OCR Text |
Show WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 O kto be r continued from page displayed, along with a map of Germany. The marriage of the two families was the Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (who later became King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. Horse races were presented for the royal family after the marriage, and a decision was made to have the races annually, which turned into the tradition of Oktoberfest. Because of the worse weather conditions in 9 THE SIGNPOST 4 October, the festival was moved to September, so more people could enjoy being outdoors. The name has stuck, despite when the celebration is actually held. Over the past 200 years, there have only been 24 times when the celebration could not be held because of war and cholera outbreaks. Most towns in Germany have their own brew of Oktoberfest beer and brew it only once a year for that very occasion. Almost 7 million liters of beer were served during the 2007 festival. Traditional food is also served, such as sauerkraut, hendl (chicken) and schweinebraten (roast pork). "The reason why we celebrate it here on campus is to celebrate diversity and because diversity is more than skin color," said Adrienne Gillespie, the coordinator of the Center for Diversity and Unity. The Center for Diversity and Unity also holds other holidays throughout the year for anyone of any culture. Gillespie even suggested to students that, if there isn't something being celebrated up on campus, to let her know so the center can plan an event to celebrate other cultures. "It's a way to come together, to learn a little bit, and if we have the same identity, to celebrate that with everybody," Gillespie said. "That's what we're in the business for up here." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.corn. Japan tsunami debris floating toward Hawaii By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher writer I Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) - Up to 20 million tons of tsunami debris floating from Japan could arrive on Hawaii's shores by early 2013, before reaching the West Coast, according to estimates by University of Hawaii scientists. A Russian training ship spotted the junk - including a refrigerator, a television set and other appliances - in an area of the Pacific Ocean where the scientists from the university's International Pacific Research Center predicted it would be. The biggest proof that the debris is from the Japanese tsunami is a fishing boat that's been traced to the Fukushima Prefecture, the area hardest hit by the March 11 disaster. Jan Hafner, a scientific computer programmer, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that researchers' projections show the debris would reach the coasts of Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Canada around 2014. They estimate the debris field is spread out across an area that's roughly 2,000 miles long and 1,000 miles wide located between Japan and Midway Atoll, where pieces could wash up in January. Just how much has already sunk and what portion is still floating is unknown. "It's a common misconception it's like one mat that you could walk on," he said. Hafner and the principal researcher in the project, oceanographer Nikolai Maximenko, have been researching surface ocean currents since 2009. When the Japan earthquake and tsunamis struck, they applied their research to the rubble sucked into the Pacific Ocean from Japan. They used computer models to track its path, but until the Russian ship STS Pallada sailing from Honolulu contacted them last month, they had no direct observation of the massive debris field. "From a scientific point of view, it was confirmation that our research was doing something right," Hafner said. "It was big news for us. But it was mixed feelings because you can't be excited about something as tragic as a tsunami." The magnitude-9.0 earthquake produced the sort of devastation Japan hadn't seen since World War II, leaving more than 21,000 dead or injured. The tsunami that followed engulfed the northeast and wiped out entire towns. The waves inundated the Fukushima plant, triggering the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. However, it's highly unlikely the tsunami-generated debris would be contaminated with radioactive material, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine debris program. NOAA is also gathering information about debris sightings. After news of the Russian ship's findings, the scientists have been receiving calls from media worldwide. The scientists want boaters venturing in the area of the debris to send them details about what they see. Researchers want to know details such as GPS position, time, weather and descriptions of the items. "We are trying to get across our message that it is coming and it's about time to start planning some action," Hafner said. Teacher sues Utah school over tough course firing By Brian Skoloff writer I Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A blind professor has sued Utah Valley University, claiming wrongful termination after he says students complained he was too tough on them and couldn't teach because of his disability. Steven Maranville said he left his tenured job at the University of Houston in 2009 to teach at the Orem school after officials assured him he would be granted tenure there after a one-year probationary period. But he said the school later denied him tenure after receiving complaints from students "that he did not know how to teach because he was blind," according to the federal lawsuit. Students also complained that he was disrespectful and his courses on strategic management were too rigorous. Maranville called his teaching style "engaged learning," and said it was aimed at involving students in the process, rather than just lecturing. He claimed several university officials sat in periodically on his classes, and that a department head assured him that "he was teaching the course the way he should teach it," according to the lawsuit. Maranville said at one point the university official called him a "master teacher." He said he was denied tenure later in 2009 and left for a new job at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, but noted that his salary is now considerably less. He is seeking at least $250,000, loss of income and punitive damages in his claim of breach of contract and violation of due process, among other constitutional abuses. The Utah Attorney General's Office, which is representing the school because it is a state institution, said the university did nothing wrong. "The professor was given a year to teach before a decision was made whether or not to grant tenure, and the university declined to offer the tenure," Attorney General's Office spokesman Scott Troxel said Tuesday. "We believe they have the right to make that decision." The lawsuit was initially filed in September in state court against the university and two school officials. It was moved to U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City in October. Defendants now have until Nov. 4 to officially respond. Learn more about UTAH S=ATE UNIVERS'S •■• 140+ graduate programs at:1 -Aon114 A 111% 11111411%1:11 GRADUATE SCHOOL FAIR October 26, 2011 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Shepherd Union Ballroom • • • • • • .4 • (. 7 .- 1kwoi, m Att,\\\ Hemang Patel Biological Engineering, PhD OF F ICE RESEARCH and GRADUATE STUDIES Of UtahStateU n ive rs ity |