YJVolume 67 Number 06WVSU Yellow Jacket

November 21, 2008

YJ

On the cover: see page 6

Dear Editor,I did not support Barack Obama but will give him a chance as President of

the United States. Now, he has to back up his words of action and appease hisscreaming fans who believe they will have no worries with their mortgage paymentand putting gas in their car. I submit to you 11 commandments for Senator Obamato understand what will happen in his presidency.

1. Obama avoided making race an issue in his campaign. If he continues to dothis in office, he has the best shot anyone has ever had at bringing a greater degreeof racial unity in this country. He needs to publicly distance himself from the likes ofPastor Jeremiah Wright, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson

2. Establishing control over your “hounds”, especially Biden and Pelosi, issomething you have to undertake before you are sworn in. They may be of yourparty but I am not sure they are on your side. Already, Rep. Barney Frank isthrowing his weight around (re: bailouts). This is not in your best interest.

3. It appears as if you are liked overseas. I am sure you could be a greatdiplomat. But great diplomats do not always make great Presidents (Richard Nixon,for example).

4. Do not even think of introducing the fairness doctrine. You cannot legislateand hope to achieve a fair press..

5. Redistributing money from those who provide jobs is not the answer. Cut-ting taxes is. Your $250k limit has already been lowered to $150k by Biden. Itdoes not work.

6. Want to be the best President ever? Save Billions of dollars and introducethe fair tax to the USA.

7. If you intend to carry out your plans which seem intent on taking us to-wards socialism - you need to explain to the American people other countries in theworld this has worked in and why it will be even better under you. This should bepart of your opening address, failing that, abandon the concept, now.

8. Your plans for a civil defense force needs to be totally free of any hint ofcorruption or elitism. If it cannot, you will have groups like the Black Panthers andWhite Supremacists taking the law into their own hands.

9. Support the re-introduction of trade schools. Not everyone is best suitedto a College education and we need the skills of tradesmen in America.

10. You need to go in front of the American people and justify why cuttingdefense is in our best interests as a nation.

11. The current health care system does not work. But neither will your planfor a Universal Health Care System. Every country that has one has to pay outra-geous taxes to fund it and there are long waiting lists. I know this because I comefrom a country with such service. Here’s the cure, give people personal responsi-bility. In times past, people accepted there was a risk going to the doctor or havingsurgery. Eliminate the need for malpractice insurance. Any surgery is at the patient’srisk.

Craig BraddickCommunications Major

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EditorialLetter to the EditorThe forgotten holiday

Editorial by Devon Nuckles

Christmas is coming up soon, or so they been telling me since October 30th.It all started that fateful night when I needed a last minuet Halloween costume. So,like any idiot would do, I went to Wal-Mart. I only go to Wal-Mart, or any othersuperstore, because I like to expose myself to the most illogical situations at once.And Wal-Mart does that for me. I’ll explain.

I arrive at the store quickly, trying to MacGyver up a suitable costume so Ican at least look like I belong on the street during Halloween. Anyway, I park mycar, run down the parking lot, dodging cars in a fashion that made me look cool, andwhat a rare treat that was. After the parking lot I then enter the store and start tolook for Halloween costumes. But did I find Halloween costumes? No. My eyeswhere forced by some evil cosmic power to the center of the store. And to myamassment, what did my eyes behold on this crisp October evening. A BIG CHRIST-MAS TREE!!!

It was huge, reaching the top of the ceiling. And here I was, cased in it’sshadow like a ant under somebody’s foot, fearing for my life. But I showed that treeno fear, I stood my ground. It looked at me, and I looked at it, then it looked backedat me, then I looked back at it, then it kept looking at me. I was not about to bepushed around by a giant shrub! So I started to walk around the tree, challenging itand all that it stood for.

Yet, I was not challenging Christmas. I love Christmas; it’s a wonderful andbeautiful holiday. The colors, the smells, the sounds, and the sprit of giving instead ofreceiving. This giant fiberglass tree represented everything what Christmas had be-come and not what Christmas IS.

