ChronicleThe

at WVU Parkersburg

September 9, 2015 Volume #46 No. 1

Inside this Issue

Career Services, Page: 3

Kuder Journey, Page: 4

Hannah Duffield, Pages: 6&7

Feminism, Page: 10

Shinedown reviiew, Page: 11

by Amber Deeter Restructuring is not a sign of financial concern but of more resourceful planning, said Presi-dent Lamkin. The restructuring is all about having the campus' organization make sense and holding people accountable and responsible for their areas. For example, the cur-rent administration felt that the former division of Education and Humanities did not go well to-gether. Thus, Humanities moved into a division that makes better sense: Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences. “The restructuring does not mean we’re in financial trouble. It means that we are doing the right thing, so that we have more resources to put into successful programs,” Lamkin said. Lamkin believes in account-ability and making sure those leading areas can be responsible for their decisions. “We wanted to put the right person in charge of the right mix of people so that they could work together as a team and it would all make sense. The ultimate goal is better service to our students in a more efficient and effective organiza-tion, and that is what we did,” he said. Part of the reason for the restructuring is to improve effi-ciency and student support. Lamkin believes a reason WVU Parkersburg has a low

retention rate is the lack of ef-fective support services for the students and clarity of academic programs. “We need to really clarify to every student, each and every student, where they are and where they are going and give them all the support that we could possibly give in a very efficient and effective manner to help them meet their goals,” Lamkin said. With the restructuring, the college will operate more sys-tematically and as a result will mean more support for the stu-dents here. Lamkin believes a realignment of college resources will ultimately lead to a “stronger college, better student retention and better success for the stu-dents.” Tough decisions had to be made in this process. Some a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m s w e r e suspended due to the lack of en-

rollment, like Culinary Arts. “It is irresponsible, financially to drain successful programs to feed programs for which there are no students,” Lamkin said. While there are 300 new students for Fall 2015, overall enrollment levels are down. The college went from approximately 4,000 students to around 2,000 over the past five or six years. Lamkin said that for this reason the college cannot afford to sup-port unsuccessful programs. The president would like to have full workloads for faculty and staff. Instead of a student walking into a classroom with one or two students, they want them to walk into a class of 10 or more students. So, how can the college put more students in the classroom? It is not just about recruitment, but another “r” — retention. Lamkin said he is developing a plan to keep students attending

at WVU Parkersburg. Jokingly, he said, “Yes, I am going to put a cage around you.” In real-ity, he plans to have an effective counseling system and a strong freshman orientation as part of the curriculum. The freshmen orientation, which should be available next year, will help new students adapt to the institution, teach them how to be successful academically and focus on goal setting and study techniques. With recruitment, resourceful planning and student retention, WVU Parkersburg can expect changes. Lamkin alludes to the recent approval by the Board of Governors of a one-stop shop for student services as an “effective and efficient” use of resources and one of those changes that will make the college, and thus the students, more successful. Continue to page two to read more about the one-stop shop for student services.

Effective and Efficient Dr. Lamkin Speaks About College Reconstruction

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg September 9, 2015Page 2

News Editors: Sheena Thorn

Candice HoalcraftKyle Nichols

James Liebau IILayout Staff:Erika DavisJessica FieldsRachael GantJames Liebau IIAustin JamesSheena ThornTyler Bennett

chronicle@wvup.eduand find us on Facebook & Twitter

@wvupchronicleAdvisor: Torie Jackson

Asst. Advisor: Olivia Reeder

Russell BunnerLeah CarpenterAutumn CorbittAmber DeeterAmie LukasiakPeyton NeelyMackenzie Nestor

Volume 46Produced by students of WVU Parkersburg

Layout Editor: Hannah DuffieldAssistant Layout Editor: Shalee Lathey

News Reporting/Photography Staff: Shalee LatheyJessica FieldsRussell BunnerAutumn CorbittAmber DeeterAmie Lukasiak

Mackenzie Nestor

by Shalee Lathey Out with the old, and in with the new: WVU Parkersburg is introducing accuracy, efficiency and simplicity to student servic-es. Construction of Student Ser-vices One Stop Center is taking place and is set to be up and run-ning by May 2016 to better assist students. A common complaint students express in dealing with financial aid, records and enrollment, are the long lines and having to go through the runaround to get simple student service tasks com-pleted. WVU Parkersburg recognizes these issues and is willing to go to great lengths to satisfy stu-dents’ needs. With students in mind, this project is placing all key student services in one convenient, cen-tral location. This idea is eliminating the need for multiple points of service, allowing students to complete necessary tasks related to financial aid, admissions and registration in a timely manner. This project foresees increased retention and increased satisfac-tion for students. “The One Stop Center will be a more efficient use of resources that we already have,” Anthony Underwood, Vice President of Student Services, said. In order to enhance efficiency

and provide well-rounded as-sistance, WVU Parkersburg is currently cross-training staff employees for each individual service. With the current layout, stu-dent services have very few frontline personnel for each stu-dent service. Knowledgeable individuals assisting students are isolated from each other and are unable to support one another while serv-ing students. This leaves students having to hurry up and wait and having to fully rely on sometimes as little as one or two individuals. Although personnel are help-ful to students needs, a sick day or even a simple bathroom break can affect students from getting answers and completing tasks ef-ficiently. Introducing this project brings more opportunities for students. A Benefits Access Counselor is set in place within the finan-cial aid services for later this semester; this is a grant-funded position. Once funds from the grant are deposited within the institution, the Benefits Access Counselor can assist students. This counselor is designed to help students who are in need of services and resources like: gaso-line to make it to classes, food, housing and childcare. Aside from hiring a Ben-efits Access Counselor, this is the only additional personnel WVU

Parkersburg is hiring. With the Student Services One Stop Center, all staff members will be trained and be an expert in financial aid, records and en-rollment. The overall layout of the cen-ter contains personnel that are strategically placed on the front-line with two onsite immediate back-ups, as well as a frontline services area that is overseen by two administrative leaders who are also cross-trained. A new and improved testing center is yet another addition to the Student Services One Stop Center. This testing center allows 30 seats for students to be tested, as opposed to the 14 seats cur-rently in the testing center. The Student Services One Stop Center is going to be on the first floor of the campus. The layout plan is laid out simply for busy students. The designated area is a spacious environment, measuring approximately 5,000 square feet. Offices are equipped with glass storefront hallway walls for en-closed offices to help eliminate students from searching for the appropriate office. “This project is all about simplic-ity for students,” Dave White Facilities and Grounds Director, said. Pickering Associates Architect and Engineering Firm is essential in making the Student Services One Stop Center become a

reality for WVU Parkersburg stu-dents. Pickering is currently work-ing with WVU Parkersburg in developing a floor plan and determining the potential cost for the project. The cost for this project is between $380,944 and $495,227. To reach completion by May 2016 bidding and construction is starting immediately. Offices are moving temporarily so construction can begin. Stu-dents can find the records office in the Community Room 1300, by the College Theatre. The fi-nancial aid office is temporarily being moved to the 1026 office suite in the banana wing. The Foundation office is temporar-ily being moved to the Caperton Center. The Welcome Center is re-maining in the same location until the project is complete in May 2016. This upcoming project is go-ing to affect students at WVU Parkersburg in a positive way by eliminating frustration while gaining simplicity and prompt-ness.

