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Volume 68 Number 07

First Copy Free February 1, 2010

WVSU Yellow Jacket

“Patriot Chopper”Army National Guard

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The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at West Virginia State University is an elective course of study specializing in management, leadership, and life skills. There are currently about fifty students enrolled in the program. They come from WVSU, West Virginia Tech, Glenville State and the University of Charleston.

By making ROTC part of their college curriculum, those students have committed themselves to excel-lence. “In our program, Education is first,” said LTC Timothy U. Phillips. There is no excuse for a student to earn a ‘C’ in ROTC.”

Instead, the more they give into the program, the more they receive.” Students on ROTC contract enjoy col-lege tuition assistantship and monthly stipends. Most importantly, they en-gage in various leadership activities with lifetime benefits. “We train our students to become leaders. They learn that reaching out and helping is part of being in the US Army.”

Under the Haitian Relief fund at WVSU, ROTC students recently volunteered to raise money toward the earthquake relief in Haiti. ROTC is not just about academics and leadership, “It is meant to be fun,” LTC Phillips said.

Last November, the battalion participated in the fourth ROTC Bri-gade’s Best Ranger Competition in Fort Bragg, NC.

From Delaware to South Caro-lina, thirty-eight schools were engaged in the Ranger Challenge Competition, which included Hand Grenade, Rope Bridge, Physical Fitness, Marksman-ship, and a Six Mile Road March.

According to the size of their ROTC program, the schools compete in either the Black or the Gold Divi-sion. The ROTC program at WVSU participated in the Gold Division.

“We sent eleven Cadets includ-ing three freshmen and two females,” LTC Phillips said. “Our battalion ranked in the top ten in Hand Grenade and Rope Bridge.”

Several more exciting events are scheduled for this spring, such as two Field Training Exercises, a Military Ball as well as a Peruvian Exchange with the West Virginia National Guard.

However, the major focus for this semester will be the Warrior Forge training for MS III Cadets in Fort Lewis, WA. “Students enrolled in this course will participate in a twenty-eight

day extensive training from June to August 2010,” LTC Phillips said. “They will be prepared to compete against approximately 4,500 Cadets across the United States.”

Though tough training times are ahead, LTC Phillips remains con-fident in his student’s potential. In fact, for the past years, fifteen General Officers have commissioned from the ROTC Program at West Virginia State University: “Our Cadets are truly ready to serve this great nation. They are ready to build on the Battalion’s rich history of producing great of-ficers.”

LTC Timothy U. Phillips is professor of Military Science and Bat-talion Commander at West Virginia State University. He holds a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Business from Virginia State University and a Master degree in Management from Central Michigan University. LTC Phillips was commissioned in May 1989. He has served in the US Army for nearly twenty years.

For more information on the ROTC program at West Virginia State University, call 304 766 3291, or email rotcmail@wvstate.edu.

Campus NewsROTC enriches WVSU students’ college experienceby Christine Agbanzo

Holidays are a time for celebrating, being with your loved ones, and sharing your wealth with others. This past December, State’s Charles R. Byrd chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) did just that. The club organized a holiday luncheon in the Union on December 3, 2009 that included a charity drive for YWCA Sojourner’s Women’s Shelter in Charleston. All members donated items to Sojourner’s, who had a wish list including toiletries, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, and gift cards.

“[Donating] can be a great way to build relationships while fulfilling the needs of others. It teaches students to show their support by being aware of their communities’ needs and it also builds a stronger bond of community relations,” said Amber Beezel, PRSSA president.This isn’t the first time that PRSSA has teamed up with Sojourner’s. In November, they had a children’s book drive and collected numerous books to donate to the shelter. Some members even attended a fundraiser dinner for Sojourner’s, hosted by Charleston‘s chapter of Public Relations Society of America.

Also at the luncheon, PRSSA invited several faculty and administration members to showcase how the organization was benefiting State’s campus. “We give students an opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and use it in the working world. By creating real campaigns, it builds the students’

Campus club gives back during the holidaysby Sara Price

CLUB Continued on pg. 6

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Over 400,000 thousand people were left homeless in the devastating af-termath of a category 7.0 earthquake that hit the Republic of Haiti on January 12, 2010.

In light of this tragedy, the initial concern from the Haitian government was to dispatch search-and-rescue teams, along with trained K-9 units, to search for survivors in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince in one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere.

