The Chronicle

West Virginia University at Parkersburg Chronicle

2006-04-17T23:13:00.002-05:00

This was the online publication of the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Chronicle from the fall of 2005 through the spring of 2006. Google (the owner of Blogger) seems to have deleted the names of the editors, but the writers are named in the bylines to each story.

Tower Readied for Destruction

2006-04-17T19:54:00.000-05:00

Jendoco Construction Prepares Stair Tower Facade for Destruction: The brick facade of the three-story stair tower on which West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s name had been displayed is readied to be torn down. (The stair tower has slowly been tearing itself off the building for years.) A long glass “curtain wall” facade will be mounted in its place, with the school name displayed above it, once the rest of building is stabilized.

Photos by Patrick Garvey

Library Displays Student Science

2006-04-17T19:52:00.001-05:00

By Delano Farley
For National Library Month, Human Anatomy and Physiology students have made and placed on display in the WVUP library 3-D models for skin, muscles, spinal cord, bone, brain and body systems.

Pursuant to research conducted by Drs. Joyce Kronberg and Marshall Griffin published in the 2000 Journal of College Science Teaching, Dr. Kronberg has incorporated a plan that allows students to use artwork in class assignments. The unique form of assignment stems from the researched findings that many students are visual learners and enjoy having options and choices to earn part of their grade.

Some students created an exhibit on burns of the skin with photography while the non-artistic members were given an option of research through the internet, library, and textbook resources.

The artwork of these fourteen talented science students is on display through April.

A model of the respiratory system designed by James Dalrymple

Photo by Delano Farley

Underground Railroad Tour

2006-04-17T19:52:00.000-05:00

Twenty members of the WVUP community participated in “Flight to Freedom: Ohio’s Underground Railroad Tour,” on Friday and Saturday April 7 and 8. The trip was sponsored by the WVUP Social Justice Program with funding from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

Traveling by Park Tours chartered bus, the group stopped first on Friday in Ripley, Ohio, to visit the John Rankin House and the John P. Parker House, both former homes of active “conductors” on the Underground Railroad and now National Historical Landmarks.

John Rankin was a Presbyterian minister who from 1822 to 1865 assisted hundreds of escaped slaves in their trek to freedom. Many members of the tour group walked the 433 steps on the path that led freedom seekers up the steep hill to the Rankin House.

John Parker, a former slave who had purchased his freedom with money he had earned from an apprenticeship, assisted many slaves in the 1800s to escape from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. The group’s tour of the Parker House Museum was given by Betty Campbell of the Ohio Historical Society.

While people in the Parkersburg area were being drenched with storms Friday and Saturday, the tour group enjoyed sunshine both days, with temperatures near 80 degrees on Friday. After the stops in Ripley, the group traveled on to Cincinnati, where they had the option of spending some leisure time at the Kenwood Town Centre Mall after checking in at the Quality Hotel and Suites.

Group members were surprised to run into Abraham Lincoln at the hotel – one at the entrance… several in the lobby….and yet more Abe’s emerging from the elevator! The Association of Lincoln Presenters happened to be staying at the hotel, so Abraham Lincoln was everywhere!

Saturday morning the group spent three and a half hours touring the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. One of the highlights in the Freedom Center was the film “Brothers of the Borderland,” which had been produced in Ripley, Ohio, in 2003, with Oprah Winfrey serving as a documentary host. The “movie-quality” film portrayed the Rankin family’s role in rescuing a freedom seeker. Ironically, the Parkersburg group again ran into the multitude of Abraham Lincolns who were also touring the Freedom Center.

Debbie Richards, Executive Assistant to the President for Policy and Social Justice, served as the group leader. Special thanks go to Allen McNulty for taking numerous pictures during the tour and for providing each group member with a CD of his photographs.

Women Leaders in West Virginia

2006-04-17T19:51:00.000-05:00

By Erika Westbrook
A “Women and Leadership” event will take place at WVUP on April 26. The half-day event will feature prominent female executives who will share inspiring stories of their accomplishments, and how they aspired to achieve their top-level positions in leadership.

Speakers scheduled for the event include Betty Ireland, Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaacov, Vivian Conly, Kathryn S. Decker, Lt. Mary A. Pfeifer, and Dr. Marie Foster Gnage.

West Virginia's 28th Secretary of State Betty Ireland (left) is the first woman to be elected to West Virginia’s executive branch.

Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaacov (right), of the Congregation B’nai Israel in Charleston, is the first full-time woman rabbi in West Virginia. She holds citizenship in both Israel and Australia. She immigrated to Israel in 1970, living on a kibbutz for two years before making Jerusalem her home. She was ordained in New York, where she earned a master’s in Hebrew Literature at Hebrew Union College's Jewish Institute of Religion.

Vivian Conly (left) is president of the Carnegie Hall Foundation in Lewisburg. Kathryn S. Decker is vice president of Patient Care Services at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. Lt. Mary A. Pfeifer is post commander of the Marietta Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Dr. Marie Foster Gnage, president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg (below), is the first woman president of WVUP, and the first African-American woman to be appointed president of a college or university in West Virginia. Prior to her presidency in 2004, she served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, NJ.

The symposium will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by the program at 9 a.m., in Rooms 2536-38. It is free and open to the public.

Advanced registration is required for the symposium, and may be accomplished by visiting the college’s website, or by calling Joe Badgley, executive dean of academic affairs, at 424-8242.

'Unauthorized' Americans

2006-04-17T19:50:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
The recent congressional focus on illegal immigration, and the resulting well-organized (peaceful) mass demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of Latinos across dozens of American cities, have brought attention to the collapse of U.S. immigration policy.

Official U.S. immigration policy is being made irrelevant by a rapid and massive increase in illegal immigration. Widely accepted research of the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, indicates that since 2000 there has been a 40 percent increase in the number of illegal immigrants in the United States, while the U.S. population, by Census figures, has increased by only 6 percent. “Growth in the unauthorized population has averaged more than 500,000 per year,” the Pew Center says, estimating that there are now approximately 12 million illegal immigrants (“unauthorized migrants”) in the United States.

Most of these 12 million illegal immigrants, the Center says, come from Mexico (56 percent) and from other Latin American countries (22 percent). Nine million people from Latin America, in other words, are in this country illegally. The total population of the United States is a little less than 300 million. So, according to this respected research foundation, three out of every hundred people in the United States are illegal immigrants from Latin America. (The overall Hispanic population, documented and undocumented, as measured by the Census Bureau, grew by 60 percent in the 1990s and is now estimated to be 14 percent of the total U.S. population.)

From 1992 to 2004, says the Center, “The unauthorized share of immigration inflows increased and the share that was legal decreased. By the end of the period, more unauthorized migrants than authorized immigrants were entering the United States.” By 2005, says the Center, “unauthorized migrants” made up a greater proportion of the U.S.’s foreign-born population than legal permanent residents.

The Pew Center estimates that, between 2000 and 2005, the number of unauthorized migrants in the United States from Mexico and other Central American countries increased by about 2 million. From Mexico alone, the number of unauthorized migrants increased by 1.5 million in those five years. In other words, 400,000 undocumented immigrants per year are entering the United States from Central America, and 300,000 of those are coming from Mexico.

The Congressional Research Service, a branch of the Library of Congress, says that legal immigration is limited to a yearly worldwide cap of 675,000, not including refugees, with a yearly per-country ceiling of 25,620 immigrants per year.

Including refugees, U.S. policy authorizes about a million immigrants per year, and restricts legal immigration from any one nation to fewer than 26,000 people, but, illegally, 300,000 migrants a year are coming into the United States from the nation of Mexico alone.

The 9 million illegal immigrants who are in this country from Latin America have a great economic, cultural, and political impact on the United States, and will have a greater impact in the future.

Their children born in the United States are, by birthright, U.S. citizens, with special rights to sponsor the future legal immigration of spouses and other family members. U.S. citizens who are citizens by virtue of being born in this country to immigrant parents are, as a group, more likely than other citizens to be the sponsors of further immigration from their parents’ country of origin, so the 400,000 yearly undocumented immigrants coming from Central America and the 9 million undocumented Latin American immigrants they join here are likely to have a great effect, through their children, on legal immigration in the future.

Most legal immigrants to the United States are admitted, says the Congressional Research Service, “because of family relationship to a U.S. citizen or [legal] immigrant. Of the almost 800,000 legal immigrants [including refugees, in fiscal year 1997], 67 percent entered on the basis of family ties. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens made up the single largest group of immigrants. Family preference immigrants - the spouses and children of immigrants, the adult children of U.S. citizens, and the siblings of adult U.S. citizens - were the second largest group.”

If the 12 million unauthorized migrants who are in this country are granted amnesty and citizenship, they will not have to wait for their children to become adults to sponsor new legal immigration. Those 12 million newly authorized citizens will themselves immediately have rights to sponsor immigration from their countries of origin. New legal immigrants from Latin America may be sponsored in numbers which are multiples of 9 million; or perhaps multiples of 10 million or more, if amnesty and citizenship is also eventually granted to the 500,000 unauthorized migrants currently entering the United States each year.

Immigration: Policy by Neglect

2006-04-17T19:49:00.000-05:00

Opinion
By John Hickey
For the United States to allow illegal immigration from Latin America to continue unchecked at current levels amounts to setting, by neglect, an immigration policy which is changing America in ways we might not choose.

One of the goals of U.S. immigration policy is “to ensure diversity by providing admission to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States,” according to the congressional publication Immigration Policy in the United States.

But if new immigrants from European, African, and Asian nations are to have an influence on this country comparable to the new Latin American immigrant influence, the United States would have to increase the legal immigration from those nations to a level which would dwarf America’s existing population, or reduce the actual levels of Latin American illegal immigration.

Congressional attempts to grapple with illegal immigration have been beset by pressure from several directions. The 9 million undocumented Latino immigrants who make up 75 percent of the illegal immigrants in this country are exerting political pressure for amnesty which would give them legal status. Their cause is popular with many Latino citizens and is supported by Latino politicians and cultural leaders, including the Spanish-language radio talk-show hosts who are said to have brought out hundreds of thousands of demonstrators recently. Amnesty is also supported by the employers of illegal workers, who want low-wage, hard-working workers and want to avoid becoming the enforcers of national immigration laws. Some of these businesspeople make campaign contributions to Republican legislators, who have espoused their cause as a business issue.

Some Republicans, however, cannot justify to their constituents the support of amnesty. And some constituencies on the Democratic side are also opposed to amnesty. Many African-American and other politicians see illegal immigration as a threat to wages and jobs for their constituents.

Congress is trying to find a consensus. My sense is that amnesty will only fly if legislators and their constituents are convinced that future illegal immigration will be dramatically reduced. And that can only happen if we take measures we don’t yet seem to have the stomach for. Adequate enforcement will require every employer in the country to go through yet another layer of red tape in keeping records of every employee’s citizenship documentation. And we probably need a national photo identity card, which in states like West Virginia, where I live, evokes in some people fears of “the mark of the beast.”

Some, concerned that America remain an English-speaking country with roots in English history, culture, and law, fear the cultural shift that would result from legal status being granted to 12 million unauthorized migrants, more than 9 million of whom come from non-English-speaking countries.

Many from European or African or Asian backgrounds don’t want immigrants from their own cultures of origin blocked from immigration because someone else sneaked in first, especially if the people that got in will radically change the culture they live in.

Some have security concerns. We want people to be here legally and transparently because of the security risk inherent in the presence of large numbers of people who are hiding from the law and helping other people to hide from the law.

Across the spectrum, many are torn by genuine issues of fairness. We don’t want to use laws to punish hard-working immigrants who just want to help their families. On the other hand, we want immigration to be a fair and legal process that doesn’t just reward cheaters, but reflects a considered policy formulated by our elected representatives.

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2006-04-17T19:47:00.000-05:00

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Nasuruddin on Malay Theatre

2006-04-17T19:46:00.001-05:00

By Anthony Sellers
Fulbright Scholar, Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin will be the featured presenter April 25 and 27 as part of the Humanities Division’s Speaker Series. He will be visiting Ohio University and the University of California at Riverside.

Nasuruddin was in residence at WVUP during the spring semester of 2003. He has earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Malaya in Malaysia, as well as a Master’s and Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre from Indiana University in Bloomington. Currently, Nasuruddin is a teacher at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (the Science University of Malaysia), located in Penang.

