New Orleans Team Gets It Done!

WVUP News Release
Four students at West Virginia University at Parkersburg have learned the impact that real-world experiences can have.

A group of WVUP computer-network engineering students and two faculty members returned last week from New Orleans after spending several days helping to relocate the Joint Military Operations Center as part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Due to the vastness of the hurricane destruction, military commanders had decided to move an existing Joint Operations Center, which serves New Orleans and southern Louisiana, to a new location. The center is the main command/control center for all military relief operations in the New Orleans area. WVUP faculty member Doug Weaver, a tech sergeant in the West Virginia Air National Guard, arranged for a WVUP student team to help relocate and set up the emergency operations center network.

“I knew this would be a wonderful hands-on learning experience for our network engineering students,” he said.

Weaver, who also is coordinator of the college’s Computer & Information Technology program and administrator of its Cisco Regional Networking Academy, had been in New Orleans earlier to help with military communication links.

Due to the shortness of time to accomplish the relocation of the operations center, Weaver suggested that a team of WVUP network engineering students could do the job of networking, wiring and setting up the new facility for the Command Center. The two task force commanders - West Virginia Army National Guard Commander Brigadier General John Barnette and Brigadier General Hunt Downer, Assistant Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard - endorsed the suggestion.

Cisco Systems agreed to provide funding for transportation, and a team of four WVUP Cisco Networking Academy students and two WVUP faculty traveled to the Belle Chase Naval Air Station. Members included sophomores Ted Corbitt of Elizabeth; Michael Noland of Parkersburg; and Frank Waybright of Evans; junior Tim Rapson of Parkersburg; Jenny Dawkins, Assistant Professor of Computer Information and Technology, and Weaver.

“Initially, the military command planned for the project to take three days,” Weaver noted. “After arriving, we found out that we would have only 24 hours and would not have access to the new facility until the day before we needed to set everything up.”

Michael Noland, Ted Corbitt and Tim Rapson wire the network.

When “moving” day approached, the Parkersburg team arranged the new operations center room in a “U" shaped configuration. The group also set up a 10' x 10' projection screen and five large plasma screens that they wired into the network.

"The students installed all of the computer network drops, ran the LAN (local area network) cable as well as telephone cables, and set up network printers and a server,” Weaver noted. "They also set up secondary desktop computer monitors so that each computer would have 'extended windows desktop' capability.”

“All workstations were then wired into two switches which were wired into a router. The team worked non-stop until about 9:00 p.m.,” he continued. “Exhausted, they went back to an abandoned Navy hanger where they were provided with 'plush' army cots.”

Though faculty members’ alarms were set for 5:30 a.m., the students got up at 5 the next morning to begin work by 6:30 a.m. They worked straight through for six hours at which time they notified the "Battle Captain" of the former Joint Operations Center that the new facility was ready for the transition, Weaver said.

“Within 35 minutes, the students switched over to the new facility and were completely operational with only minor glitches,” he noted. “The “downtime” of 35 minutes was phenomenal since the command had anticipated several hours. All was an overwhelming success and the military commanders were amazed that we were able to get the complete job done within the 24-hour time frame.”

Many of the military involved in the communications relocation thought the WVUP students were professional contractors, Weaver noted.

“Thanks to the WVUP Cisco and Microsoft courses, the students conducted themselves in a professional manner and their accomplishments have been an enormous help to the ongoing Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief operations,” he added.

While there, the Parkersburg group also helped distribute food and water to area Louisiana residents still dealing with the day-to-day struggles of rebuilding their lives and homes.

The New Orleans Joint Military Operations Center, up and running, serves as the command and control center for all military relief operations in the New Orleans area.

Gayle Manchin Speaks

By Erika Westbrook
West Virginia’s First Lady, Gayle Manchin, was the honored guest at the 17th annual Partnerships in Education luncheon, held Oct. 27 in the Multipurpose Room.

“Inspiring Minds, Inspiring Lives,” was the theme of the program, sponsored by the Education Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid Ohio Valley, and the Education and Business Foundation. The program has been matching schools with businesses since 1985. Wood County was the first in the state to have 100 percent of its schools partnered with businesses or industries.

The purpose of the luncheon was to recognize the program’s schools and partners. The partnerships provide opportunities for businesses and schools to create synergistic opportunities for volunteerism, shared projects and educational experiences.

The First Lady in her keynote address commended students and teachers. To all the students attending the luncheon she said, “You may think of yourself as only one person in a large world, but you may be the whole world to one person.”

Manchin has worked previously as a teacher in Marion County, and was a professor at Fairmont State College. She received a bachelor’s degree in language arts and education from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in educational technology leadership from Salem International University.

