CDC Staff Excited About New Facility 4-26-2011

    by Jeff Fox

   

    It seems these days that it is harder and harder to feel like a kid again. The moment of wonder and excitement of a new idea seen in an adult’s eye? Talk to Bobbie Henderson about the new Child Development Center and one can find that look.

    With construction slated to begin this summer on the new childcare facility, CDC Director Bobbie Mendenhall is excited to talk about the move to the state-of-the-art facility.  The current CDC is approximately 800 square feet, and the new center will be a spacious 5,000 square feet.  At the present facility all of the different age groups share the same room. 

    “One thing that you will notice is that you’ll see children that are eight years old all the way down to two years old, which is really a hard mixture. They just don’t belong together,” Mendenhall said. The new CDC will allow for the children to be divided into age appropriate groups and classrooms.

    Several other highly anticipated features will be allotted by the spaciousness of the new CDC. “We will have a big piazza, so we will be able to have a lot of gross motor play,” Mendenhall says. Presently the CDC utilizes the multipurpose room or the aerobics room, but those rooms aren’t always available. Each group will also have their own play area adjacent to their classrooms. Add to this a large fenced outdoor play area, and the new facility should make nap time a welcome treat.

    The new facility will also allow the CDC to serve more children. At present, CDC staff, student workers and education students help take care of the responsibilities at the center. “When we get to the new facility we will be able to enroll between 42 and 46 children at one time, so we may need some more staff, but that will come with enrollment,” Mendenhall said. Quite simply, as demand for childcare services increases, the CDC will provide the staff as required by state law.

    Parents will also enjoy the conveniences, which will come with the new CDC. The new center will have a more accessible area for dropping off and signing in their children. At present parents must find a place to park, walk to the building, and come inside the CDC room to sign in their children.

    The CDC provides breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and an evening snack to the children. Tentative plans include keeping the working relationship with AVI to provide the food for the children. Due to its new location, the CDC may need warming units for the food during transport. Details are still being worked out on the logistics of getting the food from the cafeteria area to the new CDC.

    Plans are still being discussed to provide infant care at some time in the future. The original plans called for infant care, however, the area for infant care was removed from the CDC when the size of the new building was reduced. At present the CDC will serve children two and up, but if funding increases the CDC is designed for future expansion, which could provide room for infant care.

    “The infant ratio in WV is one teacher for four infants … each teacher can watch eight two year olds,” Mendenhall said. Plus extra room is necessary for cribs and diaper changing stations.

    “It is more expensive, but it is something that is needed, plus another good thing about having infants is that you have added stability,” Mendenhall added. This stability would come from being able to enroll the child as an infant, and allowing them to stay with one childcare program.

    Mrs. Mendenhall also noted that many area day-care centers have extensive waiting lists. She was on 15 waiting lists, while she was looking for infant care. The rates at the CDC are extremely rare in the fact that they allow the parents to pay an hourly rate for their services. “Many other childcare centers in the area do not offer hourly rates, they say you pay for a weekly slot, whether the child is there or not,” Mendenhall said. Not only is the CDC affordable, but parents enrolled in college also have access to the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant, which helps pay for childcare for parents attending college. Several other state and local grants are available for parents, and the CDC can provide assistance to parents regarding the funding information.

    The new CDC will also provide greater learning opportunities for students who are enrolled in the Early Childhood and the Elementary Education programs. This field experience helps with their pre-kindergarten certifications.

    One thing is for certain; the new CDC will make the staff, students, and the children all a little bit more joyful and bring some wide eyes, when the doors open next year.

Students at WVU Parkersburg Run Top-Simulated Business 4-26-2011



Pam Braden (center) talks to students about the Glo-Bus course during one of their simulated business meetings.



by Susan Moore

   

    The Business Policy class at WVU Parkersburg is the “capstone” course for those seeking a bachelor’s degree in business. 

    The capstone experience is designed to both assess what students have learned during their academic program and to put the “icing on the cake” of students’ knowledge bases. 

    A major part of the Policy course is the online simulation called “Glo-Bus.”  This enables students to virtually “run” a camera manufacturing company.  Each week of the course is a year of the simulation.  The students make decisions about how many workers to employ, how much to pay them, how many cameras to make, what features are on the cameras and how much they want to charge for the cameras. 

    This semester there are 12 teams competing and they are broken into two competing industries.  It is noteworthy that five of the 12 teams scored in the top 100 globally over the past few weeks.  This is the first time the college has ever had that many teams scoring so successfully on the simulation. 

