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Show WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011 2 - DIXIESUNNEWS.COM DSU enirepreneuhlialt, flinovatclion cenier o repkce Eas1 Eiemenlatcy --.- .,..., BY DON GILMAN r ...,......4,,,,,,,, r ,, ...... , 1 ',x'- - -- ' ,i1 ' "7. ,,s1 . i AlpineDonaldo - i t ' $ o , I , tI ,, ' ,,,: -- , t East Elementary School will soon become a center for technology and creativity and renamed Innovation Plaza. During the 21st annual What's Up Down South economic summit Thursday, Dixie State University announced the new center will omsmoonfommwiroo, , be an innovation, entrepreneurial and collaboration center. "There are many initiatives at the university right now in academic affairs revolving around entrepreneurship and innovation," said Michael Lacourse, vice president of academic affairs at DSU. "There were so many in fact that we realized early on we couldn't do the work that's being proposed in those initiatives without a space and the fact that there were $, ; Are you a DSU international student with so many things going on thoughts about president-ele- involving entrepreneurship and innovation, it made sense to put them all in the same ct Donald Trumps policies? Tweet us using voiceofdixie. t' 17.1 1 " $ , ' . " , ' I ' '4.. t. 1 4, ' space." One of the programs that will take up residence in the new center will be the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Lacourse said. One of the t center's goals is to allow students, faculty and community members to bring their ideas, ' build a business plan, and put that business together. The second piece that DSU developed is called the Dixie InnovaDIGS tion Guidance and Solutions program, he said. DIGS is to , I ' ,. -- , - tk , i -- ." , t , t -- '''''' - -- 1 , ., 4 -- -- 0 ' ! .. i ,y -- ,,,,,. f. 4 -.- 4. .,- 4 4 , 4 ',' , . - - , - - -- -- ' , 0 't , Te , ..40,..,,,,,044,.4"'''''''. '......'-, ,,, for will E. a center innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration center called Innbecome S. 600 453 on School East Elementary d programs and strucovation Plaza. Michael Lacourse, vice president of academic affairs, says there's a need for technology-basein fills that Plaza gap. tures on Dixie State University's campus and having the Innovation assist students, faculty and community members with an original idea for a product or a service that could turn into a patent. Also coming to East Elementary is a "maker space" supplied with tools and including a equipment printer and a laser cutter, which will allow makers to prototype, test and modify their ideas. Innovation Plaza will also feature a design center where their creative ideas can come to fruition. "In the building we'll have the capability and the resources to identify a problem, a process to get the solutions, solution to patent, patent to business, all in one place," Lacourse said. There will also be an academic innovation center 3-- D Focusing so heavily on technology helps fill a gap, Lacourse said. There are approximately 32 univer in the United States that focus primarily on technology, but few of those are located in the Intermountain West. There are technology-base- d schools in Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles, but nowhere else in the region. area "There is a wide-ope- n without any university that's really going to focus deeply on these kinds of progants," he said. "So given that there's that gap, given tha that's the need of the local community, given that we want to be involved with economic development to support it, it made sense for us to talk about building an academic program focused more on those areas." grams in place, DSU is helping prepare students for quality careers after they graduate, she said. But Innovation Plaza will not be a typical school setting. within the building where faculty can go and get support to find innovation in their teaching techniques. The DSU online administration will likewise be housed in the center, as will the Success Academy, an early college high school already in place at DSU. Iy1 Hall, director of public relations, said Innovation Plaza is another piece of the puzzle in the university's overall plan for growth. "It's part of the strategic plan to grow how many students we can accommodate. but we are being very careful and methodical about that growth," Hall said. "We want to make sure it is quality growth. Programs like this new technology center ensure that is happening." "Generally speaking, it's going to be very much an open space, not many offices, not many classroomsmostly an open space for people to collaborate and interact," Lacourse said. There will be lounge areas, small conference areas, work stations and open space for people to work. He said: "What does the community need? We asked those questions. What are the plans of Washington County? What industry area and programs should we be focusing on? When those questions were answered, the answer was technology." long-rang- By having quality pro e I DIXIE SUN NEWS needs are being met. He will also serve as a liaison among continued from page DSUSA, the MIC, the LGBTQ Resource Center, International Student