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Show !MON.DAY, AUGUS'r 30, 1999 PAGE3 UNIVERSITY IOURMAL CAMP.US MEWS fl SUUSA takes over canceled Convo BY MELODY DICKSON JOURNAL STAFF WRITER In only 10 days SU USA pulled together last Thursday's Convocation. The performance was.under the direction of Ryan Richey, assistant to the president of SUUSA, and Kim Perea, education senator. They volunteered to fill in for the canceled Convocation, F'Loom, originally scheduled to commence the 1999-2000 Convocation lecture series. The Convocation began with SUU's ballroom dance team. Afterward, Vice President of Student Services Sterling Church introduced the focus of the Convocation by speaking about the importance of student government and of active student participation in university government by all students. Church emphasized that student government provides an opportunity for students. Church introduced SUU's Student Constitution, which outlines student rights, responsibilities and opportunities. Church also invited students to have a part in university governance through membership on committees and getting involved in decision-making forums. Church introduced SUUSA President Kristian Olsen, Activities Vice President Amber Petersen and Academic Vice President of Adam Marchant who gave a presentation on the nature and structure of student government. One point which was stressed during the presentation was that as soon as students pay their fees, they are automatically a part of the student association. After the presentation, SUUSA conducted a questionand-answer session between SUUSA officers and the audience. With the construction of the new P.E. Building under way and the promise of a great year for all the SUU athletic teams, President Steven D. Bennion is ready to tackle the good along with the bad for another year. Bennion encourages all SUU students to become involved by wearing red, being loyal and getting fired up for the new season of sports. Bennion addresses new year (continued from page-1) Amber Peterson, activities vice president for SUUSA. spoke to students at Thursday's Convocation. The president revealed an ambitious private fundraislng program to improve scholarship opportunities and to facilitate other financial support for students. He said that two people had come to him recently with the desire to set up scholarship endowments of at least $35,000. One of them was an old friend of Bennion's who had no other ties with SUU . Bennion also said that he and his wife hoped to establish an endowment to honor his grandfather, Milton Bennion, the first chief executive of the institution. ·Bennion also expressed pride in SUU's athletic teams. "I predict we'll do well ... I'm excited," he said. "The football team is the best we've had in some time." He encouraged students, faculty and staff alike to support the teams. "Wear red; get red. Be loyal and fired up,· he said. Current SUUSA leaders are exceptional, according to Bennion. "Our student leaders have some ideas and dreams, and they want to make a difference," he said. He specified the drive to rename Center Street as University Avenue as an example. "Seemingly small things done well,· he said, are the hallmark of SUU. Bennion said he hopes students realize the value of attending a smaller institution, which to him includes the ability to take advantage of professors' personal attention and the myriad opportunities to participate academically and socially. "You are more than a number here," he said. SUU seeks to add more graduate programs BY KIRSTEN TATE SENIOR STAFF WRITER Shakespearen Festival and the American Folk Ballet began discussing the program . There are few other · master of fine arts degrees available in the West. SUU is currently seeking approval and funds for It is felt that Cedar City will provide many various new graduate programs. Among the opportunities for gaining experience in the field. conceptualized programs are master of fine arts, a "The program will help with job placement," said master of communication, and a master of business Metten. The Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery can also adm·inistration. provide experience in dealing with art. Approval has been granted for a master of fine arts An intern may possibly travel with the touring program. The next step is to obtain the pertinent funds Shakespeare company to gain experience in that area. for the program. The proposal appeared before the Before the program starts, a nationwide search will be conducted to find a director and an assistant director for Board of Regents this summer. It now has to go before the Utah State Legislature this fiscal year. the program . It will also be interdisciplinary. SUU will get the funding for this program the ' Business, communication and social science classes legislature approves to proposal. will be required in to ensure that graduates have those The earliest projected date for the program's skills. implementation in the university wil! be in the fall of The College of Visual and Performing Arts will be the. 2000. At the latest projected date, the program will be key college. implemented in the fall of 2001 . If the program is implemented there will be between Charles L. Metten, dean of performing and visual arts, six and eight students participating in the beginning. said that there is a good chance of getting the funds The main offices will be in the General Classroom and he is "looking forward to beginning the program." Building, but classes will be held in different buildings, Last year the arts, theatre, dance, Utah depending on the subject. Metten said that the program is very expensive, but has many benefits. People with a master of fine arts are in high demand, and can get jobs dealing with unions, making contracts, repertory and anything else associated with the administration of visual and performing art companies. Also in the process is a master of business administration. It will go before the Board of Regents in October, then if approved, will go before the State Legislature to obtain funding. It would not begin until fall of 2000 -at the earliest. Dean of Business, Technology and Communication Carl R. Templin says he is optimistic about the program going through. If the program is impl~mented a new director would not need to be found. The current faculty is qualified to teach the needed classes, but eventually a few faculty members would need to be found to supplement the-program so that the undergraduate program doesn't suffer. The master of business administration degree would be a generalized degree allowing a graduate to participate in basically any area of business. I I . |