I like Christmas when it occurs when it is supposed to, in December. But Iguess we forgot about calendars, because we get ready for Christmas in November.And November has its own holyday, it’s called Thanksgiving. The Forgotten Holi-day; a time in which we as a people express how thankful we are for the many thingswe have. However, people just want to get Thanksgiving over with because the dayafter Thanksgiving there is Black Friday. I always thought Black Friday was a racistthing growing up, but I quickly learned that is was a day where people demand morethan what they already have.

So, in this process they killed two Holidays that I love. They killed two purewonderful days out of a very sucky year with an idea. The idea that we must ownevery little thing we set our greedy little eyes on. Forget about being thankful; forgetabout helping people in need. And forget about enjoying the Holiday and having fun!Screw that, pick up your self by your own bootstraps, there is shopping that mustget done. It’s November and there are only 55 days till Christmas, how will we haveenough time to get that Go! Go! Action Bronco?

And so, I thought about all of this when I was having an old style westernface off with the Antichristmas tree. I then looked deep into the black abyss whereits soul would be. And I yelled at it “It’s still October!” Then I saw something I havenot seen since my early childhood. A shiny little light, a glimpse of hope. And as amessenger from above I discovered how we can restore Christmas to the magicalnight it once was. And the answer was simple. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and…STOPBEING SUCH A GREEDY BASTARD!

Questions, comments, concerns?Letters to the Editor can be

submitted to wvsuyj@gmail.com

The Arc of The Three Rivers is anonprofit organization that advocatesand provides services to individuals withintellectual and developmental disabili-ties. The Arc’s mission is to achieve fullinclusion in the community for the indi-viduals they serve. The Arc began pro-viding advocacy and support toKanawha and Putnam County childrenwith intellectual and developmental dis-abilities more than five decades ago.Today, the organization assists both chil-dren and adults who reside in Boone,Clay, Kanawha, and Putnam Countiesin West Virginia.

The Arc of The Three Rivers pro-vides most services through reimburse-ment from the West Virginia MedicaidTitle XIX Waiver Program. The WaiverProgram is a federal and state fundedprogram designed to deliver services to

eligible participants with intellectual anddevelopmental disabilities in their home andcommunity as an alternative to receivingservices in an Intermediate Care Facility.The purpose of the Waiver Program is toachieve the highest level of independenceand self-sufficiency for individuals with in-tellectual and developmental disabilities.

Some of the services The Arc of TheThree Rivers provides include: servicecoordination, therapeutic consultation,adult companion, respite care,prevocational/supported employment,residential habilitation (community andagency), and day habilitation (communityand facility). Other non Waiver Programservices include Representative Payee andthe ICF/MR Group Home. The Arc cur-rently serves over 180 individuals with in-tellectual and developmental disabilities andover 300 Representative Payee clients.

The Arc needs your help to make itpossible to expand and enrich the servicesthe organization provides. You can helpThe Arc by volunteering, partnerships,contributions, and participating on Advi-sory Councils and the Board of Directors.Volunteers are needed to assist with clientactivities, administrative support,fundraising efforts, and special events. TheArc needs civic and business partners tohelp promote community integration andsocialization, and also to utilize hard work-ing Arc clients as volunteers and employ-ees. The Arc graciously accepts donationsof money, property, stocks, and services.The Arc currently has tax vouchers forcertain donations that meet the criteria toreceive them as well. The Arc needs com-munity leaders to head Advisory Councilsthat provide assistance in identifying needsin the community, fundraising, staff recruit-

ment, and public relations. Last but notleast, The Arc needs Board members thatunderstand nonprofits, skilled in team dy-namics, possess leadership skills, and ac-tively participates with organizationalfunctions.

If you are interested in becoming avolunteer, partner, or contributor pleasecall The Arc at 304-344-3403, or visitThe Arc at 1021 Quarrier Street, Suite200, Charleston, WV 25301. For addi-tional information visit The Arc atwww.arcthreerivers.org.

