March 9, 2016

NEWS, 2

SPORTS, 3

OPINION, 4

LIFE, 6

> END OF THE LINE

> VANHORN

> SGA

> BLUE MAN GROUP

> BUILD A BUTTON

> MEN’S BASKETBALL

> XOXO MICHAEL BROWN

> WOMEN’S DAY

> RESUME 911

> WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

> PEPSI INTERNSHIPS

LYDIA WAYBRIGHT | THE PARTHENON

RICHARD CRANK | THE PARTHENON

RYAN FISCHER | THE PARTHENON

AP PHOTO

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 | VOL. 119 NO. 80 | MARSHALL UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER | marshallparthenon.com | SINGLE COPY FREE

Survey to determine university strengths, weaknesses

STUDENT BODY CANDIDATES ENGAGE IN FIRST DEBATE

Deadline for NSSE survey approaching March 10

By AMANDA GIBSON

THE PARTHENON The National Survey of Student Engagement participation requests were sent to a sample of Marshall University freshman and senior students February. Students will receive a reminder to fill out the survey March 10.

The NSSE is a national survey that allows participating universities to gauge the levels of student learning and engagement on campus by surveying a sample of students.

Mary Beth Reynolds, associate vice president for assessment and quality initiatives, said the survey presents a couple of advantages to Marshall University. Reynolds said the university has been participating in the survey since 2008, so they have been able to look at changes across time and the NSSE was one of the indicators the university used to develop the core curriculum.

Since the core curriculum has been established, Reynolds said NSSE results have helped the university gauge if it is seeing differences in student responses. Reynolds said NSSE results have shown two changes overtime, one being improvements in the area of active and collaborative learning and the other being improvements in the level of academic challenge.

In current NSSE results, Reynolds said the university has shown a weakness in campus environment, specifically in quality of interactions with other students, compared to institutions similar to Marshall University.

“When you find a weakness here, the next thing you need to do is drill down, which we do, to try and figure out where is that coming from,” Reynolds said.

Director of Student Activities and Greek Affairs Andy Hermansdorfer said student affairs also looks through NSSE data to see what information applies to extracurricular activities, co-curricular activities and anything that involves what goes on outside the classroom.

Hermansdorfer said student affairs does its own survey in satisfaction information and learning outcomes evaluations.

See SURVEY | page 2

RYAN FISCHER | THE PARTHENON

Student Body President and Vice President candidates debate Tuesday evening in the Don Morris room.

By JARED CASTO

THE PARTHENON The audience asked presidential and vice presidential candidates difficult questions about last month’s failed RFRA resolution and the university’s financial troubles during Tuesday night’s student body election debate.

Candidates Matt Jarvis, Nate Miklas and Leif Olson faced off for the student body president office, while Emily Kinner, Amos Parlock and Collin Stipetich debated as their potential vice presidents.

Student Government Association advisors Matt James and Michelle Barbour and SGA Vice President Isabelle Rogner moderated the debate. James encouraged the audience to answer questions and said their intention was a “student-led debate.”

The debate opened with the candidates introducing themselves and their campaigns. Jarvis and Kinner said their goal is to make the campus and community a better place. Olson and Stipetich said less than 30 percent of student organizations apply for and receive funding and promised to change this. Miklas and Parlock said they were part of the election last year and weren’t huge fans with how it was conducted.

Last month’s failed resolution to condemn the West Virginia legislature’s Religious Freedom was a matter of contention between those debating. Current SGA members Jarvis and Kinner were asked how they voted

SGA sets inauguration date to April 24 DISCUSSION INCLUDES INTO MARSHALL INVOLVEMENT, INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY

By JARED CASTO

while Miklas, Parlock, Olson and Stipetich were asked how they would have voted had they been in SGA at the time.

Jarvis said he and Kinner have been able to see the good and bad within SGA as members of the organizations. Jarvis also said issues with the resolution along with the mood and environment of the senate meeting in question persuaded him to abstain from voting.

“I did abstain,” Jarvis said. “I thought that it was kind of a poorly ran conversation. A bill should not be able to pass through legislation like that. We should be able to actually formulate our discussions and people should be able to give their own opinions without fear of intimidation or retaliation.”

Olson was asked how he planned to work with SGA members after he spoke out against the senate’s decision in the meeting following the failed RFRA resolution.

“As SGA senators, you are supposed to be representing your college and if you can not do that, well perhaps you should reconsider what you’re doing in the organization,” Olson said. “I understand that it may be hard to work with me because of this, but I care a lot about students,” Financial problems at the university were another matter of concern the audience presented to the candidates. The candidates were asked what they would say

THE PARTHENON Marshall University’s Student Government Association set a new inauguration date, discussed minority representation within the organization and celebrated International Women’s Day during Tuesday’s meeting.

SGA advisors Matt James and Michelle Barbour spoke to the senate about important schedule changes. According to James and Barbour, the inauguration for the upcoming student body president and vice president will be April 24 at 2 p.m. at the President’s Home, rather than April 17 as previously scheduled.

Additionally, the first student senate meeting of session #74 will be moved back from April 19 to April 26 at 4 p.m.

Barbour raised a concern with the lack of INTO Marshall students filing for student government positions. Currently, there are two open senate seats for INTO Marshall students with no students competing to receive them.

