WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 | VOL. 122 NO. 62 | MARSHALL UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER | marshallparthenon.com | SINGLE COPY FREE
Huntington tradition Greek Fest begins this weekend
WHAT’S
INSIDE
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SGA senate meeting Opioid discussion Harmony House continues in DC
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Herd alumna becomes minor league GM
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NC State defeats Marshall
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EDITORIAL: Smirl Meets World US punchline Letter to the Editor
Herd around the world
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MU Votes Title IX table
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
Huntington tradition Greek Fest begins this weekend By LILLIE BODIE
THE PARTHENON A Huntington tradition celebrating the culture and ancestry of Greece, Greek Fest begins this weekend at 11 a.m., Friday at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Huntington. Father Mark Elliot, priest of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, said Greek Fest gives the Huntington community a chance to be involved in Greek culture in America. “It’s an opportunity for people in the region to stretch themselves a little bit by experiencing another culture,” Elliott said. “America is a place where we bring many cultures together to shape our country, and this is us making our visible contribution to American lives.” Elliot said having a festival celebrating Greek culture is an essential way to bring together the community with fun and commonality. “This is a simple way to show them our culture, opposed to reading a book,” Elliott said. “It’s a simple introduction to Greek culture to experience the food. Food is a common denominator for all of us, we all love food and want to experience the table together, so we are able to share our heritage, and it’s a major draw to the community.” Constantine Svingos, marketing major and junior at Marshall University, said the Greek Festival forms Huntington
into one big family in spite of cultural differences. “As Greeks, family is a big priority and when strangers come in for Greek Fest, we immerse them into our family and give them a taste of what our life and faith is about,” Constantine Svingos said. “And allows us as a church and a group of people to express our culture upon Huntington, while gaining some new members.” Constantine Svingos said he has been dancing in the Greek Fest since he was five years old, as the dances have been passed down through the generations. “My father was a dancer in his day, along with my theías (aunts) and theíos (uncles), who brought us up on the dances, that give me the chance the express the inner roots of my culture with a little flash,” Constantine Svingos said. “As a kid, I remember people coming to watch me dance and being shy, but as I grew older I really embraced the whole cultural aspect and now encourage my friends to come out. Now I like to show my friends what my life is really about, and Greek Fest gives me the opportunity to do it.” Nick Svingos, Constantine’s father and owner of a gyro stand, said the Greek Fest is a taste of Greece with little cost. “Huntington loves the Greek Fest, and people talk about it throughout the year, because they enjoy the cultural experience it brings, and they get to have a taste of Greece
Dancers at the Huntington Greek Fest perform traditional dances for the community. PAGE EDITED AND DESIGNED BY SADIE HELMICK | HELMICK32@MARSHALL.EDU
right here in their backyard without having to really go there,” Nick Svingos said. Nick Svingos said the prepping for Greek Fest is not a quick and easy process. “We have been prepping for months now, it’s about an eight month process to prep for the Greek Fest,” Nick Svingos said. Nick Svingos said from the food, jewelry, religious pieces and town of Huntington, Greek Fest is a success every year. “Greek fest is important because it is an artery of Huntington,” Nick Svingos said. “We create a little village in Greece with dancing, a live band, and people get to come and enjoy a little bit of Greece for three days right here in Huntington. Greek Fest is all about the food, the camaraderie, the sense of family, and it’s a massive undertaking by a lot of volunteers. This has been a massive success due to Huntingtonians and students of Marshall that come to support it.” Rain or shine the Greek Fest will happen, and entry is free. Gyros, Greek dinners, pastries, coffees and wines will be for sale. The dancing will be Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Nick Svingos said to come early because many items sell out quickly before the weekend is over. Lillie Bodie can be contacted at bodie2@marshall.edu.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
MU Votes aims to get students Title IX office involved in democratic process organized table discussion By GRETCHEN KALAR
HANNAH GRAHAM | THE PARTHENON
Madison Parker, left, Paige Looney, right, hold up signs to show why they vote in the lobby of the Memorial Student Center. By HANNAH GRAHAM
THE PARTHENON New student organization MU Votes was created to inform Marshall University students about how to vote, when to vote and how important it is to have their voices heard. The group set up a table Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the Memorial Student Center to raise awareness for their organization as well as to get students involved with voting. Paige Looney and Madison Parker, MU Votes officers, asked students what voting means to them and offered voter registration forms and absentee voting forms. They said the organization’s goal as a partner of national fellowship Campus Election Engagement Project is to raise awareness about the voting rights of students, as well as give them a resource to register to vote. “We’ve handed out three or four voter registration forms today,” Parker, senior special education and political science major, said. “We’re just getting started. We are focusing on Marshall students because we have a huge election this year
for the senate, and we have a huge congressional race. I think we need to get people out to vote, and let their voices be heard. This is a huge demographic, a huge election for us.” Looney, junior history and political science major, said the organization has no political affiliations. “We don’t do anything political, we are focused solely on registration and awareness,” Looney said. “We are the demographic that is most likely to not vote. This is the time where you start building those habits that keep you voting for life.” MU Votes is continuing their initiative throughout the month of October. They can be contacted through @ MarshallVotes on Twitter, Marshall U Votes on Facebook, and their email is marshalluvotes@gmail.com. MU Votes is looking for volunteers. “Millennials are the least likely to vote, but they’re also incredibly passionate,” Looney said. “So if we can just connect that passion to consistent voting, we are going to have an interesting election.” West Virginia state general elections are Nov. 6. Hannah Graham can be contacted at graham155@ marshall.edu.