Hope of finding more survivors has almost entirely vanished and the gov-ernment has declared the search-and-rescue phase officially over.

Now, they are shifting their attention to aiding injured survivors, fending off epidemics and providing help to hundreds of homeless individuals that continue to suffer.

Those whose homes were destroyed in the quake have been settling into more than 200 available spaces around the city, the luckiest of those with tents for their families, but still living under the sweltering tropical sun on blankets, plastic sheets or under tarpaulins, the locals have carefully strung between obtainable tree limbs out and around the Caribbean nation. While many sur-viving natives are elated only to be alive in the midst of this catastrophe, aid workers have been rushing in to help the unfortunate masses who live in this underdeveloped society given their subsequent lack of water, food, drugs, clothing, construction equipment and principal latrines. The Red Cross is calling these efforts,“The greatest deployment of emergency responders in its 91-year-history.”

However morbid the nature of this predicament that has achieved world-wide recognition may be, hopes are running high for the Haitian people, and recent developments have those affected by the quake in good spirits, and hoping for a resolution.Within the coming days, the government is scheduled to move some 400,000 people made homeless by this earthquake from their humble and offhand encampments to modish resettlement areas located on the outskirts of the surrounding area.

Though the intentions seem noble enough, authorities are worried about the overall sanitation and disease outbreaks that could potentially ensue on the city’s Champs de Mars plaza given the lack of proper healthcare necessities. Despite the amount of international aid coming in from countries like the United States and Great Britain, more help continues to be needed.

“A couple of days ago I saw a young Haitian girl on the news who had broken her leg in the disaster and still had not been treated because no doctors were available in her area. I realize that many people have dropped everything and ran to aid Haiti, which is more than I have done, but I can’t help but won-der how much different the emergency response would be if the ground had shaken here on American soil,” said Sarah Moawad, sophomore at W.V.S.U.

In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th, a small committee of professors presided by Dr. Charles Byers is launching the Haitian Relief Fund at West Virginia State University. The Fund is seeking to raise $ 50,000 by February 28th. It will coordinate it's relief efforts with the Mocombeian Foundation Inc. which supports Doctors Without Brothers in Haiti. WVSU Professor Dr. Paul Mocombe is the President of the Foundation and a native of Haiti. He was personally affected by the tragedy in his homeland. Some of his relatives went on missing for days, others died. “We were able to locate my father” Mocombe said. “Although he is homeless at the moment, he was not severely injured. Unfortunately, I lost my aunt and two cousins who had just finished medical school in Cuba.”

The American Red Cross estimates 45,000 to 50,000 Haitians perished in the quake. Though an unknown number of people may still remain trapped under collapsed structures, for the survivors, water, food, medical supplies and temporary shelter items are much needed. Donations to the Haitian Relief Fund at WVSU will be applied toward those immediate needs. Long term rebuild-ing efforts are also considered. “Any amount is welcome,” Dr. Mocombe said.

Campus News

CLUB Continued on pg. 6

WVSU launches Haitian Relief Fundby Christine Agbanzo

Resettlement for Haitiansby Bryan Chin

PLEASE HELP HAITI!Send your dontation to:

OR

Checks should indicate “HAITIAN FUND RELIEF” in the memo line.

The Mocombeian Foundation, Inc. 8061NW 54th Court

Lauderhill, Florida 33351 www.mocombeian.com

WVSU R&D Corporation 200 East Hall P.O. Box 1000

Institute, WV 25112-1000

WVSU’S Kanawha Review is accepting

poetry, short stories, photographs and cover art until February 5, 2010.

To submit your entry e-mail wvsukreview@gmail.com or bring a hard copy to 226 Hill Hall.

Remember to include your name, class standing and phone number.

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Massey CEO Don Blankenship squared off against environmental-ist Robert Kennedy JR. on Thursday January 21, 2010 in a debate held at the University of Charleston titled the “Future of Coal Forum.”

This debate, moderated by UC President Ed Welch, was set to discuss the future of coal here in West Virginia.

Coal mining is a large part of West Virginia’s history and is still a big industry today for the state. En-vironmentalists, such as Kennedy, are seeking to outlaw the use of one form of mining called “Mountain Top Removal.”

