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Show Monday, February 4,2008 V THE Left Opinion & Analysis By Kellen McAffee I The Signpost Vote left-handed Watching Thursday's debate between Hillary and Barack, I noticed something that changed my entire view of the election. Obama is a lefty! Not left as in liberal or left of center but the man writes with his left hand! Forget all other identity categories that are being relentlessly politicized in this election, most notably race and gender. Forget the bickering about mundane policy distinctions. Forget the adhomonym attacks on character. Left handedness must claim its rightful place at the center of American politics. What better way to reach out across the aisle continuedfromfront Averet said, "and I work mostly oneon-one with any athlete." " JD Donnelly, President and CEO of SOUT, attended the ceremony and thanked all the coaches for the hard work and effort put forth to make sure the athletes werereadyto go at the starting line. Lyn Rees, the coordinator of this year's ceremony, also commented on the Special Olympics. "I think the greatest benefitforany athlete is the confidence level," Rees said. "We have athletes that have competed for years in the Special Olympics and have later gone out to get jobs. We have two athletes that work in the Special Olympics of Utah office." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. O U D 6 l continuedfromfront of Utahns favor Mitt Romney for the Republican ticket, while 31 percent support Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party. Still, John McCain received a political boost last week when both former Major Giuliani and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed his candidacy. Also, whereas Hillary Clinton hasn't paid a personal visit to Utah, Barrack Obama visited Park City last year when he attended a fundraiser held in his honor. However, last Tuesday, Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, spoke to WSU students about her mom's campaign. She also encouraged young people to be informed and involved in the upcoming elections. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. than with your left hand! Why does Oprah really like Obama? She's left handed! It's true, I checked. Four of the last five commanders in chief were lefties, including extreme righties Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. George W. Bush is the first right handed (not to mention underhanded) president since Jimmy Carter. People, do we really want another right handed president? A leftist manifesto. First of all, it's tough being a lefty. We have to put up with rampant rightism at every turn, right or left. The invisible hand of the market has left R © t l T© continuedrrom ft us behind. Desks? Forget it. Computer mice? Technological discrimination. Handshakes? No one in their right mind would extend their left hand at a job interview. We lefties are told we are lesser humans from preschool on. We are forced to use our right hands like a modern form of foot-binding, and are left crippled with terrible handwriting for the rest of our lives. According to an ABC News study, lefties are more likely to be dyslexic, schizophrenic, delinquent, and alcoholic; and rightfully so. I tend to read from right to left, I try to be ambidextrous, and eventually I just drop out and get drunk. Most minorities do carry a larger burden. We lefties are driven to these sicknesses by SOCIETY, man. We need a president who feels our pain. Right on! In these difficult times, we GETTING ENGAGED? www.seneedham.com WHERE UTAH GETS ENGAGED favorite and not-so-favorite teachers and mentors. And second, because they are a part of a very large baby boomer generation who are all retiring over the next several years, it may force students to work longer after graduation in order to receive their full benefits. "I'd like to retire before World War III," said Devin Bliss, a WSU business administration and chemistry sophomore. "The age disparity is going to grow and it is just going to keep getting pushed back." The younger students are, the longer they'll have to wait for full benefits, but there is a lot of skepticism that there won't be any money left for those retiring in 30 years. "They promise that we'll have benefits," said Josh Clifford, a finance junior at WSU, "but I don't trust that promise. I'm not counting on Social Security being a part of retirement. It's just not a good financial plan. You pay all this money that does not accrue any interest, and then yQU>rece,ive a pension that does not calculate inflation or cost of living. It's very short-sighted." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. wsusignpost.com. aware that students are aware of the environmental issues we face today and are aware that the administration has taken steps to combat these environmental issues. We would like to see the administration to continue doing these things to help the environment." Possible solutions Olsen proposed to reduce carbon emissions across campus were to re-evaluate the current bus system to make it more efficient, and to advocate that more students use a carpooling system. Hill recently presented his resolution to the Environmental Initiative Committee, but did not receive full support. "The Environmental Initiative Committee supported the idea," Olsen said, "but felt the message wasn't fully there." Hill's motion was tabled by the Student Senate to amend the resolution; he said he hopes to clarify his point and gain the Environmental Initiative Committee's support. Comment on this story at wsusignpost. com. Future uncertain for online evaluations By Jestina Clayton sr. news reporter I The Signpost Online evaluation of professors is a proposal that, if passed, would allow Weber State University students to evaluate their professors through their student portals and the results of these evaluations would be made available online to the student community. However, Louise Moulding, a member of the WSU Admissions, Standards and Student Affairs committee {ASSA) said her committee had dropped the proposal because it requires students to complete the evaluation prior to viewing their grades. Chris Bentley, legislative vice president of WSU's student government who is sponsoring the proposal, said the ASSA had neither communicated their concerns, nor had they told him that the proposal has been dropped. This aim of this proposal mirrors one that is being practiced at the University of Utah. Jennifer Mabey of the U of U Academic Outreach program, which administers the online faculty evaluation, said more than 70 per cent of their students have responded favorably toward it. Bentley said although students will not be forced to evaluate their professors; those? who participate in the online evaluation could see their grades earlier than the date the university typically makes them available. Campus