91213 issuu

ChronicleThe

at WVU Parkersburg

September 12, 2013 Volume #44 No. 1

Inside this Issue

Eldon Miller, Pages: 6-7

Culinary Program, Page: 8

CJ’s Review, Page: 11

Ron Atkinson, Pages: 4-5

The Big Read, Page: 3

by Jason Ross If you have checked your WVU Parkersburg email within the last month, you may have noticed an email from Debbie Richards, Special Assistant to the President for Policy and Social Justice, to all students and facul-ty regarding a notice of proposed rulemaking. The notice informs students and faculty of changes being presented to the current smoking policy at WVU Parkersburg en-titled “Policy F-60, Tobacco- and Smoke-Free Environment.” If the proposal is passed the title of the policy would change to “Policy F-60, Tobacco- and Smoke-Free Campus” and, as the title sug-gests, all tobacco use will be prohibited on all WVU Parkers-burg owned, leased or operated property, buildings and vehicles. If passed, the new changes will commence January 1, 2014. According to the email, “The proposed revision is in keeping with a resolution approved by the West Virginia Council for

Community and Technical Col-lege Education in January, 2013, advocating the establishment of tobacco product free campuses at all West Virginia community and technical colleges of higher education by 2014.” On Aug. 8, WVU Parkers-burg’s Student Government Association (SGA) addressed the proposed revisions in a spe-cial meeting convened by new SGA President Tyler Ohrn. Ohrn stated, ”This change will have a widespread effect on our stu-dents, faculty and staff. Not only will this affect users of tobacco and nicotine products, but also non-users when it comes to job performance, environmental concerns, student and faculty morale, campus activity and sec-ond-hand smoke.” Among other business, Ohrn, who also facilitated a comment period with the other members of SGA, briefed the association on the revisions. During that com-ment period, participants shared a variety of opinions on the sub-

ject. Overall, the consensus was that the students did not agree with the proposed changes. Joshua Campbell, Student Government Association Vice President of Finance, introduced a resolution concerning the proposed revision. The resolu-tion stated, “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the West Virginia at Parkersburg Student Government Association here assembled at West Virginia Uni-versity at Parkersburg that the Board of Governors shall not adopt PROPOSED POLICY F-60 as it is currently written.” The resolution addressed sev-eral concerns discussed in the meeting, including: the policy directly affects a large section of the student body who was unable to engage in discussion, concerns over the inclusion of electronic smoking devices included in the language of the policy which over exceeds recommendations by the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, and that the

changes would place an unfair burden on the student body. After the resolut ion was discussed, it was voted on by the student council, passed, and signed by President Orhn. Campbell stated, “Whether or not you agree with a ‘tobacco-free campus,’ the fact that President Gnage chose not to ask for insight from the students and because she overextends her objective by banning elec-tronic smoking devices is reason enough to bring objection to the resolution and call for student input.” And that is what happened. Following the meeting, the reso-lution was presented to the Board of Governors and a 30-day com-ment period was introduced. The final day for any comments will be Sept. 20th. To submit a com-ment simply send an email with your opinion on this matter to Debbie Richards at [email protected] by the end of the comment period.

Student Government Challenges Policy Proposal

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg September 12, 2013

ChronicleThe

at WVU Parkersburg

News Editor: Jeremy HarrisonAsst. News Editor: Justina MorrisNews Reporting/Photography Staff: Kyle NicholsCora TiddShelby ThomasKathy McPeekElizabeth StovallDanial JacksonCorrissa WilliamsThaddeus Randolph

Layout Editor: Corrissa WilliamsLayout Staff: Shelby ThomasJeremy Harrison Jessica ThompsonMarci CarverTessa McAteeMacie LynchHannah DuffieldCandice HoalcraftCarle StewartMegan Valentine

[email protected] find us on Facebook & Twitter

@wvupchronicleAdvisor: Torie Jackson

Megan NewlandAllison HilberKristiana HuntMelissa LoughAustin WeifordKatelyn WhiteKyle NicholsJustina MorrisCora TiddJason Walker

Carle StewartCandice HoalcraftHannah DuffieldTia GoodrichMegan ValentineAllison HilberMegan Newland

Volume 43Produced by students of WVU Parkersburg

IN HIS OPINION

Kurt KlettnerCounseling/Student Assistance Services

by Jeremy Harrison Well, here it is folks. Another semester started and total chaos seems to be around every corner. No need to worry, though, this is common and should not be taken too seriously or you may start losing your hair, like me. W V U P a r k e r s b u r g h a s undergone many changes over the summer and wil l continue to do so throughout t h e 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 s c h o o l y e a r. I h a v e w i t n e s s e d c o n f u s i o n , happiness and just straight up anger with some of these c h a n g e s b e i n g implemented. All I can tell you is that the student body at WVU Parkersburg has a couple voices that are here to help and represent ALL of the students as well as clear up any confusion/anger problems. Here at the Chronicle we strive to let the student body, faculty and staff be heard and voice their opinions and concerns while also informing these same entities with accurate information about changes on campus, along with some other shenanigans. The Chronicle is a voice for the student body. When I say

Life is continuously filled with a multitude of opportunities for new beginnings. Each new year – (in college you have new semesters) new month - new day gives you an opportunity to make a real difference in your life. This fact is especially valuable if unresolved issues and events from your past, regardless of whether you are talking about yesterday or years ago, are impairing your ability to experience peace and happiness today. A new beginning does not mean that you ignore the past, but rather that you face the truth about your past. If you are plagued with negative effects of past experiences and/or choices, I would encourage you to give yourself the gift of a new beginning. Make the decision today to begin the process of healing from those old wounds that may be keeping you from the life that you not only desire, but that you deserve. One problem that many individuals experience is that alone they cannot seem to make the journey into their past without getting entrapped by feelings such as: judgment, shame, guilt, regret, and other like emotional responses. If you are one of those who feels trapped in the past and miserable in the present, and desire the gift of a new beginning, please consider the value of working with a mental health counselor.PEACE!

