THE DAILY ATHENAEUM GRADUATION EDITION MAY 2015
THERE IS FIRST.
BEFORE PRIDE. BEFORE RECOGNITION.
THE FIRST THOUGHT. THE FIRST STEP. THE FIRST BREAKTHROUGH.
AT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY WE ARE DETERMINED TO GO FIRST. IT’S IN OUR BLOOD. IT’S IN OUR SWEAT. AND IT’S IN OUR NATURE.
Here, going first means we’re bold enough to dream big. To take risks. It’s why we go to the edge – and instead of going back – we build a bridge and we keep going.
SO WE WILL GO ABOVE. WE WILL GO BEYOND. AND WHEN EVERYONE ELSE GOES BACK —
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The Daily Athenaeum EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jacob Bojesson
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK. To the Class of 2015 graduates from the Division of Student Life.
Laura Haight Evelyn Merithew Alexis Randolph Westley Thompson Caitlin Worrell Nicole Curtin David Schlake David Statman Caitlin Coyne
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Cavon Vagheei The Daily Athenaeum is West Virginia University’s independent student newspaper. For more information about The DA, call (304) 293-4141. Or, visit our office at 284 Prospect Street Morgantown, WV GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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WHAT’S INSIDE: 10
FROM: the
24 editor’s desk
J
ust over 5,000 West Virginia University freshmen started their first day of college on Aug. 22, 2011. Some have joined the class of 2015 along the way, while others have left. What we all have in common, whether you grew up down the street or on the other side of the globe, is a shared bond to WVU, Morgantown and the State of West Virginia. In traditional fashion, The Daily Athenaeum releases a special publication for the spring graduation ceremonies. Instead of highlighting the graduation aspect of college, we decided to look back at the past four years and include the entire journey. The idea was to create a timeless piece that graduates can save for future nostalgia.
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While we each have our own memories and stories from our time at WVU, there were some unforgettable moments that we’ll all carry with us for as long as we live. After looking through our archives, we realized that the class of 2015 is unique in the way it was part of many lasts for the University.
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Clements resigns & Gee returns to WVU
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The greatest parties Mountaineers ever threw
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Remembering four years of the Mountaineer Mascot
30
What will Mountaineers miss the most?
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You were the last students to experience the once so vibrant Sunnyside neighborhood. You are the last people who can shout “Eat s--- Pitt” and actually have a relation to the meaning behind it, and you were the last students to watch the Mountaineers take the field in the Big East Conference. So, my fellow graduates, congratulations on a great achievement. Before we close this chapter of our lives and move on to the next, take a trip down memory lane with us. And remember, it’s always a great day to be a Mountaineer, wherever you may be.
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— JACOB BOJESSON
You submitted photos, we compiled them into a mega collage GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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Congratulations on completing your undergraduate degree. Now, as you ponder the next steps in your future, consider the value of:
GRAD SCHOOL. Participate in an information session and learn why graduate education is a good investment, and why becoming a graduate student at West Virginia University is a great next step,
MAY 26TH 2015 12-1:00 P.M. or 7-8:00 P.M. Register at | http://graduate.wvu.edu/webinar For more Info Contact: shelly.stump@mail.wvu.edu 304-293-5870
To Register
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THE
from PRESIDENT’S
desk
DEAR CLASS OF 2015: Your mountain is waiting. For you Dr. Seuss fans out there, that line from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” may have a more profound impact as you prepare for graduation. It is also fitting because, after all, we are Mountaineers. Your mountain is waiting, indeed. Throughout the years that book has provided me with focus in times of challenge. I have relied on “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” as an impetus for inspiration. This is why I believe it is a must-read for all of you as you explore the next steps to life’s journey. For me, I remember donning my cap and gown some 47 years ago. Though “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” was not published until 1990, I still dreamed about the unknown destinations where my college degree could take me. Growing up in the small town of Vernal, Utah, I was the son of a father who was a small businessman and a mother who was a school teacher. Earning my undergraduate degree in history at the University of Utah – situated three hours away in Salt Lake City, the nearest metropolis from Vernal – was a big deal in itself. Anywhere outside of Vernal seemed like a vast, magical place. After college, here I was again, ready for the next step and a new place to go. I decided to attend graduate school – across the country at Columbia University. Then I became a staff assistant at the U.S. Supreme Court. And then I found my calling in higher education, a livelihood that has awarded me with 35-plus glorious years as a professor, dean and president of many of the top universities in the nation. Oh, the places I have been! Now it is your turn. The world is your playground. You have the opportunity to go anywhere you want. Reflect on that for a moment. But with those jolts of excitement come flashes of anxiety. As Dr. Seuss alludes to, there will be bumps along your journey. You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. Trust me, life delivers its share of unpleasantness. I have faced them – from professional
hurdles to personal woes. But on we go, just like true Mountaineers and the protagonist in “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far And face up to your problems Whatever they are. Perhaps some of you view graduation itself
as a puzzle. Maybe you are hung up on your next step. Or you do not know where to start. We all feel confused sometimes. Just remember that you are without limitations. After all, you made it to the Big Dance of your college career — graduation. You conquered all of those mind-bending exams, all-nighters at the library and complex projects with fellow classmates. One piece of advice that will always nudge you in the right direction is to stay true to yourself. Never waver from your core beliefs. Never be something you are not. Also, much like our hero in “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” I encourage you to avoid the pit of “The Waiting Place,” where everyone waits around for something to happen. Too much waiting wastes precious moments in life. Instead of you waiting, there is something awaiting you. It is that mountain. Let’s go. Sincerely,
E. Gordon Gee
President, West Virginia University GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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Congratulations McNair Scholars! James C. Abdallah Communication Studies
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CONGRATULATIONS to the Graduating Class of 2015 from the Reed College of Media!
TOP OVERALL SCHOLARS Hannah Force
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Human Performance and Health
Leigh-Ann Wilkins Economics & Psychology
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Best Wishes on Future Graduate School Pursuits! TRiO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; McNair Scholars Program
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O.M.GEE.
Gee returns home to WVU after Clements resigns By JACOB BOJESSON
midlife crisis, he got a phone call from the place where it all started back in the early 1980s.
They say a ship is only as good as its captain. During the past four years, WVU has faced a transition to prepare for the future, with two men in different stages of their careers steering the ship.
WVU needed an interim president to hold down the fort during the search for Clements’ permanent replacement and Gee decided it was time to close the circle and head back to the Mountain State for one last challenge.
