Harris’ VP inauguration inspi- Self-Swabbing for COVID-19 a Emery Martinez developing into rational for Alpha Kappa Alpha new option at WVU formidable post player sisters p. 3 p. 5 p. 9 @DailyAthenaeum Th e Daily Athenaeum dailyathenaeum [email protected] WVU’s Independent Student Newspaper THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2021 www.thedaonline.com Pandemic unable to stop Greek life; recruitment numbers rise BY LARA BONATESTA to work with our Big 12 counterparts the Greek experience in general and STAFF WRITER and learn from them.” realize that we still can exist without According to Richardson, 377 formal social events functioning and WVU’s Greek organizations are in women registered for Panhellenic happening,” Richardson said. the midst of spring recruitment, and recruitment — about 40 more than Richardson also emphasized that this is the fi rst primary recruitment last spring. there is a place in Greek life for any season to take place in an all-virtual Due to the ongoing pandemic, student who desires to take part. Th e setting. Greek organizations have had to diff erent types of Greek organizations According to Matthew Richardson, adapt to the need for social dis- that WVU has to off er includes the In- director of the Center for Fraternal tancing by holding online events for terfraternity Council, which consists Values and Leadership, recruitment both recruitment and new member of traditional fraternities, the Pan- numbers from fall 2019 to fall 2020 education. hellenic Association, which consists are up more than 120%. Richardson Joanna Switala, a junior political of traditional sororities, the National believes this infl ux of membership science and religious studies stu- Pan-Hellenic Council, as well as pro- comes from students’ desire to be dent, said that her sorority, Omega fessional fraternities and sororities. more involved during the pandemic. Phi Alpha, plans to hold each of their PHOTO BY DUNCAN SLADE “If you want to have a place in He said that membership increases recruitment nights, including in- Sisters of Alpha Phi dance behind the Mountainlair on Bid Day, Feb. 2, 2020. Greek life, I fi rmly believe that there are not happening nationwide, and formation, sisterhood, service and in- “It was kind of like a game show, at the end.” is a place somewhere for you, so you pointed out the benefi ts of holding terview night, will be held over Zoom. where it was guess who your big is, Richardson said that while the can be your most authentic self and primary recruitment in the spring. Switala also said that some of the and there were three or four of us as, pandemic has made it hard to gather, live your truth, and that’ll be cel- “Everyone else has their primary sorority’s other traditions, including we all had our camera’s off , and we it revealed the possibility of virtual re- ebrated in our community some- recruitment in the fall,” Richardson big little reveals, are also taking place didn’t have our names on there,” Swi- cruitment and the existence of Greek where,” Richardson said. said. “Well in the fall, there wasn’t virtually. Switala named one virtual tala said. “[Th e little] would ask ques- life online. Students that are interested in a lot of time to plan for virtual and big little reveal as one of her favorite tions, and we would all answer and “I think that this has really made us joining can fi nd more information at things like that, so we’ve been able sorority memories. she’d have to guess who her big was take a few steps back and think about the WVU Greek life website Panda Express nears opening in Mountainlair BY CHRISTINA RUFO new, mainstream option. Mountainlair, making it more acces- “We have heard nothing but posi- sible to all students with meal plans STAFF WRITER tive feedback for the incoming Panda on campus. Express,” Peden said. “It’s a well- Freshman Bri Myers has been long After some delay, Panda Express is known brand with a good following, awaiting the grand opening of the scheduled to open in the Mountain- and we think the WVU community new on-campus dining option. lair by the beginning of March. will enjoy its addition to the Moun- “I’m actually super excited for the While the original opening date tainlair food court.” Panda Express in the Mountainlair,” was postponed due to some COVID- Th e new eatery will be taking the Myers said. “I love Asian food and 19-related issues, according to Tif- spot of Burgershop, a burger restau- there are a ton of great Asian food fany Peden, communications and HR rant located next to Chick-Fil-A. It places on campus, but