“We don’t do anything political, we are focused solely on registration and awareness. We are the demographic that is most likely to not vote. This is the time where you start building those habits that keep you voting for life.” PAIGE LOONEY
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THE PARTHENON Marshall University’s Title IX office set up discussion tables Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the Memorial Student Center. “The goal for today is to ensure all of our students understand the concept of Title IX, understand the law and procedure and to meet the players on the team,” Debbie Hart, director of equity programs and Title IX coordinator, said. “This is to show students who to speak to in regards to reporting procedures. Also to learn a little more about the process and the partnerships throughout the university.” Hart said Title IX is a right for every student, and she hopes students learn more information. “I hope that students understand that they all matter and we want them to know who they can go to and we can go to someone and talk to them,” Hart said. “If a student has a complaint, they can go to the site and complete the form. We will meet with you and have a dialogue to determine what has happened. We care about your safety and security. That is our number one thing.” Leah Tolliver, director of the Women’s Center, tended a discussion table. “We have many resources on campus,” Tolliver said. “These include the Women’s center in Prichard Hall, Title XI office in Old Main, the Wellness Center in the Rec Center, Student Conduct office, the Counseling Center, Michelle Biggs, who is a student advocate in the Student Affairs office, and MUPD to help with criminal concerns. We want to look at this from a prevention standpoint. Making sure we are looking at programs and how we are supporting programs. We want students to be educated and go out and tell other students about these resources.” Students can access the Title IX website and forms by using the search bar within the Marshall website to research anything related to Title IX, sexual violence, sexual assault or relationship violence. Students can fill out the form on the Title IX website, and pamphlets are also available in the Women’s Center. Lisa Martin, director of Student Conduct office, said she wants students to be more informed about Title IX. “My goal is to inform students what it does and what it can do for students,” Martin said. Marshall’s Title IX office sponsored the Title IX discussion following a lawsuit against the school, according to The Herald-Dispatch. The suit was filed against the Board of Governors, claiming the school violated Title IX and its policies. Martin said she had no comment about the lawsuit. The Title IX office is located in Old Main 207. The office phone number is 304-696-2597. Hart can be reached at Hart70@marshall.edu. Gretchen Kalar can be contacted at kalar1@ marshall.edu.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
SGA discusses upcoming events, homecoming
By HANNAH GRAHAM
THE PARTHENON The Student Government Association had its weekly senate meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 in room 2w22 in the Memorial Student Center. Hannah Petracca served as presiding officer over the meeting, which was open to the public and student body to voice concerns. Most of the meeting revolved around the initiative to push for affordable textbooks. The beginning of the meeting focused on upcoming events such as homecoming and the fall day of service, and several organizations requested funding. A large portion of the meeting focused on updates to Student Body President Hunter Barclay and Vice President Petracca’s initiative to provide more affordable educational materials to the student body. Barclay was recently elected the student chair of West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Barclay said the meeting generated a lot of conversation regarding preventing tuition hikes in the state of West Virginia, preventing an “educational brain drain,” where students get educated in West Virginia then move out of the state, and textbook affordability.
“A lot of students all across West Virginia are working on the issue of textbook affordability,” Barclay said. “This is a priority for the state and something that we will continue to work on, but we now have a substantial voice in the matter.” Barclay and Petracca attended a meeting regarding affordable textbook materials with the Marshall University Faculty Senate this past week. Both said the meeting was very successful. “They were very responsive to our ideas, and even gave us programs and strategies that faculty and students could use to help lower the cost of their class materials,” Barclay said. “We are so very lucky to have a Faculty Senate who is willing to listen to us,” Petracca said. Barclay and Petracca passed around a menu brochure of affordable textbook and educational material resources for senators and students to look at. The pair plan to meet with President Jerry Gilbert and Provost Jaime Taylor within the upcoming weeks in order to refine their ideas for textbook affordability. Their end goal is a resolution that would encourage
faculty and professors to utilize affordable materials for their classes. Barclay and Petracca said the hope with this is that the financial stresses on students would be reduced, and they would be more apt to succeed in their educational endeavors, thus leveling the playing field more. The argument against this is an encouragement toward textbook affordability limits the ability of professors to freely teach their classes with preferred educational materials. The menu of options Barclay and Petracca passed around include the recommendation for professors to encourage students to buy older editions of their preferred textbook and $100 price caps for textbooks used in a class. Additionally, the brochure lists several programs students can utilize to cut costs of educational materials, such as Openstax and Cengage Unlimited, both programs that help curb financial pressure. “Feedback from you all is always encouraged as we continue to move this plan forward,” Barclay said. “We’re happy with where the Faculty Senate Meeting went, and we’re optimistic to see where this goes next.” Hannah Graham can be contacted at graham155@ marshall.edu.
Harmony House unveils Huntington’s largest solar panel project
By RACHEL RIDDLE
THE PARTHENON Solar Energy for Reducing Area Homelessness, the largest solar panel project in the region, was unveiled during a dedication ceremony Sept. 21 at the Huntington Harmony House. “Today’s dedication of this 115 panel solar project is a significant milestone in our agency’s 31 year history, and it will play an important role over the next 25 to 30 years in cost saving measures,” Bill Rosenberger, director of development at the Harmony House, said. The Harmony House is utilizing the power of the sun in its mission to end homelessness in the Huntington community. An anonymous donor made the $65,000 project possible, and Rosenberger said the addition of the solar panels will save the house $115,000 over the next 20 years. The system was designed and engineered by Solar Holler and Coalfield Development. “For generations Appalachia has powered American prosperity with our coal; in the 21st century, we are going to do it with our sunshine,” Elizabeth Crookshank of Solar Holler said. Crookshank said Solar Holler has worked to pursue innovative and affordable energy choices for the community. From system design and engineering to installation and execution, Solar Holler was involved with all aspects of the solar panel project. “This project is a perfect example of our commitment to making solar energy affordable to everyone,” Crookshank said. Solar Holler has been working with the Harmony House and Coalfield Development for the past two years to make the mission a reality. Crookshank said the project has been a long time coming, but with the addition of the panels, the Huntington Harmony House now doubles as its own power plant. Rachel Riddle can be contacted at riddle43@marshall.edu.
RACHEL RIDDLE | THE PARTHENON
Bill Rosenberger (left), director of development at Harmony House, explains benefits of the solar panel project in Huntington.
