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Show I fax I 1 839 1 fi LAR-R f LOTC-005 m. 'SSUe Printed Weekly Read Daily an edition of The Daily Herald mmaJSLmxm 72nd yearNumber 2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2002 538 South Stiite Strwt, On-ni, I IT 84058 I 225-1340 W Baa J works to promote (LOfidefstending of Dslam SCARLETT M. BARGER Times Reporter To Brad Cook, the Middle East is not a dark, unfamiliar corner of the world, but a region close to home. ; Cook's association with the Middle East began at age 11 when his family moved to Saudi Arabia. And although his family lived there only four years, his experiences with Middle Eastern culture left a permanent imprint on him. "; "I was always drawn to (it after that)," he said. Cook's interest in Middle Eastern culture followed him through college where he earned a bachelor's at Stanford University in international inter-national relations and a master's mas-ter's at Stanford in education. He later received a doctorate degree at Oxford University in Middle Eastern studies and education. Now, after the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and : the World Trade Center, Cook said many people have questions ques-tions he is trying to answer. "People have a genuine gen-uine interest in trying to understand ' the- wmtexruf ' September ilth," he said. ? Cook is the vice president for college relations at UVSC, but he has spent much of his recent time speaking at symposiums sym-posiums and firesides to quell fears of terrorism. ' . I Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and con tains about 1 billion members, but many people are still ignorant igno-rant of its basic beliefs, Cook said. "It's a growing vibrant religious reli-gious tradition. Yet people m the United States know (very ' little about it)," he said. David Keller, director for the UVSC Center of the Study f Brad Cook, vice president for college relations at UVSC, has been using his knowledge of Middle Eastern culture to further fur-ther understanding -since September 11. . of Ethics, has worked with Cook in organizing the symposiums sympo-siums in response to Sept. 11. He is also teaching a new class with Cook entitled, "Islam in the Western World." Keller spoke highly of Cook's knowledge and depth. "I consider Brad first and foremost fore-most a scholar. UVSC is very fortunate to have Brad," he said. Keller said the symposiums are a crucial part of healing because they promote discussion discus-sion and help people re-orient themselves. "It gets us talking," talk-ing," he said. According to Cook, much of what Americans know about Islam is based on media stereotypes. Terrorism and poor treatment of women are two of the many stereotypes stereo-types associated with the Middle East and Islam, he said. However, in actuality, Islam is very much a religion of peace and dedication to God, he said. Because of these misunderstandings, misunder-standings, it is important to combat the problem by educating edu-cating Americans, he said. "One thing that we cannot afford is more bigotry in this country." After the terrorist attack?, Cook said, it was natural for Americans to seek for someone some-one to condemn. "We wanted .to blame someone, we wanted an enemy- ' ' - But what people must realize, he said, is that "terror has no religion." Keller also expressed the, importance of eliminating ignorance. "If we are to become good global citizens, we need to understand Islam," he said. Eagle Project aids Olympic preparation MARTIN HARRIS Times Reporter The Olympics are only weeks away instead of months and some of the final preparations are being taken care of as quickly as possible. One young man decided to help the City of Orem in its preparations and at the same time work on his Eagle. Scout Project. David Lubke saw an advertisement adver-tisement on the Internet requesting assistance in getting 280 flag poles and flags ready for display. The City of Orem has a project to display these flags at every major intersection intersec-tion along 800 North, Center Street and University Pkwy. Lubke volunteered his services serv-ices and with the assistance of some 30 other friends completed complet-ed the large task in two weeks during the Christmas break. After receiving the 280 poles and flags, Lubke and company had to several holes in each J Jim it i. W T pole, file down the poles to insure that rough corners did not tear the flags and then had to paint the poles. It was in the painting process that Lubke came across an interesting problem. "We had to paint as many poles as we could before the paint froze in the can," he said. After the poles where completed, com-pleted, Lubke used fasteners to secure the flags to the poles. Monday afternoon, Jan. 7, the City of Orem came to pick up the completed flags. Now it is up to the city to get the flags displayed. Mike Johnson, who is heading up the Orem Olympic Committee, said he hopes all flags and Olympic banners will be displayed in the next couple of weeks, just before the Olympic torch comes through Orem on Feb. 6. Council sworn in AA" j -t X ' ;;:,;7 1 A t 1 , . - V V f 1 1 New council members (left to right) Karen McCandless, Dean Dlckerson and Shlree Thurston were sworn in Monday, Jan. 7 as members of the Orem City Council. New council members hope to give back to Orem - SCARLETT M. BARGER Times Reporter Orem City Council members Karen McCandless, Dean Dickerson and Shiree