The DA 03-04-2016

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Wednesday March 4, 2015

Volume 127, Issue 107

www.THEDAONLINE.com

SGA expenditure report questioned by jake jarvis Managing Editor @Newsroomjake

The Youth Party’s most recent expenditure report was called into question by the Student Government Association’s Attorney General Syed Akhtar and Elections Chair Richard Larson Monday. The report, signed by the Youth Party’s presidential candidate Spenser Wempe, states a total of $358 was spent on T-shirts. The report, which Akhtar said didn’t include any of the required receipts or use proper formatting, notes a

$5,760 refund for T-shirts the ticket isn’t using. “In terms of my perspective, I feel like you can’t put an anticipated refund on an expenditure report,” Larson said. “That’s how much money they spent and they may or may not get that back.” Wempe said the retailer from whom the ticket ordered tees messed up the design of the T-shirt and delivered them well past the promised delivery date of Feb. 23. Instead of having the ticket’s logo across the front of the shirt, the image is only on the breast pocket.

“Regardless, from how our Elections Code is written,” Akhtar said, “anything you have on your campaign must be reported.” Akhtar said he had an informal conversation with one of the Youth Party candidates who said the company is not willing to work with the group to refund the money. Wempe said she did not have invoices from the retailer concerning the refund, but also said she does have confirmation the ticket will receive the $5,760. If the business refunds the cost of the T-shirts, Akhtar and Larson said the

tees would be considered a donation from the business to the campaign, and as such, would still have to be reported. “From what I see, and what I’m going to pitch to the judicial board, is that they have shirts,” Akhtar said. “They paid for them. They have not gotten the refund. They’re lying about the refund, and they’re also lying about the number of shirts.” After not receiving the tees until this weekend, Wempe and her team decided to change tactics. Instead of handing out Tshirts as is tradition by tick-

ets past and present, the Youth Party focused its efforts toward one-on-one conversations with students. A small number of T-shirts, totaling the $358 reported, were distributed to the Youth Party’s candidates, campaign staff and students who previously reserved one online. Wempe said the report included the cost all of the campaigning materials being used by the ticket, but does not include the unused T-shirts. She said after learning of the retailer’s mistake, she tried unsuccessfully to cancel the order. Wempe said the printer

will probably donate the tees. In addition to these questions, Larson said the report was submitted Tuesday when the report deadline was Monday. Wempe said she submitted the report on time but it was not picked up from the SGA office in the Mountainlair. Akhtar and Larson said they will file an Elections Code violation for the expenditure report they feel misrepresents the numbers and will speak with SGA’s Judicial Board on the issue today. jajarvis@mail.wvu.edu

Kansas 76 | WVU 69

HOLY SHEET

SEE MORE > Sports Page 9

Phone scam targets WVU students by courtney Gatto

“Some of the phone calls are couched as ‘Let us help you, we can fix this for you’, the police department also told us that some of them were threatening people with arrest,” said Vicki Smith, communications director of WVU Information Security Services. “The nature of the call can vary but don’t give the information.” For students who receive a call from the Charleston Police Department or one similar to these examples, Information Security Services urges anyone to hang up and immediately file a police report. “Don’t provide any of that information and contact the University Police Department, 293-COPS, and submit a report with a phone scam originating from the Charleston Police Department, if that’s the number,” Jalso said. “Then, contact information security at defendyourdata@ mail.wvu.edu and we’ll

staff writer @dailyathenaeum

Askar Salikhov/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

Bronon Hammack purchases one of the first Sheetz Cards following the grand opening of Sheetz located inside University Place on University Avenue.

Sheetz opens its doors in University Place, steps from Sunnyside Superette by cameron gleason correspondent @dailyathenaeum

The new Sheetz in Sunnyside has officially been open for business for 24 hours. From the looks of it, there has been consistent foot traffic in and out of the doors since they were unlocked. Although this may be positive for the Sheetz franchise and the University Place, not everyone is pleased with the arrival of the store on campus. The Sunnyside Superette has been supplying students with general convenient goods for the past 75 years. The Superette was built in 1964 and has been in the same location ever since. In recent weeks, the

