The student fans at WVU are among the best in the nation – in fact, so good the student cheering section was just named the 3rd best in the nation by ESPN magazine.

I’m so excited about this football season, soccer season, and basketball season. James Bailey, the director of the Maniacs, is doing a great job and we’re only going to get even better as our football program continues to grow with our great coach, Bill Stewart.

Let’s continue to go to the games and cheer on the team! Be sure to go in early and show the opposing teams what a strong student section we have. It’s important that we have the student section filled before the opposing team takes the field. Also – be sure to stay for the whole game; we have to continue moving up to the number #1 section in the nation. It takes all of us for the WVU team to be the best it can be.

So thanks to the Maniacs for doing such a great job and for their leadership for leading the way.

The Fiesta Bowl victory when the whole nation thought we couldn’t do it or maybe the triple overtime win over Louisville my freshman year stick out as my most memorable Mountaineer game day experiences.

Share your favorite Mountaineer game day story….

Forty five years ago today, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the memorial in Washington, DC paying tribute to the president who ended slavery – Abraham Lincoln – to deliver the infamous “I Have a Dream?” speech. Delivered during the height of racial tension in the 1960s, King’s speech called for an America where “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Now, forty five years later, a black man prepares to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States. In many ways, Barack Obama transcends race and has an uncanny ability to inspire a nation to believe – just as King did – at a time when we need it most.

I was a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter in the Primary and now support Obama. I truly believe America needs a new direction. But, whatever your politics are – if you are Republican like a large part of my family or if you’ve been an Obama supporter all along, this is a remarkable moment for all of us.

Bill Clinton, in elevating to the presidency, did a lot to break down barriers and said to the nation that even a boy from Hope can be President of the United States – and now Barack Obama, by accepting the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States, truly makes it possible for every young boy and girl – regardless of race or creed – to be anything they want to be in America.

WVU has helped so many launch their dreams and it will help us to launch ours too and regardless of your politics, Barack Obama’s nomination and Hillary Clinton’s candidacy has paved the way for so many more Americans to reach their dreams.

Whether you are Republican or Democrat, a McCain or Obama supporter, you must admit it is quite remarkable that tonight – the hope for a better tomorrow is alive and well – as a black man accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party on the 45th anniversary of King’s historic speech.

Tonight, we should all be proud of the progress of the past 45 years – and be hopeful about the progress yet to come.

I just celebrated my 21st birthday on July 31st. Officially able to have a beer legally. From the time most of us turn 18, we always say “We should be allowed to drink at 18.” And, then the long 3 years go by before we are 21.
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Age Drinking Act, which required withholding 10% of a state’s federal highway appropriations if a state were to lower the drinking age below 21. Now, today many are saying that law needs to be revisited and the call is coming from an unlikely place college and university presidents.
A group of over 100 college and universities presidents from across the country who are part of the Amethyst Initiative have endorsed lowering the drinking age to 18. The Amethyst Initiative statement make the argument that “a culture of dangerous, clandestine “binge-drinking” often conducted off-campus has developed. Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in significant constructive behavioral change among our students. Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer. By choosing to use fake IDs, students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.”
The group further calls upon lawmakers to “support an informed and dispassionate public debate over the effects of the 21 year-old drinking age.
To consider whether the 10% highway fund “incentive” encourages or inhibits that debate.
To invite new ideas about the best ways to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol.”
Our peers are bravely fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, voting to elect our leaders, being called upon to serve on juries. Should those between 18-21 be allowed to legally purchase alcohol?
I think an open debate on lowering the drinking age is worthy and I think the 100 college and university presidents who have signed on to the Amethyst Initiative are on to something. It’s time to revisit this issue and have a meaningful discussion on whether or not the drinking age should be lowered.
What are you thoughts?

Welcome to another exciting year at WVU! As we begin a new year, we have much to look forward to – an exciting football season, Fall Fest and Fan Fest, new and challenging classes, connecting with old friends and making new ones.
I want to use my blog to continue to lead the discussion with you – a discussion about our University, the issues we face as students, the next football game, the exciting election between Obama and McCain that is coming up, and all of the ways SGA is speaking up on your behalf.
Today, I’ve been helping new students move in. It’s been wonderful to meet so many great Mountaineers. One of the most special things about our University is the sense of community we have and the pride we all have in our University. Parents, new students, grandparents, everyone everywhere today seems to be wearing the flying WV.
As we begin the year, I encourage you to get involved on campus. Speak up on issues large and small. Become a part of the discussion. And get involved in the community. SGA has a partnership with the Center for Civic Engagement and I encourage you to find ways to give back to our community.
I am excited for another year. SGA is always here for you – to listen to your voice and to work hard to deliver real solutions. I’m committed to working hard on the issues important to all of us – transportation and safety, off campus living, and others. I hope to see you at Fall Fest on Monday night – and if you see me on campus, be sure to say hi. So, to get the discussion going – What are your first impressions of campus? What issues are most important to you now? What are you most excited about for this semester?

There are so many issues important to all of us as students. As students and as your student government, we want you to “speak up” on issues important to you. On a wide range of issues – from off campus living conditions, to our student union, to safety – all of us have ideas that can make a difference. SGA has launched a new program called “Speak UP” to encourage all students to stand up and speak up on issues important to all of us. We want to have a conversation about the challenges we all face as students and to find solutions. On anything from student game seating, to the menu options in the dorms, to how we can make the bus line more efficient – we want you to speak up. Log onto the Student Government web site to visit the open thread blogs to post your thoughts or e-mail us your ideas and thoughts to the SGA e-mail account or you can e-mail me directly or Milisa Cutlip. Come to an SGA meeting or feel free to stop by our office, or drop us a Facebook message. We want you to Speak UP on the issues important to you and be heard.

Jason Parsons
Student Body President

Milisa Cutlip
Student Body Vice President