none that take manager for WVU Dining Services, will join the Mountainlair’s host of Dining Dollars, at least until now.” the staff is working through these off erings including Which Wich, Tazi- Th e staff plans to have many open- issues to ensure a safe and timely ki’s and Blue Tomato. ing week specials, which will be an- opening. Panda Express will accept Dining nounced closer to the opening date. Since being announced last sum- Dollars, Mounty Bounty and regular See Mountainlair page 4 PHOTO BY SETH SEEBAUGH mer, excitement has been high for the cash and cards like all takeouts in the Panda Express will replace Burgershop in the Mountainlair. Chateau Royale Apartments NOWNOW LEASING!LEASING! Office Hours: Mon - Thur 8am - 7pm Fri 8am - 5pm Sat 10am - 4pm Sun 12pm - 4pm Located near the WVU Football stadium, Health Science Center, Ruby Memorial Hospital, Evansdale & Downtown Campus. Rates as low as $350.00! (304)599-7474(304)599-7474 Chateauroyaleapartments.com 2 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2021 WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENTS dailyathenaeum FRIDAY 2/5 Staff MORNING SNOW SHOWERS Hannah Petronek HIGH 40° LOW 23° WVU’s INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER WVU parties are broken up with more force. remember SATURDAY 2/6 snow day on Spruce Street? yeah NEWS PARTLY CLOUDY Jared Serre HIGH 34° LOW 21° Editor-in-Chief Cole McClanahan Name a place with tighter security than the Capitol. RIGHT answers only. Managing Editor Patrick Orsagos Digital Managing Editor SUNDAY 2/7 Caroline Murphy Layout Design Chief MORNING SNOW SHOWERS Annika Godwin HIGH 32° LOW 18° Layout Designer Charles Montgomery Sports Editor Nick Kremer Assistant Sports Editor Vannah Lusk Raeanne Beckner Culture Editor CRIME REPORT Craig Weimer One of the strangest coping mechanisms I’ve developed Assistant Culture Editor Emily Rexroad College Park is clearing my mind and only thinking of DQ’s gravy. Opinion Editor JAN. 31 Abby Smith 5:47 p.m. | Citation Disturbance. Podcast Manager WVU Dadisman Hall No stress, only good vibes and gravy. Trenton Straight Drug Incident. FEB. 1 Video Manager 4:32 p.m. | Investigations Duncan Slade JAN. 31 WVU Wise Library Photo Manager 7:31 p.m. | Citation Suspicious Event. University Place North Drug Incident. FEB. 1 ADVERTISING 6:25 p.m. | Resolved Jillian Catalano JAN. 31 WVU Law School Media Consultant 8:05 p.m. | Citation Trespassing. Jordan Coddington University Park Apartments Media Consultant Parking Complaint. FEB. 1 Tristan Haley 8:39 p.m. | Resolved Media Consultant JAN. 31 University Park Apartments black poncho boy Sydney Harris 9:19 p.m. | Warning Drug Incident. Media Consultant University Ave. / Eighth St. Raymond Lapoint Media Consultant Traffi c Stop. FEB. 1 i posted sumn on linkedin for the fi rst time today and i 9:33 p.m. | Resolved Olivia Mace Cornell Ave. / College Ave. was thinking like Media Consultant JAN. 31 Kaylie McGraw 9:31 p.m. | Resolved Destruction of Property. Media Consultant Amanda Reh * people really be on this app yo* Media Consultant Th e DA is student-run and editorially Sarah Stanford Media Consultant independent from West Virginia University. Rylan Toledo Media Consultant All content decisions in the DA are made by Nicolas Uribe students without prior review by the Media Consultant University. 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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2021 NEWS 3 Harris’ VP inauguration inspirational for WVU’s Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters than that.” BY SADAF NIKZAD Camryn Pressley, another STAFF WRITER sister of AKA, said Harris’ ini- tial run for president showed On Jan. 20, Kamala Harris herself and other AKA mem- made history when she was in- bers that girls anywhere can augurated as the fi rst female do anything, no matter their Vice President of the United skin color. States, as well as the fi rst Af- “Th e initial run for presi- rican American and Asian dent was very important to American to hold the offi ce. us,” Pressley said. “It showed Harris is an alumna of How- us that as members and sisters ard University and was a sister of the fi rst historically black of Alpha Kappa Alpha during sorority created in the world her time as an undergraduate that we will always be fi rst.” student. Alpha Kappa Alpha is Although the sisters the fi rst intercollegiate histori- couldn’t watch the inaugura- cally African American soror- tion together due to COVID-19 ity and was founded at How- and quarantining, they still ard in the early 20th century.