Domestic Violence

By Betsy Curry
In the United States a woman is raped every six minutes; a woman is battered every 15 seconds. Violence against women does not only occur in the United States; violence is a global pandemic. In North Africa, 6,000 women are genitally mutilated each day. Two hundred women in Bangladesh will be horrifically disfigured when their husbands or boyfriends burn them with acid.

Women are often a target of violence through discrimination. Women are viewed as weak, feeble and unable to fight back. They often find themselves as a “punching bag” to a more dominate male.

Violence is an often-overlooked crisis. Nearly one in three women will experience violence during her lifetime, most often at the hands of someone she knows.

Domestic violence is a more frequent cause of serious injury to women than car wrecks, mugging and stranger-rapes combined. Husbands or boyfriends are the result of 30 to 40 percent of all women killed in the United States.

Starting in October 1987, Domestic Violence Awareness Month was brought about in hopes to bring public awareness to domestic violence. Too often, domestic violence is overlooked because the women reluctantly refuse to report to the police.

Women more often than men are at the receiving end of domestic violence. There are many different types of violence such as physical abuse, sexual assault and threats. More often than not, the violence can also be mental such as making someone feel worthless, not letting them have any money, or not allowing them to leave the home. Emotional abuse can leave just as much of an effect as physical violence.

Domestic violence occurs everywhere in the United States; West Virginia is no exception. In West Virginia, domestic homicide occur every 10 days and one woman is raped everyday. In addition, 33 percent of all murders are a result of domestic violence. West Virginia ranks second-highest in the nation for domestic-violence incidents.

Anyone who is a victim of domestic violence is encouraged to contact the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Central Service Office in Charleston, WV, at 965-3552 or the Family Crisis Intervention Center in Parkersburg, WV, at 428-2333, hotline (800) 794-2335.

Rape: Sex Without Consent

Opinion
By Katie Deem
"I want to remind us that we have won what we now have because we, or others before us, struggled for it. It was not given to us. We had to be responded to because we publicly declared that women could not continue to be beaten...." Susan Schecter, coauthor of When Love Goes Wrong: What to Do When You Can't Do Anything Right (1993) and Women and Male Violence: The Visions and Struggles of the Battered Women’s Movement (1982). The struggle Schecter speaks of continues in West Virginia.

The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (FRIS), established in 1982, informs the public about sexual assault and harassment, offers support for victims of these acts and statewide training on sexual violence and related issues. They also collect data on West Virginia women.

FRIS defines sexual assault as “rape and any other unwanted sexual contact.” This definition implies that any unwanted sexual contact is assault—no matter how “harmless” the offender believes the act is or how momentary the violation may be. A woman deserves to be free from unwanted advances.

Rape is “sex without consent.” FRIS also points out that no one “asks” or “deserves” to be raped or sexually assaulted. The victim’s appearance and state of mind have little to do with the violation. Whether the victim was taking drugs or drinking when the violation occurred bears little importance. The problem is in the mind of the perpetrator, not the state of mind or body of the victim.

Women can take some responsibility for their safety, but they cannot take responsibility for the actions of the aggressor. We must remember that sexual assault and rape are crimes of force and power. Women can only do so much to protect themselves. Women can be aware of who is around them, and require that people be respectful of their bodies, their space and their gender.

The fact that women cannot walk on the street without being catcalled or harassed, raped or violated is proof that our society has failed women—that our culture has failed to value and respect our gender. We should not need to be protected. When women cannot walk alone in the evening or at night, something in the minds of aggressive men must change.

However, our communities have made improvements. West Virginia provides many resources for women to escape domestic violence. Men also can take the steps to educate themselves on the experiences of women. The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services and the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.wvcadv.org) offer such services and information.

FRIS “receives Preventive Health Services Block Grant funds through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to distribute to…nine centers [located in West Virginia] for services [to help women and educate men].” Though no rape or domestic-violence center exists in the Parkersburg area, other centers nearby can offer advice and information over the phone. These centers are HOPE, Inc. “a task force on domestic violence,” located in Fairmont; the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc., in Morgantown; and the Rape Education Advocacy Counseling and Healing (REACH) Program in Charleston. The contact information for these centers can be found on http://www.fris.org.

Think More Pink

By Jasmine Delane
Sigma Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa will be collecting pink caps from Yoplait Yogurt and other Yoplait products until Nov. 15. Every cap donated will mean 10 cents towards the Susan K. Gorman Breast Cancer Foundation. Collection envelopes have been placed around campus for these clean pink caps. You may also send them in the campus mail addressed to Dottie or Paul Bibbee or Dianne Davis at The Jackson County Center.