    Accounting major and member of Team E Southwest, Brian Allman, explains that it is the team’s responsibility to decide how to distribute their inventory to box stores, online companies and small independent retailers.

    “Since I enjoy numbers and research, this course follows my career and was a good fit,” Allman said.

    The analytic data that is available through the online software, provides information that helps students track their companies’ return on equity, revenues, and earnings per share, stock price, etc.  They are able to follow their progress and see where their company ranks among the other colleges that participate.

    Allman feels that experience is the key to his team’s success.

    Team Golf member, Jeremy Davis, feels that “being able to apply the knowledge gained during college,” has been the factor that has put his team on the Glo-Bus map.

    “It is all about accounting and where to apply your resources,” said Davis.

    Through the Glo-Bus simulation, students are able to put their education into practical application.

    “Trial and error has contributed to our success,” Davis said.

    Student Lora Zseidler member of Team A feels “it is good to work as a team when you have reliable people to count on.” 

    Zseilder is originally from the Ukraine and moved to the United States eight years ago.  She feels that this simulation has helped her gain an understanding for how businesses run in the U.S.

    Cassey Bell from Team Adidas added that this has been a very challenging experience for her. But due to her team’s hard work and dedication, Team A has made great improvements over the last few weeks, improvements that put her team 81st overall for team return on investment.

 WVU Parkersburg students are competing with teams from both domestically and internationally, including University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Clemson University, campuses of Penn State University and State University of New York. 

I'VE GOT TO KNOW ABOUT FIRE SAFETY 4-26-2011

by Rachel Terzo

   

    When being taught about fire safety, most people were taught the communal phrase “stop, drop, and roll.” The Wood County Fire Prevention and Safety Team believes that there is a lot more to fire safety that is imperative for people of all ages to know.

    The Team will be holding a safety fair at WVU Parkersburg on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fair is free to the public, and all ages are welcomed and encouraged to attend. President and founder Chris Pedersen expects that around 3,500 residents will attend this year’s fair.

    Petersen said “We want to hold these fairs every year because we believe that safety education should be a continuous process and a way of life, and we have an unwavering devotion to educating everyone on the importance of practicing safe living.”

    The event will consist of over 25 different learning stations, ranging from fire safety to disaster and highway safety. A free, healthy lunch will also be served during the fair. This event is designed for people of all ages. The organization received a $100,000 FEMA grant for a real-life simulation trailer to demonstrate fire devastation and how to prevent it. “This is not meant to be a scare tactic by any means, just a reality check,” Petersen said.

    The Wood County Fire Prevention and Safety team is a non-profit; government funded 501 C-3 (which means volunteer, tax exempt organization) that formed in June 2010.Pedersen, who is also an EMT, firefighter, and Public Service trainer, believes that, “99% of fires can be prevented with education. People are more in control then they think, if they just take the time to learn. No one is too young or too old to know the importance of safety.”  The team focuses on educating residents of all ages on the importance of fire safety, and life safety in general. The organization also has a program geared towards college students called the “I’ve Got to Know” program, as well as a senior citizens program.  Residents may tune in to WLTP Talk Radio AM 910 for their radio show every Tuesday morning at 7:30a.m.

    The Fire Prevention and Safety Team works with local fire departments, law enforcement, EMS, health care providers and other state and local agencies to help provide a fun, informative, and focused  “hands-on” learning experience.

    “Our goal is that everyone who attended the fair leaves feeling confident that they are knowledgeable about what to do in an emergency situation,” Pedersen said.

    More information pertaining to the fair or organization may be obtained from their website

www.wcsafetyteam.com

Campus is More Secure Than Thought 4-26-2011

by Rachel Terzo

  

    WVU Parkersburg campus police, teamed up with 20 professionals from different departments of the college, to create a sizeable safety team for students on campus.

   The Threat Assessment team of WVU Parkersburg consists of professors from the Social Justice and Social Sciences departments, wellness and psychology professors, safety officers, counselors, local law enforcement, and other members of the faculty. The team meets one time a semester in order to discuss any safety issues that have been brought to their attention, or that they have observed themselves while on campus.

   Issues are addressed and resolved by the Threat Assessment team. These include:  threatening text messages or threats within the classroom, vague or obvious threats to the building or people in the building, questionable dangerous behavior, and other triggers that make anyone on campus feel threatened. No safety issue is to inconsequential for the Threat Assessment team to scout out.