PAGE EDITED AND DESIGNED BY SARAH INGRAM | INGRAM51@MARSHALL.EDU
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
Mayor Williams collaborates with Canadian, US officials to fight opioid epidemic By DOUGLAS HARDING
THE PARTHENON Huntington Mayor Steve Williams participated in a roundtable session regarding the opioid epidemic Monday, Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C. “This is different from other past meetings because it includes both U.S. and Canadian officials discussing how to combat this epidemic,” Williams said. Some of the representatives Williams met with are from Alberta and Nova Scotia, two Canadian provinces he said are like West Virginia in regard to their environments, populations and drug problems. “It’s a different nation with different systems,” Williams said. “But as we continue these conversations we’re starting to see that we have many more things in common than differences.” Canadian cities and provinces like Vancouver, Toronto, Alberta and Nova Scotia are seeing the same destruction of their families and communities as Huntington, he said. Williams said he has lost count how many times he has traveled to the nation’s capital to discuss the opioid epidemic. “We are here to share ideas about how we can help our communities by saving lives and restoring families,” he said. “It’s a huge help to have a collaboration with others to discuss what is and isn’t working so we can learn from each other’s experiences.” While collaboration between representatives across the U.S. and the world is a start to combatting the opioid epidemic, finding a solution will require much more time, energy, hard work and effort, Williams said. “Solving this issue requires everyone playing their role,” he said. “All of us have an assignment to help.” Williams said people can help by such simple actions as assisting with local youth sports, participating in a local church or helping a recovering addict acquire a job to get back on their feet again. “We have to be absolutely diligent from a law enforcement standpoint, but we also have to have the compassion to lift individuals up and let them know we understand they are sick,” Williams said. “We have to let those who are fighting addiction know we are not going to let go, and we’re going to make sure they recover. Because the only alternative is death. When that happens to someone in your family, it’s like a part of you dies too.” Justin Ponton, founder and executive director of Newness of Life, a recovery community in Huntington, is one of many citizens dedicated to helping solve the opioid epidemic. He founded the program nearly four years ago and has been working there ever since. “Newness of Life is a therapeutic, peer-supported, accountability-focused community designed to promote sobriety along with establishing a better quality of life,” Ponton said. Ponton said the idea behind the program is to nurture struggling men and women into a position in which they can become productive members of a society they may have once negatively impacted.
Ponton said he believes opioid and opiate synthetics are a major problem in Huntington because they affect the user physically, mentally, socially and financially. “Many of our issues are due to the availability of prescription pharmaceuticals along with interstate trafficking of illicit substances,” he said. “But our recovery community is going to any lengths required to offer and develop resources while educating ourselves and others about effective measures. There are many roads to recovery. We’re all trying to collectively lead others down those roads while also creating new paths. Not everything will work for everyone.” Ponton said he has faith in Williams, because although he is not very politically involved, the mayor has always responded to him and tried his best to help when he needed him. “I’d love if the general public would put an end to the debate about whether addiction is a disease or a choice,” Ponton said. “Instead, we should just work together to provide solutions and opportunities for those who are suffering.” Ponton said he wants everyone to understand there are plenty of people who have recovered from opioid addiction and gone on to live healthy, normal lives, contributing to their communities in various positive ways. He said he worries those who have successfully
recovered are too often overshadowed by the sole focus on our problems and tragedies. “I’m not sure if the drug issue will ever be solved,” Ponton said. “But my only focus is on loving people as they come and leading them with the direction I was given.” Williams will be attending a meeting Friday as well in D.C. with municipal and county leaders from across the nation to discuss combatting the opioid epidemic in larger cities as well as smaller, rural areas like Huntington. “We still have an awful lot of work to do. This is a longterm problem,” he said. “But our overdoses are already down 41 percent from last year, and our deaths-by-overdoses is down 60 percent.” Williams said the opioid epidemic is not a problem that is going to be solved anytime soon, but it is something the community must overcome together. He said violent crime and robbery rates are down from last year as well, and this is evidence the Huntington community is moving in the right direction. “But don’t let anyone say we’ve solved this problem,” Williams said. “We haven’t. We have a lot of work to do, and the only way we’ll be able to do it is if we all join together in a unified effort to overcome this.” Douglas Harding can be contacted at harding26@ marshall.edu.
DOUGLAS HARDING | THE PARTHENON
Thomas Anderson, Raymond Adkins, J.C. Musser and Joe Staley hang out on the porch of Newness of Life recovery center in Huntington. PAGE EDITED AND DESIGNED BY SARAH INGRAM | INGRAM51@MARSHALL.EDU
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
From Marshall to the Minors: Herd alumna becomes MiLB GM By SYDNEY SHELTON
THE PARTHENON Marshall University alumna Betsy Haugh was recently hired as general manager of the Pulaski Yankees—a Rookie League affiliate of the New York Yankees. While at Marshall, Haugh was a soccer player and sports information department intern. After playing for the women’s soccer team for over a year, a shoulder surgery caused Haugh’s decision to walk away from the soccer and start focusing on other opportunities at Marshall. She stopped playing sports and started covering them. “I decided that I would rather focus my time on getting the work experience and the sports PR experience that I could get,” Haugh said. “I realized I liked being the one with the answers versus the one asking the questions.” Haugh started her career at Marshall as a journalism student LESLIE MARTIN | PULASKI YANKEES but switched to sports management and marketing and shortly Haugh stands in the dugout of Calfee Park, the Pulaski Yankees’ home stadium, during a home game last season. The after she started her job in the Yankees had a win-loss record of 32-36 and finished in fourth place in the Appalachian League East Division. SID office. “My time as an intern in sports information was probably one of my fa- interns, working with media relations, retail and corporate and vorite experiences because you are a part of a Division I athletic program ticketing sales. but one that was still small enough for you to have your hands in a lot of After one season as an assistant general manager, Haugh was promoted things,” Haugh said. to the general manager of the Pulaski Yankees. She said she credits the graduate assistants at Marshall during that time “I’m very prepared for this position, there is still a lot that I for being welcoming, fun to be around and knowledgeable. will learn and a lot of help that I will need from others that have After graduating in three years with a bachelor’s degree in sports man- been in the industry longer but that is the great thing about miagement and marketing, Haugh attended Virginia Tech to pursue her nor league baseball is that everyone is willing to help everyone,” master’s in communications. Haugh said. “It is definitely something that gives you an extra “My time at Marshall was a lot more practical, it was hands-on work- bump at the end of a long year to kind of recharge your batteries ing with sports and at Virginia Tech it was a lot more research-based,” for a bit so it should be fun going forward.” Haugh said. Haugh won numerous awards in minor league baseball and After her time at Virginia Tech, she started an media relations internship helped the Danville Braves earn Organization of the Year in with the Danville Braves Rookie League team in Danville, Virginia. 