“We do not have any INTO students who are on the ballot,” Barbour said. “I know we worked hard last year to get those two seats, so we don’t want that to not happen this year.”

Barbour said chief of staff Cody Hatter will be talking to INTO student engagement coordinator Kenny Jones about this issue. Barbour also asked the senate to assist in finding two INTO students to fill the seats.

James said improving Marshall’s LGBT Office should be a central point of focus for the

to students currently in programs at the university that are going to be dissolved and how they would resolve such issues.

“There is a budget cuts committee currently in SGA,” Olson said. “Let’s talk about ways that we could possibly come up and recoup the funds that we need to keep our programs here.”

Jarvis agreed and said he has friends who are being affected by these cuts.

“My friends are in those programs and I know they’re personally being affected by this,” Jarvis said. “We do have to show the university and the administration that there is a need for that program.”

Parlock disagreed and said there’s a reason these programs are being cut.

“They’re not getting cut without a reason,” Parlock said. “There’s obviously nothing to do about it, otherwise they wouldn’t get cut.”

The moderators allowed the candidates to make brief closing remarks. Jarvis said he wants to encourage the student body to be prideful in attending the university. Miklas said he wants to work towards attainable goals and giving back to Marshall and the Huntington community with community service activities. Olson said SGA needs to be more focused on supporting its fellow students.

Jared Casto can be contacted at casto178@marshall.edu.

newly elected student body president and the senate in the upcoming session.

“If we’re going to have an office and we’re going to offer a resource, we need to truly offer a resource,” James said.

“Just the impression it gets is that we have them literally hidden in the basement and we don’t even staff the office.”

The senate recognized International Women’s Day by recalling significant women figures in their lives.

Senator Lora Walker commended women for taking positions that men have historically dominated. Walker also praised the women participating in student government.

“Shout out to all the women here because they’re in SGA,” Walker said.

Hatter addressed the

senate, asking them to attend events to support a child from his church diagnosed with leukemia. Events include a April 9 5k at Barboursville Park and a May 7 blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church on Route 6.

“They kind of live out in a small town, church area,” Hatter said. “There’s not a lot of people out there, so I thought ‘What best could we do than have SGA go to all of these events?’”

The senate also passed a bill funding Marshall Pediatrics Entertainment Program. Additionally, the senate moved funding bills for MU Smash and Alpha Phi Omega to the finance committee.

Jared Casto can be contacted at casto178@ marshall.edu.

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Rural Women’s Week continues with “End of the Line” showing

By LYDIA WAYBRIGHT

THE PARTHENON Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition organizer Robin Blakeman paired with the Marshall University Women’s Center to show the film “End of the Line” Tuesday.

The women’s center showed the film in honor of Rural Women’s Week.

“The film is about people in Kentucky who banded together to block a pipeline proposal,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman said through citizen-led research and activism, the pipeline proposal was cancelled. “End of the Line” tells the story of those citizens.

Women’s Center graduate assistant Brittany Stalder said she wanted to show the film because it portrays successful female activists and because pipelines are a prevalent issue.

“We have a similar pipeline proposal in this area called the

LYDIA WAYBRIGHT | THE PARTHENON

Robin Blakeman, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition organizer, analyzes the significance of regions affected by the pipeline proposal Tuesday in Marshall’s Women’s Center.

SURVEY

Mountaineer XPress,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman said the pipeline will be 36 inches around and will connect to an old pipeline called the SM-80 in Cabell County.

Blakeman said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission knew little about the pipeline. “(The SM-80) might date back to the 50s or earlier,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman said the pipeline will go through a compressor station in Ceredo, West Virginia under the Kanawha River and right by Gritt’s greenhouse, which supplies food in the area.

Blakeman said leaks and ruptures are prominent dangers of pipelines. Blakeman said they also negatively affect air quality.

“Pipeline ruptures can be very explosive,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman said there are several groups through West Virginia fighting multiple pipeline proposals. Some groups

Continued from page 1 Hermansdorfer said he noticed the student affairs survey results were similar to the 2015 NSSE results that determined Marshall students were less satisfied with their interactions with other students than the national average.

“It was just interesting from two different areas that we’re getting there’s something that we can improve on when it comes to students and their interaction with other students,” Hermansdorfer said.

Hermansdorfer said one program they have implemented in two different groups is education in confrontation skills and practice with those skills. Hermansdorfer said he has done this with the John Marshall Emerging Leaders Institute, a campus organization for freshman and sophomores, to provide them with the skills and the practice to have healthy confrontation conversations and results.

Hermansdorfer said he has also done this with the fraternities and sororities leadership course, where students go on a retreat for three days in the fall in Ripley, West Virginia. This year, for at least an hour and a half during the trip, students practiced confrontation skills.

Reynolds said the university is not just using NSSE to see how great it is, but are using the results to identify problems.

“We’re also looking at it to see if there

are issues that we can identify and if there are then we take that information and we try to do something with it to make things better,” Reynolds said.

In the 2013, 2014 and 2015 NSSE survey results, freshman students reported weaknesses in participation in learning communities and in service learning during their freshman year. But for senior students, those areas reported strengths.

Reynolds said a national study by the American Association of Colleges and Universities in conjunction with NSSE found the top high impact practices for universities include service learning, learning communities and research with faculty.

Reynolds said this information along with the Marshall University NSSE results informed a high impact practice learning community project the university did this academic year with First Year Seminar and a paired class. The results from this project are still being analyzed.

Reynolds said overall the NSSE shows students at Marshall University are positively engaged and the strengths do outweigh the weaknesses.

“I would just encourage students to do NSSE,” Reynolds said. “To my mind, this is one of the more powerful things that we do, because it does allow us to compare ourselves nationally. It does give us very

specific actionable information.”

Reynolds said Marshall University is here for students and the faculty, staff and administration has a commitment to provide students with the very best education and overall experience they can have at Marshall. But Reynolds said it is important students let them know how they are doing and NSSE is a powerful way to do so.

“This is just one piece of information that lets us know to what extent they are engaged and learning on campus,” Reynolds said. “And it’s through their voices then that we get information that we can take to help improve their experience.”

Reynolds said the NSSE gives students an opportunity to be actively involved in making things better within the university.

Students chosen to participate in the survey received an email notice February 23 and received a reminder March 2. The third reminder will go out March 10 and subsequent reminders will be sent March 31 and April 12.

On April 13, there will be a prize drawing for those who completed the NSSE. Prizes include two iPad minis and eight $50 Marshall University Bookstore gift cards.

Amanda Gibson can be contacted at gibson269@marshall.edu.

Resume 911 helps students prepare for job interviews

By CHEYENNE DEBOLT

THE PARTHENON The Lewis College of Business had its first Resume 911 event as part of its second annual Professionalism Month Tuesday.

Students were able to speak with LCOB director in stakeholder engagement Glen Midkiff. Midkiff was able to give students’ resumes the attention they needed to ensure they were compliant with what employers look for in resumes. About 15 students attended within the two-hour time frame.

Junior accounting student Katherine Cauley said she benefited from this opportunity.

Midkiff helped Cauley arrange her resume with the most important items listed first and giving examples to the skills she listed.

“I feel like getting your resume worked on will help you

be more likely to get an internship or a job while you’re still in college,” Cauley said. “So, having a beefed up resume will help us succeed in that.”

Midkiff said the purpose of this event was to draw students’ attention to the importance of resumes and resume building.

“It’s their marketing tool,” Midkiff said. “It’s a way for them to get their name out there for employers to see how qualitied our students are.”

Midkiff said employers were concerned that students weren’t showing their best side when it involved resumes.

“They showed us that our students needed to improve their soft skills which include showing they can work on a team, their leadership ability, that they know how sell themselves at the interview, that they know how to dress for the interview as well,” Midkiff

said.

Junior accounting student Andrew Gibb said he attended the workshop to strengthen his resume; this was Gibb’s first event on the way to receiving his professionalism certificate. Gibb will receive his certificate after attending five events, including one of the following: the career expo, the mocktail event or the etiquette dinner, which was last week.

“It’s good to get experience in general not just in the classroom but outside of the classroom as well in order to better yourself as a professional,” Gibb said.

Professionalism Month events are open to all Marshall students. Midkiff said she encourages everyone who can to participate.

Cheyenne DeBolt can be contacted at debolt2@marshall.edu.

are Preserve Monroe, Frack Check West Virginia and the Greenbrier River Watershed Association.

Blakeman said OVEC is leading the fight against Mountaineer XPress, although some other groups and individuals are getting involved.

“It’s becoming a very prevalent problem in West Virginia,” Blakeman said.

Stalder said she wants students to know the severity of pipelines and gas fracking.

“This is happening in their backyard,” Stalder said.

Blakeman said she hopes people will fight against the pipeline by using their voices.

“I hope students take away from this that this is not just something that happens in other places,” Blakeman said.

“It’s happening here.”

Lydia Waybright can be contacted at waybright19@ marshall.edu.

Students get creative with “Build A Button”

By SON NGUYEN

THE PARTHENON Marshall University’s Campus Activities Board re-launched one of their programs, “Build A Button.”

The first “Build A Button” event was January 2016. This time, the event was Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Memorial Student Center.

Participants paid $1 to turn a photo of their choosing into a button. Participants can also choose to make a photo using CAB’s pre-made backgrounds and fonts.

CAB staff members printed out the photo, cut it into a circular shape and put it in the button maker machine to finalize the product. It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes to make a custom button.

CAB’s director of public relations Baily Turner said the money received from this event will be donated to the Thunder Dance Marathon, a charity dance event run by

Marshall students to raise awareness and money for children affected by chronic medical conditions as well as pediatric cancer research.

Participants who dance in the marathon will have to go without stopping for 12 hours.

This year the Thunder Dance Marathon will be held at Cam Henderson Center.

Participants will start dancing at 10 p.m. April 1 and continue to 10 a.m. April 2.

“We hope to raise as much money as possible,” said CAB volunteer Savannah Dukeman. “I mean, it’s for the children so whatever we can raise is great. Right now, we are looking at a good amount of around $40, so hopefully we will get more.”

“Build A Button” will continue Wednesday at the same time and place.

Son Nguyen can be contacted at nguyen136@ marshall.edu.

PepsiCo gives students internship opportunities

By SAGE SHAVERS

THE PARTHENON Marshall University students interested in working for PepsiCo met with representatives who have had first-hand experience with the company Monday in the Memorial Student Center.