Peacemakers in the Unholy War

To the Editor:
I’m writing to add to John Hickey’s report (“The Unholy War Between Religion and Science,” Oct. 10) on the September 23rd program: “America’s Search for a Creation Story.”

When Karl Giberson spoke about polarization over the issue of evolution, and the painful American controversy over what should be taught as science in schools, one of his primary points was that there are many people who believe in both God and evolution. While for some scientists there is no God, and for some theologians there are only literal 24-hour creation days, many, many scientists and theologians find the forced choice to be a false choice. At least two people on the stage that evening were at the same time Ph.D scientists and believing Christians (one a Nazarene and one a Catholic) who endorse evolution. It’s important to know that there are people all along the continuum on this issue.

Unfortunately, he said (as your reporter stated), the most eloquent writers seem to be at the poles, each demonizing the other end of the spectrum.

Thank you for your coverage of this event.

Fran Allen The Manor Retreat & Conference Center

Pets Heal People

By Katie Deem
In 2002, my aunt Hilda Ruth Terrell lost the love of her life of 35 years. Though bereft and forlorn, hidden in mourning for months, she gathered the courage to welcome a new love into her life. He came to her unexpectedly. He was dark and handsome, the scruffy Sam Elliot-type, a typical knight in shining armor. It was undeniable love at first sight.

With the discovery of this new companion, her heart mended, though her past love could never be replaced. She and her darling relax by the pool during the long summer days. They lounge in the living room on matching recliners when fall comes creeping in. They drift into sleep in the wee hours of cold winter nights. He captured and kept hold of her heart, and now they are inseparable.

Who knew that a four-legged creature could have more savoir-faire than Pierce Brosnan? Hunter, a tuxedo cat to rival all other members of the feline species, is the second love of my Aunt Ruth’s life.

Pets have a therapeutic effect on those in need of their presence. Members of older generations experience much heartache as they lose family and friends around them. They run the risk of becoming lonely and despondent. But hope lies in the eyes of a cat or dog eager for a companion as well. Pets can fill voids.

Recent research recognizes a kind of magical healing that takes place when an older person cares for a pet. Pets can calm a person in a matter of moments. At the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Drs. Alan Beck and Aaron Katcher conducted a study in which they took the resting blood pressure of subjects as they spoke to a researcher, who then introduced a dog into the room. The subjects' blood pressure dropped as they petted or spoke to the animal and continued to chat with the researcher.

Some studies have found that people respond to other people better and cope with stress more easily if they are attached to a pet. Dr. Nienke Endenburg, in the article “The Role of Pets in Child Development” in the Society for Companion Animal Studies Journal, explained, “Being attached to a pet is related to positive emotional functioning and positive self-esteem.” Children of divorced parents often experience heightened anxiety and lower self-esteem. Pets help to develop communication skills and relationship skills key to interacting with others and coping with divorce, illness, and death.

Animals enhance the quality of life of older men and women, children, people with depression, or people with disabilities. If you or anyone you know is in need of a cat or dog, contact the Humane Society of Parkersburg at 422-5541 or www.hsop.org.

The Stormy Politics of Vote Fraud

By John Hickey
West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland’s new six-person voter-fraud unit and her hotline for election fraud (1-877-FRAUD-WV) have since August engendered multiple state investigations of election fraud in the state, which have thus far resulted in one indictment, of 2004 Republican House of Delegates candidate Fredrick E. Blackmer, Jr. Blackmer was indicted in Jefferson County after failing to file campaign finance reports even after they were requested by the Secretary of State’s office. Charges were dropped after Blackmer filed the reports, which showed no income and no spending. Ben Beakes of the Secretary of State’s office told the Chronicle that Ireland is more interested in ensuring compliance with election laws than in seeking convictions.

Beakes said that the hotline has received several dozen calls, about 20 percent of which have been complaints, and that a “handful” of folks have filled out the written forms requisite for any complaint to be investigated. He said that by law he could not be more specific about the number of written complaints, but he said that more than one election-fraud investigation is in progress. The state investigations augment federal election-fraud investigations that have resulted in convictions in southern West Virginia.

The investigations set sail in a storm of West Virginia family and party politics that has pitted Republicans against Democrats, Republicans against each other, and some West Virginia Republicans against President George W. Bush.

U.S. Attorney Kasey Warner, whose brothers Kris and Monty led the West Virginia Republican Party before the family’s downfall in some bruising Republican battles in the past year, mounted successful prosecutions in southern West Virginia as part of a nationwide push of the Bush administration to prosecute election fraud.