   The Threat Assessment team also deals with safety issues such as foundation cracks, wintertime parking lot dangers, and other building maintenance problems that are safety concerns.

   The members of the team have a commitment to safety. The campus police deal with any immediate dangers. In instances that are not emergencies, the team meets to determine how to deal with the issue at hand. The attorney general assigned to campus handles any legal issues that cannot be resolved by the team.

   Campus security and Threat Assessment team members aren’t the only ones who take action against risks on campus. Students are welcomed and encouraged to report anything that they feel could be a threat to their safety. “Threats or safety concerns may be reported anonymously, or not, whichever you choose,” head campus police officer Al Collins said. “Even if a student thinks that their concern is not important or maybe not even a threat, they should still report it anyway, you can’t be too sure.’’

   Tragic instances in recent history, such as the Virginia Tech disaster and the shooting in Tucson, have the Threat Assessment team on guard. Al Collins says, “After tragedies like 9/11 and Columbine, we can’t be too safe. We are constantly on the look out for warning signs when someone is in distress, or when any other threatening situation presents itself.’’ Some may find it comforting to know that WVU-Parkersburg has one of the safest campuses in the nation, according to the Cleary Report.

   Forms and contact information for the Threat Assessment team are located on the Campus Safety portion of WVU Parkersburg’s homepage.

Look for Evaluations on OLSIS 4-26-2011

by Susan Moore

   

    It is evaluation time for the WVU Parkersburg faculty. In the past, evaluations were mainly completed during class or through OLSIS for eCampus courses.  Starting this semester, all evaluations will be competed online in OLSIS.

    Evaluations became available through OLSIS Friday, April 15 and will be accessible through April 29.

    The Student Evaluation of Instruction Surveys is a valuable way for the college administration to gather student opinion in reference to the instruction received during a course.

    In the past, the percentage of students completing the surveys have been significantly lower than those provided during class. Student feedback is important for the review process at the college.

    Annual review files of faculty, of which student opinions are a part, are considered in contract renewal, promotion and tenure decisions.

    In addition, the evaluations help instructors assess their strengths and weaknesses and, in turn, improve their teaching. 

    If students do not complete an evaluation, no feedback is recorded.  Only when a student takes the time to fill out the evaluation, does the college administration see the impact an instructor has on the course and instruction.

        The process to complete the survey is simple.  Students need to log into OLSIS and once in their account, click on the link that says "Course Evaluations".

 Select the appropriate evaluation for the course students wish to complete.  Simply answer the multiple choices questions and submit once completed.

            All surveys are confidential. Neither StudentIDs nor any other identifying information will be recorded

SGA Elections Online, Candidates Needed 4-12-2011

by Abbie Sweeney

   

    During the past two years the Student Government Association (SGA) has not had the chance to have their members officially fight for their position in SGA. Whether the position was for president, a vice president, a director, or a senator, no SGA member ran opposition. This year current president Teresa Wamer is hoping that elections will be needed in for members to claim their seats. “I always encourage people to run in opposition. I think it’s good for everyone if the person elected had to work for it,” Wamer said.

    Elections will take place the third week of April. In the past, voting was only in person at a table placed in the hallway. This year elections will be held online for the first time. “It is the first time we have tried this and we are hopeful that it will give all our students the ability to vote for their student leadership,” Wamer said. All students have to do is log in to their OLSIS accounts and fill out their election forms. As of right now, Wamer believes that the ballots will open Monday, April 18, and close Thursday, April 21, at noon.

    An email will be sent out a week before elections to remind students to vote. It is up to each candidate to decide if he or she wishes to campaign for the positions.

    Official candidates have not been announced. It is required that each candidate running for a position will have to officially announce his or her candidacy before the second week of April. Candidates wishing to run for positions are not considered official candidates until the Vice President of Academic Affairs office checks potential candidates' GPA and student statues. The main factor that allows a SGA member to run for a position is to have already been a member of SGA for at least a full semester.

    Currently SGA will be losing President Wamer, and Vice President of Finance, Alyssa Anderson.  “Organizations need change to survive, and I want to see SGA be amazing,” said Wamer.

    Even though Wamer is giving up her role as president, she is still planning on running for a senate position. Anderson is giving up her position in order to spend more time with her two children and concentrate more on her schoolwork.