Kurt

“student body” I know some of you are thinking, “pfft, big deal.” Let me assure you, without “the student body,” this school would not exist. The student body at WVU Parkersburg is what makes this school great. WVU Parkersburg is a “different breed” of school, not a typical university and we thrive on this premise.

WVU Parkersburg i s l i k e a l i t t l e “melting pot,” so to speak, l ike a “mini-America.” We need to nurture i t and con t inue t o f a c i l i t a t e a n environment where i t c a n e x p a n d to become even greater.

Another extension of the student body is the Student Government Association. They are the liaison between the students and administration. Do not take them for granted, for they are here to help you and are the student body’s only solid channel to the administration that can facilitate change on campus. Last of al l , do not take yourself for granted. Ultimately, YOU are what holds the key to this school’s greatness. Let your voice be heard, facilitate change

and don’t stand on the sidelines. Your voice DOES matter. With all of that being said, the Chronicle wishes you all the best of luck this semester, new and seasoned students, and do not hesitate to bring questions or concerns to us. We are here to help. Now go out there and do what you do best, make this school great and continue to strive for

your academic success. I am going to go lose some more hair now, have a great semester everybody!

*** Readers are welcome to share their opinions about articles found in the pages of this student-produced, campus newspaper. We welcome Letters to the Editor to be sent to [email protected] or to [email protected]

pleasure and enlightenment.” The Big Read purchases books that are then distributed to the community for free in hopes that people will take the time to sit down and enjoy good The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 12, 2013

by Kathy McPeek It’s an opportunity to do some-thing educational and learn about oneself. It’s an opportunity to argue and receive credit for it. I t ’ s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o come together as a team and still be completely competi-tive. It’s an opportunity to use your gift of gab. Members are still needed for the Union for Speech and Debate Team at WVU Parkersburg. Stu-dents who enjoy public speaking or who would like to improve their public speaking skills are encouraged to join the team.

Students must be registered as full time and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Students must not have a prior bachelor’s degree. “This is an educational pro-cess,” explained Tyler Ohrn, Collegiate Forensic Association Debater of the Year and the cap-tain of the Union for Speech and Debate. Ohrn’s title ranks him as the top debater at small colleges in the region of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mary-land, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. “Although we are extremely competitive,” Ohrn continued, “we really want to learn a lot

by Corrissa Williams WVU Parkersburg is taking action to encourage reading all across the Mid-Ohio Valley. The college has teamed up with The National Endowment for the Arts and The Big Read to help do just that. The Na-tional Endowment for the Arts, a sponsor of The Big Read, has awarded WVU Parkersburg with a grant to help encourage reading in Parkersburg and surrounding areas. The goal of The Big Read is to, “revitalize the role of litera-ture in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for

literature. Dr. H.G. Young, the represen-tative for the community and The Big Read, chose the book “Fahr-enheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. The book, published in 1953, is set at a time in the future when all books are banned. Instead of fighting fire, the job of firemen is to instead search for and burn any books that are found. Choosing Fahrenheit 451 was the first step that Young took to get the grant from The National Endowment for the Arts. Young then spent the next few months planning for The Big Read and applying for grants that are now funding the project. The funding that has been awarded will allow “Fahrenheit 451” to be distributed free of charge from libraries all across the region. This includes li-braries in Parkersburg, Vienna, Elizabeth, Sistersville and Ri-pley, W.Va. Discussion groups will follow the distribution of the books in hopes that people will discover a passion for literature. One of the reasons Young

chose “Fahrenheit 451” was due to banned book week, which occurs in the last week of Sep-tember. Not only does this go along with the storyline of “Fahr-enheit 451,” but the book itself was also banned at one time. The library at WVU Parkersburg will have an exhibit for banned book week and will be displaying these books for everyone to read and have access to. On Oct. 1, WVU Parkersburg will put on a play of Fahrenheit 451 that will be performed by the Aquila Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets went on sale Sept. 1 and can be purchased at the college business office at $10 for non students and $5 for students. For more information on The Big Read events, go to www.neabigread.org. Then, click on communities, and find Park-ersburg, W.Va. on the map. It will then take the user to a list of events and book discussions that include dates and times. For additional information, contact Young at [email protected].

about ourselves and also our teammates. Whatever it is, whether it is debate, learning about the topic of the debate or learning about the poetry or story

that you are giving — speakers take life lessons from those expe-riences.” The Speech and Debate Team consists of three sections: speech – speakers choose a topic and tell people about it; debate – speakers are given a resolution and have a chance to argue their point of view; and interpretation – speakers take a piece of litera-ture and explain what it means to them. The individual team sections meet weekly. The team compe-titions allow members to travel nearly every month throughout the east coast, and even occa-sionally internationally.

“As a team I really hope we just come together and do the best we can in each of our areas,” Ohrn said. “We also want to compete well and hopefully win as many tournaments and events as possible.” The Union for Speech and De-bate is ranked second in the state of West Virginia for collegiate teams, finishing behind Marshall University. This year they are hoping to attain top honors. Students interested in join-ing the team or wanting more information should contact Ohrn or faculty advisors Kim Korcsmaros, Mary Beth Held or Lawrence Mackenzie.