2017. As an individual, she won 2017 Appalachian League “Her experience (at Marshall) was what we were looking for in Woman of Excellence, 2017 Appalachian League Outstanding our trainee and she had it,” Danville Braves Vice President and Gen- Employee of the Year and 2018 Appalachian League Woman eral Manager David Cross said. “I know her working in the SID office of Excellence. really excited her about the prospect of working in baseball full “My goals right now are just to make Pulaski baseball the time and I believe she let that drive her to pursue the career she is best that it can be,” Haugh said. “Down the road, if there is an in now.” opportunity with a full season team or Double-A or something After working with the Braves for two years, she made the jump like that then ultimately that is somewhere that I would like to the Pulaski Yankees as their assistant general manager. Her job to end up.” involved working with social media and marketing, overseeing the Sydney Shelton can be contacted at shelton97@marshall.edu. PAGE AND ILLUSTRATION EDITED AND DESIGNED BY RICK FARLOW | FARLOW@MARSHALL.EDU
Grading the Herd’s week four performance STAFF REPORT
OFFENSE: D+ This was the first time that Isaiah Green looked like a freshman quarterback. Green threw for 270 yards but nearly a third of that yardage came on one play: an 82yard touchdown pass to Marcel Williams. Green also threw a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. It didn’t help at all that Green got no support from the run game, which averaged a paltry 2.5 yards per carry. The offensive line also did a poor job in pass protection. Marshall has little time to fix its issues, with Conference USA play starting Saturday at Western Kentucky. DEFENSE: C NC State quarterback Ryan Finley torched the Marshall defense for 377 yards and a touchdown but that shouldn’t necessarily be surprising. Finley is one of the top quarterbacks in college football and is widely expected to be selected within the first two rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. Wide receiver Kelvin Harmon took advantage of his matchup on the outside. He caught six passes for 150 yards against Chris Jackson. Against a defensive front seven loaded with fourth and fifth year players, running back Reggie Gallaspy scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and Finley didn’t see much pressure in the pocket. SPECIAL TEAMS: B+ Jaquan Yulee forced a fumble on a kickoff that was returned for a touchdown by Artis Johnson, while Justin Rohrwasser made a pair of extra points and a pair of field goals. This grade would have been an A, except Robert LeFevre averaged 35 yards per punt and had none of his five punts downed inside the 20.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
NC State hands Herd football first loss of season Herd football opens Conference USA play at Western Kentucky By SYDNEY SHELTON
THE PARTHENON In front of the 12th-largest crowd in Joan C. Edwards Stadium’s history, NC State football defeated Marshall 37-20 Saturday and improved to 3-0 on the season. With the loss, the Herd moved to 2-1. NC State’s graduate quarterback Ryan Finley completed 23 of his 40 pass attempts for a season-high 377 yards in his winning effort. “They have good receivers and a quarterback that is an excellent player,” Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said. “Our guys were all over them at times and they made some good plays, we just didn’t make enough of them.” NC State took a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter off a 30-yard field goal by freshman kicker Christopher Dunn. After holding Marshall scoreless in the first, the Wolfpack extended its lead to 10-0 with one-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Reggie Gallaspy. Marshall quickly responded with its first points of the game, however. Within a minute of NC State’s touchdown, Marshall senior FRANKLIN NORTIN | MANAGING EDITOR wide receiver Marcel Williams reached the end zone on an 82-yard pass from redshirt Quarterback Isaiah Green (17) runs off the field after NC State freshman quarterback Isaiah Green. The forced the Herd to punt. Green is suppressed by NC State’s Herd trailed 10-7. heavy coverage of Tyre Brady. “(Green) is a freshman, you are going to go through some growing pains,” Holliday said. the sequence. “He hung in there, he is a competitor. I’m sure there “We have been practicing all these techniques,” Yuare a couple of those deals that he would like to have lee said. “The guy tried to face me head up and I just back and so would we but he made some throws and threw him out of the way. When I saw Johnson had he will get better every week.” the ball I said nobody is going to catch him so I just Green completed 22 of his 43 pass attempts 270 started celebrating.” yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Green NC State responded again, though, as sophomore posted his lowest-career totals against the Wolfpack. wide receiver Emeka Emezie received a 30-yard “[Green] is just built different,” redshirt senior run- touchdown pass from Finley with 7:24 left in the ning back Keion Davis said. “Just because he wasn’t third quarter. Marshall kicked a field goal to bring having his way tonight doesn’t mean bad things are the score to 30-20 but didn’t score again for the rest going to continue to happen.” of the contest. After Marshall pulled within three points of the NC State cushioned its lead with 28 seconds Wolfpack, NC State responded with 13 unanswered left in the third quarter when redshirt junior points. The Wolfpack used a 32-yard field goal, safety Jarius Morehead came up with a 57-yard another one-yard Gallaspy touchdown run and a 26- pick-six off a Green pass. The Wolfpack took a yard field goal to jump out to a 23-7 lead at halftime. 37-20 lead into the fourth quarter, which proved Marshall started the scoring in the second half final, as neither team scored for the remainder when redshirt junior kicker Justin Rohrwasser hit a of the game. 32-yard field goal. The Herd showed life on the en“We just have to get better as a team overall,” Holsuing kickoff when redshirt sophomore linebacker liday said. “All three phases and get better and get Jaquan Yulee forced NC State redshirt sophomore ready to go play Western Kentucky.” wide receiver C.J. Riley to fumble the return with a The Herd begins C-USA play against WKU Saturhard hit. Redshirt senior linebacker Artis Johnson day in Bowling Green. recovered the fumble and returned it for a Herd Sydney Shelton can be contacted at shelton97@ touchdown. Marshall cut NC State’s lead to six during marshall.edu.
By MORGAN GRIFFITH
THE PARTHENON Marshall football (2-1) will attempt to return to the win column Saturday at Houchens-Smith Stadium in its 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-3). “We have an opportunity this week to play one of the top teams in our conference,” Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said. “It’ll be a great challenge for us, and we’ll have to do a great job with our preparation this week.” After three nonconference games, the Thundering Herd begins Conference USA play in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Marshall leads the teams’ all-time series 5-4 after a 30-23 Herd win at Joan C. Edwards Stadium last season. The Hilltoppers sparked tension with the Herd in 2014, when the they ended Marshall’s perfect season and bid for a New Year’s Six bowl with a 67-66 overtime win. The Herd has eight redshirt seniors who were scout squad members on that 2014 Conference USA Championship team. “There’s no doubt that we have had some history with Western Kentucky,” Holliday said. “They are an excellent football team and I’m sure they are treating it as a rival.” Through its first four games, WKU has played four quarterbacks, including three different starters. Redshirt senior Drew Eckels, redshirt sophomore Steven Duncan and redshirt freshman Davis Shanley have all made starts at quarterback this season. WKU is the only FBS program to start three different quarterbacks through its first four games. For two consecutive weeks, WKU’s offensive starting lineup has been without a senior starter. The Herd will be playing against one of the youngest rosters in the nation. WKU has 10 redshirt seniors and 11 total seniors. 70 out of the 102 players on the Hilltoppers’ roster are either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, or sophomores. Marshall has used one quarterback, redshirt freshman Isaiah Green, who became the first quarterback in Marshall history to pass for 250 or more yards in his first three starts. Green passed for 272 yards against Miami (Ohio), 278 yards against EKU and 270 yards against NC State. Redshirt senior running back Keion Davis set a new single-game best last weekend with six receptions for and 99 receiving yards. Davis finished with 203 all-purpose yards. The Herd’s captains for Saturday’s game are Davis, senior wide receiver Marcel Williams, redshirt senior defensive lineman Ryan Bee and redshirt junior safety Malik Gant. Morgan Griffith can be contacted at griffith126@marshall.edu.
PAGE EDITED AND DESIGNED BY KIERAN INTEMANN | INTEMANN@MARSHALL.EDU
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Opinion
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
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.
EDITORIAL
The United States has become a punchline
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ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESS President Donald Trump addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N.ASSOCIATED headquarters, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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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.
“We need a President who isn’t a laughing stock to the entire World,” tweeted Donald Trump in 2014. “We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning. Respect!” Four years later, the world literally laughed at him, as he addressed world leaders at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. The punchline: that he was doing a good job, a better job than almost any president in United States history. Laughter immediately ensued. “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished almost more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” the president boasted. But when this bold claim was met with laughter from the audience, he responded with some shock: “Didn’t expect that reaction.”
It’s not uncommon for this president to make completely false, unsubstantiated claims, but often when he makes them, it is front of adoring crowds wearing red hats and MAGA shirts. Julie Smith, who served as deputy national security adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, told the Washington Post that while it was hard to see the U.S. president clearly mocked on the world stage, it was also an opportunity to bring him back to reality. You kind of feel good that Trump was finally escaping the bubble of political rallies that continually gives him the impression that everyone agrees with the false claims he is making,” Smith said. “There was a moment I thought to myself, ‘This is good that the president is being exposed to how the rest of the world sees him.’ ” While this one moment surely
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displayed how other world leaders viewed the president, it is likely that Trump and his supporters won’t care, that they will even just boast that it’s because of envy, or intimidation, or whatever. One of the most startling claims that the president made was his rebuke of globalism. “America is governed by Americans,” Trump said. “We reject the ideology of globalism and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.” These remarks were nationalistic and frightening, as our world and allies have become closer and stronger over the decades, it is very clear the president’s foreign policy agenda is isolation. He is pushing away our closest allies as he cries, “America first!” While his campaign tactics didn’t fool the rest of the world, it will be incredible to see his supporters’ defense of this national embarrassment.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
SMIRL MEETS WORLD //////////////////////////////////// By RILEIGH SMIRL
COLUMNIST I’ve never been a big fan of change. When I get to a point in life where I am comfortable and happy with everything, I don’t want anything to cause that to change. Yet, starting college meant I had to become a lot more comfortable with things being uncomfortable for a little bit. Not only did most of how I was living my daily life change, but the relationships I had with nearly every person in my life changed a lot as well. How do you maintain a relationship with a significant other who now goes to a school almost five hours away? And how do you keep enough in touch with your mom or dad after you realize just how much they did on a daily basis to help you when you still lived at home? What about friendships? Even if you go to the same college as friends after high school, how do you figure out time to see each other? I have asked myself every single one of these questions and plenty more on a very regular basis since starting col-
lege. At first, I naively thought maybe all the relationships we have stay the same, just where we go to school or where we live may change slightly. I quickly discovered I had a lot to learn, though. Dating in high school, especially as a senior, makes you feel like you’re almost an adult, with the ability to drive and spend time with one another pretty much whenever you were free, and if you go to the same school you see each other every single day. Yet I have realized when you reach college, the free time you have seems to become a lot smaller, and the drives you have to take to see one another become a lot longer, even hours longer for some of us. Coming home at the end of the day in high school, my parents were always there to offer dinner or ask about my day, and even if I was being a typical angsty teenager who didn’t want to talk about my day, I still had the comfort of knowing the two people that care about me the most are a room away. Now, I have to make that effort to call them and check in or plan days where I have time to come home for
dinner to see my family. Friendships may change the most out of all relationships. Nearly all of us make new friends in our first few weeks of college, especially if we live with a new roommate (or several). So, how do our old friends fit in our lives when seeing each other during the day is nowhere near as easy as walking to the cafeteria and sitting at the table you know they’re always sitting in. Even though all of these changes are difficult to adapt to and navigate, what I’ve come to understand is that now my relationships are actually adult ones. This is not the illusion of adulthood we experienced in our final years of high school, this is what becoming an adult is really like. So even though the change can be new (and scary for some of us), I’ve found it’s best to follow the advice my mom always gave me and to “lean into it.” You can’t go backward and relive old relationships or go back to how they used to be, so keep pushing forward and adapting to your new life, and everyone in your life will follow. Rileigh Smirl can be contacted at smirl2@marshall.edu.