One Stop Shop Coming Soon

Student Services One Stop Shop Center

Enrollment Admissions Financial Aid

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 9, 2015 Page 3

by Shalee Lathey The Career Services Depart-ment is continuing to assist students with landing a career. Several changes are coming about within the department to ensure academic and career suc-cess. The department introduces new faces this semester,Martha Lamp and Sandy Swisher. Both of these staff members are familiar with the WVU Parkersburg campus, having previously been staff members in other departments. “I believe this is one of the most exciting jobs on campus. I

am excited to work with the stu-dents,” Lamp said. Swisher and Lamp’s goal this semester are to reach out to stu-dents by using innovative tools and resources. The department is encourag-ing students to “like” the WVU Parkersburg Career Services Facebook page by logging onto: ht tps: / /www.facebook.com/WVUPcareerservices. This page allows students to check out resources for the de-partment at student’s fingertips. Students can read articles and gain knowledge about scoring a job after graduation and upcom-

ing events Career Services is participating in throughout the semester. Career Services is continu-ing to partner up with powerful resource tools to help students with resumes, career assess-ments and job postings. The department encourages students to join the previously introduced College Central Net-work (CCN) to make the process of finding a job easier. This resource assists students with building resumes, portfo-lios, scholarships, job postings and so much more. Students can join by logging onto: http://

www.collegecentral.com/wvup. Along with CCN, WVU Park-ersburg is introducing Kuder Journey to students. This is a resource tool that allows students to take assessments in: career in-terest, skills confidence and work values. Students can join by logging onto: http://wvup.kuder.com The access code for Kuder is J3937823HBU. Along with innovation, Ca-reer Services is becoming more face-to-face with students around campus. Employers from different companies around the area are periodically scheduled to visit

Career Services Updates and Events

by Mackenzie Nestor Do you struggle with writing essays? Is math like a foreign language to you? Is biology your mortal enemy? Well, not to worry because the new and im-proved Tutoring Center is back and better than ever. Previously known as the Stu-dent Success Center, students had trouble understanding what exactly the purpose of the Stu-dent Success Center was. Dr. Jane Milley wanted a clearer distinction of what was available in the center and she felt Student Success Center didn’t clearly state that what they were doing was tutoring. She wanted there to be a better understanding so that students didn’t need to guess at what was in the Student Success Center. Thus, the new name Tutoring Center was born. A major change besides the name is the application process. In the past, students had to make an appointment to meet with the

tutors. There was also a set limit of tutoring in two courses and two hours each. Now, instead of ap-plying for tutoring and asking for an appointment students can drop in whenever they want. No more limits. The times are posted online; so for example, say you are wanting help in math. A student can actually go online and look for a tutoring time that works best for them. The center offers free support tutoring for all the students at WVU Parkersburg. The Tutoring Center also has a wide range of other services available. They have 20 computers for student use. They have a typing program to help students help build their typing speed. Areas for group studying are also available. There is a great array of sci-ence resources available such as a human skeleton, a box of bones and even microscopes.

Plus an entire resource area is available for the sciences. Also made available for auditory learners, they have a program that allows you to scan your book into the computer and it will read the book to you. If you are interested in becom-ing a tutor, the Tutoring Center website states: “Tutoring Center tutors are currently enrolled WVU Parkersburg students who have been recommended by fac-ulty members. The Center recruits students who have demonstrated a su-perior mastery of the course content they will tutor. Tutors must have good interpersonal skill while having a caring and compassionate attitude toward other students. Upon the recommendation of the faculty member, the Center Director interviews prospective tutors to determine their inter-est in tutoring and to assess personal qualities required to be effective tutors.”

The purpose of tutoring is to help students become indepen-dent learners, providing them with the skills needed to succeed in school. The Tutoring Center is hop-ing to help students to be able to feel comfortable and confident knowing that they will be there for them by answering any ques-tions. Their goal is see all the stu-dents graduate and have a degree so they can pursue their dream job. The Tutoring Center gives the following helpful study smart tips:

·Understand each instructor’s grading system: what counts how much does homework count, quizzes, projects, test, etc.·Ask for help as soon as you realize you don’t understand· Process information each day – don’t wait until right before the test.·Take notes and keep them or-

ganized and labeled. Janice McCue, the Program Coordinator, had this to say re-garding the students: “I just want to encourage them to come to the Center and not be afraid to ask the questions. We are here to pro-vide that support and we don’t want them to struggle on their own. They’re welcome to come on a regular basis and we would like to see them be successful. We have documentation to prove that students who come to tutoring on a regular basis do become better and pass their courses.” Janice will be doing the Aca-demic and Capstone testing. So for this reason, the Tutoring Cen-ter closes at noon on Thursday and all day Friday. For more information on the Tutoring Center you can visit their website at: tutoring.wvup.edu, visit them in room 0404 which is located in the basement, or contact Janice McCue at her email: janice.mccue@wvup.edu.

throughout the semester and help potential employees with resumes, job interviews and ca-reer planning. Students can prepare for employer visi ts by check-i n g t h e m o n i t o r s i n t h e hallways. With so many changes coming about in Career Services, one thing remains the same: prepar-ing students for a successful career. Make Career Services part of the job search by visiting the new faculty members in Room 101, or by emailing careerser-vices@wvup.edu.

Tutoring Center Updates and Changes

by Russ Bunner WVU Parkersburg begins the 2015-16 academic year with changes to divisions. One in particular is the old Business and Economics division, which is now called the Business, Ac-counting and Public Services division. That division now includes Criminal Justice and Legal Stud-ies. Areas once housed with Business and Economics that moved were Journalism, Broad-cast and Public Relations, which are now associated with Hu-manities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences. BAPS Di-vision Chair D r. L a r r y Muller feels very excited a b o u t t h e new changes and is ready for the chal-lenge. “I am feeling excited and a little anx-ious because I don’t know every detail about the other programs,

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg September 9, 2015Page 4

but I like learning new things.” “Being a seasoned academic officer, creating a schedule based on a curriculum and having full-time and adjunct faculty comes natural to me,” Muller said. With the help of Chad Crum-baker, program coordinator of Legal Studies, and Andrew Walker, program Coordinator for Criminal Justice, that takes a little off Dr. Muller’s shoulders. The Business, Accounting and Public Services division is hop-ing to have a well working team, while fixing some minor curricu-lum changes in all three areas by May of 2016. “Increasing retention is a main priority,” Muller said, referring to the areas of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and the business programs. “In all three areas will focus on how we can better retain our students to persist to graduation.” The Business, Accounting and Public Services division wants to make students a main priority and focus on what really matters — for them to graduate.

