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Show If " INSIDE The O n 7?e Signpost signs off, Page 6 Volume 64 Issue 85 wsusignpost.com Wednesday, May 1, 2002 -JH.- .- " - t, !- ' ' ' . Bams Campus gd SGs way By Brandy A. Lee photo editor The Signpost The ground breaking for the new Davis Campus brought sighs of.relief and hope for the future of Weber State University. "It is a tremendous relief to have this happen," said WSU President Paul Thompson. "A lot of people worked hard to have this happen." The Davis Campus project started in 1992 when residents came together to create the Davis County Community College. They wanted to see more higher education in Davis County and received their wish when a building opened on Antelope Drive in Layton. About two years later the legislature saw the value of buying land for a larger campus. One million dollars was enough for WSU to get its foot in the door and hold onto the land. Retired Utah Senator Haven Barlow said he tried to ensure the coming of this day for eight years. "The governor was not anxibus to do this," Barlow said. "He thought we could-do higher education through technology." As a last stand before retiring from the senate, Barlow made the Appropriations 'Committee promise him that he could have whatever was left over from the budget. Eight years and $3.5 million later Davis County residents and WSU faculty are seeing their dreams come true. The new facility will have 40 classrooms and offer general education and business courses. "I think that we will see students in Davis County taking classes closer to home," said WSUSA President Steve Starks. He said this expansion will be good for students in Davis County and also for WSU. "This is not just a great thing for Layton and Clearfield, but for Davis County and northern Utah as well," said Jerry Stevenson, Mayor of Layton City. While Thompson will no longer be president of the university by the time the doors open in August 2003, he said the project will still go forward. "This will be one of his greatest legacies," said Utah Representative Kevin Garn. You can reach reporter Brandy A. Lee by calling 626-6358. - ; h i (SVm I i j : : v If i W- . . . ii : "v ".:v:v-:;..ia.ll,',J A V ? ; v 7 . -s . - - i - ; .' -, ; ; i - . - M; ; : ' . -: v J '-: Davis Campus Senator Nate Hales digs in to help break ground Tuesday. Creative writing major to be part of English By Andrew Borgstrom correspondent The Signpost Aftsr nearly two years of discussion, the creative writing major has become a reality. The proposal was accepted to create an English major with a creative writing emphasis on April 29. "It's an unmet need," said Ron Deeter, English department instructor. Deeter has been in the process of defining curriculum and helping form the major. "The idea has been rolling around for about two years," Deeter said. Since the major fair began three years ago, members of the English department noticed a great amount of student interest in creative writing. "Most people that come to the major fair are just out of high school," said Gary Dohrer, English department chair. According to the proposal, "Surveys and advisement sessions have clearly demonstrated student interest and support for such an emphasis, and in the past four years we f ( .. have had no fewer than 10 graduates apply to MFA programs across the country." Starting in fall 2002, students will be able to major in creative writing. However, Deeter does not think the creative writing option will cause current English majors to change their emphasis but will attract other students. "I believe this will bring in many students that are not currently seeking an English major," Deeter said. The journey from proposal to reality began when the curriculum committee of the English department wrote the proposal. The proposal then tad to be cleared through various committers before being accepted. The English department chair saw the proposal first. It then traveled to the Dean of Arts and Humanities, the College Curriculum Committee, the University Curriculum Committee, the Executive Committee of Faculty Senate and finally to the Faculty Senate. "You never know how the faculty are going See Major page 3 Touch Down For Kids contest involves kids with the university By Amanda Harding correspondent The Signpost Weber State University's athletic department has joined together with Ogden middle schools to create artwork for the front cover of the 2002 football program. The Touch Dow n For Kids Contest will give kids from Central, Highland, Mound Fort, and Mount Ogden Middle Schools the opportunity to display their work. Art teachers from the middle schools were supplied with a packet full of contest rules and information that stated entries should be eight inches by eight inches, in color and should symbolize WSU football. All entries will be turned in to the art teachers by May I0. "I've already got three entries, one of the logo, one of some football players and one cheerleader," said Nancy McNeal, art teacher at Central Middle School. Chad Gerrety, WSU assistant athletic director, said that the athletic board will go through all of the drawines and narrow them down to 10 finalists. "I can't wait to see all the drawings on the 10," Gerrety said. The Cat Pack, WSU's fan club, will vote on the winner. The winner will have his or her drawing on the cover of the football program for the entire season. Also, all the students who submit artwork will receive a letter during the first week of August with the names of the top 1 0 winners as well as free tickets to WSU's first game against Western State University on September 14. All students whoentered artwork will be invited onto the field during the pre-game program. The finalists will then be recognized individually.The top 10 students will have their , artwork printed in the program and will be invited to a football practice where they will have the opportunity to meet the players. The Athletic Department is working to get WSU involved in the community."It gets kids that haven't thought about Weber State it gets them up on campus and excited about WSU," Gerrety said. Art teachers said they feel that the Athletic Department is making the contest fair and worth their while. Cris Fasy, an art teacher at Mount Ogden Middle School, said, "So many huge companies say, 'Hey kids, send in your drawings,' but they only pick one picture and the other kids get nothing. I think the idea of sharing the wealth is great." You can leave a mcs,ai'' for correspondent Amanda Harding by calling 626-7655. |