Will technology Help Slim Cafeteria Linves--by Robyn Bird 3/8/2011

by Robyn Bird

   

     Getting hungry during class is one of the most common distractions students face and can produce some very counterproductive results. Hungry students feel rushed with only 15 minutes between classes, making the local watering hole a dizzy mess at class changes and leaving some students with their stomachs still grumbling.

    The local cafe provides a large variety of delicious foods for students to choose from to fill those rumbling bellies, but some students have complaints about the bustle causing them to choose food or to be late for class.

    So, what is the source of this traffic jam? As if the sudden surge of students weren‘t enough, the cafeteria suffers from slow Internet connections with their credit card machine, which is also shared by the sub shop. Many students choose the convenience of a credit/debit card, but the extra seconds it takes to dial-up can really add up. The cafe opens up a second register at times of need, but students can also help improve speed of checkout by bringing cash and change instead of credit/debit cards and having money ready at the checkout. Students could also consider bringing a snack to help that growling stomach make it until a break in classes to help avoid creating the long lines

    According to Jeff Matics, Chef Director, advancements are being made to improve the cafe services. New technology intended to improve the efficiency of the workers by helping to improve ordering speed and accuracy should also help improve line times.  New touch screens will be used for workers to take orders from students.

    When the cafe is not being bum-rushed during class changes, it maintains fresh and convenient food for students and faculty, as well as a meeting place for groups. Lately the cafe has held a 50-cent barrel with Lipton Tea and Mello Yellow to keep students hydrated.

                According to the Seattle Times, caffeine, found in Coffee and snacks, helps students to focus on their instructors and maintain grades with a ‘memory jolt’ while resisting the urge to sleep during class. Students such as Pete Orn recognize the “struggle with closing eyelids and losing focus” in the middle of dissertation after a long night of studying, so students should always try to stay hydrated and comfortable.



Olivia's Outlook 3/8/2011

 

Olivia Hefner



Olivia's Outlook

by Olivia Hefner

The days are getting longer and the thick humid feel lingers in the air after a rain. Flip-flops replace the snow boots and tennis shoes, while having the windows down, replaces the heater. All these signs point to one thing – spring. Along with spring comes spring break.

        Preaching about safety on spring break is overdone, although important. However, there’s another danger lurking behind spring break. The danger is something that shall be referred to as the “second semester spring slump.” See, when the weather gets nicer, students have a harder time returning to school – and understandably so. Unfortunately, when a student doesn’t return to school, they end up farther behind than ever before. Remember, the second half of the spring semester can’t be made up.

        It’s understandable about not wanting to return, but it’s halfway over and summer will be waiting with all its glory, and who wants to greet it with makeup classes?

        When the urge to skip hits, think of at least one reason to attend class. Having a driving reason to go can really benefit the drive needed to attend. If no reason appears, make one. The buddy system works really well in motivating someone to return to class. Find someone else who is having trouble attending and buddy up. Before each class, send each other a text and make sure the other person is coming. Even better, partner up on notes – a responsibility to another person will make it easier to go.

        Not exactly a people person? That’s okay, too. A reward for attending class is a great way to self motivate. For every class attended, make a reward that makes attending class worth it.

            Do whatever it takes to stay in classes. They’re almost over and dropping out now, or even worse, just failing to show really puts a mark on records. It’s not something any other colleges want to see, or future employers. A college education is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if such a tantalizing summer is just out of reach.

Under Construction: Campus Begins Improvements and Renovations-by Jeff Fox 2/8/2011

by Jeff Fox

    Ever since the humble beginnings of the Parkersburg Branch of WVU in 1961, the institution of higher education has steadily grown. Originally, the school was located in an abandoned elementary school on Emerson Avenue in North Parkersburg.  104 students were enrolled in its first semester, and six faculty members. Since those early days, the school has gone through approximately nine major facilities upgrades or acquisitions. 

    Currently, major projects are underway at the main Parkersburg campus, as well as the new downtown Parkersburg campus, which is currently under construction.  There is also a plan for new construction projects on the main Parkersburg campus later this year.

    Dave White, the director of facilities and grounds for WVU Parkersburg recently spoke about both ongoing and upcoming projects.  “Right now we are working on building a new IT Center. It’s going to be about a 2000 square foot area at a cost of approximately  $110,000,” White said. This will involve moving the mainframe computer equipment from its current first floor location to the ground floor.  The project also calls for new cabling closets throughout the campus, which will be linked by fiber optics to the new IT Center. Plans also include the installation of new cabling at the Caperton Center, through a joint venture with Wood County Schools.