Services, as well as any other group or many would see it. students who wish to have DSU has taken Although their concerns heard. camfor inclusion on steps "We recognized the need pus by allowing the creation for increased unity across of diverse groups, Student Rathe campus," Ramaker said. President Sarah Body "This position strengthens a senior dance maker, major the ability of the student from Midland, Michigan, had the idea to create the body president and student CoordiInclusion Diversity government as a whole to nator position 66 recognize and on the DSU understand Student Asthe needs of sociation to In today's society, all students." help bridge Vega said ignorance is the divide. his primary The position increasing. No one goal is to will oversee knows how to talk understand inclusion efto people who don't the people forts made by he will be the university come from the same working with and its van- background as them. and become ous diversity completely involved with groups in Vika Havili, to order prothe diverse mote diversity senior integrated major groups at from Salt Lake City in all forms, DSU. Ramaker said. "My posi After a tion is a great unanimous step towards vote of supembracing port from the DSUSA Exdiversity," Vega said. ecutive Council, the position Doajo Hicks, chief diwas established this semester versity officer and general and filled by Derek Vega, a counsel, did not respond to Dixie Sun News' requests for sophomore business administration major from Rupert, comment. Idaho. Additional reporting will will focus on ensurbe done for diversity at Dixie Vega State University and will aping all students are equally represented and that their pear in the Jan. 25 issue. DIVERSITY 1 Spencer Ricks, Editor-in-Chi- ef Markee Heckenliable, News Editor Drayson Ball, Sports Editor Don Gilman, Features Editor Hanna Pollock, Opinion Editor Ashley Harrison, Multimedia Editor Kylea Custer, Photo Editor Wendy Stabler, Social Media Editor Diana Fossett, Copy Editor Stockton McMullin, Ad Manager Ryann Hein len Jonathan Holland Grant Jones Jalen Jones Shelby Kassuba Taylor Lewis . Jacqie Miller Joe Nelson Kristin Parry Melanie Stark Alexis Winward Braden Wood Rhiannon Bent, Adviser HOW TO REACH US Dixie State University Jennings Bldg. 225 S. 700 E. St, George, UT 84770 Phone: (435) 652-78Fax: (435) 656-401- 9 dixiesundixieoedu www.dixiesunnews.com Ads: dixiesunadsdixie.edu or (435) 652-781- 8 Dixie Sun News is distributed each - The Wednesday during fall and spring semesters as a publication of Dixie State University, the communication department, and Dixie State University Student Activities. DSU administrators do not approve or censor content. The student editorial staff alone determines its news coverage. The unsigned editorial on the opinion page represents the position of Dixie Sun News as determined by its editorial board. Otherwise, the views and opinions expressed in Dixie Sun News are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Dixie Sun News or any entity of the university. 99 CELEBRATION thome, Nevada, said he continued from page preciated the moment during the event when Vranes asked the audience to look around the room and recognize the differences in each other. prove that you're not, you invite to you're house," Vranes said. "Then when I went to the bathroom and turned my back, I'd hear a racial slur. They wouldn't admit it, but they were racist too." Kristian Johnson, a senior biology major from Haw "Anytime you're recognizing the diversity in the community, you realize that there's more than one way of seeing things," Johnson said. "I think this event accomplished this When I turned and looked at my neighbors, I realized they may not have as voted the same as me, but African-American- sl r I t 1,J, ' , , , ' - t t r. f; 't rr , 7 , ,.., fr . er . ,. , ' ., 'i ,,,' i f' ' ' , - , ' ,, 4. , , ' ,s - ' I - z l' , , ,, ) ,. ', in, :'''''r ' ''' ,,, . ' - .. .-3 t," v, i , to '.,, 'Nt, I ,' we all want America to be better and we can find commonality in that." Vranes and Smith left DSt with a challenge to the audience to take a lesson from C King Jr. and try to listen tc more to others who may a seem different. "It's hard to be in the pos- n ition to listen," Vranes said. a "But when we get to know fc each other, we are willing listen, and we are extending understanding to them just lo by that act." ap- ''1 i 7.- . ' I., - , - , rr ' st.' 1, s', , '''''':7.; 1 ' ,,, , .... I .. ec ! gr ,'',,,, t , '''' ' ',, - ', - .. ' '...,' R in , t , .. ' ,., - 's., .. - ,, of , .,, pt ..., r, L ., - ,4,,, .',14, '.,, ' te( -, . , si , i E ati ' X Frl ,.' . k. t :r . - , , ',., , - , ; it ;'' , , z zm cr, ,, ''k 3, ii,, e 0 0 7 th ,L.1 , ,. ' - of be , - ' es omm4 vv State University students and staff gather in the Gardner Student Center lounge in celebta tion of Martin Luther King Jr. Kristian Johnson, a senior from biology major Hawthorne, Nevada says people can realize different ways of thinking if they recognize diversity in the community. ed an Dixie -- Correction from issue -- 1: The former Dixie State University president in the "Couple brings beauty to China" story is Douglas Alder, not Douglas Adler. co or |