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Show Monday, March 29, 2010 Page II I 0 111 VieWS el 0 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com " OurVi ew Aboutik GTAND UP AND Fe COUNTED GTAND UP AND 5E DrCOUNTED Stand and be counted News Editor Rachel A. Christensen A fter the 2000 U.S. Census was taken, Utah found itself on the cusp of acquiring a fourth member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Debatable, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempts to have LDS Missionaries abroad counted in Utah's ranks soon followed to little avail. Now, 10 years later, we find our mailboxes full and our doors being knocked yet again in preparation for the mammoth event that is the U.S. Census and all signs point to another Utahn on capital hill. This is huge. When one state gains a seat in the House another state loses, keeping the House total at 435. You hear that, other states? Utah is going to drink your milkshake. To put this in perspective, the House of Representatives recently passed a health care reform bill that overhauls a system long in need of some legislative attention. It was kind of a big deal. When all the "Yays" and "Nays" were counted the tally fell at 219 for and 212 against. One of the largest pieces of legislation to clear during our generation, therefore, passed by a measly margin of seven votes. Every vote holds significant power, and we're looking at having one more. Regardless of political orientation, we all stand to benefit by having more say on a national level. Utah, as a state, gains power with each national representative. Whether it be a vote on national reforms, budgetary concerns, or the ongoing battle over state's rights, our state will be one step closer to the top. As such, it is essential that we all stand up and be counted in the census. The forms are simple and brief, little more than name and birthday is required. Fill them out, send them in and if they show up talk to the nice census workers. A few minutes can have a lasting effect for our state. Ambassadors offer selective tours to perspective students T his past week, we celebrated a hollowed Utah State tradition, A-Day. Newly admitted students and scholars come from miles around to learn more about Utah State and its many programs and activities. I was concerned that at any moment, the TSC third floor was going to turn into the set of "High School Musical!" A whole new generation of Aggies was being guided through this terrain by the Utah State Ambassadors. I spent the most of Friday watching the masters at work as they seamlessly moved from one attraction to the next without ever walking forward. However, as they led the hoards of soon-tobe students past our local student radio station, with much haste, the ambassadors ushered them past the GLBTA Services Office without muttering a word. After seeing the third group go by, I was finally frustrated enough that I stood up and announced that the GLBTA office is right here. Now don't get me wrong, I am not frustrated on behalf of the gay community. I'm frustrated because the ambassadors are so good but the organization isn't diverse and they don't try and be. In my years here, I have gotten to personally know a few of the ambassadors. Some of my closest friends have come from their ranks. The biggest problem is they are all similar. There is absolutely no variety! When I see one ambassador, I have seen them all. The Stepford wives have nothing on them. I have heard that it's because they are looking for a particular personality - and that's cool - but it seems more like they are pulling a little favoritism to the local culture. We all know that the biggest percentage of the student body is LDS. That justifies a major percentage of the student leadership on campus, but does that mean it has to be so homogeneous? I don't believe that they maliciously mean to be that rude. I just believe it's because the people chosen don't know how to explain something they've never been taught. If the ambassadors recruited one GLBTA member, would it destroy the delicate structure that has been put in place? What about a reentry student who has lived a little life? No, they would be a more well-rounded and better force of student leaders. So get on the ball, USU ambassadors, because this university needs representatives that represent everyone. Earnest Cooper Jr. is a junior in interdisciplinary studies from Dallas, Texas. Cooper is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and the Black Student Union. Cooper volunteers with GLBTA, is director of the Council of Student Clubs and Organizations and is a member of the Student Advisory Council to President Stan Albrecht. Comments may be left at www.aggietownsquare.com . Editor in Chief Patrick Oden United states Of What is your race'' Mark one 0 White NegroNa ❑ 131ack, African km, orAlasica or ❑ American "Indian 0 Native Nava 0 Asian Indian CI Guamanian 0 chine * 0 Samoan ❑ Filipino ther As 00 Oaher eTS:ese t l ,az _paten Jizor 1111111111111 00: • ■ p, ...11 p 4. 0 7,1,0 , G7 -ExamSw elOCA.I.ECACT-conS Politics 2010 \ Mark p one ❑ Socialist ❑ Racist Thank you for partici? Introducing you to ASUSU Science Senator Todd Redmon H ello, my name is Todd Redmon, and I am serving as the ASUSU College of Science senator. I am from the small town of Lyman, Wyo., with a population of just more than 2,000. I know what you're thinkin', "Aren't all towns in Wyoming small?" Yeah, you're right, and there's a good chance that I'm related to just about everyone around there! I grew up in a family of 10, with four brothers and three sisters whose names also start with a "T," including my parents: Tom, Tami, Travis, Tracy, Tiffany, Tina, Timmy, Todd, Tony and Taylor. Imagine hearing my mother spout out names when someone got in trouble. I spent most of my childhood enjoying the Wyoming outdoors, riding motorcycles, fishing, hunting anything that moved, riding horses and helping my father work construction for our family business. I have many wonderful memories of the great experiences with family and friends in that great community. So how did I end up at USU? I'm not going to lie, I came partially in pursuit of a lady friend I had at that time, which didn't end as I had intended. However, it didn't take me long to soon realize all of the amazing opportunities I had around me at USU. I began studying biology and am now a premed student preparing to take the MCAT and apply to medical school. One of the greatest choices I made while at USU was to run for office and get involved with ASUSU. It has been such an honor for me to associate with so many remarkable individuals, ranging from students to department heads, and deans to other administrators. I have gained such a vast knowledge of the inner workings of the university as a direct result of my involvement with ASUSU. The general goal of ASUSU is to enhance the quality of academic life within the university. We do so through legislation, activities and working directly with students and faculty. My role as a college senator is that of representing students not REPUBLICAN STATE TODD REDMON only from the College of Science, but students as a whole. I have made it a priority throughout the year to hear the voice of students heard and understand exactly how they feel and how they are affected by everyday issues. I take that view point with me as I serve on various councils and committees, such as the Academic Senate, the Tier Two Tuition Committee, the Research Council, the Faculty Evaluation Committee, the Library Advisory Council and so on. I let my voice be heard when there is any decision to be made that directly affects the students. I have spoken up even when my views, which are in essence how students feel, have gone against the majority's opinion, and I have been successful in helping others make decisions that benefit USU students the most. This week is Science Week so watch out for the sweet posters with the mad scientist mixing just the right concoction to make a green explosion. Join us in our upcoming events of star gazing at True Aggie Night, the annual Quiz Bowl, Science Demonstrations, Elemental Bingo, a showing of Sherlock Holmes, Bill Nye and more. Go Aggies. AS FOR SICK KIDS, THE LAME, THE DISABLED, OFFICIALS SUE TO BLOCK HEALTH CARE REFORM. THE DISEASED, THE INJURED.•- TrlunolvfoazSersiahMt --THE CHPONICALLY ILL, THE INFIRM, THE HANDICAPPED, THE ABUSED— ...LET THEM EAT CAKE. Assistant News Editor Catherine Meidell Features Editor Courtnie Packer Assistant Features Editor Benjamin Wood Sports Editor Connor Jones Assistant Sports Editor Matt Sonnenberg Copy Editor Mark Vuong Photo Editors Pete Smithsuth Steve Sellers Web Editor Karlie Brand About letters • Letters should be limited to 400 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or email address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. • Letters representing groups - or more than one individual - must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters - no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e-mailed to statesman@aggiemail. usu.edu , or click on www.aggietownsquare.com for more letter guidelines and a box to submit letters. (Link: About Us.) Sound Off Mother Nature strikes back I t could have been worse, I suppose. I could have been squatting in the canyon and been bitten on the butt by a rattlesnake, or I could have been relieving myself unwittingly on an electric fence, but last Tuesday night when I stepped over the curb to reach the closest bush, I only had a slight inkling that things might go bad. Ironically, the last thought to go through my head before I was struck down by Mother Nature was, "Don't step in the loose dirt." The last time I had opted for the convenience of the shrubbery, I stepped down the foot or so over the curb separating the urban from the wild, and slipped in top soil still damp from the melting snow. I found myself wallowing in the mud. Filthy and embarrassed, I was quite unaware that the earth itself was trying to send me a message. If that warning was taken too lightly, it wouldn't be the case this time. When I breached the divide between the road and the wild, my thoughts were to not be as careless as I had been the last time, but never did it enter my mind as I took the much shorter and deliberate step, that nature had a temper and a solid memory. I had been warned, no question about it, and given the age of our fair planet, it should only stand to reason that it's seen it all. Apparently it had had enough, because when I stepped slowly and carefully toward the concealing wall of green, my right foot planted itself on a patch of dark and unlevel ground and I recoiled in agony as I, once again, fell into the cold embrace of the damp and dirty ground. The idea of having been given a second chance escaped me for the moment. All I could do was clutch and wallow. My ankle caused me to scream in pain so loudly that I was unable to hear the cool nighttime breeze whisper, "I told See BROKEN, page 12 Leave your comments on the stories and columns you find in The Utah Statesman at aggietownsquare.com |