Nasuruddin’s presentation on April 25 will cover traditional Malay theatre in context of 21st Century Malaysia. He will discuss the forms of theatre, their general characteristics, and performance elements. Nasuruddin will discuss the threats to their existence, as well as give a brief historical background. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

On April 27, Nasuruddin will present a lecture and demonstration on Malay dance that is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Both presentations will be free of charge and open to the public. The presentations will be held in Rooms 2536-38.

Harris in Philadelphia

2006-04-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
Instructor of Speech Barbara Harris will be among six presenters discussing “Transforming Communication and Community: Forensics and Its Communities,” at the Eastern Communication Association’s 2006 annual meeting in Philadelphia.

Harris, coach of WVUP’s forensics team, has recognized over the years the transformation that occurs in students as they participate in forensic activities. During April 26-30, she will examine and share specific examples in which forensics and her forensic students have served to help transform the various communities in which they interact with – the squad, the forensic circuit, the campus community, and the communities where they live and work.

This marks the 97th annual meeting of the ECA. This year’s theme for the event is “Transforming Communication and Community,” which is brought about to encourage those involved to make a difference in their community and to help apply effective communication skills needed to create positive change.

The Eastern Communication Association, established in 1910, lays claim to be the oldest professional communication association in the United States. The Association has a history of achievement in research, criticism, communication theory, and excellence in teaching. ECA welcomes anyone who shares in their goals and objectives to participate in state, regional and national activities.

New Sigma Beta Delta Members

2006-04-17T19:45:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
Sigma Beta Delta, WVUP’s business honor society, has inducted six new members. Chapter President Sy Sarkarat, chair of the college’s Business and Economics Division, welcomed the new members. Bob McCoy, chapter vice president and professor of business, conducted the national honorary society initiation ceremony held on campus.

New members of Sigma Beta Delta include Cynthia Lynn Allen, Mamye Kay Dunn, Rose Etta Kozak, Greg Osburn, Chad Sullivan and Paul A. Welch. Each student received certificates, pins and honor cords, which may be worn during graduation.

Sigma Beta Delta is an international honor society for Business, Management and Administration. The society serves institutions which offer baccalaureate and graduate degrees in business, management and administration. The honor society is open to college students who represent the top 15 percent of their class and are recommended by their academic advisors.

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2006-04-17T19:44:00.001-05:00

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Travel Class at CCCE

2006-04-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
WVUP’s Center for Corporate and Community Education, along with the WVUP Office of International Education and Travel, will hold a series of classes for area residents interested in international travel, specifically those traveling with an interest in art.

The classes are currently in session, but the third class in the series will be held at the Center for Corporate and Community Education April 24 at 7 p.m. Each class comes with a $10 fee.

Beth Sears-Cox, WVUP’s assistant professor of art, will instruct the class series. Cox will share her special insights along with considerations and introductions to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and The Louvre in Paris. Both exhibits are scheduled to be part of this summer’s study abroad experience.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is considered the most popular tourist site in New York City. The museum, according to the MMA homepage, receives more visitors than the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, the Mets or the Yankees. The MMA is the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere.

The Louvre in Paris opened its doors in 1793, laying host to magnificent artwork for over 200 years. Louvre, the most famous museum appeals to nearly 6 million visitors every year according to the museum’s website. The museum is home to 35,000 works of art. The Louvre’s featured exhibit this summer, is Islamic Art, “Treasury of the World Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals.”

Anyone interested in registering, contact Mary Beth Busch, director of Workforce and Community Education and coordinator of International Education and Travel at (304) 424- 8276.

Backdoor Comedy Club

2006-04-17T19:43:00.001-05:00

By Delano Farley
The Backdoor Comedy Club returned to WVUP after a two-year hiatus with comedians Randy Riggle and Josh Wade performing before a diversified crowd of students, faculty, and community members. The event was a success – and it was funny, too.

Riggle, of Pittsburgh, has performed in the ABC sketch comedy show and America’s Funniest People, and has written acts for comedians Jay Leno and Joan Rivers. At WVUP, Riggle used a variety of formats, including background music with an imaginary typewriter and a six-string acoustic guitar for musical impersonations.

The Pennsylvania native and Penn State University graduate warmed the crowd up with an opening act of entertainment that included near-perfect impersonations of musicians Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan as well as the well-known cartoon characters Elmer Fudd and Bullwinkle the Moose. His act was clean and appropriate for nearly all in attendance in the audience and acted as a smooth beginning for the transition into the act of sarcastic standup comedian Josh Wade of New York.

Wade, a comedian who regularly entertains on the New York comedy circuit, entertained the crowd with a more aggressive approach of standup comedy that included some profanity in his act. The comedian aimed most of his performing criteria at himself and his own experiences, but also used the audience in attendance within his performance to create a laugh.

Alcohol Awareness Day

2006-04-17T19:43:00.000-05:00

By Jasmine Delane
On April 6, Alcohol Awareness Day, students and faculty gained knowledge about the effects of alcohol on the human body. The activities started at 10 a.m. and lasted until 3:30 p.m.

Throughout most of the day in the Multipurpose Room, individuals were able to participate in various activities such as a sobriety check and walking around wearing drunk goggles. People had the opportunity to listen to heart-filled stories from students about how alcohol has influenced and affected their lives.

At noon, individuals were able to make up a team of cheerleaders to cheer on health, fitness, and wellness. Downstairs in the Math Lab, people were able to visit a virtual bar and find out what they did not know about alcohol. Alcohol Awareness Day was a great success. It helped many people learn things that they did not know about alcohol.

Textbooks Available for Summer

2006-04-17T19:42:00.001-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Textbooks will be available for summer classes beginning May 8 in the Campus Bookstore. Online ordering will also be available at that time for direct shipping to your home or instore pick-up at www.wvupbkstore.com.

Because of the short time-frame for financial aid disbursements, students will not be able to charge to their SFA loans and grants for summer textbooks. Other third-party financial aid recipients (i.e. WIA, TAA, Voc, Rehab, Worker’s Comp, etc.) will be allowed to charge books and supplies until July 6 as long as the Bookstore has received an official authorization from the organization.

The Bookstore will be open late June 6 and June 8 until 7 p.m. to accommodate night class students. In addition, the Bookstore will be buying back some selected textbook titles at the end of each summer session June 30 and July 28.

Buyback Time

2006-04-17T19:42:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
The end of the spring semester is soon approaching and that means it is buyback time once again in the Campus Bookstore. When students are finished with textbooks after semester exams, they can stop by the Bookstore and sell their textbooks back for cash!

The bookstore will pay 50 percent of the selling price back to the student if it meets certain requirements. Buyback guidelines are as follows: the book will be used again in the upcoming summer or fall semesters, the book is in good condition, without excessive highlighting, no water damage, and including all components (i.e. CDs), and quantities are needed for the upcoming class enrollment.

The bookstore will also pay wholesale prices everyday for books not being used on our campus. Wholesale price is determined by supply and demand of the title in a national used book market. Please remember that old editions, out of print titles, and some workbooks have no value.

Bookstore hours will be extended the week of finals May 1 through May 4 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Regular hours will be observed May 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Throw Away Your Books!

2006-04-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

By Jessica Milhoan
With summer approaching, the weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer, and school is getting harder. Individuals attending college and working themselves through their responsibilities are becoming victims of stress. School is a full time job in itself. Having to pick what a person wants to do with his life and trying to make the right choices is no easy task for anyone. Most students have a job outside of school as well, making things that much more difficult. The ability to perform at work and make good grades could eventually suffer. What happened to the times when people had the summer months to do as they pleased and their entire life did not ride on one midterm exam score?

Stress is a frightening and unhealthy thing for people. Taking on so many tasks and responsibilities is robbing us of our light-hearted disposition. Will it ever stop? Why should a person be in such a hurry to grow up? There are plenty of jobs out there. The school is here and will be for a long time. This summer should be full of making the best out of life and not over doing it.

Seeing people 20-years-old and even younger with no time for themselves and no personal lives due to work and school has long been a concern. It has been proven that an education will get people a long way in life. However, if one is not happy with his schedule and the way things go, he will not have the energy to put into one or the other. They will lose momentum and eventually everything will suffer.

College students, young or not, should have enough time outside of work and school to do normal things for themselves. So this summer, throw away your books and notebooks, plan stress-free outings, and leave the worries of school behind until next semester.

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2006-04-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

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Final Fantasy VII Movie

2006-04-17T19:39:00.000-05:00

By Chris Carez
Since its release in June 1997, fans of the hit Playstation game Final Fantasy VII have grown in vast numbers. When word spread that Square -now Square Enix - which developed the game, was planning to make a movie, the reaction was mixed. Many fans wondered if the company should even touch something that many felt was perfect as it was. The game mixed a stellar story with, at that time, amazing visuals. It is still considered one of the best Final Fantasy games to date.

Final Fantasy VII follows the story of ex-Soldier Cloud Strife as he struggles with faulty memories of his past. On his journey to discover the truth about the past he makes quite a few friends that help him in the many battles that follow. The game itself is a RPG, a Role-Playing Game, as many of the Final Fantasy games are. The player assembles a party of three characters out of Cloud and his friends. The game’s main villain is a dark character, who is also part of Cloud’s past, Sephiroth. Sephiroth, like Cloud, is an ex-Soldier. Since the game’s release, Sephiroth has become one of the most popular character from any of the Final Fantasy series.

The film, titled Final Fantasy: Advent Children, has already been released in Japan and many American fans either downloaded or imported the film to America so they could watch it. After months of worrying about what the film was going to be like, the fans had their answer. Some liked it and some did not. Those that liked it claimed the story was lacking. Fans of the game were spoiled by its powerful story. While the story is hard to follow at times, it helps if the viewer recently played the game.

The American version will be released April 25, on DVD and UMD. The English-voice cast is sporting quite a few familiar names from Hollywood. Cloud is voiced by Steve Burton. Burton has a recurring role on the soap opera General Hospital. (He plays Jason Morgan.) Burton has also voiced Cloud in the highly successful Kingdom Hearts games. Other familiar celebrities lending their vocal talents are Mena Suvari, voice of Aeris Gainsborough, and Rachael Leigh Cook, voice of Tifa Lockhart. The movie is an excellent Final Fantasy experience and the visuals will blow viewers away.

Ice Age 2 Fun for All Ages

2006-04-17T19:38:00.001-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Being a big kid at heart, I love children’s movies. From the creation of Mickey Mouse and Snow White by Walt Disney to DreamWorks creation of the loveable ogre, Shrek, kid’s movies are just awesome for not only kids, but also kids of all ages. “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown” is no exception. The movie is right on par with the 2002 original, brisk, pleasant and loaded with slapstick that should keep audiences laughing.

The vocal trio of the original, two thirds droll and dour with Ray Ramano (Manny the Mammoth) and Denis Leary (Diego the Sabbortooth tiger), and one third babbling whirlwind, John Leguizamo (Sid the Sloth), is smartly enlivened through the newest addition of Queen Latifah (Ellie the Mammoth).

But it’s those moments with Scrat, whose bleats, grunts, howls, and yelps are voiced with inarticulate glee by “Ice Age” director Chris Wedge, that are the most memorable, just as they are in the original flick.

Scrat stars in the opening sequence and was greeted with laughter and applause from the audience. This little part-squirrel, part-rodent creature is the Darth Vader of this franchise; the supporting player who upstages the top-billed talent with his manic antics to secure his precious acorn.

Ice Age 2, in most people’s and critic’s opinion was better than the first film. Granted, in the movie there is more use of profanity than in the first one. The movie is a basic “feel good” movie. This is a wonderful movie to spend a Saturday and take the whole family to see.

Rascal Flatts Release

2006-04-17T19:38:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Rascal Flatts, country’s hottest singing group, released their fourth album April 4. This much-awaited CD, titled Me and My Gang, includes thirteen new songs, including their latest release that is topping the charts:‘What Hurts The Most.’

The CD also includes a “silly” song along with the more serious ones. The song ‘Backwards’ recycles the old joke of “what happens when you play a country music record backwards? The punch line being “Ya get your house back/Ya get your dog back/You get your first and second wife back”

To this writer and loyal fan’s surprise, Me and My Gang does not include the song ‘Skin (for Sara Beth)’. This song portrays a girl who is diagnosed with cancer and as she deals with all the pain, chemotherapy, and turmoil, she still dreams and wishes to find true love. This song was a huge hit for the band and was expected to be on the album. Evidently, either the band or the record company disagreed with this and therefore, it was not placed on this CD.

Rascal Flatts’ third album, Feels Like Today, was labeled triple platinum by October 2005. Me and My Gang has high expectations to meet, but with the band’s success, this is not a far off stretch. Rascal Flatts still continues to deliver exactly what their fans have come to love and expect and that is a virtue. This solid-as-a-rock album proves the band is here for the long haul.