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EditorialEditorial by Bethany Simmons

The Arc of the Three Rivers provides much needed servicesby Ashley Smith

Local News

Campus activities can beadvertised here!Send agendas to

wvsuyj@gmail.com

It may seem a bit obvious, but letme lay it all out on the table anyway.Students are at the mercy of their pro-fessors. Professors are expected tomeet the demands of their supervisors;who are often the Dean of the depart-ment. The Deans are directed by thehead of the university. This is often thestandard chain of command. While noteveryone agrees with it; it is used by thepowers that be.

It has been brought to my atten-tion that a few professors on this cam-pus appear to delight in the public de-grading of their students. Coming froma family of educators, this disheartensme.

Somewhere along the line of theirsuccess, these professors may have for-

Prerequisite for teaching: Etiquette 101

gotten to put the most important lesson atthe forefront of their plans. Surely, as aneducator, their goal is not to put their stu-dents down, but to lift them up and helpthem see their potential and to help themrealize that their dreams are within theirreach.

In a graduate assistant meeting that Iattended earlier this semester, Dr. Wohl,Dean of the Department of Communica-tions, discussed the influence that profes-sors have on students. He told those inattendance that “Your main job in the class-room should be to be to be caring. Bemindful that one comment you make couldsend a student running for the door, leav-ing all hopes of their education behind.”

As a graduate student myself, I be-lieve this is true. I understand that profes-

sors have a lot of pressure on them, but inmy opinion, a few need to reconsider justwhy they are the head of the classroom.Sure, more than likely they’ve workedhard to get where they are today. Con-ceivably, they too are caught up in theirown schedules and checklists, making itmore difficult to understand that, as stu-dents, we are trying to earn an educationso that we can move on to the next phaseof our lives.

Perhaps, it would be in everyone’sbest interest for every professor to take astep back and evaluate how they behavetowards students. Putting students downin front of others is never okay. Talking tostudents in an unprofessional manner hasno place in the classroom. Even thoughprofessors are not, necessarily, supposed

to become best buddies with students;being considerate and respectful of stu-dents is a sure way to earn their admira-tion and appreciation.

Professors are in a position ofpower to teach for a reason. Just likeany other job, they had to apply, be in-terviewed, and charm someone to getthemselves a spot. Maybe those profes-sors need to head back to the classroomfor a little Etiquette 101. Somewhere inthe course of working to achieve theirtitle, they may have lost sight of the mostimportant part of their job - to teach andto leave a long lasting positive influenceon the students they come in contact witheach and every day.

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Campus News

Ecotourism is defined as respon-sible travel to natural areas that conservesthe environment and improves the wellbeing of local people. This means thatthose who implement and participate inecotourism activities adopt the followingprinciples: minimize impact, build environ-mental and cultural awareness and re-spect, provide positive experiences forboth visitors and hosts, provide direct fi-nancial benefits for conservation, providefinancial benefits and empowerment forlocal people, and raise sensitivity to hostcountries’ political, environmental, andsocial climate.

Dr. Steven Richards, formerly a

WVSU now offers concentration in Ecotourismby Mary Casto

professor at Ohio State University, be-gan teaching at WVSU this semester. Dr.Richards came to “State” to help developa program with an emphasis on tourism.He brings with him a background inecotourism. Dr. Richards has traveled toCentral America to study this conceptand may consider organizing a school tripthat will allow students to see exactly howto implement their ideas.

The 18-hour concentration will bea part of the Bachelor of Science in Healthand Human Performance. Next spring,Dr. Richards will teach Intro to Travel andTourism, known as HHP 170-01, onTuesday nights from 5:30 pm to 8:15 pm.

This class is only offered at night, for now,so that students who currently work full-time during the day can attend. He hopesto begin working with the WV Divisionof Natural Resources.

He is quick to say that he does notwant this program to seem “faddish”, be-cause it is not a fad, but a new way ofdoing things in harmony with the naturalenvironment. He hopes to help build abrand image that will have long term ad-vantages over decades and even genera-tions. He stated that this program is theopposite of traditional mass tourism mar-keting. He says that “there is so muchpressure to develop the world that local

cultures often lose control of their landand therefore their way of life”. “This newprogram will promote conservation andpreservation of land and culture that willensure legacy rights and protectbiodiversity”. He is eager to sell this phi-losophy to very strong business minds.“Once the niche markets have been pen-etrated it will be easier to promote eco-friendly adventure tourism.”

