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Show Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Page 10 VieW Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com OurView Lessons learned'• You spoke, they listened 0 n Monday, the faculty senate was presented with a revised version of Common Hour. The changes can be found in detail elsewhere in this paper but we wanted to express our appreciation to those involved in this monumental endeavor. Altering the fundamental structure of USU's scheduling is no easy task. There are many moving parts and considerations involved. A few months ago we expressed our support for the Common Hour with the caveat that twice a week at noon may not be the perfect fit. We were not alone in our reticence. Students and faculty alike voiced their concerns and they were not only heard, but an impressive compromise has now been introduced. We thank the Common Hour planners for their sincere consideration of student and faculty concerns. We applaud them for their dedication to reaching a solution and we state once again that the goals entrenched in Common Hour are worthwhile ends to reach for. The students are also deserving of applause. The initial reaction to Common Hour was overwhelmingly negative but the important thing is that there was a reaction. Similar to the way Utahns organized to express their concerns on HB 477, Aggies were vocal in their support and opposition of a twice-weekly Common Hour. Whether you agree or disagree with the masses it is inspiring to see so many individuals take a stand on policy that affects them. What's more, this was not an isolated incident. All year long USU students have taken an active role in public debate. This year we saw record voter turnout at our ASUSU elections. We saw public outcry - for good and ill - following high profile events like B.J. Novak and The HOWL. At The Statesman we saw an unusually high number of letters to the editor and online commenting on our opinion columns. We were able to include a number of guest columns from members of the student body and faculty. It is always tempting to remain silent under the guise that one voice achieves nothing. We disagree, we see this year as proof that the dialogue can take place at USU. Our student leaders and administrators are listening, eager for the input of the student body. Keep speaking; our school and our community are the better for it. An Aggie Fest for the rest of us At the end of any given school year we have the opportunity to look back. Occasionally, one takes the opportunity to look ahead and see what can be done better for the upcoming school year. I personally want to be a betTYLER BARLOW ter student. My desires are to better manage my time and money and get the most out of my college experience while still keeping my education the priority. This is a lofty goal, and it is one that I assume to be sharing with many of you. These last two weeks will be marked with big events to celebrate a generally successful semester. Last week we witnessed not one, but two True Aggie nights, the annual blue and white spring football game, and a very successful Day on the Quad despite some wind and poor ping pong ball aiming by the sky divers. This week will favor us with a comedy show Wednesday, a movie on Old Main hill Thursday night and the main event of Aggie Fest on Friday. This main event will consist of the much anticipated - I assume - announcement of the new name for 700 North, followed by a performance by Sean Kingston, yet another somewhat recognizable name to grace our campus. On paper, this looks to be one of the better planned events of the year. Looking back, one of the events that worked the most was the initial street concert featuring The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. While most people ran off after they performed their singular hit "Face Down," it was an enormous success as far as attendance and ease of mobility. I mention this ease of mobility in contrast to the muchmaligned HOWL - which somehow ranked second for achievement of the year at the Robins awards - as it was nearly impossible to enter the event, and the acoustics for the live bands rattled the brains of those that were lucky to get in. Naturally holding an outdoor concert in the street around Halloween time is impossible, but there are better options. Of course there were other events that failed to gain traction with the student body and are generally viewed as failures. BJ Novak's name will go down in the history of USU as a hiss and N - The 'Low Down ;14 I See PARTY, page 12 ForumLetters Columnist was out of line To the editor: I am writing in response to what I believe was supposed to be an opinion piece about both the common hour and the moving of a billiards class. I say supposed to be, because the author got a little off topic. Instead of expounding on his arguments, he decided that it was a better idea to resort to insults of those who do not share his views. I have noticed that the editor of this paper has allowed the opinion section to become a bit too much like an episode of TMZ. The author of this article also wrote one in which he blasted the women of this campus, I believe that there is no place for that kind of misogyny in an academic setting (or anywhere in this century). This paper has also been remiss in discussing the cornmon hour from both sides. We come to university, not just to get a degree, but to become better citizens. Our time here is spent in developing critical thinking skills, and improving our understanding of the world and our place in it. I have seen many students as well as members of the community who have received great benefit from the lectures that are presented at this campus. I am a political science major and English/family development minor, and have found guest lecturers to be beneficial in understanding my major and minors. These lectures are put on by professors in every school on campus; our professors believe in them and want us to attend. I would like to close by offering an apology to those persons who were attacked at the end of his article. To those students studying physical education, athletes, vegetarians, women and men who take fitness classes, smokers, guest lecturers, students and faculty who go to guest lectures and to members of this man's faith who were ill-represented by his comments. There is no harm in celebrating and accommodating diversity. On the other hand, there is great harm in embracing the idea of majority rule. I am proud of the diversity on this campus, and firmly believe that all students should be as well. Aaron Timm Kappa Delta cares To the editor: On behalf of the Child & Family Support Center, I would like to thank Kappa Delta Sorority for planning and implementing their highly successful "Shamrock" event. 100 percent of the proceeds generated from the event are donated to help prevent child abuse. A Shamrock planning team, lead by Sarah Blakely, Kappa Delta Vice President of Community Service, expanded efforts this year to include three separate events including a service auction, pancake breakfast and carnival. The Child & Family Support Center, our local non-profit child abuse prevention agency is the proud recipient of 80 percent of proceeds from the event. Prevent Child Abuse America, founded by a Kappa Delta, received the other 20 percent. The Child & Family Support Center will use donated funds to help support our 24-hour crisis hotline and 24-hour crisis/ respite nursery available to all parents in our community. Thank you Kappa Delta for working to improve the lives of the children in Cache Valley. Thank you for making a difference! Esterlee Molyneux Optional final tests application To the editor: There have been concerns raised recently in The Utah Statesman about the way we are preparing our students for life after graduation. Some were aimed at a class I teach that gives students the opportunity to raise money for our Small Enterprise Education and Development Program or SEED. The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Letters to the editor • A public forum sends students to Africa and South America where they give struggling entrepreneurs the training they will need to succeed. The students raise the money that funds small loans to qualified candidates. There are various ways to test students to find out if they have mastered the basics of a class. Most are familiar with the approach that quizzes students in a multiple-choice format to see if they can remember facts or principles from a textbook. Others test by asking students to write essays or work on projects together. In my class, when it comes to the final, I give them a choice. They can take a traditional final or they can demonstrate to me that they know how to apply the principles they've learned in the class. While some may not be used to this kind of approach, at the Huntsman School of Business we work with a cut of students who are driven to apply what they have learned. So, in my class, we give them the option of orchestrating a fundraising campaign and I tell them that if they can deliver the results and do it by applying the principles they have learned, they can skip the final. Many students do opt to take this approach which only raises the stakes for all because each group ends up competing at the same time for the limited resources of those who might contribute. It's a process that demands leadership, teamwork, quick-thinking, innovation, reengineering and hard work. If they don't meet the course requirements, they won't be earning an "A," even if they found a way to come up with lots of money. This does mean, however, that some students won't be shading in little circles come final time. I have started several successful businesses and I can tell you that the real testing takes place once our students enter the workplace. We don't see preparing them for life after graduation as "cheating a system" but, instead, investing in our students. They are worth it. David Herrmann Thank you, and goodnight I started the year by encouraging everyone to take an active role in gathering information about BENJAMIN WOOD the decisions being made here at USU and the things the university and Logan have to offer. I would be remiss to not reiterate that challenge. Pick up a Statesman, Herald Journal or one of our many Utah-based newspapers. Attend a meeting of ASUSU, the faculty senate or the board of trustees. Join a club. Or, simply be curious and ask questions. You can't always believe hearsay, nor should you, but all information starts with a conversation. With the end approaching, I feel the need to acknowledge specific individuals and groups that contributed to wonderful years at USU. It takes a whole village to raise a child and in my case, it takes a whole city to educate a jaded cynic. So, in no particular order I would like to thank: Stan Albrecht and James Morales - I do not mean to imply the other members of the USU administration are undeserving of thanks, but merely that Albrecht and Morales are the two I've had the pleasure of working with the most. In every instance, they have proved approachable, eager to assist, and sincere in their desire to make a positive learning environment for students. Lee's Marketplace - I've lived on 9th North for the last three years, which gives Lee's a proximity advantage. Even without that, though, I still think I would drive out of my way to shop there. Lee's has, in my From the Chief opinion, the best atmosphere and service of any grocery store in Logan. Plus, they have great deals and I am not a fan of value cards and self-checkout lanes, two things Lee's does not have. Cacilda Rego, Carol McNamara and Nancy Williams - Overall, my experience with USU faculty has been overwhelmingly positive. If I could, I would list every professor I've ever had but for the sake of brevity I would like to specifically thank these three individuals - all from different departments - for taking a personal interest in my education and creating an open and engaging learning environment. Tyler Tolson - for being everything the president of ASUSU should be. Twice. Citrus and Sage - for being the best place to hang out in Logan. It broke my heart when they closed up shop a few years ago, but now they've reopened better than ever with a crepery to boot. Not a coffee drinker? They've got steamers and Italian sodas and a little slice of heaven called The Pixie, check it out. John Mortensen and John DeVilbiss - The Statesman pesters these two gentlemen constantly and every time they are open and offer great information. Men like these make my job easy. S.E. Needham Jewelers - from T-shirts to athletic schedules, the Needham family constantly unloads swag on USU students. Besides that, brothers Gene and Joe are key members of the Logan Downtown Alliance - the entity behind events like the Gallery Art Walk - and just plain classy guys. You would be hard-pressed to find a family I See END, page 12 Aboutik Editor in Chief Benjamin C. Wood Copy Editor Chelsey Gensel News Editor Catherine Meidell Assistant News Editor Megan Bainum Features Editor Kellyn Neumann Assistant Features Editor Kasey Van Dyke Sports Editor Matt Sonnenberg Assistant Sports Editor Tyler Huskinson Photo Editor Carl R. Wilson Assistant Photo Editor Alison Ostler Web Editor Rob Jepson Editorial Board Benjamin C. Wood Catherine Meidell Kellyn Neumann Matt Sonnenberg Chelsey Gensel Rob Jepson About letters • Letters should be limited to 400 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or email address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. • Letters representing groups — or more than one individual —must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters —no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e-mailed to statesman@aggiemail. usu.edu, or click on www.utahstatesman. corn for more letter guidelines and a box to submit letters. Online poll Should professors allow extra credit for charitable donations? • • • Yes, as long as the opportunity is open to every student. No, it doesn't support the class curriculum. I don't really care. Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman. corn to cast your vote and see results from this straw poll. |