OCR Text |
Show A4 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition IN OUR OPINION ... TO Benson a suceess as Snow president While Michael Benson might have focused more on raising money and building good will than on internal campus management, the record shows he was a big success as Snow College president. His influence will be felt long into the future. During his first week as president, Benson called a campuswide assembly where he announced a $1.5 million donation for what is now the Eccles Center and a $500,000 donation to endow the Horne School of Music. Without those gifts, the Eccles Center might not be there today, and the music program could not have achieved its present stature. But Benson didn’t stop at the construction of the building. He created naming opportunities for the lobby, theater and concert hall within the Eccles Center, which, as commitments are paid, will add $500,000 to the music scholarship endowment Benson then worked to have Snow designated as an all-Steinway school and secured the donation or purchase of Steinway pianos for the school of music. Later, Benson participated in developing a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music, which has brought further distinction to Snow’s music program. Ranking with construction of the Eccles Center was his effort in behalf of a new library. Benson ran into community opposition in Ephraim when he proposed that Ephraim City and Snow College build a joint library. So he took the proposal to Sanpete County and all municipalities in the county. At first, he ran into opposition from several mayors. But ultimately, he helped forge a remarkably creative funding plan under which the county would seek a grant from the Community Impact Board but divide the funds between the college project and municipal libraries or reading rooms in communities. Meanwhile, he garnered a $2 million commitment from the Huntsman family. Those external funding commitments bumped the project way up on the Utah Board of Regents and Utah State Building Board priority lists, making it likely Snow will get a new library in the next couple of years. Without Benson’s work, the wait time for a library probably would have been at least double. Benson also hired Gould-Evans, the architecture firm that designed the Eccles Center, to develop a master plan that we expect will guide development of the campus for decades to come. He implemented key aspects of the plan, including opening up north-south and east-west corridors, and constructing an amphitheater and bell tower. In fact, Benson garnered nearly $25 million in state funds for new facilities and campus improvements, additions and remodels. He helped find funds for the new sculpture gallery that has been added to the Humanities Building, for remodeling the Business Building and for upgrading the 25 year-old Activity Center by adding new classrooms and setting the stage for a new dance studio. And a student favorite, Benson negotiated with the Utah Department of Transportation to expand parking by allowing angled stalls on state-owned roads on the campus periphery. Possibly his most important administrative achievement was unifying the Ephraim campus with what was then known as Snow College South. Benson lobbied the legislature to clearly designate the Richfield campus as a satellite of the Ephraim campus. He appointed Rick White, then academic vice president of Snow at Ephraim, as vice president over the Richfield campus. Recently, White credited Benson with leading the charge in uniting the faculties, staff and students of both campuses. “Benson’s work will be producing benefits for years to come,” White said. There is no question Benson was a champion fundraiser. During his tenure, annual contributions to Snow increased 500 percent. Prior to 2002, annual giving averaged $260,000. From 2002-2005, it averaged $1.3 million. In fact, Benson raised more private money in a five-year period ($6.4 million that has been received, plus pledges of nearly $3 million more) than had been raised in all 118 years of Snow College’s existence prior to his arrival. People who argue that Benson spent too much time away from campus and too much money on travel and entertainment don’t have the facts. Travel and entertainment expenditures related to fund-raising during his administration came to a perfectly acceptable $175,000. He spent other money traveling to meetings he was required to attend, such as a meeting related to Snow’s accreditation and Board of Regents meetings. Benson deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. Southern Utah University is lucky to get him. Introducing as the Newest Member of the Gunnison Valley Hospital Medical Staff Wednesday, December 6, 2006 THE EDITOR... FOR LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR POLICY GO TO WWW.SANPETEMESSENGER.COM, CLICK ON ‘OPINIONS’ THEN ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’ Don’t let court building debate become hateful, hurtful We have many people to thank for the successful completion of the courthouse petition. Many dedicated, knowledgeable citizens, against great odds, obtained more than 3000 signatures in about two weeks. They acted with honor and integrity. The people signing the petition did so because they simply wanted to be involved in the process. They still do. Whatever is decided in this matter, the events have proven that our system of government really does work if people get involved. Many of us have become disenchanted with government at all levels, and we have felt that we have no voice. In important matters such as this one, an issue that affects so many in so many ways, public input is clearly necessary. Now the debate can move forward in a civilized manner as all of the facts come forth. One thing that we must do, is maintain our dignity, and not let this debate become hateful nor hurtful. Mutual respect for the views of others is essential. Then we can make an educated decision that will benefit our beloved Sanpete County. Richard Crane and the Sanpete County Concerned Citizens Committee Commission needs to re-evaluate attitude In response to last week’s article concerning the new courthouse and specifically in response to Claudia Jarrett: “It