Key account manager Ashley Roberts and former intern Jordan Leishar spoke to a group of students about internship and full-time job opportunities with Pepsi.

Roberts gave an overview of the company and Leishar explained what she did during her internship. After the presentations, Roberts gave out new Pepsi products and students asked questions about the company and its opportunities.

Roberts, who has been with the company for over a year, began her presentation by telling the group about two key components of the company. The first was all Pepsi products could be split into three categories: “good for you,” “better for you” and “fun for you.”

The second component Roberts shared was Pepsi’s “Performance with Purpose.” The idea is that everything the company does is for a purpose and the initiative is split into three groups: human sustainability, environmental sustainability and talent sustainability.

Roberts ended her presentation by explaining the importance of movability to the company.

page designed and edited by MIKAELA KEENER| keener31@marshall.edu

Roberts explained that the more willing an employee is to relocate, the more opportunities they will receive.

Roberts also said the Pepsi offers assistance to its moving employees.

Leishar explained her internship with Pepsi during summer 2015. Leishar said the most important part of the internship is what Pepsi calls onboarding.

Leishar said onboarding typically lasts six weeks and is the process of internships being exposed to every lower-level job. The point is when employees get promotions, they will understand the jobs of those they are in charge of.

Leishar said she enjoyed the fact that the job was physical and enjoyed participating in the display competitions among the interns.

At the end of the meeting, Roberts gave the group three new flavors of Mountain Dew KickStart and said Baja Blast and Crystal Pepsi would be released again soon.

Senior Mitchell Bennett said the meeting was informational and he would apply for a fulltime job. Bennett said he heard about the meeting in his logistics class and will graduate in May. Applications for internships and full-time jobs are due March 16. Interviews will be on campus the same day.

Sage Shavers can be contacted at shavers6@live.marshall.edu.

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Marshall women’s basketball faces FIU Marshall men’s basketball: in second round of C-USA Championship Column

C-USA Tournament and a potential Capitol Classic rematch

By JOHN FAUSS

THE PARTHENON The Conference USA tournament is upon the Herd after a regular season filled with excitement, frustration, heart-breaking and heart-stopping finishes.

Now, the time of the postseason is here, and Marshall is in a prime position to make some noise in the C-USA tournament.

The Herd has had its share of heart-stopping and heart-breaking finishes. The past two home games fulfilled both qualifications, as the Herd suffered a 97-94 defeat on a last second half-court shot by Louisiana Tech University.

Conversely, the Herd pulled off an exciting finish against lowly University of Southern Mississippi by getting a last second tip-in by James Kelly in regulation and then winning the game on Austin Loop’s heroics with a last second long two-pointer to win the game, 108-106.

Home has been good for Marshall, especially in conference play. The team only lost two games at home, one to the above mentioned Louisiana Tech and the other to regular-season champion University of Alabama-Birmingham amidst some questionable officiating toward the end of the contest.

Yet, Marshall has to finish its season out on a (neutral) court in Birmingham and even further if the team makes it to the NCAA tournament.

The C-USA tournament started Tuesday with Florida Atlantic University defeating the University of Texas at San Antonio, 82-58. The championship game will be held Saturday.

For teams who can fight through the first couple of games and make it to face the top teams in the conference, it can be a long, tiresome road for any team who manages to win four or five games in as many days.

Fortunately for Marshall, it has a double-bye and does not play until the quarterfinals. There, the Herd will face the winner of the No. 6 verses No.11 game Wednesday, between the University of Texas at El Paso and Florida International University.

The double-bye helps immensely, but it can be a trap as well.

While Marshall has clearly earned the spot directly in the quarterfinals based off its improved conference play, the players are still at risk for having too much rest, and coming out flat against a warmed up UTEP or Florida International squad with a game already under their belt.

If the Herd come out flat like it did in the first half of Senior Night against a now 8-21 Southern Miss then expect the Herd to be bounced from the tournament early. The Herd cannot afford to go 1-17 from 3-point range in the first half like the team did against Southern Miss.

Look for the Herd to come out swinging in its first game. However, because the team is behind the philosophy of head coach Dantoni and believes that it is the best team in the conference, more than likely, the Herd will have to prove it against regular season champion UAB, who Marshall could end up playing in the championship.

If the team is hitting shots and not turning the ball over, its got a real chance at snagging the C-USA birth away from UAB. As of yesterday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the UAB Blazers as a No. 14 seed playing in the West region, interestingly enough, against No. 3 seed West Virginia.

If the Herd won out in the conference tournament to secure the C-USA birth, would the committee consider pitting both Mountain State teams against each other in the opening round?

It is certainly a peculiar scenario to wonder about.

West Virginia won the Capitol Classic earlier this year 86-68, and there are no plans to continue the series after this season concludes.

If the C-USA tournament goes Marshall’s way and the team wins out, the committee could put the two together for a headline grabber.

It may not be guaranteed Marshall even secures a No. 14 seed. If the committee deems the Herd weaker than other automatic qualifier conference champions, Marshall may fall down the list to a No. 15 seed at worst.

With that being said, if West Virginia does well in the Big 12 tournament, then it could see itself jumping to a No. 2 seed.