            The positions that are open for running for the next election are: President, Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Jackson County Center, five directors, and several senators. “I have the upmost confidence that whoever wins my seat will serve the students of WVU-P well,” Wamer said

Veteran Corps Hard at Work 4-12-2011

by Jeff Bell

    The new campus organization aimed at promoting veterans and veteran opportunities is another step closer to obtaining official campus organizational recognition. The WVU Parkersburg Veterans Corps voted to approve a set of bylaws and voted three fellow veterans into office as president, vice president and secretary/treasurer.

    The university will only recognize an organization that has met these basic requirements: the institution of bylaws and election of officers. The bylaws are simply a very basic set of existing bylaws which will need to be fine-tuned as time progresses and needs are discovered, according to Corps organizers. “This is the first step in starting out an organization that will make a huge difference to veterans, the university and the community,” John Wilson, veteran work-study, said.

    The officers elected are students; no faculty was available at the time of the election. Corps President is Alexander (Alex) Stanley. “I would really like to lead this organization into a very positive direction of community involvement,” Stanley said.

    The Vice-President elected is Shawn Healey. The offices of the Secretary and the Treasurer were combined as part of the initial Corps start-up. “We really will not have much money to deal with yet, if need be, we will open a separate office later,” Wilson said. Breanna Robinson is the elected student to cover the two positions.

    The meeting also discussed other areas of student veteran importance. “It is imperative that every veteran sees me, with their schedules, if they are planning on summer and fall enrollment.

    It is our responsibility to get the word out to all of the WVU Parkersburg veterans,” Wilson said.

    “I want every veteran to get all of the VA benefits for which they are entitled. Like I always say, ‘Freedom is never free',” Wilson said.

BOG Hosts “Congratulatory” Meeting 4-12-2011

by Jeff Fox

   

    Sometimes no news is good news. At the WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors meeting held on March 30, the mood was more congratulatory than news making. The items presented at short meeting were ones which all can agree on and enjoy.

    After roll call, there was nothing for the chairman’s report, nor was there need for an executive session. The minutes from the February 9 meeting were then approved. There were no committee reports to be submitted.

    Under informational items, Dr. Rhonda Tracy, senior vice president for academic affairs, reported on several applications for sabbatical leave. Rose Beebe, chairperson of the Health Sciences Division, was granted leave for the spring 2012 semester to complete doctoral dissertation research. The idea of having a doctoral prepared nursing faculty member is being viewed by the Board as both a benefit for Ms. Beebe and the college. She will return to the college for the fall 2012 semester. 

    Dr. Tracy also reported on Dr. Ed Crisp, who was on sabbatical during the fall 2010 semester. Dr. Crisp’s sabbatical has recently produced two online courses, as well as a manual, which hopefully will be published. After reviewing his sabbatical report, President Dr. Marie Foster Gnage and Dr. Tracy reported that they were both impressed by Dr. Crisp’s achievements.

    Dr. Tracy also noted the approval of two honorary designations of faculty staff to emeritus status. Recent retiree Dr. Martha McGovern, who still continues to teach as an adjunct, was awarded the title of Associate Professor of Reading Emerita. Jane King, who will retire at the end of the current academic year, was awarded the title of Associate Professor of Biology and Chemistry Emerita.

    President Gnage was pleased to inform the Board that Connie Dziagwa has been awarded administrative and professional staff emeritus. President Gnage personally thanked Connie for her years of commitment and hard work at the college, and jokingly added that she was in hopes that Connie would be back volunteering to help out in the near future. A round of applause followed.

    The Board then discussed three items. One of the items dealt with a revision regarding the requirements to give advanced placement to those in the licensed practical nurse program. LPN applicants, who can demonstrate competency in first semester material, will now be allowed to skip to the second semester study. The Board also noted proposed revisions to rules regarding the college’s salary policy. The aforementioned honorary degrees were the third part of the consent agenda.

    The next Board of Governors meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 11, at 5:45 p.m. 

New Technology Offers Great Opportunities 3-29-2011

   by Joe Wolfe

   
    Within any institution, maximizing the amount of educational opportunity is ideal to any student who strives to make the most of his or her college experience. For those who value the convenience of online academia, it is particularly encouraging when the availability of new technology expands access to higher education. In maintaining pace with technological expansion, WVU at Parkersburg is in the final stages of producing The Virtual Community and Technical College.