Local student and former writer for The Chronicle, Pete Orn, com-peted in the West Virginia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, where he was awarded first place in division four for the Best Lifestyle Columnist. This was the first time The Chronicle had ever competed, so Orn was surprised by a first-place acknowledgement. “I don’t un-derstand how I won it, but I am honored that I did. I don’t think

the article was very good.” said Orn. The article was about the death of his dog, Jack, whom he had raised and taken care of for 15 years. “I guess he was wrong. It was good.” said Torie Jackson, advisor of The Chronicle. Orn worked with Jackson dur-ing his time in writing and pro-ducing for the campus newspa-per. Both were honored by the recognition of his hard work and dedication.

Pete Orn accepts his award from WVPA President Perry Nardo

Orn Wins First Place

The Big Read Comes to Parkersburg

Union for Speech and Debate Team Still Recruiting Members

2012 Speech and Debate Team

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg September 12, 2013From the Chronicle Archives of September 23, 1996

Former WVU

Parkersburg

Professor Passes AwaySpent 42 Yearsat Institution

Parkersburg, W.Va. — Ronnie E. Atkin-son, 78, of Parkers-burg, W.Va., passed away July 14, 2013, in Parkersburg. He was born April 21, 1935, in Boissevain, Va., a son of the late Harry El-wood Atkinson and

Hazel Frances Webber Atkinson. He was a graduate of Gary High School and earned a Masters De-gree from Concord College. He was highly respected professor of Parkers-burg Community College of 42 years. He is known as a Founding Father of the institution. He used his political sci-ence students to survey residents to obtain the statistical data necessary to support a bond levy for the current location of WVU Parkersburg. The levy passed with 73 per-cent in favor of the move. He is survived by his wife, Grace Ann Atkinson; brother-in-law and friend, Daniel Farmer, Bluefield, W.Va.; sister-in-law, Betty Fuller and husband J.B. Fuller, Mooreville, N.C.; brothers, Kenny Atkinson of Roanoke, Va., Mickey At-kinson of Vinton, Va., Curtis Atkinson of Ravenswood, W.Va., and Steve Atkinson of Evans, W.Va.; niece, Darlene Fuller; nephews, Daniel Farmer, Anthony Farm-er, Timmy Fuller, J.B. Fuller Jr. and Jamie Fuller. Funeral services were held Thursday, July 18, at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 1210 20th St, Parkersburg, with Pastor S.R. Parsons, Jr. officiating. Burial was in the Haw Orchard Cemetery, Rug-by, Va.


as prepared by Aaron Crites As a beginning professor, I was hired by Ronnie Atkinson. I did not think much of this at first until one day Ronnie appeared in my office and started a conversation. He said, “Crites!” in a booming voice with his usual expletives. “I knew I made the right decision to hire you and you know why?” he said “It is be-cause I hear the students in the hallway talk about how much they like you, but that you are really hard.” He said “And then I smile, because I know that you are not a pushover.” He then began to recite a story. “Crites, did I ever tell you how I came to teaching?” I of course responded “No.” He said the following… “I was lying in bed and the light of the Lord began to shine down upon me. I said, “Yes Lord” and a voice spoke to me.” The voice said “Go thee forth Ronnie into the world and stomp out ignorance.” And so…he said…”I have been doing this ever since.” So when I re-member the boss that gave me my first shot at being a professor I always think…“Go thee forth into the world and stomp out ignorance.”

printed with permissionby Jody Murphy of

The Parkersburg News/Sentinel Ron Atkinson, the longtime pro-fessor and chairman of the Social Sciences Division at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, labeled a one-of-a-kind icon, died July 14 at Camden Clark Medical Center following an illness. WVU-P President Marie Foster Gnage called Atkinson an icon. "Students loved him as he loved them," Gnage said. "I am sure that he is one professor they will never forget." Gary Waggoner, who worked for more than 35 years at the col-lege, had an office adjacent to At-kinson. "We encounter thousands of stu-dents and I can't say I heard a stu-dent say they didn't like him," he said. "That gift some teachers have of inspiring students, he had that. Ron was very inspirational." Atkinson came to the college in

1965, joining the faculty when the school was on Emerson Avenue. Atkinson was from McDowell County, growing up in Jenkin-jones. Despite living in the Mid-Ohio Valley for close to 40 years, he still retained his southern West Virginia accent. "He was very fond of and proud of being from Jenkinjones. He had that McDowell County twang," said Bernie Allen, a longtime col-league at WVU-P. Allen first met Atkinson in 1966, when he joined the college faculty. Allen retired in 1999. "We were very close colleagues," Allen said. "He was a very good, effective division chairman and a firm advocate for his faculty." Allen said Atkinson was an out-standing classroom teacher, who was selected many times as profes-sor of the year. "His success in the classroom inspired me to try to emulate him," Allen said. "No one could teach

the way he taught. "I learned a lot from him." Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell said Atkinson's lessons were more sermon than lecture. Waggoner re-called Atkinson's lectures as bois-terous. "If you had a class next door to his, your students got the experi-ence of two classes at once, yours and his." "He was very good at what he did. He was missed after he re-tired," Newell said. Newell said it was Atkinson who hired him to teach at the college. He loved to argue and challenge students for a response, Newell said. "He loved to be cutting edge and to say things to get a response from students." "Ron Atkinson was beloved by students, faculty, and staff at WVU Parkersburg. His energy and enthu-siasm for learning were contagious and we will always be inspired by

his legacy," said Rhonda Tracy, senior vice president for academic affairs at WVU-P. Atkinson never drove. He never had a driver's license, instead rely-ing on his wife, Ann, to provide shuttle service to and from the col-lege. Keith Burdette credits Atkinson for his foray into politics. Bur-dette is a former state lawmaker currently serving as secretary of commerce. In the mid-1970s, Bur-dette, coming off an internship in government, was critical of some of the things he saw. "(Atkinson) said, you think you are so smart, why don't you run. ... He double dared me," Burdette re-called. Burdette doubts he's alone in having Atkinson impact his life. "I suspect there isn't any of this students who don't have a Ronnie Atkinson story somewhere. Most of the stories I can't repeat without editing."