“They are blowing the tops off mountains to get at the coal seams beneath, then they take the rock, debris, and rubble and they plow it into the adjacent river valley. They have already flattened a million acres, close to an area the size of Delaware, they’ve cut down five hundred of the biggest mountains in West Virginia,”

Many WVSU college students are highly enthusiastic about sports. Through listening to casual conversations among WVSU students, not only would one hear about student or professional athletes, but one would also hear about stu-dents’ keen interests in having careers affiliated with the multi-billion dollar sports industry. The WVSU Department of Health and Human Performance & Leisure Studies took students’ career interests in sports into consideration and have been discussing a need for a Sports Studies program since October, 2007.

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission agreed with the department’s matter and approved of a Sports Studies undergraduate program for WVSU. The program was officially launched on January 22, 2010. The Sports Studies Program is for “Generally people who like sports, but don’t want to be physical education teachers,” said Dr. Aaron Settle, a professor in the WVSU Department of Health and Human Performance & Leisure Studies.

Settle listed many career possibilities in this field including: Athletic coaching at high school, collegiate, or professional levels; College or Profes-sional Referee or Umpire; Strength and Conditioning Specialist; (careers at) collegiate and professional sports centers’ YMCA’s and Recreation Centers; (careers at) Corporate Companies’ wellness programs, and entry level Sports Administration jobs. Settle also said that, “Exercise Science, Sports Manage-ment, and Entry Level Athletic Training Education,” are general fields that students study in graduate school.

“There are a lot of jobs in the state of West Virginia,” said Settle, pertain-

Sports Studies program launched at WVSUby Ashley King

Opponents debate coal’s future at local universityby Brittani Stowers

said Kennedy. While Blankenship did not di-

rectly answer back to any mountain top removal comments from Kennedy, he did have this to say in general about the coal industry and Massey.

“It’s easy to sit and criticize a company, but Massey is made up of six thousand individuals, that live and work in Appalachia… These people are your brothers, your sisters, your

mothers and fathers, your children and your grand-children and the genera-tions that came before them worked hard to make this industry great and this industry is what made this country great. If we forget that we’re going to have to learn to speak Chinese.”

Both Blankenship and Kennedy used separate resources and studies when it came to spitting facts about the coal industry, each using the numbers

that served their own cause. The one thing that both men ada-

mantly agreed upon was quality of life for miners and those living in mining towns are greatly decreased and that mining conditions and safety need to continuously be worked on, updated, and promoted. Although this event was held at the University of Charleston, many West Virginia State students either attended or watched the live telecast because of the importance of coal to our region.

Senior Communications major Corey Williams said, “I’m not original-ly from West Virginia, but ever since I moved here I’ve heard a lot about the coal industry and how important it is. Both sides gave really good points and it was very interesting. I’m glad that both sides could come together and bring this debate public, it’s something that the public definitely needs to pay attention to, since it affects so many lives in West Virginia.”

SPORTS Continued on pg. 6

Campus News

WVSU Professor of His-tory Dr. Stuart McGehee passed away January 12,

2010. McGehee was also an Archivist of the Eastern Regional Coal Archives, Craft Memo-rial Library in Bluefield.

McGehee served on numerous non-profit and

In Memoriam

charitable boards, as well as Chair of the West Virginia Archives and His-tory Commission for five years.

He wrote five books and his more than fifty articles, essays, and re-

views appeared in West Virginia History, Civil War History, The Journal of Southern History, The Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Goldenseal, East Tennessee Historical Publications, Blue Ridge History, Coal People Maga-zine, and many others regional and national publications.

He appeared in the West Virginia History Film, the History Channel’s

“Modern Marvels” series, as well as numerous PBS documentaries. He was honored as “Bluefield’s “Citizen of the Year” in 1989, “Profes-

sor of the Year” at Bluefield College in 1994, Delta Kappa Pi’s “Professor of the Year” at West Virginia State University in 1999.

Dr. Stuart McGehee1954-2010

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Although many of those that attended the recent Kennedy/Blankenship debate at the University of Charleston were in favor of continued mountaintop removal mining, environmental activists were in attendance as well. Daniel Chiotos, a youth organizer in West Virginia and Kentucky for the Student En-vironmental Action Coalition, was in attendance and took a few moments to speak with me.

