Hurricane Katrina

By Seth Lowe
She has been estimated to be the most costly natural disaster in United States history; she is also the deadliest hurricane to ever hit American soil since Hurricane Camille in 1969, and she is the third major hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Her name is Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina was a major tropical cyclone wreaking havoc on the southeastern U.S. States with significant damage in southern Florida, the western Florida Panhandle, Louisiana (mainly New Orleans), southern and central Mississippi, southern Alabama, western Georgia, and the Tennessee Valley. As of August 31, 2005 the death toll was up to an astounding 135, not far from Camille’s record of 256; at the time of its Louisiana landfall, it made it the third most intense system to strike the United States in recorded history.

After striking southern Florida, the system regained strength in the Gulf of Mexico, then becoming a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 175 mph and wind gusts over 200 mph. The system turned northward and weakened slightly just before making its second landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana on Aug. 29 as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph. Her final landfall was made at the Louisiana-Mississippi border.

Damage costs from Katrina have surpassed the millions and are racking up in the billions. AIR Worldwide Corp., a risk assessment firm in Boston, estimated insured losses at $17 billion to $25 billion. Risk Management Solutions of California estimated $10 billion to $25 billion. Not only is the damage toll unknown, but the body count is also unknown. New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin has estimated over 10,000 deaths in his city alone; and a reported 100 deaths in Mississippi.

WVUP President Dr. Gnage has challenged other area colleges to help raise money for hurricane victims. Many people need help. They need clothes, money, and much more. If anyone would like to make a donation, here are some places to contact:

To donate cash to or volunteer with the Salvation Army:
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
http://www.redcross.org/

For housing relief:
http://www.hurricanehousing.org/
http://www.homesforkatrina.org/

For hunger relief:
Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348
http://www.ob.org/
America’s Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070
http://www.secondharvest.org/

For further information:
visit the website for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at: http://www.nvoad.org/.

Teachers Home Safe

By Ashleigh McCune
The Big Easy turned out to be not so easy for five Parkersburg High School teachers. Dan Daniel, Jim Dennis, David and Theresa Marlow and Sue Steinbeck traveled to New Orleans for an Advanced Placement conference. They stayed at the Sheraton Hotel on downtown Canal Street.

On Friday there was no indication of Hurricane Katrina coming close to New Orleans. Saturday morning however these teachers awoke to a whole new reality. The hurricane had taken an unexpected turn and was heading right in New Orleans’ direction. The storm was now a category five.

The conference that was supposed to last Saturday and Sunday only lasted for half of Saturday. The teachers were originally supposed to leave Monday morning. Saturday and Sunday were spent sightseeing and taking snapshots, like any tourists would do. Many teachers at the conference were flown out in time, but these five PHS teachers got the unfortunate news that they were going to have to ride out the storm.

All the guests of the Sheraton Hotel had to stay in the fifth-floor ballroom because it had no windows and was built to sustain winds of 200 miles per hour. The hotel was prepared for the hurricane; they provided food and water for guests and set up four phones and computers so guests could contact their loved ones. The waiting time to use these phones and computers was two to three hours. Many other hotels in the area, including the one across the street from the Sheraton, made their guests leave because they were not prepared and could not care for them.

“The hurricane wasn’t the most dangerous part, it was what happened afterwards that was the most dangerous,” said Dan Daniel. These dangerous things were looting and the law enforcement becoming almost powerless. “Overnight it became a third-world country. Food, water, electricity, medical facilities and an organized police force is what separated our country from the others and the next day we saw society collapse, chaos happened overnight,” said Daniel.

Finally on Wednesday night the teachers got the good news that they were going to get to leave by bus, taking a 13- hour ride to Dallas, Texas to the airport. There was only one accessible road out of New Orleans and on the way out the bus was in complete silence because the people knew that hijacking and other dangers were a real possibility. “People were pounding on our bus and making threatening gestures to us,” said Daniel.