Renamed,Reorganized

Kuder Program by Shalee Lathey

Choosing the right career path can be a struggle, often times, students choose a major that is not the right fit. Studies show the average stu-dent changes majors a whopping three times before completing graduation. To guide s tudents down the right path and to ensure a successful journey, WVU Park-ersburg and Career Services is providing students with a help-ful resource tool to help make the right career decision. Kuder Journey is a career planning system designed to help students learn where they fit within college courses and the workforce ahead. Students can connect top interests with career clusters, pinpoint areas of confidence and learn what is important. The assessments students can partake in are: career interest assessment, skills confidence assessment and work values as-sessment. “This system will help our students to better know them-selves and identify careers that will bring them personal satis-faction,” said Martha Lamp of the Career Services office. The career interest assessment consists of 60 questions, dealing with situational scenarios and ranking them 1 to 3 (one being

the first choice and three being the last choice). This career planning system includes a variety of factors to help generate the best fit for stu-dents career journeys. After completing the career interest assessment and the skills confidence assessment, students receive a suggested top five list of career pathways. Students can view videos of the results. Additionally, students can click on each pathway, re-ceive information of what careers are in that specific field of study and what careers go with levels of education. After students partake in the work values assessment, a bar graph displays the top five work values in levels dealing with: innovation, prestige, income, ac-complishment and workplace. Lamp stresses to students, “It is not about what you can do, but what you would like to do.” Students can take advantage of this useful resource by visiting http://wvup.kuder.com. An activation key is required upon reques t by emai l ing ca ree r se rv ices@wvup .edu . The access code for Kuder is J3937823HBU. If students have questions about logging onto the system, or questions about career results, visit Career Services in Room 1013 in the banana wing.

by Chronicle Staff Plenty of rules and regula-t ion are in place at WVU Parkersburg. While some are the standard regulations of a college insitution, some regula-tions cause controversy among students. With the recent five dollar increase for student parking passes, it is natural to be curious about what the money is used for. In 2010, the parking passes were established to maintain the quality of the parking lots. Despite the fact that the parking pass system is relatively new, more funds will be necessary to make improvements to the main campus parking lots. The lots are beginning to deteriorate. Paving the parking lot near the graveyard and the Early Learn-ing Center is another project that will be underway in the future. According to the campus lead police officer, Al Collins, the money obtained for parking per-mits is solely used for parking lot improvements. As with any changes at the college, students have vary-ing opinions . While some understand the issue, others do not appreciate the added cost. “The price is reasonable. We the students are paying for school and to be apart of the institution,” Aailyah Carboner said. However, Even Degrove feels that it is an unnecessary cost. He believes that parking should be free for students, while still agreeing that the parking lot is well organized. Whether students agree or not, it must be done. Failure to pay WVU Parkersburg for a parking permit may result in tickets. Unpaid parking tickets can lead to student records becoming frozen, and at this point, students cannot graduate, transfer cours-es, or receive financial aid.

Parking Fee

Guides Students on the Right Path

Business and Economics:

Muller

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg Page 5September 9, 2015

by Mackenzie Nestor Have you ever imagined an environment where no one took care of the world? You most like-ly pictured a scene from "Mad Max Fury Road" and that isn’t totally untrue. Groups such as the Environmental Action Group are important for campuses to educate students on the ways our actions are harmful to the envi-ronment. The WVU Parkersburg Envi-ronmental Action Group (EAG) is a student organization which works to promote awareness of environmental issues such as conservation and preservation. The group also focuses on edu-cating the college community. Anyone from students to faculty and staff members can become involved. Student involvement is crucial for the group. The first meeting was Septem-ber 2nd at 11 a.m. in room 1314. One of the events that the EAG is known for is the Earth Day Expo which occurs every spring. The Expo is open to the entire college community. The EAG bring in guests from outside the college for an educational exposition for the purpose of teaching the community about environmentally sound practices. The expo is also a great way to involve children from the area and teach them how to create a sustainable world. Upgrading the poll inator habitat is the first project that the EAG would like to tackle. Last year, the focus was on pol-linators. With help from Phi Theta Kappa, the EAG was able to bring their dream to life. The students researched pollinators of the Mid-Ohio Valley and what plants are necessary for the health of the pollinator popula-tion. During the spring of 2014, the EAG planted the first phase of a pollinator garden at the col-lege farm. Dr. Rebecca Phillips is the EAG’s faculty advisor. She would like to see WVU Park-

ersburg become a leader in environmental awareness among West Virginia state colleges. She would like to see students choosing topics about which they are passionate, doing their own research, educating one another and educating the college com-munity, while simultaneously becoming active engaged citizens of West Virginia."For the reason that we as a society have come a long way and we always have more to do" Phillips said. Phillips also is very open to letting students do whatever kinds of projects for which they have a passion. The group is based on what students think is important. For those interested, let EAG know what your interest is and they’ll work with it. Another way students get involved in the EAG is that the students can learn how to be-come effective leaders, how to accomplish difficult tasks, and how our actions effect the envi-ronment. Phillips calls to anyone with ideas or a passion for the envi-ronment to join the EAG. “We all breathe the air and drink the water, so the environment is for all of us,” Phillips said. To contact Phillips for in-formation you can call her at 304-424-8282 or email her at rebecca.phillips@wvup.edu.

by Jessica Fields The children and their welfare are of upmost importance at WVU Parkersburg’s Center for Early Learning. The Center is a place where children can have fun and learn in a safe and con-trolled environment. The Center for Early Learn-ing at WVU Parkersburg began over 30 years ago as a place to provide temporary care for the children of staff and faculty. Since then, the Center has ex-panded programming and the mission now includes caring for children of students, staff, faculty and the community. The Center for Early Learning is designed to meet the needs of WVU Parkersburg’s parents while they attend classes on cam-pus. This service is also available to WVU Parkersburg employees and the community on a space available basis. The Center is under the direction of a full-time, fully-certified professional director and is staffed by trained personnel which makes it a fully-licensed, second tier, child care center that is licensed for ages 13 months to 6 years. Children will engage in ac-tivities which will introduce positive social interaction con-cepts, enable them to develop positive self-concepts, encourage

self-reliance, foster creativity, develop language and communi-cation skills, teach cooperation and self-control, and allow them to grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially. The center is offering a new preschool program beginning after Labor Day and will run until Memorial Day. The part-time Early Education Preschool focuses on building a strong foundation for children and preparing them for a lifetime of learning. Parents can choose from a three day or two day per week program. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The program is designed us-ing developmentally appropriate activities to promote a child’s readiness for learning, teaching them how to build social skills and master motor skills. The experienced teacher is guaran-teed to keep children’s small hands busy and his or her mind engaged through countless ac-tivities focusing on social skill development and educational fundamentals in literacy, math, science, problem solving, etc. The preschool will be open for children ages three years and four years. There are morning and afternoon sessions available to be signed up for and there is

a nonrefundable registration fee. Before and after care is available if needed. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis for up to 45 children per hour. Reg-istration for spring and summer semesters begin with the college pre-registration period. Fall reg-istration begins one week before fall classes begin. Registration is not accepted during the first week of classes so staff will be able to meet the increased needs of all of the children enrolled. A tuition receipt is required to secure a place in the Early Learning Center. At the time of registration, parents are required to present a current copy of the child’s immunization records, which must all be up-to-date, as well as signed physical examina-tion records. Classes began Sept. 8, 2015 and end May 27, 2016. Enroll-ment is growing by leaps and bounds, so space is limited. Registration packet can be ob-tained at the Center for Early Learning on the main campus which is open during the fall and spring semesters, Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 304-424-8311 or check out the Website for the Center for

The nursery bed of WVU Parkersburg pollinator habitat.

