Creative Arts Center Creates Community

By Sarah Cordonier

West Virginia University's Creative Arts Center

Interested in Theatre? Dance? Music? Artwork? It can all be found at the Creative Arts Center. The iconic toilet-shaped building is home to WVU students looking to make a living through the arts. These dedicated students put in hours of hard work, not only for themselves, but for the rest of the city, as well. Part of learning their skill (whether it’s playing an instrument or acting) is being able to present it to an audience. In this case, that audience is Morgantown.

Student artwork is displayed in the main lobby of the CAC.

Anyone is welcome to walk through the main areas of the CAC and observe the incredible art work on display. Student artwork is constantly being swapped around, so there are always fresh pieces to admire. And this artwork comes in all forms: paintings, drawings, wood carvings, ceramics, other 3-D displays, etc.

Music majors get to display their talents through either solo or group performances. These are great concerts, in which musicians get to show off their incredible skills at the instruments they spend so much time practicing. These delightful concerts are free and open to the public.

Fliers for student plays and musical performances cover the walls of the CAC.

And theatre majors get real experience acting through performances. At the CAC, they put on entire shows. The acting, costuming, directing, make-up, set design, etc. is all done by students. This semester, students put two plays: Buried Child by Sam Shepard, and The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt. Next fall a different series of plays will be put on. All of these student performances are open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at the CAC or the Mountainlair Box Office.

Other groups, such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and traveling performance groups are brought to the CAC for public viewing, but in my experience, the student performances have been more entertaining (and of course the price is better). I’ve never been bored at a student performance; I can’t say the same for other performances that were brought to the CAC for large sums of money. And it’s nifty to think that students I go to school with may someday make it big and could be performing in New York, L.A., or some other big city.

Love of Chocolate Creates Community

By Sarah Cordonier

Locals hanging out downtown were in for a big treat on April 14th. Saturday was Morgantown’s 11th Annual Chocolate Lover’s Day and individuals willing to pay the $5 registration fee (children under 5 were free) were invited to indulge in delicious creations from about 40 businesses. Registration took place at the Monongalia Art Center and at Arts Monongahela at 11am and business served up goodies until 3pm.

Chocolate Lover’s Day was a great way for people to spend some free time with friends and family, while getting to learn about various buisnesses in the area. Dr. Debbi Pariser is the Live/Learn Community Specialist at Dadisman and Stalnaker Halls (WVU). Every year she spoils residents by making Chocolate Lover’s Day a hall program. “I think this is a great way for the students to get to learn about what some businesses in Morgantown have to offer; I’m afraid some of them don’t get to experience too much beyond WVU. As part of the program, the students are required to send me an e-mail, letting me know what they learned today with regards to the local businesses.”

Dairy Queen handed out miniature ice cream cones to those participating in Chocolate Lover's Day.

John Davis was among the residents in Dr. Pariser’s group who took advantage of the free ticket to Chocolate Lover’s Day. “This was a pretty sweet deal. Literally,” said Davis. “There are a lot of places down here that I didn’t even know existed, let alone been to.” 

Local residents Jim and Lacey Thompson brought their three kids to the event for some family bonding. “Me and the boys love us some sweets, so we’re all eager to get a move on and see what we can cash in on,” said Jim. And Lacey added, “And I’m looking forward to trying out the Cupcakerie.” Having already visited the Cupcakerie, I recommended the bacon cupcake (which surprisingly tasted pretty good).

Participants were given maps, pointing out all the participating businesses. Once a business was visited, the map would be stamped. Those dedicated chocolate lovers who visited an adequate amount of businesses could turn in their maps for a chance to win four tickets to Hershey Park in Hershey, PA.

Spotlight: WVU Student Lacey White Connects

By Sarah Cordonier

Lacey White is a junior Sociology and MDS major (three minors in Advertising, Business, and Communications) from Maryland. Lacey keeps very busy working two jobs and being a member or WVU’s service fraternity, APO. Because of her involvement with APO, Lacey’s been able to meet and interact with many of Morgantown’s local residents.

Lacey organized and hosted Stalnaker Hall's Spooktacular Boo Bash last October. This program invited children and their families to Trick-or-Treat in Stalnaker Hall and then play games and participate in a costume contest. All proceeds were then donated to The Autism Society. Not only did this give residents of Stalnaker a chance to interact with local residents, but all the money raised benefited another part of our community.

Last year, she volunteered at The Shack every morning. This is an early morning program, where kids can get breakfast and play before boarding a bus to go to school. Working at The Shack gave Lacey the opportunity to meet parents and bond with the kids. “I loved working at The Shack! I miss it; I really miss the kids!” Lacey, along with other members of APO, also participated in skate nights, held at the shack on Friday evenings. These were also designed to give children a fun, safe place to play.

Lacey also volunteers at Sundale, a rehabilitation and long-term care facility. As a volunteer at Sundale’s activity center, Lacey recruits and helps transports residents to activites, including playing Bingo and watching movies. She also helps out at the Humane Society in Waynesboro,PA.

Lacey works in WVU’s Undergraduate Advsing office, in addition to her full-time job as a Resident Assistant at Stalnaker Hall. Lacey heads up Dadisman and Stalnaker Hall’s Community Service Club. So, not only does she donate her time and efforts, but she’s also been able to get other WVU students involved in helping out the community through various service projects. Lacey has head up projects to raise money for The Autism Society, Relay for Life, and UNICEF, among others. She’s also an active recruiter for blood drives hosted at Dadisman and Stalnaker Halls. Lacey has also participated in Mountaineers Recycle, a program that encourages recycling by community members at WVU home football games.

Lacey (middle) with fellow volunteers assisting with Mountaineers Recycle.

