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Show TUESDAY, JUNE 7,2011 THE SIGNPOST MGAT continued from front World continued from front "The most serious threat day that it was going to of experiencing some of happen." _ the things that are going to would be the impact of a large meteor or comet," Suave went on to say happen." he said. "And we know in that he does not believe Gawronski went on to Camping is the prophet say that she knows many Earth's history there have he claims to be, and that other Christians in her local been such impacts in the he felt those Christians community who do believe past that have dramatically who believe in Camping's that the end of the world is affected life on earth, prophecies are being led near, and that recent events including mass extinction." Not only would there astray. are signs of the end. But be massive destruction "I think it's sad that she denounced Camping's at the point of impact, would believe prophecies about setting a : ^p;:.v ;like Harold date, saying that she cannot particularly if the object '^'Camping, over Jesus while see him as a: genuine struck in* one of Earth's ^claiming jfestis to be their Christian because he did oceans, but over the longer not appropriately follow term> Earth's climate could God," Suave said. be affected in such a way However, • some what the Bible says. ^Christians do believe that ^Christian'is a religious that would make the planet during the period they call term that we have put hostile to most life forms. "Over the longer term, on people, and there are i: the End Times, there will • ;V;be many signs such as wars so many sects that call the impact would put a Christians," lot of participate matter, I natural disasters that themselves help tnem know the she said. "I would say dust, into the atmosphere, H-§Rapture is approaching. that he is not a follower and it would be reflectant # t recent t years, there have of Christ, the Christ of the to sunlight, and it would produce a been many high-profile Bible ~ I don't think he is, probably period of ^earner-related disasters, £b'ut,agairi, it's hard to judge prolonged cooling," Ford said. "This ougffpui^ttye world^'spmebody you don't know, om the earthquakes in He definitely didn't follow scenario is similar to what '• Haiti and Japan to the the Bible in his views on his is feared for a nuclear war." However, even in this • ..-• ^ t o r n a d o e s and floods that prediction," J :T^)iS,isiit the first time event, not all life on Earth struck the-' Midwest these past couple of weeks. Sarah the 89-year-old Camping, would likely be destroyed, Marie Gawronski, a WSU who does not hold a degree and which species would graduate student majoring in biblical studies, has be rendered extinct is up jua English, said that madeC such predictions, for question. "Our experience with . although she also believes He previously predicted past major extinction ; that an exact date cannot that the world would end events on Earth is that a few be set, she does believe in 1994, When this 'did not that many of the recent come to pass, he claimed to species typically are able to weather-related disasters have made a mathematical make it through, and then through natural selection error in his prediction. are signs of the times. "Personally, I believe Richard Ford, a WSU processes and speciation, that all the earthquakes and professor of geoscience, they go on to re-inhabit the things we've been having explained what near-term earth," Ford said. are signs," Gawronski said. scenarios could bring about Comment on this story at "We may bein what's called the end of the world from a wsusignpost. com. 'birth pains/ like the start scientific standpoint. P Say HELLO to us on facebook. Just Search "The Signpost" current science sections have new science added to them. "It is not so much that the current science would be removed or reduced," Koetje said, "but that new science would be tested. The new sciences they're recommending to be tested are the upper-level science courses like biochemistry and cell biology, with greater emphasis on molecular biology, in addition to research methods and statistics." The current MCAT does test students on some biochemistry and molecular genetics, but the proposals made by the MR5 are ones in which there would be a greater emphasis on upper- level sciences, and the way those sciences would be tested would require students to have a much larger fund of knowledge. There have also been some recommendations to change the current verbal reasoning section, which currently covers a full range of potential topics across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The new verbal reasoning section would include topics in crosscultural studies and population health. This would broaden the focus of this section of the test, but Koetj e said that it would make that section a bit more oriented toward the future health practice of the test-taker. It has also been recommended that the'writing sample be eliminated from the test. "The sum of all of this is that the test is going to be about 90 minutes longer," Koetje said, "even with the elimination of the writing sample section. So the test becomes more challenging in terms of endurance and pacing, and maintains energy and focus, so it becomes more of a marathon than what it currently is, and it actually, in some ways, brings us back to the test experience when the test was a paperand-pencil test." With these new recommendations, there has developed some metaphorical applause as well as some controversy around the timing of all of this and how quickly schools are going to have to change their curriculum, or even if they're going to have to change their curriculum in order to meet the demands of this new test. "Since my goal is to work as an M.D. in the field of social and behavioral science, I like the new additions," said Kirk Stapley, a Weber State University senior majoring in psychology. "Even