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Show WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8 - DIXIESUNNEWS.COM 7, 25 Lamp Fest aims to support local charities dents on campus, Beacco said. Big Brothers Big EmilyHavensDSN Sisters is a great organization where students our age can really make an impact Eclectic lamps, rice crispy in the community and help k music treats, and children who need someone all have at least one thing in to look up to. common Shaelie Knutson, a DSU lamp fest. Students, community alumna and mentor at Big members and local musiBrothers Big Sisters, said cians gathered at lamp fest there is an extreme need for mentors in the St. George Thursday night. Lamp fest, an event sponsored each area. She brought her lit semester by the Dixie State tle on stage with her and AssociaStudent said how much being a big University tions service branch, aims sister has changed her life. to raise money for local My little mentors me than I mentor her, she more organizations. This semester, Big Brothsaid. ers Big Sisters of America A donation jar was passed was the organization of around the crowd as several choice. bands played. Refreshments A different organization is were served while students chosen each semester, and mingled in the amphithethis lamp fest was especially ater under the dim light of important for Sarah Beacco, several lamps. service leader youth support Dillon McKinney, vice and a junior integrated studpresident of service for ies major from St. George, DSUS A and a junior math because she deals with major from St. George, said organizations that specifilamp fest was started by a cally benefit the youth in St. student about five years ago George. as a way to raise money for Lamp fest is a great way local charities while also to bring awareness to stu- k feel. creating a BY EMILY rt HAVENS a- - S- - pi , ;y W V. f V: i A laid-bac- laid-bac- t j "" r y - r i ; t ry ? ?'' ' t , L . Z J The audience at Lamp Fest watches as local musician Thomas Anderson performs to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America The Dixie State University Student Association's service branch picks a local organzation each semester to raise money for McKinney said Knutson approached the service branch and asked if the concert could raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We were happy to oblige because it creates a better relationship between the organization and the university while helping children out and helping to give them what they need, he said. Although there was some confusion at first about what lamp fest actually was, McKinney said its turnout has been steadily growing each year. Thomas Anderson, a local musician who played a uku college. Its a great atmo-- ! sphere, and its a lot of fun McKinney said although the event is fun and meant to entertain students, its truly more about the chmii For me, it means that we can still have fun, but we can also do good in the world, he said. lele and sang at this years lamp fest, said when he was approached by Beacco and asked to play, he said yes because he wanted to support the cause. I love playing music, and I love supporting the cause here, Anderson said. Its great performing at the China excursion offers new experiences for students, community money. It irritates me that people try to nickel and dime the students, Anderson said. Anderson works with Cathy Cao, an economics professor from China, to help cut the costs. Cao, who visited and taught at DSU for one semester, negotiates all the prices for the trip. Anderson said she wont settle until she gets the price shes after. The price for the y excursion is $3,460 and the price for the y excursion is $2,960. The trip expense covers lodging, tours, admission fees, transportation and airfare. The transportation taken is a big way this trip tries to immerse people in the culture. Anderson arranged the trip so you see as an average Chinese person, said Rachel Synder, a senior elementary education major from St. George and student who went on the trip last summer. . The trips Both excursions start 16-da- 12-da- Dixie end State University is offering two excursions Xian in May 201 6 in BY CANDY ROLAND to China. The trips start out I just want to share the experience, Anderson cassandrarolDSN said. Anderson has led study abroad trips to Russia for 12 years and traveled to multiple countries, but he said China is more exciting than any of them. China has 5,000 years of history we dont have, Anderson said. Dixie State University is offering two tuition free excursions in May to China, but the trips are not only offered to students. These excursions are called cultural exchanges, business professor Verl Anderson said. They have slightly different emphasis from the study abroad trips. Cultural exchanges dont require a class to be taken, and not everyone who participates has to be enrolled at DSU. Andersons passion for China, the culture and the experience he has found there has driven him to create a unique and inexpensive trip for students and community members. Anderson recognized in Bemnq and on the first trip that not everybody cares about earning class credit. Nineteen people went on the first trip consisting of 17 teachers and two students. Anderson didnt want the extra cost of tuition to be the reason why people didnt or couldnt go, so he made the choice optional. Students can still receive three business credits if desired. Another reason the trip is so inexpensive is because Anderson chose to not make any profit on the trip. He said the purpose of the trip isnt to make and end the same way, but each is filled a little differently in the middle almost like a box of chocolates. The trips start out in Beijing and end in Xian. Anderson said both Bei jing and Xian are richer in culture compared to Shanghai, which Anderson said is just a big city. The trip stops at the Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, a kungfu show, Old Nanluo Lane, and Tian An Men Square. The first and the longest trip is filled with a five-stcruise up the Yangtze River with six stops along the way, one of them being the Three Gorges Dam. The second trip is filled with a hike up Mount Tai and rafting down the Stalactite cave. The trip may be a few days shorter, but Anderson said Mount Tai is comparable to the cruise. Mount Tai is where every Chinese person wants to go at least once in their life, Anderson said. Both trips end in Xian visiting the Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Tang Dynasty Show, Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Hui Market Street, and a dumpling dinner. What students should expect Outside of the expense, students need to plan to pay for a traveling visa, food, and of course a bit of extra money to bring back souvenirs. Anderson said food shouldnt be more than $125 for the whole trip. Tourists can eat in restaurants for $2 to $3. He also said more often than not the language barrier isnt a problem, and most Chinese learn to speak English at a young Ream, a junior geology major from St. George, went on the trip last summer and said the trip was extraordinary and age-Jackso- ar life-alterin- g. I dont have just the American way of doing things anymore, Ream said. Synder encourages people to travel abroad, and said the trip opened her eyes to how China really is and not just how the American media paint' it. Its important for us to have that experience in any country that we visit, Synder said. B Students interested in either trip should contact Verl Anderson at verl dixie.edu or The trips are first come first serve and will be capped at 50 people. Ne The first payment is due Jan. 22. Of Anderson said he believes every spot will be Sp filled by You wont have a betFe ter trip anywhere in the world, Anderson said. I 0. mid-Octob- A i Ty fr - i -i- . mRciieS -- ri LA: V . - , k A 1 Buy One iU n r - ' F3 U. ' - . 'i . i ,. u ji y- -i a i ji f - " - I.D. all day OF . Get One wstudent 7 HTTjV 2014 2015 J Friday October 9th 1 1 AM - AAid night Our location on the blvd 7th jreeyogurt up to ,0 ounces - Cannot be coined wh any otL offer FREE! |