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
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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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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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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
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
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
2 | NEWS
Wednesday July 31, 2013
Mel Moraes/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
The WVU solar house is well on its way to completion for the October Solar Decathlon competition.
SOLAR
Continued from page 2 said most of their funding has been sponsorship from their donors, which has primarily included materials, but they have also received grant money from the DOE when they were accepted into the program. “There were several schools around the country that applied for the competition, and we (WVU) were one of the 20 that were accepted, and because we were accepted, the DOE gave us some grant money to get us going. So we’re using that, sponsorship money and we are getting some money from the generous college of engineering,” Shearer said. Shearer said they also
have been given some private donations that have helped them throughout their project, in addition to their own fundraising. “This has to be a fully functional house, so we still have to run electric, plumbing, put on siding, decorate the interior, and build the roof – there’s a lot of things left, but we’re almost finished,” Bellanca said. “We’re making headway; we should be done in the next few weeks.” Shearer said the group has enough money right now to complete the house, but they are still in need of funding for expenses for the competition in California. “We’re still looking for funding for travel, which is going to be one of the biggest expenses on this project,” Shearer said.
“We have to transport the house to California, and then we have to have at least 30 of our 50 team members there for 30 days for building, competition judging, deconstruction, and then bringing it back here.” “Putting up 30 students for 30 days is not cheap, especially when you’re looking at lodging plus making sure that we have money for food,” Bellanca said. “To transport the house alone will cost around $60,000, so any donations would be highly appreciated right now.” This is the first time WVU has applied for the Solar Decathlon, and they got in after writing a detailed proposal about what they hope to do for their house, making an outline of what they are going to
put in the house, what innovations they plan to put in, among other goals and strategies. “They wanted to know what we are trying to accomplish for our state and university, and essentially our whole goal is we’re trying to capture the Appalachian spirit and bring it to California,” Bellanca said. “Basically, (we) have this idea of (the) rustic homey living environment that’s (common) to this area and put contemporary systems in to it, so we’re building a very modern futurist home,” he said. Bellanca said they will be able to control most of the systems in the house with a smartphone or tablet through sensors, and they will be able to see the house’s energy consump-
tion. He said the main goal is to educate and inform the user about their energy consumption. “So if you’re somebody who tends to leave the lights on in your bedroom every time you walk out, the house is going to recognize that and be like, ‘Hey, this is how much you spent from leaving your light on this month in your bedroom,’ and it’s going to put it in a pie graph,” he said. Bellanca said there will be a PA system, so there will be speakers in each room and the house will be able to communicate with the occupants to give them suggestions, as well as play music in one specific room, or play music throughout the house. The house will also have a passive system so
when it’s cool outside, it will automatically open windows to let the cool air in, and if it’s hot, it’ll close certain vents so that it will trap the cool air inside. Another unique aspect of WVU’s team is that they are the only team competing that is comprised entirely of students. “This is a completely student-run project, an undergrad effort. However, we have a lot of support from our faculty advisor, Dr. Dimitris Korakakis, and we appreciate all of his support as well as WVU for helping make this happen.” For more information about the Solar Decathlon, visit http://solar.wvu.edu/. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Pitt doctor pleads not guilty in wife’s poisoning
AP
University of Pittsburgh medical researcher Dr. Robert Ferrante intends to waive extradition at a hearing Monday, July 29, 2013 in West Virginia, where he was taken into custody Thursday.
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mated at her husband’s insistence, police said. During the hearing, Difenderfer said Ferrante, who appeared on video from the county jail wearing a white dress shirt beneath his red jail jumpsuit, remains “devastated” by his wife’s death. “I’m sure it’s not easy for him,” Difenderfer said, noting the celebrated researcher into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, has never been in criminal trouble before. “He’s devastated by losing his wife and doubly devastated by being named the cause.” Klein’s elderly parents, Charles and Lois Klein, of Towson, Md., were in the courtroom but declined comment through a district attorney’s spokesman. A preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 9 was immediately rescheduled for Sept. 23, and Ferrante remained jailed without bond. City police charged Ferrante after discovering he bought more than a halfpound of cyanide, which police determined was not related to his research.
Williams
heaviness of his situation but said it simply motivates him more. “I sure am busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s interesting going through this process while I’m in school. No student has ever run for this office to my knowledge, but that isn’t because of a lack of capability. I just don’t think it occurs to most students,” he said. “I don’t think my age will play a factor at all. However, I think being a student will play a positive factor in that I know both the University, and the county, as well. I bring a unique understanding of how the two
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PITTSBURGH (AP) — A University of Pittsburgh medical researcher who allegedly poisoned his neurologist wife by lacing an energy drink with cyanide pleaded not guilty Tuesday to criminal homicide. Dr. Robert Ferrante, 64, was arraigned in Pittsburgh a day after waiving extradition from West Virginia, where he was arrested last week. Defense attorney William Difenderfer has said Ferrante “adamantly” denies involvement in the April 20 death of his wife, Dr. Autumn Klein, three days after she suddenly fell ill. But after the arraignment, Difenderfer refused comment on any of the allegations, including that Ferrante bought the poison with a university credit card two days before his wife fell ill. Doctors at UPMC Presbyterian hospital, where Klein and Ferrante worked, were puzzled by her sudden illness and considered everything from a stroke to a seizure disorder in treating her. Blood tests revealed a lethal level of cyanide, but only after Klein had died and been cre-
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into a forward-thinking person whom people can rely on for help. Right now I’m focused on school and serving West Virginians in whatever capacity they will allow,” he said. “You come here (to WVU) and you meet people from all over the world and it helps you grow as a person and as a student.” With a lot to balance at such a young age, Williams said he understands the
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Continued from page 1 and resources on the Office of Student Employment home page. Another way to find out about new job opportunities is to get on the student jobs list, which includes job opportunities and graduate assistant positions and sends out emails twice per week. The list can also be found on their home page. MountaineerTRAK is another resource provided by Career Services to find on-campus recruiting, career events, and job postings for students, and alumni to fill degree related full-time internship positions or other employment opportunities. This online resource has kiosks that are strategically placed around campus. For more information on how to log in and how coexist.” Williams said regardless of the results on election day, his ultimate goal is to focus on creating a lasting positive impact on the world. “My ultimate goal is a constant one of being a kind, charitable and hardworking person. I’ve found that if you focus on those three qualities, things tend to work out for the best in the long run,” he said. Williams said he encourages anyone with inquiries or ideas to email him at williams4house@gmail.com.