The scenarios seemingly have to play out perfectly in order for the two teams to be matched up together.

Herd nation would certainly enjoy one more shot at a Mountaineer team that finished second in the Big 12 conference.

If this all does align together accordingly, this would be a fantastic way as an ending before a temporary break in the rivalry ensues.

John Fauss can be contacted at fauss@marshall. edu.

THE PARTHENON Marshall University’s women’s basketball team faces Florida International University Wednesday in the second round of the Conference USA Women’s Basketball Championship.

While No. 6 Marshall (19-10, 9-9) had a first-round bye, No. 14 Florida International (2-25, 2-16) defeated the University of Texas at San Antonio Tuesday, 61-56.

Florida International senior guard Taylor Shade scored a game-high 22 points in the Panthers’ win.

The last time the two teams met, the Herd defeated the Panthers, 65-58, Jan. 9 in Miami, Florida.

Marshall junior Kiana Evans posted her first career doubledouble in the game with 16

points and 14 rebounds.

The Herd is led by senior guard Leah Scott, who has averaged 16.6 points per game this season, which ranks sixth in the conference Scott was named first-team All-Conference USA, becoming the first player in the program’s history to achieve the accolade.

Marshall head RYAN FISCHER | THE PARTHENON coach Matt Dan- Marshall University senior guard Leah Scott brings the ball up the court Feb. 2 at the Cam iel’s teams have Henderson Center against the University of Texas at El Paso. increased its scorTip-off for Wednesday’s game ing, field goal percentage, free game and 3-pointers per game throw percentage, free throws over the course of his four sea- is set for 7:30 p.m. at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. made per game, assists per sons with the team.

Van Horn gets another chance to raise NFL Draft stock in sixth year

RICHARD CRANK | THE PARTHENON

Marshall University senior offensive lineman Clint Van Horn takes the field during a game last season at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

By CHRISTIAN HISMAN

THE PARTHENON Senior offensive lineman Clint Van Horn was recently granted a sixth-year of eligibility to suit up for Marshall University next season, which gives him the opportunity to potentially raise his NFL Draft stock.

The NCAA made the 6-foot5, 322-pound tackle eligible for his sixth collegiate season after playing 10 quarters of football in 2015 due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Van Horn sat out the entire 2011 season as well due to sustaining injuries during his high school playing days at Woodrow Wilson High School.

Last season, Van Horn was injured during a game against Ohio University, which eventually ended his season a few weeks later.

Before being reinstated for another year, Van Horn was considered a later-round selection of the 2016 NFL Draft or a possible free agent signee if undrafted, according to CBS Sports.

Van Horn said he is pleased to have another chance to impress pro scouts as a member of the Herd.

“It feels good,” the three-time

all-conference lineman said. “But I know that I won’t get anywhere without work. So, I hear these things, but I try to stay focused because last year I was hearing the same things.”

Alex Mirabal, Marshall offensive linemen coach, said improving his draft stock is not what is on the sixth-year player’s mind as he prepares during the offseason.

“He is focused on being the best college football player he can be for Marshall,” Mirabal said.

Van Horn said after his seasonending injury last season, it was tough for him to watch games after he was ruled out for the rest of the year.

“It hurt a lot every game,” Van Horn said. “It hurt because you feel like it’s your fault that you got hurt, and you blame yourself for a lot of stuff that might not be your fault.”

Van Horn said the injury ended up helping him in the end.

“This did help me become a better leader and a better teammate by coaching up guys more and watching the game more,” Van Horn said. “And now, I respect other people’s game for it.”

Van Horn said the thing he most enjoys about being on the

page designed and edited by MALCOLM WALTON| walton47@marshall.edu

team is the comradery between the individual he has met over the years.

“I’ve met some really good athletes,” Van Horn said. “And even better than that, I have met some really good people.”

Van Horn said he has been blessed to come across so many great people at Marshall and is glad he will be able to do that here for another year.

Van Horn said his leadership skills have flourished during his time with the Herd.

“I have learned how to be a leader from a lot of different guys throughout the years, whether it was Vinny Curry, Chris Jasperse and guys of that nature.”

Van Horn, who was an All-Conference USA first team selection at right tackle in 2014, joined the team as a walk-on in 2011.

Mirabal said Van Horn’s development has been spectacular.

“He went from a guy that was buried in the depth chart to a guy who is one of the better offensive linemen that has ever played here at Marshall,” Mirabal said.

“This speaks in depth about how hard he has worked since joining Marshall.”

Van Horn said he thought he was at a disadvantage when he

started college compared to other players he seen when he arrived on campus because of where he attended high school.

“I have seen players come in from places like Texas and Florida that were miles ahead in technique,” Van Horn said. “So, that was one of my biggest transitions from high school.”

Van Horn said another adjustment he had to make from high school was the overall speed of the game.

“You go from blocking defensive ends that maybe run a 4.8 or 4.9 to going against guys that sometimes run a 4.5 or 4.6,” Van Horn said.

Mirabal said he credits Van Horn’s work ethic as the primary reason for becoming a successful Division I athlete.

“He is a guy that craves and wants to be coached hard and a guy who is not satisfied with where he is at during that particular moment” Mirabal said.

Van Horn, who earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in May 2015, said he hopes to one day work in the government.

