THE DAILY ATHENAEUM “Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
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WEDNESDAY JUNE 23, 2010
www www.THEDAONLINE.com
VOLUME 123, ISSUE 156
Clements to deliver State of Univ. in DC BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
West Virginia University President James P. Clements will deliver his State of the University Address at the Newseum in Washington today. Clements will speak before an audience of state legislators and alumni about University activities in the past year and what the future holds for WVU. “This has been an incredible year at WVU. I look forward to sharing the state of our University with you on Wednesday, as
well as discussing the important context in which we move forward,” Clements said in a statement to those attending the speech Monday. “Higher education is facing rapid changes – perhaps more than it has at any time since land-grant universities emerged in the 19th century.” In his speech, Clements will pose and answer questions about the role of higher education in American society, the tough economic times facing the state and the nation and the importance of research, said Becky Lofstead,
assistant vice president of University Relations. “Those universities prepared to adapt will thrive in the 21st century,” Clements’ message said. “West Virginia University is one of those universities.” The event has been sponsored for more than three decades by the National Capital Area Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association and is meant to honor the state’s congressional delegation and alumni. It is one of the longest running advocacy programs for WVU alumni, according to a press release.
“We have a large number of alumni living in the D.C.-metro area, and this was really their brain child, and they are the ones who brought this event to fruition and have grown it to be such a tremendous success,” said Tara Curtis, director of communications for the WVU Alumni Association. Curtis said the event is primarily invitation only, but WVU colleges and units within the University can host a table at the event and invite the individuals to attend. “Because it’s a small venue we
are not able to open it up to as many alumni as we would like, but it will definitely be a nice representation of alumni and friends of the University,” Curtis said. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the John F. Nicholas Jr. National Capital Area Chapter Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to students in the D.C.-Metro area attending WVU, as well as the New Home for Mountaineers CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Building Fund. West Virginia University President James P. Clements welcomes new Athletic Director Oliver devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu Luck.
Cycling group pedals through state W.Va. ranks last in
postsecondary job placement study BY JERRY HILDENBRAND STAFF WRITER
CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
David Spiker, one of the many cyclists who participated in ‘Outspoken for 4-H’ bicycles to raise money for scholarships to help send children to 4-H camps. Campers lined the road to greet the cyclists, who traveled 250 miles through southern West Virginia, as they ended their ride at Jackson’s Mill.
More than 250 miles cycled in four days BY ERIN FITZWILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Through the mountains and past lakes and rivers, 21 4-H members, alumni and volunteers rode their bicycle through 10 West Virginia counties, 250 miles over four days last weekend. “Outspoken for 4-H” is a cycling group affiliated with West Virginia University’s Extension Service. The riders pedaled to fundraise for West Virginia children and teens to attend 4-H camps around the state. “It was really hard, but doing it for a great cause keeps you going,” said Katie Mcdonald, a junior music-education major and collegiate 4-H secretary. “I raised about $900.” Each cyclist pledged to raise a minimum of $500. Last year, the
group raised $10,000, a number it hoped to surpass this year. “The last estimate I heard was $12,000, and we still have donations coming in,” said Alex Coffman, a senior history major and president of WVU Collegiate 4-H Coffman said during the day the group would ride from one county 4-H camp to another, and it would spend its nights talking to children at each camp about living a healthy lifestyle, and why it’s riding bicycles through the state. The annual bicycle ride rallies 4-H supporters, alumni and members to make taxdeductible donations to the 4-H Youth Development ProCHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM gram, a WVU Extension Service Members of the 4-H camp at Jackson’s Mill line the road to cheer on the cyclists who particiorganization. pated in the ‘Outspoken for 4-H’ bike ride and fundraiser as they arrive at the camp Sunday afternoon. The fundraiser was designed to raise scholarship funds to send children to 4-H see CYCLING on PAGE 2 camps who may not have the money to participate.
