group chairman for Asia-Pacific, Japan and Latin America, overseeing a business of more than $3 billion in annual sales throughout more than 50 countries, supported by more than 9,000 employees. He has also held administrative positions at BristolMyers Squibb Co., and Eli Lilly. WVU Provost Michele Wheatly said Sartarelli showed knowledge and experience from working hands-on in his industry and will bring a wealth of real-world knowledge to students. “He has practical experience,” Wheatly said. “One of the things
that happens in the academy is sometimes we, in classes, tend to talk about hypotheticals. We train students from books, they read books, and they try to learn information, but it’s so much better when we have people who have practical experience.” The University put together a job description and used a formalized search process to get qualified candidates for the job. After advertising through newspapers and hiring an executive search firm, Wheatly said there was a rich pool of options. The candidates’ applications went through a screening process to chose specific candidates for interviews in Washington Candidates were then chosen for oncampus interviews and finally a decision was made. “He came with a very interesting portfolio because in the business school we are trying to train people to go out there and work in the industry,” Wheatly said.
“It’s the hands-on that’s important but also how can their knowledge be applied. He had an academic background but a strong experience in the industry.” Wheatly said the college is very excited to have Sartarelli on board and hopes his presence can take the college to new heights. Sartarelli received his bachelor’s of business administration in marketing from the Sao Paulo School of Business Administration Fundacao Getulio Vargas, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He earned his MBA in marketing under a Fulbright Scholarship and his doctorate in business administration from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. William Trumbull has been serving as interim dean of the College of Business & Economics since July 2008.
TUITION Continued from PAGE 20 modest tuition raises with no major surprises” “The governor and the University leadership are aware that providing affordable education to the state, particularly during the time of an economic recession, is im-
portant to make WVU affordable to the state’s students.” Though Clark is unsure how financial aid and scholarships will change for out-of-state students, the Promise Scholarship for instate students has decreased. The tuition increase will be in affect this summer into the fall 2010 semester. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
SCHEDULES Continued from PAGE 20 Association Vice President Whitney Rae Peters said her best piece of advice is not to be afraid to approach professors with questions. “Most may appear like they’re not willing to help, but deep down, they are,” she said.
She added if a student does badly on the first test, they should go speak with the professor on how to improve their test score. “That was my biggest fear my freshman year,” she said. “To talk to my scary, intimidating, lovely teachers.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Living in dorms is a requirement for most freshmen at West Virginia University. This close proximity can lead to students catching many illnesses. WVU’s Student Health Services offers a solution to this problem. With affordable care for students without medical insurance or the time to return home to see a family physician, Student Health has become a fixture at WVU for sick students. Located in the basement of the Health Sciences Center, Student Health operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters
and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the summer session. As long as students were enrolled during the spring semester, are pre-registered for the fall semester and are in good academic standing, they are able to receive care. Student Health specializes in treating students suffering from minor illnesses, as well as diagnosing more serious medical conditions and helping the student find the appropriate care. In addition, the center offers HIV testing, immunizations, advice for staying healthy abroad, sexual assault counseling and can even help students kick a tobacco habit. Appointments are encouraged,
though not necessary. A $10 co-pay is charged for each visit, and a full physical examination is $25. Gynecology appointments are $30. This fee can be paid in cash, check, billed to your student account or with Mountie Bounty. Students are required to bring their WVU ID card and student ID number to their appointment. Prospective patients must also be registered for classes at the time of their first appointment, during which a blue patient identification card will be issued. The card is used to identify student records and must be used when making inquiries when deal-
see HEALTH on PAGE 23
Meal plans include different options BY ERIN FITZWILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Morgantown offers West Virginia University students a variety of on-or off-campus dining opportunities beyond dorm food. The Off-Campus dining plan offers students who live off campus the opportunity to have prepaid meals on or off-campus. On-campus locations like Burger King, Quiznos and Hatfields in the Mountainlair all offer the plan for some of their meals. McCoy’s in the Mountainlair previously offered the plan, but Chick-Fil-A will replace McCoy’s this fall, according to Brian Walker of the West Virginia University Office of Student Life. WVU currently offers five meal plans ranging from 10 to 19 meals per week. The Mountaineer Plan, which costs $1,829 per semester, offers 19 meals per week and about 300 meals per semester. The Select 15 Plan, which costs $1,708 per semester offers up to 15 meals per week. The Select 10 Plan, the cheap-
est plan, offers 10 meals per week for $1,540 per semester. Meals Plus money is included with each plan and is redeemable at many on-campus locations, including Burger King in the Mountainlair or Lyon’s Den located at Towers. For those looking for near unlimited dining options, two other plans are available. The Gold Plan provides up to 229 meals per semester and comes with $100 in Meals Plus money, available for $2,116 per semester. The Blue Plan allows for 209 visits and also comes with the $100 in Meals Plus, for $2,043 per semester. All meal plans are redeemable at the many campus dormitory cafeterias, and many of the restaurants in the Mountainlair. The Healthy U option is a campus-wide dining initiative that offers a menu based on a 2,000- calorie diet. If a student has a dietary concern, such as a gluten-free diet or diabetic-friendly meal, they can call ahead for a special menu. Downtown Morgantown has
LIST OF DINING HALLS Summit Cafe (Summit Hall) Grab ‘n Go (Summit Hall) Arnold’s American Diner (Arnold Hall) Cafe Evansdale (Towers) Boreman Bistro (Boreman South) The Terrace Room (Stalnaker) Brew ‘n Gold Cafe (Towers) Burger King (Mountainlair) Cavanaugh’s (Health Sciences Center) Eliza’s (Downtown Library Complex) Sports Cafe (Student Recreation Center) Freshens (Mountainlair) Lyon’s Den (Towers) Hatfields (Mountainlair) Fieldcrest (Fieldcrest) Chick-fil-A (Mountainlair) Bits & Bytes (Engineering) Waterfront Cafe (Waterfront)
places like D.P. Dough, Casa D’ Amici, Chico’s Fat, Jimmy John’s, Subway and many other restaurants that cater to students and offer late hours to accommodate nocturnal student habits. “I think that Dining Services provides a terrific number of culinary choices for students,” Walker said. erin.fitzwilliams@mail.wvu.edu
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 23
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
SGA hopes to increase incoming freshman BY JERRY HILDEBRAND STAFF WRITER
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Vice President of West Virginia University’s Student Government Association Ron Cheng and his committee plans to incorporate incoming freshman into, not only the University’s future, but also the future of SGA. Lyon Tower, located in the Towers on the Evansdale Campus, and Resident Faculty Leader Hillar Klandorf, plan to assign SGA leaders to each floor to increase student activity in SGA and other functions involving student leadership. Cheng said each floor will perspectively be assigned a governor and executive. “We’ve been invited by the Campus Housing authority to engage with them directly this year, as opposed to our previous actions of ‘meet and greet,’” Cheng said. He also plans to recruit ‘interns’ from each floor to work directly
Regarding the SGA and its plans, e-mail SGA@mail.wvu.edu. with SGA. Each floor will work with the platform of its governor to benefit the University. Gov. Allison Rollins, whose platform is club sports, is a member of Cheng’s committee. She feels student government is crucial to the collegiate experience. “I feel like students forget about the SGA,” Rollins said. “Student government, along with any organization, gives students the opportunity to meet people, network and make connections, which is what college is really all about.” She added SGA governors plan to lead sections of University 101, giving SGA a chance to become more involved with the students on a personal level. SGA has attended every local