Lacey is a prime example of how WVU students can get involved with the Morgantown community. She works hard, inspires others to help out the community, and most importantly, she loves to do what she does.

Sharing WVU Facilities with Local Residents

By Sarah Cordonier

As a state-funded university, WVU has been able to provide its students with some incredible facilities. Of course, this is made possible by West Virginia taxpayers, so it only seems fit that WVU would share these facilities with some non-students residing in Morgantown. Among these are the Student Rec Center, the PRT (and other student  transportation), and our libraries.

Student Rec Center: Students have “free” access to the SRC because they essentially pay for it via tuition and fees. Spouses and dependents of WVU students and faculty are eligible for membership and can gain access by paying a membership fee and being issued a SRC membership card through the Mountaineer Card Office. Additionally, employees (and their family members) of university affiliate groups can also apply for membership to the SRC. These WVU affiliate groups include WVU Ruby Hospital, Health South, University Health Associates, WVU Foundation, WV Geological Survey, WVU Research Corporation, WVU Faculty / Staff Retirees, and WVNET.

Transportation: The PRT receives capital funding assistance from the Federal Transit Administration. WVU students, faculty, and staff can ride the PRT for free using their Mountaineer ID card. And people without ID cards can pay 50 cents to ride the PRT. Likewise, Mountain Line bus transportation is free for WVU students, faculty, and staff with their WVU IDs. Anyone else can pay 75 cents to ride the bus.

WVU Libraries: Anyone is welcome to visit WVU Libraries and use print materials, microfilm materials and copy machines. Anyone not affiliated with WVU may come in and use the book collection in the library. But to to be able to check out books, area residents must purchase a Resident Borrower’s card for fifty dollars a year. Regional Borrowers can buy a card for seventy five dollars. Laibrary cards are issued at the Mountaineer Card Office. When applying for one, be sure to bring a valid WV photo ID and proof of address.

WVU and the American Red Cross

By Sarah Cordonier

Many residence halls, student organizations, and departments at WVU have sponsored blood drives to help support the American Red Cross. From ROTC to Commuter Student Programs to Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer, pretty much everyone has had a hand in attracting donations for the Red Cross. Recently, the dance competition “Dancing wtih Our Mountaineer Stars” hosted a blood drive in the Mountainlair the week before the competition that required donors to donate blood on behalf of a couple dancing in the competition. The couple with the highest number of donors were Ron Justice (director of Student Organization Services) and Amanda Hughart (2010 Mountaineer Idol winner) and they won a special award, presented by the Monongalia County ARC Donor Resources Representative, Adam Reaves.

Residents of Dadisman and Stalnaker Halls donate blood to the American Red Cross.

Adam Reaves keeps busy working with all of these different groups at WVU to organize, prepare, and set up for these blood drives. And no matter where these blood drives are located, anyone, whether or not they are affiliated with WVU, is welcome to come and volunteer their time and/or donate their blood. Sarah Guyot is the blood drive coordinator for Dadisman and Stalnaker Residence Halls. She encourages students to earn community service hours through blood drives because of the many benefits that come from them. “Blood drives give students a sense of community and well-being within our society. Here in Morgantown, we’re not just students, we’re residents and are a part of this town. So by donating or volunteering, we’re helping out our neighbors that live beyond the confines of WVU.”

The Red Cross supplies blood to about 100 hospitals in West Virginia. To match demand, 1,200 individuals must donate blood each weekday. About 11.8 percent of blood donated in West Virginia comes from colleges and universities, according to the Red Cross’ website. Donating blood and volunteering time are great ways to help support other members of our community. One donation can save up to three lives.

What WVU Brings to Morgantown

By Sarah Cordonier

WVU c. 1880. Pictured in the background of the photo of WVU's Cadet Corps, are Martin and Woodburn Halls.

West Virginia University was established in Morgantown in 1867 as a land-grant college. Initiallly created as the Agricultural College of West Virginia, it was renamed West Virginia University to demonstrate its broad range of educational opportunities. From its earliest days, Morgantown citizens have helped students at WVU. Before WVU’s first residence hall (Woman’s Hall; now Stalnaker Hall) opened in 1919, students lived in boarding houses. The owners of these houses were required to enforce rules for female students, such as making sure they obeyed curfew.Then, at the end of WWII (1945), enrollment increased to about 6,000. This was the result of veterans attending school, thanks to financial aid from the G.I. Bill. This put an enormous strain on housing, as students were crammed into apartments, residence halls, and even the homes of Morgantown families.

In the 1960s, students and faculty members volunteered their time, tutoring children of the coal-mining communities in the area in an effort to improve the lives of West Virginians. Activities like this later came to be known as “service learning.”

The Coliseum was constructed in 1970.

During the 1970s, many facilities were created as part of this university: the Coliseum (1970), the Natatorium (1975), and the PRT (1979). These landmarks have become staples of life in Morgantown. (For more fun facts about WVU check out Dr. Barbara Howe’s research on WVU’s early days).

Morgantown would just not be Morgantown without the bright, spunky spirt that West Virginia University brings with it. This town, with a population of about 30,000 citizens, just about doubles to 60,000 when

inundated by students for the fall and spring semesters. And yes, this    population increase makes finding a place to park a daily hassle and puts a strain on finding decent housing. But at the end of the day, Morgantown and WVU receive mutual benefits from working hand in hand.

Our Mission Statement to You, Dear Reader

Mountaineers Connect is designed to provide updated information on the integrated efforts of West Virginia University and the greater Morgantown community. Morgantown does a lot to support the students here at WVU, and we try to return the favor. Whether it’s through local employment, community service, or recreational actvities, WVU students do their best to get involved. We want to make sure that our readers are aware of the opportunities that are made possible for both students and Morgantown residents because of the relationship between this town and the universtiy.