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Show G TIMES Submit a Guest Editorial or Opinion at our office, located at 538 South State in Orem. Deadlines are Monday 10:00 a.m. All submissions are subject to editing for length, and The Orem-Geneva Times reserves the right to publish or not to publish a submission. non Paue A2 Thursday. September 26, 2002 K Editorial") UVSC president needs educational background ,mt -x COMMENTARY & Q tq JL An old saying proves that if you treat people peo-ple the way they should be, they will grow into that. Utah Valley State College, as most things, follows that pattern. The state's choice for a new president will strongly affect how the college will grow and change. UVSC deserves a president who can take it where it needs to go. And since state officials offi-cials want to bring the college to university status, educational background is a must specifically a doctoral degree. A search committee was appointed to find a new president after former President Kerry Romeshurg left earlier this month. It has been 14 years since state officials have had to find a president for UVSC, and in that time, the college has blossomed. It is not what it was 14 years ago. It iH more than a community college with 7,000 students. It is a four-year college with 31 baccalaureate programs and approximately 24,000 students. State and search committee officials cannot can-not expect UVSC to convert to university status if they treat it like a second-rate community com-munity college. They must see its potential. In an ad the Utah Board of Regents recently sent out across the country, officials said a doctoral degree is preferred for the new president but not required. This sends a message to students, community com-munity members and anyone who works in higher education. It says that UVSC does not deserve a president who can carry its vision. We realize some people can effectively lead a university without a doctoral degree, but such cases are rare. More people are earning doctoral degrees than 30 years ago. Most institutional leaders have doctoral degrees, with few exceptions. How can one lead such an institution without realizing what goes behind it? If UVSC faculty are encouraged to have master's mas-ter's degrees and doctoral degrees, why should their college president only be required to have a bachelor's degree? , Whatever decision is made, search committee com-mittee members must realize that the person per-son they select will represent the college both directly and indirectly. That person, more than anyone else, will decide where UVSC's future will go. It state leaders want UVSC to continue to flourish academically, as they have indicated, indicat-ed, the college needs a president who is first a scholar and whose leadership and human relations skills can lead UVSC in the right direction. Anything less could impair the college's growth. Where's the charm of Orem? CLYDE K. WKKKS, JR. Times Correspondent Most xople are aware of the "Newspaper Wars" that have Ix-en going on in Salt Lake City for the pa.st two years, lielween the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News, regarding the management and ownership of the Salt Lake Tribune newspaier. One would think that the Deseret News would have enough on its plate in Salt Lake City, without with-out sending a reen ter down to the City of Orem, and impudently writing an article entitled "Where's the charm of Orem? It was published August 12, 2002, in the Deseret News. Exception to that article was taken by many people, not the least of" whom, was Orem Mayor The Orem-d'eiu'va Times 53X South State Street Orem. UT X405H published by The Daily Ik ruld, A I'uliler Newspaper Subscriptions & Delivery Nemee .175-5103 News Ailu-nisiii! 225 I .Mo l ax 225 I Ml I mail oicmliims( nelvvmld.com USPS 41 1-700. Published Thursdays by Pulitzer Newspapers, Inc. 53S South State Street, Orem, Utah 84058. Periodicals postage paid at Orem, Utah 84059. Postmaster: Semi address changes to P.O. Box 65. Orem, UT 84059. Mcinlvi : Aiulil Huiciu ul ( ire illations NEW SS I AND PRICK $0.50 SUBSCRIPTION RATE I year - $26 (in county) (Sunday & Thursday plus Holiday deliveries) Holiday deliveries include delivery deliv-ery the week of Easter, Memorial, Independence, Pioneer, Labor, Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's. I year - $35 (out of county) NEWS We welcome news tips. Call 225-1340 to report a news tip or if you have a comment or a question. We welcome letters to the editor. edi-tor. All letters must include the authors name (printed AND signed) and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, punctuation, taste and length. Letters are welcome on any topic. Times Publishing Staff PublMwr Brent Sumner bsumnerfa herulilextra com Mvniijin! Kditiir Rcva Uowen Newj Kilitor Scarlett Uaryer Sporti Kdilor Martin Harris Contributing W rilm C lyde E. Weeks Jr. Paiiinttrion & Craphics Robert King Scott Sumner Till'aney Kenison Office Manager Tillaney Kenison Otlkt Sydney Sumner Printlnn Relation Hrent Sumner Advertising Sak-i I'hil Patten Daniel Colyar Production & Pre Sieve Goodwin Josh Romero Robert Kint Jack Sumner Stuffing Cm All the above Jerry C. Washburn. Calling