The Daily Athenaeum Interactive

The number war
The next year might be an ending, but will hopefully be a new beginning

he new millennium is fast approaching. Or is it?
With the year 2000 nipping at our heels, the most important concern on everyone’s mind isn’t Y2K. And it isn’t whether or not we will ever get used to writing 00 as the year.
FULL EDITORIAL

In loving memory of Chad A. Burgoyne

Aug. 3, 1978 — Nov. 24, 1999
You’ll be remembered by many and forgotten by none
Your smile, your singing, the good times and fun.
The friend that you were, the songs that you played,
Our memory and love for you will never fade.
Rides in the Prelude, the way you said hello,
Your caring and love made your friendships grow.
With God you shine from heaven above.
Please know that with you goes our love.

Love, all of your friends

Bush --- candidate or puppet?
George W.’s campaign is based on advice, not experience

ov. George W. Bush of Texas has an engaging, low-key manner, so when he made his radical proposal for Social Security reform over the weekend, hardly anyone paid attention.
FULL EDITORIAL

Coal is important to West Virginia’s economy and life It is Dec. 13 and you wake up for your 8 a.m. final at 9 a.m. because your alarm clock didn't go off. You get out of bed freezing because there is no heat in your apartment. You stumble over to the door and flip the light switch, but no lights come on.
You run to campus because the PRT is shut down. After the professor tells you that you received an F in the course, you decide to go to the ’Lair to check your e-mail, but the computers are all off.
This is how a day would go by if West Virginia didn't mine coal.
The coal industry is in a competitive world market. Asian and South American countries pay their workforce next to nothing to produce the same amount of coal as the United States. These countries are under-selling the U.S. This makes it essential that we use technology to mine coal as economically as possible.
If MTR valley fills were banned the price of coal would definitely rise, and you would end up paying for the price increase through electric bills.
Judge Haden's recent ruling has not only affected surface mining operations, but also underground operations. Material must be excavated to create room for the surface facilities required by an underground mine. This material must be placed in nearby valleys to create flat land and access to the underground mine. Since Judge Haden ruling has banned the use of valley fills, essentially all future underground mining prospects have been eliminated.
Students need to realize thousands of jobs could be lost because of what they are preaching about. Many of the small rural towns will become ghost towns.
Coal is a non-renewable resource. So West Virginia must be prepared to continue development and growth once all the reserves are gone. A good economy is built with good roads and attractive locations for businesses to move.
The Morgantown Mall is a perfect example of a MTR project. The next time you drive down I-79, take a look around Flatwoods and tell me what you think. Ninety-nine percent of West Virginia electricity comes from coal. Less than 2 percent of West Virginia has been affected from MTR. There is absolutely no sign of long term damage to the environment by constructing MTR valley fills.
L.D. Emerson submitted a thorough report on MTR in the 1999 Proceedings of Mining and Reclamation for the Next Millennium. This report gives factual data that states valley fills do not have a substantial impact on the environment or cause any harm.
Enough with the complaining. Try to construct an argument against MTR based on scientific proof and not opinion. If you don't agree with MTR, then unplug your computer, turn out the lights and get a blanket. To put an end to MTR will only hurt one of the least economically developed states in America.
    Chad Mooney and Doug Fala, WVU mining engineers

Share your love and wealth this holiday season When you were a child, did you ever go outside to play with your friends and you wore a threadbare coat that wasn’t very warm while your friends were wearing new warm coats? Have you ever went back to school after Christmas and all your friends were showing off their new toys and you couldn’t because your parents couldn’t afford to buy you any? This happens to some children every year, and it hurts because you don’t understand why other chidren have these things and you don’t.
I know this pain, because I have felt it. I grew up in children’s homes and state institutions and the only gifts I received at Christmas time were donated by people with hearts of compassion.
You can be one of those people with a heart of compassion. So, as you celebrate Christmas, give up that 12 pack of beer and the pizza and instead buy a toy or some warm clothes for a child’s Christmas. And all during Christmas you can feel really good every time you see the children smile. If you would like to give the gift of happiness to a child, here is where you can go to give a gift or make a donation:
The Salvation Army
Adopt a Family
Contact Captain Carolyn Mallard
296-3525

Warm Hearts — Warm Hands
Dropoff points for coats, hats and gloves
One Vally Bank, Dominion Post

Christian Help
219 Walnut St.
Toys, hats, coats, gloves and food

Catholic Community Service
Room 208 Mon Building (next to courthouse)
toys, food

The Mountainlair will collect for Toys for Tots on the following dates:
December 7, 5-8 p.m.
December 8, 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

William L. Patchette

Voice your opinion today! Send e-mail to lplacek@wvu.edu

"Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity."