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Show NEWS Pagei Friday, October 13,2006 Rick Pehrson ASUU chief of staff resigns I Current Attorney General Taase to fill Pehrson's position Dustin Gardiner Chronicle Assf. News Editor ASUU Chief of Staff Rick Pehrson resigned Thursday after rumors that he intends to run for student body president began circulating. Alicia Taase, current attorney general in the Associated Students of the University of Utah, will fill the vacant position. Pehrson said he made the decision to step down because he is considering running for president in ASUU elections this spring. He would not say for certain if he plans to run. "It just seems like (this) is the right time for me to exit," Pehrson said. Student Body President Jake Kirkham said Pehrson had indicated to him he intended to run for office, though he "wasn't ioo percent sure." "He and I both felt that it was in the best interest of ASUU for him to leave now for obvious reasons," Kirkham said. Kirkham said having Pehrson work hi the position any longer would have been a conflict of interest. He said the chief of staff advises the presidency on election policy and helps appoint the elections registrar and elections committee members. "You can't have a chief of staff who's planning on running advising the presidency on who (the elections registrar is) going to be," Kirkham said. Pehrson said he had no intentions to run for office when he applied to be chief of staff last April and was not considering the idea until recently. While he is "disappointed" to see Pehrson go, Kirkham said he is not upset over his resignation. "I know that his intentions when taking the position we're not to run—he wasn't using it as a step ladder," he said. "I understand that opportunities come up, and I wish Alicia Taase I him the best." Kirkham said several other members of the ASUU Executive Cabinet are considering running for president next year. Cameron Beech, Kirkham's executive assistant and spokesman, told The Daily Utah Chronicle on Thursday he is vying for office but will not resign from his position in ASUU until the end of the semester. See R E S I G N S Page 3 International students seek fear and fun at haunted house Natalie Hale The Daily Utah Chronicle International students ventured into Rocky Point Haunted House on Wednesday night to experience a unique cultural tradition in the United States. About 13 brave souls proceeded into the "haunted" warehouse, which has been voted the "No. i Haunted attraction" by Utah's Best of State competition. "I am very scared to go because of all the things that I have heard are inside," said Secil Pacaci, a doctorate stu- dent in economics from Turkey. Others were not so nervous about venturing in and saw it as a fun activity and opportunity to de-stress, as screaming is encouraged. "I'm here because my friend wanted me to come and because the girls get scared and need someone to hold on to," said Geoff Hunter, a doctorate student in mathematics from Canada. None of the students had attended a haunted house venue before, so this experience was new and shocking for some. Emerging from the final chainsaw room, the huddled group quickly made its way out. Many too," students were laughing, said. but others looking a litThe group's tle less than amused. ' general consen"I won't go back, I sus was that the acfeel like I just watched tivity was very fun. 50 horror movies simultaneThe most popular parts ously," Pacaci said of the ex- were the room with neon perience. dot covered walls and people "I loved it, I thought the who were hidden in it and whole thing was so cool; my the spinning tunnel. favorite was the tunnel. I tried Peter Thomas, a senior to focus on the light at the door in mechanical engineering at the end of it so I wouldn't get dizzy. I screamed a lot, ^ H A U N T E D paSe3 MEL1NDA HOM- WILLIAMS.' TJir Daily Utah Jennifer Mann, a U alumna, tells students about her experiences with the CIA during an informational panel for students in the Hinckley Caucus Room on Wednesday. U alumni return for CIA recruitment Rochelle McConkie The Daily Utah Chronicle MERE TERRY/ The Duly Utah Chronicle International student U Sun from Beijing, China walks past the front doorman of the Rocky Point Haunted House with Hongbo Pang, also from Beijing, on Wednesday. Voting Rights Act applies now more than ever Rochelle McConkie The Daily Utah Chronicle In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was instated, barring discrimination against one's right to vote because of race, religion, color or creed. Now, more than 40 years later, many Americans of minority status are still fighting for this basic democratic right. Sponsored by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the ioth-annual Rocco C. and Marion S. Siciliano Forum, titled, "Considerations on the Status of the American Society," was held Thursday at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. The forum honored the Sicilianos and included a keynote speaker and two panels on the Voting Rights Act. Rocco Siciliano has been honored nationally for his life of public service and received an honorary doctorate at the U in 2001. Rocco Siciliano stressed education as a catalyst for change. "Once people hear the facts, not just opinions or hunches, people will realize that there is a real need for this statute—the need is still here today," he said. At the forum, civil rights attorney Laughlin McDonald spoke on the topic, "The Future of the Voting Rights Act: Democracy hi Danger?" McDonald is the director of the Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. He has represented minorities in many civil rights cases, working primarily in Atlanta and the South in general. With the recent renewal of the Voting Rights Act, opponents have argued that the Jim Crow era of racial segregation and discrimination is dead and that race does not play a factor in the election process. McDonald argued otherwise. ACLU Voting Rights Project director Laughlin McDonald addresses the state of democracy at the Dumke Auditorium in to VOTING Page 3 the UMFA on Thursday. A typical day at the Directorate of Intelligence at the CIA could include briefing the president of the United States on the current situation in Iraq, hallway chats about the possibility of a nuclear war with North Korea or finding out the cowboy boot size of a major world leader. At Wednesday's Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum, cosponsored by the U's Career Services, five members of the Directorate of Intelligence related their experiences in working for the CIA and explained to U students how they could get a job with this high-profile government agency. Matt. Berrett, Karen Meisner, John Tomczyk, Charlie Brown and Jennifer M a n n speakers at the forum—are currently employed by the Directorate of Intelligence. Berrett, Brown and Mann are U alumni. "At the CIA, our job is to deliberate useful new thoughts and prompt useful new emotions," Berrett said. While the Directorate of Intelligence does not make policy, it serves as the analytical branch of the CIA, cultivating objectivity and presenting new ideas to the president and cabinet members. These ideas often prompt a course of action. The CIA is broken up into different departments and offices. In the Directorate of Intelligence, Berrett works in the Office of Iraq Analysis, Meisner works in leadership analysis, Tomczyk and Brown work with the Middle East and Mann works in Near East and South Asia Studies (NESA). Berrett wrote the president's daily briefs for 14 months, working until 1 or 2 a.m. preparing stories to inform the president of daily world events. In leadership analysis, Meisner often writes profiles of world leaders, conducting in-depth research and analyses on their personalities, history, interests and motivations. "When we found Saddam Hussein, we sent a leadership analyst to participate in the debriefing. We send the people with the most knowledge," Berrett said. Stressing continuing education, the Directorate of Intelligence emphasizes constantly improving knowledge of foreign languages and both national and world situations. Employees can take paid sabbaticals to work on foreign languages. "It's like academia, but you get to talk about secret stuff," Mann said. The directorate currently offers eight student programs in which undergraduate and graduate students can work as junior analysts during the summer, joining teams and working on projects. As compensation for the internship, the CIA helps pay for students' tuition. Upon graduation, many interns are converted to full-time staff members. To be employed by the Directorate of Intelligence, applicants often must have a See CIA. Page 3 |