to use MountaineerTRAK, go to http://careerservices. wvu.edu/. The Office of Student Employment is also available for one-on-one job hunt assistance with students and student groups. Located on the ground floor of the Mountainlair across from the bowling alley, the Office of Student Employment is open Monday-Friday 8:15.a.m.-4:45.p.m. Students looking for jobs during the school year are encouraged to utilize the services provided by the University. For additional resources, Career Services offers classes, seminars, assistance with resumes, cover letters and any other related documents and interview preparation. To make an appointment with a Career Counselor, contact Career Services at 304-293-2221. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Summer edition
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 3
Local rap artist Ponce De’Leioun makes international name BY LACEY PALMER A&E EDITOR
Local rap artist Ponce De’Leioun is currently making strides in his musical career in the United Kingdom, where he will be residing in London for an entire month to network, market and promote himself and his music. De’Leioun admits he will also be “rebuilding” himself during his time off the U.S. shores. Originally from Wheeling, W.Va., De’Leioun currently resides in Morgantown, performs locally often and has several music videos on YouTube with nearly 20,000 views. “I’ve learned in the last handful of years that American hip-hop is idolized in the U.K. a great amount,” De’Leioun said. “I figured if I could make the right connections and such overseas, it could be my ticket to the big leagues in the U.S., starting outside the country and working my way in. So, once I return my story is stronger and seems greater.” Although he admits the timing of the trip financially could have been better, De’Leioun said the trip wasn’t too difficult to finance, as he is also a construction worker and an owner of his own iPhone repair and customizing business. “I used my resources to fund my trip,” De’Leioun said. “People have to realize the music business isn’t something that is given to you. You have to work for everything. You have to either have a manager, booking agent, promoter, etc. or you have to learn to do it all yourself.” As an artist without a manager, publicist or booking agent, De’Leioun compares himself to a needle in the haystack, because he feels he’s one of a few who has taught himself everything he knows
in the industry. He also believes the trip to the U.K. will say a lot for an artist growing up in a small town in West Virginia, and quite possibly help put the state on the map, especially in the music industry. “This was my drive – to travel and tour so much,” De’Leioun said. “I wanted to show others that it’s okay to follow a dream and leave home. I think it shows that even though we are from a small town or city, it is possible to succeed.” Although De’Leioun hasn’t been on an airplane since he was six, his determination to grow in the industry helped him take his most recent flight to London. During his time out of the country, De’Leioun will be working with several London rap artists, singers and producers, as well as shooting at least three music videos with a variety of artists and videographers. De’Leioun was also invited to a private fashion show in London in one of the busiest areas of the city. This event was a huge networking opportunity for De’Leioun. “I spent that time passing out business cards and speaking to other artists, fashion designers and (others) about future work,” De’Leioun said. “At the end of the event, I was actually awarded with a new sponsor titled ‘Big British’.” De’Leioun also plans to do a few radio interviews and some actual radio play while in London. “I remember texting my mom as soon as I got off the plane and telling her it feels like I was meant to do this and I could see myself doing so for the rest of my life,” De’Leioun said. “I see this trip as one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life as its put me in touch with a completely different world of fashion, mu-
sic and sights.” De’Leioun said creating a buzz away from home is much more difficult than creating a local buzz. He was recently named a top-five artist from the city of Morgantown on www.reverbnation.com, and his music video “Devils Angels” won Best Music Video Award of 2012 in the state at the Dub-V Fest in Beckley, W.Va. Although he recently released his music video titled “Suspicious,” a dedication to Trayvon Martin, he will release yet another video titled “Conspiracy,” which is about the conspiracy of Tupac Shakur and according to De’Leioun, one of the most meaningful pieces of work he has done yet. After returning from London, De’Leioun will work on a variety of projects, which he said he will not release until he has enough funding, one being his official album. With financial restraints, Ponce De’Leioun poses alongside a guard in London. De’Leioun said he is thinking strictly business. “I am thinking of who I can network with that will take my career to the next level, what shows I can line up, anything that can leave my name or image in the hands of a new fan is what I need,” De’Leioun said. To hear more of Ponce De’Leioun’s work, visit www. poncemusic.net or www.youtube.com/poncethegreatest. “I want to be universal,” De’Leioun said. “I don’t want to be local. I don’t want to be average. I want to be great. I want to make history. I see lots of artists making moves in my state and in my country, but I don’t see lots of those artists making the overseas moves. While in London, I plan to milk it for everything it has and bring it back to the U.S.” lacey.palmer@mail.wvu.edu
SUBMITTED
Ponce De’Leioun hopes to grow in the industry by making international connections.
Submitted
MountainFest drives hundreds to the area ‘Fully Committed’ draws crowd to M.T. Pockets BY SHAWNEE MORAN A&E WRITER
A performance during MountainFest gets attendees excited.
BY LAcEY PALMER A&E EDITOr
MountainFest, one of the nation’s most exciting motorcycle events, took place July 24-28 and was a huge success for cyclists and vendors alike. Each year, the festival brings hundreds of motorcyclists to the area for music, entertainment and other events. Presented by MountainFest, LLC in cooperation with the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as many other sponsors, the event fills Mylan Park with bikes and leather, but is entirely nonprofit. According to the festival’s website, it is entirely for the community. This year, musical artists Joan Jett and The Blackhearts,
Jackyl with Jesse James Dupree, The Guess Who, Foghat, Three Dog Night, Bastard Bearded Irishmen, Davisson Brothers Band, Kashmir, Jamiah “On Fire” and The Red Machine, Blizzard of Ozzy, Bad Mother Trucker and Chris Higbee provided the entertainment for the festival and pleased hundreds of attendees dressed and ready for a good time. Famous burlesque troupe The Flaunt Girls also made an appearance at the festival, after making appearances on hit reality television shows, such as Michael Ballard’s Full Throttle Saloon on TruTV. West Virginia University student Julie Carrico enjoyed a firsthand experience of the festival by working with Geico and handing out information
at MountainFest. “I had never been to something like this, so the whole biker culture was new to me, but it was fun and all of the people were really fun and friendly,” Carrico said. “I’m glad I took the opportunity to work it because it broke a few stereotypes I may have previously had of bikers.” According to Carrico, the atmosphere of the festival is vibrant and welcoming. Carrico also said the festival benefits the city by widening horizons, as well as bringing revenue to the city. For more information on this year’s festival and upcoming MountainFest, LLC events, visit www.wvmountainfest.com. lacey.palmer@mail.wvu.edu
Flowers, Butler to open new nightclub BY LACEY PALMER A&E EDITOR
A new nightclub owned by John Flowers, Da’Sean Butler and Colin Farrell, Recovery, will be opening in Downtown Morgantown before the start of the upcoming fall semester. According to Flowers, they are pushing for a dry-run on August 15, the weekend before school starts, with the grand opening the first week of classes. Recovery will be located on Walnut Street where the club Slevin was formerly located. “We thought Morgantown nightlife needed to recover in general because we feel like it isn’t what it used to be,” Flowers, a former WVU basketball player, said. “Also, it can be a place where people can ‘recover’ from a
