The Yellow Jacket

the Staff

Correction: In our last issue, Dr. Suvayan De was referred to as an associate professor of economics. His correct rank is assis-tant professor of economics. We apologize for the mistake and any confusion it may have caused.

Jesse Jenkins is a senior communications major with a focus on business and advertising. When he is not at school, he works full-time as a man-ager at Books-A-Million. In his spare time he enjoys reading, making films and watching them.

Lena Lambert is a sophomore majoring in social work. She lives in Nitro with her husband and three sons and is involved with the Social Work Organization.

Tabatha Paluso is a senior professional writing major. She is a member of the GSA and the English Club. She hopes to graduate in May and go on to get her MA in Journalism at UCSB.

Cody Cummings is a communications major with an avid interest in video games. He hopes to work in video game productions after gradua-tion.

Alexander Naylor is a professional writing major. He is currently a senior and hopes to graduate in the fall. A few of his interests are playing the electric bass guitar and golf. He likes to cok and often finds himself trying out new concoctions.

TheYellow Jacket is published by West Virginia State University students throughout the fall and spring semesters as part of an on-going learning lab. The Yellow Jacket is dedicated to being a trusted source of news, entertainment and discussion for the students of West Virginia State University. © 2014 The Yellow Jacket. Content may not be reproduced without permis-sion. Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Barnes-Pietruszynski.

Marta Tankersley, named WVSU journalism student of the Year 2013, is a communications major. She writes for the Charleston Gazette, WV Executive magazine and works with PRSSA and Tower Communications. Marta is engaged to WVSU graduate CR Hays.

Jessica Clark-Jenkins is the assistant edtior of The Yellow Jacket. She is seeking a degree in English. With her degree, she hopes to go on to teach English as a second language. Jessica is also a member of the English Club and an editor on the Kanawha Review.

Bianca Prince is the editor-in-chief of The Yellow Jacket. She is an English major seeking a minor in Journalism. Additionally, she is an editor on the Kanawha Review and president of the English Club.

MAKING MUSIC AND

MOVIES

By Alexander Naylor Calling all filmmakers and musicians. The latest Creators Program workshops held by the West Virginia State University Economic Development Center were for you. WVSU teamed up with the Arts Council of Kanawha Valley and West Virginia Film Office to provide the series, which are for all people of all skill levels. The series was launched in 2012, and is a series of work-shops for the community and designed to provide skills and knowledge to develop mass media and art. Eric Douglas, filmmaker and author, screened his documentary “West Virginia Voices of War” on Tues-day, Feb. 25. Douglas talked about the tools and skills needed for documentary production. Douglas used a skill called “backpack filmmaking.” This is a production where simple tools available to anyone and a low budget are used. “Advances in digital recording technology make it possible for anyone to record, edit and tell their own

story,” said Douglas. “You can carry everything that used to require an entire film crew with cameras and audio equipment in a backpack and capture any story that needs to be told.” On Saturday, March 1, musician Chuck Biel hosted “Music for New Media 102.” This workshop was de-signed to teach loops, sequences, sampling, MIDI, ASDR and sync, and how to implement these devices. “This workshop will teach participants how to suc-cessfully take their passion for music and navigate the musical world by using these tools with clarity and con-fidence,” said Biel. Anyone who attended Biel’s workshop received a Certificate of Participation that counts as two units for a Creator’s Certificate, which is given after 20 Creators Program workshop units.

By Kandi Workman West Virginia State University is in mourning over the death of President Emeritus Dr. Hazo W. Carter, Jr. Dr. Carter led an inspiring life centered on education. Dr. Carter was originally from Tennessee, where he re-ceived a B.S. in English from Tennessee State Univer-sity in 1968. In 1969 he received a Master of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. From there he went to Vanderbilt University, where in 1975 he received a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration. Dr. Carter began his career in higher education in Vir-ginia at Norfolk State University, holding positions such as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice President for Student Affairs. From there he moved on to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was named President of Philander Smith College in 1983. In 1987, WVSU was graced with the presence of Dr. Carter as President, a po-sition he held for 25 years. During his career, Dr. Carter advocated for improving the institutions he headed. At Philander Smith he ran a fundraising drive to upgrade the college’s facilities and later saw the start of a new weekly television program at the institution. While at WVSU, Dr. Carter undertook projects that enabled the institution to progress into what it is today. “Throughout his tenure at West Virginia State, Dr. Carter worked tirelessly to articulate the institution’s economic impact and presence as the largest institution