orientation and has been recruiting students to become more involved in its future. “We have already received information from three students, and we hope to expand upon that,” Cheng said. SGA also paired up with the Mountaineer Parents Club to attend the “summer send-off ” or parties in the area to speak to incoming freshman, Cheng said. For the future, Cheng started a program called “SGA Expo,” which will target both current and prospective incoming freshman. The program will be travelling to high schools in the state to relay the benefits of involvement with SGA. The target audience will be high school student councils and governments. “We hope to showcase WVU’s SGA and what we have to offer, such as leadership opportunities and experience,” Cheng said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
HEALTH Continued from PAGE 22 ing with bills and appointments among other things. Students are encouraged to visit the the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center at Ruby Memorial for emergency situations. Any medical bills incurred in the emergency room, however, will be the responsibility of the student and, if applicable, their health care provider. Services not offered at Student Health include inpatient care, dental and optometry. The WVU Student Government Association has plans to further streamline the process of treatment at Student Health. “The committee is really trying to shoot for a new facility. The funding is the tough part,” said former SGA president Jason Zuccari. Currently, the different branches of Student Health are scattered around WVU’s
campus. Creating a more centralized office for Student Health is a longterm goal for SGA, but there are also things to improve in the short term. “(We are) meeting with Student Health officials to help make the service more accessible,” said Executive Chair for Student Health John Bond. Students have complained about finding the Student Health office in the past, and SGA has already implemented color-coded pathways on the hospital floor to aid students in finding the office. “Access to the facility is a big thing,” Bond said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
School of Medicine, Nursing receive top honors BY ANN COMPTON CORRESPONDENT
The West Virginia University School of Medicine received two national honors in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The school was recognized in April as 10th-best for rural medicine and ranked 49th for primary care. The last time WVU placed in the top 10 was 2008. The rankings are based on ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty in the nation’s 126 accredited medical schools and
20 accredited schools of osteopathic medicine, according to the website. “It’s recognition by our peer institutions and their opinion leaders in the country of the quality programs we have here at WVU,” said James Brick, WVU School of Medicine interim dean. The school has a history of outreach to the rural population, Brick said. Currently, there are 25 to 30 outreach clinics and educational programs where medical students can learn and work. The outreach programs are part of the University’s commitment to its land-grant beginnings,
Brick said. “This school has a long-standing tradition of service,” Brick said. Every student in the School of Medicine must learn and care for patients in rural areas as a graduation requirement, he said. “West Virginia is a very rural, sparsely populated state, and we feel that it’s important to go to the people and serve them,” Brick said. Approximately 40 percent of graduates from the School of Medicine practice in West Virginia, Brick said. “It’s good to be recognized,
but it’s more important to do the work,” Brick said. The WVU School of Nursing was also ranked No. 72 for its Masters of Science in nursing program by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings are by nursing deans and faculty at schools across the country. The recognition is proof of the quality programs at WVU, said Georgia Narsavage, dean of the School of Nursing. “Hopefully this will help potential students realize that WVU is the place they want do their nursing degree at,” Narsavage said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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The Daily Athenaeum is currently hiring for multiple sections. The following are paid positions: COPY EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHER NEWS WRITER A&E WRITER COLUMNIST GRAPHIC DESIGNER Those interested should send an e-mail to DA-Editor@ mail.wvu.edu for an application. Three positionrelated examples of work are required with a completed application. The DA is a great place for young writers looking for clips toward their journalism majors and experience in a professional publication. To read more stories like those you’ve seen in this edition, visit us online at www. thedaonline.com today. We hope you enjoyed these stories, and we look forward to hearing from you.
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 25
SGA president welcomes incoming freshmen Many students come to WVU and wonder, what is Student Government? How do I get involved? What can SGA do for me as a student? As your Student Government leaders, we’re here to answer those questions for you and represent you daily. For many years, the WVU Student Government Association has served as a direct link between students and the WVU administration and has been committed to speaking up on their behalf. This year, we are about reform. We are setting out to create opportunity for students by empowering them to speak for themselves and facilitating their work with administrators. The Student Government Association meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Rhododendron Room of the Mountainlair. There are two separate opportunities during our meetings, referred to as “Open Student Forums” when students can come voice their concerns about issues on campus and around Morgantown. You don’t have to be elected to become part of the process - you simply have to be a student with a passion and concern for campus issues and a desire to leave WVU better than you found it. Your student government is made up of President Chris Lewallen, Vice President Ron K.
Cheng, an executive branch, a judicial branch and 15 members of the Board of Governors. Student Government members are your average students, ranging from freshman to graduate students and studying majors from every college. No matter what your concern may be, we will be dedicated and diligent in speaking up on these issues that affect the lives of our students. The best way to get involved in SGA is to come to a meeting and be engaged in the process. If you can’t make a meeting, please feel free to e-mail us or stop by our offices in the Mountainlair. It is very exciting to be one of your student leaders at this time. We have a president, James P. Clements, a visionary leader that is excited to get the students engaged. In addition, we have a new provost, Michele Wheatly, and a new chancellor of Health Sciences, Christopher Colenda. This year, we are particularly focused on Student Health, club sports and textbook prices. We will be lobbying the state legislature for many other issues such as: towing, landlord laws, predatory practices from banks, and taxi services. However, there are many other issues on campus that we will continue to advocate. We are so glad you have decided to come to West Virginia
University. For us, we have been extremely fortunate to have opportunities to serve and call Morgantown our home. You will be part of this ongoing tradition as part of the 2010-11 freshmen class. We hope you become involved, learn all of our Mountaineer traditions and embrace the Mountaineer spirit which means so much to all of us. Even if you don’t choose to become involved in Student Government, find something else that you love and get inFILE PHOTO volved in it. SGA president Chris Lewallen and Vice President Ron Cheng hug after their victory in February. WVU has many student organizations in which you can be a part of. Find your place at West Virginia University and embrace it. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at SGA@mail.wvu.edu Our office is located in the Student Organizations wing of the Mountainlair. And remember, reform and opportunity: reforming our campus and bringing opportunity to everyone. Chris Lewallen, Student Government AssociThe new Student Government Association is sworn in. ation president
SUBMITTED PHOTO
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THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Welcome to WVU from President Clements Dear Freshmen: You’ve made a great choice coming to WVU. As our newest Mountaineers, you join a long tradition of academic excellence. We have 175,000 alumni around the world, and our graduates include:
FILE PHOTO
President James P. Clements delivers the State of the University address at the National Research Center for Coal and Energy.