Once the teachers reached Dallas on Thursday morning, they stayed in the Westin Hotel, a branch of the Sheraton. They flew to Pittsburgh that morning and were supposed to fly from there to the Wood County Regional Airport but ironically the flight was cancelled. The group of teachers finally arrived home safely on Friday morning.

“I have learned to appreciate what I have and be more patient with the small things that bother me. The organized society that we have enjoyed for centuries is fragile and can disappear overnight. I also have learned not to go to New Orleans during hurricane season,” commented Daniel, an instructor at West Virginia University at Parkersburg who missed two classes of teaching his Educational Technology class.

As Daniel finishes his amazing story he shows me four items that really helped get him through the storm: wet wipes since there was no way to bathe, a flashlight, a Sheraton Hotel key since he was lucky enough to be in a hotel that cared for their guests and a small cup used to drink water that has the saying printed on it “Life is short. Live like you mean it.” A saying we should live by after this devastating event.

Charity Fraud

Secretary of State Betty Ireland urges caution to West Virginians when donating to charities for hurricane relief. Many charities will be seeking donations to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and victims of local flooding as well.

“West Virginians are giving people,” Secretary Ireland said. “I urge the people of West Virginia simply to be cautious when donating to charities. Make sure the charity to which you are donating is legitimate and registered with the Secretary of State’s office.”
People may call the Business and Licensing Division of the Secretary of State’s office at 304-558-8000 or visit the website at www.wvsos.com/charitysearch to verify the legitimacy of a charity.

Donate at Library

The Library is accepting donations to help New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. All funds will go to the American Red Cross. Please see the circulation desk for details.

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Campus Improved

The physical facilities staff at West Virginia University at Parkersburg has just completed close to $200,000 in campus projects, in the first stage of planned campus improvements.

The college’s student lounge has been completely renovated. New carpet, new and refurbished furniture and a color palette selected by WVU designers complement the area and give it a fresh, inviting décor, WVUP President Marie Foster Gnage noted.

All faculty offices along the external wall of the main administrative building – the “banana wing” – have been painted and carpeted, and have had new furniture and window blinds installed.

The Learning Center, which provides peer tutoring for students, is now in the campus lower level, where study carrels and expanded space will provide a more conducive environment for tutoring. The Journalism lab and related classroom space and offices have been installed in what was the college’s original cafeteria area, now completely refurbished.

The Welding lab has also been refurbished, lab stalls have been painted and a capacity added to offer aluminum-welding instruction.

Campus landscaping and other exterior work have also been done, and a new flagpole platform now displays the flag on the campus front lawn.

Funds for the enhancements were derived from institutional monies and from grants. Grants of $30,000 from the Workforce Investment Division of the West Virginia Development Office and $35,000 from the West Virginia Department of Education’s Adult Prep program funded the new aluminum-welding courses. Much of the work has been accomplished by WVUP personnel, along with some volunteer assistance, allowing for cost savings.

“Assistant Director David White and his staff have done a wonderful job in completing these projects in a timely, cost efficient and professional manner,” said Dr. Gnage.

WVUP Rebuilding Tower

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will have a new modern look upon completion of a $2.7 million construction project scheduled to begin in late fall.

The project involves a campus enhancement initiative regarding the institution’s north classroom tower of its main building. Gone will be the brick facade currently on the tower’s exterior front structure. In its place will be a stained glass curtain wall and a new campus focal point.

Built in 1968, the three-story classroom tower houses stairways, classrooms and lab space. The structure has experienced some settling of its foundation over the years. The project will include stabilizing the soil moisture around the tower’s foundation as well as renovation of the tower. The project is expected to create a new focal point for the campus. It is part of a continuing initiative to enhance the campus and its grounds.

“This is an element of the on-going, focused effort to enhance learning and student spaces while also impacting the aesthetic look of the campus,” noted WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage. “We look forward to getting the project under way.”
Construction is expected to start in late November/early December with completion by fall of 2006.