Environmental Action Group Plans for Busy Semester

Center for Early Learning provides a Safe and Fun Environment for Children

A child enjoys playing in the sand box at the Center for Early Learning. The center offers many other activities for the children enrolled.

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg September 9, 2015Page 6

by Amber Deeter The little boy’s face lit up when he saw what was in the bag. A blanket. Now he would no longer be cold where he slept on the floor as night draped the desert around his home. He lives in the Navajo Nation with his parents and seven siblings. Tears sprang to Hannah Duffield's eyes as his little tan arms wrapped around her in a tight hug as he expressed his gratitude. “Oh thank you, thank you,” he said. The mission trip to Chinle, Ariz. was the trip of a lifetime for Hannah who had never been past the western edge of Ohio, until now. Hannah is a public relations major at WVU Parkers-burg and plans to graduate with her Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Public Relations in December 2016. Her journey began when her sister-in-law invited Hannah and her family to come with members of the Little Ivy Baptist to help teach bible school work on a church addition. On July 5, 2015 they left their home in West Vir-ginia and traveled to Asheville, N.C. to meet up with members of the church. Including herself, 48 people boarded a 1975 Greyhound bus that had no air conditioning and no working wipers, but they drove on to Oklahoma City any-way. Once they got to Oklahoma City they decided to stop for a

night and leave the next morning at 11:30 a.m. so they could get to Chinle the next evening. That did not go as planned. They decided to get new wipers for the bus but because it was from 1975 they could not find wipers for it. Some of the men had an idea to get new wipers and zip tie them into place. They were obviously not going to make it to Chinle that evening. They made a plan to make Amarillo, Texas by that evening which excited Hannah. She loves the song “Amarillo by Morn-ing,’’ they did not make it there by evening but that did not mat-ter to her, the sights and sounds were magnificent. They stopped in Amarillo to have dinner at the well-known Big Texan. “It was such a cool experience,” Hannah said. Before they left the restau-rant, a couple of guys decided to pop open the emergency exit windows so they could have some moving air. They finally made it to Gallup, N.M., which is 92 miles away from where they needed to be. Around one or two in the morn-ing they stopped for fuel and headed for Arizona. In the morning, half of the group left Chinle and went to Lukachukai to start building the 20’x26’ addition to the church. The plan was to build bathrooms, a Sunday school room and a foyer. They also planned to give

them running water. There was a place to get the water, it just was not connected to the church. The other half of the group, the group that Hannah was in, went to Chambers to have bible school. On the way to Chambers, the bus broke down. It had overheated. After working on the bus they finally made it to Chambers just in time for bible school. Hannah’s position was work-ing with the seven to nine year old children. She was so nervous her first day. She did not know what to expect but by the second day she was much more com-fortable. One little boy grew on her. This little boy lived with six sisters and a brother. He told her that he did not have a bedroom but hoped to get one someday. He slept on the floor with only two blankets, one to sleep on and one to cover up with. He told her that it was cold on the floor. Hannah decided she was going to give this little boy a blanket in hopes that his siblings or another family member would not take it from him. After get t ing permission from the preacher to give him the blanket, she was excited to see him on the last day of bible school. She was anxious because from one day to the next they never knew which child would be coming. At the end of the day she was able to give him the blanket and she could see how

Helping Hands:

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hotel. Two young men in the group just happened to be diesel mechanics and volunteered to work on the bus. While the group went to Lukachukai the next day, the two young men began work-ing on the bus. The mechanics concluded that the fuel pump had gone bad. All 48 people were stranded at the hotel with no way to get to Chambers in the morning for church, so they had church on the porches and sidewalk of the hotel. Another local church was kind enough to lend the group another van so they could get to the worksite on Monday. While working, digging the ditches for the water and sewer lines, run-ning the lines, and painting the new addition, the two mechan-ics worked tirelessly on the bus. It was supposed to be finished Tuesday by noon. That Tuesday the men decided they were going to go back to Lukachikai to finish up while the women stayed at the hotel to pack and check out. That was exactly what happened and they were waiting on the porch for the bus at 11:30 a.m. The mechan-ics called shortly after and said the bus would not be done until 2 p.m. so the group continued to wait on the porch of the hotel. As time went on the rooms in the hotel began to sell out and at 6:30 p.m. they decided to book rooms before they were all gone.

The bus was not going to be fixed after all. They had no clue how everyone was supposed to get home and some needed to be home Friday to go back to work. One of the men in the group said he had money in the bank and found a bus in Las Vegas. He was willing to purchase the bus to get everyone home. He and the bus driver left that night in one of the church vans to retrieve the bus. While they were gone 12 of the 48, including Hannah, de-cided to go on horse tour. On the tour they saw ruins, little rock houses and pictographs. While the tour was great the end result was not so great. Three of the women left their purses in the vehicle and they were stolen. The police were called but they were no help and the purses were never recovered. The guys returned with the bus at 2 a.m. on Thursday and ev-eryone on the bus by 4 a.m. The trip back to Asheville was much more comfortable. The new bus had air conditioning, reclining seats and TV’s. With all the adventures Han-nah had she said her favorite one was with the children. “I just loved them so much, I think about them all the time. I printed their pictures out and they are all over my wall so I won't forget anything. I feel like I left part of my heart in the Navajo Nation.”

appreciative and excited he was from the look on his face. Han-nah said she was so happy to see him so excited and overjoyed to have another blanket. She got close to so many chil-dren while she was there. At the end of the third and final day of bible school, the kids had to leave, and everyone boarded the bus. Many began to cry, includ-ing Hannah. They knew their time with the kids was over. “I kept thinking, this is my last day with these kids, this is my last day with these kids,” Hannah said. She did not want this expe-rience to end, she wanted to work with them forever. Work still needed to be done in Lukachukai. While heading to the worksite they decided to take a different route instead of going through Chinle. On the way the group in Lukachukai called and told them not to come because the roads were too bad to travel on. They started their journey back to the hotel, the old 1975 bus broke down again. This would not be the last time it would break down either. The next day they did some sightseeing. On the way back to the hotel the bus broke down again. It just would not start. Af-ter working on the bus for over an hour, someone walked the 10-20 minute walk back to the hotel to get the church van. They shuttled all 48 people back to the