James P. Clements was named WVU’s 23rd president on March 6, 2009. His time in Morgantown was no longer than the average undergrad’s, but he managed to get a lot of projects going, eventually catching the attention of Clemson University.
“West Virginia University is like an infection,” Gee said. “It gets in your bloodstream and you never get rid of it. I was here 35 years ago, and I still had the infection.” During Gee’s first tenure at WVU, he was new to the scene and admits he lacked the experience and knowledge he holds today.
In the summer of 2010, he named former WVU and NFL quarterback Oliver Luck as his new athletic director.
“I was an accidental president the first time around. I was very young (and) inexperienced,” he said. “I have no idea how I got the job, it just kind of happened.”
Luck had an impressive resume and would leave a lasting impact at WVU. Clements and Luck realized the Big East Conference had seen its glory days and started to look for new venues to carry on the Mountaineer tradition. In October 2011, Clements announced WVU had accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference.
University in November 2013. While Clements prepared to move on with his career, another veteran president was just about done with his.
“Our partnership with the Big 12 is an investment in WVU’s future,” Clements said in a University press release.
In June of 2013, E. Gordon Gee announced his retirement from the Ohio State University following controversial comments against Notre Dame University.
Perhaps the largest legacy Clements left during his time in Morgantown was his vision for progression, outlined in the 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future.
Gee had spent a majority of his adult life serving as university president at several institutions across the country, and he was ready to retire for good at 69 years of age.
“By 2020, West Virginia University will grow in national research stature, thereby enhancing educational attainment, global engagement, diversity, and the vitality and well-being of the people of West Virginia,” Clements said as he outlined the plan on Oct. 11, 2010.
“I had retired from Ohio State and I really wanted to have a midlife crisis. I missed the whole middle part of my life. I was a university president when most people were having other kinds of things that they do, raising families,” Gee said in a February 2015 interview with The DA. “Of course I have a daughter and I raised her when my wife died when she was very young, and so there were just a lot of differences. I really thought I’d do some variety and some traveling. There was an opportunity to do some things that would be self-fulfilling. I was really looking forward to it.”
Clements also set all-time records in private funding, enrollment and research funding while at WVU. “I wasn’t looking to leave WVU. In fact, when I first was called I simply responded that I love WVU, the students, faculty and staff and the community,” Clements said of his decision to accept an offer to become president of Clemson
Right as Gee entered his long-anticipated
Gee showed no signs of slowing down following his homecoming, and he quickly made an impression on the WVU community. He was frequently seen around campus and downtown interacting with students, and his love for bowties didn’t go unnoticed by anyone. Gee was later named permanent president of WVU on March 3, 2014. He visited all 55 counties of West Virginia last summer and announced his plans to expand the University to 40,000 students system-wide last fall. But it wasn’t all fun and games during his first year back in Stewart Hall. Following the riots after West Virginia football’s upset victory against Baylor last October, Gee expelled three students for their involvement. A few weeks later, the death of freshman student Nolan Burch during an initiation event at the Kappa Sigma Fraternity house left the entire Greek system on a moratorium that was later lifted. These events led Gee to call for a “culture change” on campus, which is one of his ongoing projects as he continues to steer the 148-year-old ship that is West Virginia University. GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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REMEMBERING FOUR YEARS OF
FALLFEST
MEL MORAES/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
By Chelsea Walker There’s nothing quite like fall in Morgantown. Football, foliage and FallFest all swarm us with excitement in the first few weeks back on campus. Fall Fest is West Virginia University’s official welcome back to campus and each year our homecoming is even sweeter than the last. Students buzz the entire month of August, whispering who they’ve heard will take the stage on the Mountainlair green and continuing to fuel rumors. It’s always a token: some WVU student social media pages will always release a “fraud fest” lineup that almost always includes Nickelback as a headliner. Seasoned students know there’s no amount of guessing that could lead us to the actual lineup, which is what makes FallFest so special. The lineup is revealed only days before the concert, tantalizing students to the fullest extent. FallFest isn’t all about the stellar onstage performances. Jordan Steinfeld, a West Virginia University senior majoring in criminology, said FallFest is an opportunity to meet new friends and mingle with other Mountaineers. “I surprisingly met a lot of people at FallFest,” Steinfeld said, “You just talk between 10
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building. This 2004 show featured Kayne West, who’s onstage presence ignited the rowdy area of Sunnyside, forcing WVU to make a decision Steinfeld said he’s met individuals who to keep the entertainment on campus. FallFest live in his apartment complex, friends with whom he wouldn’t have connected without the has recruited multiple big-time acts over the years. The first ever FallFest featured Evan experience of FallFest. Dando, lead singer of the American alternative The event ensues every Monday after the band The Lemonheads and fellow vocalist first day of classes. Since its start in 1995, Juliana Hatfield students have been who strummed attending the free on bass. Although late night festivity most current that is now one of the Mountaineers biggest on-campus cannot remember events. Each year, the days of The more than 20,000 Lemonheads, they WVU students fill the surely know of Mountainlair green, FallFest greats such some with guests, as as Kayne, Chiddy the University permits Bang, Three Doors one visitor pass to Down, Lupe Fiasco each Mountaineer. and Wyclef Jean. MEL MORAES/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM The fun always spills With a slew of acts Ciara performs with her backup dancers during the beyond the green, to grace the historic 2013 FallFest concert. though. Students stage, students line the Mountainlair plaza and can be seen rage with their favorites and skip the less hanging out on frat row, filling house porches entertaining acts. to maximum capacity. The Mountainlair has In the last four years, the seniors that make always been the epicenter of FallFest, except up the class of 2015 have seen performers from for in 2004, when the free concert was moved a variety of genres. In 2011, rapper Mac Miller to the green space outside of the Life Sciences acts and find people who are from the same area.”
shared the stage with alternative rock band Three Doors Down, rapper Big Sean, hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang and acoustic guitarist Colbie Caillat. Steinfeld said he remembers the chants that arose from the crowd when the Pittsburgh native, Mac Miller, took the stage. “We started chanting ‘Eat Sh** Pitt’ when he was there,” Steinfeld said. Steinfeld said although the chant was just a harmless WVU prank, the rapper was surely offended. “He’s from Pittsburgh, so he wasn’t too pleased.” Steinfeld said his freshman year lineup was one of the best he’s seen in his time at WVU. He was floored with the lineup as all the performers were astounding. Steinfeld missed his sophomore year lineup, due to a conflict with a Tuesday morning quiz. He said he did enjoy his junior year, however, where acts Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Pretty Lights, Ciara, Capital Cities and Colt Ford took the stage. Rachel Cecil transferred from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, in the spring semester of her freshman year. Cecil, an art education student with a concentration in painting, missed out on the excitement of FallFest freshman year, but that didn’t stop the now 22-year-old Cecil from having an amazing experience as a sophomore.
