ABU Creates Successful Career Path For Students Studying Law Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies to Launch Fall 2015 Alderson Broaddus University is pleased to announce the addition of a new major in Legal Studies. The announcement was made during a press conference held in the Barbour County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. “For the past three years, the Alderson Broaddus University faculty have been hard at work making significant revisions to academic programs and innovating new market driven, 21st century programs,” said Dr. Richard Creehan, president of Alderson Broaddus University. “The new major in Legal Studies is the first announcement of one of these initiatives.” The program will launch next fall, with the recruitment and acceptance of students to begin effective immediately. School officials stated this is the ideal time to begin this program. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in diverse legal careers including arbitration and mediation, as paralegals and legal researchers, or court clerks and administrators are projected to grow between 10% and 17% over the next 10 years,” said Dr. Andrea Bucklew, Dean of ABU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “We will be providing students with a highly marketable degree.” The Legal Studies major at Alderson Broaddus University is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide students with the professional skills and content knowledge necessary for success in law school or in a variety of other legal careers. “We are in an age where college students worry about job prospects and preparation for graduate programming,” said Creehan. “Students and their parents no longer want to hear college officials tell them you can major in anything and still have a career in law. A student today that wants a career in the legal field, regulatory or compliance, or to attend law school, wants the opportunity to begin that skill set during their undergraduate education. We have listened to these families and we are ready to provide this unique and new opportunity.” Dr. Bucklew, who is also an attorney, agrees stating that when she was in college, she was not sure which major would be the best fit for her career path. “There was a time when I, as a young college undergraduate, knew I wanted a career in law, but was unsure of which major would best prepare me for success,” said Bucklew. “Had my university offered a Legal Studies program, my decision would have been much easier. With the launch of the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies at ABU, our future students will not face the same dilemma that I did.” However, some current students at ABU faced this dilemma since Legal Studies was not previously an option. Sophomore Maddie Nickerson is a double major in criminal justice and psychology with interest in attending law school upon her graduation. In 2013 when she made the decision to attend ABU, double majoring seemed the most appropriate path to her career goal of criminal profiling. However, had a Legal Studies major existed at the time, she would have certainly given it strong consideration. “The major in Legal Studies will open the door for incoming freshmen to choose a major that will prepare them for further education or a career in law,” said Nickerson. “Although ABU already has a criminal justice major, Legal Studies will widen the range of opportunity that students can experience, enabling incoming students to better study these areas. I am happy to see the University be responsive to the interests and needs of students and am sure that the new program will be a popular and attractive choice for students.” In addition to a strong foundation in the liberal arts, students enrolled in the Legal Studies major will take courses in legal research and writing, argumentation and logic, legal principles and history, civil rights and liberties, and ethics. Students will also have the opportunity to take specific courses, allowing them to pursue specialized areas of law, to delve into current legal issues, or to better prepare for professional exams. The major culminates with a required internship during the senior year which will allow students to apply their acquired knowledge in real world settings. The University is happy to have the support of so many local offices willing to provide these internship opportunities. Catherine (Kate) Mullens, Esq., a founder and a managing partner of the Philippi law firm of Mullens & Mullens, PLLC, the 19th Judicial Circuit’s largest law firm, spoke at the press conference on behalf of her law firm. She congratulated and applauded ABU, President Creehan, and his staff for implementing the new Legal Studies major. “Understanding the legal system is key to many careers in the local, state, national and international arena,” said Mullens. “The field of law continues to become more specialized, touching on nearly every aspect of our lives. These issues will demand a workforce educated and trained in the law and justice, with proficiency in writing and reading, logical reasoning, analytical and critical thinking, and training in ethics and professionalism at the forefront.” Mullens also stated that in an increasingly complex world and increasingly competitive job market, the focused course of study in Legal Studies at ABU will provide the student with the educational tools necessary to take his or her next step. “As the local law firm in Philippi, we are very pleased and excited for the continued