Superette released a typed list on its Facebook page and around the store entitled “Top 10 Reasons for Superette Loyalty (After The Sheetz Opens).” In this list, the Sunnyside Superette compares the arrival of Sheetz to gentrification stating, “That’s what rich people do!” “You know, we’re a small business, and I personally have been here for 15 years. I mean, we run on a shoestring. It’s an eight month business, and we do not have the deep pockets that the large corporations have,” said Peter McGinley, owner of Sunnyside Superette. Despite the release of the Top 10 Reasons list and much of the public voic-

ing disapproval toward the new Sheetz, Public Relations Manager for Sheetz, Tarah Arnold, was unaware of the Superette’s concerns and still believes Morgantown is a great fit for the Sheetz. “We are optimistic for a successful partnership with the Morgantown community. The location of our new store is in a great area and we are excited to bring this restaurant and grocery concept to the students and locals of Morgantown,” Arnold said. One of the ironic points McGinley has continued to bring up throughout the construction of Sheetz and the countdown to its opening has been the selling of tobacco and packaged beer

on campus property. According to McGinley, no other store on campus is allowed to sell these items on any form of property that belongs to West Virginia University. “We’re trying to just bring it into the public eye the amount of hypocrisy WVU, (of ) which I am an alumnus, is showing by banning tobacco use on campus but allowing Sheetz to sell tobacco,” McGinley stated. “The reason for this is no other store on campus is allowed to sell tobacco, or packaged beer, or anything besides Coca-Cola products. Sheetz is going to do all three of those things for

see SHEETZ on PAGE 2

West Virginia University students are being targeted in a phone scam that is attempting to obtain personal information from its victims. On caller ID, these calls appear to be coming from a seemingly reliable source, but that is far from the truth. “Somehow, an outside entity got ahold of student contact info and is using the Charleston Police Department as their cover number,” said Alex Jalso, director of WVU Information Security Services. Many students have reported these phone calls as messages stating their scholarships or financial aid funds are at serious risk and can only be helped if they immediately provide personal information, but it is not actually the Charleston Police Department making these calls.

see SCAM on PAGE 2

City unanimously passes 2015-16 budget, $3.6 million less than previous HOLLIE GREENE correspondent @dailyathenaeum

At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Morgantown City Council discussed several important topics, including the adoption of the 2015-16 annual city budget. The new budget, consistent with the past several years’ trend, will be reduced by an estimated $3.6 million. Council member Bill Kawecki of the second

ward attributed a majority of the decline to the estimated amount of B&O construction taxes the city anticipates to incur. Several council members brought up questions and concerns surrounding the new budget. One of these was a request from Ron Bane of the first ward for a contingency plan for the possible revenue reduction in the next fiscal year. Other considerations consisted of looking for ways to increase revenue by $1.4 million.

40° / 19°

MATT MASON

INSIDE

CMT star comes to Morgantown Thursday night A&E PAGE 7

RAIN

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

After the council members came to a consensus based on their feelings concerning the matter, the consideration was unanimously passed. Mayor Selin ended the budget discussion by stating, “I’m interested in making sure that we continue funding at the current levels, that we look into funding at higher levels and that we continue to look after all of our responsibilities.” Another topic brought up for consideration at Tuesday’s meeting was the

adoption of a new set of Fire Civil Service rules. Fire Chief Mark Caravasos presented the Council with a new set of requirements and regulations that would be implemented for future prospective firefighters. Chief Caravasos described the need for the updated tests. “The previous ones relate somewhat to the job that we do,” he said. “However, since we’ve adopted those, the national standard has come out and other testing

has come out that is more in line with what we do and the jobs we perform.” The new requirements are designed to test strength and agility in direct relation to the job of a firefighter. Unlike the previous tests, the new system will allow the department to conduct testing inside their own facilities. The council members agreed to adopt the new regulations by a unanimous 7-0 vote. Other important matters voted on by the Council

consisted of a new caution light at the intersection of Routes 119 and 73, the construction of a Colonel Zackquill Morgan statue downtown and a grant of $3,000 to help Empty Bowls Monongalia. All of the considerations received unanimous 7-0 votes. City Council will have its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at the Morgantown Municipal Building.

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

FACEBOOK SUICIDE PREVENTION Opinion: One columnist tackles the larger problem that Facebook’s new prevetative system doesn’t address OPINION PAGE 3

danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu

REVITALIZED TEAM Women’s tennis coach Miha Lisac inspires athletes to work hard SPORTS PAGE 10

EVAPOR - Morgantown’s Premiere Vapor Shop - SINCE 2012

360 High St 304.292.VAPE

Exclusive retailer of Space Jam eliquid - Out of This WORLD!


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