Christian Hisman can be contacted at hisman@marshall.edu.

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Opinion

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EDITORIAL

The Parthenon, Marshall University’s student newspaper, is published by students Monday through Friday during the regular semester and Thursday during the summer. The editorial staff is responsible for news and editorial content.

MEGAN OSBORNE EXECUTIVE EDITOR osborne115@marshall.edu

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MANAGING EDITOR clay122@marshall.edu

NEWS EDITOR keener31@marshall.edu

Marshall students deserve a strong SGA

MALCOLM WALTON LEXI BROWNING SPORTS EDITOR walton47@marshall.edu

LIFE! EDITOR browning168@marshall.edu

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ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR heltzel1@marshall.edu

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ONLINE EDITOR sodosky@marshall.edu

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CONTACT US: 109 Communications Bldg.|Marshall University|One John Marshall Drive Huntington, West Virginia 25755|parthenon@marshall.edu|@MUParthenon

THE FIRST AMENDMENT

The Constitution of the United States of America

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble; and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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They must be saved in Microsoft Word and sent as an attachment. Longer letters may be used as guest columns at the editor’s discretion. Guest column status will not be given at the author’s request. All letters must be signed and include an address or phone number for confirmation. Letters may be edited for grammar, libelous statements, available space or factual errors. Compelling

letters that are posted on The Parthenon website, www. marshallparthenon.com, can be printed at the discretion of the editors.

The opinions expressed in the columns and letters do not necessarily represent the views of The Parthenon staff.

Please send news releases to the editors at parthenon@marshall.edu. Please keep in mind, letters are printed based on timeliness, newsworthiness and space.

WHERE WILL YOU BE WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS ON CAMPUS? PROBABLY ON TWITTER.

JARED CASTO | THE PARTHENON

Carla Lapelle, interim dean of student affairs, swears in apprentices as senators at Student Government Association meeting.

Student Government Association elections will soon be underway.

While some view SGA positions as coveted and have tried their entire college careers to get involved, other students are disenchanted with the process.

The mysticism involved with the title of “SGA president” has all but faded away: to some students, this position reads more of a figurehead rather than someone who will actually make change in the university.

Connections between current president Duncan Waugaman and interim university president Gary White were obviously great, seeing as Waugaman had referred to White as a close friend multiple times.

Where’s the transparency? What really went on during all of those long hours spent in the president’s house? It needs to be said there is nothing to prevent the opinions of higher ups to be placed onto those in SGA positions.

The university will only benefit from students who are steadfast with opinions that cannot be swayed.

Marshall University students don’t deserve a candidate who only seeks to gain a popularity boost through the election.

Students deserve someone who has truly cared for the university, perhaps even before their freshman year. Students, also don’t deserve someone who will wait until the week of the election to do their

networking.

Marshall students deserve someone who has been making connections since day one.

Students should vote for the candidate who matches their morals and ideas for the campus as closely as possible. As for SGA hopefuls, the idea of receiving pay or multiple stipends should not be the sole reason for announcing candidacy. Candidates need to remember these positions are here for students and the advancement of things campus or student orientated.

Students need someone who will view them as a living, conscious body of people instead of just more numbers or enrollment data.

COLUMN

XOXO, Michael Brown

By MICHAEL BROWN

ASSIGNMENT EDITOR The readers submitted some questions about life, love and everything in between. I answered them as honest as I know how. I’m here to keep it real with you when no one else is and to answer with no judgment because I don’t know you. I’m just a college junior who enjoys giving his opinion. Here are some of the questions I got this week: I’m about to graduate. What steps should I take to landing my first job?

I’m still trying to figure this out myself.

I think so far I’ve learned that having a well put together LinkedIn account can really help you make connections. I’d say pray hard and work even harder. Things will work out for you, speak it into existence. I don’t think I’m that qualified to answer something that I’m still trying to figure out myself. Growing up is complicated.

I have a friend who is noticeably getting huge, I mean like “brick house!”

How should I nicely tell her it’s time to hit the gym and lay off the burgers?

Maybe your friend is going through

something. It’s a little rude to just tell them that they’re getting big though.

I’m sure that your friend is noticing that she is getting bigger. All you can really do is encourage a healthier lifestyle.

You should be inviting her to the gym or something a little fun like Zumba and stop inviting her to get McDonald’s.

How should I tell my roommate to stop eating up all my food?

I think this just depends whether its happening all the time or not. If it’s happening often, then tell him or her to not to touch it if they didn’t buy it. If its happening once in a while I’d maybe just let it go. If you really don’t want your stuff touched, then label it. I used to live with three other people and I was not a fan of sharing. Lets just say that the Sharpie was used a lot to write my initials on everything that I bought.

What do you think about International Women’s Day? I mean shout out to all the ladies out there! Momma, I love you! I’m joking well, not really. I mean honestly women are beautiful and they should be celebrated more often. I think it’s awesome

honestly and women should be celebrated a lot more.

What is your favorite book or movie?

My favorite movie is hands down “Freedom Writers.” As far as favorite book, this is hard for me to pick one. I find myself usually saying the last one that I finished. I like to read books that will help me grow as a person and inspire me.

To have your question answered you can drop them off in the labeled box in the Parthenon lab for next week, email them at parthenon@marshall. edu or tweet #xoxomichaelbrown to @ MUParthenon.