long week of work and come have a good time.” According to Flowers, the group stumbled across a great opportunity to buy the club and jumped on it. The most unique aspect of the club in comparison to others in the area is the music, according to Flowers. “There will be two levels. Downstairs will be a hip-hop/R&B room and upstairs will be ... house music, so we will appeal to different crowds,” Flowers said. As the decision to buy the club was made on such short notice, Flowers admits many renovations will be made and the owners are in the planning stages currently to make it more presentable. Recovery will be open to ages 18 and up. “Overall, we want to create a safe environment
for people to party and have fun,” Flowers said. “We plan to work with the fire marshal and the ABC to achieve this, and our security will be top notch.” Another intriguing aspect of Recovery will be the amount of special guests and appearances in the club, due to the popularity of the owners. “I have spoken with NBA and NFL players that want to host parties and events,” Flowers said. “We also have close connections with a pop artist and some reality TV stars; needless to say, this club will be the official party spot of the 2010 Final Four basketball team.” For more information, continue checking for updates in The Daily Athenaeum. lacey.palmer@mail.wvu.edu
Think your job is bad? Meet Sam Pelczowski, a struggling actor who works at a reservation desk in one of the busiest upscale restaurants in New York. Sam works with a narcissistic chef, multiple selfabsorbed co-workers and of course, unbearable, unrelenting customers. And just when you think it can’t get worse for him, it does – his boss wants him to work on Christmas. For those of you who didn’t get a chance to see the play I described above, “Fully Committed,” during the past two weekends at M.T Pockets Theatre Company, you definitely missed out. This 90-minute tour de force comedy featuring actor Bobby Wolfe was easily the highlight of my day. The play took no time getting started by quickly introducing eccentric characters and a hilarious plot. Bobby Wolfe displayed his incredible talent for the audience by playing more than 40 characters in this 90-minute performance. Wolfe obviously put an
overwhelming amount of time and dedication into each individual character to make them distinct and recognizable. In a couple of cases, Wolfe used a voice recording of himself to make it seem like it was coming out of an intercom, making the characters even more realistic. He demonstrated professionalism and remained calm throughout the performance, even when sound cues went awry. If anything, he took advantage of the errors throughout the play. The audience howled with laughter at the unique characters and the interactions that occurred during the play. After the show, audience members couldn’t have been happier with Wolfe’s performance. Ben Adducchio, member of M.T Pockets Theatre, attended the show to support his friend and fellow actor. “I thought Bobby’s show was fantastic,” Adducchio said. “He was hilarious and I couldn’t believe how many characters he pulled off.” Publicity assistant Tawnya Drake was slightly dis-
appointed with the turnout for the show. “Bobby Wolfe, without a doubt, was fantastic, but he didn’t get the audience he deserved. We usually run shows two weekends so more people have a chance to see it,” Drake said. “We may not always have a sold-out opening, but once word gets out that there’s a great show at the theatre, the second weekend will most likely be packed.” One of Drake’s goals for the future is to make sure that M.T Pockets gets the attention it deserves. She believes with the help of the community, that goal can become a reality. “Auditions are a huge part of the theatre’s success,” Drake said. “We love to see new faces and give the community a chance to be a part of the M.T Pockets family.” Starting Aug. 4, M.T Pockets will be holding auditions for “Art”. For more information about the theater and for audition registration, visit www.mtpocketstheatre. com. daa&e@mail.wvu.edu
Miley Cyrus claims she is just growing up LONDON (AP) — Miley Cyrus’ transformation from a sweet-faced child star into a twerking, wild-child sensation has garnered plenty of debate, but she says it’s not really all that deep - she just grew up, y’all. “I think people forget what it feels like to be 20,” she said in a recent interview. “People just evolve and that’s all that’s happened to me. But people think a mad scientist somehow cooked up this potion and turned me in to a different human, which it wasn’t. All I did was get a haircut and buy some clothes and everyone thinks that I am made into a robot that changes with what’s popular every 10 years.” Cyrus has raised eyebrows as she continues to distance herself from her former life as the star of the Disney show “Hannah Montana.” Now engaged to actor Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus is concentrating on her musical career and due to release an album in the fall. Cyrus has one of the
summer’s biggest hits with “We Can’t Stop”; it’s now No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. In the song’s video, which has reached 100 million views on YouTube, Cyrus dances suggestively amid bizarre imagery, including a skull made of french fries. Cyrus says the video was inspired by her own life and the wild parties she’s been at. Besides, Cyrus says act-
ing a little crazy can actually be good for the soul. “That’s why I think some people kind of fall off and they end up going crazy because you don’t give yourself time to go crazy,” she said. “That’s what you’re supposed to do; you are 20, you are supposed to be a mess because you haven’t figured it out yet, and 10 years from now I am supposed to have it all together.”
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OPINION
Wednesday July 31, 2013
EDITORIAL
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Fox News does it again
ap
Reza Aslan’s new book, “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth” is currently No. 1 on the Amazon bestsellers list. Earlier this week, religious scholar and author Reza Aslan, who spoke as part of West Virginia University’s Festival of Ideas last year, appeared on Fox News for an interview about his newly released book about Jesus, titled “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth.” The interviewer, Fox News anchor Lauren Green, repeatedly voiced concern about Aslan, a self-proclaimed Muslim, writing a book about Jesus. The hilariously ridiculous interview went viral, and Aslan’s book shot up to the top of numerous bestsellers lists, while his Twitter follower count ballooned by tens of thousands.
Though this incident is par for the course for Fox News, the irony of its failed attempt at discrediting Aslan resulting in the explosion of his popularity makes it noteworthy. Throughout the interview, Green was seemingly unable to get past the notion that Aslan’s faith disqualified him from writing a book about Jesus. The implication here is that if someone’s religious beliefs are related to a particular subject matter, they cannot objectively give a historical opinion on this topic. This really isn’t that unreasonable of an assertion to make. However, this would extend beyond Aslan and his Muslim
faith to Christians who were writing about Jesus, as well. If Green had made this argument, she would have likely been spared the ridicule she has been subjected to since the interview. But, of course, Green was not making this argument. Instead, she was implying that, as a Muslim, Aslan had no business writing about Jesus, even though Muslims hold Jesus in high esteem as a prophet. As Aslan pointed out, his book makes many points that contradict the Islamic version of Jesus’s life, debunking the notion that he was simply trying to proselytize under the guise of an academic book.
The reality is Green was not pressing Aslan for any concern over the objectivity of an academic work. This incident simply fits a pattern of anti-Islamic rhetoric that originates at Fox News and perpetuates ignorance and bigotry across the country. It is a travesty that this reckless fear-mongering gets away with calling itself “fair and balanced.” It is even more tragic this network enjoys the highest ratings of any cable news channel. Fox should be ashamed of itself, and its millions of viewers should start changing the channel.