    Jeff Wilbur, the chief information officer for WVU Parkersburg, explained that the new network will expand access, improve integrity, and replace outdated network hardware. For students this will mean better wireless performance on campus, and improved efficiency for campus desktops. It will also allow for more demanding educational programming and improved video capabilities. Improvements are also being made at the Jackson County Center, and in the Expanded Access Programs, which utilize remote video conferencing to reach students in several off -campus rural locations.

    Dave White explained, another-interesting project scheduled to begin this Spring, is work on the WVU Parkersburg theatre renovation. Plans call for energy efficient lighting, a new stage, a complete ceiling renovation, wall coverings, new floor coverings and a new ticket booth.  White explained that the seating would be reused, and added that the theatre recently installed a new heating and cooling system, and curtains.  When the work is complete it will represent a five-year investment of nearly $300,000. The theatre renovation will not only provide students with a state of the art performance area, but also greatly enhance one of the areas utilized by the general public.

    White also spoke about work that is underway on the new WVU Parkersburg downtown Parkersburg campus. The majority of the work to this point has been demolition of the unneeded areas in the Market Street building, but the public will soon begin to see more noticeable improvements. Phoenix Construction was recently awarded the contract to renovate the building façade. Davis/Pickering Electrical will soon begin upgrading the electrical service, and bids are currently being accepted for an elevator and a new roof.  The WVU Parkersburg downtown campus will have three floors and approximately 45,000 square feet of floor space.

            This is first in a series of articles, which will detail facilities improvements at WVU Parkersburg.

Valentine's Day Gift from the Heart-by Robyn Bird 2/8/2011

by Robyn Bird

Love is in the air and with Valentine's Day right around the corner, many young lovers can look forward to spending big bucks on those expensive boxed chocolates. So, what is an economically deprived student to do? Easy! Fool your sweetheart's taste buds with these divine chocolates that can be easily made in any kitchen for very little investment.

Ingredients:

1 package of Oreo cookies-

8 oz. of cream cheese-

12 oz. milk chocolate chips-

wax paper-

    Before starting this project, make sure that there is room in the refrigerator for at least two cookie sheets for the truffles. This recipe will make about 48 truffles. For less truffles, reduce the ingredients accordingly.

1. Crush the Oreos into a semi-fine powder: When done by hand, crushing these cookies can become frustrating when all but the last few chunks have dissolved. Use a food processor if possible.

2. Combine with cream cheese: This step is best completed using a fork and a spoon. Mix together until your have an Oreo paste. This paste should be about the texture of sponge, but should be hard enough to be molded into shape.

3. Place the Oreo truffles on the cookie sheets: Line your baking sheets with wax paper. Next, spoon a ball of "Oreo paste" the size of a quarter and roll in the palm of your hand. Place Oreo truffles on the cookie sheets and place in the freezer.

4. Melt chocolate: Use a double boiler or tiny croc pot to melt the chocolate chips. Be sure to stir the melting chocolate frequently. A variety of chocolate chips are available for a variety of flavors.

5. Dip your truffles: After the chocolate has melted completely, bring out the chilled spheres and dip them in the melted chocolate. Allow the candies to dry in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy!

Tips:

-When crushing the Oreos, be sure to use the cream filling

-When dipping the chilled spheres in chocolate, use two spoons to maneuver the spheres to the wax paper

-Put in a decorative box and give as a gift

-Keep your candies refrigerated

New Clubs Underway at WVU Parkersburg-by Abbie Sweeney 2/8/2011

by Abbie Sweeney

    WVU Parkersburg is adding on to the athletics association. The athletes have been on the court, the field, and now they will be on the golf course. 

    The golf team is hoping to start practicing this spring at Woodridge Plantation Golf Course and hopefully get into some pre-season matches. The actual season will start this coming fall.  “I will start working on the schedule the first of February,” said Director of Student Activities Tom Yencha said.

    Coaching the team will be Jerry Rowley as the head coach and Craig Rabatin as assistant coach. Both coaches volunteered for the postion. “I've always had an interest in golf and I thought coaching would be enjoyable,” Rabatin said.

    The golf team would not have been added to the list of athletics for next year if it were not for a donation from Senator Frank Deem to get the team started.  The money given by Deem will be used to pay for the matches and uniforms for the team. 

    Polo shirts and vizors are what WVU Parkerburg is looking at providing as of right now.  The athletes might have to provide their own pants.  The athletes will have to provide their own equipment, too.

    To help funding, the team will join the other athletics in fundraising, such as the candy bar selling.

    The golf team had their own table at the Club Fair that took place in the multipurpose room recently. According to Rabatin, about seven students signed up to participate on the golf team.

    Along with golf, a girl's basketball team is being considered.  However, basketball is more costly than golf so there will have to be enough interest to really push the sport, according to Yencha.  "We are self-funded, which make adding sports tough," said Yencha.