of higher education located in the Kanawha Valley. He successfully led a 12-year quest to regain the institution’s 1890 land-grant status, which enables the University to better serve the surrounding community and the entire state of West Virginia. He encouraged local community leaders, legislators and alumni to sup-port West Virginia State’s journey to have land-grant statusstatus restored at the state level and recognized and funded at the federal level,” said a fact sheet released by the university. He also started the Business, Industry and Education Cluster Program in 1988. In 2004, WVSU began to offer graduate programs after gaining University status. At the time of his death, Dr. Carter was serving as Presi-dent Emeritus after devoting 25 years to being President of the University. Dr. Brian O. Hemphill became Presi-dent of WVSU in 2012. When remembering his predecessor, President Hemp-hill says, “Dr. Carter was a strong advocate of quality education and believed in the talents and abilities of our faculty and staff to provide West Virginia State students with the very best.” “On behalf of the entire State family, my wife Marise-la and I extend our deepest sympathies to his daughter Angela and the extended Carter family who have time and again shown their love and commitment for this University. Our thoughts and prayers are with Angela." Dr. Carter was preceded in death by his wife Judge Phyllis Carter just a month earlier.

Dr. Hazo W. Carter Jr.

Hazo W. Carter Jr.1946-2014

By Candice Shea Holliday Governor Joe Manchin III declared Feb. 24 West Virginia State University Day in 2010. WVSU has only been recognized by the West Virginia Legislature for four years. The re-sounding reply to the recognition is gratitude and progress. Why is this day important to the commu-nity of WVSU? “I think it’s a good opportunity to show the state what this campus is capable of doing and how bright all of the students are,” said com-munications student Candace Parsley. The WVSU Day at the Legislature had one common theme; the word ‘opportunity’. The West Virginia Legislature gives the university the opportunity to not only show off what it is doing, but it is a wonderful opportunity to show the entire area what it could being doing with a little assistance. Students and faculty really brought their ‘A’ game to Leg-islature Day. Numerous clubs, majors and departments set up booths. Diverse media was in attendance. Everyone was professional and informative and many booths were cre-ative and attention grabbing. “One of the things I found significant was the 3-D print-er. That was amazing to me,” commented Dr. Trevellya Ford-Ahmed. One of the biggest booth hits was set up by WVSU’s Ex-tension Service. The Extension Service booth had a DIY trail mix set up with cups, safety gloves and serve yourself spoons. Each container was something healthy like straw-berry cereal, nuts and pretzels. They even had M&M’s to

WVSUfinding it’s passionfinding it’s passion

By Jessica Jenkins West Virginia State University is holding a Student Life Fair on Saturday, March 15. The event will correspond with Admitted Student Day. This is won-derful opportunity for WVSU and current students to welcome the prospective students who will be admitted in the fall 2014 semester. The Student Life Fair will be providing an overview of the opportunities that are available to students as well as encourage them to confirm their enrollment at the university. Student Organizations are encouraged to set up tables to help inform new students about the University and recruit new members to their or-ganizations. This is the time to show students what WVSU has to offer. "As a non-traditional student, it is really cool they are trying to give us the college experience you wouldn't normally have at other commuter and online universities," says admitted student Anthony Coleman. "I am actually excited to start classes in the fall. I am 26 years old and this is something I have always wanted to do and State is making it happen for me and I am being treated as I would have been straight out of high school." Admitted Student Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Erickson Alumni Center. The purpose of this event is to help new students finish the necessary steps to schedule classes for the fall semester and complete all of the paperwork for enrollment. Students are encouraged to have the following completed: submit the FAFSA, accept financial aid, attend orien-tation, register for classes, apply for on campus housing, submit official tran-scripts from all schools attended and submit immunization records. Current students and professors are showing their support of the Student Life Fair and Admitted Students Day. "It's a chance for people to see what else is offered besides classes. Academics are only part of the university experi-ence," Says Board of Governors Student Representative Scotty White. "We have participated in the past. I think it's important to have events like this to let prospective students meet current students and see what college life is really like. Also it's a great opportunity for student organizations to repre-sent WVSU as a very student oriented school," says Professor Kim Cobb who is the staff advisor for the National Broadcasting Society. New student advising and orientation, held in the summer, will introduce expectations of the university as well as programs and services that WVSU offers. Staff will be able to assist students in selecting their first semester's classes. Orientation gives students information and resources necessary for a successful college career. Attendance and participation at a new student orien-tation program is required for all new first year and transfer students. This is also an opportunity for parents to attend and learn more about the university and how they can support their students. and how they can support their students. The set-up for the Student Life Fair begins at 8 a.m. at the Convocation Center and it will conclude at 10 a.m. All student organizations are welcome to participate.