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OP-ED COMMENTARY
President Obama just refuses to learn
kirk auvil columnist
Yesterday, President Obama announced he wanted to broker a deal with congressional Republicans that would give them a say in revising business tax regulations, provided the extra money left over would be used to create jobs. In our other top story, Barack Obama is a raving lunatic or a five-year-old boy who just finished watching the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Has this man never heard warnings that caution against giving them an inch, for fear that they will take a mile? The Republicans have taken the inches and the miles he’s given them and set up barbed wire fences manned by armed guards. What would make him think that this time is going to be any different? Does he think that Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are going to suffer sudden attacks of conscience and relent, too dissatisfied with their continuing success to carry on? All Obama has done since he came into office is give inches and inches. He gave in on net neutrality, he gave in on shuttering Guantanamo, he’s in the process of giving in on his healthcare reform, and now he’s giving in to the mendacious Republicans responsible for jamming up Congress. He’s given in so much that his current positions are often entirely opposite from the ones he held when he was first elected. Indeed, his website once listed protecting whistleblowers as a key component of his platform and has since been changed to omit this statement. Sorry Obama, this isn’t 1984, and
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An unidentified protester holds a sign on Lee Highway during President Barack Obama’s visit to Chattanooga, Tenn. on Tuesday. the Internet has a long mem- acy different than “that guy lion and paid no taxes. Not years, all of which add up to a ory. I guess he figured people who sat on his hands be- just a few million, but zero labyrinth into which incomhad compared him to Stalin cause Republicans pushed dollars. In addition, G.E. prehensible sums of tax revenough that he decided to him around all the time and claimed a tax benefit total- enue disappear. give historical revisionism a he somehow seemed to for- ing $3.2 billion. You’ll often Furthermore, what evwhirl, just to see how it felt. get he was the President of hear conservatives say things idence does Obama have like “America has one of the that injecting more money Next he’ll be photoshopping the United States.” Joe Biden out of some picBut by asking Republicans highest corporate tax rates into corporate America has tures just for the rush. to have any kind of input into in the world at 35 percent. positively impacted the lives We all know why Obama revising corporate tax codes, This is an outrage, and it is of everyday Americans? Our would want to make this Obama has knowingly and no wonder America’s econ- Congress gave corporate compromise. Congress is willingly placed the foxes di- omy is in the toilet with anti- America $700 billion with at an all-time low in pretty rectly into the chicken coop. growth policies like this.” the huge TARP bailout, and much every area, which is In his desperation, Obama So if that’s the case, how is the beneficiaries of that litwhat happens when Repub- turned to some men he it that G.E. paid no taxes on tle arrangement are not exlicans’ stated goal is to ob- doesn’t fully understand. Ei- their massive pile of money? actly lining up to get Ameristruct Obama rather than to ther that, or he does and for It seems like 35 percent of cans working again. They’re actually govern the United some reason doesn’t care. 14.2 billion is not zero. Well, just snickering at those suckStates. Here’s the thing: corpo- our Congressional represen- ers whose money they took He is a lame duck now, rations in the United States tatives have carved out an while they try to dream up and he sees his sands rush- do not need any more help intricate series of loopholes other ways to make a quick ing through the hourglass. with tax codes. In 2011, Gen- and tax exemptions for their buck out of thin air. He likely wants to leave a leg- eral Electric earned $14.2 bil- big business allies over the Corporations in America
ap
already have it so ludicrously easy, it’s hard to imagine how life could be any better for them. Many get outrageous subsidies to perform the functions that are standard parts of their businesses in the first place. Let’s stop pretending corporations are martyrs to the cause of American prosperity. A few of them already resemble the megacorporations of Neuromancer more than anyone should be comfortable with. If Obama ever read The Inferno, he would know that he’s destined for the field of souls who are too cowardly to take a stand in life, forever fated to chase a blank banner in futility.
Letters to the Editor can be sent 284 Prospect St. or emailed to DAPERSPECTIVES@mail.wvu.edu. Letters should include NAME, TITLE and be no more than 300 words. Letters and columns, excluding the editorial, are not necessarily representative of The Daily Athenaeum’s opinion. Letters may be faxed to 304-293-6857 or delivered to The Daily Athenaeum. EDITORIAL STAFF: OMAR GHABRA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • CARLEE LAMMERS, MANAGING EDITOR • MICHAEL CARVELLI, SPORTS EDITOR • LACEY PALMER , A&E EDITOR • MEL MORAES, ART DIRECTOR • CELESTE LANTZ, COPY DESK CHIEF • VALERIE BENNETT, BUSINESS MANAGER • NIKKI MARINI, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR • JOHN TERRY, CAMPUS CALENDAR EDITOR • ALAN WATERS, GENERAL MANAGER
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Wednesday July 31, 2013
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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
TODAY’S puzzle solved
Across 1 Rooters with beers, maybe 87 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1 5 Pampering places 9 Spunk 14 Stargazer’s focus? 15 Basil or Ginger, e.g. 16 Attention-getters 17 “__ put it another way ...” 18 Switch ender 19 Pinkish wines 20 Chocolate-and-crisped-rice candy 23 “Jews and Words” co-author 24 Heavenly lion 25 Ballpark fig. 28 Official symbol 31 Puzzling problem 33 Like a Chihuahua’s ears 37 Solid investment? 39 Many an auctioned auto 40 P-like Greek letter 41 Sprinted 42 “It floats” sloganeer 45 Lost cause 46 Bird in a clock 47 Pianist Peter 49 Chuckle sound 50 Looker’s leg 87 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1887 ∙ SINCE 1 52 Beehive, e.g. 57 Gymnast’s event, or what 20-, 37- and 42-Across literally are in this grid 60 Crosswise, nautically 63 Refusals 64 Scoreboard figure, at times 65 Coup group 66 Vegan staple 67 German article 68 Inner turmoil 69 Six-legged marchers 70 American-born Jordanian queen
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Down 1 Pop singer Apple 2 Relevant, in law 3 Untrue 4 Casino lineup 5 React to sunlight, maybe 6 Paris’s Bois de Vincennes, par exemple 7 Son of Venus 8 1988 Summer Olympics city 9 Pioneer in wireless telegraphy 10 “Oopsie!”
11 Survey marks 12 “__ Mine”: Beatles song 13 Double curve 21 2000s TV drama that ended in a church 22 Have to have 25 Encourage 26 Camper’s dessert 27 Spud 29 Prefix with business 30 Lindsay of “Mean Girls” 32 Gung-ho about 33 Psychoanalyst Fromm 34 Variety show 35 Noteworthy period 36 Eco-friendly tile material 38 Run easily 43 Place for meditation, for some 44 Fly high 45 Hockey score 48 Animal for which a blood factor is named 51 Tropical ray 53 Hedda Gabler’s creator
54 Proportion 55 Backup-beating brand 56 Maker of the MyBlend blender 57 Back strokes? 58 Bird on Canada’s dollar coin 59 Hit the road 60 1977 Steely Dan album 61 Burger holder 62 Tower of London loc.