Rememberinga Legend

He Loved the Institution & its People as much as He Did Expletives

Ron Atkinson1935 2013—


Former WVU Parkersburg President Passes Away THE VILLAGES,

Fla. - Eldon Leon Miller, age 77, of The Villages, Florida, and for-merly of Gettys-burg, Ohio, passed away at 4:35 p.m.

on May 31, 2013, at Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages, Florida. Eldon was born June 7, 1935, in Gettysburg, Ohio, to the late Millard and Miriam (Sander-son) Miller. Eldon is survived by his wife, Mary Lou (Ferrey) Miller, whom he married Jan. 20, 2005; a brother and sister-in-law, Merlin and Maxine Miller of Bradford, Ohio; a sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Omer Holsapple of Bradford, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews. Eldon received his BS degree at Manchester College, MA degree at Miami University and PHD at New Mexico State. Eldon taught and coached at Gettysburg, Westmont and Green-ville Schools. Eldon was the Dean of Students at Moun-tain View College in Dallas, Texas, and profes-sor in the PHD program at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo., and was instru-mental in helping with the setup of Community Colleges on Indian Reservations. Eldon was involved in the American Coun-cil on Education and Council on Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. Eldon retired in 2000 as president of West Virginia University in Park-ersburg, W.Va., with 18 years of service. A funeral service was held at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home in Greenville with Pastor John Sgro and Pastor Bob Bitner officiating. Burial followed in Gettysburg Cemetery in Gettys-burg, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to West Virginia University at Parkersburg Foun-dation, 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26104.

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 12, 2013

as presented by Joseph Badgley I am honored to be a part of today’s ceremony celebrating the life of our friend and colleague Dr. Eldon Miller. Like many of you by the time I learned of Eldon’s passing he had already been laid to rest in his hometown of Gettysburg, Ohio. And, quite frankly Eldon, that is the fastest most of us have seen you get anything done! So, I join with all of those gathered here today in express-ing appreciation to Dr. Gnage and her Board of Governors for holding this ceremony so those of us who knew and worked with Eldon can collectively pay tribute to his life and his many contributions to this college and this community. To paraphrase Steve Nicely’s comments: the college and the community are better because Eldon was here! Eldon came to what was then Parkersburg Community College in 1982. It was a turbulent period in the history of the college with Eldon becoming the fifth presi-dent in eight years having been preceded by two full-time presi-dents and two interims. As you might imagine in that

environment the early conversa-tion about how long he would stay. My money was on six months, or until his first extended conversation with Ronnie Atkin-son, whichever happened first. But, I was wrong, and indeed we all were as Eldon continued to lead the institution for an unprec-edented period of 18 years. When asked of his retirement the great jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I would like to have left a bit of my fleece among the hedges.” In some way Eldon touched the lives of all who are gathered here today and his contributions live on. As the institution’s fifth presi-dent in a period of eight years, Eldon didn’t exactly inherit a well-organized and mature in-stitution. Many of us, in the absence of consistent leadership had sort of figured out our own way of getting things done and didn’t much appreciate this new guy coming in and changing things, again! But with a great deal of patience and using all of his counseling skills, Eldon was able to unite the college and the community around a common vision of becoming a true com-prehensive community college. Eldon had a wonderful talent for finding people’s strengths and putting them in roles where their abilities flourished, they felt good about themselves, and the college grew. Double Take. This took longer in some cases than others. At the outset there were those who questioned Eldon’s vision. But, ladies and gentlemen, here was a man who walked into the college in 1982, took one look around and said, “There is not a room on this campus big enough to hold my retirement party or my remembrance ceremony.”

And immediately set about a building project to construct this facility in which we gather today, a new library and concluded with the Caperton Center for Applied Technology. Now, is that vision or what? Eldon was blessed with many gifts. He was extremely loyal to his friends, to this community which in turn embraced him, and to the college. He listened to people and when the conversation was concluded you left with the feeling that he really heard what you were say-ing. And, he had to have the thickest skin of any college ad-ministrator with whom I have worked. After a session of fum-ing, fussing and finger pointing, he was likely to invite you out

for a drink or to dinner where the conversation would focus on WVU football or matters of simi-lar import. He did not take things personally; he understood it was just business. At the time of Eldon’s ar-rival, and before there was great community interest in having a baccalaureate institution in Park-ersburg. The political landscape was littered with the remnants of failed efforts to make that hap-pen. Eldon learned early on that everything in West Virginia is political except politics, which is deeply personal. In what will go down in histo-ry as one of the most remarkable achievements in higher education in the state, Eldon was able to meet the demands of the commu-nity for baccalaureate education

by taking the college back to its roots through a relationship with West Virginia University, which endures to this day. In Eldon’s obituary for the local paper, Connie Dziagwa recognized Eldon as an innovator in community college education locally, in the state and across the country. That innovation and leadership will be forever memorialized through the beau-tiful Miller Plaza. And Eldon, you must be smiling, along with many of us, over the fact that this memorial has as one of its promi-nent features — a clock. Dr. Joseph Badgley is a former interim president of WVU Park-ersburg and a former President of Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College. He re-cently retired.