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2006-04-17T19:37:00.000-05:00

Navigating tip: Clicking the Home link at the bottom of each story will bring you to the top story in the latest issue of the Chronicle.

Lebron Lifts Cavs; MVP in Sight

2006-04-17T19:36:00.001-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
The Cleveland Cavaliers have already locked up a spot in the 2006 NBA playoffs. The Cavaliers incredible season would not have been made possible without their star youngster, Lebron James.

Lebron James is currently playing in his third year as an NBA player. The 21-year-old superstar is averaging around 32 points per game on a team that was not supposed to be that great. James is not only being recognized for his team’s success; James has vaulted himself into the chase for the NBA’s MVP award.

James has also shown his durability this season by leading the NBA in most games played and is second in minutes played per game. Lebron has also stepped up for the Cavaliers when they needed it most. He has hit several game-winning jumpers that led to the team being very confident in giving him the ball.

Despite his individual success, James has clearly stated that, until his team has won an NBA championship, his personal success does not mean anything. James is a very classy player who plays in a league that lacks that particular quality.

Penguin Phenom Shines

2006-04-17T19:36:00.000-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
An 18-year-old kid named Sidney Crosby has given Pittsburgh Penguin fans a reason to be optimistic. Despite another losing season by the Pens, Crosby has emerged into a rookie sensation for the young club.

Coming into the season, Crosby was expected to do well because he was the first pick for the Penguins in the draft. However, he has exceeded those expectations by compiling one of the greatest seasons by arookie in the history of the franchise. Crosby has seemed to fit right in with the top players in the league. He is a scoring machine from the center position and plays very aggressive defense.

Crosby probably will not win the rookie scoring title this year because another great rookie, Alexander Ovechkin, has matched him step-for-step. Ovechkin is two years older than Crosby is and has taken almost 130 more shots than the Pittsburgh rookie has.

While Penguin fans say goodbye to the retired Mario Lemieux, they have adopted a new star that will have plenty of time to evolve into another hockey great.

Nehlen Receives Recognition

2006-04-17T19:35:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
Don Nehlen, WVU’s winningest football coach, was recently elected into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and fittingly so. The man not only earned the credit he deserves, he earned it the old-fashioned way.

Nehlen’s philosophy of having solid linemen and keeping a stable of running backs was as clear in technique as his approach to the game. The old fashioned “keep it on the ground” and the “three yards and a cloud of dust” theories were witnessed nearly every game day. However, that style of play earned him his dues as it proved to be successful for him and the teams he coached.

He will be inducted on Sunday, May 7, at the West Virginia Sports Writers Association’s 60th annual Victory Awards dinner. Nehlen’s tenure as head coach of the Mountaineer football team was highlighted by two undefeated seasons (1988, 1993) and a national championship game appearance versus Notre Dame in January 1989. In 1982, Nehlen took an underrated Mountaineer football squad to Oklahoma University to play the highly ranked Sooners. The Mountaineers were not supposed to win that game. But they did, and in convincing fashion. That was not only the beginning of what WVU football is today, but also it was a stepping-stone in Nehlen’s career.

Nehlen recorded 53 wins at Bowling Green University in nine years, and then served a three-year assistantship as recruiting coordinator and quarterback coach at Michigan University under the legendary Bo Schembechler.

The Canton, Ohio, native posted 149 wins during his 21 years at WVU. He guided WVU teams to 17 winning seasons and 13 bowls. His career record of 202 wins over 30 years ranked him fifth among active coaches when he retired in 2001.

Nehlen had 15 All American first-team selections of which six made Academic All American first teams. Eighty-three of his student athletes went on to play professional football. This past December, Nehlen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in New York City. He is also a member of the WVU; Bowling Green; Gator Bowl; MAC; and Canton, Ohio, Baseball Old-Timers halls of fame.

Football Change up to WVBOE

2006-04-17T19:34:00.001-05:00

By Delano Farley
There could be a new format of operation in the high school football system of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) in 2007.

The Commission’s Board of Control accepted a proposal by Christine Carder, the principal at Wheeling Park High School, Tuesday, April 4, when the state’s high school principals passed a plan to change the nearly 50-year old format that has been in place since 1958.

If the proposal passes the vote of the State Board of Education, a new class AAAA will be created for football; private schools like Parkersburg Catholic will be moved to a private class (the new “AP” division); and every high school football team in the state will participate in post-season play.

Wheeling Park Athletic Director Bernie Dolan appeared to be in support of the proposal. Dolan was quoted by the Associated Press as stating, “That’s an advantage West Virginia has over everybody else. We are small enough to do things other states can’t.”

Currently the system has three class specifications in A, AA and AAA. Class A represents the small schools, the big schools make up AAA, and the rest fall into the AA section. The class any school participates in is determined through the school’s enrollment.

The proposal is aimed at tightening the gap in school size within each classification of the sport. It would also allow each school an opportunity to earn more revenue from the sport with an additional playoff game for everyone.

The proposal at first did not pass the Secondary School Activities Commission’s Board of Control, failing by a 73-72 vote, but a recount of votes garnered an 84-69 count in favor of the proposal. The West Virginia State Board of Education will have the final say as to whether or not the scope of Mountain State high school football will take a new form starting in 2007.

Faces Change at PSHS

2006-04-17T19:34:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
Parkersburg South High School Patriots athletics has made leaps and bounds from the past to the present. A school once dominated in nearly every sport by its cross-town rival Parkersburg High School has come full circle to become fully respected statewide in nearly every sport.

But the situation at the Patriots fort is changing again and resignations are the reason. With resignations from athletic director John Flint, football coach Mike DeVol, wrestling coach Tim McCartney, and volleyball coach Tammy Fisher, it is pretty obvious there will be a different look to Parkersburg South athletics, at least on the sidelines if not on the field.

Championships in sports like wrestling and football, including the inner-city championships, have come from the long and stressful efforts of many in the position of athletic director and coach. They have been the leaders to success. They have expended blood, sweat and tears to help build their athletic powerhouses.

With many new faces entering the athletic program, there may be reason to wonder if their successors can achieve as much as the present group has. In the meantime, whether it is a slow transition or fast transition for the new faces, the outgoing group deserves a lot of the credit for what Parkersburg South is today – an athletic high school program respected throughout the state of West Virginia.

Each individual deserves credit from everyone interested in high school sports, Patriot fan or not. They have helped build Cinderella teams into what every sports fanatic hopes for: blue chip programs.

Golf Tourney April 20

2006-04-17T19:33:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Student Activities will host a Golf Tourney April 20 at 1 p.m. at the Golf Club of West Virginia. The cost is $10 for nine holes and cart. For more information or to sign up see Tom in Office 1535A or call 424-8309.

Fly Fishing Class

2006-04-17T19:32:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Introduction to Fly Fishing, a class that started on April 6, will run through May 25. Classes start at 7 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. There is a $115 registration fee. The fee includes textbook and first year membership to the Blennerhassett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (a $35 value). The class meets in the Center for Corporate and Community Education, Room B. For more information or to register, contact Becky at 424-8275.

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2006-04-17T19:31:00.001-05:00

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WVU Session April 24

2006-04-17T19:31:00.000-05:00

By Katy Full
The West Virginia University Extended Learning Office will host the annual Spring Information Session on April 24 in the Multipurpose Room. If interested in earning a degree with a national reputation, individuals should go to the three-hour session beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Attending students will be presented with a list of online and off-campus programs offered through WVU Morgantown, with many of the courses available at WVUP. Particular existing classes lead towards graduate and undergraduate degrees, as well as Continuing and Professional Education. The class schedule will be available to students on April 24.

Students may be curious as to why the Spring Information Session “is for you.” An important point is that excellent programs are being made available to WVU Parkersburg students. WVU Morgantown’s degrees are nationally recognized. What’s more, the North Central Association of School and Colleges accredit WVU for having many degree programs holding specialized accreditation.

Another “plus” is the engaging faculty. Many professors in the distance learning programs have won university, state, and national teaching awards.

Honors College

2006-04-17T19:30:00.000-05:00

By Chris Carez
The WVUP Honors College is a serious step towards improving students learning. The Honors College provides enhanced learning to students who are interested in the program. Admission is easy. Any student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better is automatically a member of the Honors College. Students who are members can request honor credit that their professors designate for Honor Faculty members. Students doing so must have this done in the first week of their classes. Anyone with a grade point average between 3.2 and 3.5 may apply for provisional admittance to the Honors College.

When students qualify for honors credit, they enter into a special arrangement with the faculty member they are attaining the credit from. This arrangement requires the student to complete a project related to the course they are taking. Students must complete a minimum of 15 hours of honors credit; three of these hours must be outside the student’s major. Students must also submit an honors portfolio to the Honors Council and complete the Honors Capstone Experience. Students must also maintain a 3.2 grade point average.

There are five Academic Honors Societies here at WVUP: Alpha Upsilon Alpha, a national reading/language arts society; Delta Psi Omega, an honorary dramatic society; Kappa Delta Pi, an international honorary society in education; Phi Theta Kappa, a national honorary society for students in two-year colleges; and Sigma Beta Delta, a national honor society in business. Each offers a broad variety of opportunities for students and have each their own requirements for admittance.

A great source of information for those interested in the program is the Honors College web site. On the web site, students can learn about many other aspects of the Honors College, such as which instructors are part of the Honors Faculty. There is also a list of the Honors Council. For more information, contact Professor Gregg Busch, Director of the Honors College, in Room 1025B.

Higher ACT Requirements

2006-04-17T19:29:00.000-05:00

By Anthony Sellers
The West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education approved a change that will raise the minimum ACT Composite score for those applying to the Nursing Department.

For applicants coming out of high school who have maintained a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and have taken and completed Chemistry 111 with a grade of “C” or higher, a minimum ACT composite score of 23 must be earned. The previous minimum score was 21.

For college students applying, a GPA of 2.5, as well as a GPA of 2.5 in English 101, Psychology 101, Sociology 101, and Chemistry 111, a minimum score of 19 must be earned. The previous minimum score was 18.

Nursing Pinning Ceremony

2006-04-17T19:28:00.000-05:00

By Anthony Sellers
The Nursing Program’s Pinning Ceremony will be held May 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. The ceremony is being held for those students who are graduating from the program.

In addition, Cheryl Robinson will be holding CPR classes for nursing students on June 6, 7, and 21-23 at 9 a.m. in Room 2536. The public is permitted to join, providing there are extra openings.

On May 3, the Nursing program will hold an information session at 2 p.m. for new nursing students. Students who attend this meeting are also required to attend the orientation meeting on Aug. 16 at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact the Health Sciences Division at 424-8300.

Children’s Author Visits

2006-04-17T19:27:00.000-05:00

By Jasmine Delane
Sarah Sullivan, children’s book author, will be coming to the West Virginia University at Parkersburg campus on the morning of Tuesday April 25. She will be visiting Professor Dottie Bibbee’s Children’s Literature class to speak about publication and writing for children. Anyone who would like to see her is welcome. This will be from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. in Rooms 2536 - 2538.

Sullivan has had two children’s books published this year: Root Beer and Banana, with illustrations by Greg Shed, and Dear Baby: Letters from Your Big Brother, with illustrations done by Paul Meisel. Candlewick Press published both of these books. For more information on this author, you can visit her, at www.sarahsullivanbooks.com.

Register Now for Childcare

2006-04-17T19:24:00.000-05:00

By Diana Williams
Sue Burge, an employee of The Children’s Room at WVUP, says “the children had a really good time this semester. They really enjoyed singing at the Multicultural Festival.” The children participated in the event with guest leader Hannah Williams. They sang a song called the Tooty Ta Song.

The Children’s Room will be open for summer from 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Register now for childcare during the summer sessions.

Fall registration for childcare will begin the week before classes resume. Information can be obtained by contacting the Children’s Room at 424-8311.

‘A Thousand Cranes’

2006-04-03T20:57:00.000-05:00

By Katie Deem
The Theatre Department presents “A Thousand Cranes,” by Kathryn Schultz Miller, in the Multipurpose Room, tenatively on April 27 at 7 p.m. in a "Sneak Peek" performance, and (again tentatively) on April 29 and 30 at 2 p.m in a public performance. The play depicts the life of a 12-year-old girl, Sadako Sasaki, who has “radiation sickness” as a result of the Hiroshima bomb. While preparing for a school race, Sadako falls ill and is diagnosed with leukemia. Her friend Kenji reminds her of a story that, if an ill person folds a thousand origami cranes, the gods will make her well again.