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgPage 8 September 9, 2015

by Shalee Lathey The STEM program’s agenda for the new semester is providing opportunity and growth. Ex-citing upcoming events and changes are helping spark STEM interest and further student’s aca-demic success. Students may notice the STEM office relocation from the third floor of WVU Parkersburg’s main building. Students can find the STEM office on the ground floor by the new science labs and the crimi-nal justice lab. Aside from relocating, STEM is penciling in students to learn and explore the wonder of sci-ence. This opportunity is not only for WVU Parkersburg students, but also for younger

students in the surrounding re-gions. NASA IV&V, headquartered in Fairmont, W. Va. is hosting a First Lego League Robotics pro-gram, at the WVU Parkersburg campus. This program is open to middle school students. The hope is to inspire young lives with STEM ideas. Middle school students will formulate teams and build robots, all while learning and having fun. “This will expose middle school students to STEM fields with a hands-on, interactive ap-proach,” Jared Gump, STEM Division Chair said. A kick-off event explaining the competition took place at WVU Parkersburg on September

5. There, young students will gain the knowledge to compete with one another in dealing with: robot design, core values and a research project. NASA IV&V will provide the resources for the kick-off. The First Lego League Robot-ics program competition is on November 14 at WVU Parkers-burg in the Multipurpose Room beginning at 9 a.m. Jared Gump stresses that vol-unteers for the event are needed. No experience is necessary as training is provided. Volunteers are expected to help with registration and judging various aspects of the competi-tion. Faculty and students are welcome to volunteer. The STEM program is not

only providing skills and knowl-edge to young students, but is also providing further success for WVU Parkersburg students. WVU Parkersburg formulated an articulation agreement with West Virginia University’s agri-cultural programs. The college is helping to con-tinue a successful path onto West Virginia University for its stu-dents. There are nine degree pro-grams that contain classes that will transfer directly to WVU. Students at this institution can complete up to two years and then transfer onto WVU to com-plete a four-year degree with WVU Parkersburg credits. Further specifics on the ar-ticulation agreement as to what

degree programs will transfer,and what courses will transfer is set to be given at a later date. Contact Jared Gump by email-ing jared.gump@wvup.edu, call (304) 424-8226, or visit Room 0128D for further information about STEM.

E x p a n d i n g S T E M O p p o t u n i t i e s a t W V U P a r k e r s b u r g

by Jessica Fields Consent: it is not about the absence of a no, it is about the presence of a yes. Taking the steps necessary to help out in any way possible, assessing the situ-ation, choosing your best action and taking the action you can are impoirting things to consider. It does not matter what you do, as long something is done. Sexual violence and harassment some-times go unnoticed or kept in the dark but at WVU Parkersburg, Not Anymore. Not Anymore is an online interpersonal violence prevention program from Student Success that helps ensure a safe and healthy student environment. It also raises awareness and en-courages students to be prepared for situation that may occur. The video-based program touches on sensitive topics

such as consent, sexual assault, bystander intervention, dating, domestic violence, stalkin, and more. The goal of this program is to help raise awareness of the sexual violence, harassment and gender discrimination. “We cannot have our heads in the sand and assume because we do not have dorms, that these re-lationship issues do not go wrong outside of our building and then are brought back here,” Debbie Richards, special assistant to the President for Policy and Social Justice, said. WVU Parkersburg in a non-residential campus so it does not see as many problems that other residential colleges may see, but theyr are still present. This pro-gram helps students to be more prepared for anything that could happen, not just at school, but anywhere.

“If the hostile environment that is created by assault is brought to campus, we have a legal obliga-tion, and an ethical one, to make sure we address it properly,” Richards said. Students can seek help on campus in a vairety of methods.

As long as someone is made aware of a problem, an effort will always be made to seek a solution. “The purpose of filing a complaint is not to get a person in trouble, it is to make things better.” Richards exclaims. Students who have completed the program have described their experience as inspiring, empow-ering, educational, emotional, and real, accoridng to Richards. It is strongly advised by Richards to participate in this educational program. To complete Not Anymore, go to https://www.studentsuccess.org/wvup14/notAnyMore/login and sign in using the access code – 149887. Allow about an hour to complete the video-based pro-gram. The section below is part of the email sent out by Debbie Richards in accordance to Not Anymore:

Important Note: It is possible that something you read/watch during this program will trigger an emotional response, whether or not you have experienced interpersonal violence yourself. You will likely want to complete this program in a comfortable place and are welcome to take it with a supportive friend or fam-ily member. All students can access free confidential support by calling the WVUP Counseling Office for an appointment at 304-424-8378 or by emailing Kurt Klettner, director of counseling services, at Kurt.Klettner@wvup.edu. You may also get immediate support 24/7 via the national sup-port hotline of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) at 1.800.656.4673 or access their online chat hotline at https://hotline./rainn.org.online.

Not AnymoreI n t e r p e r s o n a l V i o l e n c e P ro g r a m E d u c a t e s S t u d e n t s o n C a m p u s

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 9, 2015 Page 9

by Sheena Thorn Most people are grateful for the fire fighters in this area. Whether it is because they saved our homes, or someone we know, we respect those who sacrifice their lives for people they do not know on a regular basis. As a society, we have come to rely on first responders and their efforts when it comes to getting a kitten out of a tree, cutting someone out of a car after an accident and saving a child’s life from a burning building. The securi ty of knowing that fire fighters will always be around to save the day is more than comforting. In Wood County, 10 fire d e p a r t m e n t s a r e u n p a i d professional volunteers only. These men and women give their time and lives for nothing more than civic duty. Most of these departments receive little funding to keep themselves up and running. Departments are given some funding by the county, but have to rely on ice cream socials, pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners to bring in any extra revenue. The cost of a new fire truck is around $500,000. New bunker gear and helmets for one fire

fighter is around $11,000. That is money most of these departments do not have. These fire fighters have to rely on gear that may be outdated and equipment that is not necessarily reliable. Where would we be without those people with the proper training and equipment to save another person’s life? For the last five and a half years, K.C. Linder, Fire Chief of Washington Bottom Volunteer Fire Department and chairman on the Wood County Fire Board asked this question. It is his proposal, and that of the other members of the Fire Board, that a county wide fire fee be implemented on all property owners in Wood County outside the city limits of Parkersburg. The fee is set at two cents per square foot of residential property and three cents per square foot of business and commercial property. Federally owned buildings are exempt from the fee. The average residence size in Wood County is 1757 square feet and will cost $35.14 annually should the fee be enacted. An estimated 1.4 million dollars is expected to be raised from this fee. Each of the 10

volunteer departments receives $80,000 of that money equally, leaving around $600,000 to be divided later according department size and area of coverage. “This money will be used to meet national fire protection standards, fund fire departments and keep them running,” Linder said. “The fire fee does not just affect one person or group of people, it affects everyone the same for the same benefit.” “No one is exempt from paying the fire fee. Churches will pay, hospitals, business. Everyone pays the same fee and in return they all receive the same services,” Linder said. If enacted, the fire fee could also help with insurance rates of home and property owners. When the residency is located within five miles of a fire station, insurance rates will only be about $600 a year. If there are fewer departments and larger areas to cover, homes outside that five mile radius could experience rates at triple the cost. Vienna Fire Chief Steve Scholl explains, “It is a form of mutual aid, is how I look at it. It does not take long now to respond to a call because we are close.