“The project will give us the opportunity to significantly improve the exterior look of the building as well as make some additions to the facility,” said Wayne Riley, chief procurement officer and capital projects coordinator.

The renovated first floor of the tower will allow for new administrative spaces. New stairways will be designed and constructed. Four faculty offices will be added and the Humanities Division’s music room will be relocated on the second floor. A science computer lab and a chemistry lecture room will exchange locations on the third floor, Riley added.

As part of the construction plans, the canopy that covers three-quarters of the front of the main administration building will be removed. Also, landscaping and a new entry canopy are planned.

In preparation for the project, the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority’s Easy Rider bus service will be rerouted to the College Activities Center entrance, effective Oct. 3, to accommodate the construction area. Currently, Easy Rider provides service to the main college building entrance. The interior campus road directly in front of the main building will be closed to vehicular traffic during the construction project. A fence will be erected around the perimeter of the construction site.

No classroom space is expected to be impacted by the construction for the fall semester, college officials noted. There may be some rearrangement of educational space for the spring semester.

The project’s pre-bid session is scheduled on the Parkersburg campus Sept. 14. Bids will be opened Sept. 29 in Morgantown.

West Virginia University representatives are serving as the project management team with Parkersburg campus personnel. Funding for the project is being derived from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s $161.47 million bond issue for higher education.

Chilling Power Loss

By John Hickey
Bill Andrews, West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s veteran HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technician, saved WVUP’s campus from extensive electrical damage through his alertness and quick action Aug.27.

That Saturday around 5 p.m. a storm knocked down four of Allegheny Power’s poles along Route 50 and knocked out power to WVUP. Allegheny said power might not be restored for 24 hours. Dave White, WVUP’s new assistant director of facilities and grounds, took steps to protect the school’s computer and refrigeration systems.

WVUP’s computers are protected against power loss by uninterruptible power supplies, battery systems that fail after about six hours. An uncontrolled shut-down wreaks havoc with the computer system’s subsequent capacity to function, so Dan Williamson, director of computer services, came in to shut down all the systems by the book. The food in the food service’s large freezers could not be allowed to defrost, so plans were set up to bring in refrigerated trucks.

The power suddenly came back on around 5:30 p.m., but Andrews noticed immediately that something was very wrong with Allegheny’s power feed. WVUP, like virtually all large institutions, uses three-phase power for the electric motors that keep everything on campus running. Andrews noticed that of the three gauges that register line voltage, two were ominously reading zero. Allegheny Power was getting only single-phase power to the school, which is fine for your home’s electric motors but which would quickly destroy the school’s equipment. Andrews grabbed the big handle of the main breaker and threw off the power before any major damage could be done.

Allegheny advised around 9:30 p.m. that proper three-phase power was flowing, and Lead Trades Specialist Bob Cooper powered everything up, bringing in the buildings unit by unit to avoid overloading. They hoped they had dodged the bullet.

But later White found that a motor in the air-conditioning control system had failed, along with a four-foot diameter diaphragm which helped control the chillers. This led to the air-conditioning breakdown which WVUP experienced in the following few days.

The chiller diaphragm was replaced Aug. 30 and the control motor was replaced Sept. 2, so by the time you read this, you should be cool.

Long-term, the air-conditioning system is scheduled for some major improvements. The larger of the school’s two big air-conditioning towers, built in 1969, had a life expectancy of 20-25 years, but it has lived to the ripe old age of 36, and it has “hardening of the arteries,” which has reduced its cooling capacity by half, White says. WVUP is putting together drawings and specifications in order to put out a request for bids on its replacement, projected to cost about $40,000, which White projects will be in place by Christmas of this year.

The increased capacity should make a big difference for WVUP’s Little Theater, which has suffered from poor ventilation. The theater was spiffed up this summer and a new, larger-capacity air-handling system is scheduled for December installation.