Letter to the Editor: Legislators must make food insecurity a priority By SETH DISTEFANO
FOR THE PARTHENON As students at Marshall University, we’ve spent the past semester on a project to explore the ways hunger affects the greater Huntington area. Food insecurity is a major issue in Huntington, and the Food Research Action Center reports that West Virginia, as a state, has the third highest food hardship rate in the country. Our work culminated in a community forum July 26, where we brought together local non-profit leaders, policy experts and community members for a conversation about how food insecurity impacts some of our most vulnerable populations, including children, seniors and college students. This discussion came at an especially critical time. In the next couple months, Congress will be voting on a final Farm Bill, legislation that is renewed every five years and funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, our nation’s most important anti-hunger program. SNAP is particularly important to West Virginia; it helps nearly one in five people in our state—340,000 in total —put food on the table. That includes over 17,000 here in Cabell County. Any cuts or harmful changes to SNAP in the Farm Bill would be a major blow to the fight against hunger in Huntington and throughout West Virginia. Unfortunately, in June, the U.S. House passed a version of the Farm Bill that includes just such cuts, taking critical food assistance away from two million Americans, including thousands of West Virginians. The House Farm Bill makes these cuts by eliminating SNAP benefits for people who don’t prove every month that they work at least 20 hours a week or qualify for an exemption. It would then use this money to create a huge bureaucracy to offer job training and education, which, at $30 per person per month, is woefully underfunded, and flies in the face of evidence about how to get people good paying jobs. These changes to SNAP in the Farm Bill would particularly harm the groups we focused on in our community forum. SNAP isn’t just an important anti-hunger program; it’s also one of the best anti-poverty tools we have, especially for families with children. By providing families with assistance that helps them meet their basic needs, SNAP keeps nearly 24,000 West Virginia children out of poverty. Cuts to SNAP mean more parents will struggle to make sure their children have enough to eat.
SNAP also helps millions of low-income seniors in West Virginia and nationwide. Almost five million seniors throughout the country participate in SNAP, including nearly 35,000 in our state. For these seniors, who often live on fixed incomes and have major financial responsibilities like caring for grandchildren, SNAP is a crucial lifeline. Cutting the program would make it even harder for these members of our community to make ends meet. There’s also growing evidence that shows food insecurity is a major crisis among our peers: college students. One recent study found 36 percent of university students and 42 percent of community college students experienced food insecurity—meaning they struggled to find and afford enough to eat—at some point over a 30-day period. Harmful cuts and changes to SNAP will place an added burden on these students, one they shouldn’t have to face as they try to get an education and start their careers. The good news is the senate also passed a version of the Farm Bill in June. Unlike the partisan House bill, the senate farm bill protects and strengthens SNAP. It also builds on the strong history of SNAP supporting work by dedicating more funds for investing in effective job training that are developed to help participants build the skills they need to get better paying jobs. We thank both Senators Manchin and Capito for their support of this strong, bipartisan bill. As Congress works to produce a final version of the Farm Bill, we need to make sure our representatives understand the importance that SNAP plays in our communities and that they vote to protect it. “We were inspired to pursue our project on food insecurity once we began to study the magnitude of the issue, and the severe consequences it has on vulnerable populations such as children and seniors,” Lydia Gray, a Marshall social work student, said. “The implications of practice are limitless for social workers, but we need involvement and attention from Congress.” It’s time for our political leaders to take this problem seriously and address it, not advance proposals that would make the hunger crisis in West Virginia even worse. Seth DiStefano is Policy Outreach Director for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. A native of Randolph County, WV, he is a graduate of Tygarts Valley High School and holds a B.A in Liberal Arts and Sciences from West Virginia University.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
Just Dunkin’: Dunkin’ Donuts to change its name By DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP BUSINESS WRITER Dunkin’ is dropping the donuts — from its name, anyway. Doughnuts are still on the menu, but Dunkin’ Donuts is renaming itself Dunkin’ to reflect its increasing emphasis on coffee and other drinks, which make up 60 percent of its sales. The 68-year-old chain has toyed with the idea for a while. In 2006, it released a new motto — “America runs on Dunkin’ — that didn’t mention doughnuts. Last fall, it tested the “Dunkin’� logo on a new store in Pasadena, California; it has put the name on a few other stores since then. “Our new branding is a clear signal that there’s something new at Dunkin’. It speaks to the breadth of our offerings,� said David Hoffman, the CEO Dunkin’ Brands, the chain’s parent company, in a conference call with media. The name change will officially take place in January, when it will start appearing on napkins, boxes and signs at new and remodeled U.S. stores. The change will gradually be adopted as franchisees update their stores. It will be phased in overseas over the next year, the company said. Dunkin’ Donuts has 12,500 restaurants worldwide. The new logo will still have Dunkin’ Donuts’ familiar rounded font and orange-and-pink color scheme, which the company has used since 1973. The Canton, Massachusetts-based company isn’t saying how much the change will cost. Dunkin’ Donuts has always sold coffee, but hot breakfast sandwiches and specialty drinks like the fruity Coolatta and Cold Brew iced coffee have become increasingly important to the chain. In the second quarter of this year, the company noted that overall U.S. store traffic was down, but revenue was up thanks to