THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Tuesday March 17, 2015
Volume 127, Issue 115
www.THEDAONLINE.com
Passed bills to decrease overdoses by laura Haight & taylor jobin DA staff @Dailyathenaeum
West Virginia may see a decrease in overdose-related deaths due to the passage of two bills. The Alcohol and Drug Overdose Prevention and Clemency Act, or SB 523, was passed Saturday and will allow for persons who may be experiencing or witnessing a drug or alcohol overdose to call for emergency medical assistance,
free from prosecution. West Virginia has the highest mortality rate in the U.S., with 28.9 per 100,000 people suffering drug overdose fatalities, according to the 2013 report, Prescription Drug Abuse: Strategies to Stop the Epidemic. The majority of those deaths were from prescription drug overdose, but according to the bill, the age-adjusted death rate from alcohol-related overdoses has increased significantly in West Virginia in the past 10 years.
Medical amnesty bills have been brought up in the legislature before but failed to pass in both 2013 and 2014. According to Del. Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia, the minority chair of the Health Committee and voter on the bill, it was a “process of education” to get all involved parties to see the merits of a medical amnesty in West Virginia. “There were some people that were in law enforcement or prosecutors that thought we should not
give immunity for some offenses. One of them did not want to give immunity for underage drinking,” Fleischauer said. “And that’s one of the whole points in Morgantown.” She also said there were reservations in the legislature about granting immunity to people who have previously committed crimes and are now on parole. The issue for some was that if someone previously committed a crime, then violated their parole by getting intoxicated and needed
medical assistance, then they should still be punished for their wrongdoing. However, after some back and forth on the floor, the amendment stayed in the bill and was passed. “That might have been the hang-up. That would be really restrictive because if you thought if you made a phone call and you would immediately go back to jail, you would really weigh whether to make that phone call or get the hell out of there,” Fleischauer said. House Bill 2009, which
was signed into law by Governor Tomblin earlier this month, will allow doctors to prescribe the rescue drug naloxone to people who use heroin or prescription pain killers, as well as to their loved ones or care givers. Firefighters and police officers will also be able to carry naloxone and treat overdose victims at the scene. Naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, is a rescue drug used to re-
see OVERDOSES on PAGE 2
Food drive continues
THE END OF AN ERA?
by kendall snee staff writer @Dailyathenaeum
Nick Holstein/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
A recliner sits against the railing at a Dallas Street house.
FILE PHOTO
In this October 8, 2012 file photo, a firefighter puts out the fire of a couch burning after West Virginia 48-45 victory over Texas.
City to review banning outside upholstered furniture for first Home Rule decision by caitlin coyne correspondent @dailyathenaeum
The Morgantown City Council will be reviewing an ordinance banning upholstered furniture from outside the home at this week’s meeting as the first act of the Morgantown Home Rule program. The ordinance was approved by the Morgantown Home Rule Oversight Board in December, and after being reviewed for the first time this week, the or-
dinance will be put up for discussion and adoption the first week of April. With the implementation of Home Rule comes numerous policies directly affecting the lives of Morgantown residents, most notable being the ban on home furniture outside the home and a 1 percent sales tax increase on various goods. The ban on home furniture outdoors is an attempt to combat the staggering number of uncontrolled street fires that break out
in Morgantown. According to the Home Rule Proposal, the city hopes by lessening the amount of furniture available to burn, they will lessen the amount of fires as well. Between the years of 2004-2013 the fire department was called to 811 street fires where furniture was a component, according to Morgantown Fire Department records. The furniture being targeted is mostly couches
see COUCHES on PAGE 2
Nick Holstein/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
A recliner sits against the railing at a Dallas Street house.