TODAY’S puzzle solved
C R O S S W O R D
PHOTO OF THE DAY high school athletes compete during a volleyball camp offered by the wvu volleyball team tuesday afternoon at the wvu coliseum. | photo by mel moraes
HOROSCOPE BY JACQUELINE BIGAR Born today This year you communicate with accuracy and precision. Your instincts guide you more often than not. Networking provides you with connections, both professionally and personally. Learning to express yourself in a meaningful way will be important. If you are single, you could meet someone with ease. Choosing the right person will be crucial. If you are attached, the two of you will benefit from a substantial amount of private time together. Look at what does not work in your life, and consider letting it go. ARIES (March 21-April 19) HHHH You might be trying to get clarity about an upcoming event or situation. You will have difficulty,
no matter what you try to do. You could lose your temper, and you’ll be shocked by what comes out of your mouth. A little caution will go a long way. Tonight: Hang out at home. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) HHHH Your upbeat mood could change its focus to a money matter. The best of intentions easily could fall apart and cause a rift among friends. Decide not to allow this scenario to happen. Remain steady, and make a point of being direct in your dealings. Tonight: Treat yourself well. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) HHHH You might be running around in an effort to get a lot done. You are able to see a situation differently from many because you can absorb a lot of information. A friend could be very unpredictable. Avoid mixing business with friendship. Tonight: Where
the crowds are. CANCER (June 21-July 22) HHHH Complete as much as you can quickly in the morning. The pressure of the day could be intense afterward. In some way, you might not be seeing a situation clearly. Your attempts for clarity appear futile at the moment. Tonight: Make it early. You will need the rest soon enough! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) HHHH Friends mean a lot, especially in a business setting where you might have to ask them for support. You could feel confused about a key associate whom you’ve always counted on. Forthcoming news could surprise you. Tonight: Keep your eye on the long term. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) HHHH You might want to run the show,
but you could find it very difficult to do so. How you deal with someone could change radically once you get a better sense of where this person is coming from. Observe and keep asking questions. Tonight: A friend could push too hard. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) HHH Make it a point to get an overview of a situation. You might get a different perspective that will work wonders. You could be overly tired and withdrawn. You will want to think through a recent change more carefully. Will it work? Tonight: Return calls and emails, then decide. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) HHHH You might want to go right past a problem that has stopped you in your tracks before. Because of your previous experience, you initially might feel unsure of yourself. You even
could become irritated by what develops. Stay the course, and you’ll be OK. Tonight: Remain upbeat. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) HHH Be smart and say little, as it will allow someone to present his or her ideas and thoughts. You might want to revisit a mistake made a while ago by this person. Perhaps he or she needs to repeat the same mistake in order to learn from it. Tonight: Allow someone to let off some steam. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) HHH You might want to reconsider someone’s ideas. Don’t say “no” immediately; instead, ask insightful questions. Realize that you won’t be able to push a situation through as quickly as you would like. Frustration might emerge as a result. Tonight: Say “yes” to an exciting offer.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) HHHH You might want to answer someone’s questions very diplomatically. If you share exactly what you’re thinking, there could be a volatile exchange. Be careful if you feel irritated when working with machinery; otherwise, you could have an accident. Tonight: A midweek break. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) HHH If you’re feeling confused or if someone is intentionally weaving a haze around you, distance yourself rather than get into an argument that you might regret later. Your sense of humor will help you bypass an otherwise difficult situation. Tonight: Close to home.
BORN TODAY Author J.K. Rowling (1965), actor Wesley Snipes (1962), actor Ted Cassidy (1932)
6
A&E
Wednesday July 31, 2013
CONTACT US 304-293-5092 ext. 3 | DAA&E@mail.wvu.edu
Country star to bring talent to WVU BY LACEY PALMER A&E EDITOR
Country music star Josh Turner will bring his talents to Morgantown Friday, Sept. 20. Known best for his hits “Long Black Train,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Your Man” and “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Turner is expected to bring an enthusiastic crowd to the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center. “Josh Turner fans will
love seeing him perform in our Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre, which provides an intimate concert experience,” said David Ryan WVU Arts & Entertainment public relations specialist. Turner has received numerous CMA, ACM and Grammy nominations and has sold more than five million albums since his debut album, “Long Black Train.” “Punching Bag,” Turner’s most recent studio album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums
Chart, with the album’s first single, “Time is Love” reaching No. 1, as well. “Josh Turner is one of country’s most recognized names and we’re excited to have him perform at the Creative Arts Center,” Ryan said. “He’s proven time and time again to make hugely catchy tunes and his success is incredible.” Knockout vocalist Logan Brill will open for Turner with her own crowd-pleasing performance. The show is set to begin
at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the show go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. and range from $40.75 to $70.75, depending on seat location. WVU students will receive a $10 discount per student ID. To purchase tickets, visit the Mountainlair or Creative Arts Center box offices, visit www. t i c k e t m a s t e r. c o m or call 304-293-SHOW or 800-745-3000. lacey.palmer@mail.wvu.edu
musiccityusanews.com
Josh Turner performs live.
WVU ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Josh Turner will bring his country talents to the CAC.
Anamanaguchi rocks 123 with special guests BY SHAWNEE MORAN A&E WRITER
123 Pleasant Street was a host to many different genres of music this weekend, welcoming eight phenomenal bands to the stage to celebrate their hard work and incredible talent.
On Thursday, the Staggering Cardoons, West By God, High Fives and Hell Yeahs and One Man Gaga 4 Gaga played for the Staggerfest Benefit at 123. Friday, The Hillbilly Gypsies took to the stage, playing their unique mix of Appalachian old-time music and hard bluegrass sounds
for audience members. Despite the unfortunate weather Saturday evening, audience members lined up in advance to see Trey Frey, Kitty Pryde and the highly anticipated innovative band, Anamanaguchi. Anamanaguchi – a very distinct chiptune punk rock band, – has sold out
at 123 not once, but twice in the past. Many audience members came prepared for another soldout performance and bought their tickets ahead of time. Those who didn’t have their tickets waited in line in the rain to get theirs; fans were not going to miss their chance to
Anamanguchi performs at 123 Pleasant Street in 2011.
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PUBLISHED ON: Friday, August 16th DEADLINE: Thursday, August 8th The Daily Athenaeum ∙ 284 Prospect Street ∙ Morgantown, WV 26506 www.thedaonline.com ∙ 304-293-4141 ∙ da-ads@mail.wvu.edu
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see Anamanaguchi perform live. If you had never been to 123, you would think that this intimate venue would feel extremely tight and restricted. However, the atmosphere is completely different inside. Filled with music lovers of all ages, 123’s atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing. Patrons give a very downto-earth vibe and are very laid back. Audience member Louisa Copeland was happy the concert was open to all ages. “I love that 123 is so accessible to local bands. I try to take advantage of that,” Copeland said. “I’m still young, so I wish more of their shows were (for) all ages.” Au d i e n c e m e m b e r Brady Dunn was also excited to be able to see his favorite chiptune, video game-inspired artists. “I’m excited for Anamanaguchi and Trey Frey,” Dunn said. “I’ve listened to their music before. I’m not the biggest fan of Kitty Pryde, though.” Trey Frey, a local Morgantown artist, was the opening act of the night. He kept the crowd entertained with his idiosyncratic, high-energy music produced on stage by two Gameboys. By engaging with the audience throughout his performance, Frey clearly demonstrated the skill of a great performer beyond his years. Frey first discovered electronic music while browsing You Tube when he was in high school. He was intrigued by the concept and started to play around with various computer software. “After a year of doing my research, I figured out that you can make music with Gameboys using a program called ‘Little Sound DJ’ which helps you manipulate the sound chips, organize notes and play back any sound that you want,” Frey said. “There are many artists that do it – Anamanaguchi uses two Nintendos with their band. You’ll hear similar sounds (with them), but they also have a live band.” Au d i e n c e m e m b e r Louisa Copeland thoroughly enjoyed Frey’s unique style of music and performance. “I loved Trey Frey. His beats were good and dance-worthy and his style fascinated me,” Copeland said. “I had no idea you can create music through a Gameboy. He pretty much made himself a Gameboy DJ.”