sales of higher-margin iced coffee drinks and breakfast sandwiches. Dunkin’ says the name change is one of several things it’s doing to stay relevant to younger customers. It’s also simplifying its menu and adding dedicated mobile ordering lanes. But changing the name of iconic brands can be a big mistake, says Laura Ries, an Atlanta-based marketing consultant. Ries says “Dunkin’� eventually won’t mean anything to younger customers who haven’t grown up with the full name. Specific words are easier for people to remember and conjure emotional connections, she said. Having “Donuts� in the name is also easier for people in overseas markets who may not know what “Dunkin’� means. Messing with iconic brands can also have consequences. In 2016, 15 years after replacing Kentucky Fried Chicken with KFC, the company had to issue a press release to combat an online rumor that it was forced to change its name because it doesn’t serve real chicken. And IHOP faced some backlash earlier this summer when it announced it was changing its name to IHOb to remind customers that it serves burgers as well as pancakes. That one was a publicity stunt, but it annoyed some customers. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Chief Marketing Officer Tony Weisman said the company has done a lot of testing and doesn’t expect any customer backlash from the decision. “The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,� Weisman said. “It’s just going to feel very familiar to people.� But Reis said even if doughnuts have fallen out of favor among a more health-conscious customer base, people already know Dunkin’ Donuts as a place where they can just get coffee and enjoy the doughnuts’ smell. “There’s nothing wrong with still having ‘Donuts’ in your name,� she said. “Long term it was helping them, giving them a brand identity that was the opposite of Starbucks.� PAGE EDITED AND DESIGNED BY SADIE HELMICK | HELMICK32@MARSHALL.EDU
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
Marshall Cru gears up for ‘Survivor’-themed fall retreat “Survivor� theme. While Cru is a Christian-based organization, Handley said no one should let that stop them from wanting to attend fall retreat. “Fall retreat is all about building friendships and getting to know each other,� Handley said. “We’re not going to pressure you into committing to our faith or anything. Just come if you want to hang out.� Handley attended the event last year for the first time, and she said she loved the friendship aspect of fall retreat. “It was a mind blowing experience,� Handley said. “I went into the weekend not knowing anything about fall retreat, and it was so
open and welcoming.� Wesley Dickenson, a sophomore biochemistry major, said she had a similar experience at last year’s fall retreat. “I rode there in a car full of total strangers last year,� Dickenson said. “Now I’m best friends and roommates with one of the people I rode to Camp Caleb with.� Fall retreat costs $45 for upperclassmen to attend, $25 for first-year students, and scholarships are available. Marshall Cru meets every Thursday night at 9:09 p.m. in the basement of the Memorial Student Center. Derek Gilbert can be contacted at gilbert75@marshall.edu.
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ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Bethel Temple Assembly of God
900 9th Street Huntington, WV 25701 304-523-3505 Pastor Duane Little
SUNDAY
10am - Sunday School 11am - Morning Worship 6pm - Evening Worship WEDNESDAY: 6:30pm - Adult Bible Study Come as a Visitor, Leave as a Friend - Pastor Paris McSweeney 366500
www.ďŹ fthavenuebaptist.org 304-523-0115
bhpcusa@comcast.net
Trinity Episcopal Church
372296 372294
ALL WELCOME
Pentecostal Truth Ministries SERVICES:
To advertise on this page, call Linda at (304) 526-2717
Sunday School 9:45 A.M. Sunday Worship 11:00 A.M. Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. www.pentecostaltruth.com
1208 Adams Avenue Huntington, WV 25704
520 11th Street Huntington, WV (304) 529-6084
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:30 A.M. Adult Sunday School 9:15 A.M.
www.wvtrinitychurch.org
METHODIST
CATHOLIC
Steele Memorial United Methodist Church
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church
733 Shaw St. Barboursville, WV 25504 304-736-4583 Sunday School — 9:40 A.M. Sunday Worship — 8:45 A.M. & 10:45 A.M. & 6:30 P.M.
372290
451 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV 9:45 A.M. — Devotion 10:00 A.M. — Sunday School 11:00 A.M. — Morning Worship 6:00 P.M. — Evening Worship Weds. Services — 7:00 P.M. Pastor Steve Williams
Father Paul Yuenger
EPISCOPAL
(304) 697-5600
Central Free Will Baptist Church
www.ourfatimafamily.com
PENTECOSTAL
PASTOR JANET MOUNTS
FREE WILL BAPTIST 372293
372289
-Sunday Morning Worship – 10:45 am See our website for many other times of Bible study, worship, and activities for children, youth, and adults.
304-690-2694
Wed. Bible Study 7pm Sunday Services Sunday School 9:45am Sun. Morning Worship 10:45am Sun. Eve. Worship 6:00pm
372295
219 Richmond St. P.O. Box 3121 Huntington, WV 25702
1135 Fifth Avenue Corner of Fifth Avenue & 12th Street in downtown Huntington
Mass Schedule: Saturday 5:30 P.M. Sunday 8 A.M. and 10:45 A.M. Spanish Mass: 2nd & 4th Sundays at 9:15 A.M. Misa en EspaĂąol: segundo y cuarto los domingos a las 9:15 A.M. Confession: Saturday 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
Celebrate Recovery - Tuesday - 6:30 P.M.
Rev. Kevin Lantz Rev. Ralph Sager, Associate Pastor
828 15th St. (on 9th Ave) Htgn. 304-691-0537 Sunday Mass: 11:00a.m. Daily Masses: 12:05 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Confession by appointment Rev. Fr. Douglas A. Ondeck
372297
Baptist Church
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church
Catholic Parish & Parish School
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH 2015 Adams Ave. Huntington, WV 304-429-4318 Mass Times: Sat. 5:30pm, Sun. 9am, Confessions on Sat. 4:45pm-5:15pm or anytime by appointment OfďŹ ce Hours Mon-Fri. 9am-2pm
Rev. Fr. Douglas A. Ondeck
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church HUNTINGTON, WV 526 13th Street (304) 525-5202 Pastor: Fr Dean Borgmeyer
Sunday Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 Noon, 5:30 pm Confessions Saturday 8:00 am-8:25 am Saturday 4:00 pm-4:25 pm Tuesday 5:00 pm-5:25 pm or by appointment
372300
First Guyandotte
OUR LADY OF FATIMA
372298
BAPTIST
PRESBYTERIAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF CRU
Cru is offering a fall retreat for Marshall University students at Camp Caleb in Flatgap, Kentucky, Sept. 28-30.
