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Show Explosions and loud noises B2 @ARGYLECOLLIN Utah Valley University//uvureview.com UVU REVIEW THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE Colorado fire rages on UVU scores low on students' rights Organization says that the university's policies restrict freedom of speech Utah firefighters stand ready to help fight Colorado's recordmaking wildfire By Alex Sousa By Natalie Sullivan Managing Editor Assistant News Editor @nhillsullivan @TwoFistedSousa Since early June, the Colorado wildland fires have taken a destructive journey. Since the burning of 511 homes, with 28 considerably damaged, two people killed and more than 39,000 residents forced to evacuate, the Black Forest fire has demolished more homes than at any point in Colorado history. Yet as celebrations for the Fourth of July near, the predicament that Colorado and many other states have found themselves in is far from over. Colorado Forest Service in the last few weeks has contracted firefighting crews from Montana to the Dakotas in a region-wide effort to defend homes, towns, and highways. "When these emergencies occur, every state goes on standby to assist however needed. If something were to occur here in Utah while our crews are out, other states will be mobilized into action," said Utah Governor Gary Herbert following Colorado's requests in accordance with the state-to-state Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Governor Herbert approved the Utah National Guard to assist in Colorado Wildfires for 72 hours early Saturday morning on June 15 when Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper declared disaster emergencies for three fires. Two Helicopters were planned to deploy early the next day, but Colorado emergency officials reassessed and withdrew that request late the same afternoon. It was determined by Colorado emergency officials that Utah assistance was not needed at the time. Since then no further requests from Utah have been made no other details on the sudden decline for help have been released. According to Jared Orum, a UVU Emergency Services student, in a wildland fire situation, procedure is cautious when deploying fire fighters. "Wildland fire fighting is very dangerous. If it's not causing damage to anything—towns, homes, historical or religious sites—don't risk someone's health or life." Resources like fire engines, helicopters and smoke jumpers are also added strategically in order to be used in more dangerous situations. "Wildland fire fighters use the term 'keep one foot in the black.' Sometimes they are so close to the fire that to keep themselves from being over taken they keep one foot on ground that has already been burned so they can step into less burnable fuels if need be," explained Orum. As of June 23, Colorado has totaled 16 wildfires and burned 109 square miles, according to 7News in Denver. As for Utah citizens, Governor Herbert urges caution. "Given the dry, hot and windy conditions statewide, we must be vigilant in practicing fire safety and good common sense. That means using extra caution while camping, target shooting, and recreating outdoors. It also means ensuring structures are free of debris, hot vehicles are away from brush and dry grass, and fireworks are used in safe zones in accordance with local restrictions." The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has given Utah Valley University a red speech code rating. This means that the organization has found at least one policy at the university that "clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech." In UVU's case, they've found two. These two policies sit among a half dozen others that raise questions about the rights of students attending UVU. "The restriction has to be clear on the page of the policy as it's written and it has to be substantial in the sense that the amount of protected speech prohibited by the policy is a substantial amount," said Azhar Majeed, associate director of legal and public advocacy at FIRE. "With these policies, they're clear on their page that they restrict protected speech and the amount restricted is substantial." The two policies that earned the red speech code ranking are both found in the school's policy handbook and deal with sexual harassment. Majeed pointed out that the biggest problem with these policies was that the language was too vague and left too much open for interpretation. The policies never clearly defined what would constitute harassment on campus and used words like "unwelcome" or "unwanted," which—legally speaking—are The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has found at least one policy at UVU that restricts students' freedom of speech PAOLA VAUGHAN/UVU REVIEW see RIGHTS A2 UVU student housing targeted in mass auto burglary Herbert overhauls Organized group broke into multiple cars at five student housing complexes in a onenight sting Utah makes effort to stay on the top of the competitive medical field By KresLynn Knouse Assistant News Editor @KresLynn UVU Student Housing Targeted in Mass Auto Burglary Two UVU housing complexes were targeted in a multi-city auto burglary that left students devastated earlier this month. There were eight documented burglaries on June 3, although as many as 13 break-ins may have occurred that night. Orem police reported that a small group of individuals drove see BURGLARY A2 medical field By Paola Vaughan Staff Writer @paovaughan2010 Several UVU students now victims of car burglaries NICK BOYER/UVU REVIEW On June 14, three pieces of new medical legislation were signed at a ceremony hosted by the University of Utah. At the event, Governor Gary R. Herbert held a roundtable discussion from pre-med students up to medical school alumni. The programs which were signed into effect included the Medical Admissions Funding, Children's and Families' Cancer Research Facility Concurrent Resolution, and the Cytomegalovirus Public Health Initiative. The committee that ceremonially signed the new legislation—which was led by Governor Herbert— included Senator John Valentine and Representatives Brad Lee and Ronda Menlove. Other community and business leaders and students were in attendance, as well as doctors and administrator from the University of Utah. The bills were signed to keep promoting high quality health programs in Utah and—most important—reasonable prices in the healthcare market. The Medical School Admissee MEDICAL A2 |