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Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Thursday, March 27, 2014 3 TYSON MICROAGGRESSIONS SEEGERT YELLOWSTONE Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 take place. They can be very simple and very subtle." Belinda Saltiban, director of diversity and inclusion at the U, handles incidents of bias on the campus. Saltiban said if students experience microaggressions or bias of any kind they can contact her or email the experience anonymously to respectU@utah.edu . She said if students feel discriminated against they should also contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. Ortiz said the biggest distinction between microaggressions and discrimination is when committing a microaggression students may not realize they have done something wrong or offended someone. "I think this is a huge problem on campus," Ortiz said. "I really wish we could see more targeted efforts, more widespread support and more resources allocated to things like this." Ortiz has worked on a diversity training program for students and faculty on campus throughout his tenure as president. He said the groundwork has been done for this program, but it is still a work in process that he would like to see more resources allocated towards. "Diversity training is something that the university is doing," Ortiz said. "I've had a hard time pushing it forward [this year]." Saltiban hopes students who have experienced, witnessed or heard about an incident involving microaggressions will reach out to her. "We have leaders who are deeply committed to a vital learning, living and working community that cultivates and nurtures inclusion," Saltiban said. "I believe that the imperatives of diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to enriching the educational experiences of all students." Ortiz said it is easy for students to shrug off a single microaggression, but as they happen more often it begins to build. "When you have things like that happen to you consistently it can be depressing," Ortiz said. "I think it takes a lot of humility and willingness to realize that you may have done something wrong." The new microaggressions Facebook page is meant to give students a voice and was created on March 21. Since its creation it has gained 240 likes as of March 26. The creator of the page declined to comment on the record. dreams, memory, fantasy, imagination ... are modes of the virtual." Seegert has been a professor at the U for four years now, but his history with the school extends back nearly two decades, when he received his first bachelor's degree in 1996. In a rare case, Seegert is a professor that received all of his degrees from the school he teaches at. The reasoning for it, he says, is an undeniable love for Utah. "I am a longstanding person at the U," he said. "It's unusual to be a member of the faculty and [to have gotten] your degrees here, but that's how it worked out. I love Utah. I've been dragged away multiple times and I always come back." Seegert originally studied philosophy as an undergraduate and had different plans of where to go in his life other than teaching, but he found himself drawn to English in graduate school. "I wanted to be a rock musician at one point," Seegert said. "But I think it's just that I fell in love with the material [while in school]. The English Department rocks because it's so open-ended. I'm doing [a class on] video games. Anything that has a really strong basis in narrative [falls] under English." Seegert's love for the diversity of subjects English covers has spread to his students as well. Megan Gessel Brewster graduated last year in English, and took multiple courses with Seegert because she enjoyed his teaching so much. "Alf certainly deserves this award," Brewster said. "I really loved how although the courses were centered on literature, there was no realm of study considered irrelevant — astronomy, history, biology, art — he incorporated it all and that was all the better for students." Brewster also feels that Seegert creates a safe space for beliefs in his classroom. "I felt my beliefs were both respectfully challenged and civilly protected in his discussions," she said. Ultimately, Seegert found himself teaching because of a love of learning within himself — something he fosters by teaching others. "I love teaching and working with students," he said. "I learn more from my students than I do from any other type of research." in the country. Schullery said that national parks have caused people to question nature, think about life and death as a necessity and learn to "watch not the moment, but the season." He said the park reshapes its inhabitants and reminds them that nature does not need answers, and that humankind needs uncertainty just as much as learning. While with family one time in Yellowstone, Schullery saw a bear eating an elk and described the incident as a "swirl of conflicting ideas." He didn't