Sadako is inspired to fold them. During this process, the spirit of Sadako’s grandmother, who had died in the bomb attack, visits her. Her grandmother shows her the souls of others who died during the attack. On that journey, Sadako begins to understand the significance of her wish.

Sadako dies before she completes her task. Three hundred and sixty five cranes remained to be folded. Her friends and classmates take up where Sadako left off.

The set style is representational, says director Carson Soelberg, and only the grandmother will display traditional Japanese dress. Other characters, like Kenji and Sadako’s father and mother, will display typical '50s American dress. (Japan was greatly influenced by American culture during this period.) Actors include Caena Stewart as Sadako, Allen Withrow as Sadako’s friend, Melanie McAtee as the grandmother, Mike Webb as Sadako’s father, and Christina Mace as her mother. The crew includes Amanda Parsons as assistant to the director, Holly Pfaff as costume designer, and Patrick Garvey as technical advisor.

“This is a family show," says Soelberg, "for children who can understand" the gravity of nuclear bombing. The department also plans to tour local schools with “A Thousand Cranes.” Soelberg hopes children will come away from the play asking if the bombing of Hiroshima was necessary—asking if it is ever right to drop a nuclear bomb for any reason.

For more information on performance dates, please contact Carson Soelberg, Director of Theatre at 424-8295.

"This is our cry
This is our prayer
Peace in the World"

Inscription on the base of the Children's Peace Monument, erected by the children of Hiroshima in memory of Sadako Sasaki.

SGA Elections April 3 and 4

2006-04-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

By SGA President David Cumberledge
With the fall semester a distant memory and spring semester nearing its end, your 2005-2006 Student Government would like to congratulate every student on a great year. The year has been a learning experience for all of us. Although we have had great success, we found success does not come without hard work and determination. We saw the 2005-2006 school year as a year of rebuilding and renewal for the students, the college and the Student Government Association.

The college currently has the highest enrollment in its history. With a growing number of students, there are more activities and events we hold to get you all involved and to have fun while being educated. Some examples throughout the past year were Troops Week, the Halloween Party, the Comedy Show and the Valentine’s Date Auction, just to name a few. There are more activities scheduled for spring and even a few for fall ‘06. We encourage students to enjoy some fun in these activities.

In addition to activities and events that we plan, we have recently made additions and alterations to the Constitution and By-Laws of the SGA. These changes were made to better serve the student body.

SGA elections are being held April 3 and 4 on the main campus and Wednesday April 5 at JCC campus. Anyone wishing to run for a Student Government Office is welcome to pick up a candidate form. Forms can be found at the SGA Office, the Dean of Students Office and the Student Activities Office. Lists of the positions available are as follows: President, Vice President, Senior Senator, Junior Senator, two Sophomore Senators, six Senators-at-Large and two Jackson County Senators.

WVUP student tries new touch-screen electronic balloting system which will be used in SGA elections and the May 9 primary election. Wood County Clerk Jamie Six visited WVUP and gave a demonstration of the machines.

Photo by Dennis Bell

Iraq War Protest in Parkersburg

2006-04-03T18:56:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
Almost everyday we open our newspaper or turn on the TV only to hear about how more American soldiers have died fighting this sometimes seemingly endless war. March 19 marked the third anniversary of the beginning of the War in Iraq, leaving many wondering why we are still there. Each day another life is killed, each day another child is left motherless or fatherless. Yet the war continues on.

The Wood County Democrats and Young Democrats recently organized a rally to support the troops but not the war. The rally was located behind the Blennerhassett Hotel at the Bicentennial Park on Market Street, March 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. Speakers for the event included Marine Corporal Dan Wyatt, Iraq War Veteran Major Boggs, Kari Gunter, who’s son is currently serving in Iraq and Brent Baalog, President of the PHS Young Democrats. Those speaking presented peace and anti-Iraq war messages.

The rally helped to remind Americans who are literally disgusted by the war that we still need to support our troops. Supporting our troops in making sure they have the proper equipment and supplies doesn’t mean supporting the war. Anti-war protestors often associate soldiers with those supporting the war, and forget that soldiers are just following orders.

At 2 p.m. a protest march began down Juliana Street up Fifth Street and back down Market. During the march a 200-foot-long “Wall of Remembrance” was carried. The 200 foot sign contains the names of all 2,311 American soldiers that have died during the war. The Charleston Patriots of Peace group developed the wall; it has traveled around the state and even made its way to Washington D.C. The wall took around 30 to 40 people to carry. The Charleston group began the wall at the start of the war and has continued to add names as soldiers have died.

The third anniversary of the war also brought about many other unrelated ceremonies in or near Parkersburg. Reverend Jon Lands, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna, marked the anniversary with a special church service honoring those who served and died in Iraq. Those attending the service received a ribbon and a card of someone serving overseas to pray for.

WVUP Celebrates Diversity

2006-04-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Social Justice Committee hosted the seventh annual International Luncheon March 9 in WVUP’s Multipurpose Room, seeking to celebrate the diversity of world cultures through food, dance, art, music, and a parade featuring costumes of several international cultures. Everyone was invited to dress in costume for the parade.

The event featured the world-music ensemble known as The Groove Project, which, besides playing festivals and nightclubs, does song and dance workshops introducing children to international “grooves” and rhythm.

The blind musician and dulcimer-maker Mike Mollohan was also featured, performing on one of his instruments. The children from WVUP’s Children’s Room joined the event to sing and dance, and the recently formed International Student Club reserved three tables to present the foods and crafts of the 16 countries represented by its members.

The WVUP cafeteria provided tacos, a Mexican favorite, and Chinese egg rolls. Everyone was invited to bring a covered dish of their own favorite international cuisine.

Joyce Kronberg, professor of biology at WVUP and chair of the Social Justice Committee, co-chaired the event with Assistant Professor of Nursing Cheryl Robinson.

Dulcimer-maker Mike Mollohan

Photo by Betsy Curry

Raising the Roof

2006-04-03T18:52:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
West Virginia University at Parkersburg has awarded $314,000 in roofing contracts to low bidder Tri-State Roofing of Vienna to re-roof WVUP’s main campus buildings as well as the Jackson County Center, says Director of Purchasing Wayne Riley, project coordinator.

If, walking from the lower parking lot, you’ve picked up the whiff of burning tar and seen people and material on the roof of the “Banana Wing,” you know that the work is now underway. The roofing should be completed in April and there should be no disruption of campus activities, Riley says.

Tri-State Roofing says, at tri-stateservicegroup.com, that it began as a small West Virginia roofing business in 1923, when “about all you needed to be in the built-up roofing business was a wood-fired kettle, a few wheelbarrows, a truck and a rope and wheel.” They have more than a few wheelbarrows now; the company now boasts twelve locations covering the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, and an expertise in sophisticated heating, ventilation, and sheet-metal services, as well as in roofing.

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2006-04-03T18:51:00.000-05:00

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Women and Leadership

2006-04-03T18:46:00.000-05:00

By Erika Westbrook
A “Women and Leadership” event will take place at WVUP on April 26. The half-day event will feature prominent female executives who will share inspiring stories of their accomplishments, and how they aspired to achieve their top-level positions in leadership.

Speakers scheduled for the event include West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland, the first woman to be elected to West Virginia’s executive branch and the 28th Secretary of State.

Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaacov of the Congregation B’nai Israel in Charleston, is the first full-time woman rabbi in West Virginia. She holds dual citizenship in both Israel and Australia. She immigrated to Israel in 1970, living on a Kibbutz for two years before making Jerusalem her permanent home. She was ordained in New York, where she earned a master’s in Hebrew Literature at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.

Also scheduled to speak is Vivian Conly, president of Carnegie Hall Foundation in Lewisburg, Kathryn S. Decker, vice-president of Patient Care Services, Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, and Lt. Mary A. Pfeifer, post commander of the Marietta Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Marie Foster Gnage, president of WVU at Parkersburg, will also be speaking. Dr. Gnage is the first woman president at WVUP, and the first African-American female to be appointed president of a college or university in West Virginia. Prior to her presidency in 2004, she served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, NJ.

The symposium will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by the program at 9 a.m., in Rooms 2536-38. It is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required for the symposium, and may be accomplished by visiting the college’s website, or by calling Joe Badgley, executive dean of academic affairs, at 424-8242.

WW II 'Home Front' Posters

2006-04-03T18:40:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
Twenty-six World War Two-era “Home Front” posters will be exhibited at West Virginia University at Parkersburg Aug. 4 through Sept. 15, says the West Virginia Humanities Council, as part of an exhibit traveling to six state venues in 2006.

The posters, exhorting citizens at home to identify with and support the war effort, often featured women in the factory-worker roles they had assumed when most able-bodied men were away at war.

The exhibit, Produce for Victory: Posters on the American Home Front, 1941-1945, presents the best of the Smithsonian Institution’s World War II posters, reproduced along with photographs and original objects organized by the National Museum of American History, according to the Humanity Council’s web site. The posters, say the Council, were collected by the Smithsonian’s curator of graphic arts during WWII and “tell the story of an American home front mobilizing its human and natural resources for the war overseas.”

The cost for the tour, says the Council, is underwritten by the West Virginia Humanities Council through the Museum on Main Street program, a partnership of the Smithsonian Institution and Federation of State Humanities Councils with Rural America. Established in 1991, the partnership was formed as a creative response to the challenges faced by rural organizations to enhance their own cultural legacies.

Images courtesy http://americanhistory.si.edu/victory

Butcher Heads Youth Program

2006-04-03T18:30:00.000-05:00

By Anthony Sellers
WVUP graduate Shaun Butcher will chair Key Leader, a youth leadership program, the weekend of April 21-23 in Ripley, West Virginia. The event is held for high school students.

Founder and president of training and consulting company Inspire to Serve, Butcher is also an author, consultant, and lecturer. His company specializes in organizational and personal development. He is also Resource Development Director of the United Way of Washington County, Maryland.

In years past, Butcher has also been an executive director for Habitat for Humanity, and served as an Americorps VISTA Leader, as well as director for a national youth program called the Center for Youth as Resources, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Academically, Butcher has received a bachelor’s degree from WVU, and a Certificate in Leadership Studies from Marietta College. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University.

Ashley Seeks Republican Spot

2006-04-03T18:20:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
WVUP student Jim Ashley II will be on the ballot May 9 at polling places in West Virginia’s 3rd Senatorial District, running for a four-year term as a member of the executive committee of the West Virginia Republican Party, which, Ashley says, chooses the state party chairman, has a say in setting party budget parameters, and helps influence the direction of the party.

Ashley declares himself a Reagan Republican. He says he is pro-life and in favor of less government, lower taxes, and citizens taking personal responsibility for their lives.

Ashley wants the West Virginia Republican Party to focus on paying off $200,000 in debts the party has incurred in recent years. He says the delay in settling the debt hurts the credibility of the state party, and undermines the party’s historic position of fiscal conservatism. He feels the party should devote fundraising events specifically to paying off the debt.

West Virginia’s registered Republicans are outnumbered 2-1 by registered Democrats, but the party is growing, and the national Republican party seeks to convert the state.

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2006-04-03T12:28:00.000-05:00

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Busch on Work-Related Deaths

2006-04-03T12:27:00.001-05:00

By Chris Carez
Professor Greg Busch, instructor of Sociology, spoke at the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation meeting held Thursday, March 9, in Morgantown. The topic under discussion was “Sociocultural Considerations of Death and Dying.” The session included participants from 15 state-based NIOSH-funded and FACE programs, which investigate work-related deaths. Busch addressed ways groups react to death and gave suggestions for giving prevention recommendations to survivors.

Mock Sobriety Check

2006-04-03T12:26:00.000-05:00

A mock sobriety check will be held April 6 from 12:30 -3:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. Students are encouraged to try on the “drunk goggles” and drink mocktails. This activity is sponsored by the Student Health Center.

How to Keep a Job

2006-04-03T10:49:00.000-05:00

By Katie Deem
One can get training on how to do well in an interview. One can learn how to impress an employer by looking professional, speaking eloquently and being personable. One knows she must have experience in a related field to qualify for a desired position. She must be educated or trained, if necessary. It is not widely known, however, how to keep employment.

Just as one enrolls in a class and pays tuition, one applies for a job, is interviewed and is hired. These tasks are simple and easily performed. However, one must attend class and do the assignments in order to receive a passing grade. Similarly, one must show up for work and perform duties in order to keep employment.

