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Show AQUi YAHORA Por una Venezuela libre y democratica BY LIDIA ABANTO News Writer The Orem fire station murals teach kids the need to be safe around fire. PHOTO COURTESY OF UVU MARKETING Mural teaches fire safety BY JANESSA MCNEIL News Writer How better to teach children about the importance of fire safety than with pictures? Forty students from the UVU Art and Visual Communications department created a mural at Orem Fire Station No. 3. They donated their time and artistic skills to a great cause for the community. At the end of spring semester, Casey Vorwaller, Orem City Fire Inspector, asked if UVU students could help make a fire safety mural. Several students submitted possible designs for a wall-sized mural. Out of the many ideas submitted, senior Virginia Tilby's sketch was chosen. In the fall, Don Seegmiller, coordinator of the Illustration Area in the Art and Visual Communications department, asked students if they wanted to participate. About 40 students volunteered for the task. Once Tilby's design was blown up onto the wall, it took two evenings for these students to bring the sketch to life. Twenty students helped each night to paint the mural with no monetary benefits behind it except pizza, given to them by the fire department. "Anybody could come," Seegmiller said. "Everybody wanted to help when they got there." It was mostly illustration students who were giving their time and talents for the fire department, but many brought their spouses. "This mural has given me a huge sense of accomplishment," Tilby said. "I feel much more confident in myself as an artist after this project, especially now that it's done and it looks so incredible thanks to everyone's help." Olivia McLaughlin, one of the art students who helped paint the mural, felt the mural was important for kids and was excited to take the project on. "You don't see this kind of thing done very often, and it feels good to help kids," said McLaughlin. "I wish they had something like this when I was a kid ... I'd do it again in a heartbeat." Long hours and no pay would usually frustrate anyone, but this project was a worthwhile reminder of the difference that can be made by reaching out to the community If you want to go see the mural for yourself, the fire station is open to the public and located at 255 N. 1200 West in Orem. En los Illtimos afios, Venezuela esta experimentando muchos cambios politicos y sociales, que han afectado a sus ciudadanos, los cuales se han visto obligados a emigrar de su pais de origen. Wilma Medina es una estudiante venezolana en UVU, que Rego a estados Unidos en el 2010. Ella y sus dos hijos tomaron la decision de salir de su querida Venezuela, para iniciar una nueva vida en los Estados Unidos. "La situacion publica y politica, fueron uno de los principales factores que me hicieron tomar la decisi6n de salir de mi pais. La inseguridad que hay en Venezuela para los ciudadanos y jovenes es un terra muy delicado", expreso Medina. Al igual que la familia Mediana, en UVU hay una pequelia poblacion de estudiantes venezolanos, que estan preparandose en diversas areas profesionales. Ya que en su pais de origen encontraron algunas cambios de orden politico que no les permitian avanzar. "Al principio el gobierno de Hugo Chavez nos present() un planteamiento de gobierno socialista, pero la realidad es otra. Estamos viviendo un sistema comunista. La corrupcion se ha encargado de guitar el merito profesional", remare() Medina Para muchas personas no es raro escuchar las noticias y observar los constantes desaflos que afrontan los hermanos venezolanos cada dia. "Los medios de comunicacion no tienen total libertad de expresion, se esta viviendo una cultura de miedo. Hay algunos exiliados viviendo aqui en Estados Unidos. El caso de Patricia Polea, es muy conocido, ella fue exiliada por expresar su opinion de oposicion contra el gobierno chavista", dijo Medina. Al igual que muchos estudiantes extranjeros en UVU, Medina extraiia su pais y sus costumbres pero tambien se encarga de preservarlas, ya que un dia regresara a su tierra. "Extrailo la Venezuela de antes, la de ahora, no es como la que yo conoci, aquella, que era antes del regimen chavista. Se que un dia voy a regresar a recuperar lo que deje, parte de mi familia, y mis costumbres", enfatizo Medina. Aunque en UVU Medina ha encontrado una familia, tambien tiene sus sueiios, ella tiene la esperanza de un mejor futuro en su amada Venezuela. "Suefio con una Venezue la libre, donde la gente camine con el rosto lleno de alegria. Que exista seguridad para los jovenes y tambien oportunidades. Tal vez me pase como algunos cubanos, no se, pero esperare por la reconstruccion", agrego Medina. Addiction from Al the majority of the addiction recovery focus on drugs and alcohol, other non-chemical addictions are often forgotten about such as overeating, video games, gambling and compulsive shopping, called omniomania. "He would just disappear...for days," said Jergens, "Once you see someone who's so addicted to something like that, you realize anyone could be addicted to any one thing. Anyone you pass at UVU could have an addiction to something." Recently, UVU added a certification course for students wishing to become substance abuse counselors. After completing the class, students must also complete 4,000 hours — or 2,000 if they have a degree in behavioral or social science — as well complete the state-licensing exam. Currently, the state of Utah has 69 addiction recovery treatment centers and programs in place. For UVU, prescription pill abuse is a big problem, according to Sgt. Sprague, head of campus police. "[drug problems] are bigger than people think they are," Sprague said. Despite lackluster performance in the past, UVU has taken steps to assist those suffering from addiction. Mark Lundholm, a comedian and recovering addict, performed his "Evening of 12-step humor" at UVU in September, humoring and educating his audience. Amy Lloyd, a 2006 UVU graduate, began a pornography addiction recovery program with help from Student Health Services. Based around the 12-step course, the program was presented at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association where it was highly praised. While the Alcoholics Anonymous group on campus is now defunct, Utah Valley has many other AA groups that meet in both English and Spanish. In February, UVU will host the Mental Health Symposium. The third of its kind, the Symposium is structured to shed light on the mental health of the community at large and UVU. This year, the Symposium is focused wholly on addiction. Keynote speakers will discuss aspects of addictions and workshops will address the prevention, treatment, and recovery from addictions, both chemical and non-chemical. Oftentimes, when attention is paid to addiction, the addict is the only person thought of. Family members, friends, associates who are hurt by the addiction are forgotten. For both the addict and those around the individual, it is important that addiction is prevented before recovery is necessary. STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES Room SC-221 801-863-8876 Mental Health Symposium: Focus on Addiction Feb. 23, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sorensen Student Center Contact person Toni Harris 801-863-6816 harristo@uvu.ede @Utah Valley * iZENT * SELL S 4 CA$i4 for TEATS001 eveizyDAY 465 W university Pkwy soi•••2244925 www•UVUtextbooks.com opem M—F 9-*Oprri |