Student Life Fair:

Show ‘Em What wE’VE gOT

Progress Towards the fUTURE:tHE judge Damon J. KeithScholars Hall

By Bianca Prince Construction continues on the Judge Damon J. Keith Scholars Hall, the first new residence building to be added to the West Virginia State University campus since 1969. The hall is still on schedule for an August opening says Kitty McCarthy, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. A model of the living space that will be available in the new residence hall is being constructed in the James C. Wilson University Union. Construction began on the model room on Tuesday, February 25. The space is being built in room 124 A/B, also known as the study lounge. The replica will be “nearly identical” to what stu-dents will see in the new dormitory, according to Mc-Carthy. “We have received many questions about the new hall and pictures just don’t adequately convey the space in which students will live,” McCarthy stated in an e-mail sent to all students explaining the construction of the model living space. The area will be used to give students an idea of the size of the new rooms, as well as the finishes they will see used in the new hall. These include the flooring and granite.

The room is expected to be complete in March and will remain in the University Union throughout the se-mester. Plans are being made for an alternate study room for students in the University Union. A conference room will be used in place of room 124 A/B when available. A schedule specifying when the room will be occupied and in use will be posted next to the door of the study lounge. Students are encouraged to use the conference room “in the same way you would utilize the study lounge,” says McCarthy.lounge,” says McCarthy. Application materials for the new residence hall are now available for continuing students for the 2014-2015 academic year. Personnel in the Office of Residence Life and Services and the Office of Enrollment Man-agement and Student Affairs will be available to answer questions about the application process. The new residence hall will feature two, three and four bedroom suites and will hold 291 beds. Laundry fa-cilities will be located on each floor as well as a commu-nity area, study lounge and gaming room. A groundbreaking ceremony for the residence hall was held in September 2013. The building will be named after Judge Damon J. Keith, a graduate of the university and renowned judge.

Progress Towards the fUTURE:tHE judge Damon J. KeithScholars Hall

The construction of the new residence hall faced ob-jections from several historical groups who wanted to see the existing dormitories, Gore and Prillerman, renovated. Those dormitories, built in 1926 and 1936, had served their use and would cost more to renovate. Ad-ditionally, renovations would reduce the amount of students able to live in the buildings, the university said.

yOU dON’T WANT TO MISS...

tHIS!

cOMING sOONto wvsu

By Marta Ree Tankersley West Virginia State University’s 2nd Annual Student Film and Video Festival will be hosted by the Communications Depart-ment at the Davis Fine Arts Building on Wed., March 5 from 4-8 p.m. “The film festival is our way of fostering creativity, specifically in film, here at WVSU,” Communications Chair and Film Festival Co-Director Professor Ali Ziyati said. “Encouraging students to produce films is one way to help them hone their skills and prepare for careers in news, public relations, marketing and related fields.” marketing and related fields.” Thirty-five short films from WVSU stu-dents and area high school students will be screened. There is a wide variety including narratives, abstracts and promotionals. "We are proud and excited for ALL of the filmmakers, and we are putting on the most irreverent show on campus, in addition to the screenings," Co-Director Professor Sam Holdren said. "The great thing about coming to see a festival of short films is that if you don't like the movie you're watching, just wait a a few minutes, because the next one starts soon."

Films, judged prior to the festival by a team of six jurors with local connections, will be awarded cash and prizes in four categories: narrative, abstract, promo and high school. Jurors include Jamie Cope, a computer ani-mation specialist who works at the WV Film Office; Jon Matthews whose latest film, Sur-viving Cliffside, has been selected to pre-miere at the 2014 South by Southwest Film Festival; Thomas Sayre, creative services producer at WOWK-TV in Charleston, who has worked on shows for networks such as HGTV, DIY Network, History Channel, ESPN, Fox, MTV, ABC Family, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Court TV and many more; Holly Siders who has worked on film crews for companies such as The History Channel and MTV; David Smith, an indepen-dent filmmaker and winner of the 2012 Charleston FestivALL 72-Hour Film Chal-lenge; and Kim Spurlock whose thesis film, Down In Number 5, won more than 15 awards. The event is free to the public. For more information on the film festival, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/WVSU-Student-Film-and-Video-Festival.

