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Show StatesmanCaMpUS News Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 Page 3 Students trade unused items to conserve Briefs Campus & Community By MITCH FIGGAT staff writer Thursday, the Aggies Recyclers committee met together in the atrium of the Natural Resources Building for the first Soup and Swap. In the name of conservation of Earth's resources, reduction of local waste and having a good time with delicious soup, the Aggie Recyclers urged people to come and bring anything they were not using or willing to trade and put it all the table. All items brought were donations. Sam Abbott, a member of the Aggie Recyclers and a co-director of the event, explained the many reasons why the Soup and Swap was such a good idea. He said, "The more nonmonetary activities one has, the easier it is to find personal zen." This was not just a simple drop-off and pickup exchange, like at the DI. There was music and a lot of trying on clothes. Abbott said, "The Soup and Swap is set to the tone of engaging social interaction instead of engaging in a product." In the end, Abbott said the activity is very simple: "Pile it all up and take what you need." Jacob Buckner, also one of the co-directors of the event, commented on the hidden cost of the world's resources that all products have. Of the message Soup and Swap is trying to convey, he said, "It teaches an idea of the true cost of the products we purchase. By reusing the goods we own, we can reduce the impact the consumption we have on the earth." When asked what types of items a participant could of brought to the Soup and Swap, Buckner said, "Something usable that you are not using -- for example, old camping gear, kitchen and household items, out-offashion old clothes." As the swapping started, there seemed to be a mix of both bartering for an exchange and taking what people thought they needed. The swapping was done over three tables, two of them were inches high with clothes. The other was designated the "do-dad" table, where anything else, such as movies, books and dry packaged food, were placed. A volunteer and participant, Jessica Buckner, said, "I brought a few old hoodies, old shirts and a pair of shoes." When asked what she was looking for, she said, "I could really use a new beanie, but I am keeping an eye peeled for a new pashmina. But I am also out to just have a fun night." Erica Perry, a recycling club member holding a bowl of broccoli soup, said, "I am on the hunt for good literature or board games." Abbott said the event is an attempt to enforce a selfefficient community. "Any event where community cooperation replaces money, is one that promotes peace," he said. As such, all items were provided by those who reside in the surrounding community. The USU Catering Service donated the soup. The local Coca-Cola corporation donated the beverages. The rest was donated by anyone who was willing to put unneeded Art exhibit depicts local landscapes Woody Shepherd, professor of drawing and painting at Utah State University, shares his most recent landscapes at his solo exhibition "New Paintings" beginning Tuesday, March 2, in Studio 102 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on the USU campus. The exhibit focuses on the beauty of landscape, including canyons, in Cache Valley, and is free and open to the public. The opening reception is Thursday, March 4, from 5-7 p.m. in Studio 102. The exhibition will be on display until Friday, March 26. "The work itself represents a therapeutic place and simulates the cross between looking at the actual landscape and forming an internal interpretation," Shepherd said. Concert willfeature Brazilian composers SAM ABBOTT and Jacob Buckner sort through some of the items that were donated at the Soup and Swap. Abbott and Buckner co-directed the event for Aggie Recyclers. JENNY MILLER photo items on the swapping table. Although the event was a small-scale effort, the Aggie Recyclers believe it was a great step toward efficient reuse of items. Abbott said, "Reduce waste and keep things that can be used in use. This helps the sustainability of our resources." The event was deemed a worthy precursor and promoter of Recyclemania, Abbott said, which is the next big project for Recyclers committee. — mfiggat@gmaiLcom Primaries: Two debate against incumbent president I continued from page 1 Aggie Terrace. Allen's platform — posted on vote.usu. edu, along with all candidates' platforms — is that he wants to allow free parking after 3 p.m. in the Aggie Terrace. The question posed by an audience member was whether it would affect revenue and, therefore, the jobs of those working for Parking. Tolson and Haupt said the loss of student jobs in Parking would make free parking after 3 p.m. difficult. Tolson said, "Working on getting them out earlier would be difficult." Allen said though it would be hard balancing the pros and cons of his plan, something could be worked out. "Obviously with anything like this there is going to be give and take," Allen said. "The goal is to help students." Candidates mentioned other goals throughout the debate. Haupt said he has a goal to replace Blackboard and Banner with a better, more centralized system. Allen said he plans to combine ASUSU with the ath- letics department to gain more community support for athletics. Tolson said that in order to make ASUSU more effective, the Greeks and public relations will need their own adviser. Bill Sproat, junior in liberal arts, asked the final open-mike question to Allen and Haupt, with an anecdote about broken promises. "Are you promising soda in the drinking fountains?" he said. "Have you researched what you can do, what is in your power to do? Can you actually get it done?" Haupt said, "I don't want anything on my campaign to be a pipe dream." Allen said nothing in his campaign was a pipe dream. "They are goals that we can accomplish," he said. After the debate in an interview, Sproat said, "You know, it doesn't seem like it's not going to change with who it is. They seem like they'll probably do an OK job." Erin Henrie, sophomore in agricultural commu- nications and journalism, said she feels that her vote does not matter. "I just tend not to care enough to vote simply because they're going to make decisions with or without my opinion," Henrie said. Tyler Glaittli, junior in management information systems, said though he thinks there is little the president can do with the division of power being so great in a university, he will still vote. "I may be the minority as far as voting and how passionately I feel about it," Glaittli said. "People should care more. If you don't vote, you become a slave. You lose your voice." Polls for the primary presidential election close at 3 p.m. Friday. The announcement of the two winners will be given afterward in the Hub. The final campaign will be Monday at 7 a.m. Two more presidential debates are scheduled in the Hub, Monday and Tuesday at noon. — la.stewart@aggiemail.usu.edu Cache Valley hills, that's where I want to be A WEEZER TRIBUTE concert was held in the Lundstrom Center and hosted by the USU guitar club,Thursday. STEVE SELLERS At this time of the winter season, a little sunshine and warmth is appreciated. And while he can't do much about the actual temperature, Utah State University music professor Michael Christiansen has plans to turn up the heat in entertainment opportunities. Christiansen and a group of colleagues are featured in "An Evening in Brazil," a concert that features music by Brazilian composers with an emphasis on music from Rio. The event is now in its second year, returning after an extremely popular launch last winter. "An Evening in Brazil" is Friday, Feb. 26, and begins at 7:30 p.m. at USU's Performance Hall. General admission tickets are $15 and student tickets are $5. Tickets are available at the Caine School of the Arts Box Office in the Chase Fine Arts Center, FAC 139B, 797-8022, online or at the door prior to the performance. Performers for the evening include Christiansen on guitar, Christopher Neale on guitar and vocals, Linda Ferreira Linford on vocals, Eric Nelson on saxophone, Lars Yorgason on bass, Jason Nicholson on drums and Don Keipp on percussion. Christiansen is director of the guitar studies program at USU. Dance marathons relived at museum "Dance Marathons" is the theme for the week's Saturday at the Museum event sponsored by Utah State University's Museum of Anthropology. The program is offered Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the 1930s, when the Great Depression gripped the United States, people flocked to Dance Marathons, or Walk-a-thons, for entertainment that sometimes lasted for as long as an entire month. Couples danced for days for the chance to win a monetary prize. Some people competed to have a safe roof over their heads and warm meals to eat. Twenty-four hour dance marathons are still popular today among nonprofit organizations that use them for fund-raising and increasing awareness of social issues. The museum's Saturday dance marathon event will review the history of dance marathons, including samples of music and images of past marathon participants. The USU Ballroom Dance Team will be available all day to teach dance steps to museum visitors. "This activity will be fun and educational for all ages," said Saturday student event planner Nicole Burnard. "Everybody, come get your groove on." USU students and members of the public are invited to the museum any time during open hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays for the "Saturday at the Museum" series from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. LlCompiled from staff and media reports |