For inquires and comments contact:Dr. Steven Richards766-3003srichards@wvstateu.edu

You may not know her name, but chances are you have seen her around. LisaGroves, Commander of the American Legion Post 11, usually volunteers seven daysa week. Just in the last week alone, Lisa helped out at the SGA’s Single ParentSupport Group; assisted with the latest WVSU blood drive; and collected donationsto buy Thanksgiving baskets for the students living in Prillerman Hall. She is happy todo it all. She lives by the motto, “Keeping it real for God, our Country, and Veter-ans.”

She is currently organizing a toy drive to benefit the children of local housingprojects and the children living on the WVSU campus. She has teamed up with theDunbar Fire Department and Santa Claus and together they will give every child atleast one new toy. The toy drive is in honor of Cecil House and Robert Johnson.

The American Legion was originally founded in 1919 and has grown into anorganization with more than 3 million members. There are now almost 15, 000 postsworldwide. All veterans from any war, regardless of discharge status, are welcometo join. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm in the StudentUnion, Room 131. Lisa has been able to help several veterans amend their dis-charge status so that they can begin collecting their benefits. Lisa knows that veter-ans “have a really strong bond, and that they need to stick together.” She encouragesany vet that needs counseling or assistance in any way to contact her.

Dwight Mosley, the Post’s Chaplin, is also available to assist anyone in need.He has suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for many years and is willing tocounsel any vet in need.

Veteran creates American Legion Post on campusby Mary Casto

Photo by Mary Casto

To participate, make a donation or volunteer contact: Lisa Groves, CommanderSgt. Joseph “Joe” TurnerAmerican Legion Post 11

(304) 395-1005amer_legionpost11@hotmail.com

Lisa Groves, Commander of the American Legion Post 11

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With West Virginia State University’s football team concluding the 2008 sea-son with their second consecutive 7-3 (5-3) record, 11 players earned some form ofrecognition on the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) All-Conference teams.

Two Yellow Jacket players made the conference’s first team defensive squad.DeMichael Nesbitt, a senior for Baltimore, Md., made the team as an inside line-backer, while Andrew Eggleton, a junior from St. Albans, W.Va., was selected as anoutside linebacker. Nesbitt accounted for 111 total tackles on the season, whileEggleton recorded 90 and 13 tackles for loss.

The All-WVIAC second team had six players from WVSU earn a spot on thatroster. On the offensive side of the ball, the Jackets had four players in quarterbackKevin O’Brien, a junior from Port St. Lucie, Fla., Brian Mitchell, a sophomorerunning back from Willingboro, N.J., wide out Jermain King, a sophomore fromWachula, Fla., and offensive lineman Mike Jones, a senior from Dumfries, Va. De-fensive lineman William Jackson, senior from Northfork, W.Va., and Joe Clark, adefensive back from Cleveland, O., were also among the player on the secondteam.

Elisha Merchant, a sophomore defensive lineman from Columbus, O., was thelone WVSU representative on the honorable mention team, while wide out LandonJohnson, a freshman from Sugar Land, Tex., and defensive back Terrence Washing-ton, a junior from Maple Heights, Md., were among those on the special honorablemention teams.

The All-Conference teams were voted upon by the coaches of the nine schoolsthat play football in the WVIAC.

After winning the regular season title in the West Virginia Conference, and goingundefeated in conference play, the Lady Jackets volleyball team found themselves asthe top-ranked seed going into the conference tournament at the Charleston CatholicHigh School Athletic Complex in Charleston.

Format changes to the tournament this year gave the Lady Jackets, as well asthe second, third and fourth seeds, for being among the top four seeds. The fourteams at the bottom of the standings in the conference were not invited to the tourna-ment, giving WVSU the bye in the opening round.

The Lady Jackets began play in the quarterfinal round with the eighth seededPitt-Johnstown Lady Cats. WVSU swept the Lady Cats, 3-0, winning by scores of25-15, 25-20 and 25-17. The win over UPJ was the 14th straight for WVSU.

