AboutUs OwrView Editor in Chief Seth R. Hawkins Shining the light on government News Editor Arie Kirk Assistant News Editor Alison Baugh Features Editor Brittny Goodsell Jones A government hiding, in the shadow, isn't a good government at all. That's the "Reader's Digest" version of some verbose intellect from a long time ago. The exact words aren't important, it's the philosophy behind them that is. As journalists, we're always trying to shine the light on the dark activities in different parts of society - governments usually garner most of the attention of our collective candlepower. Instead of doing business in the dark, ASUSU is planning on shining the big, proverbial flashlight on their actions. Don't like the metaphor? In plain language this time: ASUSU is working on creating a regular newsletter to let the student body know what they're up to. And that's a good thing, a round of applause for our student government. The idea behind this newsletter is to give students an idea of what's going on so they don't assume nothing is going on. We need to know what our government is doing and what they plan on doing, so we, as the people they represent, can go voice our displeasure or pleasure or just plain have a voice in the process - especially on important issues like tuition or smoking. , Besides informing, the students about the goings on in the upper regions of the Taggart Student Center, we'd also like the newsletter to serve as a guide to upcoming legislative activities. Give the students information on agendas and maybe even a little information about the legislation. The inclusion of meeting times and locations would also benefit.students who've wanted to attend a meeting but weren't able to easily find out when and where it was happening.V>:'-3^?^fJ^; The same goes for contact information* tor , ASUSU senators and other representatives. Provide the students with the easiest way to get in touch with their student government officials. :; Most of all, our hope for this newsletter is that it will provide another forum for students to get information about what their student govern- "-v ment is doing for them. Any way the students can stay abreast of the happenings of ASUSU is for the better. An informed citizenry is one apt to make good decisions and not stand for any ; governmental injustice. Not that there can bem-considerable amount of that at the student gov-"" ernment level, but even the least bit shouldn't be tolerated. , . It's never a bad thing for a governing body to inform their constituents. So, again, we applaud ASUSU for at least making strides towardtfullylit ' operation. \ \ >. >y%;* Too close to death I almost died for someone else's crime. Had the jury listened to the prosecutor, I would have been sent to death row, and even might have been executed by now. Instead, I spent nearly 20 years in prison before new evidence proved my innocence and I was able to walk away a free man. I'm far from the only one who lost decades of my life wrongfully imprisoned. Dozens like me have been exonerated by DNA or other new evidence. Just last week, 56year-old Willie Earl Green was released in Los Angeles after the sole eyewitness in his case recanted. He'd done 24 years of a 33-year-to-life sentence at San Quentin. 1 was 18 years old in 1985 when the police in South L.A. arrested me for a double homicide and rape. I was interrogated for 17 excruciating hours, handcuffed to a chair and denied food and water. The police claimed that they had evidence proving my guilt. I was young and scared and desperate to stop the abuse - so I told the police what they wanted to hear. I was wrongfully convicted based on that coerced confession and the false testimony of a jailhouse informant. The jury sentenced me to life in prison without parole. Some might say I was lucky; I had escaped the executioner's ^ ^ ^ ^ _ _ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ _ _ needle. But after spending nearly 20 years in a living hell, I can't really see it that way. No What others are matter which prison I was in saying about issues. Lancaster, Folsom, Corcoran - I was under constant surveillance, stripped of any privacy or autonomy. I was at the mercy of the prison guards, who could make my life as miserable as they wished. I lived in constant fear of prison lockdowns, which could last for months; we would not be allowed out of our cells and could take only "bird baths" in the cell sink. I refused to let my family visit me. Contact with the outside world had become unbearable. I didn't want to hear Assistant Features Editor Di Lewis Sports Editor Samuel Hislop Assistant Sports Editor David Baker Copy Editor Rebekah Bradway Photo Editor Forum Lett e rs Do something about the pests To the editor: You know what bugs me? Box Elder bugs. Can someone at this proud agricultural school do something about this infestation? Moreover, if we pray hard enough, will a flock of seagulls (the birds, not the band) save us from the pests that seem to be particularly bad this year? Letters to the editor • A public forum We could try. Or, better yet, Facilities could arm their employees with bottles of soapy water and