KYLE MONROE/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Two girls rest on the shoulders of friends to get a better view of 2014’s FallFest concert.
“When I went for my first time my sophomore year, it was an awesome experience,” Cecil said. “I could feel the excited energy from everyone around me, everyone was just having a great time and so was I.” Cecil was able to attend FallFest in 2012, where techno-DJ Kaskade headlined after British pop group The Wanted took the stage. Hype rapper Wale, Grace Potter and Juicy J also gave killer performances that year, once again spanning the musical spectrum. Cecil said this was by far her favorite lineup due to the fact it was her first FallFest experience and the performers were all amazing. She also said she had some of the most fun during Kendrick Lamar’s 2014 performance, which was worth enduring the massive crowd to see. In an atmosphere filled with Mountaineers, Cecil’s fondest memory of FallFest was just being a part of a giant block party. “All of the frat row street is covered in people and it overflows onto the green,” Cecil said. “It’s an amazing sight to see all of WVU come for something like this.” Cecil, who is from Winfield, W.Va., said although she only grew up two hours from Morgantown, she had never heard of FallFest.
MATT SUNDAY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM WVU students enjoy the 2012 FallFest concert.
young and old. Cecil’s advice to undergrad Mountaineers and upcoming freshmen is simple: If you want to see your favorite artist, you better get to the green early, because that’s the only way you’ll make it through the crowd and to the front. “Be respectful, but have an amazing time because it’s something you’ll always get to look back on in the future,” she said. MEL MORAES/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM After his hit song “Thriftshop” went viral, Macklemore performs at the 2013 FallFest concert.
Steinfeld, a Maryland native, said he had never heard of the WVU tradition either. “I think having FallFest is amazing for WVU,” Cecil said. “It allows people, especially freshmen, to meet new people right before school starts.” FallFest is a fun experience for students,
FallFest has become a tradition here at WVU. Just as every student beams when they sing “Country Roads” after a sports victory, students revel in the yearly celebration. FallFest has become an opportunity for students to have safe fun on campus, while enjoying hit music and meeting fellow Mountaineers during the excitement of a new school year. So, as the class of 2015 reflects on their fondest FallFest fun, undergraduates can only speculate who will headline at this year’s celebration. GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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Kelsey Hunt Kristina Reilley Jessie Felde Rebecca Yaffe Congratulations Seniors of Laura Wild Christine Snyder Alpha Omega Epsilon Codi Osborne Olivia Bodnar Autumn Knight Shelby Chapman
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“Thank you for your service and congratulations on your upcoming graduation!”
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2015
law.wvu.edu GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED In OctoberHAPPENED 2012, West Virginia WHAT University announced its WHAT intention toHAPPENED purchase 39 properties HAPPENED in the Sunnyside WHAT area. As the transformation WHAT continues,HAPPENED current and former students look back at their WHAT HAPPENED best memories from the iconic
TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? With windows busted, drainpipes clogged was arguably a necessary change as it was a TO SUNNYSIDE? WHERE DID IT ALL GO? with leaves, paint peeling and garbage in the roadblock for progress. yards, Sunnyside was no doubt an eyesore to Morgantown and not WHERE seeing TO“Returning SUNNYSIDE? DID IT ALL GO? on the Morgantown community. In fact, some of the downtown staples is hard for the homesDID had become damagedGO? from TO SUNNYSIDE? IT soALL alumni, but eventually this would haveWHERE to numerous years of being run by students and TO SUNNYSIDE? careless landlords that they became a fire hazard. TO SUNNYSIDE?
WHAT HAPPENED
SUNNySIDE?
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&WHERE DID IT ALL GO?
neighborhood.
By EMILy LESLIE Sunnyside was bustling with outrageous parties and couch fires back in the day. It was the lively, fun, student-run part of Morgantown as West Virginia University began to expand and the demand for student housing increased throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. However, the University has now taken over, and the area is not what it used to be. “Sunnyside was the delirious focal point of the social scene at WVU,” said Chuck Anziulewicz, a WVU alumnus who graduated in 1981. “The fact that Sunnyside was adjacent to old Mountaineer Field contributed to its reputation as the place to go party after a home football game, and there were plenty of little drinkeries in which to do just that: The College Inn, Redbeard’s, Finnerty’s, Dr. John’s, Choosie Mothers, the Pizza Inn, Mutt’s, The Vagabond, etc.” Of course, when the football field was relocated and the drinking age changed from 18 to 21, Sunnyside changed and students partied elsewhere. Many alumni who attended WVU when Sunnyside was in its prime believe the old Sunnyside was a staple to the Morgantown community. “I get up to Morgantown from time to time, (and) I enjoy walking around for the most part, but strolling around the Sunnyside area is a profoundly depressing experience for me,” Anziulewicz said. Although it is difficult to see such a beloved part of town being torn down and redeveloped by the University in the past few years, it 14
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PATRICK GORREL/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM The above and below photos, taken on Feb. 27 2013, shows where University Place would eventually be built.
happens. If Morgantown wants to progress and flourish, it has to make changes,” said Treasure Lanham, a junior international studies and political science student who lives in Sunnyside. “Although I don’t necessarily love that the University is the one coming in and doing all the changes and gaining control, I think it’s an important step forward from the student slum area it was.” This transformation from a student-run community to a University-owned area was not only necessary for the development of WVU and Morgantown, but also because Sunnyside homes were becoming unsafe places to live. “This change was necessary because (Sunnyside) had become a dangerous place,” said Frank Scafella, executive director of the Sunnyside Up program and former mayor of Morgantown.
“If you walked across the floor of one of the houses, the lights would flicker. It was the wiring. (The house) was so deteriorated that it became a firetrap. Many houses in Sunnyside were that way because there was no oversight to speak of with respect to housing maintenance. Landlords just let them go, took the money to the bank and became rich,” Scafella said. “It became a student ghetto, to put it in the term that a lot of people began to use. It was a frontier place where anything went.” Given that Sunnyside was at a point where something needed to be done, Scafella began to enact change as the mayor of Morgantown. In fact, City Council decided to follow a plan called Campus Partners that, ironically, nowWVU President E. Gordon Gee instituted at Ohio State University in the mid-1990s.
