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Show THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE MONDAY. 5 APRIL 23, 2001 Participate in Construction of Treehouse U Students EMILY FULLER Chrcnicie News Writer The Jordan River used to be a scary place for the students of Parkview Elementary. But now, thanks to many volunteers and the University of Utah Lowell Bennion Community Service Center, students have a clean place to play near the river. Officials opened to the public Saturday the new "treehouse," which sits in the center of the Bcnd-in-the-Riv- cr Park. "We've all been working together about two and half years," said Bennion Center founding director Irene Fisher. and The project has been has included partners in the commuthe students of nity, including Parkview Elementary, who sang two songs at the opening. Fisher, Salt Lake City Mayor Ross Anderson, and a representative from Parkview Elementary cut the ribbon to officially open the park. for g, U architecture students and Bennion Center volunteers helped design and build the treehouse that opened Saturday. INITIATIVE continued from page "When we say 'community,' this is what it's all about," Anderson said. Anderson also had kind words for Fisher, who will retire this year after 13 years of service at the Bennion Center. "In terms of community building, she is a star among stars," Anderson said. students Parkview Elementary U architecture students design helped the treehouse in the middle of the park. "This treehouse is yours to protect," U architect John McConkic said to students. "I hope you sec little parts and pieces of yourself here." During the construction, members of the community, local businesses, school classrooms and U volunteers hauled out weeds, planted foliage and poured cement for the project. "At any one time there were 200 to 250 people out here working all at once," Fisher said. "We're offering this as a gift from all those who worked on it to Salt Lake City." those receiving associate degrees at 1 The advisory board's recommendations came with two options, both of which gave money solely to the U, USU and WSU, only in slightly different amounts. If the Regents adopt either recommendation, the U would receive at least $1.4 million. Under the dean's recommendation the U would receive $980,000. Ekstrom said these three institutions have a backlog of qualified applicants who cannot start their baccalaureate education because of a lack of faculty and space. The advisory board suggested using the funding here instead of for the state and community colleges, which mostly educate technicians and students. focus wanted to the money "They bottleneck on the right now, which is four-yethe programs," said ar Michael Petersen, associate commissioner for higher education who attended the advisory board meeting. UVSC President Kerry Romesburg said the advisory board's recommendation is contrary to the initiative presented to lawmakers. "This is not in line with what the Legislature discussed," he said. During the session, held earlier this year, lawmakers talked about increasing the number of engineering graduates at all levels, including the smaller colleges. Petersen said Sen. Lyle Hillyard, who sponsored the bill which secured the funding, met with the advisory board before it made its recommendation. Hillyard said early on the initiative colfocused solely on the four-yeleges, but, with large projected sur- PRESENTS A ar SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING pluses, the governor expanded the plan to encompass the entire system of higher education. Lawmakers decided to trim Hillyard's funding request, and Hillyard subsequently told the advisory board that the initiative should also be trimmed. "That was an. important influence in their thinking," Petersen said. SUU President Steve Bennion said the state needs engineering technicians just as much as professionals. His remarks were echoed by SLCC President Lynn Cundiff. Board members discussed the issue but could not come to a con- f- sensus. Instead of taking a vote, they gave the executive committee the authority to decide how to split the money. The committee will meet with the engineering deans and one member of the advisory council this week to make a decision, but they have yet to set a date or time. 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