SPEECH WAS MADE TO Commemorate the Life OF PAST WVU PARKERSBURG PRESIDENT

Eldon Miller stands by the clock tower at Miller Plaza.


by Hannah Duffield Something is cooking, Down-town. WVU Parkersburg’s recently opened Culinary Academy, located at 707 Market Street, Parkersburg, is equipped with state of the art equipment. The culinary program is designed to give the students a jump-start on their skills and also prepare them for a career in the culinary field. The students have the opportu-nity to be trained with industrial grade stoves, convection ovens, 60 quart mixers and a smoker among many other high tech appliances. They also get the ex-perience of cooking and serving four course meals in/on ceramic, faux slate and stainless steel bowls and platters. Gene Evans, culinary arts instructional specialist and pro-gram coordinator, is looking forward to his students serving some of their creations with the

by Carlē Stewart Beginning 30 years ago in one room on the second floor of WVU Parkersburg, the Early Learning Center, previously the children’s room, is now found in a building with many upcoming changes. Director Angie Davis describes the center as “a place where students from the college can bring their children to a safe en-vironment.” Previously a toddler teacher and an education man-ager, along with many other jobs involving childcare, Davis has 20 years experience with children. She hopes her experience will be comforting to parents when leav-ing their children at the center. Being able to paint, draw, and participate in many other hands-on activities, children at the Early Learning Center learn much about arts, science, music,

public one day a week, hopefully starting mid-October, by reserva-tion only. The dining area’s rough brick walls and a modern blue and white tiled floor is complete with various sized circular tables that can be dressed up with white table clothes and frosted buffet risers illuminated by an LED light inside, or easily collapsed and stored forming enough room for a soiree with a DJ in the corner. Once the dining area is completed it will be able to host up to 75 guests, comfortably. Evans is excited for the day when the academy will be able to use crops grown by WVU Park-ersburg’s Diversified Agriculture program and has high hopes that as the programs progress they will be able to add livestock such as chickens for eggs and meat and goats for milk and meat. He intends for his students to witness and appreciate the work

that the Diversified Agriculture students put into planting, tend-ing and harvesting the food, so that they fully understand the im-portance of using maximum skill when cooking and presenting it to the customer to ensure utmost satisfaction. In return, he plans to show appreciation to the Diversified Agriculture students for doing a satisfactory job with their crops. “This is a great farm to table ex-ample,” Evans stated. The culinary academy is very involved with the public, Ev-ans has several catering events scheduled through the culinary academy to give his students experience, build their resume, a customer base and get the word out about the academy. His students are not required to participate in these activities, but can volunteer to help. Some of the upcoming groups they will be catering for include:

Ride for Recovery, the Actors Guild (Parkersburg), and the Red Cross. Evans also does an annual cooking demonstration at the farmer’s market using the locally grown items to create a meal for sampling while promoting the academy. Evans has a vision for the culi-nary program. Currently, 10 students are enrolled in the academy, and he hopes that by this time next year, he will have 35 to 50 students enrolled and within the next ten years the program will have ex-panded to 150 students and two fully functional kitchens, so that multiple classes can run simulta-neously. Evans is very involved with his students and hopes that the bond he is forming with them will last even after they have graduated, and when they get a promotion or need advice, that they will feel comfortable

enough to call him as a mentor and friend. “This program is very non-discriminatory…” Evans stated, “we have students with criminal backgrounds to mental handicaps … if someone is interested in the culinary field they need to be passionate and maintain a clear focus on developing and honing their skills.” “Job placement is 100%,” said Evans, “People always have to eat… so if one of my culinary graduates isn’t working in a culi-nary profession it is because they didn’t want a job in that profes-sion.” Some of the culinary acad-emy’s creations and recipes are showcased on their Facebook page (WVU-P Culinary Acad-emy) and Evans can also be reached with inquires or for res-ervations by email or phone at [email protected] or 740-424-0031.

problem-solving techniques, and literature enrichment. Everything the children play with at the center is fit according to the child’s age. The center is technologically efficient as well, having computers and smart-boards in every classroom. Not only does the staff of the Early Learning Center help care

for the children who come there, but students of WVU Parkers-burg assist as well. Davis said, “Nursing students come in and watch the children for about six hours, they really interact with the kids.” Four students in cap-stone courses also assist with the children, giving them a first-hand experience with teaching

by developing lesson plans, and writing newsletters to parents. A foster grandmother, Esta, also comes in about four hours some days. “This is her first year,” Davis says, “and the chil-dren love her.” Although some parents may think they do not have time to enroll their child at the center, the process for enrolling children is, as Davis likes to call it, “quick and painless.” Parents can go online to WVU Parkersburg’s website to print out a form to bring in or come to the center and get a form. A copy of the parent’s schedule and the child’s immunization records must be brought in as well. A physical must be conducted on the children after 30 days. Tours can be given so parents can see the environment in which their children will be staying, and

they can also leave their child at the center to get them comfort-able being without their parents. Changes throughout the years have resulted in the center being able to receive grants, and 20 percent of the spots available for children are open to the commu-nity. The center is now accepting children at an earlier age. While the center is licensed for 42 children at a time, they may see some children just a few hours at a time with changing schedules. Due to having flexible schedules, the center may enroll as many as 100 children at a time, but they will never all be present at the same time. Davis hopes to plan a pup-pet show for the children. She also mentioned she would like to see the playground finished, more children enrolled, and more rooms at the center being used.