The Sunnyside Up program was incorporated as the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation in 2002 with the aim to completely transform the whole 130-acres from 8th Street to Campus Drive and from University Avenue to the River Front by using tax and government financing funds. “Its main aim was to revitalize the area and that has happened in a significant way now. It was in 2004 when the revitalization plan was adopted, and so we are 11 years down the road, but it takes a long time for that kind of change to occur, and it’s very expensive,” Scafella said. Last semester, University Place apartments finally opened, replacing around 30 Sunnyside houses. University Place, or UPlace as it is commonly called, is a $70 million complex and has many uses, including a Sheetz and a recreation center in the ground floor. Scafella
KRISTEN BASHAM/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Nearly 40 properties in Sunnyside, including the one pictured above, were sold to the University for nearly $14.6 million in October 2012.
explained it is more productive to have this type of building in place. “You’re going to have a $70 million complex, mixed-use facility, rather than 30 single-family homes that really don’t pay any taxes,” Scafella said. “So the difference between those 30 homes that were there and the $70 million facility is millions of dollars.” While students who live in and around Sunnyside love the new Sheetz, it is disheartening for some to see classic staples in the Sunnyside community falling by the wayside. “Honestly, I would love to see new local places in Sunnyside, but I do understand that’s difficult to do,” Lanham said. “While I am a huge fan of the Sheetz and admittedly benefit from it, it would be neat to see a new era of student favorites, like the (Sunnyside) Superette and Mutt’s.” What’s also difficult for Sunnyside residents is the constant noise of construction and the inconvenience that comes along with it. Not only is it loud, but it also makes it difficult for residents to navigate near their homes. “As someone who lives in Sunnyside, I think it’s really unfortunate that the community has had to deal with daily disturbances due to construction,” Lanham said. “For example, several days throughout the week, it is nearly impossible to get to my apartment with my car because of the parking garage construction. I think the University really needs to reevaluate their construction methods and timeline.” The fact of the matter is Sunnyside needs a transformation and it’s going to get one. Scafella said now that UPlace is up, there is still going to be more reconstruction going on to accommodate more students in the area. The Board of Zoning Appeals recently approved a development on University Avenue near the new UPlace. This means the Sunnyside Commons will be torn down and replaced with new housing, bringing 500 new beds to Sunnyside.
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“People are living in appropriate accommodations and it’s safe (and) clean, but that’s the way of the world,” Scafella said. “I think it’s for the better in that you don’t have the kinds of liabilities that were there with uncontrolled activities and no maintenance and so on.” As Scafella pointed out, the streets in Sunnyside were built for the 1920s and do not accommodate for all of the new traffic that the new UPlace has brought in. Scafella said when students return in the fall, there will be new sidewalks, a widened road and an intersection outside of the new parking garage that is being built across from UPlace. “Change is never easy,” he said. “Change, at least in this situation, comes as an unwelcomed fact–but it’s well underway now.” GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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EAT SH**
PITT the
LIFE& DEATH of the BACKYARD
BRAWL
Mountaineers celebrate after defeating Pittsburgh Nov. 26, 2010 at the second-to-last Backyard Brawl.
By DAVID SCHLAKE Since Oct. 26, 1895, there’s always been one game on the schedule that Mountaineer fans most eagerly await— The Backyard Brawl. About 75 miles of Interstate 79 separate Morgantown and Pittsburgh, as well as one of the most famous rivalries in the history of college sports. The nickname for the series, as well as the rivalry itself between West Virginia and Pitt, came mostly from proximity, as the Panthers and Mountaineers would typically fight for the same recruits and would draw fans from the same area. West Virginia and Pitt have met 104 times in football. Pitt currently owns the all-time series, 61-403, as well as the seriesrecord for the largest win—53-0 in 1904.
to Oklahoma, and West Virginia fell in what was considered the biggest upset of the entire season and was ultimately voted as “Game of the Year” by ESPN. Quarterback Pat White, who had rushed for at least 100 yards in his last four games, dislocated his thumb in the second quarter, resulting in the temporary substitution of Jarrett Brown. West Virginia only amassed a season-low 183 total yards of offense and gave up three fumbles. Pitt running back LeSean McCoy ran for 148 yards on 38 carries that would eventually help the Panthers surmount the defensive proficiency of the Mountaineers.
MATT SUNDAY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Stedman Bailey points to the sky after the MounWhile West Virginia taineers defeated Pittsburgh in the last Backyard won the last three Brawl.
meetings between the rivals — the most recent being Nov. 25, 2011 — no one will ever forget the Panthers’ secondto-last win over the Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium on Dec. 1, 2007. West Virginia had a shot at the 2008 BCS National Championship sitting at No. 2, and expected to play then-No. 1 Missouri. The Tigers fell in the Big 12 Championship 16
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“It was just a nightmare,” Coach Rich Rodriguez said following the 100th edition of The Backyard Brawl. “The whole thing was a nightmare.”
That much was evident as the coach of the most undisputed upset team stood shaking his head in a loss for words, and West Virginia held jaw-dropped faces of utter disbelief. West Virginia, the underdog team of the season that made its way to the driver’s seat for the national title, had fallen in its final stride.
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Critics and analysts immediately doubted everything the Mountaineers had accomplished — going 10-1 prior to the loss. Going into bowl season, the loss left a stain on WVU’s jerseys that spectators couldn’t look past, especially when it was announced they would be facing Big 12 Champion Oklahoma. Ultimately, the Mountaineers would go on to beat the Sooners 4828 and shock the world, but the Fiesta Bowl wasn’t the BCS National Championship. Pitt took that away from West Virginia.
Following the disappointing season, the rivalry grew stronger, and the hatred for one another ran deeper. Pitt would go on to win in the 2008 season when neither team was ranked, but West Virginia took three in a row from 2009-11, the first being when Pitt was No. 8. There was a sense of revenge, but not enough for West Virginians. The score isn’t settled yet, and it won’t be for some time, as the teams have gone three seasons without a meeting.
A lot changed in the world of college football following the 2011-12 season. Teams were shifting all over the country from conference to conference in an effort to put themselves into the best position for both recruiting and success. The Big East as a whole eventually collapsed, becoming a basketball-only conference, while football schools looked for a new home.
If you weren’t a student before the conference change, I PITy yOU.