The inventor of the cable modem The basketball legend whose silhouette is on the NBA logo The chairman and CEO of
Cisco Systems A past president of the American Medical Association A four-star general who commanded U.S. Air forces in Europe A former director of White House Communications. You can join our list of outstanding graduates – and we will do all we can to help you. If you want to succeed in college and fulfill your dreams, consider the following: Work hard! Make showing up for class and studying a priority. Get involved! Join a club, join a team, participate in events on campus. WVU has more than 300 student organizations you can join. Students who become involved have a greater chance of graduating than those who don’t. Become globally aware. Consider studying abroad, get to know your fellow students who come from other countries, and look for courses with an international focus. Look for opportunities to get real-world work experience through internships and community service. Remember to stay in touch with your family. They are proud of you and will want to know how things are going. Above all, set high goals for yourself. If you do this, then you will achieve them! A university is known in large part by the quality of its students, and this year’s entering class has outstanding academic credentials. You arrive on campus with different histories and experiences, but from this point forward, your path is forever linked to the Mountaineer nation. Think big, believe in yourself, and work hard to make your dreams come true. Let’s go, Mountaineers. James P. Clements WVU President
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 27
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Freshman students, leave your cars at home classes are still in session. The best part about riding the DAVID RYAN bus happens to be that the COPY EDITOR University has bus access built into your WVU ID, which is I have some important advice free. to share with you, future stuTake the PRT dent of West Virginia University: Don’t bother bringing your Students at the University car to Morgantown. It is a rather unfortunate have a love-hate relationship symptom of our University’s ex- with the Personal Rapid Tranpansion: Our town simply can- sit System. Though thousands of stunot handle the cars it has. Every fall, students from all dents flood the ’70s era, over the country pile into their rickety, computer-automated cars and take to the small, nar- car system every day, many have row streets of Morgantown, ea- hostile feelings toward it. It is certainly an impressive ger to start the semester. Unfortunately, they are system. It has five stops about met, not with immediate aca- campus: Medical, Towers, demic opportunities, but con- Beechhurst, Engineering and gested highways and endless Walnut. potholes. Each is located conveniently WVU recommends that fresh- around campus, near Morganmen leave their cars at home, town landmarks and campus as a way to deal with the con- buildings. And, they’re easy to gestion. But, we’re continually get to – when it’s not broken expanding, and the number of down. incoming freshman is overshadBut don’t worry about that – owed by the problems caused in the 10 or so minutes you’ll by the now-sophomore drivers be stuck on the track, inside the cart, you can get some last-minflooding the streets. Mo rgantow n expanded ute studying done before that around its University but didn’t exam. plan for the almost 30,000 stuWalk dents that now reside here for nine months of the year. This option is only really But don’t fret. If you do leave your car at available to those who live close home, not only will you save the enough to their classes, though pain of increasingly costly gaso- there are some disturbingly line, but it could save you time athletic people who go the exstuck in traffic, eager to find the tra mile and cross Morgantown elusive parking spot (Morgan- by foot. town also doesn’t have adeIt’s the cheapest form of quate parking). transport and the most beneficial to your health. If you can Take the bus do it, great, but you can always compromise and walk to a bus The Mountain Line Transit route or PRT stop. System has teamed up with the Whether you’ll heed the cauUniversity to provide transpor- tionary message of congestation all about Morgantown tion and no parking spaces, or with regular stops. whether you’ll rebel and bring The only downside is that your 8 miles-per-gallon Humsome schedule bus stops out- mer is entirely up to you. Just don’t say I didn’t warn side downtown locations that often coincide with the times you.
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ABOVE: Passengers ride the PRT station rom the Walnut Street. The PRT system runs every weekday and provides a free mode of transportation to and from the Evansdale, Downtown, and Medical campuses. FILE PHOTO
RIGHT: The Mountain Line Transit Authority offers various routes to transfer students from one side of campus to the other. West Virginia University students ride free with a valid WVU ID .
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Contact your roommate before moving in together TONY DOBIES SPORTS EDITOR
Coming into my freshman year, I was one of only three people from my high school who went to West Virginia University. The other two were my friends, but they were both female, so obviously rooming with them in the dorms was out of the question. For that reason, I was placed with a roommate. I was lucky to get someone I got along with and who was respectful in my first year at school. The next year, I made the decision to live in the dorms once again, but instead of Towers, I moved downtown to Boreman FILE PHOTO South. Honors Hall has five floors, with a study room and lounge on each level, as well as a courtyard. My roommate my sophomore It is one of many dorms at WVU. year was the opposite of the one from freshman year. He was lazy, drank a little too much and wore too little clothes to the point that it was awkward to be in the same room with him. After a semester, that roommate left, and I was left with two rooms all to myself. It was all too comfortable, until another guy knocked on my door about a month later and ruined the last two months of my semester. This roommate was apparently kicked out of Towers for verbal abuse and moved into my room. He thought he would only stay a few days until he explained the situation, but that never happened. With him staying, I had to deal with the ultimate bad roommate situation. One Friday afternoon, I went to grab a bite to eat and came back to my room to find 20 guys
prepping for their late-night festivities. Not only that, but he smoked pot – a smell I can’t stand. After pleading with the resident assistant to check the situation out, he told me it was a situation I had to work out with my roommate – remember, the same guy who was kicked out of his previous room for verbal abuse. Looking back, it was a situation I would love to forget but am kind of glad I went through. It was terrible at the time, but I learned so much from it. I learned to fend for myself, deal with and avoid less-thanperfect situations. If you’re starting to worry about your roommate for this year, though, don’t. It’s not worth your worries this early in the process. The best thing to do is find out who your roommate really is. All of you should have the contact information of the person you will be sharing a room with next year in your STAR account at http://star.wvu.edu (use your MIX e-mail username and password to login). Do some preemptive stalking – not the creepy kind, but the good, informational type. Check for your roommate on Facebook and Google. Find out a little bit about them before you talk to them. Most companies hiring are going to do the same thing to gauge the person before interviewing them. This situation should be no different. E-mail your roommate, get his or her contact information, and make sure you call them. Don’t just talk through e-mail. It might be uncomfortable for you, but you don’t really get to know someone that way. Talk to them about your inter-
ests, your pet peeves and what you will bring to the room. If it’s not too much of a hassle and you live within an hour’s drive, make that drive and have lunch with your roommate. Getting the awkward personal meeting over with before you move in will be a good thing. But really, just get to know the person before you make an ultimate judgment. If the situation doesn’t look like it’s going to be perfect, set up a plan for yourself to deal with it. When you move in, you will be given a paper that you and your roommate will fill out called a roommate contract. Take that seriously. Be open because this is the only chance you’ll get at setting boundaries. If you and your roommate don’t get along right off the bat, don’t let it be the end all. It’s always awkward for everyone in the first few days. If the situation doesn’t change, don’t live with it like I did. Tell your RA, and make a change to where you’re comfortable. There’s nothing worse than feeling not at home in your home away from home. In addition, don’t just get to know your roommate once your at school, meet the people in the rooms next to you and the people on your floor. If the situation does go sour with your roommate, you need to have somewhere to go to catch your breath. But don’t panic if you have a nasty roommate. Take the correct steps to remove yourself from the situation. Don’t fret if I’ve scared you with my stories, though, I haven’t heard many others as bad as mine.