Culinary Academy Cooks Up Careers

The Early Learning Center

Early Learning Center Boasts Safe, Fun Environment

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 12, 2013

by Elizabeth Stovall T-minus 92 days until fall graduation. Are you prepared to enter the workforce? Do you have your resume ready? If your answer is no, you are in luck. WVU Parkersburg’s Career Services is offering a workshop titled, “Resumes: What You Need to Know” Wednesday Sept. 25 to help students prepare for en-trance into the workforce. The goal of this workshop is to help students create or edit resumes in order to show your-self in the best light possible to potential employers. For students who do not have a resume, or need to do some up-dating on an existing resume, this workshop will be very beneficial. All students are encouraged to stop by and take advantage of this opportunity. Again, “Resumes: What You Need to Know,” will be held on campus Sept. 25 in Room 1207 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students who are unable to attend the workshop but are still interested in receiving help with their resume should stop in to Career Services in Room 1207 for assistance. Also being offered by the Ca-

reer Center is a workshop called, “Choosing a Career.” This workshop is for any stu-dent, new or veteran, who may or not be sure of their career choices yet. “Choosing a Career” will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 18 in room 0414D from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Students will be able to take the career assessment test at this workshop. Along with offering these workshops, Career Services is in the process of revamping the cur-rent program. A part of the revamping of Ca-reer Services, is the recent hiring of Jennifer Randolph. Jennifer is a former WVU Parkersburg student who gradu-ated from Marshall University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Mar-keting. She is currently working on her Masters in Leadership Stud-ies at Marshall University. One of Jennifer’s goals for the new Career Services is, “try to be more visible, do more, provide more.” Many advances in Career Ser-vices are underway, which will provide more programs and op-portunities to students.

by Cora Tidd A search for a new director is underway at the WVU at Park-ersburg Foundation. “I see the new person as put-ting the face of WVUP and our needs before the community in our seven county region that we represent,” said Dina Braniff, program assistant of the Founda-tion. The director prepares and as-sists in the preparation of grant applications for private funds that support WVU Parkersburg’s goals. He/she publishes and dis-tributes the annual report of the Foundation, and maintains the efficient and effective operation, growth, and development of the WVU Parkersburg Foundation. Previous director Geni Astorg, who was able to begin a capital campaign effort and do much fundraising for the group, left the Foundation in August to pursue other opportunities. The Foundation offers schol-arships, promotes faculty and student projects, and supports many of the campus activities

like athletics, travel abroad, and development projects. Additionally, the Foundation helps to raise private funds for the overall benefit of the college itself, the students who attend it, the faculty/staff who work there, and the community that sur-rounds it. Support that comes from the Foundation helps WVU Parkers-burg excel academically, increase and broaden its facilities and provides students with better ac-cess to educational and cultural opportunities.A new director is essential to achieving the goals of the Foundation’s strategic plan. An upcoming session for stra-tegic planning begins Sept. 12. With the help of facilita-tor Becky King of Charleston, W.Va., the Foundation Board of Directors will work towards forming a three-year strategic plan in support of the college’s mission to sustain the growth of the Foundation. The Foundation staff is also in the process of putting together

a scholarship luncheon. The purpose of a luncheon is for scholarship recipients to meet with their donors. According to Braniff, the lun-cheon allows both parties to have a chance to interact and really get to know each other firsthand. An event like this makes the scholar-ships more meaningful for both the donors and recipients, she believes. It should occur in early October. Meanwhile, the deadline for applications for the director’s po-sition is 4 p.m. on Sept. 17. Candidates for this position need to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, minimum of three years in fundraising or sales-related experience, and have skills in communications, computer literacy, and public re-lations. The duties and responsibili-ties of a director are 50 percent development, 30 percent founda-tion management, and 20 percent public relations. The application is available at www.wvup.edu/about/human-resources.

by Megan Valentine and Jeremy Harrison

The Student Government Association (SGA) unanimously passed a resolution concerning the Barnes & Noble bookstore. According to Tyler Ohrn, SGA president, the resolution was written in response to a stream of complaints coming in from various students. The SGA approved the resolution on Monday, Sept. 9. The resolution addresses that faculty and students have re-ported inconsistencies with the

management practices, as well as the high cost of the books. Also, according to the resolu-tion, “The bookstore does not have enough oversight or regu-lation as a mutually contracted agreement with West Virginia University at Parkersburg and does not have the best interest of students in mind...” Ohrn also expressed that the SGA recognizes WVU Parkers-burg has a contract with Barnes & Noble and that the bookstore needs to make a profit. On the other hand, they strong-

ly believe that Barnes & Noble is not honoring their contract and does not have the best interest of students in mind. The resolution will be for-warded to the college bookstore committee first, then to the WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors, who SGA hopes will move for-ward with a plan. Ohrn also expressed that the student body as a whole is be-ing affected by this in one way or another. He also went on to describe that a professor was looking to purchase a better text-

book for this semester but was told he could not due to the over-stock of the old textbooks. Other allegations claim that books are arriving late and some are not even the correct books. SGA wants to know how these actions are putting students’ best interests first. This is one of the many issues the SGA officers hope to solve by creating and passing this resolution. If students have any questions or concerns, stop in the SGA office beside the security office in the student lounge.

Barnes and Noble: Who is in your wallet?