Generally, when one finally obtains a position, he or she feels a sense of relief. One feels she can relax because she has won her employer’s approval. However, this is when she should be working the hardest to keep up her winning impression. She needs to convince her manager continuously that she is a fast learner, quick thinker, honest and reliable just as she told the manager she was in the interview. These are definitely the most difficult tasks.

There are simple things she can do. Have common sense. Show up for a scheduled shift. Be willing to come in when not scheduled. Be polite. Be honest when a mistake is made. Ask questions if unsure. Perform simple tasks just as well as difficult.

Remember that how to keep a manager’s approval depends upon his or her personality. What qualities does he or she prefer to see in an employee? Perhaps she enjoys someone personable, easy to talk to and work with, someone graceful under pressure. Or perhaps she wishes to see someone serious and driven, uninterested in conversation or being liked. One thing an employee must be is perceptive to the preferences of a manager. This is not about who one is as a person, but who one is as an employee.

Damsel Locks Keys in Car

2006-04-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

By Katie Deem
Picture it: Wal-Mart, midnight. A young woman searches for cuticle clippers in the beauty aisle. She selects the perfect pair and moves to the checkout lanes. She spends $4. She then checks her purse for her car keys. She shakes the purse to try to hear that familiar jingle, but she hears nothing. It suddenly dawns on her: She left her keys in the car.

Yes, that young woman is me. I had two options after I realized I had locked my keys in my car. I could become hysterical, angry, upset or I could remain calm. I chose the latter. I sat calmly onto the bench at the front of the store and considered what I should do. I called my mother. I was thinking that she, my mentor, my protector, would know what to do. She would come to my rescue, say that it was okay that I left the keys in the ignition, that everyone has done it. She, however, was unsympathetic. She refused to come to my aid. She suggested I ask someone at Customer Service what to do. I hung up on her. Then, of course, took her advice.

The Customer Service representatives at Wal-Mart were very helpful. Two men attempted to stick a wire hanger into the door of my car, but to no avail. Two women helped me contact the Vienna Police Department in the hope that an officer would come and break into my car for me.

I spoke to a man who agreed to send an officer to Wal-Mart. I told him I would wait in front of the right-side entrance. I thanked the Wal-Mart Customer Service Representatives for their kindness and their help, then I proceeded to the entrance. I had waited only a few minutes when I spotted a Vienna Police Department vehicle pulling into the parking lot. He pulls in front of the entrance and says hello. I look into the vehicle and this police officer is nothing short of a vision.

Maybe it was because I felt like such a damsel in distress or maybe because I had been practically abandoned by my mother, but he glowed as though he donned shining armor. I showed him where my car was parked. He pulled up beside it as I walked over. He stepped out, still aglow, and spoke. Every sentence he spoke was polite. He unlocked my car, and I expressed my gratitude.

I got into the car, and honestly, I had to laugh. It had been such a ridiculous evening. My late-night trip to Wal-Mart should have taken 20 minutes, but ended up taking two hours. It’s a lesson learned. Next time I’ll remember the keys.

Women Beat Each Other Up

2006-04-03T10:47:00.000-05:00

Opinion
By Katie Deem
When women are among women, our like experiences bring us together. We can discuss freely menstruation, sex, menopause, make-up, politics, history, and the economy. A kind of sisterhood forms us, unites us, and bonds us together. In that sisterhood, we will always be heard and understood.

Sometimes, however, an unknown force pulls us apart, keeps women at odds even before they have an opportunity to see commonalities. That force is female aggression. It is the cat walk with claws, an evil glance, a cold shoulder, a smirk, gossip, backstabbing, Girl vs. Girl, a mean and hateful attitude not supported by reality.

Adolescence intensifies this competition between females. In junior high and high school, it is most noticeable. The film Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan, shows how competitive girls can be in a perceived social hierarchy. Girls fight over boyfriends, talk about one another maliciously, choose and lose best friends as if no emotional attachment exists. This social aggression and competitiveness continues into adulthood.

Some adult women still talk maliciously about other women, judge their appearance, their accomplishments, their husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends and family. Some adult women perform covert operations to ensure that their cattiness appears subtle or even invisible. While gossiping, they employ catlike precision to ensure that their target is unaware of their words.

Sometimes in perceived social hierarchies, women compete to be the center of attention, the “queen bee” of the office, a group of friends, or the classroom. Women see other women as a threat to their sense of belonging and security. Often if one woman receives attention, achieves or excels, other women in her presence become jealous and criticize features of her personality or even her body.

Though competition between females is often seen as a natural occurrence, inevitable in our sisterhood, women need to understand that this gossip, incessant backstabbing and judging destroy our bonds to one another. Remember that we teach our daughters how to live through our own actions. They form their sisterhood with their peers similarly to how we form ours. Let us show them also how to respect and be honest with one another.

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2006-04-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

Navigating tip: Clicking the Home link at the bottom of each story will bring you to the top story in the latest issue of the Chronicle.

Heart Gallery of West Virginia

2006-04-03T10:23:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
The Heart Gallery of West Virginia: Portraits of Hope, a traveling photography exhibit conducted by Mission West Virginia that features portraits of Mountain State foster children eligible for adoption, is being featured inside the Grand Central Mall in the Parkersburg area until April 10.

The exhibit’s main goal is to provide knowledge about foster children with a need for a loving family and recruit families for foster parenting and adoption needs. The portraits of the foster children on display are accompanied by information about the children and an audio feed of their voices.

The Heart Gallery of West Virginia will travel throughout the state until mid-2006. Twelve of the one hundred children awaiting adoption in West Virginia will be a part of the gallery. Wendy’s International, Inc. and the Sisters of Saint Joseph provided funding for the project. West Virginia photographers Dewayne and Gwinnie Lowther from Parkersburg and John Fluharty of Charleston helped create the display of photography. The photographers volunteered their time and talents to create the intimate portraits of the foster children who are typically considered as the “hardest to place” in adoption. Many of the “hardest to place” are children considered to be minorities, older, or in sibling groups.

Many children are awaiting adoption from loving families and have been waiting for years to receive a permanent home. The Heart Gallery of West Virginia seeks to bring a face and give a voice to children who are in need of adopting families. If you are interested in more information about how you can adopt or assist Mission West Virginia’s Heart Gallery or any adoption education/recruitment program, please contact Mission West Virginia at 1-866-CALLMWV or visit their website at missionwv.org.

Grad Fair at Bookstore

2006-04-03T10:22:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
The Campus Bookstore will be holding a Grad Fair on April 12 for all May graduates. This is an opportunity to purchase graduation attire and accessories. Merchandise on hand will include announcements, diploma frames, resume papers, and other graduation souvenirs. A representative from Herff Jones will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to show samples of class rings and answer any questions. Refreshments will be served and graduates may register to win a gift certificate. All items will be available for purchase up until graduation day as long as supplies last. Store hours will be extended for the celebration from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beginning April 1 the bookstore will be taking applications for temporary bookseller employment. Additional staff is needed during the busy season of Buyback and the beginning of each semester. Hours generally range between 15 and 20 a week and can work around your school schedule. Stop by today and pick up an application for employment in May and June and then again in August.

‘All the Right Reasons’

2006-04-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

By Anthony Sellers
“Show me what it‘s like to be the last one standing, and I‘ll show you what I can be,” sings Canadian rock band Nickelback, “If it’s worth savin’ me.”

Originating in Hanna, Canada in 1995, the group didn’t come into their own until 1998, when they decided to manage themselves independently. Almost a decade later, the band has seen immense success, producing ten top ten songs from five albums, the latest of which is called All The Right Reasons.

The band always felt that music should be made for all the right reasons – not the obligation for an artist to put an album together by a certain date, but because the artist feels obligated to create innovative music, to discover more about the world they are surrounded by, and to understand that same world. The name is also a play on the words of the second track: “Fight For All the Wrong Reasons.”

While still giving a glimpse of the bands roots, All The Right Reasons is more diverse than any of the other albums, with vibrant guitar solos in the tracks “Savin’ Me,” “Side of a Bullet,” and “Follow You Home.” Also, to complement the laid-back nature of the guitars and drums in the track “If Everyone Cared,” the band decided to use a piano throughout the song, a first for the group in their eleven years together.

The band currently has two singles from the new album: “Photograph” and “Animals.” The first single, “Photograph,” is by far the most personal song on the album, taking a look into the teenage years of lead singer Chad Kroeger’s life. “Animals” is an upbeat song that provides hard drumming and distorted guitar riffs lead by a simple but energetic bass line.

The album was made with “all the right reasons” for every artist in mind.

Lifesong Tour Hits Columbus

2006-04-03T10:15:00.000-05:00

By Katy Full
Casting Crowns, the fastest-selling new Christian act in 2003 and 2004, continued the spring leg of their Lifesong tour March 26, at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Accompanying the band was Nichole Nordeman, a two-time Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, and eight-time GMA Music Award winner. Josh Bates, born and raised in Independence, Kentucky, was also an asset to the tour. He offered his mandolin, guitar, and piano skills, and topped it all off with an amazing voice.

At 6 p.m., Josh Bates kicked off the concert with stories of mandolin playing in Kentucky, and his own rendition of Christian blue grass. Then, to switch it up a bit, Bates exchanged his mandolin for an electric guitar, and entertained the crowd with more contemporary style songs. Much to the dismay of the female viewers, far too quickly Bates departed the stage, and gave the spotlight to Nichole Nordeman.

Singing her heart out while playing the piano, Nichole Nordeman wowed the crowd with her intricate honesty. She brought personal life struggles into her music, and audience could feel every emotion put into the lyrics. Her songs were calming, other than audience softly singing along, not another sound could be heard in the entire arena.

Quickly following Nordeman, Casting Crowns, the band everyone was waiting to see, entered the stage. After lead guitarist, Chris Huffman, offered the evening prayer, Casting Crowns began. Debuting their new release, Lifesong, songs such as “If We Are the Body,” “The Voice of Truth,” “Who am I,” and new hit “Lifesong,” were concert must-plays. Lead vocalist, Mark Hall, kept audiences laughing with his blunt perspective on life and his quirky sense of humor. Around 9:30 p.m. Casting Crowns had a hard time leaving, brought back onto stage after audience shouted “encore, encore.”

Tony Nolan, a passionate evangelist, spoke to the crowd once during the concert, giving an entertaining, and incredibly animated display of God’s love for humanity. Performing almost a skit, Nolan begin talking about his “heart disease” and his “transplant,” meaning he had a more spiritual heart put in him. Refusing to let people leave unchanged, Nolan led the crowd in prayer, and in return had many individuals re-devote their lives to Christ.

The Lifesong Tour show in Columbus was a complete success. Proving that they are just regular people with a desire to live for Christ, Casting Crowns gave testimonials of their local churches. Consisting of a real estate agent, a Christian bookstore sales clerk, a graphic artist, and a janitor at the church, among others, Casting Crowns is simply a group of dedicated youth workers with a great deal of talent. They will continue their tour throughout April. Tickets can be purchased at numerous sites, including ticketmaster.com and castingcrowns.com.

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2006-04-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

Navigating tip: Clicking the Home link at the bottom of each story will bring you to the top story in the latest issue of the Chronicle.

WVUP Idol Crowned

2006-04-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
A WVUP Idol has been crowned. Adrianne Mahaney received a $100 gift certificate to the bookstore for her first place effects during the finals of the Idol competition held on March 22. Contestants performed to the song of their choice and were judged accordingly by a panel of judges. Other winners included second place winner, Bubba Holt, who received a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore, and Brandy Bush, who took third.

Big Show Rescheduled

2006-04-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Student Government Association and Student Activities Department of WVUP is proud to announce The Big Show. The Big Show will include trivia from movies, music and TV. Anyone can win!

The show was originally supposed to take place in March, but has been rescheduled for April 21. Tickets in advance are $3 each and two for $5. Tickets will be $5 per ticket at the door. The Big Show will take place in the College Activities Center (Multi-purpose Room) at 7 p.m. on April 21. Come and test your pop culture knowledge and win!

Beauty Show a ‘Drag’

2006-04-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

By Trina Barber
WVUP Student Government invites students to join in the “Miss”ter WVUP contest held Monday, April 3, at noon in the cafeteria. First place prize is $50. For more information call 424-8309 or stop in to the Student Government office.

Cheerleading Contest

2006-04-03T09:57:00.000-05:00

By Trina Barber
There will be a cheerleading contest for wellness and fitness held in the cafeteria on Thursday, April 6 at noon. Students are invited to put a team together to compete in the contest.