After a brief break between sets, Kitty Pryde took to the stage with a promising performance. This American hip-hop artist’s song “Okay Cupid” was ranked no. 17 on Rolling Stone’s top 50 songs of 2012. With this type of recognition, the crowd’s expectations were very high. Unfortunately, Pryde fell short. She had an intense demeanor while setting up for her performance but ultimately failed to demonstrate it on stage. After performing a few of her songs, audience members slowly lost interest in her performance despite her efforts to reconnect with them. Audience member and experienced Morgantown rapper Patrick McKowen had mixed feelings about her performance. “Her music was more complex than I expected. She did have good lyrics and a few different levels to her music,” McKowen said. “But she could have enunciated and engaged with the audience more, and sometimes I had a difficult time hearing her over the accompanying voice on the track (and) background music.” One couldn’t help but feel bad for Pryde as she realized that she was losing her audience. After her set, she quickly thanked everyone, left the stage, and exited 123. The place really started to fill up after Pryde left in anticipation for Anamanaguchi. Anamanaguchi has a long list of impressive accomplishments, including composing music for the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack and countless other songs. Their high-energy, hypnagogic music is very distinct and easily sets them apart from other artists. Not only did Anamanaguchi have impressive songs prepared for the audience from their newest album “Endless Fantasy,” but they really put on a show. With brightly colored images of anime and old-school video games projected on a screen behind them, the audience was impressed. The blazing strobe lights that were perfectly timed with the rhythm of the songs only added to the audience’s amazement. Audience members really got into their music and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. From people moshing to crowdsurfing, this audience really knew how to enjoy a live performance.
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7
SPORTS
Wednesday July 31, 2013
CONTACT US
304-293-5092 ext. 2 | DAsports@mail.wvu.edu
IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME
Kyle Monroe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Head coach Dana Holgorsen will begin his third season as West Virginia’s head football coach when the Mountaineers begin training camp this week.
Many questions to be answered as West Virginia prepares to open camp by greg madia multimedia editor
Head coach Dana Holgorsen and his West Virginia Mountaineers begin fall camp Thursday evening. Without much identity, Holgorsen and company have many personnel decisions, schematic choices and improvements to make before William & Mary comes to Morgantown Aug. 31. Here are five story lines to watch for as the Mountain-
eers enter camp: 1. Who will win the quarterback job? The quarterback battle between redshirt freshman Ford Childress, junior Paul Millard and junior transfer Clint Trickett is expected to be intense. With no timetable to make a decision set by Holgorsen, the battle should go until one of the three separate themselves from the other two. Last week at Big 12 Media
Days, Holgorsen suggested that each competitor in the position battle had a quality that puts them in position for the job. Millard has the most knowledge of Holgorsen’s offense, Trickett has the most game experience from his time at Florida State and Childress has the most to offer of the three. “Who our guy is going to be, I don’t know. We’ve got Clint Trickett coming in, who has probably as much experience in the college game
as anybody in the Big 12,” Holgorsen said. “He’s got to come in and beat an experienced Paul Millard out, who has taken more reps than anybody on our campus. He’s taken 50 percent of the reps for a long, long time in practice.” 2. Defining Sims’ role Houston transfer running back Charles Sims has versatile skills that enable him to play anywhere on the field. It’ll be interesting to see
Pitt transfer Shell commits to WVU
where he plays, especially because Sims is entering training camp with knowledge of Holgerson’s offense. Of course he can run the football, but he can also catch it. Sims had three seasons at Houston in which he gained more than 300 yards receiving and two seasons with more than 575 yards. Keeping that in mind, Holgorsen told reporters at Media Day that Sims has the capability to play in the slot or even at wide receiver.
During camp, Holgorsen and his staff will find out where Sims adds more value as the top guy in a loaded backfield alongside Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison or as a do-it-all guy who gives WVU options. 3. Keith Patterson’s defensive adjustments Throughout spring football, it was evident that Keith Patterson running the
see camp on PAGE 10
Weis’ critical comments at Media Days not smartest decision
AP
Kansas head coach Charlie Weis speaks to members of the media during the Big 12 Conference Media Days earlier this month.
amit batra sports WRITER
Former Pitt running back and five-star recruit Rushel Shell announced that he will be transferring to West Virginia.
AP
Former five-star RB to sit out 2013, will have three years of eligibility remaining by amit batra sports writer
Former Pittsburgh running back Rushel Shell will transfer to West Virginia University. The former Panther told ESPN on Friday that he plans to join former rival WVU. Shell visited Morgantownon Monday and said he felt he could fit right in. He chose the Mountaineers instead of Kentucky to put an end to the long process. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Shell must sit out the 2013 season, but he will still have three years of eligibility remaining as a redshirt sophomore starting in 2014. “Things went really well down at WVU,” Shell said.
“I enjoyed every moment of it. We toured the campus and facilities, and I got a chance to hang out with other recruits and players on the team. They made my visit terrific and made me feel like family.” Shell is the most recent addition to a very productive offseason for West Virginia. He is the second high-profile transfer running back the Mountaineers recently obtained. Last month, senior Houston transfer Charles Sims became a part of the West Virginia roster and has one year of eligibility remaining. Sims made the move to the Big 12 Conference in the mindset of improving his NFL Draft
stock. Last season, as a true freshman at Pitt, Shell was the Panthers’ second leading rusher with 641 yards and four touchdowns on only 141 carries. The RB also recorded nine catches for 103 yards as a freshman. Shell’s breakout game came against then-No. 13 Virginia Tech last season in the upset over the Hokies. He rushed for 157 yards on 23 carries, as the Panthers tallied 537 yards of total offense on the day. In April, however, Shell left Pittsburgh. While he was initially going to transfer to UCLA, that plan fell through when he changed his mind. Shell later hoped to return to the Panthers,
but Pitt head coach Paul Chryst didn’t permit it. Looking forward, WVU may have the brightest future in terms of running backs in the entire conference. While Sims looks as if he could be the starter this season, Shell and current juniors Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison will all be available next season for head coach Dana Holgorsen. Shell and the Mountaineers will be tested right away as WVU takes on SEC powerhouse Alabama in the first game of the 2014 season. The game will take place in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. dasports@mail.wvu.edu
Last week at Big 12 Media Days, Kansas head coach Charlie Weis may have stolen the show, but not in a flattering way. Going into his second year with KU, Weis had all the attention on him after some comments about his team. Weis mentioned his new pitch to some of the recruits he’s trying to bring to the struggling Kansas program. In an unusual manner, Weis told his recruits that KU may be the place for them. The results of the program’s recent history speak for themselves. Kansas hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2008 (42-21 victory over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl), hasn’t beaten a Big 12 Conference opponent since 2009 (Iowa State) and went 1-11 last season. KU wasn’t blown out in every game last season, though. The Jayhawks lost five games by one touchdown or less. Weis’ squad was solid on the ground with running back James Sims, but no wide receiver had a touchdown last season. The team’s inability to put points on the board and keep up with the opponent was its ultimate downfall.