Are you Ready for the Future? New Foundation Director Wanted:Astorg Pursues Other Opportunity

Book costs concern students, result in resolution by SGA to consider student interests.


by Megan Valentine Aristotle said that the most important thing to know is that you don’t know. This is the philosophy Margaret “Peggy” Clifford hopes that students will keep in the back of their minds as they move into the future. She is one who was unsure at times about the career path she should take. She felt as though education was calling her, but it took a while for her to answer. Clifford, as a teenager, spent a year in Israel at a university studying Hebrew, The Bible, and archeology. She strongly believes that the experience was rejuvenating and would recommend that students take the opportunity to travel abroad if ever given a chance. Later, she served a year in V.I.S.T.A. (Volunteers in Service to America) in Big Ugly Creek in Lincoln County, which she describes as the adventure of her life. While serving as a volunteer, she received a $5,000 education grant and at first thought she would go to law school, but quickly realized that times had changed in the 30 years since she had been in school. F o r f a m i l y p u r p o s e s s h e

happened to be in Parkersburg, and decided to go ahead and take a course to see if she still had what it took to catch up with educational development over the past three decades. One of her first courses was taught by Phil McClung, Professor of Psychology, called Theory o f H u m a n P e r s o n a l i t y w h e r e s h e h a d t o d o a p r e s e n t a t i o n . Upon receiving he r g rade he w r o t e , “ Yo u s h o u l d b e teaching.” And a t t h e v e r y m o m e n t s h e knew he was right. C l i f fo rd s t a r t ed t each ing developmental writing in 2007. Clifford realized from this point that she loved teaching and wanted to broaden her horizons which brought her to WVU Parkersburg as a part-time instructor in the communications department. Clifford now has a master’s degree in instructional education. She is certain her path has taken the right direction. She loves to

teach. Those who have taken Clifford’s course may have found it to be very helpful if they fear public speaking. Since her belief is that learning is fun, dull moments rarely exist in her lectures. One of the first speeches of the semester she requires is on the

s e c o n d d a y of c lass . She asks s tudents to recite a five-w o r d s p e e c h in front of the class. These five words for some were very hard, but her purpose is to prove that if one can say five words then he or she can do

a lengthier speech. When asked what she would like for students to gain from taking her course she responded, “All of us go through life with all these preconceived notions of our world ... and if I can turn on a light bulb that allows someone to see through a different lens, I call it the ‘ahhh haaa’ moment. When that happens in the classroom I that feel very powerful.”

Professor Shares Life Journey

The Humanities Series at WVU Parkersburg is hosting an interdisciplinary panel discussion on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 9:30 a.m., in the College Theater (Room 1305). The program, which is free and open to the public, is called "Fahrenheit 451 - Flash Points Then and Now." This special event is being held in support of the 2013 "Big Read," an innovative community project of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest and hosted locally by our college. This year, the selected text is Ray Bradbury's

“Fahrenheit: 451” and other related events. I n i t i a l l y p u b l i s h e d a s a sc ience f ic t ion novel in 1953, “Fahrenheit: 451” was transformed 26 years later by the author into a stage play. Prior to that, in 1966, the work had already become adapted to the silver screen. On October 2, several WVU Parkersburg faculty and staff will join an interdisciplinary panel discussion to explore this thought-provoking creative work from multiple perspectives. The panel will consider “flash points” relevant

in the 1950s, as well as those that are still relevant today, e.g., the impact and future of technology, concerns regarding individual and social psychology, the rise of science fiction, censorship/surveillance, literacy, film and theatrical styles, etc. Participating panelists include Gary Thompson, Dr. Bob Westbrook, Dr. Rebecca Phillips, Torie Jackson, Dr. Martha McGovern, and Adam Stover. The discussion will be moderated by Jeffrey Byrd. Audience members are welcome to participate in a follow-up Q & A dialogue with the panelists.

W V U - P a r k e r s b u r g H o s t s " F a h r e n h e i t 4 5 1 F l a s h P o i n t s T h e n a n d N o w : A P a n e l D i s c u s s i o n "

“All of us go through life with all these preconceived notions

of our world ... and if I can turn on a light bulb that allows someone to see through a dif-ferent lens, I call it the ‘ahhh haaa’ moment. When that hap-pens in the classroom I that

feel very powerful.” - Clifford

by Daniel Jackson A r e s i g n a t i o n f r o m t h e c o o r d i n a t o r o f t h e W V U Parkersburg Criminal Justice program caused much concern as the fall semester began. Lou i s Roy, who he lped to build the criminal justice program to the largest in the state, decided to leave the institution to pursue other opportunities. Yet, his work enabled the program to grow from 40 students to more than 400 in just four years. The relationship between the college and local law enforcement and other criminal justice groups also greatly enhanced during Roy’s tenure. Local law enforcement officials have expressed much support of the program and satisfaction with its graduates. Roy resigned during the summer. His replacement as the program coordinator also resigned. As the fall classes starting date approached, three criminal justice faculty positions remained vacant. Just days before classes started, the third position was filled. Three new faculty members are teaching in the criminal j u s t i c e p r o g r a m n o w — J a c q u e l i n e B a r r o n , C h a d Crumbaker, and Rhett Wharton. The Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Rhonda Tracy and Social Sciences and Languages Division Chair Kim Korscmaros introduced these three new faculty members to students during an open forum on Aug. 28. During the forum criminal justice students could ask the faculty and administrators about the future of the program and any other concerns they had about the changes in leadership. Students voiced concerns about the criminal justice student organizations, their activities in

the community, student advisor appointments and the Criminal Justice Youth Academy held in the summer. R e g a r d i n g s t u d e n t organizations, which provide hours of service learning, students asked when they would have their meetings, when they could get appointments with their advisors, and whether or not their community projects would be affected. Korscmaros stated, “We are working on getting you an advisor.” “They (c r imina l jus t i ce student organizations) contribute to the good of the community. They know they do good work and I support them in that,” she said. On the issue of the Criminal Justice Youth Academy, it will still be held in the summer. It was also announced that a new addition to the program is the Legal Studies courses taught by Wes Kendall and Nancy McGee. “It was very well attended,” Korscmaros said afterwards. “I think there was a lot of information that was shared students requested and needed to know. I think it went very well.”

