WVUP Clubs and Organizations

The Student Government Association officers are elected by the student body. The SGA places student members on all-campus committees, maintains a communication link with student groups at other colleges, initiates social activities for the student body, and represents the student body in statewide student functions.

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Chorale, sponsored by the music department, is a select chamber choir which performs for college functions, in local and regional concerts, and on tour in West Virginia and surrounding states. Members may earn academic credit for their participation. Contact H.G. Young, Room 2217, at 424-8248 or HG.Young@mail.wvu.edu.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg Theatre involves student actors in major on-campus productions. The theatre mounts productions dealing with contemporary social issues as well as productions of the classics and of plays designed to simply let you sit back, forget your daily troubles, and relax. Reader’s Theatre productions are being considered, as well as touring productions of merit to local schools. WVUP serves as host for the 2006 West Virginia Theatre Conference. Contact Carson Soelberg, Room 1309, at 424-8295 or Carson.Soelberg@mail.wvu.edu.

Alpha Psi Omega is a national drama honor fraternity dedicated to service to the community and to the chapter’s school, and to the enhancement of the theatre skills of its members. Contact Carson Soelberg, Room 1309, at 424-8295 or Carson.Soelberg@mail.wvu.edu.

Campus Christian Fellowship promotes the development of spiritual life through weekly meetings, workshops, fellowship and training. Contact Cheryl Bedell, Room 1210, at 424-8319 or Cheryl.Bedell@mail.wvu.edu.

The WVUP College Democrats assist with voter registration, supply speakers on campus, and serve as an information forum for individuals in the Democratic party. Contact Nick Busch at Nick.Busch@mail.wvu.edu.

The Criminal Justice Organization is open to any student taking a Criminal Justice course. This organization offers students a chance to get involved in activities on and off campus. Contact Nelson Ortiz, Room 1022B, at 424-8000, Ext. 419, or Nelson.Ortiz@mail.wvu.edu.

The Campus Activities Board of the Jackson County Center provides educational and social activities for students at the Jackson County Center. Contact Christine Post, Jackson County Center, at 424-8269 or Christine.Post@mail.wvu.edu.

The Environmental Action Group informs students on environmental issues and provides the college with necessary tools to help promote environmental awareness. Contact Bill Douglas, Room 3309, at 424-8342 (Bill.Douglas@mail.wvu.edu) or Jane King, Room 3312, at 424-8306 (Jane.King@mail.wvu.edu).

The International Student Club aims to nurture a campus environment responsive to the growth of a community of international students and scholars, and to facilitate the integration of international students into American cultural and student life. Contact Emmanuel Ogwude, Room 1213, at 424-8243 or Emmanuel.Ogwude@mail.wvu.edu.

The WVUP Volleyball Club is composed of students who want the opportunity to participate in the sport of volleyball, developing school pride and spirit. Contact Phil McClung, Room 1025D, at 424-8268 or philwvup@hotmail.com.

The Writer’s Guild provides creative writers on campus constructive criticism for their work. Contact Patricia Gaston, Room 1216, 424-8000, Ext. 442, or Patricia.Gaston@mail.wvu.edu.

Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society for students attending two-year colleges. Its objectives are to achieve high scholarship and to develop qualities of citizenship, leadership and moral character. Contact Lisa Flowers-Clements, Room 0113, at 424-8257 or Lisa.Clements@mail.wvu.edu.

The WVUP Reading Association, the campus chapter of the West Virginia Reading Association, develops scholarship, leadership, and stewardship in the field of literacy, promotes student involvement with professional organizations, provides opportunities for student involvement in area schools and libraries. Contact Martha Mc Govern, Room 0113A, at 424-8000, Ext. 493, or Martha.McGovern@mail.wvu.edu.

Alpha Chi is the local chapter of Alpha Upsilon Alpha, the national honor society of the International Reading Association. Students nominated for membership have demonstrated high academic performance, leadership, and effective literacy instruction in the classroom. Contact Martha Mc-Govern, Room 0113A, at 424-8000, Ext. 493, or Martha.McGovern@mail.wvu.edu.

Kappa Delta Pi is a national education honor society. Our chapter, Sigma Omega, is open to students admitted to teacher-education programs. Contact Dave Lancaster, Room 1019B, at 424-8346 or Dave.Lancaster@mail.wvu.edu.

Sigma Beta Delta is a national business honor society. Its purpose is to recognize academic excellence and service among business students. To be eligible for membership, students must be in the top 20% of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program. Contact Saied Sarkarat, Room 1018, at 424-8279 or Sy.Sarkarat@mail.wvu.edu.

The WVUP Society of Accounting helps students to develop professional relationships with practicing accountants, to develop interviewing skills, and to become a part of the practice and development of accountancy in the state and region. Contact Roger Lewis, Room 1016D, at 424-8293 or Roger.Lewis@mail.wvu.edu.

The WVUP Association for Computing Machinery develops leadership capabilities and provides presentations, career development assistance, and professional contacts. Contact Robert Van Camp, Room 0416, at 424-8302 or Bob.VanCamp@mail.wvu.edu.

