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Show THE FORUM September 1, 2004 Protesters Say Company Practices Discrimination Wal-Ma- rt Stan Sarkisov Staff Writer The protest that the Westminster Action Network (WAN) scheduled for Wal-Ma- rt Wal-Mar- Project of Utah, Joey Caputo. They allege that anti-wom- s Westminster Junior Tyler Bain shows his face, mimicking the logo, during the protest on Aug. 26. no-so-hap- py nt, and en rights. anti-environme- Wal-Ma- rt Wal-Ma-rt anti-worke- rs group to evacuate to the parking lot where they continued chanting slogans and asking for donations as customers walked to their cars after some . Tyler Bain, vice president of WAN, also joined the march toward on Wal-Ma- rt Friday night. The gathering is now becoming a tradition for Bain and his politically active posse. The dozen, armed with a guitar and a donation jar for former presidential candidate Reverend A1 Sharpton invaded pre-Wal-M- art late-nig- shopping. The next morning a mixture of 30-4- 0 students and ht community activists joined WAN and the Better Wage Project of Utah from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to protest the newest grand opening of the Wal-Ma- rt on 1300 South and 300 West. One and a half million women cant be wrong, says Bain in reference to the class their local superstore, asking shoppers to donate to the cause. A mysterious Code 15 was broadcast over the store intercom system, forcing the ' action lawsuit filled against the worlds largest corporation for wage discrimination. percent of Seventy-fiv- e Wal-Ma- rt employees are women, of the manyet only one-thir- d agers and supervisors are female. Although the protest went without any problems, three police officers were there to monitor the assembly at times, cautioning protestors to keep of the grass. One shopper was angered after she thought she had her picture taken during the protest. However, since the protest New Dean Has Personal Interest in Students Katie Holmstead Staff Writer The students of Westminster College should be happy to know that the new dean of students is not only someone who might be familiar to them but is also someone who fits his new title. Mark Feme is all about the students. Feme has been at Westminster College for two and half years, although this will be his first semester as the acting director of students and student life. (Acting meaning that this will be a temporary position for him until at least January 2005.) The past two and half years Feme has served as the director of Student life where he oversaw all of the student activities as well as the leadership and club organizations on campus. He even .brought his cocker spaniel named Loki to many of the schools events, often dressing the dog to match the theme of the occasion. Sadly just three weeks ago Loki passed away. Feme wanted the students to know this because of the role the dog played for the school often acting as the school mascot as Feme likes to remember him. Feme also was and will continue to be in charge of the study abroad program at Westminster, something that was held on public grounds, she had no legal basis for her Women and Code Pink, both WAN and the Better Wage argument of invasion of priva- Project of Utah agree that their main focuses are workers cy. Saturday, Aug. 20, was actually started late Friday night. Were gonna go to t, wanna come for journalistic purposes? asked Westminster graduate and the director of the Better Wage policies are 7 ' he feels very strongly about. Mark takes a very active role in helping students fulfill their dream of studying abroad. Travel is a very important aspect of ones education. Meeting new people and learning about other cultures can help you learn things that you never would otherwise. And this man should know. Any of you who have ever been into his office know that Feme is all about traveling. Not only does he have pictures of the Taj Mahal, the Great wall of China and the Kenya sunset framed he also has endless books on traveling and will be quick to tell you that he has been to six continents and 48 states! Feme takes his new role at the school very seriously and knows what it is all about. He wants the students to know that they can come to him with anything and that his door is always open. We are here to be advisers, if any student has any problem I would hope that this office would be their first step to point them in the right direction, thats why I am here, and that is fully the essence of what my job is all about, said Feme. Cortney Seggermann, a resident adviser here at the college, says that Femes fun and loving spirit shines through even during the toughest times of the school year. Chris Wharton, who is part of the student government and the residential government, said that he is probably the most fair and level headed person that I have ever met and have ever worked with, but he is also very friendly and has a fun personality. Fun is definitely right. After finishing this interview, he looked at me and said well dont you want to know anything personal? Feme was done with the business talk and frankly so was I. It was time for us to get personal-sometthat he does very well with his students. Feme was raised in Ohio and left to pursue his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. There he met his wife of one year, Merridith, who also works at Westminster teaching English. Feme received his masters degree from the University of Maryland in higher education and administration. He and his wife were married just last year here in Utah during that lovely winter blizzard last December. The good news is, is that they just adopted a new school mascot another cocker spaniel named hing Freya. os WAN and the Better Wage Project of Utah hope to educate the public on what they feel to be corrupt actions committed by Wal-Mar- t. Wal-Mar- ts prices are not a function of legitimate market mechanisms, said Caputo, who graduated last year with a degree in political science. They are artificially low. Poverty-lev- wages, inade- el quate health insurance and worker abuses are what keeps their costs low, he continued. One Wal-Ma- rt security seemed understand to guard the protestors message, telling them to keep up the good work. Infamous for its negative stance on labor unions, Wal-Ma- rt has a reputation for ter- minating any employee caught discussing the benefits secured in a union that would fight for fair pay and work-plac- e safety. Although this protest, the fourth of its kind since last year, was coordinated with the rights. Chris BrinkerhofF, president of WAN says that it is important for young people to get involved and to be active and improve the quality of their community by fighting conformity that replaces mom and pop shops. My grandma hates Wal-Ma- rt so much that she puts their commercials on mute, Bain added. So while the cor- big-bo- x poration sells an image of a family friendly values, WAN believes that along with rolling back prices, the company is also rolling back wages, as one of their pickets reads. WAN will continue its campaign against Wal-Ma- rt this year, undeterred by the negative reactions they receive from shoppers that are driving by. For these protestors, Wal-Ma- rt is the biggest and the worst. Were a bit player, says Bain, but they will continue to do their part. OS National Organization of Jacobs Lights Jewett Erin Howington Staff Writer The newly remodeled Jewett Center has a new sound and light technician. Bryan Jacobs is joining the staff at Westminster as the building technical director for the Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory. Hes only been here a month and said its been full of challenges, but exciting and a great opportunity. Jacobs was born and raised in Utah and is currendy living in Holladay with his wife, Debe, and one of four daughters. Jacobs educational background includes being one of the first students to receive a computer-aide- d drafting degree from Salt Lake Community College. From there he went on to the University of Utah working in the fine arts department as a drafter in robotics. Jacobs said that most of his background is in theater. Jacobs worked for the Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City as technical director and resident scenic designer, which included everything from building and painting, to the sound and lighting for performances. He also spent five years doing freelance work as a designer for community theater around the Salt Lake During his freelance work, Jacobs was hired to design a fountain for the front Valley. driveway of WordPerfect co- founder Bruce Bastian. Before joining the staff at Westminster, Jacobs was working on a project for Western Architectural Services where he was in charge of the expansion of the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He was in charge of all the exterior elements, which included part drawing that gave workers an idea of what the columns and doorframes would look like. He also worked for Historical Arts and Casting where he did the exterior work for the new Grand America in downtown Salt Lake City. Jacobs will teach stagecraft classes and scenic construction. He will also interview students for the work-stud- y program for future work painting, building and even sewing costumes. Students will also work in the box office. 1 When asked why he chose to work at Westminster College, he said he was looking in the newspaper and noticed an opening for technical director. He went through the process . of applying and was happy to get the job. Jacobs says hes excited about his new job here at Westminster and looks forward to getting to ; know the students. OS , |