Thurston bring a common element ele-ment to the council a desire to serve the Orem community. After undergoing hefty training, the three newly elected elect-ed members were sworn in at a ceremony Monday, Jan. 7 along with incumbent Mayor Jerry Washburn. The veteran of the three, McCandless, was appointed to the council in February, when council member Mike Thompson was elected to the Utah House of Representatives. She then ran for a regular term last fall. Describing herself as "a chronic volunteer," McCandless said she cannot keep herself from serving others. oth-ers. In the past, she has served on several committees as a citizen cit-izen and worked for city offices other than Orem. Some of her recent involvements have included Summerfest and the Transportation Master Plan. One of her goals is to get more funding for cultural arts. Yet, in spite of her experience, experi-ence, McCandless said she has learned on the council that there is more to city organization organiza-tion than she first realized. She said being on the council is a great responsibility. "To have the confidence of so many people is (really) humbling," hum-bling," she said. Dickerson, an Orem native, also sees himself as a representative repre-sentative of the people. Dickerson is a partner for Mayberry's Restaurant and has been involved with several city committees including the Scera board. He has also been chair of Summerfest twice and chair of the Lighting Commission. Dickerson said the most important thing to him is helping help-ing citizens become more involved with the community. He said some residents may be intimidated by the city council, but this shouldn't be the case. "You don't have to climb Mount Olympus to approach the city council," he said. Like McCandless and Dickerson, Thurston also hopes to give back to Orem. "I love this city," she said. Some may recognize Thurston from her years working work-ing at Mervyn's in the University Mall. But she said she has spent her most recent years with more community-related community-related endeavors. Thurston has been chair of the city planning plan-ning commission as well as the city census chair. "My attitude is you serve your community, your schools and your church," she said. Now that Thurston's children chil-dren are grown, she said it was only natural to give her time to her community. One thing she hopes to add to the council is her experience with city planning. plan-ning. According to McCandless, the city council is Orem's legislative leg-islative body. The council organizes the city budget and discusses issues ranging from traffic to city building contracts. con-tracts. The council then passes city laws and enacts them. Although council members can promote their own ideas, McCandless said meetings are a good opportunity to share different perspectives. For more information about the city council, go to www.orem.org or call 229-7035. Residents can expect changes during Games David Lubke and Mike Johnson with one of the 280 flags prepared by Lubke. The flags represent many of the different countries competing com-peting in the games; they Just happen to have selected an American flag. SCARLETT M. BARGER Times Reporter Over the next few weeks, Orem and Provo will be able to partake of the Olympic spirit more than ever before. At the First Friday Forum, Friday, Jan. 4, Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn and Provo Mayor Lewis Billings explained to members mem-bers of the local Chamber of Commerce how their cities will be involved with the Games. Because of Provo's venue status and Orem's proximity to Provo, both will be greatly affected whether by alternative traffic routes or by growing entertainment opportunities, the mayors explained. "There are going to be (Olympic experiences) experi-ences) for everyone - whether they buy a ticket or not," Billings said. Provo and Orem residents will have access to local competitions and art displays, dis-plays, Billings said. Some options include the International Ice Carving Competition, Nu Skin's Olympic World of Ice events in downtown Provo and the display of Set Momjian's collection of White House china at the Provo City Library. "You can come to Provo and have a great Olympic experience," he said. Washburn added that there will also be an art display called "Lure of the West" at BYU and an exhibit in Springville for Utah artists. Tickets are still available for some Olympic events such as men's and women's hockey at the Peaks Ice Arena through travel agencies and SLOC, he said. Also, according to Washburn, traffic routes from 1-15 will be adjusted in the ProvoOrem area to simplify flow during the Olympics. To prevent too much outpouring onto one exit, the public will be directed to the 800 North exit in Orem. They then go to the Marriott Center at BYU, then take a shuttle to the Peaks. In contrast, families of Olympians will exit onto Center Street in Provo. Games athletes will take a different route, but the exit will not be released to the public for security reasons, Washburn said. Billings explained that the Olympic torch will arrive in Provo Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Billings said. The city will then have a rally at 8:30 that night at LaVell Edwards Stadium. According to Billings, Provo is the first venue city in which the torch will spend the night. Continued on page 12 i buenbe to the Orem-Geneva Times by calling 22534fjrQnlv COpeF Year! 3R COPY |