   The Virtual Community and Technical College’s primary goal is to use technology to expand access to higher education by connecting students and teachers from West Virginia Community and Technical Colleges, and to provide a forum where educational resources are shared.

  The Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, essentially simplifying the burden of registering with other institutions for desired online courses offered elsewhere, will support the Virtual Community and Technical College.

   Jessamine Wass, who is the Institutional Administrator on WVU's E-Campus at WVU at Parkersburg, and coordinator of VCTC, explains the distinction between taking a course elsewhere through the CTC, and taking a course through VCTC.

    “If a student from Blueridge College wants to sign up for a course offered through the virtual CTC, they do not have to go through all the paperwork of registering with another college. With the virtual CTC, you are already at your home institution, your just signing up for it, and we’re offering it.”

   Those familiar with taking courses offered via other institutions are already aware of the inconveniences of signing up, registering, and the additional paperwork that the process encompasses. The future compatibility of the VCTC will enable students elsewhere to take desired courses without the burden of being enrolled at separate institutions. This process will beneficially impact non-traditional students, students seeking early graduation, and students needing classes not offered through their school.

   In understanding the functionality of Virtual CTC, it is important to state that this is a service made available through WVU at Parkersburg. “The other colleges will pay us a fee to manage and host available courses so their students can enroll, and they get the head count,” added Wass

          From a financial perspective, this is a service that will maximize potential students’ options, while generating the best bang for everyone’s buck. Monetarily speaking, institutions could cut faculty spending on courses that yield minimal attendance. Wass again illustrates... “If you offer one course and five students from separate colleges fill it up, it is going to be more cost efficient then us paying one person to teach three students here.”

How Campus Security affects Student Body 3-29-2011

by Rachel Terzo

"Bad Boys, bad boys, what you gonaa do?" 

   

Campus safety is one of many attributes to a student's college career. 

    Al Collins, the head of WVU Parkersburg’s campus security, has seven security guards to help him maintain a tight level of security on campus. Security guards also work beside the Parkersburg Police and Wood County Sherriff's department once a year for police training. Collins said that the security guards are his “eyes and ears” to incidents that may occur on campus.

    A number of students had similar concerns regarding their safety at school. Freshman Kristen Sheppard said, “I think it would be nice if there was someone patrolling the parking lot in the evenings, or all the time for that matter, but especially in the evenings. I’m worried about people being in the parking lot at night.”

    Cassandra Mills also had a similar quarrel. “I feel pretty safe on campus, but think cameras in the parking lot would be a good addition to the security,” she said.

    What a lot of new and even seasoned students may not know is that the campus has two cameras in the lower parking lot, the Caperton Center lot and in the Workforce and Community Education building.

    Emergency buttons are located on the middle pole in the upper and lower parking lots. If a student presses the button in the event of an emergency, 911 is instantly notified.

    Cameras are also located in the Early Learning Center, and a security guard is on campus 24/7 patrolling the lots and the buildings.

    Sophomore Jessica Cross was also concerned about the lack of camera security. “I think they should put surveillance cameras in the lounge area,” she said

    Collins stated that installing more cameras throughout the campus is “a timely and costly process. Slowly but surely we’ll have more cameras, as soon as our budget allows us to.”

    Students are urged to browse the Jeanne Clery report, better known as the Crime Statistics Report, located on WVU Parkersburg’s website under the campus safety portion. Every college that receives federal funding is required to have this report available for the public to view. The Clery report covers the past three years of incidents. Collins pointed out that the campus is “one of the safest in the nation” according to the Clery reports, past and present.

    The campus police encourage students to report any incidents they see, regardless of whether or not the student thinks the incident is trivial or harmless.

            “Thousands of sets of eyes work better than two, so please report any incident you see and be vigilant. We want everyone to be safe,” Collins said.  If you notice something suspicous contact the campus security team.

Library Has Access to Textbooks for Students 3-29-2011

by Chris Mixer


While the WVU Parkersburg library is a vital tool used to help ensure student success, it should not be taken for granted. Many students use the library as a place to check their e-mails and update statuses, while others take advantage of the free learning materials.

    The textbooks in the library are free to use, although students may not check them out. This is a blessing for many students who simply can’t afford all of their books or even to students who have lost theirs. But, the question remains: Who buys the books for the library?

    Their respective instructors give some textbooks to the library. This is to ensure that their students are guaranteed access to at least one copy of the book.  However, not all instructors are so apt to give up textbooks nor do they have extra copies to donate. According to Library Director Stephen Hupp, many of the textbooks are bought and donated by Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Rhonda Richards-Tracy.    

