THE DAILY ATHENAEUM “Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
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WEDNESDAY JUNE 30, 2010
www www.THEDAONLINE.com
VOLUME 123, ISSUE 157
ROBERT C. BYRD 19172010
Byrd’s influence etched in WVU’s history BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
His name adorns bridges, school buildings and highways across West Virginia as well as West Virginia University’s Health Sciences Center, showing his legacy in the WVU community. West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd, 92, was the longest serving Democratic senator, with nine terms totaling 51 years. “Senator Byrd was one of the transforming influences at WVU since its founding,” said President Emeritus and WVU professor of Law David Hardesty.
“Even the roads that lead people to WVU are part of his handy work. It’s almost impossible to innumerate all the projects he has helped us to get.” Byrd made key efforts in funding for WVU, including the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, the PRT, the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and the WVU Eye Institute, among others “West Virginia has lost a great friend and champion in Sen. Robert C. Byrd,” said WVU President James P. Clements, in a press release. “He embodied what we hold so dear in the
Mountain State: loyalty, commitment, hard work, honesty and faith. I respect so much all that he has done for West Virginia, West Virginia University and the entire nation. Byrd was well known for being a Constitutional scholar as he always carried a pocket sized Constitution. He frequently celebrated Constitution Day at the WVU College of Law. “Senator Byrd was not only a great senator and a lawyer, but he was also a historian and cared very deeply about the study of United States History, particularly Constitutional his-
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tory,” said Joyce McConnell, dean of the College of Law. “I regard Senator Byrd as Congress’s Constitutional scholar and conscious.” Born Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. Nov. 20, 1917, in North Wilkesboro, N.C., Byrd was the youngest of five children. At the age of 1, his mother died and his father sent him to live with his aunt and uncle who renamed him and moved to the coal-mining town of Stotesbury, W.Va. He didn’t learn his original name until he was 16 and his real birthday un-
In this May 20 file photo Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., questions panel members about mine safety during a hearing on Capitol Hill.
see BYRD on PAGE 2
Large football Clements builds WVU back in Year 1 tailgates becoming a concern for city MARCH 6, 2009
Towson University Provost James P. Clements, left, is announced as WVU’s new president. He would take over for Interim President C. Peter Magrath.
JULY 1, 2009
President Clements made significant noise in first year on job at University
Clements makes his first major hire by selecting Michele Wheatly as the school’s next provost.
SEPT. 25, 2009
JUNE 16, 2010 CHELSI BAKER/DA
Clements gives his first State of the University and pledges more professors and gives $1.5 million to club sports.
Clements hires new Athletic Director Oliver Luck, who takes over the office July 1.
APRIL 20, 2010
JUNE 27, 2010
Clements speaks at a candlelight vigil in front of the Mountainlair for the 29 fallen miners in Southern West Virginia.
see CLEMENTS on PAGE 3
CITY EDITOR
Morgantown City Council discussed preparations for the upcoming football season with local law enforcement, including how to deal with large tailgates at its Tuesday meeting. Morgantown Police Chief Phil Scott and West Virginia University Police Chief Bob Roberts gave a presentation outlining current policies governing alcohol consumption and large private tailgates during WVU football games. They recommended the Council consider an ordinance requiring private tailgate parties to apply for permits so law enforcement could take a more proactive approach in dealing with these events. “This is something that goes on year after year after year, but tonight we wanted to highlight some of the preparations for this particular season,” said Morgantown City Manager Dan Boroff. Community members have complained to both police departments about their neighborhoods being overrun with cars and large parties on private lots. Roberts said while the problems in Morgantown are not as bad as in similar college locations, there are still issues to address. “A lot of these tailgates are on private property which restricts our authority,” Roberts said. “If enforcement is increased, then it will need to be applied evenly.” He said staffing is a major issue in terms of enforcement. The number of officers assigned to game duty from the WVU, Morgantown and state police com-
Clements speaks at the 2010 State of the University at the Newseum in Washington and talks of the ‘American dream.’
BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
2010 Miss West Virginia, Outstanding Teen crowned BY ERIN FITZWILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Dance numbers, glittering ball gowns, costume changes and swimsuits – the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization hit the stage at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center last week. Cali Young, Miss Northern West Virginia, won Miss West Virginia 2010, as well as the talent portion of the preliminary competition. Lacey Cyphers was crowned Miss W.Va.’s Outstand-
ing Teen 2010 after three days of preliminary competition in interviews, evening gowns, talent and an active wear outfit. The misses were judged on an interview question, evening gown, talent and swimsuits. Young’s discussion platform was “stay young,” which focused on anti-tobacco use message in the state. “Thank you, West Virginia,” Young said in her on-stage interview after the crowning. Young will compete for the title of Miss America at Planet
77° / 52°
FOURTH OF JULY
INSIDE
Celebrate the July 4 weekend in Morgantown with various events. A&E PAGE 7
SUNNY
News: 1, 2. 3 Opinion: 4, 5 A&E: 5, 7 Sports: 9, 10, 12 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 11
Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas on Jan. 15. The combined Miss West Virginia and Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen Pageants held preliminaries June 23 and ended with the live television broadcast of the winner Saturday. This year was the first time both pageants were combined into one show and crowning. “This will be the second year CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM it (the pageant) was broad- Cali Young is crowned by former Miss West Virginia Talia Markham during the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant Saturday. see CROWNED on PAGE 2
West Virginia University is receiving bids for more than $350,000 worth of improvements and maintenance to the PRT. The improvements fill immediate needs with the system associated with standard maintenance as well as minor upgrades, said Arlie Forman, associate director of the PRT. The projects are funded mostly with money received from an annual allocation from the federal government. They are not part of the $93 million PRT Master Plan outlined during a public meeting May 5. Bids are expected to be rewarded within two to three
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bined is usually 90 to 120 individuals, but most personnel are concentrated on the fans within the stadium, not tailgates. Roberts and Scott agreed an increase in staff and overtime expenditure would be necessary to deal with large unruly tailgates. Deputy Mayor Don Spencer said he would like to see all tailgating moved back on to campus locations and out of the surrounding neighborhoods. “With 60,000 people coming to town to celebrate a great event we don’t have an effective way of managing it,” said Mayor Bill Byrne. “What we do is respond to complaints as opposed to having a front end sort of thing.” Other topics discussed at the meeting include: Interviews for an open position on the Planning Commission representing the Third Ward. A resolution promoting the construction of neighborhood grocery stores. The goal is to promote a more pedestrian friendly community by providing grocery store locations residents do not need to drive to. The council discussed an ordinance addressing minimum area requirements for building occupancy. The ordinance would mirror federal regulations and is expected to encourage high-density housing development near the WVU campus. The ordinance would establish a minimum of 70 square feet per individual and would be a companion to a previous ordinance limiting rental occupancy by changing the definition of a family in the city code. devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu
PRT accepting bids for more improvements
WVUTODAY
FILE PHOTO
Taking over Clements replaced former Interim President C. Peter Magrath, who had taken over for former President Michael S. Garrison who resigned in 2008 over a degree scandal.
Clements speaks to WVU freshmen at convocation.
FILE PHOTO
Last year at this time, moving trucks were unloading another president’s belongings in front of West Virginia University’s Blaney House. U-hauls were too common at WVU’s president’s home. In fact, in a little more than two years, three presidents had lived in the same house. James P. Clements was the latest one, taking office July 1, 2009. It’s been one year since those moving trucks drove away and Clements took charge at WVU. From his stand point, it doesn’t look like those trucks are coming back anytime soon. “It’s been an incredible year by all measures,” Clements said. “The University is very stable. We’re strong, and people feel good about us.”
With the University’s credibility in limbo, Magrath and Clements returned WVU’s academic standing in their two years at the head of the University, said Board of Governors Chair Carolyn Long. “Whoever came in as the next president, we wanted them to continue to grow WVU and make it a more attractive place for faculty, staff and students,” Long said. “He always does what’s best for WVU. He’s very open, honest, and I think for his first year as the University’s president he’s done a wonderful job.” In his first year, Clements has put an emphasis on the academic integrity of the University. Clements focused on increasing the University’s federal funding to help improve research efforts. WVU’s sponsored funding is up 8 percent to $165 million under Clements. In addition, the Chronicle of Higher Education named WVU in the top 12 on its list of “Biggest Gainers in Federal Funds for Academic Research
FILE PHOTO
SPORTS EDITOR
SEPT. 16, 2009 FILE PHOTO
BY TONY DOBIES
FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO
Clements officially takes over as WVU’s 23rd president.
AUG. 23, 2009
BY DEVON UNGER
INSIDE THIS EDITION West Virginia University athletic director Ed Pastilong looks back on his 20 years at the head of the department. See page 12.
weeks. Forman was unsure of when construction would start. “We get an annual appropriation through the fixed guideway modernization program by the Federal Transit Administration,” said Hugh Kierig, director of Transportation and Parking at WVU. “We get about $1.2 million annually, and we use those funds for repair and maintenance of the PRT.” Approximately 20 percent of the funding will be provided by the PRT fund derived from the transportation fee included in tuition. “We thought it was best to go forward with these repairs because we’ve gotten to a point
see PRT on PAGE 2
WVU STARS DRAFTED Former WVU players Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks were selected in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft last week. SPORTS PAGE 12