White came to WVUP after 23 years in Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital’s engineering department, where power could be a matter of life and death. The experience he and his people bring to WVUP undoubtedly helped in averting major damage on Aug. 27.

Tea With Susan B

By John Hickey
West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland presided over a “tea” at West Virginia University at Parkersburg Aug. 24, in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote.

The party was billed as “Tea With Susan B,” and Susan B. (Anthony), the famous suffragist, was there in impersonation, but the ghost of honor was Sojourner Truth, who really did seem to be there in spirit, embodied by Quandora Hornbuckle, who transfixed the room with moving spirituals and testimony in the voice of Sojourner Truth. More than one person in the packed room, including WVUP President Marie Foster Gnage, spoke of a physical thrill on hearing what Dr. Gnage called the “true voice” of Sojourner Truth, the electrifying African-American preacher and suffragist of the nineteenth century who had been born a slave and sold away from her family as a young girl.

“Tea With Susan B” is part of a large-scale effort of Secretary of State Ireland to bring voters into the political process. Her web site wvvotes.com describes a multitude of initiatives of the Secretary of State’s office, including “active registration drives in most of the high schools in the state …, registration drives and education forums held at senior centers,” and a phone number, 866-SOS-VOTE, to coordinate registration drives.

Ireland herself energized the room as she spoke of the struggle of women and African-Americans and young people to gain the right to vote, and of the struggle around the world for people to be true citizens in their own countries. She spoke of meeting Nabeela Abdulla Al-Mulla, the woman who is Kuwait’s ambassador to the U.N., and being struck by the irony that Al-Mulla, as ambassador, has the responsibility of speaking for Kuwait at the U.N. but as a woman does not have the right to vote in Kuwait. Ireland noted that women will have that right in Kuwait in 2007.

Ireland wondered aloud: If you stopped a young woman at random in the halls of WVUP and asked her how long women have had the right to vote, would she be surprised that women have not always had the right to vote? She noted the simplicity of the 19th Amendment, conceived at a “tea” in 1848, but only ratified in 1920 after long struggle: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

Ireland, the first woman to be elected to a major non-judicial West Virginia state office, urged everyone to exercise their hard-won right to vote. She cited the 14th and 15th Amendments, which established the voting rights of African-Americans; the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which sought to enforce those rights; and the 26th Amendment, which allowed 18-year-olds to vote. Ireland said she favors the renewal of the provisions of the Voting Rights Act which will soon come to a vote in the U.S. Congress, but she affirms that, independent of the Voting Rights Act, voting rights are guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution itself as now amended.

WVUP President Gnage expressed appreciation to Secretary of State Ireland and to Susan B. Anthony (Karen Vuranch) and Sojourner Truth (Quandora Hornbuckle) and to everyone who came, and said she was gratified that the university was able to host such a significant event. She also expressed her appreciation to the university’s food service, AVI, for the elegance of their presentation.

Betty Ireland

By John Hickey
Betty Ireland, elected West Virginia’s secretary of state in 2004, is the first Republican to be elected to that office since 1972, which would be 15 years before you were born if you were the average college freshman. (Which, of course, you’re not.) She is the highest-ranking Republican in the state government, and the first woman to be elected to a major non-judicial West Virginia state office.

Ireland has energetically mobilized her office to bring voters into the political process and to fight vote fraud. Her web site wvvotes.com describes a multitude of initiatives to get people registered and voting (see “Tea With Susan B”) and she has gone on the warpath against vote fraud perpetuated by the “Boss Hoggs” who “hold power over jobs ... and in some instances a decent way of life for our residents” (Wheeling Intelligencer Aug. 12) and “the political machines in some counties that control everything from who gets jobs to which roads get paved,” saying, “People are tired … of being enslaved by this system.” (Charleston Gazette Aug. 4) Ireland told the Chronicle Aug. 24 that state investigations of vote fraud in West Virginia were now in progress, augmenting ongoing federal investigations which have brought several election-fraud convictions in southern West Virginia. She has set up a vote-fraud hotline: 1-877-FRAUD-WV (1-877-372-8398).