Bounce Off the Wall

2006-04-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

By Trina Barber
WVUP Activities Office extends the invitation to all students to join Walleyball beginning Monday, April 3 at the YMCA. There is no charge to play. To call for information or to sign up call 424-8309.

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2006-04-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

Navigating tip: Clicking the Home link at the bottom of each story will bring you to the top story in the latest issue of the Chronicle.

Goodbye to Mountaineer Seniors

2006-04-03T09:54:00.000-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
The 2005-2006 season did not end the way the Mountaineer basketball team would have liked. A crazy buzzer-beater by the Texas Longhorns ended not only a great season, but also ended a career for the five seniors at WVU. However, these players did something that had not been accomplished since Jerry West donned a blue and gold uniform. This Mountaineer team is the first team to make back-to-back appearances in the Sweet 16 since 1959/1960.

This group of seniors will not be forgotten any time soon. When these five players first came to Morgantown, nobody thought that they would achieve what they have. The arrival of Coach John Beilein and his recruits made this success possible by playing together even when times were rough. Senior Kevin Pittsnogle thought the defeat hurt not only because it was a loss, but also because it was the last time he would ever walk onto a basketball court as a Mountaineer.

Some people will grieve over the loss, while others will remember the great memories this group of players gave them. The story began when they were freshmen and defeated a nationally rated Florida Gators team. The dream continued as they reached the NIT Tournament as sophomores. Things kept getting better their junior season, as they made the NCAA Tournament and shocked the nation by making the Elite 8. In their senior season, however, the clock struck twelve and the story was over when West Virginia lost to Texas in the Sweet 16. The legacy of these five players will live on forever in the minds of Mountaineer fans. They truly were a joy to watch. We bid farewell to a fabulous group of individuals who never backed down from a fight.

Baseball 9 Wins 14 Straight

2006-04-03T09:53:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
Inside the March 20 issue of “The Chronicle,” I wrote an article about how the WVU baseball team was off to its best start in several years. The Mountaineer men’s baseball team had a 6-3 win-loss record at that time. Well, even now, the statement about its best start still holds true, as the WVU baseball team has won 14 games in a row since that article, and have improved their team record to 19 wins versus three losses in season play.

The Mountaineer men hold the nation’s fourth longest winning streak at this time, including their best start in the Big East conference in almost ten years with a 3-0 record, all of which were wins against backyard rival Pittsburgh who had won the last six games against WVU in conference play.

WVU recorded wins against Niagara (2), St. Peters (3), Norfolk State (1), Eastern Michigan (3), and St. Bonaventure (1) before sweeping Pittsburgh in a three-game series. They have also won the first of three games with Maryland-Eastern Shore. Inside that 14-game span, only two of the wins were decided by one run, and two runs decided another win. The other eleven wins were won by four runs or more including a 17-4 win over Niagara, an 18-0 pounding of St. Peters, an 18-4 beating of St. Bonaventure, and their most recent conquest against Maryland-Eastern Shore which was 16-0.

Pitching staff members Dan Leatherman, Eric Saffell, Joe Stupka, and Brendan Bergerson all have undefeated records from the mound for the Mountaineers, while Kenny Durst, Marty Fagler, and Matt Yurish have only lost once. Saffell currently has a 0.53 earned run average while Leatherman has a 1.48 ERA.

The Mountaineers best hitting starter right now is Adam White with a .429 batting average, while also holding a .506 on base percentage. Tyler Kuhn holds a .414 batting average for the Mountaineers while also managing a .500 on base average. White also has the most stolen bases on the team with 14 steals in 14 attempts. As a team, they have stolen 47 bases on 50 attempts while limiting their opponents to 13 bases on 24 tries.

March Madness News

2006-04-03T09:52:00.000-05:00

By Anthony Sellers
Three weeks ago, if anyone claimed that George Mason would have knocked Connecticut out of the tournament, most fans would have told him to go see a psychologist.

Not only did George Mason beat the Huskies, but they also ended the hopes of Michigan State and North Carolina, the defending national champions.

In the last issue, I talked about the Big East being the best conference in college basketball. However, with Villanova and U-Conn both making early exits, this may now be in question.

Florida earned their trip to Indianapolis by beating Georgetown, then Villanova. They will play George Mason.

On the other side of the bracket, the LSU Tigers defeated Texas and Duke. They will play UCLA, a team that won despite playing horribly in games against Memphis and Gonzaga.

Devils Win First State Title

2006-04-03T09:51:00.000-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
In order to achieve, you must first believe. For the 2005-2006 Ravenswood Red Devils basketball team, belief led to great success that was well deserved and that will not soon be forgotten.

Red Devils head coach Mick Price said that the team entered the 2006 season hoping to achieve four specific goals: to win the LKC conference championship; to win the sectional title for the eighth straight time; to win the regional championship, advancing them to the state tournament; and, once they got to the state tournament, to win it. The coach and his team reached all four goals, including the first state basketball title in school history. Price said, “It was our goal, and everything that we did this year was focused towards winning the state championship.”

Price said that Ravenswood has had many great teams in the past. Price thought, however, that this group of young men shared something special. “So much togetherness! These kids had all played together since they were in kindergarten. They were best friends and classmates throughout the years, and they all stuck together and played together,” said Price.

Price noted that senior leadership was a big reason that the team was successful. “The seniors were not going to be denied a chance to win a state championship. Their competitive greatness is as great as any group of kids that I have ever coached. They had so much confidence in what they could do. I told them before the [championship] game, that I was never more proud of a group of kids who had set goals and what they had done to accomplish those goals.” Price stated that this group of kids led him through great times and also through bad times, such as the passing of his father. “It was a pretty emotional year for me because Dad didn’t miss games. I think that he would have been pleased to have watched them play,” reflected Price.

Earlier in the season, the city of Ravenswood honored Coach Price for his success over the years, by renaming the gym “Mick Price Court at The Pit.” Price said that he remembered when he first accepted the job at Ravenswood High School. He spoke of how his team and community members physically painted the court and made “The Pit” a place that the town would grow to love. “I fell in love with it!” Price said. “I wanted it to be a place where the opponent knew that they better play hard, because Ravenswood is going to bring their best.” Coach Price said that it was a wonderful experience the night that the gym was renamed. “For them to honor me by renaming it, I cannot say enough how much it means to me and my family. I am very appreciative.”

The feeling of winning a state championship is something that some coaches will never experience. Coach Price said the feeling was “unbelievable.” However, after the final game, Price said that he walked to the opposing bench to congratulate the losing team for an outstanding season. “I have been there before,” Price said. “I looked in the stands where all of the other high school coaches sit, and I thought to myself: I have sat there 32 years wondering if I will ever get the chance to go on the floor for a team photo as a state champion. I felt blessed.”

Coach Mick Price is a great example of a class act. He and his team brought the entire town of Ravenswood pride, excitement, and the joy of watching Red Devil basketball. It has been said, “A man is only as good as what he loves.” Coach Price truly loves to coach basketball but, more importantly, loves his friends and family that he sees in his everyday life. He deserves any success that comes his way.

Rader Enjoys Success at WVU

2006-04-03T09:49:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
Brandon Rader, a Parkersburg native and freshman at WVU, is continuing to add to his already impressive wrestling credentials. Most recently, Rader has achieved All-American status in the NCAA wrestling world. The 141-pound grappler capped off his freshman season with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA tournament, and became the first-ever WVU true freshman to achieve All-American status and number 28 overall.

Rader joined the WVU wrestling team after achieving a high school wrestling record of 159-9, winning four state wrestling titles, and winning a national high school championship. He also received the 2005 Robert Dutton Award, which is given annually to the state of West Virginia’s top high school wrestler.

The freshman wrestler entered the tournament with a 26-3 record overall and finished the season with 30 wins and 6 losses, tying current assistant coach Shane Cunanan for most wins in a season by a freshman in WVU history. Rader’s feat of achieving the All-American status also keeps the Mountaineers streak of having at least one All-American every year since 2002 intact.

In addition, Rader earned the Eastern Wrestling League’s 2006 freshman of the year honors, defeated nine nationally ranked wrestlers, and became only the fourth West Virginia native to accomplish All-American honors. Only Jimmie Cox (1929), Mike Mason (1997-98) and Sam Kline (1999) had accomplished the feat before Rader.

Local Wrestlers Add Up to Winners

2006-04-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
I believe that I may have discovered something. I have found that 3+3 not only equals 6 mathematically, but also 34 and 203 if you are talking about the high school wrestlers from the city of Parkersburg. It is a little hard to believe my findings, but let me explain this to help you better understand this discovery of mine.

The combination of Parkersburg South and Parkersburg High’s individual champions at the 59th annual WV State High School Wrestling Tournament is the primary foundation for my equations. My explanation of 3+3 is really quite simple. It comes from the two perennial powerhouses of Parkersburg having three wrestlers each take individual wrestling titles during the championship event in Huntington on Feb. 25.

Parkersburg South crowned three individual wrestlers (Corey Matheny, Aaron Kelley, and Chad Porter) in the 103, 145, and 152-pound weight classes while Parkersburg garnered three individual champions (Ryan Ewing, Andy Thomas, and Joey Lindamood) in the 160, 171, and 215-pound weight classes.

By combining both of Parkersburg’s city high school’s individual champions, the finding of 3+3 equals 6 is also very simple to understand when talking about the city of Parkersburg’s high school wrestlers. It is the total number of champions that were crowned from the city. However, explaining why 3+3 equals 34 and 203 is a little more complicated. First, you must understand what I just explained, and then know some history about Parkersburg’s city wrestlers to determine how my calculated equations can be true.

The answer of 3+3 equals 34 stems from the number of years in a row that an individual champion has come from the city of Parkersburg. Looking at Parkersburg’s history of wrestling champions, they managed to crown at least one individual as a champion for 33 straight years through 2005. With this year’s 3+3 (the six city individual champions), the total number of years in a row that an individual champion has came from the city equals 34. Now you are starting to see my calculations! Aren’t you?

In total, the city of Parkersburg has had 197 state individual wrestling champions dating back to 1948 through 2005. The Big Reds had crowned 134 individual champions in that 58-year span, while the Patriots wrestling program had crowned 63 individual state champions in 39 years. With the addition of the 3+3 rule (the six city individual champions) that I have applied the totals are now 137 individual victors for the Big Reds and 66 titleholders for the Patriots, which equals in total to 203 champion high school wrestlers from the city of Parkersburg.

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2006-04-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

Navigating tip: Clicking the Home link at the bottom of each story will bring you to the top story in the latest issue of the Chronicle.

Decision Time for Steelers

2006-04-03T09:38:00.000-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through the tough process of deciding what players to keep and what players to release during the off-season. Since winning the Super Bowl in February, the Steelers have made decisions regarding the future of several veteran players that were key factors in winning a championship.

The first loss the Steelers faced was that of star receiver Antwaan Randle-El, who threw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl victory. Randle-El signed a huge contract with the Washington Redskins. Only days after Randle-El departed, fan favorite Kimo von Oelhoffen and starting safety Chris Hope left the Steelers to play for new teams. The Steelers will also lose Jerome Bettis to retirement.

The Steelers have also released quarterback Tommy Maddox, safety Mike Logan and special teams player Russel Stuvaints.

Despite the losses, the Steelers have made improvements in some areas of concern. Brett Keisel will take over at defensive end while Rodney Bailey (a former Steeler) was signed as a backup for Keisel. After the loss of Chris Hope, the Steelers signed Ryan Clark to play the safety position. Clark played for the Washington Redskins last season and could likely prove an upgrade from the departed Hope. The Steelers have also re-signed quarterback Charlie Batch, linebacker Clint Kriewaldt, cornerback Deshea Townsend, third-down back Verron Haynes, tight end Jerame Tuman and offensive lineman Barrett Brooks.

Head Coach Bill Cowher feels that the team is losing a lot of leadership with the departure of some veteran players. However, Cowher feels that there are several other guys on the team that can step up and fill those holes. Only time will tell for the Steelers organization.

Barry Bonds Vs. ‘Normal’

2006-04-03T09:33:00.000-05:00

Opinion

By Heath Bloxton
Major League Baseball player Barry Bonds has made comments that his life is “crazy” and he is just trying to stay “normal.” Normal? Barry Bonds has never been a “normal” baseball player ever since I can remember. The word ‘normal’ waved goodbye to him long ago.