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FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 29
Students have plenty of movie choices DAVID RYAN COPY EDITOR
Movie fans, don’t worry. Morgantown has plenty of options for you to kick back and watch a movie between endless studying and panicking over exams. Despite its relatively small size, Morgantown has a variety of options for moviegoers. There’s everything from 3-D to live concert performances to 4-D, a dimension that is only theorized to exist in science fiction series. OK, maybe not. Compiled below are Morgantown’s bestknown movie selections, including rental options and their locations in town. The Warner Theatre There’s nothing like seeing a movie in a place filled with history. Established in 1931, The Warner Theatre has become synonymous with movies in Morgantown. Though slightly older than modern venues around town, The Warner is a comfortable moviegoing experience. Instead of trying to compete with the megaplexes in town, The Warner tries to vary its offerings – new releases are often mixed with classic films, such as “Jurassic Park” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a local favorite. The theatre also organizes a “Zombie Walk” for Halloween, filling the streets of Morgantown with the local undead.
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Plus, for the budget conscious student looking to get out of the dorm or apartment for a few hours, prices for all shows and all movies are $5, according to the Theatre website. In addition to the snacks in the lobby, there’s also a Carvel Ice Cream store connected to the building. Hollywood Theaters Located at the University Towne Center shopping area in Granville, Hollywood Theaters is a 12-screen movie complex offering 3-D screenings of movies (as well as their 2-D versions), live performances of the Metropolitan Opera and more. Though these extra performances are sporadic, they do offer something different from the average blow-’em-up action films and romantic comedies that rarely change. The theater offers “wall-towall” screens with Dolby Digital technology, according to its website. Tickets are available days in advance of special midnight showings and are available through Fandango.com. Student tickets are $7, though a WVU ID must be displayed at time of purchase.
Carmike Morgantown Mall 12 Located in the corner of the Morgantown Mall, Carmike Morgantown Mall 12 offers 12 screens and a wide variety of times and movies. Like Hollywood, Carmike offers events and performances live in-theater as well as midnight showings and 3D screenings of movies. Whereas Hollywood uses Dolby Digital technology, Carmike boasts Digital Light Projection technology, according to its website. Tickets are available days in advance of special midnight showings and are available through Fandango.com. Student tickets are $6.25, cheaper than Hollywood by 75 cents. A WVU ID must be present at time of purchase.
DAVID RYAN/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
The Warner Theatre, located on High Street, was built in 1931 and features a variety of new and classic films.
Gluck Theater Rentals Tucked away behind Quiznos town – Blockbuster in Sheetz and in the Mountainlair, the Gluck For those who want to Redbox in Kroger stores and WalTheatre offers evening screenings see a movie they missed in Mart. of recent movie releases, though theaters, there are multiple Blockdavid.ryan@mail.wvu.edu much delayed behind the major buster and Redbox kiosks around theaters. Screenings are often free during Up All Night, the University’s late-night activity alternative in the Mountainlair Thursday Studio * Café * Gallery through Saturday.
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Morgantown offers students many local coffee options AARON DAWSON A&E WRITER
Coffee has borne a soft spot in the college students’ collective heart and may be solely responsible for your graduated peers’ success and degrees. Fortunately, Morgantown prides itself on its local coffee and has a wealth of shops for the college freshman to explore. Though there are a handful of coffee outlets on the Evansdale Campus, the Downtown Campus is where you’ll find most of the coffee shops in Morgantown worth investing your time and money in. Jay’s Daily Grind offers the highest quality of espresso in town served by Morgantown’s most experienced baristas and coffee intelligentsia. While Wi-Fi is not an option at The Grind, it does offer great sandwiches, homemade muffins and donuts.
You can find Jay’s Daily Grind directly connected to the Book Exchange on Willey Street. The Blue Moose, located at 248 Walnut St., is another Morgantown locale serving great food and coffee, while also offering a wide selection of craft beer and wine, smoothies and tea. “The Moose,” as it is known by Morgantown residents, serves as an art space and music venue offering a weekly open-mic night during Fall and Spring semesters. Check www.thebluemoosecafe. com for more information. So.zo, another worthwhile coffee shop, is located next to the Sprint store on High Street. Doubling as an art space, so.zo puts an unorthodox and creative spin on the traditional idea of a coffee shop. The first thing you’ll notice are silos of cereal on the wall. The shop’s cereal selection runs the gamut of sugary cereal staples like Cinnamon Toast Crunch to healthconscious cereals including Fiber One and Honey Nut Cheerios.
FILE PHOTO
The Blue Moose Cafe is located on Walnut Street. Check www.sozo-morgan- quent creative writing readings, town.net for information regard- Zenclay sells premium coffees in ing shows and the open-mic an atmosphere ideal for studying. schedule. While there are many small Another creative spin on the businesses downtown, there are a traditional coffee shop business handful of large corporate coffee model can be found at Zenclay on shops, such as Starbucks, on the Evansdale Campus. University Avenue. Offering pottery classes and freIn addition to coffee, they also
offer food and Wi-Fi and in doing so, take their focus off the bean. Be sure to check out all of these downtown businesses to establish a familiar and comfortable homeaway-from-home early on in your college experience. robert.dawson@mail.wvu.edu
Restaurant variety offers break from meal plan monotony CHELSEA HENSHEY A&E WRITER
While many students feel limited to the dining halls during their freshman year at West Virginia University, Morgantown offers a variety of tasty restaurants with convenient locations and prices. Downtown Morgantown is filled with unique dining choices. Black Bear Burritos, which serves “build your own burritos,” Sandwich U which serves its famous “fat sandwiches,” like the “Fat Mountaineer.” Late-night and on-the-go eating in Morgantown is a must for all students. Conveniently located on High Street, eateries such as Casa D’Amici, Jimmy John’s, The Pita Pit and D.P. Dough offer quick and easy meal options
and delivery. They’re open until 3 a.m. to provide for the common college late-night cravings and post bar munchies. Chelsea Willis, a sophomore secondary education major at WVU, said eating late on High Street is about variety and proximity to nightclubs. “I like Pita Pit because it’s open late, and you can order something different every time,” she said. “It’s really close to everything, and it can actually be sort of healthy depending on what you create,” Willis said. Students living on the Evansdale Campus also have tasty restaurant options without having to take a PRT ride. Evansdale plays host to Qdoba Mexican Grill and Boston Beanery, which offers a variety of soups, sandwiches, pasta and burgers. Chelsea Midkiff, a WVU junior advertising major, said lo-
cation is just as important as the menu when it comes to fitting good food into a busy college schedule. “I like Qdoba because it has the best burritos,” Midkiff said. “When I was a freshman, it was really convenient because it was within walking distance from my dorm.”