A hard-eyed cynic might note that new voters are crucial for West Virginia’s Republican Party, now outnumbered 2-1 by registered Democrats, and that the “Boss Hoggs” are among her political rivals, part of the entrenched Democratic political machine. But Ireland unmistakably has a heartfelt concern for those alienated from the political process, especially young voters, the elderly and the poor.

In an interview, she talked about the isolation of the elderly and the poor, and it became clear that she was talking about more than just voting. It’s clear that, for her, engagement with the political process is a metaphor for being engaged with life. She says people feel excluded; that even her own 92-year-old parents, in spite of being parents of the secretary of state, don’t feel fully included in the political process. She wants people to feel that they count, that they’re part of things. She doesn’t want them disenfranchised by law, and she doesn’t want them disenfranchised by hopelessness, and she doesn’t want them disenfranchised by people that buy or steal or extort their votes.

About herself, Ireland says that she is business-friendly but “the most liberal Republican you will ever see.” A sign of the kind of leadership she admires is her suggestion that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani would be a worthy Republican presidential candidate. She agreed that Colon Powell would also be a fine candidate.

She strongly defends women’s reproductive rights, though she rejects both the “pro-choice” and “pro-life” labels. On the West Virginia University at Parkersburg campus for “Tea with Susan B,” celebrating the struggle to bring women the vote, Ireland says America has been changed by women’s involvement in politics, and, she says, “Vive la Différence.”

Asked for her views on Social Security, her answers differed from those advanced by President George W. Bush. Ireland has a background in financial planning, and she said that, rather than millions of individuals managing their own accounts, the Social Security Trust Fund might be better managed as a whole by professionals with the freedom to use some intelligence in making investments. When asked whether she agreed with President Bush’s statement, on his visit to the Bureau of Public Debt in Parkersburg, that the Treasury bonds held there which make up the Social Security Trust Fund are “worthless IOUs,” she affirmed that the Treasury bonds were very safe investments, backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and indicated that she thought President Bush’s remark might not fully express his considered thoughts on the matter.

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HAVA Mandates

The 2002 Help American Vote Act (HAVA) mandates that each precinct in every state have one handicapped-accessible electronic voting machine and also calls for the elimination of punchcard and lever-voting systems. Although some are critical of HAVA, Secretary of State Betty Ireland is committed to making the federal mandate work for West Virginia.

Ireland has identified three ways to make the mandates of HAVA work for the best for West Virginia: look at using electronic machines for early voting, allow citizens without disabilities to use electronic machines during regular voting, and consider changing the law to allow for precinct-based counting.

The secretary of state feels that using the electronic voting machines for early voting would speed up the process of counting the votes cast, would reduce the number of voter errors, and would make county election officials and the public more comfortable with the electronic machines before the actual day of the election.

“It makes perfect sense for counties to utilize the technology we will purchase for them in the form of electronic voting machines and use them for the early voting period,” Ireland said. “We are mandated to purchase the electronic voting machines so why not get as much use out of them as we can?” Using electronic machines for early voting will require minor changes in current state code.

In addition, voters on Election Day can use the electronic machines. “Although the machines will be purchased for and formatted for use by citizens with disabilities, nothing prohibits others from voting on the electronic machines as well.”

Using electronic voting machines for early voting and during regular voting will not only speed up the tabulation of votes cast, but also reduce the occurrence of over-voting. Electronic voting machines have built-in capabilities that alert a voter when he or she has over-voted. Over-voting occurs when a voter votes for more candidates than allowable (for example, voting for 4 candidates when one may only vote for 3).

“Each individual county will have to make the determination on whether to use the electronic machines for early voting or not,” Ireland said. “As I have been traveling the state and talking with county officials, however, I have encouraged them to do so. It simply makes sense.”