The U.S. Justice Department said Aug. 12 that Kasey Warner’s prosecutions had resulted in guilty pleas from four people in Logan County, including “the sheriff, the former chief of police and the treasurer of a candidate for state representative,” and that “five people have been indicted and are awaiting trial on charges of vote buying in Lincoln County.” The Lincoln County indictments include Lincoln County Assessor Jerry Weaver, Clifford O’Dell “Groundhog’’ Vance, and Circuit Clerk Greg Stowers, son of longtime Lincoln County Democratic Party Chairman Wylie Stowers. All of those convicted and all of those indicted were Democrats.

Republican 2004 gubernatorial candidate Monty Warner made election fraud a central issue in his campaign, and claimed inside knowledge that several individuals were being investigated “by the feds.” Three of those he named were in fact later indicted by his brother, U.S. Attorney Kasey Warner.

Secretary of State Ireland had been working with Kasey Warner on a federal-state partnership when Warner was abruptly removed Aug. 1 by President Bush with no explanation.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail asked Aug. 11, “Why was the top federal agent of this region mysteriously removed? West Virginians deserve an explanation for this abrupt and puzzling occurrence.”

Bush has not acknowledged that he fired Warner, but Warner told Charleston’s WCHS-TV Aug. 11 that, when the President “decides, for whatever reason – political reasons, other reasons, no reason at all – or just that it’s time for somebody else to move into a position,” the President “has the ability” to appoint a new U.S. Attorney.

Ireland told the Wheeling Intelligencer, “We were concerned that, with the departure of Kasey Warner, people would think that our fight against voter fraud in West Virginia would stop.” But on Aug. 4 she announced that the partnership would go forward with the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, Charles Miller. In February she had announced a similar partnership with Thomas E. Johnston, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Ireland said that vote fraud in West Virginia is widespread. “In West Virginia, we have folks who sell their vote,” she said. “There are people who literally are oppressed by ‘Boss Hoggs’ who hold power over jobs ... and in some instances a decent way of life for our residents.”

Ireland has railed against “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.” Ireland on Aug. 4 introduced her six-person voter fraud unit, including two former state troopers, a former police chief, two lawyers and an administrator, to carry out state investigations.

Election-fraud complaint forms can be obtained online at http://www.wvsos.com/forms/elections/election%20complaint%20form.pdf.

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“Death and the Maiden”

By Robert Walling
The Theatre Department presented “Death and the Maiden” by Ariel Dorfman Oct. 28, 29 and 30 at the College Theatre. The production was the first directed by new Theatre Director R. Carson Soelberg. The three-person cast were also acting for the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Theatre Department for the first time.

Playing the passive-aggressive (mostly aggressive) Paulina Salas was Dallas Zickefoose. Her character, now married, had been a victim of rape and torture at the hands of a doctor whom she can only recognize by his voice and skin.  

When her husband, Geraldo Escobar, played by Allen Withrow, invites home the good samaritan who helped him change his flat tire, she recognizes the man’s voice while the two men are talking outside. Paulina pulls a gun out of a desk drawer, then puts it back.

Later that night, the helpful man, Dr. Roberto Miranda, played by Kaleb G. Smith, drops by. The two men start discussing politics. Gerardo has recently been appointed to a council responsible for investigating past crimes of the former regime. Paulina’s rape was one of these crimes. Dr. Miranda accepts Gerardo’s invitation to spend the night. Later, Paulina sneaks into the guest room, knocks out the doctor, ties him to a chair, and points a gun at him repeatedly.

Gerardo wakes to find his wife has taken their guest hostage. He pleads with her to let him go; she refuses to unless she gets her revenge. He argues that there is no proof that this is the same man who raped and tortured her 15 years ago. She does not listen. They come to an agreement that if the doctor confesses to all his “crimes” in writing, she will let him live.

The doctor’s confession is acted out through a monologue. Roberto gloomily describes how he was pressured into performing painful experiments on many victims. Over time, he not only begins to feel comfortable with his actions, but also becomes sexual excited by them.

After the doctor has signed the confession, Gerardo leaves the two alone; he mistakenly trusts his wife to let the doctor go and not seek any more revenge.

I enjoyed this performance. Although Allen’s character, Gerardo, only called for a minor change during an emotional outburst, he smoothly made the performance believable. Dallas’s performance as a homemaker was low on energy. Fortunately, she sheds this characteristic when she seeks her revenge on the doctor. From here on out, she is impulsive, hasty, and frightening. Kaleb’s character plays the innocence card throughout most of the play, in which he is energetically waving his finger while he makes his points. However, during the monologue, a darker and sinister side of the character is flawlessly portrayed through the speeches poetic and changing rhythm.