When departments start to shut down, we have a wider area of coverage which means slower response times.” This could be the difference between saving a house and saving a life. “ T h i s f e e w i l l k e e p departments functioning. It will help us maintain and operate our departments so we can provide the community with all the services provided by fire fighters,” Scholl said. Fire fighters are speaking out in favor of the fee. “Something has to be done to insure the quality of fire fighters that the citizens of this state want, and deserve, remains in effect. The training and equipment that is required to put these men and women in a position to be able to help them is expensive and time consuming,” Nick Hayek, Vienna fire fighter, said. “The standards for being a fire fighter are not going to lax, and the cost is only going to increase, a s w i l l t he r equ i r emen t s . Volunteer f ire f ighters are held to the same level as paid fire fighters. I understand that nobody likes an increased cost on anything. If there is no funding then doors will close, response times will increase and the

outcomes of those emergencies could possibly change,” Hayek said. Arguments against the fire fee have also been made. People who are opposed to it argue that it is merely a handout to departments, saying that the services are still the same but their fees are being doubled. Another argument against the fire fee is that the West Virginia State Fireman’s Association provides a variety of services and funding to departments all over the state and that it is not necessarily necessary to impose another tax on the people of Wood County. Linder wants everyone to know that it is important to have your opinion heard, regardless of where people stand. For those in favor of the fire fee, you can go to www.woodcountyfire.com for more information. From this site, you can print, sign and mail in your signature on the petition to pass the fire fee. Ten percent of registered voters in Wood County must sign this for it to pass. After the ten percent approval is reached, those against the fire fee have 45 days to collect 30 percent of registered voters signatures who are against it.

Wood County Pays Fire Fee

by: Candice Hoalcraft As Jon BonJovi says, he has “seen a million faces, and rocked them all.” A touch of BonJovi’s music was brought to the Park-ersburg area on Friday, Sept. 13. “Wanted,” a BonJovi tribute band, finished out the summer season with a performance at Point Park. The event was put to-gether by Downtown Pkb whose goal, according to their website, is to “promote the historic and economic redevelopment of Downtown Parkersburg, West Virginia.” Although the concert was free,

donations were accepted at the end of the show. All proceeds will “help to offset the cost of the event and will be used for future projects in Downtown Parkers-burg.” The show was the ending act of the Point Park Concert Series. During the summer months, the first Friday of each month featured a different band. Other bands this season included: Alter Eagles, a tribute to the Eagles; ABRA Cadabra, a tribute to ABBA; and Baracuda, a tribute to Heart. Having previously attended

other free concerts in the area, I had low expectations as far as community attendance. I was shocked to find that sev-eral people had come out for the show. According to Downtown Pkb, the concert series aver-ages around 2,000 people per show. With the concerts taking place in the hot summer months, it is easy to get overheated while sitting among the concrete am-phitheatre. However, they were accommodating by providing paper fans to each attendee. Perhaps the most appealing as-

pect of the event was the setting. There is something special about hearing a live band while sitting by the river. However, people in the park were not the only ones enjoying the concert. Boaters were nearby to hear the band as well. A few food and drink vendors were there. Concert goers had their choice of various foods as well as alcoholic beverages. An interesting fact about the band is that the members previ-ously performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Cleveland, which is an usual feat for a trib-

ute band. There is a reason they had that opportunity—the band genuinely does resemble the real BonJovi. Having attended three Bon-Jovi concerts before, I had high expections. I was pleasantly surpsied when I noticed that the lead singer clearly studied the moves and the mannerisms of the great Jon BonJovi himself. The performance brought the com-munity together, both a young and old crowd. Small children dancing in the stands proved that this community event was truly for everybody.

A Concert with a Cause: BonJovi Tribute

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgPage 10 September 9, 2015

by Russ Bunner For some people, when they think of fall they think of sports. Whether it be the indoor or out-door ones. The school year starts out with students getting used to their classes, and for some students its getting their game face one. . So for the volleyball, basketball, and soccer team their season is get-ting ready to start. This year only a few changes were made to the sports teams. The soccer team got a new coach, Matt Westfall. The soc-cer teams first game is Sept. 13 against Southern State and that game is home.. The boys bas-ketball team's first game is on Oct. 29 against Davis and Elkins. Girls volleyball team started their season playing an away game. "Although the season has started it's not too late to join any of the team's", stated Athletic Di-rector Tom Yencha. Every person matters and if you would like to try out go to Tom's office and he will give you a chance to join. Raising money is a big help for sports teams to collect money for traveling to away games.

If You're Reading This:by Mackenzie Nestor

In our modern world, the word “feminism” has lost its original meaning. Contrary to popular belief, “feminism” itself merely means equality between men, women and others. Feminism is often misinterpreted and con-fused with the term “misandry” which is the hatred and discrimi-nation of men. Roxane Gay said it best in her book “Bad Feminist.’’ “The movement of feminism has been warped by misconception for so long that even people who should know better have bought into this essential image of femi-nism.” A c c o r d i n g t o S t a n f o r d Encyclopedia of Philosophy, feminism is both an intellectual commitment and a political movement that seeks justice for women and the end of sexism in all forms. Important topics in feminist theory and politics include: the body, class and work, disability, the family, globalization, human rights, popular culture, race and racism, reproduct ion, sc ience , the self, sex work, and sexuality. Over the years , feminism has changed. What started as simply just gender equality is now a multifaceted movement. An assortment of movements of the feminist ideology have been produced. Each varies in their individual strategies and goa l s , a l though most overlap. Some feminis ts ident i fy t h e m s e l v e s w i t h several branches o f f e m i n i s m . A c o u p l e o f examples include: i n t e r s e c t i o n a l feminism, liberal f e m i n i s m a n d socialist feminism. W V U P a r k -ersburg student Ashley Dig-