Police Blotter Tuesday, Jan. 22 Friday, Jan. 25 Monday, Jan. 28 Amazingly original vandalism found in bathroom Clever hit-and-run driver gets away clean Inertia and chemistry combine, disaster ensues Criminal mischeif was reported at the Kimball Center for the Visual Arts Someone wrote oh the stalls in the third floor men's restroom. Police have no suspects and the case is still under investigation. A vehicle parked in the Dee Events center parking lot was hit during the basketball game Friday. The rear bumper was damaged. The case is still under investigation. A car was getting ready to turn left at the light on 3850 South Dixon. The vehicle behind him hit ice while trying to stop and rear-ended the car. . Saturday, Jan. 26 Another driver befuddled by perfectly normal physics Wednesday, Jan. 23 Driver's depth perception called Into question Call and you could save. Class dismissed. Comment on this column at Carbon continuedfromfront front retirement, some employees are gainingadditionaleducationand skills to pick up the slack, and recruiting externally continues to be a viable option." Any member of faculty or staff who has worked at WSU for 10 years or more could retire soon. However, in order to be considered retired at WSU, the potential retiree must, at the time of retirement, be at least 55 years of age and have served continuously in a full-time capacity for 10 years, according to Nelson. For those who are thinking about retirement, things are becoming increasingly more complicated. The age for which a retiree can receive 100-percent benefits depends on the year a retiree was born; the Social Security Administration (SSA) is extending the Social Security benefit age. According to the SSA, those born between 1943 and 1954 can receive full benefits at the age of 66, but the age begins to be pushed forward by two months per year until 1960. For those born in 1960 and later, the age is now 67. Retirees will be able to start sticking their hands in the Social Security pot starting at age 62, but will receive only a percentage of benefits. They would receive full benefits at 67. For students, this is a doubleedged sword. First, the retiring faculty and staff result in the loss of truly need a lefty. It has also been rightfully noted that lefties are more creative. More importantly, lefties are better fighters. Rocky and Oscar de la Hoya both had brutalizing lefts. Am I right? According to the same ABC study, lefties are better fighters because most people are right handed and are prepared to fight other right handed people. Lefties are also prepared to fight righties but they fight left, hence the advantage. Vote left! Thus, with fidelity to our dexterous roots we write on, elbow falling off desk, and ink smeared across the pages of our declarations of full humanity. The right president will not make us feel left out. Vote Dbama! A car in the University Village parking lot backed into another car. No citation was issued. Nation-wide manhunt for door-hating felon underway A men's restroom door was pulled off its hinges in the lower level of the Wattis Business Building. The case is still under investigation. A car was driving too fast . for the weather conditions and hit a parked car on . Edvilson by the A3 parking lot. He was issued a citation for driving too fast for the weather conditions. • Receive up to $255 a month and give life to patients in need. New Donors-Earn $35 Today and r $80 this Week! Convenient local office Money-saving discounts Low down payments Monthly payment plans 24-hour service and claims Coverage available by phone * Friendly Staff * Limited Time Commitment Local Office Study While You Donate CALL FOR A FREE RATE QUOTE. Local Office 1531 N. Hillfield Rd., Suite 3 GEICD (801)775-8020 Askfor a Student Discount 1-31:1=1 »*« Some (tKOumj. owsgn. p t y i m ptara, and taws wt not Miiablefriti iron or In A! GEKO ccrr*xri«i Gmenronr E Co, GtfCO G*oer»l Jmuina Co. CtICO Irabno!? Ca GUCO Caudt/ Co. RWM c»np»ni«»ewi»i&ito(HBcri3HnMbtfK^ln auto t n w w c H not Mtobfe In MA. GEJCO: WtaNngaw, DC HM76 C 2007 GEKO. Ih« GUCO q«in en** O C14CO 1999-2007 GRIFOLS Biomat USA 375 S State, Clearfield 801-825-1999 SOURCE: JOSH BARNEY He also said a poll conducted in 2004 revealed that the majority of the members of the Faculty Senate were in favor of online evaluation of professors. However, Moulding . said members of the ASSA, which is a standing committee in the Faculty Senate, had concerns about the proposal. "Evaluations are an important source of information," Moulding said, "but requiring students to complete the evaluation prior to viewing their grades would be punitive rather than motivational." She said that while her committee agreed it is important for students to provide and gain information about professors, the results of an evaluation would be invalid if the students did not put sufficient thought and time into it. As a result, Colleen Garside, a professor in WSU's Communication Department and a member of the Executive ^Coiiirhittee in the Faculty Senate, said that on January 17 the ASSA presented their decision against supporting online faculty evaluations. "Grades should not be tied to evaluations in any way," Garside said. "Hence that option is unacceptable." She said it could be that the students may either be extremely happy or vexed with a professor. "If the evaluation was voluntary," Garside said, "the likelihood is that evaluations would only be completed by a limited number of students, most of whom would have very strong positive or negative feelings about the class." In which case, Garside said the happy students won't participate but the unhappy ones will. The results of such an evaluation, she said, will not reflect the faculty's actual performance. Moulding said students can currently access professor evaluations through the Stewart Library. However, students have not been accessing that information. "The lack of requests for evaluations while housed at the library may be an indication that there is not widespread interest in the information," Moulding said. "This raises the concern as to whether the proposed evaluation system is needed." To the contrary, Bentley said faculty online evaluations are needed. He said the proposal would allow students to access professor evaluations easily through their student portals rather than having to "hunt them down" in the archives of the library. "Everyone is always hesitant of change," Bentley said, "especially when that change has the potential to open the university to greater transparency. It's my strong belief that this is one of those changes that has potential to bring about great things to this university." Bentley said he is working on a revisedversionoftheproposal, which would reflect the recommendations that some professors in the Faculty Senate have offered. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. |