THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
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Friday February 26, 2016
SADD promotes positive decision-making, breaks WVU stereotypes by caity coyne city editor @caitycoyne
In the midst of a culture change that has been underway for more than a year now, a new student organization at West Virginia University was recently formed to promote positive attitudes and decision making for students. The WVU chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions was created by Melissa Head, a biology student from Charleston, West Virginia, after she lost her friend Carli Sears in a hit and run in Morgantown in January. “A lot of people don’t take drinking and driving very seriously until it happens to themselves or someone they really love, because they’re not getting that personal experience,” Head said. “I think having that personal, in-your-face experience is what really makes a difference.” The organization is dedicated to encouraging and advocating for students to practice positive decision making in every aspect of their lives, including their diet, recreational habits and physical fitness, among other things. While much of the organization’s focus will be toward drugs and alcohol, Head said they are also hoping to host programs and events on nutrition and simpler topics. “(It will) not necessarily always (have) to do with drugs or alcohol, but with things as simple as wearing your seat belt, or making sure your phone is charged when you go out, or eating healthy,” Head said. “It should be about encouraging other students, especially young adults, who haven’t necessarily been exposed to those. The organization held its first meeting last week, and it has already held a fundraising event selling
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“Friends For Life” bracelets and keychains. People who bought the bracelets or keychains were supposed to give them to friends or loved ones so if they are faced with a potentially bad decision, they can see the keychain or bracelet and be reminded that they have something to lose, Head said. As SADD establishes itself on campus, the organization plans on utilizing WELLWVU resources since SADD’s advisor, Colleen Harshbarger, is the director of the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion,and many of SADD’s interests and goals are aligned with WELLWVU: The Students’ Center of Health’s own. While they are similar, Head believes SADD can appeal to students in a different way because of the emphasis the organization puts on students, especially since it’s student run. “I think it’s different when you hear (about destructive decision making) from your peers, not necessarily WELLWVU or some type of authoritative figure,” Head said. “That’s going to make all the difference.” After Sears’ death, Head noticed a club like SADD didn’t exist at WVU, and she thought it was crucial to have some sort of organization dedicated to helping students be educated in the potential consequences of bad decision making. “You get to college, and you start being exposed to all this crazy drinking and don’t actually understand how it’s going to affect you, until it does,” Head said. “They try to get you to do the Alcohol Edu and whatnot, but freshmen don’t take it very seriously.” In addition, Head wants the organization to show current and potential WVU students that while
vs. 6 p.m. Saturday Stillwater, Oklahoma Watch at ESPNU/WatchESPN WVU guard Jaysean Paige dribbles down the court during West Virginia’s game against Iowa State last week.
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Bombay Indian Grill brightens Sunnyside restaurant scene by john mark shaver staff writer @Johnmarkshaver
Walking down University Avenue in Sunnyside, West Virginia University students and locals will now be able to smell some fresh, new and exotic scents on a familiar street, coming from Morgantown’s newest restaurant, the Bombay Indian Grill, which opened earlier this week. “It’s always been kind of my dream to own an Indian restaurant,” said Vinder Goraya, the business’s owner. The restaurant serves a wide variety of food, including lamb, goat, chicken and vegetables, as well as traditional Indian cuisine like jalfrezi, kadhai, palak and curry dishes. All platters come with either rice or naan, a traditional Indian bread. Goraya, who also coowns Casa d’Amici and owns Subway on High Street, wanted to open her new restaurant closer to Sunnyside for a change. “We have all of the dorms, and the kids pass
by all the time,” Goraya said. “I think it’s as good of a location (as any).” The grill’s location, by The Rusted Musket and Glass Lab, has housed many other businesses in recent years, most notably and recently Pizza Al’s short-lived second location. While it’s unclear why the location sees so many businesses flow through it, with possible reasons including a poor location and mismanagement by previous business owners, Goraya had her own ideas. “There are a lot of pizza places already,” Goraya said. “Secondly, they didn’t advertise too much.” She said the location’s history hasn’t had a real effect on her or her new restaurant. “I’m going to try my best,” Goraya said. “I’m not really worried right now. I’m going to advertise myself. I hired somebody to take my menus everywhere; hospitals, dorms. We are very lucky with some kids here, too. When they come, they take our flyers and give them to
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their friends.” Goraya also said her previous business experience can give her the edge she needs for the new restaurant to flourish. While the location currently doesn’t offer delivery, Goraya said it will be implemented within the month. Many students at WVU are excited to have a new place to try in town. “With a bunch of fast food, there’s not really a whole lot of places to get good food,” said Thomas Moore, a freshman computer and electrical engineering student. “It’ll be nice to go somewhere and have an actual meal made there, not something that comes out of a bag.” Junior computer science student Joel Fishback shared his sentiment, but with a catch. “It depends on how good it is,” Fishback said. “I’ll definitely go there, but whether or not I return depends on how good (the food) is.” In all, Goraya is hopeful
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Vinder Goraya, the owner of Bombay Indian Grill, thanks a customer for visiting the restaurant. for the new restaurant’s future and is excited for people to try her food. “We’re going to try our best to serve the students the best, healthiest food,” Goraya said. “… Hopefully, they like it and they come back.” Bombay Indian Grill is located at 2011 Universty Ave. For more information, or to place an order, call 304-381-4858. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Bombay Indian Grill is located on the corner of University Avenue and Carson Street.
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