Louisville, Pitt, and Syracuse eventually found their way to the ACC; Cincinnati, Connecticut and South Florida went to the American Conference; Rutgers went to the Big Ten Conference and West Virginia entered the Big 12 Conference. West Virginia’s move to the Big 12 seemed like the most lucrative and opportunistic of all the Big East departures. However, unlike the other conferences that were geographically convenient, the Big 12 only possesses one school less than 900 miles away from Morgantown. Needless to say, the neighboring rivals aren’t there. The Mountaineers have lost several of their football rivals over the years, as they no longer play Virginia Tech, Penn State, Louisville, Cincinnati or Marshall, but none of those series bleeds blood as thick and as black as The Backyard Brawl does. If you weren’t a student before the conference change, I pity you. There will never be a rivalry in the Big 12 that holds a candle to The Brawl — not one that includes West Virginia anyway. Students will be chanting “Eat Sh** Pitt” for as long as time will let them, but none of them will truly understand the passion that went into hating the Panthers like those who experienced that era. In reality, seniors graduating this year are the last Big East Mountaineers.
MATT SUNDAY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM A fan holds a sign which reads, ‘Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is to... BEAT PITT.’
Before becoming the NCAA Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Oliver Luck led the instrumental process of getting Virginia Tech and Penn State back on the Mountaineers’ nonconference schedule in a home-and-home series with each. The series with Virginia Tech will start in Morgantown in 2021, and the series with Penn State will start in University Park in 2023. However, there has yet to be any reunion scheduled between West Virginia and Pitt — the one that fans want most. West Virginia still plays Pitt in other sports despite the conference realignment, but the rivalry was always in football. The odds of the Old Gold ‘n’ Blue actually staying in the Big 12 forever are probably pretty slim, but there’s no telling when the Mountaineers and the Panthers will face off again. Whenever they do share the same turf again, West Virginia will still have a chip on its shoulder.
MATT SUNDAY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM West Virginia and Pittsburgh get ready to battle it out in the last Backyard Brawl of the current series. GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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For better or for worse,
Mountaineers go hard By TAYLOR JOBIN Someone once said, “Life isn’t the amount of breaths you take, it’s the moments that take your breath away.” If you’re graduating from West Virginia University, you’ve experienced more of these moments than you can count. From the countless riots, to the off the wall concerts and parties, Morgantown has never ceased to throw down in epic fashion. But amidst all these acts of debauchery are a few outliers you are sure to never forget. These are the memories that you’ll brag to co-workers and spouses about for years to come but hide from your children like the plague. These are the moments that stand still in your mind, even as the rest of life rushes all around you and the chaos of college slowly washes away. Brian McCracken, a senior public relations student, said one of his favorite things from freshman year was wandering from party to party on Grant Avenue with his best friends.
out of hand. Anytime over a thousand people are involved in a “Block Party” there are going to be good and bad things happening. Anyone who was involved in that St. Patrick’s Day knows that it was the greatest one Morgantown has had in a long time.
“One of my fondest memories at WVU was going to different house parties in Sunnyside with my best friends Petesa, Grant and Dunn for Cinco De Mayo at the end of our freshman year,” he said. “We all had just finished our finals and it felt great to officially celebrate the beginning of our summer.” Drew Allen, a senior strategic communications student, said the concerts the University put on and the artists who came to Morgantown were some of her favorite memories at WVU. She explained how the class of 2015 got to see some cool concerts during their time, especially all the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) that came to town. “For a brief time span during the Fall 2012 semester, EDM artists were actually making an effort to perform in Morgantown. We began the year with Kaskade coming for FallFest, while Juicy J smoked out the Lair. Kaskade’s performance was closely followed by Zedd, Bingo Players, Porter Robinson, Avicii, Krewella and Afrojack,” Allen said. “While this wasn’t a relatively long phase, I’m pretty sure the class of 2015 were the ones who were enjoying it the most. Both Avicii, who played in the Coliseum, and Afrojack had very small crowds, but they seemed to be filled with people from our class, who were having like, an incredibly good time — in semi-illegal WVU fashion. I’m happy to be among the group of people who can say they stood like two feet away from Afrojack at the Waterfront.” Another 2012 event no one will ever 20
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ASKAR SALIKHOV/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Members of the media and the Morgantown Police Department watch as WVU students riot after the victory over Baylor in 2014.
forget —and was also immortalized by “I’m Shmacked”— was the Grant Avenue Saint Patrick’s Day block party. Mike Putzu, a senior public relations student, was at the center of the party on Grant Avenue that day, doing what Mountaineers do best: revel in the fun. “Saint Patrick’s Day in Morgantown is a celebration that you can only understand if you have taken part in the festivities. Three years ago, the whole town was outside on a Saturday enjoying one of the best days of their lives and that has ever occurred in the town. From Grant Avenue to High Street, everyone was out having a good time drinking and sharing memories with their friends,” Putzu said. A constant party of students wearing green going from one house party to the next was the popular thing to do that day. The environment of everyone being happy and pleased with the sunny weather is the reason some of the day got
Of all the wild and wonderful events that have taken place the last four years, none have been more controversial than the riots. Maybe none more so than the 2012 Texas riot, which led to the destruction of Grant Avenue and sent the WVU football team into a tailspin. Matt Detitta, a senior broadcast journalism student, recounted the events of that night, talking about how it went from a regular celebration to a full-blown riot in the blink of an eye. “The Mountaineers were undefeated, they were playing Texas, (and) it was the game of the week. Well before the game even ended, we were watching it at my friend’s house, and he ended up getting into a huge fight with his girlfriend. Sh** hit the fan, so I ended up going back to my apartment to catch the end of the game. We ended up winning in the end; it was a crazy game. So we ended up walking up Grant — we’re hanging out at our friends house; we’re on the front porch, and then the next thing you know, there’s just riots down the street,” Detitta said. “It was on the intersection of Grant and Third. Just smoke, fires, couch burnings and every once in a while you’d just see like a student come out in handcuffs. I don’t know how many arrests there were that night, but (it) had to have been a good amount. It was a crazy night.”
The Morgantown Fire Department responded to 35 malicious street fires that night and five arrests were made by the Morgantown Police Department. “I didn’t leave the front porch, I just watched,” he continued. “But the next thing you know, the cops are just tear-gassing the whole street. We go inside, it ended up going through the house. Everyone’s coughing. All of Grant Avenue, from second to third, just covered in smoke and tear gas. It was ridiculous. And sure enough, we lost the next five games after that.” Shortly after the riot, the University announced its 2020 plan and began buying up all the houses on Grant Avenue. Eventually University Place would be built and Sunnyside riots would be no more. One of the most recent phenomena to hit WVU was Tent City. It sprung up out of nowhere the Monday before ESPN College Gameday came to town for a matchup against TCU. It originated with only three tents, but soon grew to 234, all scattered across the Mountainlair Plaza. Liz McCormick, a senior student, was at Tent City, and cited it as one of her fondest memories. She said the school showed great support
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for its students, and that it was great for the University’s image following the Baylor riots a few weeks earlier.