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WORK FOR US The Daily Athenaeum is currently taking student applications for the 2010-11 school year. We have openings in a variety of positions throughout the newspaper. A&E WRITER OPINION COLUMNIST NEWS WRITER PHOTOGRAPHER COPY EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER These are paid positions. If you think you’re qualified for any of those positions and would like to join our staff, send us an e-mail at DA-Editor@mail. wvu.edu and request an application. We look forward to reading your e-mail in the coming weeks and hope you enjoy reading the rest of this issue.
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da Morgantown hits variety of notes
The DA A&E and Sports sections are blogging throughout the summer about anything and everything. Visit our website at www.thedaonline.com and click the A&E BLOG and SPORTS BLOG links and join the discussion.
FILE PHOTO
The Librarians performs at 123 Pleasant Street in 2008.
Venues, concerts offer students a variety of local, national music MACKENZIE MAYS A&E EDITOR
Morgantown has a thriving, cutting-edge music scene and offers plenty of venues and opportunities for students to check out local talent. 123 Pleasant Street is at the center of local and visiting acts, hosting big names like The Davisson Brothers and Gang Gang Dance, while at the same time acting as the go-to spot for local favorites like Fletcher’s Grove and The Librarians. 123 Pleasant Street has set the standard for other local venues with its balanced setting of upbeat dance club and laidback venue. The venue sometimes allows ages 18 and older, though it can also be exclusively for ages 21 and older depending on the night. Other areas like The Blue Moose Cafe and Black Bear Burritos act as restaurants during the day and venues through the night, offering a unique venue atmosphere only found in college towns like Morgantown.
Art gallery-inspired coffee house The Blue Moose Cafe attracts easy-listening genres of all musicians and acts. The cafe also serves as many college students’ home away from home, providing a relaxed alternative to the typical club scene. The Blue Moose Cafe and so.zo cereal bar often host “open mic nights,” allowing the community to explore and discover what underground talent the town has to offer. Morgantown has something to offer mainstream music lovers also, attracting big names and headliners to the WVU Coliseum. National acts like The Fray, Drake and The All American Rejects have all performed here. WVU students receive discounted prices, and sometimes free admission, to all concerts with a valid WVU ID. FallFest, a free concert held at the start of each school year always provides an impressive lineup, with recent performances by Kanye West, John Legend, Dashboard Confessional and Akon. The surrounding area is also perfect for music lovers, with
FILE PHOTO
Akon performs at the 2009 FallFest. The concert is free to WVU students and is held within the first week of classes. Other acts recently to perform include Third Eye Blind and OAR. DC and Pittsburgh always attracting big shows. For those who appreciate music further than the DJ’s house music played at the local nightclubs, Morgantown has something to offer everyone – locals performing their originals on the street or your favorite big time band. mackenzie.mays@mail.wvu.edu
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
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FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 33
34 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Outdoor activities can keep away that freshman 15 MACKENZIE MAYS A&E EDITOR
West Virginia University students should have no trouble avoiding the “freshman 15.” Morgantown has a lot of outdoor activities and free exercise opportunities to help keep the calories in check. A favorite student summertime attractions is “Blue Hole,” a simple swimming area with a 70-foot-bridge along the Big Sandy River. The quick 30 minute drive between a dirt road and a 50-foot cliff is a great getaway for adventurous students with a need for one last small vacation before the school year. The spot is always packed with picnics and tailgates and serves as the college community’s unofficial mini beach spot. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery and students at WVU make the most of it. While Downtown Morgantown is constantly busy and a little hectic, it’s easy to find
some peace and quiet if you look hard enough. Morgantown is equipped with newly developed pedestrian walking and recreational trails system. Together, The Caperton and Deckers Creek trails span 33 paved miles for locals to enjoy the scenery. However, the best view is from another local favorite getaway: Coopers Rock. Located 13 miles east of Morgantown, Coopers Rock State Forest is the best way to appreciate state beauty, with vast scenic overlooks of the Cheat River and Cheat Canyon. While most go to Coopers Rock to enjoy the overlook, the state forest offers several hiking trails, climbing activities and campgrounds. For those who aren’t outdoorsy and don’t have the time to venture off campus, it’s easy to stay in shape with the Student Recreation Center – one of the best student facilities in the country. Students have free access
FILE PHOTO
Community members ride on one of the many trails available for Morgantown cyclists and joggers. to the Rec any time with their WVU ID. The 17,000 square feet center offers a variety of exercise equipment, along with several basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool, a running/
walking track and a 50-foot climbing wall. The Rec Center also offers free personal training and exercise classes like Zumba. Despite the many obstacles going to college puts in the way
of staying healthy, Morgantown offers both indoor and outdoor ways to stay active for those who want to and enjoy the features they have at their disposal. mackenzie.mays@mail.wvu.edu
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FILE PHOTO
Coopers Rock is a popular destination for outdoor hiking and recreation. The park also features scenic overviews of surrounding areas.
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM NOW HIRING A&E WRITERS E-mail us at DAA&E@mail.wvu.edu for an application. Returned applications should include three writing samples.
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE| 35
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
NEW WVU STUDENTS!! We would like to introduce you to the
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36 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 37
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Fashion advice for the freshman first impression BRITTNI MCGUIRE A&E WRITER
Most incoming college freshman want to make a good first impression on their peers. Whether it’s in your classes, your new job or your new dorm room, everyone will have fresh faces to meet. First rule of freshman fashion: throw out those old high school T-shirts. I know, you’re proud to have graduated high school, participated in the band or completed a camp of some sort, but these “go to” clothing items are a red flag for freshmen. Keep a few to sleep in or lounge around in your dorm, but if you’re trying to be low key about your
freshman status, you might want to trade in your high school gear for some new West Virginia University threads. If looking for traditional Mountaineer gear, such as logo tees and tank tops, shop at the Barnes and Noble WVU Bookstore. Prices are affordable for college budgets and also convenient for purchase while rounding up your books for the fall semester. The best deals are the T-shirt and hat combinations for sale in different colors and styles – perfect for going to class in a hurry or attending your first football game. Other options around town also include offerings from The Book Exchange’s locations on Evansdale and downtown, as well as UniversiTees on High Street.