    The idea of having a book drive to help students maintain easy access to needed books was considered, until it was brought to light that the needed textbooks change nearly every semester. So, even if a student wanted to donate a book after using it for a semester, it would probably be outdated.

    Mr. Hupp explained rumors exist that new state laws may   force teachers to donate at least one copy of there required textbooks to the library. Even if the legislation doesn’t force the instructors to donate books, students should still encourage their teachers to relinquish a copy to the library.

            “The library is such a great place for doing research, studying and homework.  It makes it even nicer that most of the textbooks students need are they’re waiting for them,” said Alikka Stephens

More action in life.. 3/8/2011

Start Being More Active

by Chris Mixer

   

According to a recent study by the Center for Disease Control, estimates indicate that West Virginians are simply too inactive. The research included adults who reported little or no physical activity outside of the workplace. While this research revealed that Colorado and California are the most “active” states, West Virginia was placed near the bottom of that list. 

    The Wood County Superintendent Dr. James Patrick Law, is encouraging healthy practices among young students to help promote a healthy lifestyle. This includes educating students about the values of a nutritious diet, as well as the importance of physical activity. Dr. Law goes on to explain that a recent grant was used to fund walking trails around a few local middle schools, to not only promote physical health among a community, but also to bring these schools closer to their respective communities. Dr. Law is afforded the opportunity to simultaneously improve physical and social health among some local communities.

    Being physically inactive can lead to a variety of ailments, including obesity and type II diabetes. It can also lower life expectancy and is the leading cause of heart disease. On the other hand, being physically active and maintaining a good diet      can help to control weight, reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers, as well as strengthen bones and muscles and even mental health.

    With spring nearing, this is the perfect time to start being more active. Whether it's getting involved and volunteering to help a community or just taking a leisurely stroll, there are many ways to enjoy scenic West Virginia.

    It is important to remember that the winter months tend to keep us from being active and, thus, we typically put on a few pounds.

            Get into shape this spring by taking advantage of all the activities that we are unable to do during the winter.



Competition for Subway 3/8/2011

Change Your Lunch from Subway to Penn Station

by Olivia Hefner

There’s only one way to serve a sub – loaded with ingredients and on a doughy, fresh bun. After sampling Penn Station’s subs in Vienna, now there’s only one place to eat a sub.

    A fair warning to all who may want to venture to Penn Station around noon – don’t. This place is absolutely packed and with the limited seating it can cause those wishing to dine- in to wait a little longer.

    Upon entering the restaurant, the smells are so mouthwatering. The menu is small, but each sub packs its own little powerhouse of flavor. Traditional subs like “The Dagwood” and a “Reuben” are on the menu, but it also contains some house originals – like the “Chicken Cordon Bleu.”

    The Chicken Cordon Bleu contains, chicken breast, smoked ham, Swiss, lettuce, tomatoes, honey mustard and mayo. Those already sound great together and the sub looked so tantalizing that it was the obvious option. Remember when placing an order here, it’s placed at the left end of the bar and then check out is at the right end.

    When paying, a very important question is asked. “Do you want a fresh baked cookie or fresh squeezed lemonade?” The answer is “yes!” These cookies are probably the best chocolate chip cookies ever; so good they had to be eaten before the sandwich. They’re soft and chewy with chunks of chocolate just melted enough. The lemonade is good too, not sour – but sweet enough.

    Next, go quickly and snag any seat available, don’t be weary of the bar seats- they’re comfy too. A member of the team brings the sandwiches to the table. The sub was fabulous. It had melted cheese all over it and the Roma tomatoes were perfectly juicy. The fries are amazing, too, wonderfully seasoned and crunchy on the outside with a soft center. They're even fresh cut in the restaurant, so no freezer fries. However, the fries and sub combo is a little much. If taking a date, splitting a small fry would be plenty.

                Overall, the atmosphere is great, the food is amazing, and the prices are exceptionally affordable. A combo is around $6. For the food quality and portion sizes, this place can’t be beat

Crafts 3/8/2011

Creative Ideas to Celebrate Mardi-Gras DIY masks

by Robyn Bird

    Getting ready for a ball sounds like something out of a Disney princess story, but making your own mask is a really easy job that produces impressive results.

