THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Friday September 27, 2013
Volume 126, Issue 30
www.THEDAONLINE.com
Stadium gets cell signal boost By Summer Ratcliff City Editor @SummerRatcliff
For years West Virginia University fans have had trouble keeping in contact with the outside world while attending football games at Mountaineer Field. The large numbers of people attempting to access the cell phone towers have prevented most from having success when trying to make
or receive phone calls or text messages. But when fans enter Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday, they may notice an improvement in the mobile phone reception in and around the stadium. The WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has recently implemented the installation of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at the stadium for the 2013 season.
Michael Szul, associate athletic director for business and operations at WVU, said the athletic department decided to look for ways to improve cell phone service at the stadium to provide reliable wireless coverage for emergency communication and to ensure public safety. “We had poor reception and cell phone service at the stadium, so we were looking at ways to improve it,” Szul said. “We put out an
RFP through the University; Crown Castle won and then the system was installed for this year.” Szul said he has heard nothing but positive feedback since the launch of the new system at the WVU home football game Sept. 14 against Georgia State. “This season is the first season the DAS system is up and operational, and so far we have gotten a lot of positive feedback on it,” he
said. “Crown Castle continues to fine-tune the system, and we will keep seeing improvements throughout the year.” According to Crown Castle’s website, the DAS is a shared-infrastructure model used for expanding a wireless network by adding coverage and capacity in hard-to-reach areas. The outdoor network consists of a central hub location to provide carriers
with pinpoint coverage that isn’t traditionally provided. These systems enable multiple wireless carriers to improve coverage and capacity; therefore, the system does not limit the reception improvements to one particular carrier. “These improvements are not carrier-specific,” Szul said. “It’s an overall improvement for everyone.
see CELL on PAGE 2
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY WVU to host sixth annual Gold Rush game Saturday by madison fleck associate city editor @mafleck
Milan Puskar Stadium will transform into a sea of gold Saturday as Mountaineer fans participate in the Gold Rush event for the game against Oklahoma State. Gold Rush has been a tradition since the 2007 game against Louisville and was originally implemented by Rich Rodriguez for fans to show their support for Mountaineer football. Matt Wells, assistant athletic director of marketing and sales, said it’s always good to have the Gold Rush theme for at least one game each season. “Gold is our primary color, and I think it’s always a good thing to pick one game a year to have as a Gold Rush theme and encourage all of our fans to wear gold to the game,” Wells said. “I think it makes for a great visual, and it’s great support for the team.” In 2007 the Gold Rush-themed games became a fundraiser for the United Way campaign. According to its website, the United Way campaign is the only philanthropy to which West Virginia University commits each year, and the campaign, which is now in its 31st year, is the only charity allowed to solicit from employees on campus. This year, the campaign runs from Sept. 23-Nov. 15 and has a $340,000 goal in mind, which is the largest goal the campaign has ever had. “All the money stays local,” said Theresa Joslin, graduate assistant for the United Way campaign. “All the money we collect goes to our local United Way of Monongahela and
see GOLD on PAGE 2
STAND TOGETHER
Local pro-choice groups rally for women’s rights BY Jacob Bojesson Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
A group of approximately 100 people marched from the Mountainlair to the Morgantown Courthouse for a Stand with West Virginia Women rally to support women’s health rights. A coalition of organizations supporting women’s rights and Planned Parenthood, along with students and people of all ages, chanted for their cause and listened to speakers. The campaign had more than 300 supporters rally in Charleston, W.Va., in August and will continue with events throughout the state. “We’re here to promote women’s health over politics,” said Margaret Chapman Pomponio, executive director of WVFree. “We began mobilizing after Attorney General Patrick Morrisey started attacking women’s health providers in June.” Morrisey assumed office as attorney general of West Virginia in January and has started a “fact-finding mission” to sort out how the laws in West Virginia address abortion
see STAND on PAGE 2
Supporters representing wvfree.org and Planned Parenthood gather to let their voices be heard concerning women’s rights.
GAMEDAY EDITION INSIDE
Wythe Woods/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM