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Show !MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1001 UNIVERS ITY JOURNAL CAMPUS NEWS Smith is ne\N co.m m chair BY HEIDI ROWLEY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER • Jon M. Smith, associate professor of communication , will become chair of the communication department July· 1. The appointment, approved Friday by the Southern Utah University Board of Trustees, ended a lengthy campai gn that had divided the communication faculty between the twQ.._finalists: Smith and Suzanne Larson , professor of communication and director of the Honors Program . . "I'm excited that I have the opportunity to serve the university in a new area,· Smith said Friday afternoon after teaming that the trustees had approved his appointment. Smith will replace Frain G. Pearson, who announced his retirement in December after 36 years as a member of the communication faculty. "I have every confidence that Jon will do an outstanding job in leading the department," Pearson said. Smith said he hopes to focus efforts on recruiting and increasing scholarship funds for communication students. Department faculty and staff selected Smith and voted unanimously to support his nomination to the trustees during a meeting on Tuesday. Before that meeting, the department endured six weeks of ardent campaigning that included two failed attempts to elect a chair by the twO:thirds majority required by university policy. · The policy calls for department chairs to be elected by faculty and staff in the department. In accordance with the policy, Dean Rodney Dec~er of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences polled tenure and tenure-track faculty in early February to gauge each professor's willingness to serve as chair. Three faculty members-Smith , Larson and associate professor Art Challisindicated a willingness to serve. A preliminary vote narrowed the field to Smith and Larson and Decker scheduled a vote of the .15 eligible faculty. The first vote was 8-7 in Smith's favor; the second was 9-6, also in Smith's favor. After interviewing each eligible voter Decker met with department faculty and staff and told them he felt they should select their own chair. Lionel Grady, associate professor of communication , said he thinks the election divided the department because there were two strong candidates for the position. , "It was a choice between two good choices," he said. "I think that's what made it so difficult to decide wnat we wanted." Another faculty member, assistant professor Brian Heuett, declined to discuss the division. "It is nobody else's business," he said . . Despite fears of some faculty members that Tuesday's meeting would become acrimonious, Heuett said the process was carried out accordingly. "It was probably one of the more professional meetings I have ever attended," Heuett said. "It was done professionally and ethically." None of the faculty members contacted by the University Jouma I would discuss the specifics of wliat went on in the closed-door meeting that lasted one and one-half hours. However, Smith received the required two-thirds vote and his nomination was supported by a unanimous vote of the faculty and staff. Grady said the vote to elect Smith "was not unanimous, but we decided to support the majority . Heuett added, "I think the department feels comfortable with Jon Smith as the chair." PAGES NOMINATION OUTSTANDING .STAFF AWARD SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSI1Y WILL RECOGNIZE AND HONOR TWO (ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE) OUTSTANDING STAFF EMPLOYEES TIIIS YEAR. THE E AWARDS RECOGNIZE THE RECIPIENTS CAREER IN UNIVERSI1Y SERVICE AND TIIEIR DEDICATION TO THE INSTITUTION. THE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED AT COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES ON MAY 5, 2001. ANY EMPLOYEES OF SUU OR ANY OF THE ENIOR CIASS STUDENT BODY MAY SUBMIT NOMINATIONS. I DESIRE TO NOMINATE: PRE ENT STAFF POSITION:_ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ REASO S FOR YOUR NOMINATION: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ n Longer days broaden activity BY LISA GRADY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER throughout the year which give them the opportunity to network with people ' already in their field . "It's nice for them to Sigma Delta Omicron will q;1ter a get to know other teachers," Allen said. luncheon for the annual science fair on v\lhile this club is geared toward the March 27. interests of those in the family and Catering fa, parties and special events consumer sciences, it is not limited to the is one of the primary functions of department. Anyone interested should Omicron, said Amber Allen, instructor of contact Allen at 865-8070 or Orton at nutrition and food·and club adviser. This 865-0974. serves as the bulk of their activities and • The Mountain Biking Club continues fund raisers. · its weekly rides as springtime This departmental club offers students approaches. an opportunity to lead, serve and network "With the weather getting warmer. we'll within the fam ily and consumer science be doing a lot of riding,· said Tim field, said Rikel Orton. a sophomore Roelofs , a junior business education family and consumer science education major from Salt Lake City, and dub major from Safem. utah, and club president. president. The Club has approximately eight The catering and service opportunities active members, and about 40 who have offer an expansion on what is being expressed an interest, Roelofs said. learned in the classroom and gives club The club goes mountain biking nearly members the chance to apply that every Saturday and will begin rides on knowledge, Orton said. Wednesdays when the days start getting In addition to catering, ~we do a lot of longer, said Chance Stewart, a junior service activities," Orton said. psychology major from Tropic, Utah. CurrenUy, these students are making "We're starting up.• packets of children's games to give to the Anyone is welcome to join the club for SUU day care and other facilities . The rides, Stewart said. Club membership is project offers hands-on experience in not required . addition to the fundamentals taught in the Anyone interested in more information classroom. should contact Roelofs via email at , .Members.also attend comientions . . _ •• coel2'Z4.0@student.suu.edu. - - .. • - ; - Signature: OSUU Senior OAlumni OFaculty Please print name: _____________ CRITERIA FOR SELECTIO 1 Po sesses extraordinary enthu ia m for their job. 2 Demonstntes a incere intere t in tudent , facuJty and taff. 3 Must have demonstrable <;:urrent knowledge in their related employme nt and exhibit a high level of profe ionali m . 4 Works well with fellow employees and demonstrates a incere intere t in . all areas of the campus.. 5. A minimum qf three year employment at SUU 6. Must be a ful -time staff member. -7. Award is limited to one per career. Please return to Marlq Jensen, J. Reuben Clark Alumni House NO IATER THAN FRIDAY, MARCH 30TH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS. ' \' |