Big Changes for Criminal Justice

If anyone has questions regarding the CJ program, they can contact:Contact Kim Korscmaros at [email protected]

An inside look at CJ's Italian Kitchen

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 12, 2013 Page 11

by Kyle Nichols Lavish life in space and dis-eased death on Earth, “Elysium” is the epitome of class warfare. In 2154, Earth has become vastly overpopulated, and the quality of life has plummeted. The wealthy fled and built a space station called Elysium filled with luxury, lush environ-ments, and a machine that can fully heal almost any ailment with one scan. The poor stay on Earth, mak-ing various attempts to flee to Elysium only to be thwarted. Still, after the main character has only five days to live, this is his only choice. What he does not know is that his mission will bring him the power not only just to save himself, but to complete-ly reset Elysium. He is the last hope of the dilapidated people of Earth. This is one of the greatest

by Candice Hoalcraft Great food and a pleasant atmosphere is what we all strive for when going out for a great dining experience, and CJ's Italian Kitchen offers just that.Within our small town of Parkersburg, WV, it’s difficult to find delicious Italian cooking outside of the over-priced (and sometimes overrated) chain restaurants like Olive Garden. CJ’s, located off of Rosemar Road in north Parkersburg, provides another option for restaurant choices. One of the most important

Sci-Fi Action movies of the year, and it brings up issues very rel-evant in the present day. The most promising aspects of the storyline and the film as a whole are the main character and the issues that his fight raises. During the intense action se-quences, the struggle of the main character provides for dominant suspense and a sense of over-whelming empathy for his cause

and what it represents. Even more potent is its un-dertones of topics such as class warfare and humanitarianism. It provides a very exaggerated but obvious example of how dif-ferences in class and wealth can cause separation and an over-whelming sense of uncaring for basic life on either side of the spectrum. The main weaknesses of this

film are supporting roles which are mostly underdeveloped, and when they try to bring emo-tional appeal, they fall far short. This is especially evident in the love interest and her daughter, both of whom are the faceless tear-jerkers that have been abused time and time again in Hollywood. They bring evident-ly nothing to the main struggle and issues that make the movie

so strong. One flaw that could make or break this movie for some viewers is sudden scenes of very realistic graphic violence. This attribute is still very limited and does not overlap the main theme with cheesy gory ele-ments. “Elysium” manages to pull several different kind of ele-ments, most that correlate very little with each other, and create an atmosphere that both pleases the viewer in its graphical supe-riority and action and provides moral and social issues to ques-tion. Although the static supporting roles could have been greatly improved, they do not take away much from the main concepts of the film. Overall, “Elysium” is one of the greatest Sci-Fi mov-ies presently with its appeal and relevance to the present day.

aspects of a good place to eat is its location. The reason why some locals may not have heard of this place is because it is rather hidden from the main road. However, the bright and well-designed logo illuminates the driveway that leads to the building. Despite its hidden location, the beautiful evergreens surrounding the area provide a scenic backdrop for the ideal dinner experience. Immediately after walking through the front doors, the small ordering area resembles a bakery displaying an array of desserts and cupcakes inside of a glass case. Beyond the desert area is a long hallway that leads into the dining room. The warm color of the walls in the dining area provide a warm and inviting atmosphere. Artwork graces the wal ls , bringing together both a modern and pleasant feel to the room. On the far-right side a beautiful stone grill gives guests an opportunity

to watch the chefs create their pizza. Along with the numerous seating options, a full bar and an outdoor deck offer a more laid-back experience. When eating out, it’s important not to be bombarded with too many choices. The CJ’s menu is clear and simple, listing the lunch options on one side of the menu, and dinner on the other. Despite that smaller menu, each guest can

receive a personalized meal at a decent price. For those guests who have more specific tastes in food, an option to create your own pasta leaves no room for disappointment, choosing from five different types of pasta and six sauces. A choice of toppings makes the meal more personal. Another great option that most places do not offer is a full gluten-free menu.

After enjoying bread sticks dipped in herb infused olive oil for an appetizer, I decided on the chicken parmesan, topped with an order of spaghetti. The entree was very good, enhanced with flavorful Italian spices and herbs. After a satisfying meal, I topped it off with the caramel pecan mousse cake which was excellent. It is a chocolate mousse cake topped with pecans and drizzled with caramel sauce. Although CJ 's is overal l a good place to eat, there remains a small part that keeps a restaurant from being perfect. The waitresses’ uniforms did not reflect the professional and sophisticated nature of the restaurant. However, the fact that it was the first weekend of football season may have been the reason behind the WVU t-shirts and khaki shorts. To v i e w a f u l l m e n u , including the prices visit www.cjsitaliankitchen.com.

An inside look at CJ's Italian Kitchen

Reviewer Calls “Elysium” One of the Greatest Sci-Fi Films

Local Restaurant Offers Simple and Satisfying Meals


What are your thoughts about the proposed smoking ban at WVU Parkersburg?

Amanda Dailey“It’s not fair, they are discriminating against smokers. We already have a small smoking area, why take that

away too?”

Jamie Barber“My opinion is that it’s

a violation of our rights. As long as we keep the area clean it shouldn’t

be taken away.”

Gina Sikorski “I’m against people smoking, I don’t like being around it. But

people are still going to find ways to do it even if

it gets banned."

Hannah Steele

“I don’t care if people smoke. I don’t like being around it. As long as it’s in a designated area I

don’t see a problem with it.”

James Bunner “That would be fine

because I don’t smoke. Both my parents smoke, and my dad has throat

cancer because of smoking, so I’m not a fan. I understand people’s rights, and

maybe smoking in their own vehicles should be

allowed.”

Student Q & A :

New Student Convocation 2013

"Now is the time and this is the place

where all of that can begin to happen."

-Anthony Underwood, Vice President

of Student Services

91213 issuu

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