Further, Ireland feels that movement is afoot to look at the possibility of allowing precinct-based counting of ballots. Currently, West Virginia law requires ballots (except for paper ballots) to be centrally counted in the county courthouses. Precinct-based counting would greatly reduce the time it takes to tabulate results on election night, especially for counties that use the optical-scan system.

“The technology is available now where counties can purchase precinct-based scanners which can be enabled to tabulate results at the precinct,” Ireland said. “I have already spoken to some county clerks and commissioners and we feel this would be a great enhancement to our voting procedures. We are just now researching precinct-based counting and plan to report our findings and proposals to the legislature.”

“It is important we make HAVA work for West Virginia,” Ireland said. “I am committed to the citizens of this state to continue to best utilize new technology to enhance the voting process as well further ensure the right to clean and fair elections.”

Student Services

By Jasmine Delane
Student services have been working on a new campus program that started this fall for first-year students. They initiated programs, activities and services that will help students who are in college for the first time. The Admissions Office is also recruiting in Ohio now. West Virginia University at Parkersburg has teamed together with Washington State Community College to make tuition for Ohio students the same as it would be for West Virginia students. If students would like more information on any of these topics, contact the Advising Center by calling 424-8310.

Learning Center

By Dylan Webster
Director of the Learning Center Janice McCue would like to remind all students that the Learning Center has moved. The center is now located downstairs in Room 0404, formerly the Journalism Lab. “We are open and ready to help,” stated McCue.

While most positions are filled, volunteers are still needed for Computer Science 101 and History 152. Anyone interested in tutoring either of these classes should contact the Learning Center as soon as possible to help them better serve students.

WVUP Theater

By Patrick Garvey
During the summer months two plays were produced and performed on campus.

The first was performed by Spanish students as part of the Summer Spanish Theatre Seminar. The class had a special guest advisor, director on the production of Packing Up the Past, Dr. Francisco Cabello. Cabello could not stay for the night it opened because of conflicts in his teaching at Concordia College in Minnesota but his experience in Spain’s independent theatre movement gave a structure from which the second director, Mrs. Gusta Arrington, could build from.

The play was about two aging women reuniting after years of absence from each other’s lives. It was performed completely in Spanish with subtext projected on a screen. Susan Cleaver played Ana, the younger, reckless daughter who ran away as a teen, returning to help the best she can after both parents die. Laura, portrayed by Jane Wilson, is the elder and more responsible of the two. Both women try to stay escaped from and heal their relationships of the past. This play reaches out to all women of the world in their trials and tribulations.

Even though one may not speak or understand much Spanish it did not take long before the actions of the drama overcame the language barrier and spoke to the audience in a nondirective unique manner. Working as a student assistant over the summer my duties were to assist Arrington and Cabello in finding their way around the theatre, doing a portrait of what the domineering father would look like, helping a third student, Douglas Life, with technical sides of the light booth, and handling props.

Patient A, by Lee Blessing, was the second play. It was a social conscious drama dealing with the first known case of a woman diagnosed with AIDS. Kimberly Bregalis was played by theatre veteran Heather Sammons in a striking and memorable performance. The audience soon finds out who the culprit was. The interacting narrative was voiced by the character of Blessing, performed by WVUP theatre alum Dave Prather. Matthew, played by another veteran of the stage Bill Knotts, represented the other faces of AIDS: infected gay men who are ignored by the world.

The production was a collaboration between WVUP and Stage Too, a company of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. The experienced and the extensiveness of those behind the scenes involved the crew’s history and culminated into this awakening piece. The director Charlie Matthews, known for his dedication and sight, assistant director Sabrina Dye, technical assistant Jessi Hiemer for her design and painterly skills, and production assistant Melody Carson as the eye in the sky, all make for a landmark staging for the collaborative efforts of two celebrated institutes.