In 2012, Kansas was No. 117 total in passing yards in the nation, but was able to finish No. 22 overall in rushing yards. Still, if you’re Weis, you don’t want to sell your program short, right? Wrong. Weis told the media on Monday that he asked his recruits if they’ve seen that “pile of crap” on the field. Yes, that’s right – Weis called everyone on the roster the antipode of a competitive team. “If you can’t play at Kansas, where can you play?” Weis said. That may be valid given the recent results, but it only goes to show the amount of confidence he has in his team. While Weis did go on to say that last year’s disappointments start with him, remarks like that are probably not in his best interest. If I played for Kansas, I wouldn’t want to play for someone with no confidence in my abilities. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan of Weis and I feel he’s one of the most entertaining head coaches in the league, with Baylor’s Art Briles. But this brings all the wrong attention to yourself as a head football coach and to a program you’re trying to build
see batra on PAGE 10
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
8 | SPORTS
AP
SUMMER EDITION
Texas A&M freshman, Utah recruit killed in car crash in New Mexico CO L L E G E S TAT I O N , TEXAS —Texas A&M said Tuesday that redshirt freshman Polo Manukainiu and a friend who was joining the Utah football team this fall were among three people killed in a single-car rollover crash in the high desert of northern New Mexico, stunning both schools just days before fall practices begin. Manukainiu, a 19-yearold defensive lineman for the Aggies, and 18-yearold Utah recruit Gaius “Keio” Vaenuku were killed, officials from both schools said. The wreck happened Monday evening on U.S. 550 near Cuba, N.M., about 85 miles north of Albuquerque, as the group of five was returning from Salt Lake City to suburban Dallas, where three of them had ties to prep football power Trinity High School in Euless. The southbound 2002 Toyota Sequoia drifted off the sagebrush-lined highway, New Mexico State Po-
lice spokesman Emmanuel T. Gutierrez said. The driver, 18-year-old Siaosi Salesi Uhatafe Jr. of Euless, over-corrected, causing the vehicle to lose control and roll several times. Alcohol wasn’t involved and it appeared the driver was the only one wearing a seatbelt, investigators said. Manukainiu and 13-year-old passenger Andrew “Lolo” Uhatafe died at the scene after they were ejected from the vehicle, Gutierrez said. Vaenuku was pronounced dead in an ambulance that responded to the accident. The driver and his father, Salesi Uhatafe, were taken to the San Juan Medical Center in Farmington, N.M., and suffered only minor injuries, authorities said. Siaosi Uhatafe was a stepbrother of Manukainiu and, like Vaenuku, also is a Utah recruit. Manukainiu had apparently traveled to Salt Lake City for some relaxation, tweeting Sunday: “It’s always good to get away
from the Texas Heat for the weekend. Utah got that breezeeeeeee.” On Monday, hours before the accident, he tweeted: “22 hour drive back to Texas on no sleep. Oh my.” Manukainiu played football at Trinity High and was part of the Aggies’ 2012 signing class. He was a recreation, parks and tourism science major, the school said, and is survived by his mother, Lima Uhatafe of Euless. “We lost a terrific young man,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “Polo was loved by his teammates and coaches. Anyone who came in contact with him was struck by his sense of humor and smile. My heart aches for his mom and family members.” Texas A&M finished last season ranked No. 5 after an 11-2 season, their first in the Southeastern Conference. They were led by quarterback Johnny Manziel, who became the first freshman to win the Heis-
man Trophy, and are expected to be highly ranked again this year. “Heart hurts waking up to news about Polo,” Manziel tweeted on Tuesday. “I think I speak for everyone on our team when I say we love you brother you will be missed.” It is the second such tragedy for Texas A&M in less than two years: Senior offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio, 22, was killed in a December 2011 car accident after veering head-on into the path of an 18-wheeler 40 miles from College Station. He had spent part of that day delivering gifts to families at a local shelter. Manziel mentioned Villavisencio during his Heisman acceptance speech last year. Vaenuku was a defensive tackle who had planned to play one year at Utah before going on a two-year Mormon mission. “Everyone who knew Gaius is heartbroken today,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “He
was the kind of young man who lit up a room and his future in football and life had no boundaries. Words cannot express our devastation over the loss of Gaius.” Vaenuku was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and considered playing at church-owned Brigham Young but he said he felt more at home in Salt Lake City playing for the Utes. His mother, Cela Vaenuku, said the last time she spoke to him was on Sunday - a brief conversation on how he had spent his day. “He was a wonderful son,” she said. “He was very social, very outgoing young man and a people person who always made people laugh.” She said he was the third oldest among seven brothers and sisters, and “they took it very hard” when they heard the news of his death. She said her son had planned to be dormitory roommates with Siaosi Utahafe, the driver.
The news stunned Trinity High in Euless, where Manukainiu, Vaenuku and Siaosi Utahafe all played football. The team has been one of the best in Texas in recent years, with three state titles in a span of five seasons from 200509 and a trip to the championship game in 2010. Principal Mike Harris said the deaths have affected a majority of the Euless community, where there is a tight-knit Polynesian community. “They were students with bright smiles that everybody knew and everybody loved,” the principal said. Texas A&M associate athletic director Alan Cannon said Manukainiu was known for his sense of humor and “will be sorely missed as a person you enjoyed being around.” He said the football staff was working Tuesday to notify teammates of his death. Players are scheduled to report to campus Sunday to begin practicing for the upcoming season.
AP
Houston Texans’ Ed Reed gestures as he walks across the field during NFL training camp Friday in Houston.
New Houston Texan Ed Reed hopes to play in season opener HOUSTON (AP) — Safety Ed Reed isn’t making any promises that he’ll be ready to go Sept. 9 against San Diego. Houston’s biggest offseason acquisition spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since he started training camp on the physically unable to perform list after surgery to repair a partly torn labrum on April 30. “I can tell you that it is close, but I can’t say that it is the first game because I don’t know,” Reed said. Texans receiver Andre Johnson said last week that Reed told him he planned to play in Week 1. Reed
joked a bit when asked about those comments on Tuesday, “I guess I’ve got to do it,” he said with a laugh. “This is his team.” The 34-year-old Reed spent his entire 11-year career with the Ravens before joining the Texans in March. He said he still feels “tightness and soreness” constantly in his hip and that he’ll know more about when he can play once he progresses past those problems. “Once I get that out, I can kind of push it more,” he said. “I’m not to the point where I can run 100 percent.”
However, he is doing a lot of work as part of his rehabilitation including, pulling a sled, backpedaling and working on starting and stopping. “I’m opening the hip up and stuff like that, but at some point it kind of grabs,” he said. “So I’ve just got to get that scar tissue out and that edema out and everything. Once that that subsides, I can have a better timeline.” With a career that many believe will culminate in the Hall of Fame, coach Gary Kubiak and the Texans aren’t worried about Reed sitting out the entire preseason. They know that
he’ll be prepared to step in and contribute as soon as he’s healthy. “I’m impressed with where he’s at,” Kubiak said. “We’re going to listen to him. He’s been through this before. I’m not concerned about him being ready for a preseason game. Right now, we’re trying to get him ready for our season, so we’re going to listen to him.” While he’s unable to practice, Reed has assumed the role of an extra coach for Houston’s secondary. Many of the players idolized Reed growing up and are eager to soak in everything he has to say.