Ladies, if looking for a more stylish or “girly” spin on WVU attire-check out the Victoria’s Secret line that can be purchased at Morgantown Mall’s Victoria’s Secret or shop the line in the bookstore. The VS line offers tube dresses, T-shirts, shorts and flip flops styled with different colors and embellishments fit for a stylish beginning to your college experience. Guys can check out one of the several hat stores in the Morgantown Mall, such as Hat World, that carry many different types of WVU hats to add the final touch to their laidback class attire. I’m sure many of you are not only excited to start a new school experience but also to build a new nightlife since you’ll be moving out of your parents’ homes. When going out on the town,
keep it simple and try not to overaccessorize. Do not wear leggings under a dress or as pants. If you want to wear a legging, try a knit pant instead, this offers the same look you’re going for without revealing too much and looking like you forgot your pants. Figleaf, a small women’s clothing boutique, offers the latest trends and basics for social hour and weekends. The boutique sells basic tops and dresses that are sure to look stylish, while not looking like you’re trying too hard: a common freshman fashion mistake. Figleaf is always on top of the newest fashions and ready to give girls the styles they need to get through their casual days and fun nights.
“Each year when students come back to school it gets busy,” said Kylie Harris, WVU student and Figleaf employee. “It is hard to tell exactly what we sell the most of because there are always so many different styles, but this summer we have been selling a lot of floral print dresses, and the floral print will probably continue when students come back from summer.” Whether it’s a night out or a day full of classes, be sure to always feel comfortable in what you’re wearing but avoid trying too hard. Keep it clean and simple for both guys and girls and you are sure to impress your fellow WVU classmates while looking like a natural despite how nervous your first days are. brittni.mcguire@mail.wvu.edu
Keep up with news from WVU before you arrive in August. Visit us online at www.thedaonline.com
38 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Enjoy the Golden Era of West Virginia athletics TONY DOBIES SPORTS EDITOR
Welcome to West Virginia University, and get ready to be part of the most successful era of athletics in this school’s history. Over the last five years, WVU has been on a winning path it has never experienced before. The football team made it to two BCS bowls (and won both), and the men’s basketball team went to the Final Four for just the second time in 51 years. It also has been to three Sweet 16s, won the National Invita-
tion Tournament and won the Big East Conference Tournament in that time. Of course, you probably know that already. The Mountaineers’ rifle team won the 2009 national title, the cross country team finishing in the top 10 at NCAA championships for two-straight years, the men’s and women’s soccer teams are having unprecedented success, and the women’s basketball team is – outside of Connecticut – becoming the class of the Big East. The good thing for you, freshmen, is the success is going to continue while you make your journey as an undergraduate
student. In September, you will have the chance to go to a football game for the first time as a student. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience … one, if you’re lucky, you can experience seven times in the fall. You will learn the traditions, chants and cheers that make WVU such a special place. On that first football Saturday against Coastal Carolina, you will truly become a Mountaineer. In November, you can catch the men’s basketball team in its first game fresh off a Final Four finish. What other school could give you that experience? Certainly
not Duke, Michigan State or Butler. It’s one of a kind – one you’re sure to remember for the rest of your lives. Here’s a few things you should know and learn about being a fan at WVU: Not only do you have the ability to see some of the highest-quality collegiate sporting events at WVU, you also have the ability to change the outcome of these games. Each year, Milan Puskar Stadium is named the Big East Conference’s toughest place to play. And if you ask former Pitt assistant coach Tom Herrion (now current Marshall head coach) who was hit with a quarter from a fan in the stands at the WVU Coliseum last season, he would say it’s pretty tough to play, too. It’s up to you to keep that tradition alive (just don’t throw anything, please). You will quickly find out, not only are West Virginia fans some of the rowdiest in the nation, but they like the distinction of being nasty. Whether or not you choose to join in on the rowdy and nasty behavior is up to you, but you need to be a passionate fan at all times. It’s important to show your support for every sports team – not just football and men’s basketball. The Mountaineer men’s and women’s soccer teams and women’s basketball have seen an impressive rise in attendance at home games over the past three years. It’s also been a key to those teams’ success if you ask their head coaches. Showing support at those
games, and watching sports you aren’t familiar with can be interesting. Before the end of your freshman year, you should see at least one game, match or meet of each WVU sports team. It’s truly an experience. Wear gold. Each year, Mountaineer Maniacs are given a gold T-shirt as a part of being a member of the organization. It’s important to wear that Tshirt or another gold shirt to all sporting events. When Milan Puskar Stadium and the WVU Coliseum are seas of gold, opponents find it a little harder to play. Lose your voice. If you walk out of Milan Puskar Stadium or the WVU Coliseum with your voice intact, you didn’t do your job as a student – to make the opponent feel like its living a nightmare. If you’re sitting down and quiet, you’re making it no less different then if the two teams played in a closed gym. Stay the entire time. One of the, if not the most notable, tradition at West Virginia is the singing of “Country Roads” following a victory. If you don’t stay to watch the end of a thumping, then you won’t get to take part in history. WVU can, at times, get a bad rap for its fans leaving a game early, especially when the Mountaineers are up by an astronomical amount. Just remember, you only get so many games as a student. You should enjoy them in their entirety while you can. Welcome to West Virginia University. It’s up to you to keep the tradition and reputation WVU has built alive. anthony.dobies@mail.wvu.edu
For complete coverage of Mountaineer sports, read The Daily Athenaeum online at www.thedaonline.com. All summer long, check out the DA Sports Blog for a comprehensive college football preview including team previews from all Big East teams, preseason top 25 teams and answers to all questions about West Virginia football.
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 39
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Mountaineer Maniacs offer guaranteed football tickets BY TONY DOBIES SPORTS EDITOR
After experimenting with three different membership options last year, the Mountaineer Maniacs will offer two different options for the 2010-11 school year. The Mountaineer Maniacs are the official student cheering section for West Virginia athletics. It will be the 11th-year the group has been officially recognized as such. “We’re just a group of students with a passion for Mountaineer athletics,” said second-year Maniacs President Cassie Werner. “The Maniacs is a great way to continue that passion and is a great organization to be involved in.” One option will guarantee student tickets to all home football games. That yearly membership option costs $30. The other option, which costs $20, doesn’t guarantee football
tickets, but will give the same incentives as the other option – a Maniacs T-shirt and invitations to watch parties for away games among others. Every student activity fee-paying student can apply for a student ticket to home football games but aren’t guaranteed a seat. Joining the Mountaineer Maniacs with guaranteed ticketing is the only way to assure a seat at those games. Incoming freshmen can sign up for the Maniacs during the information fair at New Student Orientation in June. The organization has a booth set up at the University. “Joining the Maniacs is a great way to socialize, meet new friends and just become involved in their school,” Werner said. “I’ve met some of my best friends through the Maniacs.” For the first time, membership sign up will be completed via lap-
tops at the booth. Last year, the Maniacs tried to develop a way for students to sign up online, but Werner said it didn’t work out for this year. The Maniacs are trying to set up a trip to LSU for the Mountaineers’ away football game against the Tigers in September, Werner said. In addition, the organization has opportunities to travel to other away football and men’s basketball games, depending on interest. Other special events, like meeting the men’s basketball coaching staff, watching a closed spring football practice and learning cheers and chants from head men’s soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc, have been done in the past, as well. If students are unable to sign up at New Student Orientation, they can still join the Maniacs at the office in the Mountainlair. anthony.dobies@mail.wvu.edu
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MOUNTAINEER MANIACS Check out the organization’s website at www.maniacs.wvu.edu. You can also log on to the Maniacs Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ wvumaniacs.