“A group of students decided they were going to form Tent City out on the Mountainlair Green and one by one you saw more tents coming every day. By the end of the week, it was a fullblown, like, pep rally. Everyone went to Tent City to hang out and tailgate and have a good time,” she said. “There was people who had their Nintendo set up, their PlayStation, their Xboxes. They had corn hole and football games. It was pretty cool, like, I had never seen anything like that.”
While many celebrations in Morgantown over the past few years have been surrounded by violent behavior, Tent City showed the good side of Mountaineer Spirit. “We had a lot of backlash with the Baylor riots and so Tent City was such an awesome comeback with a lot of support from the school,” McCormick said. “You know President Gee (and) Dana Holgorsen came by, so that was a really awesome week for us, and for College Gameday to follow that Saturday was a blast. I remember Dana Holgorsen brought by pizza one day. It was just one of those weeks of college that you’ll never forget.”
It was just one of those weeks of college that you’ll
NEVER FORGET.
KYLE KYLE MONROE/THE MONROE/THE DAILY DAILY ATHENAEUM ATHENAEUM GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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CONGRATULATIONS! Our best wishes to West Virginia University’s graduating class of
2015 May your future bring you great success!
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REMEMBERING
THE
BEST
OF THE BEST By RYAN PETROVICH For the West Virginia University class of 2015, we’ve seen our fair share of outstanding athletes proudly wear the old gold and blue. While all of them made an impact by playing sports at WVU, there are a select few who really left a lasting impression. West Virginia football is arguably the foundation of WVU sports. When football season is in full swing there are very few events comparable to game day in Morgantown. During the class of 2015’s four-year span, a few players excited us, influenced us and provided us with a lifetime of memories. In 2012, WVU moved to the Big 12 Conference and the triple-threat combination of Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey helped aid the rejuvenation of West Virginia football. These three players provided offensive firepower that fans hadn’t seen since the days of Pat White, Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt. With Smith as quarterback, and Austin and Bailey as his primary receivers, West Virginia’s offense was the definition of “air raid,” as the three provided us with so many different highlight-reel plays. During his career at West Virginia, Smith passed for 11,662 yards and 98 touchdowns. In 2012, his most memorable game may have been against Baylor where he posted video gamelike numbers. Smith went 45-for-51, threw for 656 yards, eight touchdowns and posted a 98.6 quarterback rating in a 70-63 win over the Bears. His performance put him in the Heisman conversation as WVU students wore “Geno for Heisman” shirts around campus. Smith’s time at West Virginia allowed him to be drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Smith is still on the Jets’ roster and continues to compete for the starting quarterback position. 24
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Smith may not have had the success he did had he not had two of the best wide receivers West Virginia has ever seen. Austin and Bailey were Smith’s favorite targets and rightfully so. While at West Virginia, Tavon Austin racked up 3,414 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns, 12 of those touchdowns came during his senior season in 2012. Austin also rushed for 1,033 yards and six touchdowns. With blazing speed and outstanding athleticism, Austin was mesmerizing to watch. One of the best games in which Austin displayed his abilities came against Oklahoma in 2012. He carried the ball 21 times for 344 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.4 yards per carry. He also reeled in four catches for 82 yards. In 2012, Austin was drafted eighth overall by the St. Louis Rams, the team he still plays for today.
PATRICK GORRELL/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Geno Smith at a football game on Sept. 28, 2012.
West Virginia cruised to a 70-33 victory and solidified a spot in BCS history. The Orange Bowl victory marked the end of another outstanding college career. Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin was selected 15th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Irvin went on to appear in two Super Bowls, winning the first. While these players were the focal point during the class of 2015’s freshman and sophomore years, one player stood out this year. Wide receiver Kevin White made national headlines throughout the season. White, a junior college transfer, was only with the Mountaineers for two years, but it was this year he really turned heads and made a case for one of the best receivers in the nation.
Another receiver who made tremendous contributions while at West Virginia was Stedman Bailey, who served as a superb complement to Austin. During these past Bailey amassed two seasons, White KYLE MONROE/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM 210 receptions for caught 144 passes for Juwan Staten takes a shot. 3,218 yards and 41 1,954 yards and 15 touchdowns while at WVU. touchdowns. He was picked seventh overall by In the same game in which Austin turned the Chicago Bears in last month’s draft. in his outstanding performance against the These players have made an impact playing Sooners, Bailey caught four touchdown passes. football, but there are two more important The St. Louis Rams also drafted Bailey. He players playing a different kind of “football,” or was picked up in the third round and is also still soccer as we most often refer to it as. with the team. Frances Silva and Kate Schwindel are two The three were also key factors in the West Virginia women’s soccer players that have memorable 2012 Orange Bowl, a game where brought recognition to the recently dominant Clemson was a heavy favorite, but was program. ultimately pummeled by Smith and company. Both Silva and Schwindel helped lead West
Virginia to three straight Big 12 Conference Championships. The Mountaineers have been the top dogs in the Big 12 as of late and these two players were a big part of that success. Silva, who graduated in 2012, collected many different accolades during her time in Morgantown, including spots on the 2011 Big East Championship All-Tournament Team and 2012 All-Big 12 Second Team. She finished her career with 38 goals and 22 assists, and started 84 out of 88 games while at West Virginia. FC Kansas City picked Silva with the 19th overall pick in the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft. She’s still on the team to this day. Schwindel was another catalyst in the team’s accomplishments. This past season Schwindel played her final games with the Mountaineers, and will go down as one of the best leaders and players the team has ever had. Schwindel, like Silva, earned different honors as well. In 2012 and 2013 she was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Schwindel finished her career at West Virginia with 33 goals and 22 assists, starting 74 out 77 games.
DOYLE MAURER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Kevin White celebrates after scoring a touchdown.
helped lead the Mountaineers to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament after West Virginia missed the Big Dance two seasons in a row.
From the grass to the hardwood, West Virginia basketball players have also made a lasting imprint during this four-year stretch.
While at West Virginia, Staten was immensely productive as he served as a leader for young teams and was voted the 2014 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year.