Mid-Ohio Valley Linux Users Group is a non-profit group that promotes and uses the LINUX operating system. Contact Charles Almond in the Caperton Center, at 424-8000, Ext. 469, or Charles.Almond@mail.wvu.edu. The group is on the web at movlug.com.

The WVUP Student Nurses Association inculcates professional nursing standards in Nursing program students and is active in local community health programs Contact Rose Beebe, Room 2332B, at 424-8286 or Rose.Beebe@mail.wvu.edu.

The Student Health and Wellness Association provides education to motivate students to maintain or adopt behaviors to improve health, prevent disease and assist in achieving their academic goals. Contact Charlene McNulty, Room 1205, at 424-8205 or Charlene.McNulty@mail.wvu.edu.

The Earth and Sky Club offers students the opportunity to expand their interest in and knowledge of astronomy and earth sciences. Contact Ed Crisp, Room 3309, at 424-8327 or Ed.Crisp@mail.wvu.edu.

The American Welding Society assists in the professional development of welding students. The group holds fundraisers to provide scholarships for welding students and is active in the community. Contact Tina Buchanan, Room 0107, at 424-8202 or Tina.Buchanan@mail.wvu.edu.

The WVUP Chronicle, the campus newspaper, is published six times each semester by Journalism students, who may earn academic credit. All WVUP students and faculty are encouraged to submit stories, opinion and artwork. Contact Dottie Bibbee, Room 0102C, at 424-8247 or Dottie.Bibbee@mail.wvu.edu. The Chronicle is on the web at wvupchronicle.blogspot.com.

The Multicultural Awareness Coalition is open to all students, faculty and staff who are interested in promoting greater multicultural awareness. Contact Michaela Herrick at michaela_herrick@hotmail.com.

Blues at the Lafayette Hotel

By John Hickey
The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society of Marietta will host the 14th annual River City Blues Competition Feb. 18 at Marietta’s Lafayette Hotel, by the historic landings on the Ohio River. Twenty regional blues acts have been accepted to compete, each allowed twenty minutes to lay out their strongest stuff. The first act plays at noon, kicking off some of the best blues you will have ever heard. The musicians play for the other musicians in the place as much as for the rest of the crowd and the judges. With an hour off for dinner, the acts play ‘til around midnight and then jam together while the judges put their heads together to pick the winners.

This is a chance for local musicians to get national exposure on the basis of pure talent. The top act here pockets a thousand dollars cash and is guaranteed a spot in the International Blues Challenge competition in Memphis. The Memphis winner is booked into top clubs and festivals on the national blues circuit, gigs the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Caribbean Cruise (getting paid to play a seven-day cruise that blues aficionados pay $4000 to board), and is provided professional consultation with producers, managers, and promo people. They are featured in national blues media, awarded an array of fine musical instruments and equipment, and handed another thousand dollars in cash.

For these musicians, the River City Blues Competition is not just another night in a dead-end bar. They play this blues competition like their lives and reputations depend on it, not only for the break it might bring, but because of who is listening. Hard-core blues lovers come from far and wide for this competition, and, more importantly for the musicians, fellow blues artists from several states are there. The competitors have a rare chance to play for the discerning sensibilities of their peers, who too often, like themselves, are off playing a gig in some stinking bar where half the customers are yelling above the music and nobody but the band knows the difference. Here their listeners do know the difference, so they are playing with rare intensity, and that intensity makes for some amazing blues for those lucky enough to be able to get to Marietta that Saturday.

Tickets are $15.00 at the door of the Grand Ballroom of the Lafayette Hotel. For information, contact John Bolen at (740) 373-6640 or go to bjfm.org.


River City Blues Saturday Lineup

12:30 – Mojo Street Blues, Chagrin Falls, OH
1:00 – Barrelhouse Bonni, Charleston, WV
1:30 – The Mojo Brothers, Indianapolis, IN
2:00 – Mother Tucker, Huntington, WV
2:30 – Bongo Joe and the Funk Ruckus, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
3:00 – Midnite Blues, Xenia, OH
3:30 – Mean Mother May I, Newark, OH
4:00 – Code Blue Band, Urbana, OH
4:30 – Marci Stanley and the Ride Kings, Ravenswood, WV

5:00 – Dustin Troisi Blues Band, Huntington, WV
5:30 – The Burnin' Lloyds, Cambridge, OH
6:00 – Rev. Robert Sexton's All-Star Blues Review, Waterford, MI
8:00 – Mudfork Blues, Athens, OH
8:30 – Big Daddy & the Hoodoo Men, Hartville, OH
9:00 – Malkum Gibson and the Mighty Juke Band, Clarksville, OH
9:30 – Austin "Walkin" Cane, Fairview Park, OH
10:00 – Angel Blue and the Prophets, Valencia, PA
10:30 – Larry Taylor Blues and Soul Band, Chicago, IL
11:00 – Lightning Joe King and Blue Thunder, Akron, OH