            If anyone is interested in joining the team, contact Rowley at ext. 460 or Rabatin at ext. 484.

Riverhawks Take On the Bobcats-by Abbie Sweeney 2/8/2011

Slam Dunk

by Abbie Sweeney

    With the Riverhawks out with two starters,#45 Cameron Lancaster and #40 Alex Tracewell, the Ohio University Lancaster game still had to be won.  However, the Riverhawks didn’t accomplish this goal.  They lost the game 95-81.  “It was one of our worst games this year,” #31 Keith Penn said.  “We didn’t play as a team.”

    Tracewell was out with an ankle injury from practice, but still went to watch his teammates and keep stats. “It was so hard to sit out the game,” Tracewell said.

    While two Riverhawks were out, Riverhawk Sean Michael was back after injuring his knee in the Wesleyan game weeks before.  He came back playing rough with four fouls and still a minute to go in the first half.

    The game started with the Bobcats scoring a three-pointer right from the jump ball. With only 10 seconds after OUL pointing points on the board, #24 Eric Bohman from OUL fouled Penn.  Penn made one of the two foul shots then the Riverhawks managed to receive the rebound and Michael shot a three-pointer allowing the Riverhawks to take the lead 4-3.  That lead didn’t last very long.  At halftime the Bobcats were leading 51-33.

    Number 23 Rodney Shawver had an off game by missing the basic lay-ups.  He had three breakaways in the first half and missed all three. “He normally makes those,” Tracewell said.                      However, Shawver came back with blocking a shot to take the ball back down the court and assist #20 Brandon Roe on an inside shot.

    The top scorers for the game were Penn with 27 and #21 Anthony Caplinger with 16.  Both players were tied at halftime with ten points each, but Penn seemed to have a stronger second half.

    The next game will be on February 9th against Ohio Valley University. 

Datum Point Takes the Stage in Cincinnati-by Jeff Bell 2/8/2011

by Jeff Bell

    Datum Point, second place winner of Cincinnati’s Battle of the Bands and formerly of the Mid-Ohio Valley area, blasted the walls of the Cincinnati Underground Club during a concert on Saturday, Jan. 22. Playing in front of three record company executives, Dusty Murphy, stage name Rev. Dred and lead singer, is fighting for a possible record deal. “This could finally give us enough money for the Datum Diesel, the tour bus we have been saving for,” Murphy said, laughing.

    Nerves were on edge as one of the record executives took the microphone at the end of the concert and said, “Wow, I have never heard an amateur band sound that great! You were all able to stay together with that amazingly fast beat, the double bass drum sounded amazingly professional, and the lightning guitar licks almost melted my face! Then I remember this is a Christian band and thought, WOW, WOW, and WOW!” The band had their first big break at a concert last year.

    Datum Point had the opportunity to open for Brian “Head” Welch, formerly of Korn, at a concert in Ashland, Ky. in August 2010. “I used to jam to the monster guitar works of this guy in my wild years and now I’m playing in his concert! It is awesome,” Murphy said. This was a great first step to the realization of an impossible dream.

    Less than a decade ago, a felony conviction of arson had left Murphy sitting in a prison cell, charged as an adult at the age of 17. He spent his days contemplating his life, options and crime: the burning of a church. “I was a Satanist and had been drinking and using LSD all night during a concert. I believed that I heard Satan tell me to torch the church, so I did,” Murphy said. While in prison, Murphy studied various Psychology and Christian books. He then decided he needed a change and became a Christian.

    The dream of leading his own heavy metal band continued, but now he wanted this band to be Christian. He wanted somehow to show people that being Christian did not mean a life of stuffy judgmental boredom. “A stereotypical Christian would have never reached out to or been listened to by a guy like me. The only way to reach head-bangers is to be a head-banger.                                  

    "It is very hard for some Christians to walk into a heavy metal concert or a bar, but think about it, it’s at least three times as hard for a head-banger to walk into a church; torn up jeans, dreds, and tattoos make quite the spectacle,” Murphy said. “It is equally hard for a Christian head-banger to find music to which to get their worship on,” Murphy said, laughing.

    Datum Point is a unique name for a band and stems directly from Murphy’s plans for the direction of the band. “I am a machinist by trade. A datum point is a mark on all blueprints that signifies the beginning of all measurements or the center of everything. This is an awesome metaphor and testimony for my life now and what is going to be the center of my all,” Murphy said.

    Datum Point is on Facebook, MySpace (www.myspace.com/datumpoint) and also has a website, www.datumpointmusic.com. The first self-sponsored album, Wake the Dead, is available for purchase on any of these sites.