OCR Text |
Show 1111 Fitch the Homeless Utah Valley University//uvureview.com V U REVIEW THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE The gravy train pulls into the station UTA says the economy, not FrontRunner, to blame for higher transit prices By Elizabeth Suggs Reporter elizabethannes.92@gmail.com Compared to the high monthly cost of an adult bus pass for $83.00, UTA have made it possible for college students to ride Utah's public transit for an annual cost of $70.00, this September for a full year at Utah Valley University. This gives UVU students the opportunity to pay substantially less than non-students, particularly on FrontRunner, a newly included trilevel train that runs up to speeds of 70 mph, compared to TRAX which only runs up to 60 mph. However, UVU's bus pass has increased steadily over the years to $70.00 and many students will not be happy, with this new increase. "UTA charges us a substantial amount for its public transit passes, and UVU has to raise student prices [to keep up]." Dawn Burgess, the manager of both UVU Campus connection and the UVU post office, said. Because FrontRunner south stations are newly implemented, some speculate that the student increase is due to the arrival of FrontRunner services. Kris Martina, a UTA customer service representative disagrees. "The raise has everything to do with the economy, not the FrontRunner." Martina said. "We had our last raise in our prices as of April third and it's going to stay same for awhile." Martina didn't know when the next raise would be, although she loves the new FrontRunner stations. Her daughter, who is returning from Russia just enrolled at UVU and will be driving to South Jordan's FrontRunner station and taking the FrontRunner down to Orem. "My daughter loves it." Martina said. The FrontRunner is also very popular with UVU students, who seem to ask frequently if the bus pass covers the travel fare for the FrontRunner. "I'm sure it's making money, " See FRONTRUNNER A3 For many students, the add on to the new FrontRunner south stations is great, no matter the cost. UVU lends a hand Collaborative Music Video my UVU alumni funds for amputees in Guatemala By Natalie Sullivan Circles USA focuses on eliminating financial burdens through peer support and networking. PHOTO COURTESY OF WWWFRANKLINSPROMISECOALITION.ORG Qnhillsullivan Circles Founder Visits Provo to Expand Program Throughout Utah New anti-poverty program may soon be helping many Utahns conquer their financial distress by making connections By KresLynn Knouse Assistant News Editor @KresLynn Circles Founder Visits Provo to Expand Program Throughout Utah Circles® USA is a new program aimed at reducing poverty in the United States and other parts of the world. Scott Miller, CEO and Founder of the Circles Program, re- cently visited Provo with the intent to expand the program throughout all of Utah. Circles participants have seen as much as an 81% increase in income and 800% increase in monthly assets after the traditional 18 month enrollment. "Circles USA is closely watching the Provo location due to the strength of the agency and its volunteers, the involvement of the LDS church, and its active correlation with United Way," Miller stated in an interview. Miller hopes to see the kind of success from Circles Utah that he has seen from other Circles programs. Circles provides low-income families with an "Ally," a trained middle-to-high-income volunteer from the community. Allies provide social support and offer assistance in financial goal-setting for participants. Circles groups meet on a weekly basis to discuss financial strategies and monthly "Big View" meetings are also held to discuss barriers to success and how to remove them. "Our efforts are to work with families in poverty and to help them find financial self-reliance," said Jane Carlile, a Utah Circles Coordinator. "We're also trying to get communities to see how understanding needs we're not aware of can benefit all of us." Circles USA not only aims to help those in poverty but also to expand Assistant News Editor awareness of poverty within specific communities In Utah County alone, 11.8% of families with children are in poverty. "A unique aspect of Circles is that our meetings are held in conjunction with a free dinner donated to us by volunteers. Providing a meal and childcare at these meetings gives sustained support for our participants to move forward and commit to a better life," Carlile said. The main goal for the Circles program is to have the 10% of people currently in poverty in the United States, out of poverty by 2020. "All it takes is an application and a willingness to change your life," See CIRCLES A3 This July, students at the International Service Abroad Club are again looking to implement improvements to their Guatemalan amputee project entitled, We Love the Cause. As of June 2012, ten amputees in Guatemala can thank UVU students for their custom-designed prosthetic legs, each costing 1-5% of the average prosthetic transtibial device. Lacking access to affordable prosthetics or governmental help, amputees in Guatemala are often unemployed and left no choice but to use crutches and beg on the streets for money. "Last year, it took us two days to build the prosthetic leg," said political science student and club member, Jonathan Latham. Now with a more efficient process and rubberized design, the group is reducing that time to between 2-3 hours. Lantham described putting the finished prosthetic foot onto his patient, Marvin Hernandez Vasquez, who lost both of his legs in an electrical accident. "I was extremely nervous that I had made a mistake or it wouldn't be right. I just wanted it to be my best piece of work. That was the whole reason I was there — a years worth of fundraising lead up to this one moment." With support from singer, Alex Boyd, students at the International Service Abroad Club collaborated this past April on a music video. Multiple campus groups including the African Club, and the Green Man Group joined with amputees from the local community in order to raise funds for the cause. "Because [Boyd] is a UVU alumni, he said, 'Hey let's go film down the Hall of Flags.' He was the one that made sure it looked like UVU" As members of ISA found out at a concert, Boyd had personal connections to the amputee cause. "We were fortunate enough that See AMPUTEES A3 |