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Show Redux previews punk-nock queens fr:> The Donnas' appearancejn P a r i t y See page 3 Thursday, March 27,2008 THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE www.daiiyutahchronicle.com The University o fU t a h ' s I n d e p e n d e n t Student Voice Since 1890 France-US relations starting to improve Andrew Cone STAFF WRITER tries that are suffering but countries of transit such as Morocco that end up getting stuck with many African immigrants once they are deported. "The only solution that we will be able to reach in the end is, of course, through the economic development of the countries of origin of many of those illegal immigrants," he said. Ryan Larsen, a sophomore economics major who lived in France, said Vimont gave a fair viewpoint of the countries' situation, especially when it comes to immigration. "I think Vimont presented a very good argument on how the relations are changing," Larsen said. "I think he did a good job portraying the United Nations as a key influence of French and American relations right now." Larsen says he saw some of the immigration problems France is having when he lived there. "I saw firsthand the amount of immigrants that they had and some of the problems that arose," he said. "I'd say it's comparable to some of the immigration problems that we have here." Vimont also said France wants to work with the United States to fix the global economy. "Because of the global financial The status of relations between France and the United States is improving, said Pierre Vimont, ambassador to the United States for France, but there are still a few contentions between the countries. "The relationship between our two countries has been changing for the last eight or nine months since Nicolas Sarkozy has been elected," Vimont said Tuesday during a speech at the Hinckley Institute of Politics. "There is definitely an improvement and a change in the atmosphere of the relation between our two countries." Vimont credits Sarkozy, France's newly elected president, for much of that improvement. "What I think Nicolas Sarkozy has been trying to do since he's been elected is to create a new atmosphere of trust and confidence between our two countries," he said. Vimont acknowledged that there are disagreements between France and the United States on the war in Iraq, but he cited agreement and cooperation on other issues including the war in Afghanistan. "Sarkozy has been very careful to state that France can be a trusted ally and a true friend of America, See RELATIONS Page 2 and therefore we were there to stay in Afghanistan as long as necessary because that was a major test for NATO credibility and a major test for French-American relations," he said. jTY OF UTAH Vimont said there are several major issues on which France wants to work with the United States, such as climate change. He said both countries need to develop clear, strong, serious commitments to get rid of pollution worldwide. He also said immigration is a problem shared by the United States Pierre Vimont, French ambassador to the and France, as well as all of the other United States, leads a forum about relations European countries. Vimont said it's between the two countries at the Hinckley not just the final-destination coun- Institute of Politics on Tuesday. INS Vol.! 17 I No. 146 I ©2008 • " • • * f&' Striking a chord Ning Lu, professor of music at the U, plays a song while Jie Lu, a professor of piano in the music department, assists during a Chinese music concert at Gardner Hall on Monday. The concert was put on by the Confucius Institute. Clayton Norlen troduce their students to a new type of musical experience that is steeped in Chinese influences. "Music is a universal language," Ning said. "No matter The hands of Ning and Jie Lu create a cross-cultural your nationality, you experience music the same way." fusion as their fingers move across the piano. Jie and Ning see the Western presentation of music as The melodies of Oriental music can only be played a performance that is fully appreciated by artists when with the right hand, Ning said, while the left provides it's shared with an audience. Eastern philosophy, they Western structure and rhythm that creates a distinct said, is individualistic and can cater to self-discovery because the musicians are often deeply involved and consound. Ning described the right hand as the storyteller that nected to the pieces they play. relates the emotions and feelings to the audience as the "Peacefulness is the goal of a musician," Jie said. "You left supports and molds it all together. While the songs have to have a peaceful mind to create music." performed by the husband-and-wife team—who are It is in the discovery and connection that the creation both U music professors—are executed in a western tra- of music provides that Jie said has helped her and Ning dition, they feel "Chinese" to the listener, Jie said. gain a deeper respect for one another. It was their shared The couple played at Libby Gardner Hall alongside passion for music that brought Ning and Jie together, violinist Wenyuan Gu, principal second violin for the they said. They met at the University of Colorado while Utah Symphony, as part of Chinese Culture Week at the Ning was working to complete his doctoral degree and U. With a series of solo and trio performances, the art- Jie was pursuing her undergraduate degree. Recently, ists demonstrated how traditional Chinese folk-music they have been collaborating more, and Ning said their relationship gets stronger with every concert they play and classical music can become one. > "Many musical compositions in China are written with together. classical instruments like piano and violin, but the melo"Collaborative work requires that you understand dies we play are steeped in Chinese folklore," Ning said. each other's feelings within the music," Jie said. "As a "It's a very unique mixture of