The Lady Jackets resumed play the following night as they took on the fourth-seeded Lady Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan in the semi-final round. The LadyJackets got off to a slow start in the first game, trailing Wesleyan 16-8 at one point.However, WVSU roared back to take the first game by a score of 26-24. The LadyJackets followed up wins in games two and three to sweep the Lady Bobcats, byscore of 25-12 and 25-22 respectively.

With the victory over the Lady Bobcats, WVSU made it to the championshipgame for the second time in three years. However, the task of winning the champion-ship would not be easy as the Lady Jackets had to face Wheeling Jesuit, a teamplaying in their ninth straight WVIAC championship game. The Lady Jackets ralliedto win the first game, 30-28, but fell in the next three games, 25-21, 25-16 and 25-14.

Despite the Lady Jackets not winning the conference tournament, the team didhave three players earn All-Tournament accolades, senior Kerri Kraus and juniorsAmanda Luedtke and Jennifer Paswaters. The Lady Jackets also qualified for theRegional Tournament in California, Penn., where they took on Wheeling Jesuit in thefirst round.

Jacket footballplayers recognizedby Dave Miller

Volleyball falls in title gameby Dave Miller

SportszoneThursdays at 4:00 p.m. on

106.7Campus Radio

Sports

YJ

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Office ContactsOffice ContactsOffice ContactsOffice ContactsOffice ContactsPhone: 766-3212Phone: 766-3212Phone: 766-3212Phone: 766-3212Phone: 766-3212

Editor-in-ChiefDave Miller

Design EditorMegan Gothard

Design ApprenticeKatie Hawkins

Ad ManagerPaula Beasley

Copy EditorMeghan Chester

Editorial EditorBethany Simmons

News EditorMary Casto

JacketStaff

Entertainment EditorDevon Nuckles

Faculty AdviserDr. Robin Boyd

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The Yellow Jacket - WVSU214 Wilson Student Union

Institute, WV 25112

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email submissions towvsuyj@gmail.comor stop by room 214

located on the 2nd floor inthe Wilson Student

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We can’t wait to hearfrom you!

Students pause for a photo at the National Broadcasting Society fundraiser.The event was held to raise money to attend the National convention in NYC.Funds were raised by showing the film American Gangster. The group alsogave away 10 tickets to the T.I. and Flo Rida concert being held in Charleston.No admission for the movie was required but concessions were sold.

On the coverCover photo by Katie Hawkins

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EntertainmentWalk into the Charleston Civic

Center the weekend before Thanksgiv-ing and you’ll get a preview of what itfeels like to be “home for the holidays.”Others bustling around you amidst thesparkling lights may just remind you ofsome of your fondest holiday memo-ries from previous years. In addition tothe smells of cinnamon and spices comesa sense of joy in the air, which is in partto the small crowds of people mingling,chit-chatting, and taking in the overallatmosphere of a transformed space.This annual fair returns to the capital citywith visitors traveling all over the stateto partake in one of the best showcasesof West Virginia pride.

The first level of the arena is trans-

The biggest movie out at this pointin time is the new James Bond movie,Quantum of Solace. However, this is nota typical Bond film. Bond is rougheraround the edges and yet, this is whatmakes him classy. The movie was shotso beautifully that it would be a worthyadverse for The Godfather, but once yougot lost in the trance you where remindedit was indeed a Bond film.

Despite this being an action movie,it seems that it runs a bit deeper than saya Michal Bay movie. When Bond getshurt, he actually bleeds, and instead ofdeath threats that go beck and forththroughout the movie, people die, and

If you are over the age of 18 you grew up watching home movies on a cave-man device called a VCR. In this VCR you put in VHS tapes, yes tapes. However,VHS is obviously a dead format and if you played your VHS lately you will noticethat the quality decreases over time.

