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Show 1 HE April 2,2003 T"", rORUM Page5 Activists Teach Citizenry, Event Organizing Skills' Jennie Pollock Staff Writer Westminster College opened its doors to the Wasatch Activist Convergence and Training (WACT) for three days of panel discussions, workshops and activities. The event, held in Gore, also included informative booths which featured many nonprofit agencies and the Westminster Pride Club. WACT focused on improving global warming. He said nearly 95 percent of Utahs electricity is generated by burning coal. Fossil electricity is a major contributor to global warming, air and water pol- fuel-generat- ed . lution. We are asking the U. to purchase electricity from a firm, Emerson said. He added that it would be a huge environmental benefit and it would boost the wind-power- ed renewable energy market. Emerson continued, saying students at the U. have shown citizenry skills and helping an interest in supporting the people gain insight on event cause and are willing to pay an organization. extra dollar per semester in Saturdays Conscientious student fees to help. Consumption workshop was with thirty plus Through the proposed attendees. The panel included purchase, the University of Kevin Emerson, the director of Utah would join numerous universities across the nation in the University of Utah Wind Power Campaign, Celia Bell of using renewable energy on the Wasatch Community campus. Bell of the Wasatch and Gardens Mary Morrison of Ten Thousand Villages. Community Gardens, a grassit Emerson began the discusroots organization, about how trasion by talking currently serves as the Youth ditional electrical generation Gardening Program coordinahas a significant impact on tor and collaborates with many social service agencies that public health and the natural environment. Emissions assobring youth to the gardens. Bell discussed the numerous ciated with electrical generation contribute to air polluopportunities available at the tion, respiratory illness and community garden; from vol- well-attende- d, non-prof- Kurt Howes and John Williams teach participants at last weekends Wasatch Activist Convergence Training event to complete basic bike repairs. unteering to learning more about sustainable gardening and renting a garden plot. The community garden is a place where strangers become friends. Vacant, unproductive land is converted into vibrant land that produces fresh, locally grown, healthy produce far below market cost. The main mission of the garden is to help people grow and share fresh produce; to teach urban youth responsibility, cooperation and ecological awareness; and to be an active resource for sustainable organic gardening. Bell shared a few of her thoughts on consumption and what we could all do to help. She suggested supporting the and local farmers market, eating in season, buying in bulk, growing more food for ourselves the farmers and their communities. Morrison went on to and family, and extending your harvest by using cold frames. It is just as important to use water wisely by installing a drip irrigation system in your explain how Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans and farmers around the world who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. This income helps pay for food, education, health care or housing. Morrison also mentioned the importance of monitoring yard. Morrison of Ten Thousand retail Villages, a non-prof- it store, spoke on the issues of fair trade. She explained the benefits of fair trade and how it provides vital, fair income to working conditions and how workers are paid. 05 third world people by marketing their handicrafts and working directly with farmers. The farming cooperative businesses are owned and governed by and for the farmers so that the benefits of trade actually reach- - Low Wages Force Teachers to Take Two Jobs Addie Ryder Staff Writer have money left over. I want wants, not just Raichlen said. Without this second job I would not be able to do needs, One of the Lone Star Steak Houses Finest servers, Holly Raichlen, diligently serves costumers on evenings and weekends. Raichlen serves several children and families who greet her with friendly hellos and hugs. These salutations come from her students who frequent Lone Star for an evening out. Raichlen, a teacher at Rosslyn Heights Elementary school, supplements her low teachers salary with $2.13 an hour, plus tips, from the steak house. Raichlen has taught third grade at Rosslyn Heights for two years. Her bachelors degree in elementary education and an endorsement in special education qualify her to earn approximately $29,000 a year. This salary does not allow her to pay bills, buy mandatory items and still third-grad- e extra money from teaching after school to buy new skis for him and his girlfriend. Federation of Teachers Survey and Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends 2000 ranked Utah as one of the 10 lowest-payin- g states in the nation. Utahs 21,400 teachers earned an average of The money is fine now because I only need to supanything at the end of the port myself. In 10 years I month. my might have to situation. I will cross that Raichlen is not alone $34,9 46 a year, $5,628 less than Connecticut, the highest-pbridge when I get to it, among teachers wanting aying state. Robinson said. enough money for a comUtahs beginning Condie has taught fortable life. Her colleague at teachers salary, $23,273 a resource in the Salt Lake Rosslyn Heights, Tim School District for 20 years. year, falls well below what Robinson, earns extra the state designates as a livWith a masters degree plus money teaching an after60 extra credit hours, she school chess program. ing wage or a family of three, $31,346. The low Shannon Condie, a resource stands at the top of the districts pay scale, approximate- salaries for teachers in Utah teacher at Emerson -and around the country ly $56,000 a year. Elementary, works at Condie has not received Nordstrom because her explain why many teachers need to supplement their a significant pay raise since teacher wages cannot supshe reached the top five years incomes with a second job. port her lifestyle. Robinson teaches sixth Taryn Cox, a ago. She works at Nordstrom Westminster senior currently so she can make house grade at Rosslyn Heights student teaching at Rosslyn repairs without using her Elementary. Like Raichlen credit card. he earns about $29,000 a Heights, said people go into Condie said some people the teaching profession year. He became a teacher think teachers have an easy because he relates well to knowing their not going to make much money. The low children. job because of their summer Robinson said he sees break, but during the sumwages frustrate Cox because teachers prepare the future mer she and other teachers teaching as a service to sociedoctors and lawyers. She said need to work second jobs. ty and believes he can be a the low salary does not mat The American great teacher. He will use the . ate ter much when teachers see the positive impact they make on their students. Cox thought about going into business, a field that would likely pay much more than teaching, but student teaching changed her plans. Student teaching showed me this is where I need to be. I want to teach kindergarten so I can give students their first experience of school and make them excited about it, Cox said. All four teachers agree that although teachers wages are too low everywhere, working with children makes the experience worth while, cs |