growth of programs at ABU and particularly this program in Legal Studies,” concluded Mullens. Alderson Broaddus University is working on adding more academic initiatives, which will be announced soon. For more information on the Legal Studies program, please visit: ab.edu/legalstudies. Saratoga Farms Food Storage DHS Implements Visitation Restrictions In Hospitals Due To Flu Davis Health System officials have implemented visitation restrictions at Davis Medical Center (DMC) and Broaddus Hospital because of the influenza activity in the region. “Due to the risk to patients and staff, Davis Health System is implementing visitation restrictions for their acute care areas at DMC and Broaddus Hospital as well as Mansfield Place,” said Misti Shine, RN, Infection Preventionist for DMC. The restriction asks that anyone under the age of 12 and anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms refrain from visiting patients. Catherine Schola, RN, Quality Director at Broaddus Hospital said flu-like symptoms may include fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, chest congestion, extreme weakness, runny or stuffy nose, and fatigue. “As an added precaution our emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and physician offices are providing masks at entrances and registration areas,” Schola said. “This is for the protection of the patients as well as for our staff members.” In 2014, Davis Medical Center instituted a facility-wide employee influenza vaccine policy to ensure a safer patient environment. According to Shine, the flu can be contagious 24 hours before the onset of symptoms, and can be spread for a full week after the onset of symptoms, sometimes even longer in children. “Visitors may be exposed to those seeking treatment for the flu. They could also be carriers and contagious without even knowing it. It’s critical at this time that we limit the risk of exposure for everyone, but especially for those who are high-risk to complications from the flu,” said Shine. High-risk patients may include pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, small children, and those with asthma, lung disorders, or diabetes for example. “To protect our children in the community, parents should exercise caution if their child begins to display signs of illness,” said DMC pediatrician Amanda Pennington, MD. “Parents should keep sick children home from school.” “If a child has a fever that lasts more than 72 hours, has difficulty breathing or if they look very ill, they should see their doctor right away. Children who are younger than two or who have chronic medical conditions like asthma should see their physician at the first sign of flu-like symptoms.” Pennington recommended children be fever-free for 24-hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication before returning to school. There are precautions the public can take to protect themselves in fighting the flu. Some measures include: Get a flu shot. Hand hygiene—wash hands frequently. Cover coughs and sneezes. Keep surfaces clean and disinfect them often. Stay home when you are ill to avoid spreading the virus. Emergency departments at both DMC and Broaddus are treating an increased number of patients who have the flu. The West Virginia Health & Human Resources Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology reports a significant increase of influenza activity in WV for the week ending Saturday, December 27, 2014, and has indicated the activity as “widespread” which means that the state has seen an increase in at least half of all regions with laboratory confirmation in affected areas. More information about flu activity in WV is available at the website dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/disease/flu/Pages/default.aspx. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website cdc.gov, offers valuable information about influenza. If you have questions or would like more information about Davis Health System visitation restrictions or influenza, contact Misti Shine, RN, Infection Preventionist (304-637-3450) or Catherine Schola, RN, Quality Director at Broaddus Hospital (304-457-8153). The public may also visit the DHS website at davishealthsystem.org. Legislature To Stream Video Of Floor Proceedings In an ongoing effort to make the legislative process more accessible to the public, both houses of the West Virginia Legislature are being equipped to live stream video of chamber proceedings that can be viewed on most desktop browsers and mobile devices. Senate President Jeff Kessler and House Speaker Tim Miley said cameras are currently being installed in the Senate and House chambers–the culmination of months of research and consultation–and full video streaming of floor sessions should be available midway through the regular legislative session, which begins Wednesday. Over the last several years, Ive worked to increase public accessibility to Senators, as well as create a level of transparency in the legislature that never existed,” President Kessler said. I am a proponent of public involvement in the legislative process. The more information the public has, the better the process works. I look forward to this next step in improving our electronic infrastructure. House Speaker Miley added, “This is a great way to make the legislative process more accessible and approachable to anyone with an interest in our work. It’s also my hope that civics and social studies classrooms across the state will tune in during the legislative session to view the floor