Like the organization he represents, Mr. Chiotos is in favor of a carbon tax. He feels that West Virginia will have more renewable energy jobs in the near future, offsetting current economic concerns regarding the coal industry. He is also in favor of current Environmental Protection Agency policies that are slowing or stopping efforts to mine coal.

I asked him about the inaction of state government in regards to Massey Energy’s coal impoundment site at Marsh Fork, one that has been a hot button for local environmental activists. Governor Joe Manchin has taken no action against this site. Mr. Chiotos feels this is a public safety issue, not a referendum issue. I couldn’t let Mr. Chiotos go without asking him about the recent Climate Gate scandal. While he could not deny that some of the correspondence cited was “shady”, he still believes the science behind the global warming theory is solid. He believes the time to act is now.

At the recent debate between Massey Energy Chief Executive Officer Don Blankenship and noted environmental activist and attorney Robert Kennedy, Jr., I had the opportunity to speak with Mac Warner.

Mr. Warner, a self-proclaimed “Tea Party patriot”, is challenging Alan Mol-lohan for the 1st District’s Congressional seat. As a twenty three year veteran of the U.S. Army’s JAG Corps, Mr. Warner has the credentials to challenge for such a position and be taken seriously.

Mr. Warner attended the debate to support West Virginia’s energy industry and spread awareness about his own campaign. He referred to global warming as

SPORTS Continued on pg. 6

Local Environmental Activist Speaks Outby Kris Casdorph

by Kris Casdorph

Republican Challenger Mac Warner Confident

CHALENGER Continued on pg. 6

Opinion

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The recent debate between Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship and environmental attorney Robert Kennedy, Jr. attracted a great deal of attention here in West Virginia. The hot button topic of surface mining brought out a bigger crowd than the appearance of then Senator Joe Biden in West Virginia’s capitol city. Citizens from all corners of West Virginia were in attendance; in-cluding a contingent of Massey Energy employees and Republican supporters.

Although the participants of the debate did not make a grand entrance, supporters on either side of the cause gathered outside the entrance to the au-ditorium at the University of Charleston. As people began to filter in for the nights events, I couldn’t help but notice how few of the environmental activists and miners were moving towards the auditorium. Although the University of Charleston was gracious enough to provide overflow seating for people who couldn’t find a ticket, I thought it was sad that the people who felt like they have the most to lose in the outcome of such a debate were effectively removed from it.Those who believed that the settlement of the issue of surface mining would be resolved at the debate should be sorely disappointed. Massey miners gave an angry glare to those who supported Robert Kennedy, Jr. Their superior numbers, while cementing their place as the majority view in the leading coal producing state, served to intimidate the thin crowd of environmentalists. Such tactics of intimidation pervert the American process of democracy and serve as a black eye to the coal community; a community that once had to fear the use of such tactics against a pro-union movement that has helped to protect West Virginia miners from unsympathetic coal operators and unsafe work conditions.

Surface Mining Debate Has No Winnersby Kris Casdorph

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Editor-in-ChiefMary Casto

Design Editor/Photographer Katheryne Hawkins

Ad ManagerBrett Mannon

News EditorBryan Chin

Senior Copy EditorBrittani Stowers

Copy EditorLacy Kinsolving

Copy EditorScott Waggner

Editorial EditorDon McClain

Entertainment EditorLydia Withrow

Opinion EditorSara Price

Sports EditorBobby Miller

WebmasterRay Dolin

Faculty AdvisorDr. Robin Broughton

Office ContactsPhone: 766-3212

The Yellow Jacket - WVSU214 Wilson Student Union

Institute, WV 25112.

YJJacketStaff

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portfolios and helps give State an excellent reputation,” said professor Jessica Isner, PRSSA’s co-advisor.

Highlights of the luncheon include a slideshow of the club’s pictures, a tour of PRSSA’s website and social networking pages, and door prize give-aways. Handcrafted South African jewelry was also on sale, something that the organization had ordered specifically for WVSU. “The amount of donations we received at the luncheon was amazing. It took a lot of hard to work to pull this off, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped put it together,” said Hallie Sampson, a luncheon organizer and PRSSA member.

For more information on PRSSA and how you can donate to Charleston’s YWCA, you can visit PRSSA’s website at http://wvsuprssa.weebly.com.

