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Show Tuesday, April 24, 2007 1 urban field trips in the future. I want to make it as easy for them as it was for me. And many faculty members have recognized and appreciated Harrisons involvement with nature as a teaching tool. David Stanley, an associate professor of English, has known Harrison since the day he arrived on campus in 1991. Stanley worked close with Harrison and others who organized the beginning of the environmental studies program, and described Harrison as absolutely committed to the environment and his students. According to Stanley, there is only one way Harrison looks at his work: If youre going to appreciate nature, youve got to really experience it up close. tt 7 love the capability of being in nature in only a few minutes. )) - Ty Harrison, biology professor Harmon helps Photo courteay of And McQutun classes. a student analyze data in one of his ... continued frontpage 1, Ty Harrison That is when 1 consciously decided to do everything I could to save the last little bits of nature in Salt Lake County, says Harrison. But Stanley says Harrison has also been a giving person outside the classroom. At one time, Stanley says Harrison drove all the way from his home in South Salt Lake to sketch a layout design for Stanley's garden in the Avenues to suggest native plants Stanley could put in his garden. As a friend and a colleague, Stanley echoes many on campus about Harrisons retirement: He is truly irreplaceable, not only on campus but in the state of Utah. We all wonder at some time in our lives how we will be remembered. For someone to live a career of originality in thought and deed is special, unique and envious. Ty Harrison thought like Da Vinci, planned like Frank Lloyd Wright and felt the compassion of Picasso. Never mind that he may have forgotten a couple of appointments or misplaced some papers - his mind was flying somewhere between conserving the environment or helping make the world a little greener and better for us all. So when Ty moves to his next level, what void is left behind? In a word, integrity of soul. His work ethics are an example for each of us. His enthusiasm and compassion should be mimicked each of our days at Westminster. So if Ty seemed not the robot bound by a Franklin Covey day planner, so much the better for all of us. His ol values - his honesty, his getting his hands dirty outlook - will be sorely missed. old-scho- 7 want to make it as easy for them as it was for me. Ty Harrison, biology professor While Harrison is no doubt one of the loudest environmental voices on the Westminster 'Campus, he does not fear for the environmental future of the college. The Environmental Center is going to be able to do things I couldnt do. Students, faculty and staff all He is truly irreplaceable, not only on campus but in the state of Utah. - Ty Harrison, biology professor He took on this large feat with students in mind. I use nature as my teaching lab," says Harrison. He me A note by friend and colleague Kay Kuzminksi, professor of art The ASWC President of 1997, Jonny Jemmings, never took a class from Harrison, but worked with him on the Building and Campus Grounds Committee. According to Jemmings, Harrison played a crucial part in expanding the ecology curriculum at Westminster. 'Ive felt very comfortable here. said Environmental Biology is his favorite class to teach becauseof the labs, or field trips, that make up the majority of the class. Gretchen Siegler, social science division chair and full-tiprofessor, said Harrison was one of the first professors to incorporate field trips into teaching. Because he immerses himself in anything and every- r thing, everything just intrigues him, says Siegler. He has not lost his child sense in that way, and that tends to rub off to students. working together can accomplish so much, says Harrison. Saving nature takes patience, hard work and community organization. - David Stanley, associate professor of English The two worked together teaching children about f I use nature as my lab. teaching Ty Harrison, biology professor Siegler remembers a time when she and Harrison took students on a May Term trip to the Semwan River. Harrison would stop students on a trail and turn a boring puddle of water on the ground into an incredible mini lecture. He would talk about the bacteria, fungi and different creatures in that little pond, says Siegler. The field trips allow students to experience nature first hand. I love the capa- bility of being in nature in only a few minutes, Ire says. I want to help ensure that rs there will be places for to take students on pto-fes'.o- Page 6 Harrison and Ijis students on om tTiotut.iiuirn ofitn (?) ofmany field it ips sf XfiTQiuiia Volume XL: Issue 16 |