the City of Orem "a city that on its face has all the charm of a giant strip mall," Deseret News staff writer Jesse Hyde wrote, "It's main draj; v. tiich has few trees thicker than 2 inches around, is a concrete jungle of fast-food restaurants, restau-rants, gas stations and clothing stores." Then, quoting Provo City Council person Cindy Richards, who said, There's no character," I lyde wrote: The character of any city comes largely from its landmarks and traditions, which in turn define the culture. Orem seems a town without t radition, a town in search of an identity. Others who have lived in Orem for years say they feel no emotional ties to the place." There can be no argument with Jesse Hyde, when he wrote: "Landmarks and traditions are events and places that make a community unique and bring it together, that give it a sense of place and purpose." Too bad, Jesse Hyde didn't take the time to visit somewhere else in Orem, besides State Street and the University Parkway. That Deseret News writer might have seen and experienced some of the landmarks and traditions, which make the City of Orem, truly, a city of character, landmarks and traditions: a city which truly found its identity, many years ago, and is recognized, recog-nized, nationwide, as one of the best cities in America in which to live. Yet, State Street, itself, is as significant a landmark land-mark in Orem as may be found. That five-mile stretch of paved thoroughfare has a history, which dates back, even beyond the coming of the first settlers to this rocky plateau, known today, as Orem. The road was opened for regular travel in the Spring of 1848, by explorers sent to California by Brigham Young. As homesteaders came onto this land, beginning in 1861, they measured their property back from the eight-rod strip to allow room for what has become one of the widest streets in Utah. For many years, the road seemed too wide for the limited traffic of the early days. However, Brigham Young's foresight proved prophetic, and that street, later designated as U.S. Highway 91, became Orem's State Street, ample to handle thousands of vehicles a day in the Twenty-First Century. Light rail for Orem? Yes! Orem had light rail nearly 90 years ago! The city is named for Walter C. Orem, who built the Salt Lake & Utah Electric Interurban Railroad from Salt Lake City to Payson in 1914. The story of how the town fathers persuaded Mr. Orem to run his railroad through this community, by naming the town after him, is a part of Orem's lore and tradition. Jesse Hyde, if you had stepped just inside the Orem City Center, you could have seen a model of that Orem Railroad, encased in the rotunda, along with a full-length oil painting of Walter C. Orem, the City of Orem's namesake. How about the Geneva Steel Plant? That is certainly a significant part of Orem's history and tradition! The steel plant may be dormant, today, but its construction by Utah Lake, during World War II, and the hundreds of Orem fruit farmers, who made steel at that plant over the years, certainly cer-tainly make it a notable landmark and tradition. Consider the Timpanogos Ward Chapel, located locat-ed at 440 East 800 South. The pioneer marker, still standing in front of that pioneer chapel, declares that it is the oldest church building in Orem. It was built, following the organization of the Timpanogos IDS Ward in 1885. Some people even say it is the heart of Orem, and, certainly, an important part of its tradition! Fruit stands are also a long-standing tradition in Orem. Many of the early settlers in this community com-munity planted fruit orchards and planted other crops to earn a living. Along with peddling their fruits and vegetables throughout Utah, they also set up fruit stands, near their homes. Today, at least three fruit stands are still open in Orem: Verd's Fruit Stand atl320 North State Street, Stratton's Fruit Stand at 795 East 800 North Street, and Crandall's Fruit Stand at 810 East Center Street. The families, who have been operating these fruit stands for many years, would be very surprised sur-prised to learn that Orem has "no character." Lying on the foothills in Orem, under beautiful Mount Timpanogos, is the Orem City Cemetery: surely, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country. Built on the former site of an old Orem farm, this cemetery enjoys an ideal setting, overlooking over-looking Utah Valley and providing a lush, green carpet. Developed just 60 years ago, the Orem Cemetery honors the remains of many notable people of character, who built this community and made it what it is, today. Orem's first town hall, located for a half-a-cen-tury at the corner of State Street and Center Street, still stands, today, at a location just one mile to the west. That building, which housed the city's offices, post office, library, police station and fire station, contains the essence of more life and hope and tradition than does many other places. The old Town Hall was moved to 850 West Center Street, when the new Orem City Center was built at that location in 1970. It now houses a private school. Perhaps, that Deseret News writer did not notice the architecturally-striking SCERA Theater at 745 South State