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Show DREAMS DO COME TRUE HOWTO USETOURISM TO MAKE REAL CHANGE BY CHLOE COLE /STAFF WRITER PHOTO COURTESY OF ELISABETH ZACHARY s a little girl, Elisabeth Zachary wanted to grow up to be a germ expert, now she's living her childhood dreams. Zachary, a junior in biology, is conducting research at the U to further this goal. "I'm doing it for the sake of the experience and there are a lot of incentives to do research," she said. One of the main factors Zachary considered leo- - when she applied to the U was the opportunity undergraduate students have to help with science projects in the lab. She said she also found research currently being conducted that she wanted to take part in. For about a year, Zachary worked with U professor Wayne Potts and focused on how viruses adapt to genetic diversity. Potts has studied host pathogen viruses for the past 28 years. During that time, his research has led to different outcomes and, for him, it's an ongoing process of discovery. "It's great to discover unknown things" Potts said. A OPINION BY TAYLOR ALMOND /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY CHRIS SAMUELS e Global Change and Sustainability Center will ask students today during its seminar if they would rather go to Kenya or Massachusetts next summer. Kelly Bricker, interim chair with the U's College of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, will speak today on sustainable tourism and resources. Bricker researches the subject, as well as natural resource management and how traveling adds CO2 to the environment. The lecture centers on how o measure the positive impact a vacation has, whether it's in the United States or Africa. Last summer, Sam Katz chose Kenya. "Kisii was just beautiful, with rolling valleys, covered in tea leaves," Katz said. Katz's family friend Brian Lilly asked him to go to Kenya to help with a solar-powered pumps project. Easily built and repaired as well as portable, the devices save time and energy. Before the pumps, locals had to carry water from streams, which sometimes took hours to get to. Katz, who traveled to Kenya with humanitarian goals, said he worries about the cultural impacts associated with all types of tourism. "Even with this when you're trying to help, there's a problem with just having Westerners around 4 THECHRONY in general," he said. "People say, 'You think you're gonna help people? You're just a salesman for a Western way of life.'" Mark Lavelle chose Massachusetts. This summer, Lavelle, a sophomore in psychology, went to spend time with his dad's side of the family. "A lot of my family members expressed gratitude that I even came," he said. "My grandparents are happy when they have all their grandchildren in the same place." Lavelle said living in the U.S. makes him realize he has "a lot of privileges that come at other people's expense." His friends, he said, have traveled to Latin America, and their stories have heightened those feelings for him. "I have a couple friends that have visited Ecuador and Guatemala and have done development tourism there," Lavelle said. "It seems really noble." The tourism lecture starts at 4 p.m. in room 295 of the Frederick Albert Sutton Building. Other lectures in the series will be held on alternating Tuesdays at the same time. t.almond@chronicle.utah.edu @SeymourSkimme W LEADERSHIP COMES FROM WITHIN hat makes a leader? Is it someone who is loud and outspoken? Maybe someone who is a dictator and likes to call IAN the shots? Or is it someone who simply creates their own path in life regardless of what others .41 say? I believe that in one way or another we are all leaders. I think the definition of "leadership" boils down to the ability to set an example to others. John Maxwell once said that "a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way." True leadership comes from within. When I was growing up, I fell prey to the fallacy that in order to be a leader, you need to be someone who demands attention. However, I've matured a little more and experienced more of life, so I can see now that this way of thinking is completely false. I've come to learn that we are all leaders, but we all lead in different ways. Leadership isn't so much about being extroverted as it is about being true to yourself. Some of the most powerful leaders have been the silent ones. One of the greatest examples of a leader to me is Mahatma Gandhi. He taught us that you don't need to be loud to be a leader — you simply need to be immovable and have confidence in what you believe to be right. Gandhi was FRANCIS He also said research for them isn't always easy. Sometimes when they're trying to do research on one topic, they end up with something completely different. "It's important to think about those problems and how to solve them because sometimes you fail," Potts said. Professors like Potts are struggling to find students because of a lack of funding. He said they're able to hire some students through the Biology Undergraduate Research Program and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, but that's not always enough. "Many other programs were cut, making it difficult to find those students we are wanting to conduct research," he said. Zachary said she hopes they continue the programs because of the experience she's gained. She said because of her lab expertise, she will be able to go to graduate school and continue with her dream of learning about viruses. c.cole@chronicle.utah.edu @chlobyone never seen screaming his opinion and oppressing others. Instead he exemplified his beliefs with peaceful power that changed the world. Kenneth Blanchard also provided a great point on leadership when he said, "The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." Even though influence plays a big part in leadership, it's hard for someone to be influential if they are not caring for and serving others. A leader is someone who isn't focused primarily on his or her self, but gives their time to other people. Anyone who takes the time to help another is definitely a leader in my book, whether they are helping a group of people or helping out a single individual. When I look back at my life, a lot of the people I considered to be leaders were those who personally reached out and let me know they cared for me. They didn't cry for attention or recognition for anything — they simply went out of their way to show they cared. So the question is, how will you lead today? Large leadership opportunities don't come around often, but we can still make a difference by leading in small ways. By being leaders in the simple daily things, we can impact the lives of others and find greater satisfaction in our own. letters@chronicle.utah.edu 5 |