With all the rape, torture and revenge, the underlining theme behind “Death and the Maiden” was forgiveness versus revenge. Can a family or country function if everyone seeks revenge for past transgressions? Is revenge justice or a vehicle for chaos? Who knows? The play ended just as Paulina got her revenge.

“King Gimp”

By Betsy Curry
“King Gimp” is an extraordinary film; there is no other word worthy of description. The Disability Services Office and the Social Justice Committee gave the campus the opportunity to view “King Gimp,” in recognition of National Disability Month.

The film will change your outlook on people with disabilities. When the word disability is spoken it often comes with a negative term, but with the film “King Gimp” negativity is not a factor. The film is based upon a thirteen-year period in which the directors, William A. Whiteford and Susan Hannah Hadary, follow Dan Keplinger, a boy born with cerebral palsy, through his daily dilemmas.

Keplinger started school at age 6 at Ridge School, a school for people with disabilities. Students who attended Ridge School stayed there until they turned 21. Keplinger’s mom felt Ridge School was holding him back and decided, against numerous educators’ beliefs, to mainstream him. The first few days were rough as should be expected, but soon Keplinger used those days as stepping-stones, as he continued his education on a higher level. It was in high school that he became aware of his artistic ability. A headgear equipped with a paintbrush was his source of inner expression.

Keplinger graduated high school and welcomed the challenge of continuing his education. He attended college at Towson University and graduated at the age of 24. Some of his artwork is available at the Phyllis Kind Gallery in New York.      

“Doom”

By Jessica Milhoan
“Doom” was released into theaters on Friday Oct. 21. The movie, rated R, stars The Rock as Sarge, the commander of a Marine force sent to Mars in search of trouble in a research laboratory. The men soon find themselves face to face with a slew of monsters transformed from a secret investigation going on behind closed doors. Unlike the movie’s main character, the plot itself was lacking in a rock-solid story line. Much like Resident Evil of 2002, the characters are battling zombies evolved from a science experiment gone wrong.
The movie, which is based on the video game DOOM, has few or none of the game qualities. For those of you who enjoy blood and gore, this is a good way to spend eight dollars. If you are looking for a similar storyline, this is not the movie for you.      

"Corpse Bride"

By Betsy Curry
Halloween often brings many “spooktacular” films to the theater. This season, with a little bit of spook and a lot of fun, brought about yet another animated Tim Burton film, Corpse Bride.

Burton is known for his witty filmmaking capability, along with the dark romantic classic films Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Corpse Bride was no exception to Burton’s well known attributes. The movie is a tale of love and heartbreak just as any well-made movie consists of.

Corpse Bride is set in a 19th-century European village. Victor (Johnny Depp), the main character, is destined to be married to the bride (Emily Watson) of his parents’ choice. Before Victor is wed, he is whisked away to the underworld where he finds himself married to a corpse bride. Victor then is forced to choose between love and loyalty.

Death is often presented in gore and heartbreak, but in Corpse Bride death is viewed in a softer light. It is more fun to be dead than alive in this film. One of my favorite lines was “Why go up there when people are dying to get down here.”

The film is animated with witty humor, appropriate for children of all ages.

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New Writers’ Group

By Jessica Milhoan
Tuesday, Oct. 25 was the first official meeting of the new writers’ group on campus. Sponsored by Dr. Patricia Gaston of the Humanities Division, the group meets two times a month in Room 1407. Students are invited to submit their work for constructive criticism and positive feedback.

Honors Program

By Dylan Webster
While still in its infancy, West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Honors College program is growing. For the fall semester, the only course offered was Introduction to Sociology. However, courses in Popular Culture, Images of Women in Literature, and Introduction to Computer Science are now being offered in addition to Sociology for the spring semester. This program is an attempt to offer a more challenging curriculum to students who have shown exemplary achievement in academic endeavors.

The Honors College program is intended to allow students who wish to be challenged an opportunity to further explore areas of interest. President Dr. Marie Foster Gnage is hoping the program receives an ample response. “This is an excellent way for students who wish to achieve above and beyond the norm to more deeply investigate potential career choices,” says Gnage. “It is equally important for eligible students to understand that this is another way to seek out, find, and earn grant and scholarship money. That is usually a big plus for any student,” remarked Gnage.

Professor Greg Busch is teaching the Sociology class this semester. “So far, it’s going well,” stated Busch. While he is still in the middle of the first semester with the program, he looks forward to the coming expansion.

Those who meet the academic standards to participate will receive letters from WVUP informing them of the opportunity. Those receiving letters are urged to contact their advisors to discuss the many benefits of their involvement.