man says that feminism is important to her since she has a daughter. “I do not want her to grow up in a world that will hate her just because she is who she is. I'm raising her to believe that she can do anything and everything she wants to do. That includes making a dollar for every dollar a man in the same position makes, as opposed to the 78 cents women make now. If she wants to major in biology or computer science when she goes to college, I do not want her to be the only girl in her classes. Also, if a boy pulls her hair on the playground, I do not want the teachers to tell her it is because he likes her.” American Association of University Women (AAUW) adds some startling statistics. “In 2013, among full-time, year-round workers, women were paid 78 percent of what men were paid. Women in every state experi-ence the pay gap, but some states are worse than others. The pay gap is worse for women of color ... Hispanic women’s salaries show the largest gap, at 54 per-cent of white men’s earnings. Black women’s salaries stand at 64 percent of white men’s earnings.” Feminism, to put it simply, is also about dismantling patriarchy and disassembling gender roles is a part of

that. Feminism is about mak-

i n g s u r e that chil-

That money pays or gas and food. the money they get is based on how much money they raise. Every little bit helps. This year teams have been do-ing things to benefit them and to grow as a team. The volleyball team has done a fewbake sales and the boys soccer have done conducting camps over the sum-mer at the YMCA. They also plan on doing a soccer tourna-ment as well. For the boys basketball, they have hosted a AAU tournament. For Volleyball and soccer, the first week of November will be the end of their season and the boys basketball will end the last week of February. And every-body knows what that means, another season of sports. Since West Virginia at Park-ersburg is a smaller school than most, it may be difficult to get players from out of state so that means they need help to make them a better team. The teams are always looking for more bodies and help. So if you love to play sports then this is a good way to do it. It is never too late to join. Give it a shot, you may like it.

A Look Into The Season

dren grow up knowing that it is okay for boys to be emotional and it is okay for girls to be scientists, which are just two examples of what is consid-ered unusual for those genders. Feminism is also about letting children develop as individuals instead of pushing them into set gender roles. It is about encouraging men to be just as much a part of their children’s lives as women are; it is about encouraging women to have careers alongside men with-out facing accusations that doing so means they are neglecting their children. It is about treating people as people first, rather than stereotyping them by their gen-ders. Ashley also is an advocate for feminism due to an abusive relationship. She shares that she never had the courage to get out, because like many other victims, she believed it was all her fault. She is determined to never let another girl go through the abuse she did. Love is Re-spect, a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, re-ports that nearly 1.5 million high school students across the United States experience physical abuse from a dating partner in just one year. One in three adolescents in the United States is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or

verbal abuse from a dating partner. One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Debbie Richards, co-chair of the Social Justice

Committee on WVU Parkersburg campus,

said that the best way to get involved is to attend

and encourage par-ticipation by

others in s o c i a l

justice events or activities. Also she is promoting participation in the “Not Anymore” interpersonal violence prevention program. To contact Debbie Richards for information on the Not Anymore campaign you can email her at: debbie.richards@wvup.edu Some examples of intersec-tional feminism in the media today are Black Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter. The united cry of these movements against police violence and the murder of transgender lives are extremely straightforward. But more promi-nent than the slogan’s capability to express so much in so little words is just how painful it is that these messages need to be repeated daily. #BlackLivesMat-ter, which began as a hashtag, started a small and a fierce upris-ing in St. Louis, which spread

Raise Boys and Girls The Same

rapidly over the country and the entire globe. According to The Advocate, an American LGBT interest magazine, at least 17 transgender Americans have been killed this year, all of them women, most of them women of color. By sugar coating the problems women and other minorities face, it does nothing to solve them. Feminism is uncomfortable. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Feminism takes the rose colored glasses from men’s eyes, shatters them and attempts to show them what women and minorities face on a day to day basis. Feminism is meant to break down the walls we build around ourselves. Feminism is about dismantling the oppres-sive systems that are in place and continue to uphold.

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgSeptember 9, 2015 Page 11

by: Candice Hoalcraft Music critics often say that rock and roll is dead. While that may be true to an extent, a few current bands are still able to keep up with what the great Bob Seger describes as that “kind of music [that] just soothes the soul.” Shinedown is one of the bands that preserves the concept of rock and roll. Beginning in 2001, Shinedown endures with their ever changing and improv-ing music. For the first time in three years, the band will release a new album, titled “A Threat to Survival,” on Sept. 13. Three songs have already been released and it is easy to see that it was certainly worth the wait. As with most current public figures, front man Brent Smith has a strong social media pres-ence. He makes a point to

connect with fans on a daily ba-sis. In the beginning of this year, Brent posted saying that the band was currently working on their new album that was due sometime in the year. Brent loy-ally, updated on a regular basis, posting pictures from the record-ing studio and was constantly promoting the new music. For awaiting fans, like myself, this was a form of torture. When was this new album coming out? After a grueling sixth months, the day had arrived for the first single. The wait was finally over. I was not sure what to expect, but what I did know was that it would be unlike anything they had done before. “Cut the Cord” had arrived. That song is truly like none other. While remaining true to form, Shinedown kept their pow-erful, electrifying guitar riffs and

catchy chorus. Unfamiliar with other rock songs, this one combines heavy rock with a truly powerful mes-sage. In the words of the man who wrote it, the song was meant to be played “in your tru-est moment of weakness, when everyone and everything has betrayed you, and evil and hatred has wrapped itself around your mind, body and soul (…) this is the statement to the world that you will not give up, you will not give in, and you refuse to fail.” It reaches out to people who struggle with life and encourages them to break free from those struggles, to ‘cut the cord’ to the things that hold us back. The next single, released a few weeks later, is completely different than the first. “Black Cadillac” has a slinky and blues feel with an unforgettable guitar solo. Although lacking the mean-

ing of the first single, this one is more centered around the music than the lyrics. It is obvious that the full album will include a va-riety of different types of songs. Sometimes, bands get caught in a rut while trying to maintain their familiar sound. Shinedown makes a point to keep this from happening. Each album has a different sound and a different “theme.” The third and final single is titled “State of My Head.” A powerful drum line will have listeners tapping their feet and responding to the rhythm. The chorus has a catchy repetition of the phrase “state of my head,” which will seep its way deep into the subconscious without warn-ing. While this song has more of the modern rock feel, it still of-fers distinct and genuine sound. With those three songs, it is

easy to see that “A Threat to Survival” will be an album that will remain as a memorable one for future generations. Smith mentions that the album title “represents those deciding mo-ments for us as a band. It's a collection of scenarios that made us who we are, and [it] is, by far, the most autobiographical albume we've created to date.” Who knows, it may return in twenty years on the “oldies” sta-tion.

by Sheena Thorn More than 40 million Americans, aged 18 and older, suffer from some sort of anxiety or depression related mental illness. That is 18 percent of the population. People with anxiety and depression, two illnesses that are usually linked together, tend to feel isolated and alone, like there is no one to talk to that relates to what is happening in their lives at that moment. I am one in 40 million Americans who suffers from anxiety and depression. I have dealt with anxiety and depression for the last seven years, since I was 15. I have broken out in hives, fainted in the middle of class and thrown up in the hallway of my high school because of stress and anxiety from school. An anxiety attack can sometimes be brought on by the simplest and silliest events; someone not laughing at a joke you told two weeks ago, walking around with your zipper down all day and not noticing. Seemingly silly things, yet they can wreck your day, week or month. It could be something more serious that sets off anxiety and depression as well. Stress over an upcoming exam, feeling estranged from a significant other or working all the time an set off an attack. An attack can happen anywhere, at any time for any reason.

