THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Tuesday February 9, 2016
Volume 128, Issue 89
www.THEDAONLINE.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WVU
Morgantown, WVU stand up against RFRA by jake jarvis staff writer @newsroomjake
Some of Morgantown and West Virginia University’s leaders are worried a bill lawmakers are expected to pass will open a Pandora’s Box of potential lawsuits and a license to discriminate members of the LGBT community. That bill, HB 4012, attempts to “restore religious freedom” by establishing the legal process by which a person could prove a state law or agency infringed upon their right to freely exercise their religion. “If people are coming here for any kind of relaxation or vacation and a business doesn’t want to serve them based on its religious beliefs, who would want to come back?” said Morgantown’s mayor, Marti Shamberger. “I think (Morgantown’s) diversity and inclusion is what makes people want to come here, because their employees and family are comfortable here.” Critics of the bill have called it a “license to discriminate.” The bill passed 16-9 through the House of Delegate’s Judiciary committee last week, with some Democrats in favor of it. The bill is scheduled to go before the House Floor on Thursday for its first reading. Fairness WV, a LGBT advocacy group, is planning a conference in the lower rotunda of the Capitol today. The group is helping municipalities across the state adopt their own LGBT non-discrimination ordinances or resolutions. Morgantown became the state’s second city to pass any form of LGBT non-discrimination ordinance in February of 2014. “You know, we teach our children to celebrate our differences,” Shamberger said. “If something like this would pass, I just feel like we’re going so far backward instead of forward.” One of HB 4012’s 10 sponsors is Del. Rupert Phillips Jr., D-Logan. He told the Gazette-Mail the bill “pretty much” stems from opposing same-sex marriage. Del. Barbara Fleishcauer, D-Monongalia, suggested an amendment to the bill that would make clear it’s not to be used as a means to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation. Fleischauer’s amendment was ruled “not germane.” Business leaders across the state also worry about the harm the bill could potentially cause for the state’s economy. Last week, a bipartisan coalition of businesses called Opportunity West Virginia called for small and big business owners to reject all forms of discrimination. “With West Virginia facing a $350 million budget deficit, we can’t afford to scare jobs and investments away,” said Jill Rice, OWV spokeswoman. “We should be focusing legislative efforts on creating a strong business climate that fosters a culture of inclusion, not promoting discrimination under the guise of religious freedom.” Members of WVU’s Student Government Association unanimously passed a resolution condemning the bill. The resolution,
see rfra on PAGE 2
ASKAR SALIKHOV/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
President E. Gordon Gee, together with George Capel and Ashley Morgan, sing “Happy Birthday!” prior to cutting the cake at West Virginia University’s 149th birthday celebration.
Students, faculty celebrate West Virginia University’s 149th birthday by kayla asbury associate city editor @kaylaasbury_
On Feb. 7, 1867, West Virginia University was founded as the Agricultural College of West Virginia, and earlier this week, on Feb. 7, 2016, WVU celebrated its 149th year. The University was founded by Abraham Lincoln when he signed the Morrill Act, which granted 30,000 acres of federal land to any state willing to build an agriculture or engineering college, according to WVU’s website. In honor of the University’s birthday, a celebration was held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Mountainlair, and activities such as $1.49 bowling and billiards, discounted foods at the food court, a free photo booth and free cake for passersby were available for all students and faculty Monday. WVU President E. Gordon Gee was at the Mountainlair to help celebrate the event by cutting cake and smiling for selfies with students. “I think we need to celebrate our history in order to be able to have an even better history,” Gee said. “We understand where we have been, so we can understand where we’re going.” Gee reflected on the changes he has seen during his time at the University. “We have accomplished many things. We have built a great academic medical center, we have a fabulous college of business, and engineering,” Gee said. “Our undergraduate programs in the arts and humanities are superb… So many changes, and all of them heading in the right direction.” Also at the Mountainlair to celebrate WVU’s birthday
by tessa iglesias correspondent @dailyathenaeum
For students looking for professional experience, or even just some extra money, West Virginia University will host a Student Employment Job Fair today 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. All students are welcome to attend the fair, which will 29 employers for jobs both on and off campus. There will be jobs available in
MOVIE MUSIC
INSIDE
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra plays at CAC A&E PAGE 4
News: 1, 2 Opinion: 3 A&E: 4, 5 Sports: 7, 8, 10 Campus Calendar: 6 Puzzles: 6 Classifieds: 9
ASKAR SALIKHOV/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
President E. Gordon Gee poses with members of the Student Government Association for a photo at West Virginia University’s 149th birthday.
ASKAR SALIKHOV/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
West Virginia University celebrates its 149th birthday with party balloons, selfies and a giant birthday cake inside the Mountainlair. said. “I think we all need to versity will be, and the more make progress. “I think we need to be very understand the students are successful the University will student centered. My priority the reason we’re here. The be, also.” is creating a fabulous under- better experiences students graduate experience,” Gee have, the more lively the Unikaasbury@mail.wvu.edu
WVU to host Student Employment Job Fair in the Mountainlair
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were WVU Student Government Association president and vice president, George Capel and Ashley Morgan. “It kind of goes back to our history and our foundation with Abraham Lincoln, and why this institution is so important to the state,” Morgan said. “So celebrating WVU means we’re celebrating the state, and we’re celebrating the culture of West Virginia.” Capel said the University’s birthday was a time to celebrate being a Mountaineer. “I think we’ve progressed a lot, in a lot of different areas. But I think we have stayed true to one core value, and that’s being a public good,” Capel said. “Abraham Lincoln started our University back in the 1800s, we were started as a public land grant institution, we’re supposed to be a public good, I think we’ve really remained true to that.” Joel Brown, branding specialist for WVU, said it was important to understand and celebrate the University’s heritage. “We’re a great University with a small town feel I think people sometimes underestimate,” Brown said. “We are certainly a big University with big academics and also big fun.” Mac McIntyre, a political science student, said the birthday celebration was a reminder WVU is a lasting institution. “We started from a small agricultural college to this top 100 research University, and I think that’s another reason it’s important to celebrate; to remember we’ve grown from something so small to something so big and amazing,” McIntyre said. “A lot of things have changed.” Looking to the future, Gee hopes WVU will continue to
WVU departments as well as jobs available for private businesses looking for student workers. “It’s important because it will give (students) an opportunity to meet with on-and off-campus employers,” said Amy Diznoff, coordinator for the fair, “And get a better idea of what type of working environment they’re looking for, whether they choose to work during the academic year, or full time during the summer.” There will be a wide va-
riety of job opportunities at the fair, including restaurants, camps, golf clubs, learning centers, tutoring opportunities and office jobs. Diznoff said when choosing a job, students should consider if they would rather work on-campus or off-campus, part-time or full-time and if employees will be able to work around their class schedule, although most employers are aware of student class schedules. Part-time, full-time or
seasonal jobs will be available to students, and payroll will also be available to immediately process new hires. To be processed for payroll, students must bring a banking document that can be used for direct deposit for their paycheck and a document establishing both identity and employment availability. A list of acceptable documents, as well as additional times and locations for payroll processing can be found at http://studentemployment.
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
TITLE IX More students should be aware of services WVU offers to sexual assault and domestic violence victims OPINION PAGE 3
wvu.edu/payroll-processing/on-campus-payroll-information-for-us-citizens/. There will be a number of full-time positions available for summer employment for students staying in the Morgantown area, as well as a number of jobs in walking distance of both Evansdale and Downtown housing complexes. For more information call (304) 293-9270 or visit http://studentemployment. wvu.edu/. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
ROCK CHALK WVU faces major test at No. 6 Kansas SPORTS PAGE 8