By Jesse Jenkins "Music is expression and language is the only differ-ence," says Erblina Prekazi, president of International Stu-dent Services (ISS) at West Virginia State University. ISS and Cultural Activities hosted screening of the 2007 documentary, "I Love Hip Hop in Morocco," on Thursday, Feb. 27. The film is directed by American exchange stu-dent, Josh Asen and friend Jennifer Needle. The two travel through Morocco and interview underground and locally famous hip hop artists from the area. These artists explain their struggle and discuss the social and religious problems they face coming from a Muslim nation. they face coming from a Muslim nation. The film mainly focuses on DJ Key, a huge turntable star in both Morocco and on the internet, and his personal di-lemma of faith and hip hop; H-Kayne, a breakthrough group who was currently on the verge of international star-dom; Fatima, a high school girl who is trying and succeed-ing in making it big in dominate Arab man's world; and the hip hop group Fnaire which already had some international

notoriety. Each artist and groups come from different major area of the country. "Morocco has become a melting pot of ideas and cul-tures," say Dr. Ali Ziyati, communications professor at WVSU. Ziyati is a native of Meknes, Morocco, and states his love for all kinds of music. While interviewing these various hip hop artists, some of them mention that they are beginning to promote a huge concert. This future concert eventually becomes sponsored by Coca-ColaTM and the United States Embassy of Mo-rocco. The "I Love Hip Hop in Morocco" music festival was held in the three major cities of Meknes, Marrakesh and Casablanca. The concert becomes the countries first hip hop related concert and gains international coverage.

I LOVE HIP HOP IN MOROCCO(IN WEST VIRGINIA)

Name: Rebekah HodgeMajor: International Studies/ SpanishMinor: FrenchGraduation Date: May 2014

When senior Rebekah Hodge is not studying or working, she spends her spare time being active, travelling and spending time with her friends and family. She is from South Charleston and was home-schooled by her mother, which is where her love and appreciation for learning about other cultures began. Her hobbies include running, hiking, rock climbing, and trying out new restaurants. Currently, she works as a Spanish and French tutor for West Virginia State University in the foreign language lab. in the foreign language lab. Hodge is the Vice President of Alpha Mu Gamma, the National For-eign Language Honorary. She started studying at WVSU because of the affordability, but also because they have other various areas of study to choose from. Her International Studies focus is in Spanish with a minor in French. She plans on going to graduate school at Liberty University in the fall. Her favorite place she has travelled to is Costa Rica. “I love the people, the culture, and the language,” she says. Hodge has visited three times and she loves going back regularly to visit her new friends and soak up some sun. It has been a learning experience for her every time she visits. A close second on her places travelled is the French Alps be-cause of the outdoor activities it has to offer. Hodge stresses the importance of learning a second language and the benefits of having that knowledge.“We“We live in a growing global society where languages are the key to success. Having the ability to speak another language fluently opens many doors of opportunity in the workplace,” says Hodge. She also offers a bit of advice for incoming freshman. “Make sure you set aside time to study. You do not want to be behind in homework from the start.” Hodge credits her success to some of the professors at WVSU. “Pro-fessor Conner, Professor Frye, Dr. Natsis and Dr. Zapata have been amazing teachers and have encouraged me to study hard.” After she finishes Graduate school Hodge plans on doing something that involves tourism but she is still undecided as to what exactly.

WHO’S WHO AT WVSU

By Tabatha Paluso Home Depot is continuing its Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program (RYS) this year by awarding a total of $250,000 dollars for campus improve-ments to the highest voted historically black colleges or university (HBCU). RYS is offering three separate awards to multiple winners based on votes and social media activity. The number one highest ranking school will receive the Tier I grant award of $50,000. The next thirteen highest voted HBCU’s will each receive a Tier II grant award for $10,000. The final award is the Campus Pride Grant of $25,000 which will be given to the top three schools with the highest votes and social media activity. West Virginia State University hopes to win one of these grant awards and use the money to install energy ef-ficient LED lights throughout campus. To vote for WVSU please visit http://www.retoolyourschool.com/vote-now/. Don’t forget to share your activity to Facebook and Twitter along with the hashtag #wvsuTHDRYS. Voting will con-tinue until April 14.

VOTE NOW,

VOTE OFTEN

IN

THE HOME DEPOT’S

RETOOL YOUR SCHOOL

CONTEST

bringing it back