This column is not intended to replace or substitute professional advice of any kind. This column, its author, The Parthenon and its publisher are not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any given situation.

Get your voice Herd

@MUParthenon For the latest in campus news

Want the chance to give your fellow students valuable advice? Is there any topic you love to talk about, but you know your friends’ eyes glaze over when you talk about it? Whether it’s music, politics or Marshall University, The Parthenon is looking for regular columnists for its opinions page.

Columns should be between 300-500 words, well-written and researched. Columns will be edited for grammar, libelous statements, available space or factual errors.

This is your chance to let your voice be heard.

For more information, contact managing editor Kaitlyn Clay at clay122@marshall.edu.

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LIFE!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 |

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MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM

Blue Man Group brings color to campus

By RYAN FISCHER

THE PARTHENON Members of the Blue Man Group revealed what lies under the azure makeup in Smith Hall Tuesday.

The workshop was focused on channeling the inner Blue Man through the harmony of motion and sound and how the audience is used as a propeller during improvisation.

“If you’ve seen the movie ‘Birdman,’ most of that music is all drums, but you can tell that it was composed kind of with the action of the story in mind,” former Blue Man Group Norwegian Cruise Line performance music director Jesse Nolan said. “Its a good comparison so that people who are sort of uninitiated to the Blue Man thing can see how we can really use rhythm and different musical instruments and different sounds to describe the emotion of a scene through improvisation.”

The workshop was led by Nolan, along with active Blue Man Group band members Terry Tungjunyatham and Anthony Riscica and current Blue Man Dan Carter.

Carter said the Blue Man experience as an actor is honed on structured improvisation and it is a driving force of the show because, in this way, no show can ever be the same.

“It a little less contrived when it’s improvised,” Jesse Nolan said.

Riscica said the Blue Men and the band are always given new directions from show to show which can include lengthening or shortening certain songs, or eliminating parts entirely and starting fresh for certain stages.

Members of the internationally renowned group were invited by Nolan.

Jesse Nolan and his wife Amy Nolan settled down in

Huntington after ending the touring experience and Jesse was hired as assistant professor of jazz at Marshall. The couple now have a son, Arlo.

“We went to a lot of places and I actually quit my job so that I could tour with him sort of,” Amy Nolan said.

Amy Nolan said she was able to tour for about eight weeks with Jesse Nolan on the cruise.

The group offered a question and answer session at the end of the workshop. Sophomore music education major Alec Steiding said he was interested about the Blue Man Group’s largest “gigs.”

Carter said the largest show he had played was in 2014 in Rio, Brazil were about a “million” people were waiting for the performers to take the stage.

Ryan Fischer can be contacted at fischer39@marshall.edu.

RYAN FISCHER | THE PARTHENON

Blue Man Group member Dan Carter and Jesse Nolan, assistant professor of Jazz Studies lead students in exploring non-verbal communications skills to illustrate the significance of conversation via body language during the interactive workshop "Painting With Sound" on Tuesday in Smith Recital Hall.

Slain Honduran inspires women's equality fight

ALTAF QADRI | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Indian women listen to a speaker during a protest on International Women's Day in New Delhi, India Tuesday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS The head of the U.N. women's agency says the fight for gender equality by 2030 should take inspiration from slain Honduran environmental activist Berta Caceras and women around the world working to achieve the goal.

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka began her speech Tuesday to a U.N. event on International Women's Day on a somber note: She asked ambassadors, diplomats and activists for a moment of silence in tribute to Caceras, the feminist indigenous leader shot dead five days ago.

She then asked women and the growing number of men supporting gender parity to join together in a stepped-up campaign to achieve the U.N. goal.

Mlambo-Ngucka said the Commission on the Status of Women meeting this month will establish "decisive actions" and milestones to check progress toward gender equality.

On International Women's Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists is drawing attention to nine female journalists jailed for their work.

The U.S.-based CPJ said Tuesday that the women reported on protests, riots, revelations of official corruption, deplorable living conditions and natural disasters. It says authorities reacted with strip searches, weapons and forgery charges and accusations of sexual misconduct.

Most of the women have been convicted on anti-state charges, but two have not been charged at all despite still being held.

The nine include four freelancers.

A new International Labor Organization report says women still face "significant obstacles" in getting decent jobs and there have been only marginal improvements in the last 20 years.

The report says women's significant progress in educational achievements since 1995 has not translated into comparable improvements in the workplace.

In many regions, it says women are more likely to lose jobs and remain unemployed, and when they do find work they often have to accept lower quality jobs.

The report was released Tuesday, International Women's Day. The day carried the theme "Pledge for Parity."

The report calls for more — and higher quality — jobs for women, universal social protection and redistribution of unpaid care and household work.

The International Criminal Court is calling for greater coordination around the world to stop sexual and gender-based crimes.

The Netherlands-based court points out on Tuesday — International Women's Day — that women bear the brunt of rape, sexual slavery and other sexual violence during armed conflict.

The court says in a news release that it's committed to holding perpetrators accountable. It notes that its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, includes sexual and gender-based crimes in the definitions of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The court says in the release that it complements national efforts to prosecute such crimes, so "increased cooperation will make efforts on both sides more efficient and effective."