For the West Virginia women’s basketball team, Asya Bussie has stood out as one of the best. Bussie was with the program for four seasons and racked up accomplishments. She aided the Mountaineers in reaching the NCAA Tournament with at least 24 victories per season while on the active roster.
MATT SUNDAY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Frances Silva celebrates with her team after a win.
Bussie finished her career with 1,497 points and averaged 10.8 per contest. The Minnesota Lynx with the No. 15 overall pick in the WNBA Draft took Bussie in the second round. She is West Virginia’s highest draft pick in the WNBA Draft to date.
Staten finished his West Virginia career after a loss to Kentucky in this year’s Sweet 16, but he finishes with 1,260 total points and 433 assists. Every athlete who is privileged to wear the West Virginia colors holds a special place in our hearts and while there are plenty more that the class of 2015 is grateful for, these players were ones we’re sure we won’t forget.
While Bussie held down the fort for the women’s team, there were plenty of stars to emerge on the men’s basketball team. Kevin Jones and Juwan Staten were two players who had remarkable runs while wearing a West Virginia jersey. The class of 2015 wasn’t enrolled at West Virginia during the historic 2010 Final Four run, but Jones was and he played a great role in that run. While that’s the most notable run during Jones’ time, he was still one of, if not head coach Bob Huggins’ best player in 2011 and 2012. Through four years he scored 1,822 points and averaged 13.1 points per contest. Jones was not drafted in the 2012-13 NBA Draft, but did
Staten was one of the special players who knew what it meant to be a Mountaineer, even after he transferred from Dayton following his freshman season. He was a staple in Huggins’ team and will be greatly missed as the Mountaineers move forward.
MATT SUNDAY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Kate Schwindel tackles her opponents.
sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers in September of 2012. Jones bounced around the NBA, but recently signed with the Cholet Basket of the French LNB Pro A where he currently plays. Staten was another player who made impact while under Huggins. Staten most recently
West Virginia sports are one of the highlights of being part of this wonderful University and define the culture that being a Mountaineer is all about. We’ll surely miss attending games and chanting, “Let’s go Mountaineers,” and wrapping our arms around our fellow students to sing “Country Roads” after a win, but we’ll forever cherish and remember these athletes and sporting moments as they’re part of our irreplaceable experiences at West Virginia University. GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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KYLE MONROE/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Jonathan Kimble is hoisted above the crowd in the student section after the Mountaineers defeated Iowa State Feb. 10, 2014.
MEMORIES of the
MOUNTAINEER By JENNIFER SKINNER Before the West Virginia University graduating class of 2015 walks across the stage and receives their diplomas, the Mountaineer Mascots from the past four years wish to share memories and offer encouraging words. This year’s seniors remember their first Mountaineer, Brock Burwell, who wore the buckskins from 2010-2012. During his second term as mascot, ESPN College GameDay came to Morgantown for a WVU football game against Louisiana State University. “I remember everyone camping out on the Mountainlair the night before the game, and about midnight, I sneaked up there and fired the rifle in the middle of everyone,” Burwell said. “I distinctly remember about a second of silence, and after they realized what that gun shot was, they began to cheer, chant and began to have an impromptu pep rally at midnight on the Mountainlair green.” The 2011 football game did not end in a victory, but Burwell recalls the game to be the loudest he’s ever heard at Mountaineer Field. “I’ve been to a lot of WVU games throughout my life, but I’ve never felt as much electricity in that stadium as I did that night,” he said. “It was an unbelievable and unforgettable night for anyone who was there.” 26 The Daily Athenaeum
KYLE MONROE/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Mountaineer Mascot Michael Garcia laughs with Alpha Phi Omega brothers from Texas.
Jonathan Kimble, the Mountaineer Mascot from 2012-2014, went through WVU’s transition into the Big 12, including its inaugural Big 12 football game against Baylor University, with this year’s seniors. “It was another noon kickoff, but the students and fans packed the stadium for what would be one of the highest-scoring games in WVU history,” Kimble reminisced. “The weather could not have been any more perfect on that fall day in Morgantown, and the pictures of the stadium, game and crowd was incredible for Stripe the Stadium.” After a thrilling game, WVU came out on top with a 70-63 victory. Kimble said he seriously enjoyed being able to watch Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Geno Smith put up impressive statistics such as throwing for over 650 yards and eight touchdowns. “We scored so much, I almost ran out of gunpowder and had to do 385 pushups on the afternoon,” Kimble said. “I really enjoy watching Mountaineer Nation sing Country Roads on YouTube from that game.” This year’s Mountaineer Mascot and senior political science student, Michael Garcia, similarly reflected on huge victories for WVU sports that he and his fellow classmates experienced together. “I will remember both home wins against Kansas for years to come. Rushing the court and experiencing all emotions that come with big wins against top teams seems to bring us together,” he said. Since Garcia is also receiving his undergraduate degree this May, he offered some advice to his classmates. “I would just tell our graduating class to never give up in becoming the people they want to be,” he said. “Nothing can stop you but yourself.” Garcia’s undergraduate career included watching both Burwell and Kimble get Mountaineer fans pumped up, just as the rest of the seniors did. “I got to know Brock especially well because I worked with him in the Secretary of State’s office one summer. He definitely exemplified how you are supposed to handle yourself both in and out of the Buckskins,” Garcia said. “And Jon was very helpful when I got started. He was always there as a resource.” Burwell, who has started his career and gotten married since graduating from WVU, commented on treasuring time as a student, while still looking forward to what is to come. “During graduation season, you’ll often hear nostalgic, middleaged alumni say something like, ‘College was the best years of my life,’ and try to convince you that you’ve just reached the pinnacle. They’re wrong,” he said. “That’s not to say college isn’t an incredible experience, but what comes next is much more amazing. Just smile, nod and know that even if it was awesome, it absolutely gets better.”
FILE PHOTO/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Former Mountaineer Jonathan Kimble cheers on the Mountaineers at a football game.
But before graduates dash off into the real world, Burwell reminds those who are preparing to walk the stage to slow down — something he wishes he had done. “At graduation, I was the second name called to come up on stage to receive my diploma. I already listened to the speaker and got my diploma so, in my mind, graduation was over. I snuck out the side door and went up and quickly grabbed my family and we jumped in our cars so we wouldn’t have to wait long at our favorite restaurant,” Burwell said. In his family’s rush, Burwell completely forgot to get pictures of his family and himself in his cap and gown. Burwell called it one of the biggest regrets he has about his college life. “I graduated with two degrees and spent years working toward my education, and in my rush to ensure my family wasn’t bored sitting through graduation, I rushed them out and missed a memorable
BROOKE CASSIDY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Brock Burwell served as the Mountaineer for the 2011-2012 school year.
GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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opportunity,” he said. “Before or after graduation, make sure you take some photos with your family. This will be the last time you’ll ever wear your cap and gown and, years down the road, you’ll treasure those photos.” In retrospect, Kimble wishes he could have spent more time with his friends and classmates before Jonathan Kimble, former Mountaineer. graduating because once he entered the workforce, it became more difficult to see some of his closest friends. “I miss being a WVU student and the environment on campus that we take for granted while being in Morgantown. Take advantage and learn the most you can, not only from your classes, but from your friends and those around you,” Kimble said. “Whatever city you may move to next, the potholes will be nothing compared to those ones you have already faced and dodged, or at least tried to, in Morgantown.” And don’t just stick to the close convenience of Morgantown. Kimble said he hopes this year’s graduates have the chance to explore more of the natural beauty of West Virginia. “As the Mountaineer, I got to travel to all 55 counties and every single one has something to offer that many students never get to experience. Make sure to go hike to the top of Seneca Rocks, visit Spruce Knob and go hiking around the New River Gorge Bridge.” Each of the mascots will remember moments shared with the class of 2015 just as the class of 2015 will remember moments shared with the mascots forever, and as the mascots said, “Always remember, Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer!”
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CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! As you step out of college into the challenges ahead, you will need to think about your Health Insurance options. Luckily we are here to help. At Clay-Battelle Community Health Center, we can answer your questions and provide free enrollment services Not graduating yet? We can help you decide if the student health plan is right for you.
Call Rusty or Jason @ 304.432.8211 outreach@cbhealthwv.org fb.com/cbhealthwv twitter.com/cbhealthwv
Clay-Battelle
Health Services Association
nities u t r o p p O Career Available! visit us at www.cogos.com/jobdescriptions Download the mobile app or text “cogos” to 55123! Sign up for email alerts at www.cogos.com
Congratulations Graduates! It’s your last chance! Stop in for cupcakes before you leave town! Give us a call or email us at orders@thecupcakerie.com
304.212.5464 3 thecupcakerie.com
GRADUATION EDITION | 2015
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The world has changed since you became a Mountaineer
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Mountaineers have proven over and over again that they rise above
ANy
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The Daily Athenaeum
By ABBy HUMPHREy Nearly everyone is aware of West Virginia University’s party school reputation. For some, it’s why they chose the school in the first place. But underneath a seemingly carefree exterior lies a force of dedicated, hardworking students with a valuable set of skills. Other parts of the country may argue West Virginia offers nothing but couch burners to a worn-out workforce, but over the past four years, upcoming WVU graduates have demonstrated they know how to fight for their beliefs and actively change public perception of this University. Today, there is nothing more desirable to employers than groups of students who know how to stay lighthearted, follow their passion and still be serious where it counts. This was made especially apparent in the efforts WVU students have taken these past four years to fight against inequality and show support for diversity and new ideas across campus. However, WVU graduates aren’t just capable of campus-wide change — they’re ready to take on the problems this country faces with unmatched determination. For example, after a police officer in Toronto stated women should stop “dressing like sluts” in order to avoid unwanted male attention, both men and women alike rallied together to create Slutwalk Toronto. The movement spread to West Virginia in 2013, and Morgantown has held its version of the event annually ever since. The event seeks to bring awareness to victim blaming in rape and sexual assault cases. Participants are encouraged to wear clothing that would cause society to label someone as “promiscuous” and carry posters and signs protesting victim blaming through downtown Morgantown. By taking a stand against victim blaming, Mountaineers of all genders show support for women everywhere and demonstrate respect for women’s choices in expressing their sexuality. Mountaineers also won’t stand for racial inequality—literally. Students participated in a sit-in at the Mountainlair in December 2014 to recognize and bring awareness to racial inequality in the United States. When unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer under unclear circumstances in Ferguson, Mo., the subsequent riots that took place were a painful reminder of the racism that still permeates parts of America. Peaceful protests sprang up in most major cities in response, and WVU students joined in to support the Black Lives Matter movement quickly spreading across the country. The University’s sit-in took a stand against current racial discrimination while also paying homage to those who sacrificed their lives in support of equality during the Civil Rights movement. Diversity Week is another area in which students have advanced their understanding of different ways of life. Topics ranging anywhere from domestic violence to Indian cuisine are discussed between students from all backgrounds during this week of cultural exploration, and presentations by WVU faculty and other community leaders are often at the forefront of the week’s schedule. Short films, book readings, and even arts and crafts demonstrations during Diversity Week have helped students become knowledgeable of other perspectives and step outside their comfort zone. Students were also eager to show the world a different side of West Virginia and eliminate the negative portrayal of their school during last year’s football season. The hashtag #RespectfulMountaineer was created in response to the Morgantown riots that took place after WVU’s win against Baylor in autumn 2014. After the troubling events that led to several arrests and citations, the hashtag #RespectfulMountaineer exploded across Twitter. The Twitter account @RespectfulWVU still operates today and continues to change others’ perspectives of the University. From taking an active role in shaping the social environment of Morgantown, to attending lectures from important minds of our generation, Mountaineers have proven over and over again that they rise above and beyond any negative label placed upon them. With all students have accomplished in the past four years, it’s not hard to determine that the future of WVU’s class of 2015 will reflect wonderfully upon this University.
MOUNTAINEER MEMORIES
This collage is made from a collection of images submitted to The Daily Athenaeum.
(304) 292-9497 184 Willey St. M-S 8:30 - 5:30
A SHORT WALK, A SHORT WAIT
Country Roads Quilt Shop www.countryroadsquilts.com • 304-241-5645
Complete selection of WVU fabrics for all your quilting projects! Located in the historic Seneca Center • 709 Beechurst Ave., Suite 27
COOMBS FLOWERS
401 High St. Morgantown, WV 304-292-1571 • (800)-283-0060 coombsflowers@aol.com 32
The Daily Athenaeum
OFFICE OF THE
University Registrar
NOW THAT YOU’VE CELEBRATED YOUR GRADUATION, DON’T FORGET TO ORDER A TRANSCRIPT! To order transcripts visit registrar.wvu.edu/transcripts
HOME IS WHERE THE IS. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO,
universityapartments.wvu.edu