Reactions to an anxiety attack vary. Not everyone shuts down and becomes silent and stoic. Not everyone bursts into tears at the slightest touch. Not everyone yells and becomes aggressive, picking a fight with anyone who crosses their path. No reaction is the same. The person next to you could be someone who suffers, or also suffers, from some sort of anxiety or depression. I am here to tell you, you are not alone. Every new semester, for me, it starts the same way; it becomes slightly harder to breathe because I feel constricted by the deadlines, confusing assignments and teachers who provide little to no help in or outside the classroom. If college is supposed to be the best time of my life, why am I so miserable? Maybe miserable is an exaggeration, but I feel like the ratio between enjoying my college career and feeling like I am drowning are significantly out of proportion. Perseverance is what keeps me going, though. The desire to finish my degree and graduate help guide me. I strive to be better and stronger than this illness. I refuse to let it get the best of me, and it is with that where I find my strength. I surround myself with positive people. My family, my friends, my classmates and my boyfriend bring me happiness and relief.

I know if I am having a hard day, all I have to do is say “hey, I need a minute” and I have ears listening to me and arms embracing me. Listening to music, taking a break to watch a movie, having a snack or simply putting my books or computer down for a minute so I can just breathe help me get through mounds of homework. I have realized I may not be as crippled by school-related anxiety and depression as much as some and that the methods of coping that work for me may not work for someone else. But I encourage you, or someone you may know, to try them out and see if they work. Make a list of all the tasks that need done and decide which are most important and need done first. Take it day by day. There are a hundred reasons out there to make us miserable. I am a firm believer that there are a hundred and one reasons to keep us happy and keep us going. If you need someone to talk to about dealing with anxiety and depression when it comes to school work, or even another aspect of your life, feel free to reach out to me or the other resources WVU Parkersburg offers. Counselors in the social services division in the banana wing are waiting to help us out. I am determined to make my last year in a college my best one yet. I will not be crippled by my illness. Will you?

From Her Perspective:

Coping with Stress and Anxiety in a

College Environment

Shinedown Album Emerges After Three Years of Silence

The new Shinedown album cover.

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg September 9, 2015Page 12

by James Liebau II Football season is back in full swing and what better way to celebrate it than by playing the new “Madden 16”? EA Sports is at it again with their famous NFL video game franchise. “Madden 16” brings you inside the stadium and onto the field with new in-game cam-era angles and replays, improved graphics and more player per-sonal commentary. With strategic wide receiver controls and over 600 new plays to choose from, “Madden 16” gives the gamer more control on offense, while “play receiver” or “ball selection” and “gang tack-les” improve the defensive side of the ball. The biggest change of all for “Madden 16” is the new game mode, Draft Champions, which is EA’s attempt at a fantasy football mode. With all these changes from “Madden 15,” will I be impressed with this year’s version? Let’s start with the graphics and improvements to the game’s presentation. Playing on an Xbox One, the graphics have not changed at all from “Madden 15” to “Madden 16.” That being said, it is not a bad thing. The body structure of players and coaches are high quality and the faces of NFL stars are very accurate. When it comes to gameplay graphics, there is the occasional leg through the turf or arm

through a player glitch but with any brand new game, this is bound to happen. The commentary has improved when it comes to talking about a specific star on the field but after a few hours of gameplay, it be-comes repetitive. New replays and statistical graphics after plays are a nice touch and give the gamer a feel-ing of satisfaction after making an impact play. In “Madden 16,” the quarter-back position has been expanded to make the game more open. Throwing the ball, gamers may now choose what type of throw he or she wants the quarterback to make. Whether it be a bullet pass, a lob pass or a pass to the feet of the receiver, it all depends on the situation. As the receiver, there are now options to go up for an aggres-sive catch, a run after catch or a possession catch. For me, this will take some time getting used to because I do not see this fea-ture making a huge difference at the moment. On defense, players can now choose how to go up to defend a pass, whether it may be to play the receiver or play the ball. Again, this feature might grow on me because there is nothing doing at the moment for me. The tackling however does feel better in Madden 16, with CPU teammates helping finish a tackle more quickly and effectively. The game modes in “Madden

16” are very solid and each one brings a fun experience, dif-fering from one another. The newest, and best in my opinion, mode Draft Champions, lets gamers choose a team in a draft format. Getting three players to chose from in each of the fifteen rounds, players can select who they think will improve their starter squad they are given to begin with. The exciting part of the draft is choosing from current and former NFL stars to complete your team. After compiling your team, gamers can choose to play head-to-head online games with other players or to play AI games that get gradually tougher with the more wins you get. Win four in a row and you become Draft Champion. Lose, and you restart by drafting a whole new team, it is a win-win situation. All in all, “Madden 16” is the perfect game for the football enthusiast and the best in the se-ries for many years. I had faded away from the Madden series in years past but came back into it with “Madden 15” and now “Madden 16.” If I were you, I would buy this game within the next few weeks just to let EA fix some of the an-noying bugs but I would not wait too long. I give “Madden 16” a very satisfying 8/10. I, person-ally, can not wait to continue my winning streak against my friends.

by Kurt Klettner Veterans’ Day creates an op-portunity to remember. This day is celebrated nationwide as a time to collectively remember and honor men and women who have served and are currently serving our country as a member of the United States military. On this day many individuals will reflect back on the past. You may be finding yourself thinking of family, friends and loved ones whose history in-cludes a time of military duty; in some cases having given their life in service to country. In this case the memories often bring forth the emotion of pride cou-pled with the sorrow that comes with death. Military service brings with it many challenges that continue long after the end of an assign-ment, deployment or discharge. Whether you still hold a military rank, or your time in service was a few years ago or decades ago (for me it is now over thirty-three years since I was

last referred to as Staff Sergeant Klettner) the sites that you have seen, the places that you have been assigned, the actions that your particular MOS and time of duty has required of you can have a life long impact. If you are a “Vet,” your reflection on this day may bring forth many memories and feelings that in-clude not just honor and pride that comes with serving in the Armed Forces, but also days and nights of pain and suffering. It is important that each Vet who has experienced suffering as a result of military service, re-gardless of the form (emotional, psychological, physical, stressed/broken relationships, etc.), re-members that as it took courage to enter into the military and face the personal assignments that have ultimately created one’s military experience, it also takes courage to face the battle for healing and peace of mind.

PEACE!Kurt

Kurt'sCorner“Madden 16” Inflates the serIesReflecting on Veterans' Day