know if he had witnessed tragedy, loss, beauty, wisdom, the past or the future. Whether on the side of the elk or the bear, witnesses said they saw something "raw and authentic in a world where artificiality prevails." Schullery said many people who visit national parks today sometimes take too much pride in their viewpoints of the park and its necessity in people's lives. With time, people learn that the founder's vision of Yellowstone is being reached. He said that modern research owes many of its answers about the origin of life's questions to national parks like Yellowstone, even though each generation comes up with its own questions. Despite what some call "nature deficit disorder," or millennials' lack of interest in national parks, Yellowstone has slowly trended towards the values it was originally meant to have. Pacific Gingras, a senior in environmental studies, said he was "alarmed" by his generation's lack of interest in national parks. He said social media makes us forget about them and the value behind visiting them. Marcela Brimhall, a senior in geography, agreed that the bears and other "beasts" of Yellowstone are essential, saying it is a huge misconception that bears are scary. Brimhall is afraid that the government is not actually saving the national park, but is instead just reserving it or "holding off until we can actually use its resources." The Stegner Center Nineteenth Annual Symposium, "National Parks: Past, Present, and Future" will continue Thursday in the Salt Lake City Public Library. n.turner@chronicle.utah.edu ivy.smith@chronicle.utah.edu e.trepanier@chronicle.utah.edu read "Pluto is still not a planet. Get over it." "Pluto never, never deserved to be a planet," Tyson said. When The New York Times published Pluto's demoted status on its front page, a third-grader notably wrote a letter to the Times, explaining, "some people like Pluto, if it doesn't exist then they don't have a favorite planet." Discover magazine did, however, find a planet Wednesday afternoon. Tyson revealed a voicemail from the press, "That's all, it's just CBS News," Tyson said. Naming rights are also a big part of the science world — Tyson said most of the Periodic Table of Elements was named by the United Kingdom. In fact, the gases at the right end of the chart, which do not associate with any of the other gases was named the Noble Gases by England, after the "Noble Class" which does not associate with other classes. "I am reminded why we fought a war to get the hell out of England," Tyson said. Tyson said planets are traditionally named after Roman gods and the moons around those planets are named after Greek gods. When William Herschel discovered Uranus, he originally named the planet after King George. After changing it to match the tradition of Roman god's names, the moons were instead named after characters in Shakespearean literature. After planets are found they have the running theme of elements being named after them, hence neptunium and plutonium. Tyson was not done bashing Pluto for the evening. "Pluto got onto the Periodic Table of Elements on false pretense," Tyson said. Science also plays an important role in the national pride of countries — it is illustrated on currency around the world. Charles Darwin is featured on a bill in the U.K. and though, as Tyson pointed out, Darwin accomplished his greatest work at about 26, he appears much older on the pound note. However, having a 26-year-old on the English bill "wouldn't have the gravitas of a bald man with a beard," said Tyson. On top of that, despite Darwin's study of the finch, the hummingbird sits next to him on the currency. A fair amount of the audience knew which scientist appears on bills in the U.S. — Benjamin Franklin. "Good, that means most of you have handled hundred dollar bills," Tyson said. Tyson repeatedly asked the following question throughout his lecture: "What country is this?" He shared some examples of embarrassing news headlines, such as, "Half the schools in the district are below average." He said that most of the country seems to fear science. "When disaster comes, we run ... the asteroid comes, we hide ... we hoard toilet paper," said Tyson. He encouraged people to instead ask themselves "How can I deflect that asteroid?" Tyson said "America is fading," showing a map of the real "America of Tomorrow." According to the map, America will not be doing well in the 21st century. "We may be voting ourselves back to the Stone Age," Tyson said. Tyson said we are too egotistical, reminding viewers that "humans are just ... fecal matter." Zack Buchi, who works at the U, thought Tyson's opinion that humans are egotistical was the most interesting part of the lecture, along with his view that this should not depress people but instead motivate them. Buchi said that going back to school will be part of his plan to do his part in helping the future America. Nico DiSera, a senior at Cyprus High School, enjoyed hearing about the