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Show r j Tuesday, April 24, 2007 native plants in Parleys Creek, cleaning the canyon in Little Cottonwood and planted vegetation to stop erosion at Emigration Canyon. Any work done on Emigration Canyon has been started by Harrison, says Jemmings. He didnt do it because he wanted to be recognized, he did it because he is a truly compassionate person." Jemmings is now the director of the resource development coordinating committee for Governor Huntsmans office. 'Ilie lessons I have learned from Harrison are with me everyday and are reflected in everything I do at work, he says. down four generations. Im going to retire and become gentleman a farmer, savs Harrison with a broad smile and a small chuckle. Thats something most people wouldnt ex- - He didn t do it because he wanted to be recognized, he did it because he is a truly compassionate person. -- Jonny Jemmings, 1997 ASWC president One thing I have learned over the years is that you cant do anything by yourself. You have to network and the community is a great place for that. Especially the community outreach that can benefit and involve students, says Harrison. I would like to see more faculty involvement in community issues and involving their students. Harrison says that he does see more of this happening everyday, especially with the creation of the Environmental Center and the Center for Civic Engagement. I give credit to the college administration for their organization and staffing of the centers," says Harrison. They can do all the things that I, as one person, cannot do. While many people view retirement as a break, Harrison says that he is now going to be busier than ever. I want to use my professional knowledge and skills to help the local environment, he says. He plans to serve on the Board of Directors for the Utah Native Plants Society and Tree Utah. e, When youre teaching you dont really well-deserv- ed full-tim- They can do all the things that I, as one person, cannot do. - Ty Harrison, biology professor have time to be extremely involved in the community. Now I plan to work on projects ranging from dog parks to ecological restoration to eco-a- rt projects, says Harrison. He is also looking forward to being able to spend of land time on the Harrison Historic Farm, located on the Jordan River. The land has been passed off-lea-sh 40-acr- es A Former Student on Ty Harrisons Class Jasmine Mier Puente Staff Writer It finally dawned on me on that early Friday morning: My classmates and I were getting instructions on how to canoe. It was a new experience entirely for me, so even though it was 8 a.m., I considered a fun adventure. I pushed my canoe into the muddy brown river and jumped in, my partner having already adjusted himself in what we thought was the back of the canoe while I adjusted myself in the front. I turned to ask my professor, Ty Harrison, one last question as I got splashed with the muddy brown water: What river is this? He responded with his trademark smile that wrinkled his face, but showed the sparkle in his eyes: The Jordan River. It was a typical Friday morning field trip, in my environmental biology class. And though the' course name included the word biology, I never thought it would have been as interactive in nature as it was. On the class syllabus was an array of different field trips, ranging from hiking to sewage tours. Harrison was passionate about the environment and wanted us to see all the treasures that our local environment provided for us before they were destroyed. I remember one such field trip that introduced to me a local treasure that I had never known about: Farmington Bay. I have lived in Farmington for 11 years and didnt know that the a wetland reserve was less then five minutes away from my house; a treasure that faced extinction due to the Legacy Highway. I wrote in my journal that day that I would have felt bad being so close to something so great, and never knowing about it or seeing it for myself, and worse yet never being able to see it because it could soon be destroyed. Harm that surrison told us of the wonderful rounds the lake and better yet, how some of it tastes. One of my many favorite memories of the many d, field trips was when Ty picked off a piece of a -a little mini cactus looking plant, put it in his mouth and chewed on it. He dared the class to do it, too, and we all embarked on a new experience. I remember it as having the strangest sensation: very salty, yet thirst quenching. Harrison could identify anything. He is one of those outdoorsmen that could survive in the wilderness. I remember being in awe when he would tell us our elevation on a hike just by looking at the trees around us. When we hiked Carte of Pass, he was able to identify the various flowers and elevation levels at all times. The outdoor fieldtrips always left me amazed at how much natural beauty there was in this state, and how much of it we were sacrificing to accommodate our growing population. Not all our field trips took place outside, however. We once went to Patagonia to leam about recycling. We learned more about recycling at the landfill, as well as their plans to turn the landfill into a recreational park. And while most our trips indoors and outdoors were pleasing to our senses, our trip to the sewage plant was much different. But at the same time, it was the most interesting trip I had been on. I found out where the water goes after we flush the toilet. Overall, I gained so much knowledge from Harrison. I learned that Patagonia recycles old underwear, Pickleweed is edible, and most importantly, how important it is to take care or our environment. My experience in Harrisons class is something that I will never forget. I think I speak for all his former students when I say that he is an essential part of the community, and for that, he will be missed. eco-syste- Pick-lewee- Volume XL: Issue 1 6 v Students L pt journals ujlecting on zehat they things collected dm ing their trips. save an i Page 7 |