University Coordinator of Events Eloise Tomei has some instructions for students participating in convocation this year.
Students will need to report to the upper-level lobby over the Red Gate entrance, dressed in cap and gown promptly at 5 p.m. to be lined up. Caps and gowns may be purchased at the WVU Bookstore and at the Book Exchange.
Family and friends should enter through the Blue Gate, because this is where prime seating is located.
Students who haven’t received their invitation to convocation by now should speak with their school’s  graduation coordinator. Once their graduation is confirmed, they need to call 293-8024 or 293-8029, and RSVP to be in the ceremony.
If the automated system picks up, then the student will have to spell the name how he or she wants it pronounced. For example if a girl is named Elizabeth Jessica Lake, but she wants to be announced as Liz J. Lake, she would have to say so.
Students must say whether they are receiving a doctorate, master’s or bachelor’s degree. Students will also have to give the entire name of the college, for example: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. 

Winter graduates will wear their blue and white and their tassels will swing proud as they walk the across the platform into the next stage of their life journeys.
Convocation will be held Friday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Coliseum. 
This is the unofficial ceremony for December graduates, meaning no diplomas are given and WVU President David Hardesty doesn’t confer degrees, said Eloise Tomei, University coordinator of events.
“It’s just as special to them as spring (ceremony) is to our other students,” said Becky Lofstead, director of news and information services. “It’s a way to say congratulations and good luck to them.”
Tomei said graduation is actually after Christmas, because finals have to be graded. She said it would difficult to coordinate students returning to campus during Christmas Break. 
During the event, Hardesty will talk to the seniors. The keynote speaker will be Rod Thorn, current president and general manager of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, and Warner Schaie, former chairman of the WVU Department of Psychology, will receive an honorary degree.
Honorary degrees are given to people who have made outstanding achievements in their field, Tomei said.
Among his many awards and accolades, Schaie received the Kleemeier Award for distinguished research contributions from the Gerontological Society of America and the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions from the American Psychological Association. 
Lofstead said there will be  a series of colloquiums scheduled for that Friday because Schaie will be on campus.
“(Thorn) is a shining example of a WVU student,” Tomei said. “He has gone on to achieve a stellar career nationally and probably internationally as well.”
Thorn changed majors from a pre-medicine to political science at WVU. He joined the NBA and played eight years for a few different teams, including the Seattle Supersonics and the Baltimore Bullets. Then he coached teams for the NBA and the ABA. He worked as the general manager for the Chicago Bulls from 1978-1985 and was the NBA’s executive vice president for 14 years. 
Thorn said he would make his speech appropriate for the students at convocation, but until then he had some advice to offer.
“The job market is a little different than it was even five years ago. Students should knock on as many doors as possible and be as prepared as possible,” Thorn said. “Have a strong work ethic and don’t be discouraged.”
Tomei said there is an anticipated 600 students from most of the colleges on campus to participate in convocation with 4,000-5,000 guests that will attend.

Tamara Woods can be reached at:
DANewsRoom@mail.wvu.edu.

The Young Democrats and College Republicans debated the issue of war with Iraq Thursday evening.
The Young Democrats, led by president Noah Barnes, hosted the open podium debate. It was open to the public. 
Each speaker had one minute to speak and each side took turns speaking one after the other.
The Young Democrat’s opened with “the way (the United States) brought up the topic of war was so wrong.”
The Young Democrats said President Bush did not consider a peaceful resolution. Germany is not buying it, they said, and France had to moderate the United Nations resolution to make it better.
The fear of the use of nuclear weapons is one reason to stay away from war, according to the Young Democrats. They do not want to risk the war for national and international security.
As of now, war is not necessary, they said, but when it is time to remove Hussein, the United States will have the support of most countries.
Another reason to avoid conflict is that it will be more deadly than 9/11, they said, because Hussein has been watching our every move.
Speakers for the Young Democrats said Bush is using war threats for political gain. 
They said that the United States cannot go into Iraq without planning suicide missions.
The economy is bad but the military is still strong, they said. The United States should go through the United Nations and get Hussein that way. The United States needs to give Iraq peace, they said. Resolutions never work through violence.
Bush is not using a new approach to this war. He is being less productive than when Clinton was in office, they said. 
“(The U.S. does not) have to say that we are going to war with (Iraq),” Barnes said.
The Republicans told their side of the story afterwards.   
“I don’t think Iraq is a jungle,” Schiefer said.  “We have a chance to prevent (nuclear) weapons.”
The role of the federal government is to protect the country through foreign and domestic forces, they said.
The College Republicans brought the issue of democracy to the table. They said Hussein was chosen as leader of Iraq because he was basically the only person on the ballot.  
One speaker for the College Republicans recited the phrase, “Wanted dead or alive,” which simply means justice must be done.  
Another pro-war speaker said the decision to go to war with Iraq is the responsibility of the United States.  Hussein is a danger to the world. It would be wrong of the United States not to use its power in order to get rid of Hussein, he said.
Bush had given the military a task and it will carry it out.  Although people might help Hussein escape, the College Republicans said the military will fulfill their task.
In 1991, Hussein lost the war, according to one College Republican. No weapons inspectors had the chance to inspect the weapons. We have had justification over Iraq for a long time.  
The next debate will occur in February, Barnes said.

Ben Gruver can be reached at:
DANewsRoom@mail.wvu.edu.

Utilizing exit only areas will result in severe damage.
11/14 1:53 a.m. Report of the exit parking gate in area 80C being damaged by an unknown vehicle. Value $3,845.
11/14 1:53 a.m. Complainant reported receiving threatening messages on the computer at Summit Hall.
11/14 4:02 a.m. Michael Welton Funk (11/18/79) was issued a citation for public intoxication in area 1.

YEEEE HAAAW!
11/19 Report of a stolen cowboy hat from the Rec Center. Value $100.
11/19 6 a.m. Report of a vehicle that had its passenger window broken and 300 CDs and a Sony CD player missing from the vehicle. Value $400.

I love laughing at people who fall down stairs!
11/19 9:25 a.m. Report of a student that fell down a flight of steps outside Brooks Hall. EMS and Morgantown Fire Department responded. EMS transported to Ruby Hospital.
11/20 2:20 p.m. Complainant reported that a child was being disruptive in the library.