Bonds has never been very friendly to the fans, and certainly not to the media. When a reporter approaches him with a question, he either completely changes the question or he refuses to answer. Why would Bonds refuse to comment? Well, Barry Bonds has been accused by several sources of taking performance-enhancing drugs or steroids. He is only seven home runs shy of breaking Babe Ruth’s mark and only 48 away from Hank Aaron’s record of 755. By putting two and two together, one can figure out that Bonds does not want to say anything to get him in trouble with baseball before he breaks the all-time record.

Barry Bonds does not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Ruth and Aaron, let alone be the all-time leader in home runs. Steroids change a player’s performance and make them stronger. If Bonds did take steroids, no wonder he is on the verge of being the all-time “power hitter.” The funny thing is, baseball’s commissioner Bud Selig has done nothing to punish Bonds and will not comment on an investigation. Selig seems to be trying to veil his own lack of action by not stirring up controversy. In the meantime, baseball’s premiere stars from the past are being overshadowed by a “juiced-up” jerk that should not be able to play the game. I hope he never breaks another record, and will only be happy on the day he retires.

Online ‘Blackouts on Demand’

2006-04-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

By Delano Farley
CBS Sports offered March Madness on Demand free for the first three rounds of the NCAA Division One men’s basketball tournament to anyone who signed up to watch the games via the internet. Those who signed up before the deadline became a VIP ticket holder and were granted immediate access, but those who signed up after the deadline received a General Admission Ticket that allowed entry after the VIP ticket holders were given access. The waiting period was a matter of seconds to get inside.

The media coverage could have been better. Many of the games in this market area were blocked from online viewing because of local blackout restrictions. The chance to watch games like Wichita State vs. Seton Hall and Duke vs. George Washington, as well as all WVU games, would have made a better experience for the online viewer. These games were not available online because they were available on the local CBS-TV affiliate.

Halftime programming and TV timeouts were lacking in entertainment. Unlike television viewers who were being entertained with score updates and stories, the online viewers were forced to look at a screen that states, “Stay Tuned, your game will return momentarily.” Score updates were also not available to online viewers. The March Madness on Demand programming did display some commercials during game breaks, but they were for the sponsors that help support March Madness on Demand. The few commercials were repeated frequently.

March Madness on Demand was great for watching some of the games online, but CBS Sportsline.com has a long way to go before they will satisfy the needs of an online viewer through video streaming. Interested online viewers will be “staying tuned” for March Madness on Demand improvements in the future.

WVUP Enrollment Up

2006-03-20T22:08:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
As WVUP continues to reach out to gain partnerships with area public schools it is no surprise that the spring full-time enrollment has increased over last year’s enrollment by 2.5 percent, to 3,556.

We may think of the college as being diverse with the range of students beginning at 18 and continuing through till the late 60s. Traditional aged students, defined as those students less than 25 years of age, make up nearly 59 percent of the students attending the college. Non-traditional students are slightly less with 41.7 percent. Female students make up the majority of students with 63.6 percent, as males add 36.4 perecent to the total.

With the help of President Marie Foster Gnage, WVUP continues to improve and allow more opportunities for students to access courses and programs. The Parkersburg campus is the only community college in West Virginia accredited to offer baccalaureate programs. The Associate in Arts currently has the most students enrolled with 659. Nursing comes in second with 436. Beginning with December 2005 graduation, the Regents Bachelor of Arts has been awarded by the Parkersburg campus instead of from Morgantown as in the past. More than 284 students declared RBA their major in the spring semester.

WVUP currently services seven surrounding counties, including Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood. Wood and Jackson County make up most of the school’s population with 60 percent of the residents residing in Wood and 19 percent in Jackson County.

Theater Ready for Fresh Air

2006-03-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s College Theatre is undergoing extensive renovation. The ceiling has been torn out and seats removed to ready the theater for the replacement of its entire heating and ventilation system, along with painting and cosmetic improvements, says Wayne Riley, director of purchasing and the project coordinator. Under a $188,000 contract, West Virginia Heating and Plumbing is installing a new, larger air-conditioning and heating unit and replacing the HVAC electrical system and ductwork.

Work began Feb. 20. If the project is not completed by July 20 as expected, WVUP will be paid $1000 per day “liquidated damages,” Riley says, for every subsequent day the project remains uncompleted.

Last summer, the theater underwent a complete cleaning of carpets and curtains and upholstery to remedy the effects of years of poor ventilation, which had given the theater a musty, stale smell of mold to those with acute senses. The new HVAC system, designed by CMA Engineering, will ventilate the theater more thoroughly so that the problem does not recur.

Ironworker Ok After Fall

2006-03-20T21:14:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
Ironworker Jason Hashman fell headfirst through the ceiling of the WVUP school nurse’s office the morning of Monday Feb. 20, broke Nurse Charlene McNulty’s desk with his head, and “tore up his ear,” according to fellow workers. But Hashman, a member of Ironworkers Local 787, was back on the job that afternoon. Fellow workers told the Chronicle: “Those ironworkers have hard heads.”

Hashman was in an awkward position welding steel support beams for WVUP’s ongoing classroom-tower stabilization project when he fell through a ceiling panel onto the desk of Student Health Nurse Charlene McNulty, who arrived at her desk only a few minutes later. McNulty herself would give no information on the incident, citing patient confidentiality. Wayne Riley, coordinator of the stabilization project for WVUP, said Hashman was taken to the hospital, was treated and released, and was back on the job by noon.

Sigma Omega Recognized

2006-03-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
The Sigma Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was recognized for the seventh year as a Distinguished Chapter and for the eighth year for their 5-Star Chapter. Sigma Omega also received the Hallmark Awards for the following; second place in Leadership, fourth in Service and second in Best Web Page. Rose Etta Kazak and Rebecca McClung were inducted into the Virginia Hall of Fame for their involvement in helping the Virginia Region.

The Honor Society recently participated in the 27th Annual Virginia Regional Convention held at the Ramada Plaza Resort, in Virginia Beach, VA. On March 4, the convention presented awards to recognize outstanding performances from the Virginia Region’s chapters. Those participating in the event included three Sigma Omega members: Patricia Klapper, Tara Williamson and Rebecca McClung. Paul and Dottie Bibbee and Dianne Davis served as advisors.

Advisors Paul and Dottie Bibbee were awarded plaques for their outstanding service with Phi Theta Kappa from the Virginia Region and International. With ten years of service behind Dottie and eighteen for Paul, the two will retire at the end of the spring semester.

The chapter is also in the process of forming a team for the 2006 Wood County Relay for Life. The American Cancer Society asks each team to set a goal of $1,000, plus the cost of shirts. Costs of shirts are $10 per shirt, and money goes directly to the American Cancer Society. There are many ways you can contribute to the team. All thoughts and ideas are welcomed on Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society and how they have become a part of popular culture.

Popular Culture to Mountain Stage

2006-03-20T20:55:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
Dottie Bibbee's Popular Culture class is currently sponsoring a trip March 26 to Mountain Stage Live and the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. The Clay Center is a 240,000 square foot establishment, which houses performing arts, visual arts and the sciences under one roof. The Center which opened in July 2003, is one of the few centers of its kind in the country. Mountain Stage is a two-hour radio show recorded live in front of an audience. The shows are taped at the Cultural Center Theater at the Capitol Complex in Charleston, WV. Mountain Stage is currently in its 20th year of existence. The show is a combination of both traditional music as well as innovators focusing on moving ahead.

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2006-03-20T20:52:00.000-05:00

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Coal Miners in Demand

2006-03-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

By Brian Ash
According to USA Today, coal is in hot demand to fuel power plants, as other fuel sources skyrocket in price such as oil and natural gas. As other fuels spike, coal remains relatively cheap; which makes it a practical energy source.

The average age of miners in West Virginia is 55, and many are considering retirement. With more and more retiring there will be an increase in demand for miners in WV. In fact, the state will need as many as 7,000 new miners over the next ten years to satisfy the empty spots left by retiring coal miners. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics there are approximately 15,000 workers working in the mines of WV. This will be quite a shake-up in the mines, replacing retirees with new mineworkers. Especially since the replacement percentage is close to 50 percent.

The salary starts at 12 or 13 dollars an hour and steadily increases to $64,000 a year. Is the pay enough to outweigh the danger of dying in a mine? Evidently, considering that there is still many workers willing to work despite the recent tragedy at the Sago mine which tragically trapped 13 miners and all but one died. Many of the future prospects for the job of being a miner in the industry know of the mining hazards and dangers. An accident in 2005 killed three miners and in 2004 12 died at the hand of the mines. Despite all these facts, many are willing to risk their lives. Why is this? Miner Ryan Boyd says, “Mining is the job that pays the most here, it puts food on the table and roofs over our heads. You’re just as likely to get killed on the highway.”

There are many reasons for mining coal. It is used for generating electric power, it is used in industry, making steel, and for exports, all of which are essential in the ever yday operations of this country. The United States produces over a billion short tons of coal each year, over 1/5 of the world’s coal. Coal is mined in 27 states and out of all of them in the United States West Virginia ranks second in coal output. Therefore, WV is a state that helps in the everyday operations of this country.

New $10 Bill to Hit Registers

2006-03-20T20:45:00.000-05:00

By Brian Ash
According to MSNBC a new colorful $10 bill has made its debut and will be seen in registers all over America. It will have shades of yellow, red and orange. The bill will mimic the colorized versions of the $50 and $20 bills. The new $10 bill will still feature Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first Treasury Secretary, on one side, and the Treasury building on the other side. These two images are joined by the Statue of Liberty’s torch and “We the People” in red along with small yellow 10s and a subtle orange background.

What is the reason for the new look? The Bureau of Engraving and Printing explains that it is getting harder and harder to stay ahead of new sophisticated copying machines and counterfeiters who want to make a quick buck. “Staying ahead of would-be counterfeiters is a top priority of the United States government and in order to do that our currency will need to be redesigned every seven to ten years,” said U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral.

The Federal Reserve recently shipped 800 million of the new $10 bills to commercial banks. You will be seeing more and more of this bill in upcoming weeks as it circulates throughout America’s cash registers.

Good and Bad in Online Journals

2006-03-20T20:40:00.000-05:00

Opinion
By Rachel Nowery
In the last issue of the Chronicle, MySpace was under our writer’s telescope, so to speak. The articles discussed the good and the bad about the internet journals. Yes, online journals can be dangerous to people, especially children, but not all of it is bad or destructive.

I personally do not use MySpace, but I do have an online journal at a similar site: Xanga.com. I have had my own journal for roughly a year now, and I have never received any comments from people I did not know. I use my journal mostly to talk to my friends who live anywhere from across town to across the country. It is my way of keeping in touch. I also use it to “publish” my writings/poetry. The site lets me have good and bad feedback from my friends and family and boosts my confidence in myself as a writer.

However, with the positive aspects come the negative ones as well. Unlike MySpace, Xanga has more pre-teens and younger teenagers as users. This makes the younger users of Xanga more vulnerable to “danger.” Just like on any site, users are given the option of posting their names, ages, what state they live in, and what city even (used mostly for the bigger cities). Despite precautions from parents, school officials, and police, some kids still post this personal information for the whole internet community to see. I have noticed that the older people get on Xanga, the less likely they are to post that close information. But the younger users don’t seem to see the harm in posting their information.

MySpace and Xanga are very good tools to use for someone who is venting about a bad term paper, or a breakup, or even their views on God. Sites like this are good to an extent, but stricter security needs to be placed on the younger users. This way, they will be protected and still have their freedom of speech.

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2006-03-20T20:37:00.000-05:00

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WVUP Internationalizes

2006-03-20T20:35:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
The International Student Club counts 17 countries of origin among its 25 members, says student development administrator Emmanuel Ogwude, who advises the recently formed club.

The International Club’s recent focus has been the March 9 International Luncheon and performance of the Groove Project sponsored by WVUP’s Social Justice Committee, where the club reserved three tables to present the foods and crafts of its members’ nations.

Ogwude says the club’s international students meet about twice a month to share experiences as they encounter American culture, to support each other in their common experience of being far from home in a new culture.

The club’s members come from Cuba, South Korea, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Canada, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Germany, Colombia, China, Pakistan, Belgium, Nigeria, India, Switzerland, Mexico, and Panama, says Ogwude, who is himself originally from Nigeria. Ogwude teaches documentary video production and theater appreciation at WVUP.

WVUP about a year ago formed an Internationalization Committee of about a dozen faculty and staff and community members, with the goal of nurturing the growth of an international campus community by creating a campus environment responsive to the needs of international students and scholars. The work of the Internationalization Committee, Ogwude said, helped lead to the formation of the International Student Club, which aims to facilitate the integration of international students to American culture and student life. Student Daniel Dafo, president of the club, who is from Ethiopia, now sits on the Internationalization Committee, as does Brian Oosthuizen, club vice president, from South Africa, and Reyna Bracamontes, club secretary, from Mexico.

