The DA 11-5-2015

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Thursday November 5, 2015

Volume 128, Issue 54

www.THEDAONLINE.com

WVU names Director of Student Conduct by corey mcdonald staff writer @dailyathenaeum

Stacy Vander Velde has been hired as West Virginia University’s new Director of Student Conduct, reporting to Dean of Students Corey Farris while heading the new conduct system, which will boast accountability to both individuals and organizations. Formerly the associate director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution at the University of Michigan, Velde

will start at WVU on Nov. 13. “I believe we have found just the right person to come here,” said Dr. Bill Schafer, vice president of Student Life. “With her skills and experience, (Velde) will help us move forward in our conversations about changing the culture at the University.” Velde has more than 15 years of experience working in conduct and conflict resolution. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Indiana University and a masters of sci-

ence from Western Illinois University. She was also a contributing author to “Reframing Campus Conflict: Student Conduct Practice through a Social Justice Lens.” “I look forward to collaborating with the University community and finding out what’s needed to better the community,” Velde said. While in college, Velde gained experience working with various organizations, like the Student Government, which prompted her to pur-

sue a professional career working with college students. “I like working with college students; I didn’t realize that could be a profession,” Velde said. But another experience influenced her career path, as well. “My first job was with aggressive adolescence, and I found that a valuable experience,” Velde said. “I wanted to learn how to help these folks make better choices for the future.” Velde held her position

NO SHAVE NOVEMBER

at the University of Michigan for four years before choosing to come to WVU. Most of her cases were alcohol or drug related, but she tackled serious offenses such as sexual misconduct and assault, too. While many may view the new position as a disciplinarian role, Velde assures that she intends to focus on working with students in order to make them feel comfortable. “My intent is not to be the principal’s office,” Velde said, “but for

someone to feel comfortable enough to trust me.” Velde’s focus is creating a cooperative effort with students and to better enhance the personal development of each student she meets. She hopes to develop services to help students seek her office, and she wants to try and incorporate students into the student conduct program. Velde’s ideas for the Office of Student Conduct seem to fall in line with

see conduct on PAGE 2

City decides to invest $10,000 into emergency alert system By Jake Jarvis Staff Writer @NewsroomJake

The Morgantown City Council unanimously decided Tuesday evening to invest about $10,000 into an emergency alert system that city officials and MECCA 911 will control. City Manager Jeff Mikorski said the new system, Everbridge, will allow the city to better alert different areas of Morgantown in the case of emergencies, road closures or power outages. “I feel like over and over again, as a city resident, I’m being double taxed,” said Councilwoman Nancy Ganz, Seventh Ward. “This, to me, is a tax for services county residents already get.” The city currently spends $2,790 to operate a limited Nixle alert system. The new system will cost the city an

Shelby Thoburn/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

The top three contestants for the beard growing contest. Awarded third place was Tripp Nelson. The second place winner was Joshua McCartney. Taking first place for the second year in a row was Nick Gasemy.

Shelby Thoburn/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Contestants wait to find out who grew the best beard.

WVU Students participate in a beard growing contest as part of Mountaineer Week. The top three contestants for 2015 were Nick Gasemy, Joshua McCartney and Tripp Nelson.

Shelby Thoburn/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Andrew Sorah wins ‘best mustache’.

additional $7,210 annually. There will not be a fee to sign up to receive notifications. MECCA 911 will also contribute $26,504 to purchase the system. Though Ganz ultimately voted in favor of approving Mikorski’s request, she felt as if Morgantown residents got the short end of the stick again. Since Morgantown city residents are also residents in Monongalia County, they pay city and county taxes. A third of the county’s tax-base comes from Morgantown’s approximately 30,000 permanent residents. “I have another question,” Ganz said. “How much is Granville contributing to this?” Granville, which Census data shows has about 800 residents, won’t be contrib-

see city on PAGE 2

FIJI fraternity members face charges after kidnapping prank by caity coyne city editor @caitycoyne

Around noon on Wednesday, Morgantown Police Department responded to a call and found Christopher Grace, 21, bound by duct tape in the trunk of a car near Forrest Avenue, according to a press release from MPD. Several individuals covered in scrapes, as if they just got in a fight, were trying to get in the car and leave the scene when police arrived. “Upon further investigation, officers found that the entire incident was part of a fraternity prank for the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity,” the press release reads. Luke Rusillo, Joseph Rusillo, Chadwick Miller, Matthwe Kinker, Tyler Audette, Austin Harpin and Cody Heffelfinger

will all face charges of disorderly conduct, according to the press release. All seven men, along with Grace, are West Virginia University students according to the student directory. The incident was reported to Roy Baker, the new director of Greek life for WVU, and he immediately called FIJI’s national chapter, according to a press release from WVU. Baker, who officially started at WVU on Oct. 30, said his office will keep up with the investigation and will take action when all the facts are disclosed. The Office of Student Conduct, which is responsible for disciplinary action against WVU individuals and organizations, will also review the incident. This is not the first time

see fiji on PAGE 2

‘After Coal’ presented at WVU, depicts the gradual fall of the coal industry By Madeleine Hall Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum

Interspersed with footage of Southern Wales wilderness and Appalachian Mountains blanketed in mist, the film “After Coal” offers a glimmer of optimism for communities on opposite sides of the globe hit hard by coal’s decline. Tom Hansell, assistant professor at Appalachian State University and director of the film, presented the documentary at West Virginia University

Wednesday night. “After Coal” chronicles the deterioration of the coal industry and the subsequent empowerment of local leaders in South Wales and Appalachia to rebuild their communities. “(The decline of coal) is different for each individual, each family and each town,” Hansell said. “But economically, everyone is seeing the impact.” Using historical footage and research, “After Coal” illustrates the extent to which communities in Appalachia and

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CLASHING CULTURES

INSIDE

Ragtime debuts at the CAC A&E PAGE 4

PARTLY CLOUDY

News: 1, 2 Opinion: 3 A&E: 4, 5 Sports: 8, 9 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 5

South Wales were built around and relied heavily on the coal industry and industrialization. No single process explains the collapse of the coal industry, Hansell said, who pointed to the three main factors—globalization, natural resource depletion and environmental regulation—as reasons for the decline. “Steady loss of coal jobs over three decades has left these communities sparsely populated (and needing to)…reinvent themselves,” the documen-

tary described. The film noted that the coalfields of South Wales, for example, used to be the source of the industrial revolution, employing thousands and acting as a center of communities. Now, readjusting to community life and creating new opportunities after extensive coal industry job loss proves to be a continual challenge for residents in Appalachia and South Wales. Hansell believes lo-

see coal on PAGE 2

THE DA’s HIRING WRITERS

Inquire about paid positions at The Daily Athenaeum at DA-editor@mail.wvu.edu or pick up an application at our office at 284 Prospect St.

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

ORTHOREXIA New unusual eating disorder causes harm OPINION PAGE 3

Askar Salikhov/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Tom Hansell, the film director of “After Coal” and an assistant professor at the Appalachian State University, attends the showing of his film at the Gluck Theatre.

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE WVU moves on in Big 12 Tournament SPORTS PAGE 8


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