FILE PHOTO
West Virginia University students celebrate a first down last season during a football game.
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40 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
A quick guide to requesting football tickets BY TONY DOBIES SPORTS EDITOR
DAVID RYAN/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Pictured is the student gate at Milan Puskar Stadium. Students line up hours before kickoff on game days to get the best seats in the stadium.
West Virginia University students have the opportunity to sit in one of the largest student sections in the country for football games. There are 11,000 seats reserved for students at Milan Puskar Stadium, mainly in the upper deck. That will not change this year, according to WVU’s Director of Sports Marketing Matt Wells. Wells said the University makes 12,500 student tickets available to deal with no-shows and will continue to divvy out tickets in the same way as in previous years, through a merit and senioritybased process. “For the most part, the students understand it, and the system works,” Wells said. “Things have
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gone well.” This is The Daily Athenaeum Sports section’s helpful guide to requesting tickets for football games and other Mountaineer sporting events. Student tickets to a WVU football game are requested online at www.WVUgame.com. Click on the tab labeled “Student Tickets” and follow the link to the student ticketing website. To enter the site, students will use their MIX username. The password is the last six digits of the student’s ID number. “The best thing to do is familiarize themselves with the system and understand how it works,” Wells said. To be safe, log in at least once before the season nears to be sure there are no problems with the username or password. Click on “request ticket.” If the tickets for the game are highlighted in yellow, they are available to be requested. The first home football game is Saturday, Sept. 4 against Coastal Carolina at a time to be announced. Student ticket requests begin Friday, Aug. 27, at 12:01 a.m. Students will have two days to sign up for a ticket. When requesting a ticket for the first time, only one ticket can be requested. Students do have a choice between “lower level,” “upper level” or “Maniacs.” All Mountaineer Maniacs sit in the upper section of Milan Puskar Stadium. This is where the bulk of the student seats are available, but there are a limited number of tickets for the lower level. There is also a “Senior Spirit” section for those students. Once a ticket is requested, an email will be sent to the student’s MIX account verifying the ticket reservation. If the tickets requested exceeds the tickets available, the tickets will be awarded on a loyalty-based lottery. For each football game a student goes to, he or she receives points by validating his or her ticket. Only 20 percent of the seniority loyalty points are carried over from
see TICKETS on PAGE 41
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 41
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
DAVID RYAN/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Pictured is the entrance of Milan Puskar Stadium, where fans in the Touchdown Terrace part of the stadium enter to get to their seats. The stadium is commonly called the loudest and rowdiest stadium in the Big East Conference.
TICKETS Continued from PAGE 40 the 2009-10 school year, though. This is to allow a fair chance for freshmen to receive tickets in a lottery. “It’s important for freshmen to know the more games they attend, the better their chances are of receiving a ticket that go into lottery,” Wells said. “It doesn’t guarantee you anything, but the more points you have by attending some of the early season games that aren’t in as high demand, the better chances there are to get a ticket to some of the more highly thought-of games.” In an NBA Draft-type lottery, the more games a student has gone to, the more entries that student will have in the lottery. Wells said a lottery situation happens several times in a season. “You’re in a system where there is more demand than there is supply,” Wells said. “Any time you have more people who want tickets than the number of tickets available, the people who don’t receive a ticket are going to be upset.” When tickets are handed out, an e-mail will be sent to the student’s MIX e-mail account telling him or her to print out the ticket. Go back to www.WVUGAME. com, and sign in using the user-
name described earlier, but this time click on “claim ticket.” You have two days to claim and print your ticket, and all unclaimed tickets will be taken away. The ticket is used to enter the game, along with a valid WVU ID card. The student entrance is along the east side of the Milan Puskar Stadium. No other photo ID is accepted, so a student must bring his or her WVU ID card to enter the stadium.
Gates open 90 minutes prior to games. The student gates will be labeled “Maniacs/upper deck” and “lower deck/senior spirit.” Lines usually begin to form two hours before the start time, but that varies based on the relevance and the time of the game. Because all student seating is general admission, there are no assigned seats. Once a student chooses a seat, game festivities, including the
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band’s pre-game performance and the football team’s entrance, begin 15 minutes before the start time. If a student decides not to go to the game and does not cancel the ticket, he or she will lose loyalty points.
Tickets for other sports are less complicated. For those athletic events, students just need to swipe their WVU ID card at the gate to enter. anthony.dobies@mail.wvu.edu
42 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Avoid ‘Freshman 15’ with state-of-the-art Rec Center SWIMMING POOL
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Centered at the heart of West Virginia University’s Evansdale Campus lies one of its most popular facilities: the Student Recreation Center. The state-of-the-art, 177,000 square-foot facility has been a go-to place to more than 5 million students since its opening in 2001. It is free to use to all fee-paying students. Its popularity still hasn’t died down. “This facility has the ‘wow’ factor,” said WVU Rec Center Director Dave Taylor. “The day we opened, I kept hearing ‘wow, look at this place.’ Eight years later, I still hear that from people who see it for the first time.” Just a short walk from Towers, the $34 million brick structure rests on land that also consists of two ponds that can be overlooked from the center’s aquatic and cardio areas. Once inside, glass walls allow visitors to see all areas of the center including the 50-foot climbing wall and the six basketball courts. “It’s probably one in the top five percent in the country as far as recreation centers are concerned,” Taylor said. “It’s a first-class recreation center for a first-class University.” The climbing wall with 3,500 square feet of rock surface is a favorite to many, according to Taylor. The center also features a three-lane elevated track resting above the basketball courts. The courts are also used as badminton and volleyball courts - as well as the popular aquatic center, which includes a six-lane, 25-yard lap and fitness pool, a hot tub and a whirlpool. Overlooking the aquatic center is the cardio and weight training areas. The 17,000-square-foot area covers two floors of the center and offers a variety of fitness
see REC on PAGE 45
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 43
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
Club sports provide opportunities for all athletes BY BRIAN GAWTHROP
WVU OFFERS THE FOLLOWING CLUB SPORTS
SPORTS WRITER
Just because a high school graduate enters a large public University doesn’t mean he or she has to give up playing organized sports. That’s the idea behind the club sports program at West Virginia University, according to WVU Sports Club Federation President Ryan Post. More than 25 club sports are offered at WVU – enough to give any Mountaineer student a chance to find their niche. “Club sports give students an alternative activity,” Post said. “It’s a way for students to stay active in college without the strict routine of playing a varsity sport.” But a student doesn’t have to be a standout high school athlete – or an athlete at all – to participate in club sports. In fact, a lot of participants are picking up the sport for the first time when they get involved in club sports, as experience is not required. “Teams are usually mixed between people who just want to have fun and people who want to win a national championship,” Post said, who also serves as president of the WVU cycling team. “Some join because of their love for the sport, but others just want to get involved, like getting out and staying active.” The time put into the sport is completely up to the participant, according to Post. For most sports, students are not restricted by GPA or eligibility requirements, unlike NCAA varsity sport requirements. Schedules of each sport vary although most play between three and 10 games each season, aside from cycling which has three seasons and roughly 20 races per year. The opponents of the club sport teams usually consist of other college’s club sports throughout the East Coast although more developed sports, such as rugby, play on a varsity level and play against other col-
MEN’S Baseball Crew Fencing Field hockey Golf Ice hockey Lacrosse Paintball Rugby Soccer
FILE PHOTO
A WVU lacrosse player fights with a Pitt player during a game earlier this year.
