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Show ptiSSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007 2007 sa ie"it' )ve THE VOICE OF DIXIE STATE COLLEGE OF UTAH DIXIE STATE COLLEGE OF UTAH rn Kj g: b I. Safe Zones9 mow om BY SHAYLA THOMAS Dixie Sun Staff Writer The Safe Zone pro- gram was introduced to faculty, staff and students at Dixie State College in the form of four training session held on Nov. 12 and 13. Members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center from the University of Utah presented the forum intending to implement a Safe Zone here at DSC, which would reflect the program they have in place at the U of U. According to the LGBT Resource ED coir, health occupations major from Delta, and Quin Monson, a sophomore Centerville, openly discuss the new Safe Zone program in the Ambassador Students are encouraged to talk to faculty and staff who have put up their Safe Zone signs. Ashby, a sophomore sports medicine major from Kristie office. KELLIE MZIK For the Dixie Sun BY Business Dixie students at State College launched Project Awakening in October, an effort to bring technology and hope to some of Ecuadors for poorest schools. Members of the Business Future Leaders of America-Profession- mp8 Business Leaders club are donations of cash, used computers and computer parts. Partnering wth the ACM (computer) Club, DSC students will refurbish the computers and, in February, deliver seeking one ext vee! ble at Pizz- in1 them to schools where luck basic rural Ecuadoran children access to tech-nolog- Avalos discovered that, due to a lack of materials and equipment, children there receive a substantialeducation, ly lower-qualitwhich effectively keeps them locked in a cycle of poverty. Javier Martinez, a junior business major from Alta Gracia, Argentina, and FBLA-PBpresident of is a twofold This said: problem. One is that they arent prepared enough. Socially, they are also excluded. Its class discrimination. Martinez met Avalos while both were enrolled in y the stud- English-languag- e ies program. When Avalos needed help for Project Awakening, she contacted Martinez, who took the cause to the FBLA-PBclub. Members quickly embraced the project. If we get maybe 150 computers (in any condi-to tion), we might be able get 100 working computers out of that, Martinez said. Already, the City of St. 12 George has donated two Another computers. have been donated by St. George Catholic Church, L 114; 3 inf n all it Project Awakening is the brainchild of Maria Dolores Avalos, of Ecuador. Wter completing English studies at DSC in 2002, Avalos returned to Ecuador to complete a Blasters degree. As part that work, she studied the effects of poverty on the education of children ro rural Ecuador. language In addition to 10 more. the help offered by the ACM Club, Earth Club members volunteered to take unusable parts or computer systems and recycle them. members plan to spend Spring Break L 2008 in Ecuador, seeing the fruits of the project and finding out what else they can do to help. Martinez said he hopes the students will be able to teach the teachers in rural Ecuador how to teach with technolo- Former volleyball coach Jeff Parker, who had coached seven years at Dixie State College, resigned on Nov. 13, according to a press release on dixieathletics.com. According to DSCs policies and procedures, coaches are not under contract; they have coaches memorandums of understanding, meaning they operate under agreements that may be terminated with or without cause by either party at the end of each season, Athletic Director Dexter Irvin at-wi- ll gy. Accounting instructor Nate Staheli, faculty advissaid er for FBLA-PBmembership in FBLA-PBis a great way for students to use what theyve learned in the classroom. The practical application and service to others beside yourself is when the real education begins, he said. Joleen Atencio, a sophomore business major from St. George and FBLA-PBtreasurer, said people interested in making dona- L L see PBL page IK. A campus Dillingham-Evans- , Craver said. felt that it was They both some- thing that would benefit the students, staff and faculty here at Dixie College." The Safe Zone training was presented with hopes to raise awareness in regards to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, Craver said. According to the U of Us Safe Zone Web site, one major purpose of the training is to raise awareness and understanding of sexuality and gender identity expression Attendees were taught how they could effecCenters Web site, tively intervene in diswww.sa.utah.edu, Safe criminatory practices Zone aims to to create by becoming an ally to the individuals in the an atmosphere of inclusion on campus for lesgroup and the group as a whole. bians, gays, transgenAccording to der, queer and questiona true www.sa.utah.edu, students, faculty ing Safe Zone itself would and staff. offer a safe environWill Craver, assistant ment on campus where director of human students will feel comresources, discovered fortable and be free the Safe Zone training from homophobic, while exploring the unitransphobic and heteroversitys employee sexist comments and resources. I presented a synopactions Freshman English sis and details of the Safe Zone training to major Joshua Black, President (Leo) Caldwell from St. George, said there is a naivety about and Vice President of the existence of issues Academics Donna BY LAYNE ROBERTS Dixie Sun Staff Writer and club members pledged FBLA-PB- v.. that face members of the LGTB group at DSC and in the community. He has faced some severe discrimination even before coming out. When he heard of the training being held on campus he was relieved and said he hopes the lessons taught will really influence teachers to promote safe zones in their classrooms, offices and anywhere on campus. Faculty and staff members were asked to display a Safe Zone symbol in their classrooms or offices. One main symbol is a green upside-dowtriangle with a pink circle around it. Black said, If I saw a Safe Zone symbol on the door of classroom, and I was in a position where I felt threatened n in anyway, I would knock on the door with- out hesitation and ask for help. Craver said the overall reception of the training on the part of faculty and staff was good. Most professionals understand that regardless of your background, culture or sexual preference, everyone see SAFE page 3 said. However, the events surrounding Parkers departure are unclear. (Parker) said that school administrators would not tell him why the decision was made, but that he wished the team the best of luck, said a current player who spoke on the condi tion of anonymity. But Parker said the deci sion to leave was his own. I think the best way to characterize it is a lack of institutional support, Parker said. As a person of principle this job seems to have been about keeping kids happy, more than teaching and being a coach. Soon after the press release, members of the athletic department addressed the players concerning the coaching situation. Dexter Irvin and Randy Wilstead, assistant director of athletics talked to the team afterwards and told us we needed to grow up and acted like it was our fault, another player who wished to remain anonymous said. Irvin said the players were told the coach was not going to be there anymore, but the reasons were not discussed. He declined to comment further on the specific situation with the volley ball coach, citing school policy not to discuss personnel issues concerning DSC employees. Gl- Parker is a loyal, intelligent coach, and we owe a lot to him for what our volleyball program will become,' Irvin said. We are appreciative of what he did here at Dixie. I consider him a good friend, and he has good attributes. Players said they had complained about the treatment they received from Parker in recent years. Multiple players who wished to remain anonymous said Parker commonly made remarks that made them feel uncomfortable. After last season some players said they had a meeting with President Lee Caldwell and another administrator to describe the coachs behavior. The coach was then required to have meetings with the players every other week, which did not happen regularly, said several players on both this years and last years hard-workin- see COACH page , --- -- cir win last two games basketball to play in a rematch on Saturday. DSC student races dragsters 4 - 'f Rebels 3 Reason behind coachs resignation still unclear club helps needy Project Awakening FBLA-PB- L with f 1 1 r: : - 'h: Drugstore gifts: PRICELESS Local stores offer holiday gifts of all kinds. Travis Theobald placed 17th in the NHRA. Page 11 Page 8 Page 6 |