372292
THE PARTHENON Marshall University Cru is sponsoring its annual fall retreat, the theme of which is based on the reality game show “Survivor,� Sept. 28 -30 at Camp Caleb in Flatgap, Kentucky. Event organizer Rachel Handley said students who wish to attend can expect a nice break from school before midterms. “We host fall retreat to get away from campus before midterms, because we all need a break,� Handley said. She said attendees can look forward to three days full of games and other challenges centered around the event’s
372299
By DEREK GILBERT
12
LIFE!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
HERD AROUND THE WORLD Queeneth Enweren, Nigeria By JOELLE GATES
THE PARTHENON Through INTO, a program that brings international students to American universities, Queeneth Enweren was able to begin a new life in America. Enweren, a first-year graduate student from Western Nigeria, came to Marshall University to pursue her master’s in social work and said she is looking forward to using her education to inspire change in her home country. Once she had decided to begin a new life at Marshall, Enweren boarded a plane and left her country and family for the first time. She said adjusting to life in America without her family has not been very easy. “Being the foreign person in this country is very eye opening,” Enweren said. “Where I’m from, everyone is like me; everyone looks like me. Distance is the biggest challenge. I haven’t met a lot of friendly faces, and this is a very small town. Life can be boring with only a few friends but I’m pushing through.” Although the struggles of adjusting to life in America may occasionally hamper her spirits, Enweren said she uses her family as motivation. “I’m very in touch with my family and friends and have always been big on family,” Enweren said. “Despite the distance, I always find time to talk to my people, so I can still stay connected with them.” Even though joining the program has presented her with obstacles, Enweren said the thing she enjoys most about Huntington is observing the freedom Americans have. “It’s nice to walk around and see two boys or two girls holding hands,” Enweren said. “Nobody looks at them
funny but people in my country would be in prison (for that).” In addition to pursuing a degree in social work, Enweren said experiencing the freedoms Americans share has allowed for her to dream about changes in her own country. “I’ve always been very interested in social work,” Enweren said. “In my country you see a lot of things that can make you very sad and think that things could be better. I want to do something to help.” Specifically in Nigeria, Enweren said she wants to obtain her degree to change the lives of people in her local community. “Social work isn’t just about having a conversation surrounding change, it’s about actually doing something to help,” Enweren said. As her classes begin to take up much of her time, Enweren said she would like to make more friends by sharing her story and raising awareness about her home country. “People should know that Africa isn’t a country, it’s a continent,” Enweren said. “We don’t live in mud houses and wear leaves. We’re developing, but my country is poor because we have bad leaders, not because we have a lack of resources.” As her life in America is beginning to unfold, Enweren said she is excited for the future and hopes she will be able to share some of her culture with other students. “I just wish people were a little more educated,” Enweren said. “More people should go to Africa, it’s a beautiful place, and it will make you appreciate your privilege.” Joelle Gates can be contacted at gates29@marshall.edu.
Aurore Danet, France By DOUGLAS HARDING
THE PARTHENON Aurore Danet is a junior studying at Marshall University to become an English teacher upon her return to Europe. Danet is from the small town of Lanester in northwest France, in the region called Bretagne, or Brittany. “I think there are a lot of differences concerning the manner of study in the U.S. and in France,” Danet, who also attended the University of Rennes 2 in Upper Brittany, said. In her university classes in France, there was usually only one exam per subject each semester, Danet said, and there are practically no other assignments, quizzes or homework to facilitate learning and reflect grades. Additionally, in France, she studied about eight to 10 different subjects at any given time, whereas her studies here are more focused, she said. “In France, we have to learn so many things by heart and just remember them at the end of the semester,” she said. “So if we fail, we just fail.” Another thing she said she appreciates about the American system is the freedom to choose all her classes. “The thing is, here I get to choose my classes,” Danet said. “We get to choose what we want to study, and that is so cool. By having an interest in all my classes I’m taking, I will be enabled to get more involved and learn even more.” Danet said she believes both the American and French systems of studying have positives and negatives, but it was a difficult transition for her to make. She said she hopes throughout her time in Huntington her French accent will transform into more of an American accent before she returns to Europe to teach the language.
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One of the most interesting aspects to Danet about Marshall is how kind all the people in Huntington are to her, Danet said. “The people are so nice here. When I need to go somewhere or ask about something, there is always someone willing to help me,” she said. Danet said one of her favorite parts of attending Marshall is getting to learn about American culture in her classes. Danet said she is very thankful and excited about the opportunity to learn more about American literature and culture because they are so fascinating. “I think my favorite class so far has been my multicultural literature class,” she said. “I have to read a lot, but I learn so many interesting things that I didn’t know about the culture here.” Danet is also a runner, and she often participated in long-distance competitions in France, but she finds it difficult to run here due to the heat and humidity, she said. “I arrived here in mid-August, and I’ve only run three or four times I think,” Danet said. “I am totally not used to the heat of Huntington.” Danet is a member of Marshall’s French Club and said she is looking forward to representing her country at the International Festival that is to be held at 4 p.m., Oct. 27, in the Memorial Student Center. Her main priority at Marshall is to validate her year of studying, Danet said. “I chose to study English to become a teacher in France, and that is why I am here,” Danet said. “But I would love to travel the U.S. during the holidays if I can find time, and I can’t wait to learn more about West Virginia.” Douglas Harding can be contacted at harding26@marshall.edu.