OCR Text |
Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Thursday, June 28, 2007 College of Science welcomes new dean Professor aims to strengthen relationship between department and campus committee of faculty, staff and students, was recommended by the College of Science for several reaPierre Sokolsky, chairman of the sons. "He was chosen because of his department of physics, will replace outgoing College of Science Dean proven leadership skills, technical background and experience in priPeter Stang Sokolsky will begin acting as dean vate fund raising," Pershing said. "It was a hard choice." on July i. On the list of priorities for the David Pershing, senior vice president for academic affairs, said Stang new job, Sokolsky said he intends expressed a desire to retire from to change the relationship between his position to go back to full-time the College of Science and the rest of the U campus. teaching and research. "Much of our science is interdisSokolsky, who was chosen by a Federico Martin STAFF WRITER ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T CLOSE CAMPUS AFTER SHOOTING LACK OF SLEEP DANGEROUS, RESEARCHERS SAY continued from Page 1 continued from Page 2 Utah State Legislature. Since the shootings in Blacksburg, Va., in April, universities nationwide are struggling to find solutions for improving campus security. "We're learning lessons from Virginia Tech, certainly," Alder said. "These things can be a wake-up call that we really need to re-evaluate... but we're not just sitting around." Alder said the U is trying to reassess its emergency plans, but much of the focus now has been placed on relaying information to students and faculty as quickly, as possible. On Monday, Alder said she spent much of the day notifying media outlets with updates on the breaking news. Ben Quigley, a senior in biology, said he doesn't know how the U couldhave responded differently."I don't think there's much they can do," Quigley said. "I mean, there's that big talk about the gun ban and keeping guns off campus, but if someone's gonna shoot somebody, they're gonna do it whether or not you have a policy or ban. I don't think it's something you can prevent or keep from happening. You can try and create a situation or an environment where it's not gonna happen, but that's it." Despite Alder's efforts, many U students on campus during the shooting remained unaware of what had happened in Research Park. Hilary Taylor, a senior in human development, did not find out about the event until she received a text message from her friend around noon that notified her—more than four hours after the incident. Taylor said she agrees with the decision to keep the school open. "I don't think it was necessary to close campus because (the shooter is) not going to come down to the library or somewhere else where people are taking classes," Taylor said^ "I guess maybe an e-mail could have been sent out, though, to let people be aware of what was going on." Fred Esplin, vice president for institutional advancement, sent an email around noon Monday notifying faculty and staff, but the school never provided students with formal notification of the event. Besides e-mail, the task force is examining another way to alert students in case of a campus shooting or other security threats—text messaging. Martin Horvath, assistant professor in biology, said e-mail would be the better option for him, but text messaging could be more effective for the younger generation. "It wouldn't work for me because I don't know how to do it, but for my daughter it'd be great," Horvath said. "I think in a few years everybody would have the capability and it'd be a really good way to do it." Law professor Wayne McCormack, who leads the task force, said the group is not doing anything in immediate response to the shooting, but that it will discuss it at a regularly scheduled meeting in a few weeks. "This is exactly the type of event that emergency planning is meant to deal with," McCormack said. In comparison with other universities, the U's security policies may be a little ahead of the curve because the school hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. "We went through large scrutiny of our security efforts during the Olympics, which puts us a good jump ahead of a lot of institutions with security," Alder said. One of the security measures added at that time was an emergency operations command center, which would assist in the case of an earthquake or other crisis. Matthew Piper contributed to this report. r.mcconkie@chronicle.utah.edu other reasons as well, including stress, roommates and outside noise. This lack of sleep does not only cause tiredness and irritability—impaired glucose tolerance and breathing disorders are also related to sleep deprivation. ciplinary, and the relationship between faculty (members) should mirror this," Sokolsky said. Before switching to the position in the College of Science, Sokolsky worked at the physics department at the U for more than 25 years, starting as an associate professor in 19 81. His latest promotion came in 2003 when he was named department chairman. Sokolsky's area of expertise includes ultra high-energy particle physics and gamma rays. His re- Researchers at the University of Chicago found that when the body lacks sleep, it quickly alters its ability to regulate glucose and produce insulin, reflecting similar symptoms of impaired glucose tolerance. The studies observed healthy test subjects and found that after a week of sleep deprivation, insulin production and the body's ability to respond to insulin fell to 30 percent below normal. Additionally, subjects' bodies took 40 percent longer to regulate blood sugar levels. GUARD KILLED IN CAMPUS SHOOTING Although later tests showed that with adequate rest the test subjects' scores were restored to normal levels, the overall results of the test suggest that impaired glucose tolerance is a result of sleep deprivation that could lead to obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Sleep deprivation can also lead to apnea, a breathing disorder where one's breathing experiences brief interruptions during sleep. Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million Americans, according to the National Sleep the Department of Corrections said Allgier had been housed in a single-occupant cell for his own protection. Allgier had previously visited continued from Page 1 the hospital three or four times for interview at the Salt Lake County lower back pain, police said. Police are investigating whether the escape Metro Jail. "So I" grabbed the gun and hit him was a planned effort. with it and it just went off," AllPatterson said it is common for gier said in an interview Wednes- inmates to be taken to the hospital day with Salt Lake City TV station for medical purposes. As many as KUTV. "I didn't kill that officer on 15 inmates visit the U hospital each purpose." business day. Allgier was in prison on a parole Typically, one security officer is violation. His criminal record in- assigned to each inmate—although cludes burglary, forgery and at least some exceptions are made when one weapons crime, according to convicts are known to be especially court records. dangerous or have attempted to esHe has been affiliated with cape in the past. several white supremacist gangs Anderson was the only officer aswhile in prison. Authorities from signed to Allgier. UN nuclear inspectors head to North Korean reactor site •PYONGYANG, North Korea—U.N. inspectors headed to North Korea's key nuclear reactor Thursday for the first time since 2002 to discuss plans to shut the plutonium-producing facility under an international accord. The development came as a U.S. official criticized North Korea for conducting test firings of shortrange missiles Wednesday, calling them a provocation that could destabilize the region. APTN reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency team members had left their Pyongyang hotel for the Yongbyon reactor, about 60 miles northeast of the capital. Olli Heinonen, the deputy director of IAEA, told APTN that his team would tour the Yongbyon facility and discuss specific arrangements for future verification of the reactor shutdown and monitoring. He emphasized that the visit was not a formal inspection. "We go to see the facilities and continue our discussions in more details," Heinonen said in footage shot by APTN at his Pyongyang hotel before departure for the reactor. Heinonen, whose team arrived TAiesday, refused to provide details of his discussions with North Korean officials so far and emphasized that the visit to Yongbyon was not a formal inspection. "We are here to talk about the verification and monitoring arrangement," Heinonen said. He added it was not certain when they would return from the facility, though he said that Friday was the last full day of their visit to the North before departing Saturday. Asked if the North might begin to shut down the reactor during his visit there, Heinonen told reporters that he and his team will see "what we have on the table" Friday evening. The trip to the facility, at North Korea's invitation, would be thefirstby monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency since North Korea expelled them in late 2002. The North agreed to close the Yongbyon reactor in February in exchange for economic aid and political concessions. But the communist nation ignored an April deadline to do so because of a banking dispute with the United States. That dispute was settled this week after months of delay, and North Korea announced Monday that it would move forward with the disarmament deal. The Yongbyon reactor is at the center of efforts involving five countries— China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States—to stop North Korea's nuclear program. The North carried out its first atomic test explosion in October. The 5-megawatt reactor is capable of churning out enough plutonium for one .atomic bomb per year. . Two Pentagon officials confirmed a South Korean news report that North Korea tested three shortrange missiles Wednesday. The missiles were fired within the North's territorial waters, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The U.S. government reacted sharply earlier after the Yonhap news agency reported the launches, citing an unidentified South Korean government official. The Associated Press sume includes a long list of awards and recognitions, including the Utah Governor's Medal for Science and Technology in 2006. He was also named a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow in 2002. Sokolsky is also well-known for raising around $14 million to support science research. "Private, government and foundation funding are crucial to our continuing success and growth," Sokolsky said. f.martin@ chronicle.utah.edu Foundation. To get better sleep, the counseling website at the University of Waterloo suggests not taking naps after 3 p.m. and refraining from exercise in the evening. More information on sleep deprivation dangers and stress management can be found at the Counseling Center's website, http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/vpc.html, or the National Sleep Foundation's website, www.sleepfoundation.org. t.lieu@ chronicle.utah.edu Inmate care at the hospital has been suspended until Thursday morning while an internal investigation is conducted, according to Associate Director Christopher Nelson. Allgier is now in the county jail awaiting charges in Anderson's death. Aggravated murder carries a possible death sentence. "This is a time of mourning for us," said Torn Patterson, executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections, during a press conference Monday afternoon. "Stephen Anderson dedicated his life to the people of the state of Utah." Anderson had worked with the department for more than 22 years. p.williams@ chronicle.utah.edu HOSPITAL REVIEWING SECURITY FOR INMATES continued from Page 1 through the back doors and must be treated in rooms separate from other patients. The hospital declared a "code yellow" Monday after the shooting took place, which indicates to employees that an internal or external disaster has occurred, said Christopher Nelson, hospital assistant director.If a security incident occurs, hospital officials set up a command center and lock down the premises.Nelson said the hospital is forced to lockdown facilities "a couple times a month" for security threats. However, "by the time the hospital command center was set up (Monday) and the police arrived, it was pretty clear (Allgier) was no longer in the building," Nelson said. Officials from the U will continue to meet with the Utah Department of Corrections over the next few weeks to "work out a solid plan to increase security at the hospital," Nelson said. The discussions will include a more thorough review of policies and solutions to increase communication between officers and caregivers. c.mayorga@chronicle.utah.edu r.vester@chronicle.utah.edu ALLGIER HAS EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL PAST continued from Page 1 and attempted to escape through the attic. He fell through the attic floor and into another room, at which point he was arrested. According to the Salt Lake County Prisoner Information Center, Allgier will face numerous charges for Monday's shooting and subsequent chase, including homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault by a prisoner and theft. j.winston@chronicle.utah.edu COMMITTED TO CREATING MEANINGFUL C H A N G E ON CAMPUS? JOIN THE DIVERSITY BOARD Partnering with Campus and Neighborhood Coalitions Programming Opportunities Educational Opportunities Send an email to diuenily9asuu.utah.edii or come into ASUU for more information on how to Join! The vision for the ASUU Diversity Board is to create and foster safe spaces throughout the university community We are committed to end oppression, inequality discrimination, bigotry, and ignorance through the active promotion of social change. |