    Masquerade dates back to the 15th century and was practiced as part of Carnival. With modern day Mardi Gras on Mar. 8, many WVU-Parkersburg students find themselves feeling festive for the season.

    All of the materials needed for this project can be purchased at a craft store for less than $10. All the items wanted, however, can vary in range. The Mask used for Masquerade is meant to be elaborate, so the materials used can vary.

Materials:

(Needed)

 ~ Feathers

 ~ Craft glue & hot glue

 ~ Lace fabric

 ~ Base mask

    The base mask can be made from scratch or one can be purchased for less than a dollar, saving valuable time in the creation of this project. The type of fabric can also vary. Choosing lace fabric means that the mask will not stand-up as well, so the mask cannot be as big. Using stronger fabric means that the fabric might be seen through the feathers, but it will hold up better.

   

Other materials include:

 ~ Faux flowers

 ~ Gems, beads, and other shiny things

 ~ Glitter

 ~ Glow-in-the-dark items

 ~ Paint and/or spray paint

 ~ Tissue paper

...

Just about anything else pretty or cool that can be glued to the mask.

    Start with the lace fabric and decide the shape wanted for this mask. Cut the fabric so that there is enough extra to fold over it three times. Inspiration can be gathered from Google images, but a common shape is one similar to the wings of butterfly. Start with the strongest feathers, and line bottom to the top using the

craft glue and a sheet of newspaper to prevent an awful mess.

    Next, use the fluffy feathers to fill the empty space using the craft glue and folding the excess fabric over itself so as to reduce the amount of leaking glue. The extra fabric also provides extra support for the mask

to stand up.

    After the first layer of fuzzy feathers is on, allow the piece to dry and do the same to the back. Then, when the piece is dry and both sides are covered, use the best feathers in the bag, and starting from the out most edges, use the hot glue gun to attach the feathers, lining them like a bird wing. Do rows of this, layering the feathers so that the layers closest to the bottom cover part of the layers closest to the top. Once

the ‘wing’ is finished, embellishments can be added.

Petals of the faux flowers can be used instead of feathers. Gems can be added to the tips of feathers and petals. Glitter can be sprayed or sprinkled on. The mask can be made unique in so many ways, so try making them with friends and see what variations can be found.

Time to wind down... 3/8/2011

Labyrinth Offers Meditation and Relaxation    for Campus Students

by Jason Hall

    Stressed out or upset? Take a walk on the mellow side. Walking a labyrinth can offer a slowdown.  Count to 10 and exhale, discovering a relaxing minute that many people might be thinking about.

    Labyrinths are more than a weird looking maze. It’s a tool that has existed for thousands of years belonging to many different nations all over the world, such as North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia.

    Although, labyrinths have been used for good luck charms, and jewelry they also have been known to represent life’s journey.

    Labyrinths today are normally utilized as a meditative device. Even though the appearance of a labyrinth can be intimidating, Campus Wellness Coordinator Pamela Santer assures there is no wrong way to walk it.  There is, however, only one way in and one way out.  This means getting lost in a labyrinth is nearly impossible.

    John Maslany, who is in the RBA program at WVU Parkersburg, invests approximately 10 minutes each time he walks the labyrinth. He has even walked the labyrinth twice in a single day, and claims to experience mental clarity.

    Walking a labyrinth is a good way to relax and self-reflect, Santer believes. By practicing this ancient art of meditation, one may experience lowered blood pressure and reduced stress (perfect for mid-terms and finals).  Other benefits of walking a labyrinth are increased self-awareness, patience, spiritual growth and psychological transformation.

    The Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund purchased a canvas labyrinth for Artsbridge with a grant they created 13 years ago. Artsbridge utilizes the labyrinth for a program called Spirituality and the Arts.

    Jane Harrington, director of Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund, recently retrieved the labyrinth from St. Margaret Mary Catholic Parish so the students at WVU Parkersburg might have a chance to practice the art of meditation.

    The labyrinth is now in possession of the campus wellness office.  Santer develops occasions and opportunities for people to walk the labyrinth. Santer tries to focus her attention on people who have special needs to walk the labyrinth.

    Students report feeling more content with the world after just a 20-minute journey. “I personally believe walking a labyrinth is a personal experience, kind of like church or a relationship; you get out what you put into it,” one student who admitted to having many special needs noted.

Any questions concerning the labyrinth can be addressed to Pamela Santer at 424-8235 or by stopping by her office in room 1535.