Sunnyside Up appoints student representative BY MORGAN MCCORMICK STAFF WRITER
A West Virginia University Student Government Association governor is now part of the Board of Directors for the Sunnyside Up Development Corporation. Charlie Russell is now an exofficio member on the board for Sunnyside Up. The group is a partnership between Morgantown and WVU with the goal of creating and implementing a plan to revitalize the neighborhood. Although Russell cannot vote, he will provide a direct link from WVU students to Sunnyside Up. He said this coming fall when students move in, board mem-
bers will be going door-to-door with handouts. These handouts and members of Sunnyside Up will help inform residents of upcoming plans and how to become involved. Jim Hunt, executive director of Sunnyside Up, said if this year is successful the next step will be a full voting position for a student. He added when he started the project there was little student involvement, but it was one of his goals to include them. The corporation has already been active in clean-up efforts and the construction of new apartment buildings, and will continue to revamp the Sunnyside area this year. Russell is interested in involving more students in projects.
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Two WVU grads are competing to be MTV’s first ever Twitter Jockey. A&E PAGE 12
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“I hope a student voice will show that students care and want to be involved in their college town,” he said. “We can address any concerns students have, such as unsafe housing and landlord practices.” Hunt said Sunnyside Up’s plans are not just to build apartments and clean the area up, but to change the attitudes of those who live there. With a restored and cleaned neighborhood, residents are more likely to take care of Sunnyside, Hunt said. “It’s the little things too, by this fall we will have every dumpster in Sunnyside repainted,” Hunt said. They have also worked to remove trash and graffiti from the neighborhood. Hunt said this
summer is one of the most productive periods for the group. Their major project is the Tax Increment Financing project, which will revamp Grant Street from Campus Drive to Fourth Street. The $1.7 million project includes building new sidewalks, putting in new lighting, and cleaning the area. Other projects include putting in new sidewalks on Beechurst, or “The Gateway” to Sunnyside and downtown Morgantown. There will also be improvements made to the rail trail in the Sunnyside area along with a few dozen “small-but-important” jobs with landlords and housing, Hunt said. morgan.mccormick@mail.wvu.edu
A college degree may not matter as much for West Virginians, according to a study conducted by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. West Virginia ranked lowest on the national scale of jobs that requires postsecondary education. According to the study, 49 percent of jobs in West Virginia will require a bachelor’s degree, which is 14 percent below the national average of 63 percent. West Virginia ranked first in jobs available for high school graduates. The study analyzed all levels of education in relation to jobs, ranging from high school dropouts to graduate degree owners. It predicts the types of jobs expected to be available in the year 2018. The study projected approximately 806,000 jobs to be available. Of these, 109,000 would
see STUDY on PAGE 2
CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Electrician Josh Phillips inserts new wires inside new street lights at the Creative Arts Center Tuesday. Construction workers and electricians have been working to replace the old lights with more updated ones over the past few weeks.
CAC lighting project nearing completion BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
A $290,000 project to replace light fixtures at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center is expected to be complete by June 30. The lights being replaced include those in the CAC parking lot and along the walkway leading to the WVU Coliseum, said Mitch Ross, project manager for the CAC lighting project. The budget for the project is $290,000 and is not expected to exceed this amount, Ross said. The money came from the Facilities Management deferred maintenance budget. Construction began May
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require a bachelor’s degree while 328,000 would only require a high school diploma or GED. The study projected a “large” job increase, but substantial gains in employment will not occur until 2011, according to a press release. By 2015, America will have compensated for the extreme job loss and by 2018, we will need more college-educated workers than will be available. “It’s not exactly the people who fill the jobs, but more the state of West Virginia’s economy,” said Laura Meyer, the program coordinator for Georgetown’s CEW. The Center’s director, Anthony P. Carnevale, stated his worries about the current job situation in a press release. “America needs more workers with college degrees, certificates and industry certifications. If we don’t
INSIDE THIS EDITION Talk of conference expansion has been centered around football program’s across the country. WVU’s non-revenue sports head coaches speak on the possibility of a new conference on page 5
17, Ross said, following Commencement ceremonies. “We replaced the parking lot lighting and the walkway lighting toward the Coliseum as well as ran new conduit and wires to the fixtures to replace outdated and deteriorating equipment,” he said. He said the previous fixtures were not putting out an adequate amount of light, creating safety issues in the area. The area affected by the lighting project previously was considered for a project creating a pedestrian bridge from the CAC to the Coliseum over Monongahela Boulevard.
see LIGHTING on PAGE 2
WVU STARS NBA BOUND? Former West Virginia forwards Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks are expected to have their names called at the 2010 NBA Draft Thursday. SPORTS PAGE 5