The DA 10-07-2014

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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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

da

Tuesday October 7, 2014

Volume 127, Issue 37

www.THEDAONLINE.com

STATE OF THE

UNIVERSITY

w

Kyle Monroe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

“We have a bond that is stronger than steel and we will make that bond even stronger.” – President E. Gordon Gee u.edu .wv y a tod vu

Gee addresses University community, notes upcoming changes, hopes for future by jacob bojesson editor-in-chief @jbojesson

West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee delivered his first State of the University address Monday, focusing on a positive outlook for the University. Gee touched on a number of topics during his 30 minute speech, including student debt, expanding the University and extending the already strong bond between the University and the state.

Gee also broke the news of the new Center for Big Ideas, which will include several different areas and subjects within the University including energy, health care, politics and policy. “In order for us to change the arc of our aspirations, we have to really focus on big items and big items that will make a difference. Both on the University campus but equally importantly off the campus,” Gee said in an interview after his address. The Center will be headed by former West Virginia Gov. Gaston Caperton. Gee and Caperton

have d i s cussed the project for some time, and ideas will be implemented immediately, according to Gee. “Governor Caperton and I will be meeting on Thursday and we have been meeting off and on for some time,” Gee said after his address. “We have already been talking about two of the major projects that I talked about. Our Energy Center and our Public Policy Center.” After ending his tenure at Ohio State University last year, Gee’s future was very much up in the air before he jumped at the opportunity at coming back to WVU when former President Jim Clements accepted the presidential position at Clemson University. “Exactly this time last year I was planning my next vacaKyle Monroe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM tion and joining semi-retireWVU Chief Diversity Officer David Fryson and President E. Gordon Gee listen in as a panel of ment,” he said. “My path led me students discuss diversity at WVU Tuesday evening in Towers. back to this University in this unique moment of problems and possibility.”

ger than steel and we will make that bond even stronger,” he said. Gee Gee said in order for the Unimade a versity to improve, it is imporcharming tant to think outside the borders first im- of Morgantown and take the enp r e s s i o n tire state into consideration, on the stu- which is why he plans to travel dents with the state again next summer. “We need to be present in the his social appearance, and more im- communities, the farms and at portantly, his bow tie collection. the gas wells,” Gee said. “PresDuring the summer, he took it ent in our attendance, present upon himself to visit each of the in our listening and present in 55 counties that make up West our actions when responding to Virginia. their needs.” “It was a F u r t h e r, spiritual exthe UniverI saw the opportunity we perience for sity and its me. I saw have to enrich this state and staff, faculty and stugreat sucits people. West Virginia dents need cess stories, University is West Virginia’s to have a I saw struggles,” Gee University. Our campus does c o m m o n goal in orsaid. “Most not end at the borders of der to imof all I saw Morgantown. opportunity. prove, and I saw the opstudents’ portunity we n e e d s have to enrich this state and its should always be the main conpeople. West Virginia University cern for the University. is West Virginia’s University. Our “Students are the reason we campus does not end at the bor- are here. Knowledge is our gift to them. Inspiration is their gift to ders of Morgantown.” The strong connection the us,” he said. “We must make this University holds with the state institution move like a ballerina, was a reoccurring topic in most not an elephant in a tutu, and we of Gee’s items. “We have a bond that is stronsee GEE on PAGE 2

Doyle Maurer/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

President E.Gordon Gee answered questions for an hour in the Mountainlair on Tuesday evening.

Kyle Monroe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

President E. Gordon Gee passes students on his way to the stage during the 2013 graduation ceremony.

64° / 42°

OUT OF THE WORLD

INSIDE

White Hall offers free planetarium shows A&E PAGE 6

MOSTLY CLOUDY

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

Gee waves to parents and family members at the 2013 spring graduation ceremony.

THE DA’s HIRING WRITERS Inquire about paid positions at The Daily Athenaeum at DAnewsroom@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

NETFLIX DECLARES WAR Commentary on decline of movie conglomerates and rise of Netflix OPINION PAGE 4

Shannon McKenna/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

DEFENSIVE DYNAMIC West Virginia gets defensive boost SPORTS PAGE 12


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