The president of the U.N. General Assembly is calling for more female diplomats and ambassadors — and perhaps the first-ever female U.N. secretary-general.

Mogens Lykketoft told a U.N. event commemorating International Women's Day that there must be increased participation of women not just in politics but across society to reach the U.N. goal of gender equality by 2030.

Ban Ki-moon's term as secretary-general ends on Dec. 31 and some U.N. member states are pushing for a female successor. Three of the seven current candidates to succeed him are women.

Lykketoft called it "a glass ceiling for women for over 70 years."

She also called for a "headon" campaign against gender stereotyping, saying violence against women and male control over "the bodies and the futures" of women and girls are unacceptable and must end.

The United Nations' children's and populations agencies are announcing an international initiative to end child marriage by 2030.

UNICEF and UNFPA say they have started a program to prevent girls from marrying too young by involving families, communities, governments and young people in their effort. The announcement comes on International Women's Day. The initiative focuses on increasing girls' access to education and health care services, educating parents and communities on the dangers of child marriage, increasing economic support to families and strengthening laws that establish age 18 as the minimum for marriage.

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA's executive director, says the agency will work with governments to uphold the rights of adolescent girls "so that girls can reach their potential."

Romanians gave gifts of flowers and dedicated songs and poems to their mothers, wives, girlfriends and colleagues to celebrate International Women's Day. Women, some dressed in bright colors, could be seen on a sunny Tuesday in the Romanian capital carrying flowers, and also in Bulgaria where the day is also celebrated.

Elsewhere in Bucharest, some women marked the feminist origins of the day in an outdoor performance outside the National Theater, where they dressed in black. Women brandished a banner saying "March 8 is for fighting."

A survey published by the Romanian national news agency Agerpres on Tuesday said more than half of Romanians mark the day.

International Women's Day traces its history to the early 1900s.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is marking International Women's Day by recalling scenes from his childhood in post-war South Korea.

Ban remembers that as a boy he saw that women going into labor would leave their shoes outside the door and then look back in fear. He says his mother explained that "they are wondering if they will ever step into those shoes again."

More than half a century later Ban said women still risk death in childbirth.

page designed and edited by LEXI BROWNING | browning168@marshall.edu

The U.N. chief said maternal mortality is "one of many preventable perils."

He also cites girls being subjected to "genital mutilation" and being attacked on the way to school. He also mentions women's bodies being used "as battlefields in wars" and widows left shunned and impoverished.

Ban said the key to ending these practices is empowering women.

The U.N.'s women's rights organization has kicked off its inaugural HeForShe Arts Week in celebration of International Women's Day in New York.

Actors Emma Watson, the UN Women global goodwill ambassador, and Forest Whitaker, a UNESCO special envoy for peace, joined UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at The Public Theater in Manhattan to announce a week of arts events aimed at initiating a dialogue about gender equality.

Watson says it's not enough for people to rationally understand the necessity of gender equality. She says, "it's also about making them feel it in their bones."

Arts venues around New York City, including ballets, Broadway theaters, museums and galleries, will take part in the initiative.

The U.N. cultural agency says girls are the first to be excluded from education, with more than 63 million out of school in more than 200 countries across the world.

Almost 16 million girls between the ages of 6 and 11 will never get the chance to learn to read or write in primary school compared to about 8 million boys "if current trends continue," according to a report from UNESCO's Institute for Statistics released as part of International Women's Day. UNESCO says gender disparities remain highest in the Arab States, sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia.

The agency says that "across sub-Saharan Africa, 9.5 million girls will never set foot in a classroom compared to 5 million boys."

Cambodia is one of the few countries where International Women's Day is a public holiday, and its long-serving leader marked the occasion with a tongue-in-cheek call for protecting men's rights.

Prime Minister Hun Sen,

better known for savaging his political enemies than joking about family life, said many men in Cambodia are oppressed by wives who do not let them go to wedding parties for fear that they would eye prettier women. He said he didn't think he was being extreme in demanding that an association be set up to promote men's rights.

However, Hun Sen did not ignore the many problems besetting Cambodia's women, highlighting unequal pay, fewer educational opportunities and domestic violence.

International Women's Day typically happens during China's annual ceremonial legislature.

And Chinese state media are fond of marking the day with photo galleries of female journalists covering the legislature — "Beautiful Women Reporters" asking questions, checking their makeup, posing for selfies.

The Communist Party-run People's Daily said in a frontpage editorial that women "can not only help to make homes more pleasant and lively, but also contribute their valuable female perspective and efforts to the progress of the entire society." The editorial made no mention of leadership roles for women.

Last year, the Chinese government detained five women just before International Women's Day for planning to hand out fliers denouncing sexual harassment. The women were released 37 days later but remain criminal suspects.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for only female lawmakers to address the Indian parliament on International Women's Day included silence because there weren't enough women to speak.

Of 543 elected members in the lower house, only 62 are women — or 12 percent — and not all of them were prepared to address the assembly.

Those who spoke Tuesday talked about allowing women's entry into Hindu temples and better education for girls. They also demanded renewed effort in passing long-stalled legislation to require that 33 percent of lawmakers be women.

After all the women who wanted to speak had taken their turns, there was enough time left for the Speaker to ask the men in the house for input on the day's agenda.