Black Bear to raise money for Coopers Rock Foundation by rachel mcbride staff writer @dailyathenaeum
Black Bear Burritos will host a fundraising event Wednesday for the Coopers Rock Foundation at its downtown location on 132 Pleasant St. According to Robert Riddle, president of the Professional Recreation and Parks Society, traditionally 10 percent of the proceeds raised from the meal special at Black Bear is donated to the Coopers Rock Foundation, and 10 percent of the proceeds
raised by Chestnut Brew Works are donated as well. The Black Bear meal special will be announced the day of the event. During this time, the restaurant will also host a silent auction and raffle drawing. All proceeds from these activities will benefit the foundation. Silent auction items include works of art, passes to local Morgantown events and tickets to adventure activities in the area. “As for the auction and raffle, we’re sure that we’ll have something to give
56° / 28°
INTERROGATION
INSIDE
WVU departments collaborate for play about NSA A&E PAGE 5
AM SHOWERS
News: 1, 2, 4 Opinion: 3 A&E: 5, 6, 7, 8 Sports: 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 Campus Connection: 12 Puzzles: 12 Classifieds: 14, 15
away that will suit anyone,” Riddle said. Live music will be played featuring the “Tom Bachelor Band,” a local rock and reggae group from Morgantown. According to Riddle, the fundraiser was designed for people of all ages. The Professional Recreation and Parks Society hopes to encourage locals to come out and support the community. “This event is for people of all ages, and families should feel free to bring kids and have a great family night while supporting
local resources and organizations,” Riddle said. “People can come out and support the event by simply showing up, enjoying a delicious meal and listening to some music.” According to Riddle, being aware of the importance of natural resources and showing state pride are important characteristics to have. “We really strive to help raise awareness for individuals how much our natural resources in the area mean to people, especially the resources offered in our own backyard
of Coopers Rock,” Riddle said. “We want individuals to see what this great state has to offer, especially those individuals who might be attending school from out of state.” The fundraising event will take place from 6-9 p.m. All bids for silent auction items or raffle drawings can be made either by cash or check. For more information, visit http://blackbearburritos. com. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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MARCH MADNESS
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
LIFE ON THE MOON Commentary: One columnist shares why a new discovery could mean brighter alternatives for the future OPINION PAGE 3
Morgantown Beauty College www.morgantownbeautycollege.com
The Mountaineer Organization for Relief Efforts will continue to host a canned food drive to support Morgantown’s homeless community. Rather than continuing to collect from the front side of the Mountainlair, the organization has decided to create several collection boxes to be placed in various locations around campus, thus expanding student outreach and hoping to collect more non-perishable food items. Zied Diab, a junior biology student and organizer of this particular MORE campaign, said this program is important for students to get involved in. “I am a Syrian-American,” Diab said. “I was born in Michigan and I lived in Syria from fourth grade to 12th grade, and with the war going on over there I’ve seen a lot of really miserable situations and people living in very poor environments.” Diab, having been inspired by the poverty in Syria and other countries, made the decision to join MORE upon his arrival back to the U.S. The basics behind the organization are to raise funds and supplies for varying relief efforts in the community, nationally and even internationally. The organization’s current endeavor, Aid the Homeless-Canned Food Drive, is an example of the group’s continued local relief efforts to help nearby people in need. The organization has also reached out to Habitat for Humanity to begin a helping campaign in April. For students interested in attending a MORE meeting, the organization hosts meetings every two weeks in the Mountainlair. The group discusses plans and events for upcoming outreach campaigns and also sends out one mass email per semester through student mix accounts as a way of obtaining more volunteers. “I just ask that when the opportunity presents itself that students help the less fortunate because they are able to,” Diab said. Diab wishes to organize larger events in the future to help a larger scale of individuals. Diab went on to explain how he plans to use his major to better humanity. “After I get my degree in dentistry, I hope to use that to organize free dental checkups for people in need,” Diab said. The canned food drive will continue from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Mountainlair this week. For more information, email morewvu@gmail.com.
No. 5 West Virginia matches up with No. 12 Buffalo SPORTS PAGE 9
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