Keep an eye out for the fall dates of WVUP’s theatre with bulletins outside Room 1305 announcing future productions and activities. For further information contact Humanities Division Chair Nancy Nanney in Room 1214, or Caron Soelberg in Office, Room 1309.

Letters to God

By Katie Deem
The Distinguished Performance Series begins this season with “Children’s Letters to God,” a musical based on the international best-selling book by Stuart Hample. After a successful run Off-Broadway at The Lamb’s Theatre in New York City, “Children’s Letters to God” stops by Parkersburg en route to several cities in its national tour. The musical is directed by Stafford Arima and features a cast of five actors and actresses ranging in age from 10 to 15 years old. The young stars are Gerard Canonico, Evan Daves, Jimmy Dieffenbach, Libbie Jacobson, and Sara Kapner. The children attempt to understand the existence of God by asking questions and coming to their own revelations about the mystical figure. “Children’s Letters to God” will show Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the College Activities Center.

The Distinguished Performance Series has been presenting performances to the students of West Virginia University at Parkersburg and the surrounding community for nearly 25 years. Dr. H.G. Young III manages the series each season and searches for a variety of the finest music and theatre to offer the public. He’s “always excited and proud” of what the series has to put forward.


Tickets are available in the college business office starting August 1. WVUP students may purchase advance tickets for themselves and one guest for only $2 each. Tickets at the door are regular price; Adults $10 and Students $5. Disabled persons are encouraged to speak with someone at the time of ticket purchase or call 424-8248 or 424-8337 TTD for accommodations.

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New Business Faculty

By Erika Westbrook
The Business and Economics Division welcomes new faculty member Deborah Randolf, instructor of Accounting, to West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Randolf is not new to the business department; she has teaching experience acquired from Jackson Community College.

“We are glad to have Deborah teaching accounting and advising our students,” says Dr. Sy Sakarat, chair of Business and Economics Division, “We believe she will bring both her knowledge and experience to her teaching.”

Randolf, who holds a C.P.A. from West Virginia University, has replaced Ben Randolf who accepted a position as Assistant Dean at Grand Rapid Community College’s Work Force Division.

Jeffrey Holland has also been added as a full-time faculty and is Director of the Academic Advisory Center. Also there are several new adjunct faculty added to the division.

“We feel as if great measures have been made by all at WVUP in employing highly talented and qualified faculty to meet our students’ objectives,” Sakarat said.

Along with new faculty, there are also many new students joining the department.

“It is a very exciting experience for us to work with our students, faculty and staff,” Sakarat states. “The Business Division works to provide high quality education that meets today’s modern business environment and is accessible, affordable and convenient.”

Sakarat continued to state that the Business Department looks forward to meeting and working with all new students, faculty and staff.

More information about the Business and Economics Division can be obtained in Room 1018 or by calling 424-8279.

Hot Panini!

By Robert Walling
The West Virginia University at Parkersburg cafeteria has added new members to its staff. Kim Coneley is new to the staff, while Jennifer Favinger has returned after a year’s absence.

The Mighty Bite sub cart, located across from the cafeteria, has added a new selection to their menu. Panini, a new hot sandwich, will be served along side the cart’s sandwiches. The cafeteria is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Fridays. The sub-cart is open between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. through the week. Regular menu items such as pizza, hamburgers, and fries are still available. Specials are posted daily in front of the cafeteria.

Evolution Debate Here

By John Hickey
“Worlds Apart: The Unholy War between Religion & Science,” a three-day program sponsored by The Manor, a Parkersburg retreat center which aims to promote “peace, harmony, and reverence for the natural world,” will present “America’s Search for a Creation Story” at West Virginia University at Parkersburg Sept. 23.

Karl Giberson will speak on current conflicts between science and religion as each tries to tell the story of our creation. Giberson is the editor of Science & Theology News and is editor-in-chief of Science and Spirit magazine, whose current issue asks on its cover, “What’s the Problem With Darwin? Why Americans Are Turning Their Backs on Evolution.”