if a med school applicant isn't pursuing that field, M.D.s need experience in the field to deal with patients> who often have behavioral health problems in addition to their medical ones." The new MCAT is expected to be rolled out in 2015, a fairly aggressive timeline for changes of this magnitude. "We're talking about an exam that is going to be taken by students who may in fact already be in school," Koetje said. "There will even be some freshmen this year who may end up taking the new MCAT. Certainly students who come into college the fall of 2011 are going to be taking this updated test." Even though the changes are going to be fast, and broaden the scope of the already extensive knowledge necessary to take the MCAT, according to Koetje, the changes are being relatively well accepted in the medical community. "Fundamentally, we see this universal agreement that these are the right recommendations," Koetje said. "This is reflective of the new state of health care practice." help encourage a sense of community that will be beneficial for all those involved. "The interactions between the people here has opened up a door," Akombo said. "The idea of professional protectionism seems to have been resolved in this conference because people from all types of disciplines are here. That doesn't happen; it has never happened anywhere else. This is it. This is where they're going to narrow that gap and start working together." Comment on this story at wsusignpost com: I V I U S I C continuedfromfront a partnership for the bettering of humanity." Akombo encouraged WSU students and professors to do the same, whether between music and another study or something completely different He said he believes that pursuing research across preconceived borders will Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. Food pyramid out, 'My Plate' in By Mary Clare jalonick writer I Associated Press I:. The Goldenwest Check Card...the fast and flexible way to pay for all of your purchases!, Forget the hassle of writing checks or digging for cash. Just .^ swipe your Goldenwest VISA Check Card and the purchase ...-,'& amount Is deducted directly from your checking account^^i Your Check Card is also good for online purchases and at %j the ATM...just about everywhere VISA cards are accepted. To get for your VISA Check Card, stop by any Goldenwest branch or call 801-621-4550. t ; v Personal. Strong WASHINGTON (AP) - There's a new U.S. symbol for healthful eating: The Agriculture Department unveiled "My Plate" on Thursday, abandoning the food pyramid that had guided many Americans but merely confused others. The new guide is divided into four slightly differentsized quadrants, with fruits and vegetables taking up half the space and grains and protein making up the other half. The vegetables and grains portions are the largest of the four. Gone are the old pyramid's references to sugars, fats or oils. What was once a category called "meat and beans" is now simply "proteins," making way for seafood and vegetarian options like tofu. Next to the plate is a blue circle for dairy, which could be a glass of milk or a food such as cheese or yogurt. Some critics, including congressional Republicans, have accused the Obama administration of overreaching on regulation, especially when it comes to new rules that tell schools what children Can eat on campus. But the plate is supposed to be a suggestion, not a direction, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We are not telling peo- ple what to eat, we are giving them a guide," he said. "We're not suggesting they should not have a cookie or dessert, that's not what it's about." Vilsack said the new round chart shows that nutrjtion doesn't have to be complicated. After almost 20 years of leaders preaching good eating through a food pyramid the department now says was overiy complex, obesity rates have skyrocketed. He showed off the new plate with first lady Michelle Obama, who has made healthful diets for children a priority. "Parents don't have the time to measure out exactly three ounces of protein," Mrs. Obama said as she introduced the new graphic. "We do have time to look at our kids' plates." The department is planning to use social media - posting advice every day on Iwitter, for example. The address of the accompanying website, choosemyplate.gov, is written on the chart. That website will eventually feature interactive tools that help people manage their weight and track their exercise. The new chart is designed to be "more artistic and attractive" and to serve as a visual cue for diners, said Robert Post of the Agriculture Department's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. He has spent two years developing the plate and the website. Even though the plate k ' divided into four differentsized sections, the servings don't have to be propor : tional, say officials who developed the symbol. Every person has different nutritional needs, based on age, health and other factors. The graphic is based on new department dietary guidelines released in January. Those guidelines, which are revised every five years, tell people to drastically reduce salt ancl continue limiting saturated fats. They say diners can enjoy food but should balance calories by eating less, The guidelines also suggest making half of your plate fruits and vegetables - a message easily translated on the dinner plate. , "We know Americans want to be healthy, but making those healthy choices is not easy, it's hard," said Surgeon Gen : eral Regina Benjamin, who joined Mrs. Obama and Vilsack to unveil the plate. "We're trying to make it easier." Many nutritionists and nutrition groups praised the new effort, crossing their fingers that' people will listen. Marion Nestle, profess sor of nutrition, food stud-i ies, and public health at New York University, said there are already a lot of symbols out there telling people what to eat. : "This brings it all together," she said. t\ |