we could finally end this black and orange plague. Tyler Riggs Stress is normal and can be managed Tyler Larson Assistant Photo Editor Cameron Peterson Multimedia Editor Gideon Oakes Editorial Board Seth R. Hawkins Arie Kirk Di Lewis David Baker Alison Baugh About letters • Letters should be limited to 350 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good Services can offer help for job-hunting taste, redundancy or voland for people uncertain of a major. The ume of similar letters. Academic Resource Center can provide • Letters must be topic oriinformation about time management and ented. They may not be preparing for tests. The Counseling Center directed towara individucan teach relaxation skills and skills to help als. Any letter directed to with test anxiety. a specific individual may Friends and roommates can also be be edited or not printed. great resources for learning more about stress-reduction. Find out what activities • No anonymous letters will be published. and skills work for others, and you'll have Writers must sign all more to choose from to help yourself when you get stressed. letters and include a Employees also have resources at their phone number or efingertips. BlueCross/BlueShield offers a mail address as well as stress management tracking program online a student identification at www.MyRegence.com. Take the Health number (none of which Risk Assessment to rate your stress level is published). Letters will and coping skills, and then work toward a not be printed without calmer, more balanced life. Sharing your this verification. concerns and goals with coworkers and • Letters representing family may help. groups — or more tnan Whether you are planning for graduone individual — must ation, managing a busy time at work, or have a singular represenprepping for the next big presentation, here are some things you can do to relieve tative clearly stated, with stress: all necessary identificaEat a balanced meal at least once daily tion information. (fruit, whole grains, veggies, lean pro- • Writers must wait 21 tein). days before submitting Make sure you get a full night's sleep successive letters — no whenever possible (7-8 hours). Try not exceptions. " to short change your sleep more than • Letters can be hand one.or two nights jn a row. delivered or mailed to Be social - get'involved with an orgaThe Statesman in the nized group or just spend time with TSC, Room 105, or can friends. be e-mailed to Give yourself positive self-statements such as, "It's OK, I can do this." statesman@cc.usu.edu Plan and do something fun for yourself or click on www.utah at least once per week. statesman.com for Remember to take a break from stressmore letter guidelines ful activities - a short walk can do and a box to sumbit let wonders. ters. Take time to laugh and find ways to tress has a reputation as something to be avoided, but it isn't always a bad thing. Stress is a natural part of life that helps prepare our bodies to deal with perceived threats and demands. It can tell us when things are getting to be overwhelming, and it can give us the needed energy and drive to accomplish a task. Stress can come from both positive and negative events, and gets a differ,j ... ent name depend, : <._:'' *•" * $ t ' ing on the type of ..,'• £|: ''" ;. stress. Eustress is : , * ... the type of stress often thought of fl -: as "good" stress, %p '• \ ... related perhaps to .j& \ an upcoming gradu" '•*' .'•- ... c "' ation, a new job, a new relationship. Distress is what we more commonly think of - the "bad" stress associated with a big exam, a broken-down car, or arguments with a loved one. Regardless of the source of stress, your body reacts in specific ways, responding in an automatic "fight-or-flight" response that tells your muscles to tense up, your heart to beat faster, your breathing to become shallower, and your internal resources to shift to where the body thinks they are most needed. These physical signs of stress can be worrisome if you don't expect them, but they can also be a sign to yourself that you need to take a break, or practice some relaxation skills. Proper planning for big events can help reduce stress. If you know that you have a big party, an important presentation, or a move to a new job coming up be sure to leave yourself adequate time for the tasks involved. Reach out to friends and family for help and support. Make sure that you take time to refresh and recharge so that you can accomplish everything you need to do. If you are a student and need help figuring out what steps to take to accomplish a big event or task, there are many campus organizations that can help. Career IMSee STRESS, page 11 S W0Q 60NE CN STRIKE INSTEAD, Nat'lVoice Online poll What do you think about the campus smoking ban? It is much needed It is a bad idea It is violation of smokers' rights It was passed too quickly, without enough input It will improve the overall health quality on campus It is too restrictive Current laws need to be enforced before new rules are created Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman.com to cast your vote. 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