correlations between science, research and the economy. "I'm trying to do my part, that's what `Cosmos' is about" Tyson said. "It's to remind you how science works ... If your heart beats, you're a target audience." ORGANIC Continued from page 1 growers. They ultimately returned to the U.S., but switched to using non-organic soy to keep production costs down. "There have been significant changes to the `authenticity' of what was once the largest organic brand in the United States," Howard said about Silk. Howard said consumers should avoid giant retailers such as Walmart, Target and Whole Foods, which he says are simply too powerful. He recommends shopping at local farmers markets, food co-ops and the few remaining independent organic companies. "Corporations have to change their practices to ensure they're sourcing from farms that don't use synthetic pesticides, which is that streamed the demonstration. Students could view Hodgson's techniques on the screen for a closer look. Next to the demonstration was a table with bowls of pre-prepared gumbo for students to enjoy while watching Hodgson prepare the scones. Hodgson took students through the whole scone-making process, aiming to show students that the recipe fits with a college budget. Hodgson, a certified executive chef and member of the American Academy of Chefs honor society, is no stranger to the regionally specific dishes he made. Originally from Australia, the scone recipe was his grandmother's and would be enjoyed at "high tea" time. The gumbo recipe, which Kennedy Lopez, a freshman in nursing, said was "hotter than hell," is Chartwells district manager Reggie Conerly's own dish. Hodgson's affinity for spicy Southern cooking showed because Nichole Shelton, a freshman in nursing and no stranger to New Orleans cuisine, said Hodgson got the gumbo "spot a.oligschlaeger@chronicle.utah.edu Asp news can be inspiring, too. am' a.drysdale chronicle.utah.edu for information about being a news writer for The Daily Utah Chronicle. Contact BOWLING FEED U Continued from page 1 great," Howard said. "However, other organic ideals like supporting local farmers and reducing packaging have really fallen by the wayside." Niya Suddarth, a senior in communications, is onboard with Howard's vision. "Organic is all I eat," Suddarth said. "It's not a movement for me. It's just a way of life." on — straight-up Cajun." Although Hodgson has held a variety of high positions in the culinary field, as well as receiving many awards for his more than 3o-year career, Hodgson enjoys demonstrating at the Feed U Corner events as a way to give back to the students and teach them something new and useful. "I like the interaction with people," Hodgson said. "I like knowing that at the end of the day I created something that gives people happiness." The satisfied faces of students and second helpings of gumbo were clear signs of that happiness. Derek Deitsch, a senior in marketing and director of innovation with UPC, said the large number of students who show up, as well as the promotion it provides for both UPC and Dining Services, makes the event worth UPC's $200 budget for the event. "The food is the main draw, [but the demo] is something you don't expect to see," Deitsch said. UPC's next Feed U Corner demonstration is scheduled for April 22. e.means@chronicle.utah.edu Continued from page 1 the posters for it as part of ASUU Marketing Board. "We just came for fun. We're not fantastic," he said. In Choudhary's game, the highest score was a 9o, bowled by Eric Bellan, a freshman in electrical engineering. The lowest score was Choudhary's at 4o points. Choudhary and his bowling buddies used balls that were between to and 14 pounds. No one in the alley used bumpers on their lane. Choudhary and his two friends ended up taking two lanes to bowl two games at once, since it was free and not many people stopped at the alley. At the bowling alley, the shoes students are required to wear are usually a dull blue and white with some black. While these shoes did not complement many students' outfits, the threat of a fashion faux pas did not stop anyone from participating. "I think bowling shoes are gross, since I don't know where they've been. Once I got brown shoes, and they just don't match at all," said Chris Dewey, a freshman in biology. Most students came to the UPC table outside the alley to grab free pizza before leaving to class or other commitments. Nearly 15 of the 35 participants were UPC members who came to support and promote the event. The alley still erupted with applause when any player got a strike. The highest score that was bowled over the course of the event was a 143. "And that's how we bowl," said Bridger Harris, UPC's Freshman Ambassador Board director and a junior in marketing. UPC is hosting a dodge ball tournament next Thursday that students could sign up for at the free bowling event. The next event in the UPC Loves U weeklong event is a spa night tonight. k.johnson@chronicle.utah.edu |