For more information on the club, contact Emmanuel Ogwude, Room 1213, at 424-8243 or Emmanuel.Ogwude@mail.wvu.edu.

'Students Helping Students'

2006-03-20T20:30:00.001-05:00

By Betsy Curry
A new program geared toward benefiting incoming freshmen is currently being designed. Emmanuel Ogwude, Program Manager of Student Services is developing a mentoring program titled Students Helping Students, starting in the fall semester 2006.

The program is dedicated to making the adjustment to college a little easier for freshmen. WVUP is home to nearly 800 new students each semester. On an average, half of those students would be better prepared if they had a peer to whom they could relate. Ogwude’s program is designed to do just that. With the use of peers, instead of faculty as in the past, Ogwude has high hopes of the program being very successful.

Students Helping Students is strictly a volunteer run program. Any student interested must meet a few requirements to be sure the freshmen receive the needed help. The students may be either full time or part time and must have finished at least two semesters at WVUP in good standing. A 2.5 GPA is considered good academics. Those interested are expected to have good interpersonal skills and a willingness to meet new people. Volunteers must be available for meeting times with freshmen. Students must also be able to manage their time and be accessible.

The program is not only designed to help freshmen, but also those mentoring. Students who choose to mentor will develop leadership skills for future job experience. The program also offers the chance to develop organizational skills, make friends, gain insight into the college and it allows for good exposure. Being involved in mentoring programs will attract the attention of possible future employers when added to your resumé.

Underground Railroad Tour

2006-03-20T20:30:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
The Social Justice Program is sponsoring a two-day bus trip to tour the Underground Railroad in Ohio. Thanks to a partial grant received from the WV Higher Education Policy Commission, students are only responsible for paying $50 to take part. The bus is scheduled to depart from WVUP April 7 at 8:30 a.m. and will return around 5:30 p.m. Saturday evening. Transportation for the weekend is provided by Park Tours.

The trip consists of touring The John Rankin House and the John P. Parker House in Ripley, Ohio. Located on Liberty Hill, the Rankin House is a National Historic Landmark, made popular for being a station in the Underground Railroad. The house built in 1828, overlooks the Ohio River. Reverend John Rankin was a firm believer in the freedom of slaves and with the help of Rankin’s 13 children the home was a safe haven to most of the 2,000 escaped slaves that passed through Ripley. Rankin, author of Letters on American Slavery published in 1826, also helped organize the Ripley Anti-Slavery Society.

Another National Historic Landmark is home to African-American abolitionists, John P. Parker. Parker a former slave was allowed to buy his freedom in 1845. He later moved to Ripley where he successfully became known as a patented inventor and businessman before the Civil War. Parker is known for his help in assisting hundreds of slaves find their way north to freedom.

On Saturday, the group will tour the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Freedom Center is the nation’s newest monument to freedom. According to the Freedom website, the center is made up of three buildings that symbolize the cornerstones of freedom: courage, cooperation, and perseverance.

Those attending the trip will spend Friday night at the Quality Hotel & Suites in Cincinnati. Each room is furnished with two double beds and will accommodate two adults.

Wired for Lunch

2006-03-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

By John Hickey
Dave Thompson’s Industrial Wiring class recently got some real-world wiring experience courtesy of the Pizza Place on Blizzard Drive. They were treated to Sicilian pizza, too, proving that there is such a thing as a free lunch.

When the Pizza Place owner, Frank Scotto, learned that employee Ken McCloy was a student in WVUP’s Engineering Technology-Electronics program, he suggested that McCloy recruit his classmates (and their professor) to perform some re-lamping and minor electrical repairs around the shop. It took little persuasion to gain the unanimous agreement of the ELEC 133 class and that of Instructor Thompson.

From left to right are Kathy Winkler, Frank Scotto, Kenny Kay, Dominique Irizarry, Ty Keener, Dustin Piggott, Adam Farnsworth, Chris Davis, Patrick Richards, Bob Wine, and Ken McCloy. Hiding behind Ty Keener is John Simmons. Photo by Dave Thompson.

Forensics Team Takes Third Place

2006-03-20T20:20:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
West Virginia University at Parkersburg forensics team took third place in the individual events and overall team sweeps at the annual state tournament of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Forensics Association.

Participants included all state colleges and universities involved in intercollegiate forensics. The competition was held Feb. 24 and 25 at Shepherd University.

In the competition categories, WVUP students and their honors included: Duo Dramatic Interpretation: Brittany Huffman/Kaleb Smith-first place and Jon Corra/Adam Heflin-fourth place; Poetry: Brittany Huffman - first place; After Dinner Speaking: Adam Heflin - second place, Jon Corra - third place, and Brittany Huffman - fifth place; Program Oral Interpretation: Brittany Huffman - first place; Impromptu: Jon Corra - fifth place; Informative Speaking: Brittany Huffman - third place, Rebecca McClung - fourth place, and Jenny Metz - fifth place; Single Dramatic Interpretation: Brittany Huffman - fourth place; Prose Interpretation: Brittany Huffman - first place, and Kaleb Smith - fourth place; Persuasion: Jon Corra - sixth place; Pentathlon, Overall Speaker: Brittany Huffman- first place.

Team members also adding to the team sweeps points included Jane Eyberg and Candi Jacekiw. Parkersburg’s forensics team is coached by Barbara Harris, instructor of speech.

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2006-03-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

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FFH Concert Rocked

2006-03-20T20:10:00.000-05:00

By Katy Full
Christian band “Far From Home,” labeled FFH, rocked the Fairlawn Baptist sanctuary on March 3. Performing for a packed house, lead vocalist Jeromy Deibler stated, “We’ve been to all the major cities and seen crowds of all sizes, but we never expected to come to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and have such an enormous audience.” Beginning the concert with songs from previous albums, FFH had listeners of all ages on their feet, singing the lyrics along with the band. Singing many older songs, Deibler established the “three-for-one” deal with viewers, promising to play three old songs for every new one. He came up with this idea because he said he knows people do not attend concerts to hear the newer songs, they come to appreciate the music they have heard and enjoy.

Brokeback at Oscars

2006-03-20T20:00:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Nowery
Back in January, it was reported that Brokeback Mountain swept the Golden Globe awards off its feet. The Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars) was held on March 5. To the surprise of many, Brokeback Mountain only took home three Oscars, but it was nominated in six categories. One of these categories was Best Film of the Year, which Brokeback did not win; the award went to Crash by producers Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman.

Memoirs of a Geisha tied Brokeback in total awards, each winning three Oscars.Geisha had received nominations in six categories. No film actually “swept the awards” away from anyone. This year, things seemed to be quite calm and noncompetitive.

The biggest thrills of the night were the performances by Dolly Parton, Kathleen “Bird” York, and Three 6 Mafia. Throughout the broadcast, the singer performed the songs nominated for Best Original Song. Songs in the past such as “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Into the West,” and “Shaft” were some unique songs that won the awards in the past. This year’s song was no exception to the “uniqueness” of the night. The winning song was “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp,” a rap song performed by Three 6 Mafia for the movie Hustle and Flow. The performance by Three 6 Mafia was also supposed to change Oscar history, being the first time that “bitches” was ever said at the awards. However, when it came time for the word to be said in the song, the female singer said “witches” instead. It sounded a little funny, but this way no one was offended.

All in all the night was mundane and had no major happenings to liven up the evening. The most comical thing that happened would be host Jon Stewart who acted like a complete idiot throughout the entire broadcast. His jokes, comments and acting kept the audience from falling asleep from the long, droned on speeches that usually started with “I would like to thank the Academy…”

Celebrities Acting Foolishly

2006-03-20T19:49:00.000-05:00

Opinion
By Brian Ash
Hollywood. What are some of the thoughts that come to mind? Glamour? Money? Fame? All of these? None of these? What comes to my mind are spoiled brats. Now, don’t get me wrong. Not all are spoiled brats. However, it appears that the ones who make the news are. According to my sources.

A good example of spoiled is Britney Spears. Several weeks ago Britney was trying to escape from the paparazzi. Gasp! The evil paparazzi are out to kill me with their cameras! This was probably the first bubble-brained thought that ran through her mind. The second was: “No time to strap baby in so I’ll just put the baby on my lap!” Britney in her frenzy to get away from the paparazzi, roars off in her vehicle with her baby on her lap! If she would have crashed the baby would have instantly been killed by the airbag. This is a great example of how celebrities think that the world revolves around them!

And in part, it does, because they are rich and famous and get off the hook much easier than the normal public could. They may even think the world does revolve around them, but sorry that is not the case. It only works if one either has a lot of money or a lot of fame, both preferably. If one has fame, that can work to the benefit in your trial. If one has money he can bail himself out most of the time. Having both is a very powerful combination.

This is made quite evident by the fact that Britney didn’t take the time to safely secure her baby in a car seat. Why is that? She said, it was because, she was scared and took measures to protect her baby. Looking at the situation in hindsight, anyone can clearly see that the child would have been in less danger if she had put the child in a car seat.

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2006-03-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

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Backdoor Comedy Returns

2006-03-20T19:22:00.000-05:00

By Robert Walling
The Multipurpose Room will be transformed into a professional comedy venue Saturday, April 1 when the Backdoor Comedy Club returns. The show’s name comes from comedians having to enter the Multipurpose Room through the “backdoor,” and is back after a two- year hiatus. Performing in this year’s show will be traveling comedians Josh Wade and Randy Riggle.

Riggle, of Pittsburgh, has performed in the ABC sketch comedy show, America’s Funniest People, and has written for comedians such as Jay Leno and Joan Rivers. Wade, based in New York, is a sarcastic man who enjoys frequenting the New York comedy club circuit as well as dozens of colleges across the country.

Everyone Will Win a Prize

2006-03-20T19:15:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Curry
Have you ever felt your hobby was worthless or sometimes annoying to others? Do you often find yourself shouting out music titles before the singing begins or quoting movies word for word? Well perhaps “The BIG Show” is for you.

Student Activities and Student Government Association is sponsoring a game show known as “The BIG Show.” The game show is a combination of skills and well known knowledge of music and movie trivia. The game show is being held March 24 in the Cafeteria starting at 7 p.m. This marks only the second year the event is being held. With the immediate success of last year’s event with approximately 100 students in attendance, Student Activities was eager to add “The BIG Show” again this year.

Tom Yencha, student activities director, stated that last year almost everyone won a prize. A 38 inch T.V. was given away, which also included surround sound. This years prizes will range from TVs to an iPod or as simple as a candy bar.

Tickets will go on sale starting March 20. The ticket booth will be located near the Cafeteria. Actual ticket price is unknown, but Yencha claims tickets will be no more than $2.

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2006-03-20T16:32:00.000-05:00

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Twins Star Puckett Dead at 45

2006-03-20T16:30:00.000-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
For 12 years, Kirby Puckett played the game of baseball. As a Major League player, Puckett enjoyed the game as much as one could. Opposing hitters would look to the outfield to see a 5’8, pudgy man, jump as high as the wall that stood above him. Although short and rather chubby, Puckett played the centerfield position to the best of his ability. Throughout his career, Puckett made a habit of making teammates, fans and even rivals, laugh. However, on March 6, Puckett made the world cry in agony, as he passed away at the age of 45.

Puckett’s sudden death was caused by a massive stroke at his home in Arizona. “Puck” was a “walking bowling ball” that could hit, field, and simply win. Throughout his years with the Minnesota Twins organization, Puckett donned a .318 batting average, six gold gloves, and two World Series titles. Kirby Puckett also earned a spot in Cooperstown, where his legacy will remain forever in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Puckett was the heart and sole of the Minnesota Twins organization. When fans came to the ballpark, they wanted to see Kirby Puckett. He was a man that was loved by many people. He was a role model, a baseball player, and had a smile that would stretch across the entire state of Minnesota.

Technical Foul Costs KG

2006-03-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

By Heath Bloxton
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward, Kevin Garnett, was fined $5,000 by the NBA for his actions in a game February 26. Garnett was ejected from the game because he threw the ball into the stands after he was called for an offensive foul. Not only did Garnett throw the ball into the stands, he hit a fan in the face.

Garnett claimed that he tossed the ball because he was upset with the officials and was trying to draw a delay of game call. He said that he had no intention for the ball to go into the stands and hit a fan. Garnett was immediately given a technical foul and was ejected from the game.