sessions and discuss how a bill becomes law.” Both the House and Senate have been streaming audio of their proceedings for several years, and have been incrementally moving forward on improving electronic infrastructure. “We have been considering for some time how to best integrate video with our current audio system, and I am pleased that the House, Senate and Legislative Services were able to collaborate to find the best technology for both houses,” the Speaker said. President Kessler and Speaker Miley said they have updated incoming Senate President Bill Cole and incoming House Speaker Tim Armstead on the project. A link to video will be provided on the Legislature’s web site, legis.state.wv.us. Share| Find more about Weather in Philippi, WV Click for weather forecast Two Arrested For Stealing Four-Wheeler Two men have been arrested on felony grand larceny and nighttime burglary charges following an investigation regarding a stolen four-wheeler. Jeffery A. Wilson, 23, of Philippi, and Hunter Scott Christian, 22, of Bridgeport, were arrested on charges stemming from the investigation of a stolen four-wheeler on Buttermilk Ridge Road in Barbour County. According to the criminal complaint filed at the Barbour County Magistrate Office, Sergeant Bradley A. Miller of the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department interviewed a female who told that Jeffery Wilson and Hunter Christian planned to steal a four-wheeler located on Buttermilk Ridge Road. The interviewed female stated that the group knew about the four-wheeler’s location in the victim’s garage because Christian had allegedly worked on the victim’s farm. The female also told the officer that she drove Wilson and Christian to the location and dropped them off. The report states that the woman then drove down the road to wait for the two men. A while later, Wilson and Christian came down the road on the four-wheeler, according to the criminal complaint. The woman Sergeant Miller interviewed was then allegedly instructed to follow them to the location that the four-wheeler would be stored, which was located on Brushy Fork Road across from Christian’s parents’ home. Following the theft, the victim stated that a second ATV was moved within the garage in addition to the one stolen, but that the second ATV had a flat tire. The victim estimated that the stolen four-wheeler was valued at over $1,000. School Of Music To Present Opera Highlights On Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m., students, faculty, and alumni from Alderson Broaddus University’s School of Music will be presenting “Opera Highlights: An Evening of Opera Scenes.” The hour performance will take place in Wilcox Chapel, and is open to the public with no admission charge. The opera scenes will be sung in English. Scenes from two operas will be presented: Slow Dusk, by American composer Carlisle Floyd, a tragic story of two lovers separated by prejudice and poverty set in the Depression-era South, and La Cenerentola (Cinderella) by Gioachino Rossini, an opera full of comedy and based on the familiar fairy tale. The “Slow Dusk” cast includes seniors Francesca Molinaro, Rachel Tadlock, and Cody Ratliff, plus sophomores Emma Godfrey and Elle Webb, and alum Abe Schoonover. “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) stars junior Ashlan Thompson, with senior Jennifer Wheeler, juniors Mallory Ekberg, Lucus Orndorff, and Ty’Shawn Berkley, alum Tim Tosh, and Asst. Prof. of Music Lewis Hall. Chorus and extras in the casts include senior Cameron Bookman, juniors Jim Vera and Zachary Neville, sophomores Bailey Coleman, Emma Godfrey, Lindsay Heavner, David Humbertson, T.J. Metzger, Avery West, and freshmen Mikayla Dawson, Abbie Rexroad, Cody Siers, Daniel Adamczyk, and Elliott Mihelic. “La Cenerentola” will feature performances by two of the School of Music Quintets: a Woodwind Quintet consisting of seniors Courtney Moore, Kaitlyn Dyer, junior Zackary Neville, sophomore Emma Godfrey, and Assistant Professor of Music Christopher McDerment, and one of the Brass Quintets, with senior Andy Dukich, juniors Adam Gillespie and Clayton Heath, and freshmen Daniel Adamczyk and Elliott Mihelic. Mr. McDerment coaches the Woodwind Quintet and Dr. Timothy DeWitt, Professor of Music, coaches the Brass Quintet. Professor of Music Dr. Judson Bracey arranged the Brass Quintet piece, taken from Rossini’s opera, which will premier at the opera scenes performance. The evening’s shows will be directed and accompanied by Lillian F. Long, Associate Professor of Music at the University. Opera Highlights was begun in 1986 by Professor Long as a way to introduce opera to students, and has been presented biennially ever since. Smith Enters Guilty Plea In Wesleyan Altercation Steven Roderick Smith, 19, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, pleaded guilty to a battery charge on Friday for inflicting a knife wound during a scuffle with West Virginia Wesleyan students in March 2014. The altercation at a West Virginia Wesleyan fraternity house was allegedly between around twenty Wesleyan and nearby Alderson Broaddus University students, where Smith was formerly a student. Smith entered his plea in Upshur County Circuit Court, where Senior Judge John Henning sentenced Smith to 10 days in jail, the time Smith served before posting bond, and also ordered Smith to pay a $100 fine and $2,500 in restitution to the victim.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:26:40 +0000
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