CLUBContinued from pg. 2

ing to careers in Sports Studies. “Because of the obesity rate (now at least 31.1% in West Virginia) . . . West Virginia needs more leaders in this field and in strength training and conditioning.”

Now WVSU students who want to fight obesity, improve athletes’ perfor-mances, referee baseball games, or do other things in the many facets of sports-oriented careers, can make their dreams realities through the WVSU Sports Studies Program. “[Sports studies] gives them a viable degree,” said Settle.

SPORTSContinued from pg. 4

“junk science”; a position that has been gaining traction since the Climate Gate scandal. Although his position on global warming holds with many members of the Tea Party movement, his view seemed to stray from the Constitutionalist viewpoint most Tea Party activists hold in regards to the First Amendment. I asked him about recent requirements local governments have been enacting requiring groups using their right to protest to obtain a permit to do so.

While one might expect a “Tea Party patriot” to fully defend a citizens’ right to protest, Mr. Warner stated that the permit requirement was “dependent on the situation”; calling into question Constitutional issues like equal protec-tion under the law that is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Despite the fact that Mr. Warner has decided to take on a representative that has served since 1983, he is very optimistic in regards to his chance to defeat Representa-tive Mollohan in the 2010 election. He plans to rein in the “unfair targeting of West Virginia’s industry” by federal regulatory agencies if he wins.

CHALLENGERContinued from pg. 5

Women in Communicationswill be meeting

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 12:30 pm in the Yellow Jacket Office

Room 214 Union Student UnionFor more information contact President Mary Casto at 304.766.3212

Editorial

ON THE COVER:Army National Guard “PATRIOT CHOPPER” by Orange County Chopper. The bike was on display January 27, 2010 in the Wilson Student Union sponsored by the National Guard and WVSU ROTC.The Patriot Chopper debued in September 2007 and is one of three bikes made for the Guard to promote recruitment and motorcycle safety.

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It seems today that people are always working towards retirement; towards what they think is a better life. Put in a good thirty years of hard work and get a paycheck for the rest of your life. Studies are now showing that retirement may be hazardous to your health. The American dream of traveling and seeing the world after retirement falls short for most retirees.

There are several reasons retirement can have adverse affects on a person’s health. The number one reason is loss of purpose. People are always setting goals and making plans, when one goal is reached you just move on to the next goal or the next level. Retirement can take that goal seeking away.

Working is good for the body, mind, and soul. You build connections with your co-workers, you see the product of your labor, and you provide for your family’s needs. Working keeps the body moving and the mind thinking. A study in the British Medical Journal showed that “workers who retired at age 55 have almost twice the risk of dying in the first 10 years compared to those who continue working until age 65.” Working provides purpose for your life.

Under the best circumstances, a person has put in a number of years with the same company along with developing a retirement portfolio and they are able to relax and pursue some of their personal dreams. Under the worst circumstances, a person is forced to retire early due to medical illness or job cutbacks and they are unprepared for the financial loss. These two people will endure different levels of stress and cope in different ways, but both are at risk of increased health problems and even death.

My advice is to continue working towards something or for something. It may be time for a job change or even a retirement from a specific company, but find another area of life to get your feet wet. Start a new career, hobby, or adventure. Be happy, be healthy, and buy American!

The perfect Hallmark Holiday. Valentine’s Day, also known as, “Eat a whole cake because I’m so lonely day,” rakes in millions in profits from companies.

When did Valentine’s Day become such a big deal? Why does it rank among top holidays such as Christmas? Well, Valentine’s Day can kiss my big, beautiful, and VERY single

butt, because Valentine’s Day is a cruel joke. Here are my top three reasons to stay single on Valentine’s Day:

1. One day of love and gifting followed by364 days of not even bother ing to fake it.

2.Single’s drink specials and lonely men willing to spend their money.

3.Half price candy on Feb. 15th.

So, ladies before you get depressed and eat your way up two pants sizes, step back and look at all the good things about the single life.

Laugh about it and blame the stereotypes of V-day on Hallmark and other major corporations trying to make a buck off of “feelings.”

And men, you need to laugh about it too, break out the wallet and start buying some single ladies a drink or two.

Think About It... Laugh About It...by Brett Mannon

Retirement is risky businessby Brittani StowersAh, Valentine’s Day...

Have a Valentine tale? tell us about it at wvsuyj@gmail.com

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