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Show Cainpvs Itycifo Wednesday, March 29, 1995 Mike Nelson spearheads fourth Canyon by Marianne Day Forum news editor Westminster students will make their annual trek to the temple quarry picnic site in Little Cottonwood Canyon to scrub graffiti off of rocks and repaint the picnic structure. The event is Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Michael Nelson, Westminster employee and philosophy major said this is the fourth time he has engineered this volunteer project and he expects a This is my baby, have a soft spot for Cottonwood Canyon, and it is important to me to keep it as pristine as possible. Michael Nelson moved to Utah two years ago because he said he likes rock climbing. When he came to Utah, Nelson enrolled in Westminster College, and a few months later, he got a job as the office coordinator in the registrars office. Although Nelsons major is Philosophy he is not planning on creating his own discipline. He intends to continue his education and become high turn-ou- t. said Nelson. I an environmental lawyer. According to Nelson, he came to Utah because some of the best rock climbing in the world is in our own back yard. His favorite climbing area is Cottonwood Canyon, a mere twenty minute drive. That is why for the last two years Nelson has organized a group of volunteers to clean a picnic site at the old Mormon temple quarry ground located in the canyon. According to Nelson, the Forest Service doesnt patrol this spot because their vehicles cant get across the river to the site. The picnic site consists of a stone and cement structure and barbecue pits. The area is surrounded by trees and flanked on one side by the Little Cottonwood river and on the opposite side by a delta of huge boulders that fan down the steep canyon wall. Although the Forest Service cant get to the picnic area, vandals. According to Nelson, the inaccessibility of the spot is what attracts kids who like to drink beer and spray graffiti over the rocks and trees. It makes me sick to see that we cant control the graffiti, said Nelson. Not only is it in town but its on the trees. It gets in the water system and destroys the natural habitat for animals, he said. Nelson returns to the site to clean up the mess left behind by others because he said it makes him feel good to do it and to get others involved in taking care of the environment. Its important to propa- gate further expand the project by posting flyers at Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI) and International Mountain Exposition (IME), two outdoor and recreation suppliers. Nelson said this project should be for more than just Westminster. People need to see there is an intrinsic value to having a pristine wilderness. Westminster students are not funding this project said Nelson. Most of the support for the project comes from the city police department and the county who donate The paint and other supplies. ASWC gives the project 27 dollars which Nelson said goes to buy the chemical that is used to scrub the I love student activists, disgruntled by year long constitutional disSix crepancies, entered the ASWC office Friday afternoon (March 17) and refused to leave. The group, spearheaded by Anthony Gillies and Brigg Angus, staged a nine hour sit-i- n demanding the administration postpone the ASWC election, disband current officers and hold a constitutional convention. Im upset. All year we have tried all the legal channels but to no avail, Gillies said. After confrontations with ASWC officers and administrators, even threats of being arrested, the group peacefully disbanded at 11 p.m. when security came to lock the building. The group had assembled at 2 p.m. following a meeting with administrators over the election committee decision not to postpone garbage bags are provided by Westminster Plant Operations. Nelson grew up in Los Angeles and attended high school while living in Colorado. Nelson said he has been rock climbing in seven states including Utah. Aside from Little Cottonwood Canyon, Nelsons second favorite Utah spot is Super Crack Buttress in Southern Utah. The best place to climb, though, is Joshua Tree National Monument in California. At Joshua Tree there are 3500 climbs in just a 5 mile radius. Nelson and his wife Jennifer Albright plan to make a bike trip to Joshua Tree for their anniversary this summer. Nelson and Albright met at Westminster College. Albright received her teaching certificate in Dec. 1994. She is no longer a Westminster student, but she participates in the Canyon Clean-U- p with her husband. Westminster students, faculty and staff are welcome to bring their family to this event. Children can pick up garbage and help paint. If you plan to drive, Nelson said the area is exactly 1.25 miles up from the flashing electric sign at the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon. If you think you need a map, Nelson has some available. Otherwise, Anybody can meet at 9:30 a.m. in Tanner plaza for a ride. If you need more information about the event 9 call Mike Nelson at in the office. Registrars 488-161- it when volunteers bring their children. There is nothing like seeing a little kids eyes open wide with excitement because they are doing something helpful. The project seems to be popular with volunteers also, because the number who turn-oto paint the structure and scrub the graffiti off of the rocks keeps increasing. Students either ride in the Westminster College van or take their own vehicles so they may come and go as needed. Nelson said he has been especially pleased with the response from the community. Were setting a good example, he said. People who ride their bikes or hike near the clean-u- p site often stop and thank us for our work. Some will actually stop and pick up a garbage bag or wire brush and start helping. This year Nelson has decided to ut Westminster student Mike Nelson organized this Saturdays canyon clean-up-. I have a soft spot for Cottonwood Canyon, Nelson said, It is important to me to keep it as pristine as possible. Students appalled by constitutional flaws stage sit-i- n demanding elections be postponed by Christopher Thomas Forum Staff Writer rocks. The food is donated by Northwest Food Service and the Westminster Earth Effort, and the environmental said Nelson. activism, Clean-u- p 5 The Forum the election without a petition signed by 10 of the student body. The administration has not accepted responsibility for the role of its advisors, said sit-i- n participant John Browder. Nick McClure (former director of student life) advised Jed (Arveseth) to change the constitution. The administration has an obligation to be responsible because they take student activity fees. We have reason to believe they failed in their obligation, he said. Social Science Senator Gina Furano felt the sit-i- n was an unproductive method for the activists to protest They are hypocrites. All year long they have wanted us to go by the constitution and by laws and now they are going against it. They have some valid concerns but I think they can be a lot more productive by going out and getting signatures, said Furano who stayed and watched the ASWC office during the sit-in. student Monday morning activists sent a Declaration of Independence to students and faculty via clarifying their concerns. cited an unwillingness of They ASWC and the administration to rectify constitutional flaws and grievances; the basic legal unsoundness of the ASWC constitution; and Sheryl Phillips (Vice President of ail Student Services) refusal to accept responsibility for the administrations lack of oversight their primary concerns. Philips contends that ASWC government isnt flawless however there is no reason for the administration to take action. ASWC is like any other governing body, they are less than perfect however I believe student government is trying to work it out under their framework, and no action should be taken. Its not appropriate for me to step in and fix it , Phillips said. WCEE adds to Westminsters , SSSJ, 4 f 'I !, $ recy cling program by Carol L. Nudell Forum Staff Writer The Westminster College Earth Effort (WCEE) group has added a profusion of new recycling bins all over campus. Bins to collect aluminum cans are now located in all classrooms in the Gore School of Business and in most of the classrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors of Converse Hall. Aluminum is now worth 50 cents per pound to Westminster, so WCEE requests that students use the bins whenever possible. Tin and plastic bins are now located in the dorms and the Shaw Center. Both tin and plastic ? V,' containers should be rinsed before theyre recycled. Tin cans should have their labels removed and only types 1 and 2 plastic are currently recyclable. Students and faculty who bring tin or plastic containers from home can deposit them directly into the bins at the recycling center north of the soccer field. The WCEE has also come up with a unique way to reuse cardboard. The cardboard bin is white and located behind the Shaw center. WCEE invites students who are moving to borrow the boxes, but asks that they be returned neatly to the bin after use. |
