OCR Text |
Show W E B E R S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y Signpost By MARIA VILLASENOR managing editor | The Signpost Weber State University's first candidate for provost spoke Wednesday to more than 100 faculty and staff. Robert Vartabedian addressed the challenges and opportunities of higher education in his 20minute presentation. Three tools he said would meet those challenges were livable, competitive wages and meaningful professional development for faculty, as well as promoting civic engagement within the campus community. "I can't think of a more meaningful opportunity as a provost than to enhance the lives of our students at Weber State University," Vartabedian said. A provost is an administrative liaison between faculty, staff, administrators and legislators, and would oversee the academic curriculum of WSU. "The person who we're hiring is basically the CEO of the academic world here at Weber State," said Frank Guliuzza, chair of the political science department, of the position he said would be the most important hire for WSU for the next 10 years. Guliuzza attended the last series of provost candidate presentations in the spring. Four candidates spoke at WSU, but none were chosen for the position, and President F. Ann Millner reopened the search. David Eisler was provost until July of 2003, when he became president of Ferris State University in Michigan. Jeff Livingston is the interim provost, having taken that position this July when Kathleen Lukken returned to her previous position as associate provost. "I think I've paid my academic dues," VartLbedian said as to why he'd be a good provost. He listed his career at other universities and the positive Jesuits he's had from various projects and reforms made during his tenure. Vartabedian is currently interim vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Western Carolina University; previously he wasaprofessorofcommunication and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, for which he helped acquire $1.6 million in donations. At other universities, he has taught, directed graduate studies, coordinated graduate studies, headed departments and been assisting dean. "If there are any other steps that I've missed, I'm not aware of them; academically, those are the kinds of steps one to take prepare See Contender page 6 see page 5 see page 7 on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17,2004 Provost contender speaks to campus campus Mens X-country team hits the pavement running Student film premieres wsusignpost.com VOLUME 67 ISSUE 15 Gubernatorial candidates put education, economy at top of campaign list By SHANE FARVER news editor | The Signpost With a little more than six weeks till Election Day, Utah's education system is a subject of debate for Republican candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. and Democratic candidate Scott Matheson, Both believe that economy and education are the major issues affecting the state. However, Matheson argues that economy and education should be paid attention to simultaneously, while Huntsman feels that a stronger economy will provide the necessary funds for a better educational system. "We believe that the main difference of our opponent is that John Huntsman Jr. has a way to pay for (education)," said Jason Chaffetz, Huntsman's campaign manager. "We have amazing demographics in this state, where there are projected to be 144,000 new additional students into the system over the next 10 years. ... It (education) will always be and should be our state's largest expenditure. The question is, 'How do we get more money into the classroom? How do we get more money to pay for the expanding demographic of the state?' We believe that unless the economy takes off, unless our economy does better, we'd never be able to pay for the bill." Matheson refuted this argument by saying, "Economic development and education are really inseparable." He believes that in order for both to improve, one cannot take precedent over the other. "You'renotgoingtohaveagood, solid economic development unless you're committed to and investing in your education system," Matheson said. "Part of my response is that investment in our people and investment in human capital is one of the primary factors in growing an economy 1 agree that economic growth is important in terms of building a tax base that supports our education system, but the two go hand in hand." jon Huntsman Jr. Scott Matheson Transportation of students attending campuses across Utah is another issue both candidates plan to focus on during the gubernatorial race. Both candidates take a muitifaceted approach to traffic solutions by supporting a light rail from Brigharn City to the Salt Lake area. "Geographically we're somewhat boxed in, and there has to be more solutions than just roads," Chaffetz said. Both Chaffetz and Matheson stated that mass transportation is vital for many students. Chaffetz estimated that 80 to 85 percent of TRAX commuters who ride with him during the morning hours are University of Utah-affiliated. Matheson stated that more mass transit is needed to facilitate the thousands of Utah students who have to make it to campus each See Campaign page 6 Munchies madman makes meals at convocations By NATALIE CLEMENS editor in chief | The Signpost Sixteen bottles of Frank's Red Hot Original, sugar, several lemons and limes, peanut butter, Eggo waffles, a toaster and an assortment of other instruments donned the stage of the Shepherd Union Ballroom Wednesday afternoon where munchies mastermind Kevin Roberts was cooking up a storm. Roberts grew up in Los Angeles in a single-parent home. "It was either cook or starve," Roberts told the WSU audience during Wednesday's convocation. "My mom was working like nine jobs, and going to school." Robertsstartedexperimenting with different types of food at a young age. When he was older he worked as a screenplay writer for television shows and would cook for the staff on the set. After coming up with some recipes that seemed to be popular, he decided to write a book. "I fused my love of writing and cooking into the book," Roberts said. It took him five years to write "Munchies: Cook What You Want, Eat What You Like," but now it can be found at stores like Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and the WSU Bookstore. "The Munchies motto is 'Cheap, simple, tasty, healthy,"' Roberts said. Roberts said people should cook for themselves because it's cheaper, simpler, healthier, and Kevin Roberts, author of "Munchies: Cook What You Want, Eat What You Like/' makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich on an Eggo waffle at Wednesday's Convocation. people can cook the way they want to. Roberts offered suggestions for easier cooking like using a towel instead of paper towels, washing hands often, and when cutting with a sharp knife, curling the edges of the fingers in to avbid cutting them. He also suggested that breakfast is very important. "If you don't eat breakfast your body shuts down and says, 'What's the deal? Are we lost?" Roberts said thefivefoods that should be avoided like the plague are soda, sugar, cheese, French fries and burgers. He said the top five foods to eat are blueberries, kiwis, beans, soy and yogurt. "It's literally just making a cognitive change to change your health and your future," Roberts said. WSU sophomore Joee Bond said she thought Roberts was fabulous. "I liked that he was informational yet entertaining," Bond said. She said she may change some of her eating habits. "1 didn't know cheese was bad for me," Bond said. "I'm really depressed. We have string cheese in our bag." WSU sophomore Roger Mulholland also thought that Roberts was informative. "My favorite part was when he shared the food with us," Mulholland said. Mulholland said he'll definitely make minor changes in his diet after hearing the presentation. "My favorite recipes are especially during football season; some are my chicken wings," Roberts said. "I love doing my chicken wings. I cook for a lot of people. Nothing better and cool I think than hanging out with friends, cooking some stuff." Roberts found out Tuesday night that his show is going to be picked up by Discovery. He will also be live next Wednesday on ESPN2's morning show "Cold Pizza." "No one is cooking for the 18- to 34-year-olds and showing them really simple ways to feed themselves," Roberts said, "but also staying healthy at the same time without runrflig toTaco Bell or Burger King every day." You can reach reporter Natalie Clemens by calling 626-7121. • |