But hear the good news; many of your favorite movies that you watched onVHS are on a new format called DVD. I know, I know, everybody by now every-body knows what DVD is. But my point is that all the movies that you loved onVHS can be easy to find on DVD. Most of these movies can be found fewer thanten dollars. For example, I got a box set of Ghostbusters 1 and 2 for about $9.00.Both movies have been digitally restored and bonus features have been added suchas writers’ commentary that was never on VHS.

What about Blue Ray? If you ask me, don’t invest in Blue Ray, at least not yet.The format came out shortly after most people just got use to widescreen DVD.And truth is some people are not there yet. Blue Ray players are still a bit costly andso are Blue Ray disc. If you still have a DVD player, don’t worry, you will be fine.

Also, you may want to check to see if your TV and your DVD player havean HDMI port. An HDMI cable will greatly improve both color and sound of yourviewing experience, and will be less that converting to the Blue Ray format.

However, if you already own Blue Ray, no need to worry and keep buyingBlue Ray discs. All I’m saying is if you don’t own Blue Ray do not make the switchfrom DVD to Blue Ray just yet. DVD is still ahead in sales.

DVD comebackby Devon Nuckles

007 Quantum Solaceby Devon Nuckles once they die they never comeback. This

is the first (and hopefully not the last) Hol-lywood action movie that is about morethan guns and explosions. And Bond onlyhas sex once. Once!

This may have a lot to do with themain writer being Paul Haggis, the samewriter who brought us Crash, Million Dol-lar Baby, and Flags of Our Fathers. Quan-tum of Solace like any Bond film has itsvillain but unlike any other Bond film thevillain may not be who we think it is. TheUnited States and the CIA play the role ofthe enabler, giving the antagonist every-thing he needs and desires, but of coursefor something in return.

This is a bold step for any movie, letalone a Bond movie. Yet, the film does itso well. The issue is brought to the view-ers attention not by a in your face mannerbut in an elegant and subtle fashion thatone is intrigued and completive about therest of the film.

With Casino Royale and now withthe 2nd chapter, Quantum of Solace theBond, films have been reborn in such amanner that they no longer insult the view-ers intelligence, yet enable them to thinkalong with the film.

In short, Quantum of Solace is, in itsmost elegant use of the phrase, HollywoodGold. Bond is finally how he is meant tobe. Sophisticated, intelligent, and danger-ous.

by Bethany Simmons

Arts and crafts fair sets stage for the holiday seasonformed into individual booths that featureall of the finest homemade goodness thatthe Mountain State has to offer. From jamsand jellies to fine wine alongside meat andcheese trays, there is sure to be somethingto make your mouth water. While foodremains a large part of the festivities (be-cause everyone likes to fill their bellies—especially at this time of year) there arealso tons of individual sellers displayinghand crafted art that you will want to takehome.

If you are not in the mood to forkover the cash you have saved for the holi-days, don’t think the Arts and Crafts Fairis off limits. It’s a great place to warm upfrom the winter weather and peruse a widevariety of work that is one of a kind. Pic-

ture this—you surrounded by some ofyour very best friends, enjoying the homemade fragrances that are made with theintent to remind you of family gettogethers. As you walk along munchingon roasted almonds, sipping the purestmineral water from the state, you selecta small token to remember this time andhow happy you are, just to simply be.

Perhaps the best part of the festivalin and of itself is seeing just how muchtalent the residents of our state have tooffer. Vendors work year around to pre-pare for weeks and months ahead of theopening day, all in an attempt to be readyto sell their stash to the crowds that pourinto the facility. Although the upcomingseason has become ridiculously commer-

cialized, there remains stillness in the coolair that causes us to stop and enjoy thesimple things of the season; this fair is oneof them.

The exhibits and vendors maychange from year to year, but the feelingof happiness remains a given. So, if youwant to get away from your studies, getout of the house, or just prepare your mindfor the month ahead, take a trip to thisyear’s Arts and Crafts Fair for an experi-ence that will keep you coming back totake part in this timeless tradition. It willlikely leave you with the feeling of homein your heart. At the very least, it will tieyou over until you head home to experi-ence your own holiday cheer.

Catch Craig Braddick“The Rational Voice of Politics”

Thursdays at 11:00on 106.7 Campus Radio

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