Popular Culture instructor Paul Bibbee stated, “This is a unique and valuable opportunity that should be taken by those who are eligible.” He continued, “Students need to understand that if they wish to transfer somewhere else, this not only looks good, but in some instances, work of this nature is required.”

Regents Bachelor of Arts

By Betsy Curry
Yet another opportunity for adults to earn a four-year degree in a non-traditional way is being offered. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is now approved by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer the Regents Bachelor of Arts.

The program has been available to students since 1997 in cooperation with West Virginia University. Beginning with this December’s graduation, the degree will now be awarded by WVUP.

WVUP now offers four bachelor’s degrees including Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Bachelor of Applied Technology; and the Regents Bachelor of Arts.

The RBA is the most popular degree on campus. More than 330 students declared RBA their major in 2004. The program is available to all students who graduated high school at least four years ago.

For more information about the degree, see Dr. Joseph Badgley, Executive Dean of Academic Affairs, Office 8242 or Paul Milhoan, WVUP RBA coordinator, Office 8272.

Learning Center Needs Tutors

By Dylan Webster
The Learning Center needs volunteer tutors for the following courses: Statistics, Microbiology, Astronomy, American Literature 241 and 242, and Physical Science 112. All who are interested in volunteering should contact the Learning Center for more information.

The Learning Center is located in Room 0404 and provides tutoring for a variety of courses. Anyone in need of help should drop in and inquire about times and availability of tutoring sessions.

Foundation Center Seminar

By Robert Walling
A seminar explaining the Foundation Center database will be presented at the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Library on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. On Sept. 21 and Sept. 24, Ellen Pope explained how to use this comprehensive service. The Foundation Center database provides students and the public alike with information on a variety of financial grants and scholarships. The grants found on the service cover a wide range of fields ranging from the sciences, arts and humanities. The service is available at the WVUP library, and nowhere else in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The instructor for this Thursday’s seminar will be the WVUP Library’s director, Stephen Hupp, or Ellen Pope.

In addition to the Foundation Center, the tutorial will also inform patrons on the other database services offered by the WVUP library. Many of these services - such as The Oxford Reference Library and American Council of Learned Societies History E Book Project - provide access to tens of thousands of online books. The Naxos Music Library links anyone to a library of over 80,000 audio files ranging from a variety of different styles of music.

Although all these services, except the Foundation Center, are meant to be available from off campus, some students have reported problems with accessing the database on their own computers. Questions or problems concerning this can be answered at this seminar or by asking a library staff member at anytime.

Financial Aid

By Betsy Curry
August Kafer and his staff continue to provide the students at West Virginia University at Parkersburg with ways to contact the Financial Aid department.

If you have not noticed already, the Financial Aid office has offered a drop-box outside of Room 1207. The new addition to Financial Aid is in hopes to better serve students during the non-operational hours. Students are encouraged to use the drop-box for such paperwork as Data Forms, Verification Worksheets and Award Notifications.

Many students are not at the college during regular office hours, and the new addition helps the Financial Aid staff to receive the needed paperwork at a quicker rate in order to distribute money.

Any suggestions are encouraged and welcomed by the staff. Be sure to stop by and thank the Financial Aid Office for the continuing effect to serve students.

Students are reminded to apply early and every year for Financial Aid. The recommended date for application is Jan. 1 through Feb. 14, 2006, for the following school year. March 1, 2006, marks the cut-off date for the West Virginia grant. According to Kafer, students often put off reapplying and the incoming freshmen receive all the money. He also encourages students to apply early so they receive the money deserved.

New Courses

By Ashleigh McCune
Several new courses are being offered for the spring semester. These classes are Principles of Advertising, Popular Culture, Advanced Photography, and Special Problems in English as a Second Language.

Principles of Advertising will explore advertising in newspapers, magazines, television, radio, billboards, movies, and online advertisements. Ethics in advertising will be discussed throughout the course. The class will be offered Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Popular Culture is back by popular demand. The class will explore fashion, music, television, advertising, sports, and literature. The class will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:15. The class is documented as an Honor College Course option.

Advanced Photography concentrates on Adobe Photoshop and digital photography. Students should take JOUR 220 as a prerequisite for this class.

Talk to your advisor for further information.

“Special Problems in English as a Second Language” is a special course being offered for international students. The class will be offered on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9:45 p.m., beginning Jan. 12, 2006, and will be taught by Professor Randy Oldaker. There are no textbooks for the course so all materials will be tailor-made by Oldaker.

Those enrolling need only the equivalent of a high school diploma. For further information call Professor Oldaker at 424-8246 or e-mail him at randy.oldaker@mail.wvu.edu.

