The DA 03-02-2015

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Monday March 2, 2015

Volume 127, Issue 105

www.THEDAONLINE.com

BOG candidates present platforms

Kyle Monroe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Supporters cheer on their candidates in the Mountainlair Sunday evening.

Doyle Maurer/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Ryan Payan speaks at the BOG debate Sunday night in the Mountainlair.

by lauren caccamo & Taylor Jobin staff writers @dailyathenaeum

The first round of debates between West Virginia University Student Government Association candidates took place last night in the Mountainlair food court. Part of a two-night event, last night’s debate focused on Board of Governors candidates from the three running parties: the Youth Party, the Experience Party, and the Make A Difference Party. Student candidates fo-

cused on issues ranging from campus safety to textbook affordability. From the Youth Party, junior Audra Phibbs said she would like to ensure greater campus safety by training students how to react to disasters on campus. “Take a second to imagine yourself on campus and you hear gunshots and screaming. Would you know what to do?” Phibbs asked the audience. “It’s a terrible and unfortunate thing that campus shootings even occur—but they do. I hope that we never have to deal with a tragedy

like that, but we should be able to address it should it ever happen.” Phibbs said she would like to integrate a video into the current freshman orientation program in order to educate new students on campus about what they should do if such an instance occurred. Other candidates advocated improvement in campus safety by promoting awareness of sexual violence on campus and creating better training opportunities. “Currently what’s promoted is bystander prevention training. It’s a crucial

@

ONLINE GALLERY

Doyle Maurer/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Trevor Kiess speaks at the BOG debate Sunday night in the Mountainlair.

part o f Visit thedaonline.com for a gallery prevenof images from the first night of tion, debates. but it’s not the only thing we man relayed to the aushould be doing, espe- dience an experience in cially when 90 percent of which she sought treatassaults happen between ment at student health two people who know follow ing an injur y each other,” said sopho- in her foot, only to be more Samantha Shimer, misdiagnosed. a Make a Difference Party “It’s not fair and I want to make sure this never candidate. Issues surrounding stu- happens to a student dent wellness were also again,” Dirkman said. addressed by Make a DifDirkman also advoference candidate Lauren cated for free STI testDirkman, a freshman pre- ing to be brought to the pharmacy student. Dirk- Mountainlair by partner-

ing with medical centers around the WVU campus, which already provide the free service. Youth Party candidate David Chaney, a junior, said mental wellness attention needs to be brought to WVU students on top of their physical well-being. Chaney said he would like to introduce a “24-hour crisis text-line” program that would allow students to text representatives in order to get the help they need. While some SGA candidates focused on student

see DEBATE on PAGE 2

More than $37k raised for WVU Children’s Hospital by rachel mcbride staff writer @dailyathenaeum

Askar Salikhov/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Candice Ware (left) and Amy Reeder (right) show their opposition of HB 2881 and support for an inclusive West Virginia Friday morning across from the Mountainlair.

Mountaineers protest HB 2881 by emily leslie staff writer @dailyathenaeum

Friday afternoon, dozens of students, faculty and members of the Morgantown community gathered in the free speech zone across from the Mountainlair to express opposition to proposed House Bill 2881 and support for an inclusive West Virginia, as organized by WVU Spectrum. H.B. 2881 is a recently proposed bill from the West Virginia House of Delegates that would create the West Virginia Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act. The official purpose of the bill is to ensure that busi-

nesses, organizations and employers doing business in West Virginia are subject to uniform nondiscrimination laws. Human rights codes that included sexual orientation as a protected category would be nullified under H.B. 2881. David M. Fryson, vice president of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, commented on the negative effects this proposed bill could, if enacted, have on West Virginia. “It could lead to the narrative about West Virginia as being narrow and bigoted. Basically this is a bill based upon discrimination. At a time when we

see PROTEST on PAGE 2

48° / 47°

BLUES AT BLACK BEAR

INSIDE

Josh Arthurs Band plays monthly at local restaurant A&E PAGE 7

RAIN

News: 1, 2, 3 Opinion: 4 A&E: 5, 6, 7 Sports: 9, 10, 12 Campus Connection: 8 Puzzles: 8 Classifieds: 11

The annual dance marathon hosted by the Children’s Miracle Network was held Saturday from 12 p.m.-12 a.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center. This was the organization’s first year hosting the event at the Alumni Center. A total of 432 WVU students participated in the dance marathon and raised $37,092.46 for the WVU Children’s Hospital. Participants were asked to raise a minimum of $50 each for the WVU Children’s Hospital. During the 12 hour duration, attendees engaged in line dancing as well as craft projects with other participants and children of the WVU Children’s Hospital. The dance marathon is completely run by students. The organizational team consists of 20 students and two advisers. Planning for the event began spring of last year. According to Executive Director Chelsea Arvin, the dance marathon requires detailed planning and communication with other team members. “We (the event planning team) work really well together as a team,” Arvin said. “We always bounce ideas off of one another.” According to Lora Ed-

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

Kyle Monroe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

A Miracle Wish kid and his mom run through the human tunnel at MountaineerTHON Saturday afternoon. gell, Children’s Miracle dren and their families who successful progress. Network director for the have received services from “He’s a walking miraWVU Children’s Hospi- the hospital provided their cle,” Fabioni said. “I can say tal, the work completed by individual experiences that this year, he’s a walking the team members and the with the hospital and deal- miracle.” money raised for the hos- ing with their children’s Many other families gave pital is important to the illnesses. One mother in their testimonies concernfamilies of children who particular, Sandra Fabioni, ing the trials and tribulareceive services from the spoke on behalf of her son, tions that come with havChildren’s Hospital. Antony, and the progress ing a child with a rare illness. Many success sto“We stand for those who he has made this year. can’t stand for themselves,” Antony suffered from a ries concerning the chilEdgell said. brain tumor located on his dren’s progress and recovParticipant Maya Trethe- brain stem. Antony has had ery were also shared during way said she thinks the two brain surgeries, a total the event. event is important. of 17 medical procedures, For information on the “I think we will help and is the youngest to re- dance marathon, visit : contribute to the hospital,” ceive radiation. Antony has http://mountaineerthon. Tretheway said. “It’s a great recently dedicated much of com/the-cause.html thing to do.” his time to learning how to During the event, chil- walk again and has made danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu

SPENDING ON SGA ELECTIONS Editorial: Though SGA lowered spending limits, max spending still not low enough OPINION PAGE 4

WIN FOR THE SENIORS West Virginia defeats No. 24 Texas in overtime game on senior night SPORTS PAGE 9


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