SUBMITTED
A WVU equestrian team member performs during national championships earlier this year. lege’s varsity teams. Travel and fundraising, for most sports, isn’t uncommon. But the extra work usually pays off. The WVU softball team won the 2005 national championship while teams such as hockey, paintball, snowboarding, equestrian, and rugby have been ranked inside the top 10. “A lot of sports are serious. Some sports recruit, train all
year and do a lot of fundraising,” Post said. “But no sports are intended to be a varsity sport, so most are laid back and purely recreational.” Not all sports have coaches, although each is led by officers. For more information on each sport, contact the sport’s representative or go to http://studentreccenter.wvu.edu/club_sports. brian.gawthrop@mail.wvu.edu
Tae Kwon Do Tri Volleyball
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CO-ED Cycling Frisbee Ski Snowboard Swimming Billiards Table tennis Archery Boxing
44 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
2010 WEST VIRGINIA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE UNLV Oct. 9
Syracuse Oct. 23
South Florida Oct. 14
Rutgers Dec. 4
Coastal Carolina Sept. 4
UConn Oct. 29
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Marshall Sept. 10
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Pittsburgh Nov. 26
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
REC Continued from PAGE 42 equipment including treadmills, elliptical centers, weight machines and free weights. Free one-on-one training sessions are available. “Before this facility was built, students only had 3,600 square feet of weight and fitness area,” Taylor said. “Now, you can choose to have privacy while on a machine or train with friends.” A squash court along with three racquetball courts, all with glass walls, are located immediately after the entry gate near the center’s front office. “I like to think that students use the center for more than one thing,” Taylor said. The center also offers at least 50 exercise classes a week including yoga, spinning, Zumba and a newly formed karate class, all of which are free to WVU students. The classes, which are offered throughout the week, are one of the fastest growing parts of the center, according to Taylor. “We’re picky about our classes,” said Nancy Oliverio, the rec center’s manager for fitness and wellness. “We want the students to know that they’re getting an excellent instructor and know that they’re making the most of their time. “Plus, the classes are all free and all top-notch. A lot of other places either come with a high price or isn’t as good of quality.” Oliverio is also organizing a freshman 15 program for the fall semester with the goal of helping incoming freshmen maintain a healthy weight. Students can also rent outdoor recreation equipment including canoes, skis, bikes and camping supplies from the facility’s outdoor recreation center while a cafe is also located on the main floor. All West Virginia students are admitted free to the center with a valid WVU ID card. brian.gawthrop@mail.wvu.edu
*All photos are from the files at The Daily Athenaeum.
CLIMBING WALL
TREADMILLS
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 45
46 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
MEN’S BASKETBALL WINS BIG EAST, MAKES FFINAL FOUR RUN IN 2009-10
Keep up with everything happening around the West Virginia men’s basketball team in The Daily Athenaeum.
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES VOLLEYBALL Date Aug. 28 Aug. 28 Aug. 29 Aug. 29 Sept. 3 Sept. 4 Sept. 4 Sept. 10 Sept. 11 Sept. 11 Sept. 14 Sept. 17 Sept. 17 Sept. 18 Sept. 18 Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Oct. 2 Oct. 3 Oct. 8 Oct. 10 Oct. 16 Oct. 19 Oct. 24 Oct. 29 Oct. 31 Nov. 6 Nov. 7 Nov. 12 Nov. 14
Opponent HOWARD (WVU Classic) BUFFALO (Classic) YOUNGSTOWN (Classic) AKRON (Classic) vs. UNC Charlotte at George Mason vs. Army at Wake Forest vs. East Carolina vs. Campbell MARSHALL vs. Liberty at Cal State Fullerton vs. Yale vs. Pennsylvania at Notre Dame at DePaul at Seton Hall at Rutgers GEORGETOWN USF PITT at Duquesne at Villanova at Marquette at Syracuse CINCINNATI LOUISVILLE ST. JOHN’S CONNECTICUT
Time 1:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 10 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 10 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m.
Nov. 19 BIG EAST Championships TBA
*All photos are from the files of The Daily Athenaeum
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For complete coverage of Mountaineer sports, read The Daily Athenaeum online at www.thedaonline.com. All summer long, check out the DA Sports Blog for a comprehensive college football preview including team previews from all Big East teams, preseason top 25 teams and answers to all questions about West Virginia football.
FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE | 47
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010
FALL WVU SPORTS SCHEDULES Women’s soccer
Men’s soccer Date Sept. 3 Sept. 5 Sept. 10 Sept. 12 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Sept. 25 Sept. 29 Oct. 2 Oct. 6 Oct. 9 Oct. 13 Oct. 16 Oct. 20 Oct. 23 Oct. 27 Oct. 30 Nov. 3
Opponent MONMOUTH UNC WILMINGTON vs. William & Mary at Old Dominion CAL-STATE FULLERTON JAMES MADISON DE PAUL at Duquesne at Georgetown at Elon NOTRE DAME PITT at USF at Connecticut SETON HALL MARQUETTE at Providence BIG EAST Tournament
*All photos are from the files of The Daily Athenaeum
Time 7:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. Noon TBA
Date Aug. 10 Aug. 14 Aug. 20 Aug. 27 Aug. 29 Sept. 4 Sept. 10 Sept. 12 Sept. 16 Sept. 19 Sept. 23 Sept. 26 Oct. 1 Oct. 3 Oct. 8 Oct. 10 Oct. 15 Oct. 17 Oct. 22 Oct. 24 Oct. 28
Opponent INDIANA (Exhibition) at Wake Forest (Exhibition) PENN STATE at Bowling Green at Ohio State CENTRAL MICHIGAN at Miami vs. Florida Atlantic PITT VIRGINIA at Marquette USF at Cincinnati at Louisville at Syracuse at St. John’s VILLANOVA GEORGETOWN CONNECTICUT PROVIDENCE BIG EAST Tournament
Time 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 11:30 a.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 8 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. TBA
48 | FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010