Extended Learning

By Robert Walling
An advising information session on available graduate and undergraduate programs will be presented by the Extended Learning Office at the Multipurpose Room on Monday, Nov. 14, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. “The advising session is for anyone in the Parkersburg area that would like information on WVU Morgantown classes, programs and degrees,” said David Winger of the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Extended Learning Office.

Some of the offered programs include master’s degrees in Educational Leadership, Nursing, Athletic Coaching, and Software Engineering. Undergraduate programs include Multidisciplinary Studies, Nursing and the Regents Bachelor of Arts. Information on Teaching and Substitute Teaching Certificates will also be available.

Most of the degrees are offered by West Virginia University at Morgantown, not West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Because many of the programs are available online, the Morgantown campus can offer students across the state access to their courses. Certain courses taken at WVUP can be applied to the available programs once they are transferred to WVU Morgantown. Some programs may require students to complete courses on site in Morgantown, but most can be taken online.

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White Sox Dominate

By Heath Bloxton
The Chicago White Sox capped off the 2005 baseball season with a World Series sweep of the Houston Astros Oct. 26. The last time the White Sox had won a World Series was 88 years ago when Joe Jackson played. Obviously, this gave Chicago’s South Side something to celebrate.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is only 41 years old and has already captured a World Series title. Ozzie said he believed in his players from the start. He said that they started the season in first place and have ended as the Champions of the World.

Chicago ended the season in very dominating fashion. They went through the playoffs winning 11 of 12 games. Maybe the scores were not so dominating, but great pitching and timely hitting has been proven to win championships.

White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye took the World Series MVP award. During the series, Dye hit a home run and drove in three runs, including the game winner in game four in Houston. Dye is the first team member in franchise history to take home the award.

Throughout the years, the White Sox have always been called the “second team” in the city of Chicago. However, this World Series win may have illuminated those people who did not believe in this team. The White Sox did not have the highest-paid players in the league, but Ozzie Guillen felt he was given some of the most “gifted” players to work with.

The World Series was bittersweet for long-time White Sox member Frank Thomas. Frank was injured several times throughout the season and was unable to play during the World Series. However, Thomas was on the bench supporting his teammates and friends during every moment of their World Series run. Thomas said he would not have wanted to be a part of any other organization.

Whether or not you like the White Sox, they are World Champions. This group of men showed the world that they could reach the top. It doesn’t get any better, unless of course, they repeat in 2006.

The Height of Hip-Hopracy

By Dylan Webster
In his relentless quest to overcome the loss of Michael Jordan and globalize the NBA, Commissioner David Stern has been very proactive in shaping the image of the league. Unfortunately, he has also become contradictory in his methods.

While on the surface the NBA’s new policy of players being required to wear suits to press conferences seems harmless, it shines a spotlight on the hypocrisy of the league itself. Along with the guidelines for attire is an order not to wear large gold chains to the press conferences.

Stern himself has frequently stated that the target audience for the NBA is the “hip-hop generation.” This demographic is primarily comprised of 14- to 24-year-olds who happen to wear “throwback jerseys” and gold chains. The statement made here is plain: “We want your money, but not your culture.”

Furthermore, this is a league whose teams regularly send scouts to high school games, and make multi-millionaires of young men of barely 18 years of age. While the NBA has a new policy in place to curb high school seniors from forgoing college to enter the pro draft, it does not apply to foreign players, and is toothless.

Allen Iverson, once promoted as the next Jordan, saw the sales of his merchandise skyrocket after an arrest. If one actually has the chance to go to a game, one will find every timeout and play stoppage filled with scantily clad dancers and the latest hip-hop sounds.

Urban youths, who make up the majority of the hip-hop generation, normally cannot afford even nosebleed seats to an NBA game. Suburban America (which can afford the tickets) still has reservations about the culture that provides the league with nearly all of its talent. What Stern seems to want is to have his cake and eat it too.

Pittsburgh Hexes Ravens

By Heath Bloxton
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 20-19 in front of a Halloween crowd at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Monday night, Oct. 31.

With ABCs Monday Night Football broadcasting the game, millions of fans tuned in to what ended up being a fantastic game. The Steelers came into the game a favorite, but knew that the Baltimore Ravens would be hungry for a win. Two AFC North Division rivals battled it out for four quarters in a trench fight.

The Steelers took the lead early when Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller, making the score 7-0 Pittsburgh. However, the Ravens came right back as Chester Taylor ran the ball into the end zone from 13 yards away tying the game. The two teams exchanged field goals and took a tied, 10-10 game into halftime.