Street, which for over 60 years has played family-oriented movies to generations, as well as administered the cultural arts programs in the community. The 745-seat Showhouse opened on September 1, 1941 with a showing of The Shepherd of the Hills," starring John Wayne. In 1995, the community-owned Sharon's Cultural, Educational, Recreational Association (SCERA) undertook an expansion of the building to a full community center with multi-purpose rooms, an art gallery, a second Show house and a home for the Orem Heritage Museum. ' If you're interested in pre-history, on display in the SCERA Showhouse is the skull of an Ice-Age hairy mammoth, dug up in an Orem street in 1937. No character? One would hope that Deseret News writer Jesse Hyde would come back to Orem, some time soon, and spend an afternoon in the Orem Heritage Museum, where he might become much better acquainted with some of the landmarks and traditions of Orem. SCERA also owns and operates the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater, a 4,000-capacity performing perform-ing arts amphitheater, true to the tradition of its founders. Where is the charm of Orem? It is found in many places. It is found on the campus of the Utah Valley State College, where still stands the pioneer home of Stephen Ithamer and Mary Elizabeth Bunnell, Jr., who built it in 1892, as they watched Indians bury their dead on the western slope of their property. The charm of Orem is found on the UVSC Campus, itself, where some 25,000 students from around the world, gather to learn about the world, and to build character. The charm of Orem is found at "Kids on the Move" at 475 North 260 West,, a remarkable place, where one woman has turned the care and concern for her disabled child into a thriving center cen-ter of hope and help for hundreds of area children and their families. The charm of Orem is found at its three high schools, three junior high schools and sixteen elementary ele-mentary schools, where charming children of all ages are led and taught by gifted teachers and administrators, who build integrity and character. charac-ter. The charm of Orem is found in the people of Orem: over 90,000 of them, who have come here to live and to work in one of the most beautiful and ideal locations in the world. Where is the CHARM ? asks Jesse Hyde. It's right here, Jesse Hyde. It's right here, in OREM? DEADLINES Because of the increase of news stories & advertising submitted to the OremLindon Times, our deadline for news & advertising is 10:00 a.m. Monday. Items need to be brought to the OremLindon Times at 538 South State Street, Orem. Entries may be 1 .-, , edited for length and content. , ... v...Jf you have any questions please call our office at 225-1340 Timpanogos Green 1 5 Ai N "Utah, Giittvou of me e$ THE HISTORIfAl rrrpiviRiu-ri n. .... -..".r.nnin, nuns NlWiMILY AT 7.30 P M. THRU OCTOBER 12 AT TUACAHN AMPHITHEATRE IN " rorti DtsTOR AND SAM CARDON'S MUSICAL SCORE, AS WELL AS LIVE HORSES, BURNING WAGONS, GUSHING santa Clara flood and a booming fireworks display. (n Tuacahn the red rocks stand to guard An ampifheater. hidden in the mount. That Center for the Arts shall now reward The ones who come: too numerous to count! In ruddy rapture silent sentinels Of stone surround this unexpected Place. Where unadulterated silence dwells: A canyon where the gods may show their face. Tuacahn! You strew a stranee appeal! Tuacahn! Your role is rich and real! In majesty you grace a sacred setting: Prepared eoris ago. to meet the need To make your rocky lore beyond forgetting! Who knows what grows from such a special seed! Fruition of a Southern Utah dream: This Center for the Arts, at last, has bloomed And blessed this red-rock country with its gleam. Among the desert flowers. Plump and Plumed! Tuacahn! You cast a scarlet skIR Tuacahn! You share your beauty well! The eyes that seem to Peer from wrinkled rocks. ' Stare down and gaze in unbelieving awe To apprehend a stage that sings and talks Which artists and performers scarce foresaw! The epic tale of "Utah!' fills the ground. And celebrates explorers of the land. Spectacular in music and in sound In crashing drama all can understand! Tuacahn! You show what all may see! Tuacahn! Fulfill your destiny! Spectacular in setting and in sweep. The tale of 'Utah!' fills the mammoth scene. As audiences cheer, and even weep To live again those moments, evergreen. The canyon of the gods awaits the crowd Which, surely, shall be dazzled by the scope Of history, depicted, true and Proud. . And lassoed by a most authentic rope. Tuacahn! Recall the epic West! Tuacahn! Your fame is manifest! t A dream was dreamed and fashioned into stone inside the box a canyon called its own. And now. we see the substance of that dream Appear athwart a rushing mountain stream! ' Tuacahn! The images you liberate! Tuacahn! The heritage you emulate! Tuacahn! Our hearts and souls you captivate! CelebrationAnnouncement Charges Wedding announcements and other celebration? with picture .... . $10 00 without picture -ttm pree Missionary announcement with picture without picture .$5.00 . .Free With placement of announcements, the customer may receive up to five free copies cf that issue. r j |