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Show MONDAY APRIL 18, 2016 11 NTM course prefixes to become WEB, NET By NATHAN BEACH S&T Reporter As the spring semester draws to a close, changes are taking place in the School of Computing and the Business/Multimedia departments at Weber State University. Classes that are currently prefixed with NTM are being changed to WEB or NET. Network Technology and Business Multimedia, or NTM, is the department for many classes, including the Computer and Information Literacy courses. This department covers an assortment of classes specializing in networking and business technologies. Kyle Feuz, an assistant professor of Computer Science, said the new prefixes will separate classes that support Network Management Technology from the classes that support Business/Multimedia Technologies. Feuz said that the NTM prefix previously encompassed all classes from different programs. “Under the new prefixes, classes directly supporting the Network Management Technology degree will have the NET prefix,” Feuz said. “While classes supporting the Business/Multimedia Technologies will have the WEB prefix.” According to Feuz, the prefix changes were made to make better use of students’ time and efforts at WSU and to allow students to find the courses they need in an easier and more efficient format. “The biggest change is that NTM is now part of the School of Computing,” Feuz said. “We felt that this would be a good time to create a clearer, more meaningful course prefix that future students will be able to find more easily.” Brian Rague, Chair of the Department of Computer Science, said that he and the department are working through the change and want the transition to be smooth. “I imagine students will get disoriented, so it needs to be carefully vetted by faculty and has to have some rationale behind it,” Rague said. “This is a fairly long and carefully made process and we want to bring to light the two different disciplines that we are trying to emphasize.” Rague said that although it will be a slow start, once students understand which classes fall under which prefix, signing up for class- CHRISTINA HUERTA | The Signpost Cherry Blossom trees bloom near the Miller Administration building. Trees will be planted north of Stewart Stadium on April 20. Source: Brian Rague Computer science chair Brian Rague, says his department is working to make the change smooth. es will be much simpler in the long run. Thomas Bell, Chair of the Department of Business/Multimedia Technologies, also believes the prefix change will benefit both departments. “The terms web and user experience are more descriptive and more aligned both with job placement and the focus of existing curriculum,” Bell said. “This terminology is more in line with industry usage and is more recognizable than business multimedia.” Students can expect to see these changes in the near future. These changes will allow students to plan their college courses so that they more effectively align with their future career choices. Rague said that students should be patient when first trying to find these new courses. “Exercise some patience when finding these courses. Faculty are still there so nothing has changed,” Rague said. “Programs are just like before, except we’ve decided to change some courses to have different prefixes.” For more information on classes and on how to sign up for them, students can make an appointment to speak with an adviser. Additional information about the Computer Science department can be found on their website. Information about the Network Technology and Business Multimedia department can be found on their website as well. Follow Nathan on Facebook @ChozoElder Trees will be planted to spruce up WSU campus By DELANEY WOODFIELD S&T Correspondent Weber State University, with the help of local elementary students, will be planting trees by WSU’s Stewart Stadium on April 20. WSU’s own Environmental Ambassadors will be hosting the event in celebration of Arbor Day. The WSU Environmental Ambassadors promotes the integration of sustainability in daily life. They encourage community members to utilize processes like recycling and energy efficiency in order to live a green lifestyle. The Environmental Ambassadors started the tree planting event three years ago and said they received a great response from students. Stephanie Mitts, the student coordinator at the Energy & Sustainability office and the president of the Environmental Ambassadors, said that the club does a lot of campus sustainability events and planting trees around campus, as a way to encourage students to help the environment. According to Mitts, planting trees has many positive effects on the environment and it’s also fun. Trees can sequester carbon and reduce man-made CO2 emissions. Trees also provide habitats and food for local wildlife, as well as stabilize soil. “People really like to get involved,” Mitts said. “It’s a good way to give back to the campus.” Every year for this event, the Environmental Ambassadors plant trees in different locations around campus. With the help of the landscape team on campus, these areas are chosen carefully based on the current needs of the campus. On April 20, eight trees in total are expected to be planted at the north side of the Stewart Stadium. This year, three species of