ShootaUte! Men in Tights Shawn Parker Bailey's imaginary friend tells us why carrying guns is a good thing. SEE OPINION, PAGE 8 KlLLA-KOWS- Take a trip through the world of professional wrestling. KI Teresa Kilakowski wowed the Huntsman Center Friday. Gymnast-sensatio- SEE PHOTO ESSAY, PAGE 10 n SEE SPORTS, PAGE 14 The Daily Utah G iRONICLE "The University Tuesday, January 19, 1999 of Utah's Independent Student Voice Since 890" Vol. 108 N0.82 Leavitt: 'Digital Utah' by 2002 the Legislature this session. Even as the regents reconsider the role and mission of each of the nine state colleges and universities, Dixie College is clamoring for status as a four-yecollege. Legislators from the St. George area are even backing a bill to force the state system to let Dixie operate its own upper division courses. Right now, such courses are taught through Southern Utah University, which controls the program's several hundred thousand dollar budget. Leavitt seemed to urge caution and patience. "I believe we must show the discipline necessary to refrain from actions that may seem at the moment to create equity, but in the long run may only memorialize inefficiency," he said. But he told regents to recognize Dixie's desire and need for prompt action. "You must get this job done soon... The world is not waiting for you, and the Utah Legislature cannot wait long either." But by far the bulk of Leavitt's speech focused on slightly younger students. ar LEGISLATIVE REPORT Stephen Spencer Editor in Chief - Puanani Mateaki Chronicle News Writer "I would like to propose an initiative of proportions," said Governor Michael Leavitt of his desire for Utah to become "digital" in his state of the state address Monday. To accomplish this, the governor focused on "Webtone," a way to access the Internet "at speeds 100 times faster than we have today." As one of the benefits of Webtone, the governor said "a college class in every kitchen is achievable." This melding of technology and higher education was one of the "difficult questions" Leavitt said the Utah State Board of Regents is facing. The Regents are halfway through a revision of the master plan for the entire state system. Besides the perennial issue of balancing research and teaching, the governor also touched on a hot issue facing shoot-the-mo- The governor called public educa- tion, "our most challenging of priorities." "This reading initiative is the centerpiece of an aggressive education agenda," read Kaylee Ann, one of four live visual aids used by the governor throughout his address. To counter this literacy challenge, the governor proposes testing. He wants to test each first, second and third grader. Students who arc behind would be enrolled in 30 extra days of summer school in classes no larger than seven students. He also proposes a general competency test for 10th graders. The test would focus on reading, writing, math and technology and would be a graduation requirement. Leavitt also wants a higher standard for the Olympics. "Let the gift for which Utah is most the be remembered returning Olympics to the athletes," he said. "Every Utahn feels the sting of a scandal that has diminished a great movement and poisoned, for now, the wellspring of excitement and pride we felt upon becoming an Olympic host," he said. He encouraged the entire Olympic family to return the games to "athleticism and altruism rather than money and materialism." Democratic leaders hardly touched on the Olympic scandal during a prerecorded response. Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, Lake, spoke from a horse in opening and closing the response, which followed House Minority Leader Dave Jones, Lake, on a road trip to look at the problems the Democrats planned to solve. Much of the response talked about how the Democrats agreed with much of the governor's priorities. But the Democratic leaders came out strong against Leavitt's pet project, the D-S- D-S- . .... v Gov. Mike Leavitt gave the state of the state address to the Legislature Monday. Legacy Parkway, saying that improving in Davis County would be enough. Jones also expressed worry over Utah's increasing crime rate and Utah kids' decreasing test scores. The one comment Jones made about the Olympics was also used as a chance to jab the huge Republican majority in the Utah Legislature. After ascribing, at least in part, the problems of the Salt Lake Organizing meetCommittee to their closed-doo- r if he asked citizens ing policy, they wanted the state's business decided behind closed doors. The policies of the Republican party which often become state law because of the majority arc routinely worked out in closed Republican caucus meetings. m J . - sx- - m 1 h r 19- 'ftp. USING YOUR HEAD: A New Mexico skier goes headprst through a gate during Sunday's ski meet at Park City. See page 15 for ski coverage. THE DAILY UTAH ONLINE CHRONICLE IS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT WWW.chrOIliclc.U.t3.h.cd.U.