eastern and western." couple, we can play together as one very easily." Ning and Jie have created a connection between their The relationship that music has formed between Jie Chinese heritage and the classical music they perform. and Ning and the cross-cultural nature of their work Taking their combined experience in eastern and western musical traditions, Jie and Ning said they try to in- See MUSIC Page 2 STAFF WRITER Law school raises minimum GPA Former Ute Smith Change to go into effect beginning Fall Semester 2008 Rochelle McConkie concerns with the timing of the policy change because they thought it would be unfair to alter the rules for The College Council of the U law students already enrolled. Council school voted to dismiss students members changed the original profrom the school with cumulative posal to push back the implementaGPAs below 2.5, increasing the mini- tion date. mum GPA from 1.85. "My concerns about it applying to Students with a GPA of 2.7 or low- our class were mitigated," said Jesse er will be required to meet with the Nix, who represents first-year law S. J. Quinney College of Law's dean students on the Student Bar Assoof students for academic advising ciation. and arrange for tutoring and other Barbara Dickey, associate dean for counseling to bring up their grades. student affairs in the College of Law, Students who are dismissed will be said the change was meant to idenable to petition for readmission. tify students in need of help and was The change will go into effect for not made to increase the school's nathe incoming class in the Fall Semes- tional ratings. ter 2008, the Class of 2011. No cur- "Every single student admitted in rent students will be affected by the law school can meet this standard," policy. Some students had expressed See GPA Page 2 ASST. NEWS EDITOR What happened? The law school College Council voted to change the minimum GPA for law students from 1.85 to 2.5. Students with a GPA below 2.5 after their first year or any semester after will be dismissed, with the opportunity to apply for readmission. Students with averages below 2.7 must meet with the dean of students for academic advising and take other necessary steps to raise their grades. Who will it affect? Ali changes will go into effect for the incoming class in the 2008 Fall Semester. The policy will not affect any current students. LDS Institute students honor favorite professor Lana Groves was one of several professors who received more than 10 nominations. "Over 500 students made recomGregory Owens hasn't been teach- mendations this year," he said. ing at the U for long, but students The selection committee chose seem to have taken a liking to his Owens over the other, professors interactive teaching style. nominated because of his enthusiThe Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- asm for teaching and his committer-day Saints Institute of Religion at ment to helping students understand the U recently chose Owens as the chemistry. recipient of its annual Excellence in Kasinda Goodwin, a sophomore Education Award. in biochemistry, said taking Owens' Owens, a chemistry professor since year-long general chemistry course 2002, was nominated by a high num- helped her choose her major in ber of Institute students when the chemistry. Latter-day Saint Student Association "He scared us to death the first (LDSSA) polled Institute students to day of class, but he really motivates find out their favorite U professor. you to learn," she said. "I don't understand why I was The way Owens teaches makes chosen by so many students above learning more efficient and makes a lot of other excellent teachers, but you more inquisitive, she said. I'm honored that they chose me," For Owens, teaching is something Owens said. you have to work hard at if you want Dave Warner, director of campus to motivate students. relations for LDSSA, said Owens "They don't take you aside during returns the favor Cody Brunner terback Alex Smith and NBA players Andrew Bogut and Andre Miller. While playing college football at The U athletic budget just got a the U, Smith was known primarily, little bigger. for his abilities as a playmaking reFormer Utah standout and cur- turn man and a solid wide receiving rent Carolina Panthers star wide threat. In his professional career, he. receiver Steve Smith was on cam- has blossomed into one of the NFL's ; pus Wednesday afternoon to pledge most dangerous wideouts. , a $250,000 donation to the athletics Smith is a three-time Pro Bowl' department to endow a scholarship selection and holds numerous Carofor a wide receiver. lina return and receiving records. "It is an honor for (my wife) and Smith is also one of only three NFL. me to give back to the University of players in history to lead or tie for Utah football program in the form of best in the league in receiving yards, an athletic scholarship and provide receptions and touchdowns, accomanother student-athlete the same plishing the feat in 2005. opportunity that was afforded me "Steve is not only one of the greathere at the U," Smith said. est receivers ever to play for the Smith is the fourth former U ath- University of Utah, (but) he is reclete in the last three years to make a ognized as one of the best receivdonation that has either contributed ers now playing in the NFL," Utah to the department's endowment head coach Kyle Whittingham said. fund or helped renovate athletic facilities at the U. He joins NFL quar- See SMITH Page 12 ASST. SPORTS EDITOR STAFF WRITER MAEGAN B\JRR/IbtDoil/Ol<ihaironl(lt Gregory Owens, a chemistry professor, was awarded the Excellence in Education award at the LDS Institute on Tuesday. graduate school and show you how to teach," Owens said. "It's a method of trial and error your first year." See PROFESSOR Page 2 Carolina Panthers wide receiver and former Utah star Steve Smith answers questions after a press conference Wednesday announcing his $250,000 donation to Utah athletic program. |