trees were chosen to be planted. They include the Columnar Colorado Spruce, Arnold Sentinel Pine and Cimmaron Ash, according to a university statement. The tree planting will begin at 1 p.m. and is expected to last for two hours. The event is open to all students and community members. The Environmental Ambassadors will be attending, along with the landscaping team and students from Shadow Valley Elementary School. All the tools will be supplied by the landscaping team, so students can just show up ready to work. Mitts said she is happy about involving the Shadow Valley Elementary students this year and that the kids are great advocates for a healthier environment. “It’s exciting to get students involved at such a young age who could be Weber State students one day,” Mitts said. Jennifer Bodine, the Sus- tainability Coordinator at the Energy & Sustainability Office, said that WSU has been named a Tree Campus USA for the past four years. WSU has been continually awarded Tree Campus USA for the engagement of students in creating positive forestry efforts, connectivity with the community to foster healthy forests and beautiful trees. In order to be named a Tree Campus USA, universities are required to meet and maintain several different requirements annually. “Our landscape shop is an amazing group of people,” Bodine said. Mitts said that there are small things students can do to stay green, such as recycling and turning off lights when they are not in a room. Bodine said that students should remember to use the free UTA EdPass that is provided for WSU students. Students who are interested in becoming a member of the Environmental Ambassadors team can visit their website and fill out an application. In addition to members, the Energy & Sustainability Office is looking for a Student Sustainability Coordinator for next semester. For more information on the event, students can email Jennifer Bodine at jenniferbodine@weber.edu. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com There’s a nerdy side to summer too By NATHAN BEACH S&T Reporter Summer is fast approaching, and with it comes several new releases of games and technology. Here are a few items to look forward to as the semester comes to an end. On the gaming side of things, there are quite a few games being released. For starters, “LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens” comes out for all systems on June 28. This game is the LEGO version of the movie and is sure to bring the tongue-in-cheek moments that LEGO games have become known for. It will run from $30 to $70, depending on the system. Do you love fighting monsters in outer space? Well, “Doom” — the revamped version of the classic first game of the same title — is coming out for all systems on May 13. If the quality of play from the game conventions is any indication, then it should be pretty exciting. The game will also have a collector’s edition running for $120. The controversial and aesthetically pleasing “Overwatch” will be released May 24. This game will run around $40 for the PC and $60 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (PS4). If you’re more of a handheld gamer or have a Nintendo 3DS, then “Kirby: Planet Robobot” comes out on June 10. The game looks to be fun for the whole family as Kirby gains an ability to control robots to save the day. The new Kirby game will run at $40. If you can’t quite wait for summer, and you want to procrastinate studying for finals, there are several games out now that might hit the spot. “Dark Souls III” is the latest installment in the notorious franchise known for being frustratingly difficult. This game runs about $60 for the PS4 and Steam. “Ratchet & Clank,” is also out and is priced at $40. The highly anticipated “Star Fox Zero” for the Wii U is available and priced at $60. For those looking to purchase some new technology, you’re in luck as several companies have announced new electronics that will be coming out later this year. Intel, the makers of processors used in computers, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show that they have made a hoverboard that turns into a robot. Dubbed the Hoverbutler, it’s not only a personal transport but an android as well. It will have the ability to show facial expressions and video. It will also come with arms to do simple tasks. There is no word yet on the price, but it will be out mid to late 2016. Speaking of robots, one is set to be released in May that can convert any room into a movie the- GABE CERRITOS | The Signpost Students can play “Super Smash Bros.” in the Shepherd Union Buildng. atre. This robot, called the Tipron, is equipped to project movies, YouTube or other video clips on any flat surface up to 80 inches. However, this robot comes with a steep price tag ranging from $1000 – $2000. For those who are into the music scene, Sony has released the PS-HX500 Turntable. This nifty device will play vinyl records and convert them into digital copies. It allows those with records to save their songs and listen to them on the go. The cost is just shy of $600 and is available to buy now. These are just a few of the new technologies to look forward to this summer. So if you find yourself sick of the heat, there’s no shame in spending some time indoors with a new game, gadget — or robot. 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