is... [this] cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.. .that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth,” Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address. I believe that our elected officials, especially some of our county commissioners, need to re-evaluate their attitude and stance on issues involving the people they were elected to represent. I hate to think that my elected representative thinks that he/she is better than I am. I do not like the idea that, in his/ her mind, I am just a voter, uninformed, unintelligent and therefore should be treated condescendingly. Let us understand that being an elected official means that you do what the people want. It is a job, just like any other job, in which you must answer to your employer even though sometimes your personal wishes may not be the same as his/hers. In the case of being a county commissioner, your employer is the citizenry that you represent. Just because an election was won does not mean those constituents are in agreement with you on every issue or have to blindly follow your wishes. They may disagree, as was evidenced in over 2,000 registered voters signing a petition. This courthouse matter, which is now heading towards an expensive ballot, could have been prevented had the commissioners given the very people who put them in office more input, respect and answers instead of continually saying that they did answer questions, when they didn’t. Stop trying to blame the people for an “expensive” vote when in actuality the responsibility for having to have that vote rests on your shoulders. The people are speaking. Are you listening? Cameron Nickle Manti Let’s not be passive-aggressive I read an editorial that said, “Utah is the global headquarters of passive-aggressive, non-confrontational conduct.” “Passive-aggressive” is one of those terms that gets thrown around a lot so I looked it up. As I read about the characteristics, I knew I’d seen them before. Ambiguity, avoiding responsibility, blaming others, not expressing hostility or anger openly, fear of competition, making excuses, lying, resentment and resisting suggestions from others. And this is only a partial list. I try to address problems directly, be it interpersonally or through writing, but there have been times when I’ve bottled up hurt feelings, been resentful and tried to pass the blame onto others. All it lead to was tension, anger and depression. But why is this behavior so prevalent in Utah? I think it comes from the attitude of the Mormon community toward the concept of “Zion.” In LDS theology “Zion” is a community of individuals with “One heart and one mind” where there is no conflict. Mormons like to think of themselves as Zion because they believe the same things, are good neighbors and they look out for each other. I’m not saying that there is no joy or kindness in the world, but I do think that there’s a lot of denial when it comes to how the people of “Zion” really feel about each other. Just go to your local court house on any weekday and you’ll find neighbors, friends and families turning to litigation to solve all those problems that don’t exist in “Zion.” Many of us in the LDS community have heard the caveat “avoid the appearance of evil.” I think we’re trying to avoid the appearance of conflict in order to maintain the illusion of a “Zionlike” community. The problem is that these are real conflicts and people forget that Zion isn’t defined by its appearance. It’s defined by concepts of heart and mind. To deny the conflicts that naturally arise between people, even fellow Mormons, will only compound those feelings. If Dr. Young recently completed his family practice residency program at the Williamsport Hospital and Medical Center in Pennsylvania. someone won’t acknowledge those issues openly they’ll manifest themselves in passive-aggressive behavior. Such attitudes are what stand in the way of a community evolving into Zion. If we bottle up our negative feelings and what we’re thinking when there are problems, passive-aggressive behavior will foster negativity in the hearts and minds of others. It’s easy to say, “I’m not doing anything” when we’re passive-aggressive. But it still affects those around us, sometimes in more detrimental and enduring ways than an actual confrontation. But how do we get past these deleterious feelings and mindsets? We start by acknowledging them. Being open about our hurt feelings and addressing misunderstandings can enable us to let them go. But we need to be willing to forgive those who have wronged us and, in turn, be willing to seek forgiveness. Once we are able to do that, we will be on our way to Zion. Joe Puente Moroni Conversations with ... Dr. Young is trained in the broad spectrum of family practice medicine, including obstetrics and pediatrics. He is also fluent in Spanish. Appointments can be made by calling (435) 528-2130. Dr. Young is seeing patients in the clinic located at 79 East Center in Gunnison. Extended clinic hours will include Thursdays until 8:00 p.m. and every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Verl said he’s thinking about buying a plastic Christmas tree from Wal-Mart. He says it ain’t like the good old days when he’d haul his mother down to Kenny Tuttle’s and let her pick out a tree. Somebody told him there are lots of places up north to buy a tree but he said those trees ain’t worth haulin’ home because they cut ‘em last August and they’re flat as pancakes. He said it ain’t gettin’ any easier for him to do things anymore and maybe the time has come to admit it. We drove out past the temple turn and noticed they have a very nice tree in the lawn by the fairgrounds fence. Verl wondered if it’s as big as George Bush’s tree and I told him it’s the season for happy thoughts and I didn’t want to hear anything that upsets me, so he promised he wouldn’t say that name again until after Christmas. Only 19 Days until Christmas! Kids eat free Family Night: Monday, between 5 & 8 p.m. 61 S. Main, Ephraim 283-FOOD (3663) 2 Kids eight and under eat FREE with each “one” paid adult entree. Call today and make reservations for your holiday parties. Call the restaurant at 283FOOD (3663) or call Don’s Direct Reservation Line at 835FOOD (3663) and ask for Sylvia. Additional parking in back, with a back door, for your convenience |