The Ravens took the ball after halftime and tried a “trick” play on the opening drive. However, it was Steelers safety Chris Hope who was “treated” to an interception. The Steelers took the lead again when Heath Miller caught his second touchdown, making the score 17-10 Pittsburgh.

Raven’s kicker Matt Stover decided he was going to take the lead himself as he hit three more field goals for Baltimore, giving the Ravens a 19-17 lead.

The Steelers knew they had to answer and took the ball with under four minutes to play. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the way for the Steelers by completing big passes down the field to Antwaan Randle-El and Quincy Morgan. Jerome Bettis was also called upon to run the ball and answered the call as he busted through the line for a big gain, putting the Steelers in field goal range. The Steelers tried to inch closer for better field goal position and set up for the kick with less than two minutes to play.

Steeler’s kicker, Jeff Reed lined up for a 37-yard field goal and nailed it for the Steelers lead, 20-19.

The Pittsburgh defense stepped up and stopped the Ravens in the closing seconds of the game, giving a “thrilling” victory to the Steelers on Halloween night.

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Get Engaged

By Dylan Webster
West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Dr. Marie Foster Gnage recently expressed her desire for more student involvement, particularly in clubs and activities. “Attending WVUP is more than just jumping through a series of hoops to receive a piece of paper,” stated Gnage. While most students are aware that clubs and organizations exist, they likely do not realize the number and diversity of the student activities available.

“This is what employers look for. They want employees who get involved in their workplace and community. It is also a good opportunity to interact with others, and learn leadership skills,” said Gnage. “The leaders of tomorrow are the student government or Phi Theta Kappa members of today,” she concluded.

It should also be noted that the Journalism Department is tentatively planning to put together a “bulletin board” type paper to be available next fall. This will attempt to outline the many and varied activities that will be at students’ disposal.

Food Drive

By Ashleigh McCune
The Psychology 231 class is sponsoring several community service projects. There is a food drive and there are donation opportunities available.

The locations to drop off food items are the campus nurse’s office in the Health Center, the Student Government office, and Denise McClung’s office. All proceeds will benefit local food banks. Donations of canned goods and non-perishable items are now being accepted.

Donations of books and magazines without the mailing addresses are also being collected. Money also may be donated towards the “Boys and Girls Club.” These donations will help pay for children’s memberships to the “Boys and Girls Club” for one year.

Campus Bookstore Hiring

By Ashleigh McCune
The Campus Bookstore is now looking for temporary workers for their busy season of Buyback and for the beginning of the spring semester. Candidates who are serious and willing to work at least 15 hours a week during December and January need to apply. The bookstore will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s day. Anyone who is interested can fill out an application in the Bookstore during regular business hours.

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The World is Flat

By Erika Westbrook
Professor Bob Cordell will present a book discussion on The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century (2005), by Thomas Friedman, on Tuesday, Nov. 29 in the Library.

In his new book, Friedman, the New York Times super-columnist, looks at the bewildering global scene, foreign policy and economic issues.

Friedman, a multiple Pulitzer Prize winner, is also known for previous works such as Longitudes and Attitudes (2002); From Beirut to Jerusalem (1990); and The Lexus and the Olive Tree (2000).

WVCJEA Conference

By Erika Westbrook
The West Virginia Criminal Justice Educators’ Association will hold its ninth annual WVCJEA Conference on campus Nov. 11 and 12. Students and advisors from different areas of West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania will participate in the event.

Highlighting the conference will be a mock crime scene, coordinated by Criminal Justice Organization students. With help from local law officials and instructors working as mentors, Criminal Justice students will acquire hands-on experience solving an alleged murder. In a series of interviews and basic crime scene investigating, students will determine and arrest suspects for arson, murder and kidnapping of a child. A mock bail hearing will also be part of the job experience.

The crime scene is only the first of a three-part job training session. A briefing session will follow up the crime scene, and a mock trial will take place in the spring.

Eastwood Fire Department, members of the Fire Investigation Team (FIT), members of the Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT), and detectives and deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department are among the many helping with the program.

The mock crime scene will take place Friday at 4 p.m. A theater presentation of Death and the Maiden will conclude the evening’s events at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s events will begin with registration from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Panel and poster presentations are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m., followed by awards. A business meeting will conclude the conference at 4 p.m.

Grad Fair

By Ashleigh McCune
There will be a Grad Fair on Thursday, Nov. 17 for all December graduates in the Campus Bookstore. Caps, gowns, and tassels will be available for purchase as well as an assortment of graduation items. There are graduation announcements and diploma frames in stock. Information is also available on class rings by Herff Jones.