Dr. Edward L. Crisp, professor of Geology at WVUP, will respond to Dr. Giberson’s remarks. Dr. Crisp has taught courses on historical geology, astronomy, paleobiology of dinosaurs, and organic evolution.

Also responding will be Dr. Bruce Terry, professor of Bible and Humanities at Ohio Valley University; Dr. David McShaffrey, associate professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Marietta College, whose Biology 102 course studies the “evolution of new organisms” and includes a “consideration of how geological processes have affected evolution”; and Gordon Wells, associate professor of Natural Sciences and Teacher Education at Ohio Valley University who, according to the event’s sponsor, “conducts the monthly meeting of the Creation Research Science Education Foundation,” who say at worldbydesign.org that they are against the teaching of evolution and that they believe the Bible “teaches a young earth and a worldwide Flood in the days of Noah.” They say, “The scientific community has taken such great pains to keep God out of science that they have by default endorsed another religion called humanism.”

“America’s Search for a Creation Story” will be presented Friday, Sept. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. in WVUP’s Little Theater, Room 1305.

Nursing Program

By Ashleigh McCune
The Nursing program at West Virginia University at Parkersburg has one new faculty member, is offering a new course and has many new and returning students in the program.

There is one new faculty member this year in the Nursing department. Kimberly Holmes is teaching clinical for first year students. Holmes graduated from Parkersburg Community College in 1979 with an AAS in Nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at WVU in 1995 and a Master of Science in Nursing at WVU in 2003.

She began her nursing career at Colin Anderson Center in 1979 as a staff nurse. She then worked for the Pleasants County Community Care and Title IX Waiver program as a Coordinator. Most recently Kimberly was employed by Ritchie County Primary Care as a family nurse practitioner. She served as the Threat Preparedness Coordinator for both clinic and public school settings for two years.

The Nursing Department’s secretary, Amy Richards, just welcomed a new baby so Cathy Sprague has been filling in her position.

This year in the Nursing program there are eighty first-year students. There are sixty sophomores, twenty-five juniors, and fifteen seniors.

There is also a Paramedic Course being offered for students who are enrolling in Paramedic Science. If you are interested contact the Nursing department. The course begins in January 2006.

Students are also reminded that they must apply for Health Science programs between Sept. 15 and Dec. 1.

Local Neurotoxins

Richard Wittberg, epidemiologist for the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, will be a guest speaker on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 12:30 p.m. in Room 2536.

His topic is “Neurotoxins in Our Local Environment” a topic of interest to health workers, educators and other concerned citizens.

Dr. Wittberg pioneered a study of manganese releases from the Washington County Eramet plant in the 1990’s and has since been part of studies of other neurotoxins found in our area. His interest has been a possible link between exposure to neurotoxins and poor academic performances in area children.

For more information please contact Rebecca Phillips, Professor of English at 424-8282.

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USDA Rural Development

The mission of USDA Rural Development is to support increasing economic opportunity within rural America and ultimately improve the quality of life for rural residents. Unfortunately, not enough business, communities and individuals know about USDA Rural Development as a whole and the valuable resources that it provides, and therefore, do not benefit from its available resources.

The programs assist rural communities in a variety of ways. They build and renovate homes, apartments and community faculties. They support water, waste, electric and telecommunication projects and help plan and assist businesses and cooperatives.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gail Bennett, Public Information Coordinator, at 428-4875, or visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.

Child Care Center

By Rachel Nowery
The Child Care Center is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. The cost of this service is $3 per hour for one child and $1.50 per hour for each additional child.

To ensure the safety of the children, a new lock and buzzer system is planned to be installed. Currently, the Child Care Center uses a doorbell to let the staff members inside know you are there and you must wait for one of them to let you in. This ensures that no unwanted person gets in and no small child gets out.

If you are interested in the Child Care Program, please contact Director Tina Taylor at 424-8311.