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Show ridging the transportation gap UTA adds shuttle route from Ogden to Davis Campus By BECKY PALMER sr. news reporter The Signpost Weber State University will continue to diversify transportation options this semester by adding a shuttle route directly from the Ogden campus to the new WSU-Davis Campus. In August, the shuttle will run approximately between the hours of 7 a.m. and noon or 1 p.m. The route will take about 30 minutes, as compared to the UTA 640 route that runs between campuses, but takes about one hour. This new service is in addition to a contract between WSU and the Utah Transit Authority that allows students to ride UTA buses and the TRAX service free of charge. The fall 2004 and spring 2005 semesters will function as a trial period for the shuttle service to Davis. The $58,000 cost will be covered by institutional money during that time. The Weber State Student Senate will vote in early August whether to appropriate money for the 2005-2006 school year. Decisions thereafter will be International Student Center serves By SHANE FARVER news editor The Signpost Students have different ways of getting to Weber State University. Some walk, others ride a bike or drive. Some students cross state lines for an education, while others cross countries, continents and oceans to attend WSU. The International Student Center is here to provide that last group of students with the know-how and tools needed to make their quest for education go a little more smoothly. From Japan to Africa, potential graduates first come to WSU, then head to Director Morteza Emami or, SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) specialist Karen Garcia in the International Student Center. The center aids international students in a variety of ways. Emami and Garcia may show them the bus route to the Newgate Mall one day, and make sure they remain legal aliens the next. "In my mind we have two responsibilities, " Emami said. "One of them is to work with government and immigration issues. And on the other hand, we have students and we try to help them keep their status and stay in school, be successful." ' Garcia said the InterrraTroTval made pending the success of the service. The contract, which will begin Aug. 15, is not set in stone. According to Kent Jorgenson, UTA representative, if there is a greater need for the service, then UTA will look at other options. "If we get to the point where more people than the 15 passenger vans can carry on a regular basis, a hearing process to change a route will be held," Jorgenson said. "But doing so must be justified." During the 2003-2004 school year, a pilot program providing no-cost transportation to WSU students through UTA took place. That program will continue this year, but will be funded by student parking and fees not by institutional money. UTA has made changes to accommodate WSU students including route changes and changes in the frequency of stops. They will also provide and require a special EdPass card for students wishing to use the service. These passes are available for students who have registered and paid tuition at the information booths of both campuses. The subject of UTA free Tm excited to meet them because I love to get to know new cultures and I love sharing my culture." Cynthia Morgner, international student senator Student Center is designed to help acclimate international students to American culture. She pointed out that many students from other countries feel a bit shy because of cultural differences and language barriers. "Some of them are reserved," Garcia said. The International Student Center helps international students feel in tune with the WSU community by offering activities, such as a barbecue held on Aug. 20 and an orientation Aug. 30. International student senator Cynthia Morgner can't wait to introduce herself to other international students attending the barbecue. "I'm excited to meet them because I love to get to know new cultures and I love sharing my culture," Morgner said. Emami would like to see more American students in the International Student Center as a way for students from different cultures to share their life experiences and help "international "students' Teel" at ' STFSH WEBER OMGA V "SLn IT T Eoo STATE ROY .AwmftF r p36ttftffi u il r L-Jg UNIVERSITY HUT SANR1DGE JL NEVQATE MALL f STT cifPMS junior ill) C3 ID 4B Sr-WfOV boy HteH Triveroale PLAZA Tll'VSTrTQj F'Z- ITTJ JUNtOfl 5 700 W 'TnXy win Vlg WoCT STADIUM K10, ROY g VI -I CONVERGES XOTTf ui fl SC& iCT'ME EVENT 51 SB,.',, 1 fKl Jnf RWERDALE m fiOOOST G23 J$ PARK 4 RtOE 3 ' iV:, f fi LOT 1 SOUTH u MEADOWS 300 W g 5231 Frway P D( OGDEN OGDEN S. ' SUNSET Tl MEDICAL NTION I 5 r CENTER SOUTH A WEBER BASIN SiJ o q; w weber job corps e HAFB " I NORTH SOUTH WEBErX SOON OAVtS PARK & RIDE " OTJ VI JUNIOR HIGH WEBER STATE LOT g ) UNIVERSITY S 5 -' V riFARFIFlO OAMS CAMPUS 3 I Voi&ir- CEARnELO D K CIEwa g GED2D n . .JT v . - frn ffi LAYTON - m:use Q3 freeportSQ vUCT? fc north rioge ipi,it,I NIOR. I CENTER 1100S2Iy xtj HK5H SCHOOL 1 lot c " LM SoamG. Vllf NORTH LAYTON 3 ' LiiJ AntJUcP V JL -nSSST f 5 SYRACUSE Jp r g Utah Transit Authority offers several routes from the Layton to the Ogden area. Beginning fall semester, a new route will run as a trial shuttle from the WSU Ogden to the Layton WSU-Davis Campus. The new shuttle route will take approximately 30 minutes as compared to the one hour route previously used. transportation has been controversial since last August. Many feel that they should not be obliged to pay for the home. He feels that international students who associate only with those from their native country are at a disadvantage. "What that does is they don't get adjusted," Emami said. "Or they don't learn the language, the English, as well. It takes them longer. So really they don't get the full experience of living in the United States." International students face more challenges than language barriers and culture shock. Many of the things in-state students take for granted can provide a sticky situation for those from another country. For example, international students are allowed to work only 20 hours per week in an on-campus job. The only exceptions provided are internships and co-op work experience. International students also pay approximately S2 1,000 per year at WSU for room and board, books, and courses. If an international student Se e" I nle matronal "page TfJ ' public transportation of other students. Sarah Hart, for example, does not choose to ride the bus. as cultural landing strip Weber State 3 total Students 18,059 c Early College 116 First-time Freshmen: 2,807 other freshmen: 2,585 sophomores: 3,373 jUNIORS: 3,198 SENIORS: 5,757 MASTERS: 223 caucasian: 14,102 hispanic: 602 Asian & Pacific Islander; 330 african american: 152 native american: 128 non-u.s. citizen: 261 OTHER St UNKNOWN: 2,165 AVERAGE AGE: 24 MEDIAN AGE: 23 UTAH RESIDENTS: 16,725 NON-RESIDENTS: 1,334 UTAH COUNTIES: 29 U.S. STATES: 48 U.S. TERRITORIES: 1 FOREIGN COUNTRIES: 46 "2002 Studlm Hart lives in Hooper, and until recently countered the rising See Transportation page 39 Statitistics Body profile |