THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
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Wednesday July 31, 2013
Volume 125, Issue 160
www.THEDAONLINE.com
SGA Gov. to run for W. Va. legislature By Carlee Lammers Managing editor
John Williams is not your typical college junior. The political science student from Morgantown already balances class work and his duties as the Student Government Association’s vice chair. Now he’s working to run for higher office. “I want to help people, plain and simple,” he said. Williams plans to run to
become a delegate from the 51st district in the West Virginia House of Delegates. “However kind and hardworking West Virginians are, we’ve had more than our fair share of hard knocks. I see this as an opportunity to put in my own brand of that hard working West Virginia spirit, and help make The Mountain State an even better place to call our own,” he said. Earlier this month Williams, a member of the
Democratic party, filed paperwork for pre- candidacy – a moment he said was bringing his dream one step closer to reality. “That moment was incredible. Signing the papers was a palpable moment in which I could say ‘This is the beginning. This is the start of a long but worthwhile challenge.’ The thing that topped it off was having friends and family in attendance. Having their support means the world,” Williams said.
Despite budget cuts, WVU works to improve workers comp by celeste lantz copy desk chief
West Virginia University has always made workplace safety a priority among University employees, but lately has taken steps to improve safety while keeping in line with the ever-increasing budget cuts. WVU has teamed with the Offices of Risk Management, Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety to track workplace incidents and employee safety to determine ways to improve safety and explore insurance alternatives to offer employees that will support risk management initiatives. The University settled on a new loss sensitive policy with BrickStreet Insurance on July 1, which will save the University more than $600,000 in workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This policy also minimizes loss to the University as a result of workforce accidents. “While we’ve added employees and increased our
campus facilities over the past few years, we’ve also become a more safety-conscious campus,” said Dan Durbin, senior associate vice president for finance. “We’ve found ways to reduce the number of accidents that occur on the job and return our injured workers to the workforce quicker. It’s an added bonus that we’re also driving down the costs associated with our insurance coverage by moving from a guaranteed cost policy to a loss sensitive program.” Durban said everyone is looking for options to cut costs and can’t think of a better outcome, especially because worker safety is the focus of the change. Vice president for Administration and Finance Narvel Weese said WVU wasn’t allowed to get different quotes for workers’ compensation and medical malpractice insurance policies until both were granted flexibility within the state code.
Williams said he hopes to bring new ingenuity to old problems the state faces. “West Virginia is consistently one of the most impoverished states in the union, and I want to remedy that. I believe that starts with creating an environment conducive to new business and new ideas. The best way to do that is to continue, and even increase, the State’s support for our universities. Being a native, I can tell you that WVU cer-
tainly has changed. When you look at the school now, it’s exciting to imagine what kinds of research and development will take place at WVU in the future. However, we need delegates who will not only assist WVU; rather they must continue their promise with the Promise Scholarship. Investment in WVU and investment in its prospective students will foster growth and prosperity in the Mountain State,” he said.
“I hope to bring new ideas to old problems.” During the pre-candidacy part of the process Williams is spending his time listening to the real concerns of many West Virginians, something he said his experiences at WVU have more than prepared him for. “The education I’ve received mixed with my SGA involvement has shaped me
see WILLIAMS on PAGE 2
RACE TO THE SUN
Mel Moraes/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
The house near WVU’s Communications Building has been put together in all kinds of extreme weather conditions, and will be complete by October.
danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
THIS is our last summer edition !
Solar Decathlon house construction progresses, to be complete by October By Ashley Tennant Staff writer
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Mel Moraes/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Equipment rests at the construction location for the WVU solar house.
A group of West Virginia University students are working to bring a piece of West Virginia living to the West Coast. Students have spent several months designing and building a solar house for the Solar Decathlon, a collegiate design-andbuild competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and for the biannual competition, which will be held Oct. 3-13 at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif. Branden Bellanca, a computer science student at WVU and project leader of WVU’s solar decathlon team, said their team will begin the finishing touches on their energy efficient house by building a roof. “Basically, the solar decathlon is a biannual event held by the DOE that challenges 20 teams from around the world to design, build and maintain solar-powered homes, and the homes have to be marketable, attractive and innovative,” Bellanca said. “We’re also judged on our ability to raise funds, build a media campaign, and be as efficient as possible,” he said. Dana Shearer, a design and merchandising student at WVU and project manager,
see SOLAR on PAGE 2
Student Employment offers tips for back-to-school job search By Meghan Bonomo Staff Writer
Many students are looking for jobs for the new school year and West Virginia University is working to help. One of the most effective starting points for searching for a job in college is through the Office of Student Employment. According to their website, “The Office of Student
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Employment helps WVU students find part-time and seasonal employment in order to help offset costs of their college education. Whether students are interested in seriously supplementing their financial aid or upgrading their cell phone, our office can help with the job hunt.” One of the many ways the Office of Student Employment assists students in finding jobs is through
#AWKWARD Last week, FOX News aired a rather embarrassing interview OPINION PAGE 4
career fairs and hiring events. The upcoming pre-semester hiring event provides students with the opportunity to get a head start on the job search, allowing students to meet with employers, interview on the spot and even get hired that day and start the payroll process for oncampus employment. The event will be held Monday in the
Mountainlair Ballrooms from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is encouraged and still available online at http://studentemployment.hr.wvu.edu/. Those who pre-register are able to attend from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., and walk-ins are invited from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. The Office of Student Employment recommends bringing copies of your class schedule and resume and
suggests casual business dress. Starting the search for a job weeks before classes begin could make arriving at school – when positions have already begun being filled – much less stressful. “West Virginia University departments and Morgantown businesses have cycles for hiring because the population changes with the semesters during an academic year,” accord-
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FLOWERS AND FRIENDS Former West Virginia basketball stars John Flowers and Da’Sean Butler will be opening a new Morgantown club this month. A&E PAGE 3
ing to their website. Those who are unable to make the pre-semester hiring event can still utilize the office’s many other resources for job searching. Their website even breaks down the hiring process and recommends steps to take and how to prepare in “Tips for Finding a Part time or Seasonal Job.” This can be found under tips
see jobs on PAGE 2
READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? The WVU football team is preparing for its first practice of the season this week. SPORTS PAGE 7