Rookie second-round pick D.J. Swearinger has watched video of Reed before each of his games since he was in high school. Swearinger, who could fill in for Reed if he isn’t ready for the opener, raved about all the veteran has taught him so far. “Just being a pro about everything, on the field and off the field,” Swearinger said. “Learning the full defense, it will help you a lot as safety because we are the quarterbacks on the defense. Off the field, you have to handle yourself as a pro no matter what - all eyes on you.” Reed’s enjoyed provid-
ing tips his younger teammates and helping them improve. However, he feels a little strange about it because he’s not able to be on the field to work with them. “You can’t be out there with your teammates moving around, communicating and it’s a little tougher,” he said. “Just talking in the meeting rooms and learning it just from a book standpoint and not physically doing it, it’s always tougher. But I’m doing as much as I can to learn it mentally and watch the guys move around and communicate in meeting rooms. It’s coming along well.”
Police back at lake in Hernandez’s Conn. hometown Announcing a new Psychology practice specializing in Military veterans and Active Duty Personnel exposed to Military and civilian traumas (and related PTSD and Depression). Joseph R. Scotti, PhD, a WV Licensed Clinical Psychologist, is offering a FREE support group for women who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Weekly on Tuesdays, from Noon to 1 pm 235 High Street (Monongahela Building) Room # 716 This is a Free Group (donations accepted) For information on this group and other services: (304) 906-2198 • WHOLEVeterans@gmail.com • WHOLEVeterans.com
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) —Police divers have returned for a second day of searching in a lake in the Connecticut hometown of Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots player who is charged with murder. Authorities have declined to comment on the search at Pine Lake, a 54acre man-made lake in Bristol, except to confirm it is related to the Hernandez investigation. Hernandez has pleaded
not guilty to murder in the death of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old Boston semiprofessional football player whose body was found June 17 about a mile from Hernandez’s home in North Attleborough, Mass. Authorities believe Lloyd was killed with a .45-caliber Glock, which hasn’t been recovered. Divers spent eight hours Monday at the lake, which has an average depth of 4 1/2 feet and is 12 feet at its deepest point.
AP
Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez stands during a bail hearing in Fall River Superior Court Thursday.
Wednesday July 31, 2013
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
CLASSIFIEDS | 9
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
10 | SPORTS
Wednesday July 31, 2013
football
Spain has high expectations heading into 2013 by greg madia multimedia editor
When West Virginia begins camp Thursday, one player will not be thinking about the team’s prospects in the same way as the media. Without a player selected to the preseason all-Big 12 Conference squad, West Virginia is projected to finish No. 8 in the conference, and some think West Virginia will be fighting for bowl eligibility in the upcoming season. For Mountaineer offensive tackle Quinton Spain, that isn’t the case. At 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds, Spain has set individual and team goals for 2013 as large and broad as his frame. “My goal for this season is to be (a) first-team all-Big 12 AP and a first-team all-American,” WVU offensive lineman Quinton Spain speaks with members of Spain said at Big 12 Media Days the media during Big 12 Media Days in Dallas. in Dallas. “For the team, our
goal is to be Big 12 champions and try to play in the national championship.” The lofty goals put in place by Spain aren’t without merit. After starting all 13 games a year ago, Spain has been working during the offseason and through the summer to be in position to achieve both personal and team goals. Having lost weight between the end of last season and training camp, Spain is ready to take the field as a leader. By leading drills for the offensive line this summer, Spain – the lone returning starter upfront – has helped the WVU offensive line perfect their blocking schemes. Working two or three days every week, Spain and his linemen practice their footwork on inside zone and outside zone plays, as well as double teams. Spain hopes these preparations can help the West Virginia offense succeed
in the running game. West Virginia has more depth in the backfield than in any other area with Andrew Buie, Dustin Garrison, Dreamius Smith and transfer Charles Sims all ready to play. Spain thinks that with the combination of that depth and the mentality and scheme preference of new offensive line coach Ron Crook, head coach Dana Holgorsen will put an emphasis on running the football. “(I’m) excited ... about running the football more, because if we do, it means our coach has more confidence in the offensive line to gain yards. I’m really looking forward to it,” Spain said. “We’re going to be more physical.” There is a sense of urgency infused throughout the entire team because of position battles not only on the offensive line, but at quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker. These
conflicts have the team ready to become deeper and more competitive as a whole. “Last year people already knew who had the spots and this year no one knows who’s starting,” Spain said. “The competition out there betters the team.” For the Petersburg, Va., native, training camp means more time to improve before the season starts. Spain feels that this team – picked to finish No. 8 – will have all the reasons to continue to work hard, in addition to the work the offensive line has already put in this summer. “It upset us, but at the same time motivates us, too. We have a chip on our shoulder and we really have to try to prove the world wrong,” Spain said. Spain and West Virginia begin camp tomorrow at 5 p.m.
batra
Continued from page 7 to compete in a very difficult league. By making these comments, Weis embraced Kansas as the laughing stock of the Big 12. While players did agree with the comments, you have to consider that some of them wouldn’t want to openly disagree with their coach.
camp
Continued from page 7 defense full time for WVU is a good thing. Players seemed to have a better understanding of the 3-4 scheme. The next step for Patterson is to get players game-ready in his scheme, and Holgorsen feels WVU’s new defensive coordinator will be able to do that because of Patterson’s teaching style. “The communication has been the biggest improvement probably,” Holgorsen said. “He’s been a DC before. He’s got a bunch of experience calling plays in this specific defense we want to run, and I think the results will show.” 4. Kicking game coming to life Over the past few seasons, the West Virginia kicking and punting game has struggled from week to week between inability to punt the ball downfield and inability to convert simple kicks or even PATs. But this fall it is expected to change. Junior college transfer Nick O’Toole comes in ready to take over punting duties while Josh Lambert, after redshirting as a true freshman takes over the kicking duties for Tyler Bitancurt. Expect West Virginia to put an emphasis on changing
dasports@mail.wvu.edu
There’s no denying that KU didn’t put out the best product on the field last year; nobody will praise this team for last season. All I’m saying is that a head coach shouldn’t say this right before fall camp starts. It’s not good for a team’s morale and drive to win. But until Kansas starts winning more games, it will indeed continue to be seen as a “pile of crap.” dasports@mail.wvu.edu
the importance of the kicking game. 5. New-look group of receivers without Austin, Bailey Of course Dana Holgorsen is going to miss Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, but he knows he has to replace them. Holgorsen has lost other receivers like Wes Welker, Michael Crabtree and Dez Bryant in the past and sees replacing Austin and Bailey as a similar situation. “I haven’t lost any sleep over Tavon (Austin) and Stedman (Bailey) moving to the NFL. We don’t hold anybody back. That’s not the first time we’ve lost receivers to the NFL and be able to line up next year and execute our offense,” Holgorsen said. Holgorsen has a large group of receivers to develop into the playmakers that Austin and Bailey were for the team. Whether its junior college transfers Mario Alford and Kevin White or freshman Shelton Gibson or even guys like KJ Myers and Jordan Thompson, Holgorsen is ready to develop talent at the position. “It gets me excited, being able to get out there and face the challenge of being able to take guys and coach them and be able to develop them,” he said. dasports@mail.wvu.edu
This is our last paper until the Aug. 16 edition at the beginning of the school year. For WVU football updates as the Mountaineers prepare for the season, check out our sports blog.
blogs.thedaonline.com/sports
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