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Show UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Friday, Dec. 10,2004 Morning showers for the last day of class. High: 45, low 29 Sports Aggie Life USU to announce head coach Friday. Lotus Place spices up life. Page 7 Page 17 U.S. soldier shares story Sergeant says media perceptions about war in Iraq are untrue FBLA brings high school students for campus visit BY A N A ANTUNES Staff Writer BY BROOKE NELSON Assistant News Editor After returning a year and a half ago from service in Iraq, Sgt. Kevin Turnblom is home visiting Utah to tell his side of the Iraq war story. The 25-year-old Weber State" University student has been back home in Ogden on assignment for the last couple of weeks speaking primarily to Weber State students about his experience in Iraq. Plans to for Turnblom to speak to ROTC students at Utah State University fell through, but Turnblom spoke to the Utah Statesman Thursday. "What I would want people to know about the war is that it's really not the way the media represents it," he said. "Everywhere I went, mostly in southern Iraq, many of the Iraqis I met were ecstatic to see us there." "Under Saddam Hussein, over 5,000 people a month were starving to death in Iraq, which is something that has been glossed over lately. I just think people need to take a bigger look at what we're doing positive in Iraq." Turnblom was part of a defense unit that provided air defense coverage for the 1st Marine Expeditionary force during the first attacks made in Iraq. The Roy High School graduate said he hopes his visits help people to better understand the situation in Iraq, especially because he says the media has perpetrated so many misperceptions. Turnblom said reports the military went into Iraq unprepared are false, and said he was especially frustrated when 10 days into the war, the media was saying the military was already behind. "We were at a place they didn't expect us to be until day 35," he said. John Zsiray/The Utah Statesman Troops were actually ahead of schedule but temporarily stopped because SGT. KEVIN TURNBLOM, shares his experiences from his time in Iraq. Turnblom returned from Iraq in of a sandstorm, Turnblom said, and June 2003 and is currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas ever since the media has portrayed the idea the troops are failing. rank-and-file Iraqi who can go to school ing in poverty when they make $4-0,000 "Historically, the media goes after bad now, who has healthcare, who isn't starv- a year and have a house with only 2,000 news. It's more dramatic," he said. "If ing to death anymore and who actually square feet, you can see a really big difpeople in the U.S. think things are going have the ability to vote next month, I ference." bad, then the media is going to feed think their lives are much better." Entering Iraq in February 2003, a lot them what they want to hear." Seeing the lifestyle of the Iraqi people of cultural and physical adjustments The Iraqi people are also better off were required of the troops, especially as firsthand was an altering experience, because of the presence of U.S. troops, the weather became increasingly hot. Turnblom said. Turnblom said. Til still never forget coming into "Initially it was all the different eth"The people who lived easy under Saffron, one of the poorest villages in nicities and the fact there were camels Saddam are having a rough time because southern Iraq. People were living in mud were everywhere," he said. "Once the they aren't being cuddled they aren't houses and the children were literally in being taken care of the way he did on the rags," he said. "When you compare that IRAQ backs of others," he said. "But for the to here where people are considered liv- OSLAftMY The College of Business welcomed 267 students from 14 different high schools from all across Utah Wednesday. The students are a part of the Future Business Leaders of America and came to USU to prepare themselves for competitions that will start next year. Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), the collegiate division of the FBLA, sponsored the event. Shauna Karren, director of the Career and Education Opportunity Center, is the adviser for the institution. She said high school students come to USU to practice for the regional, state and national FBLA competitions. "The students were tested in many different ways such as interviews, written tests and speech," Karren said. She also said 15 students from the College of Business helped with the organization of the project. Ginger Wester, president of the STI IDFNTS See Page 5 Adults only? Class accidentally exposed to porn BY JOEL FEATHERSTONE Features Editor It shocked, it offended and it almost ruined a group project. During a 7:30 a.m. Management and Human Resources 3110 class in the Business Building Room 215, one group presented something more than planned. A member of Group Three inserted a DVD, which included a project presentation, into the computer connected to the classroom projector, opened up Windows Media Player and pressed play. However, instead of playing the DVD, the program played what was last in its memory a video clip from a hard-core pornography Web site - onto the giant projection screen in front of about 130 students. Members of the group struggled to turn it off and quickly did, but after a few seconds, the damage had still been done. "I wasn't even looking, and then I heard this big gasp in the room and I looked up just in time see them click it off" said David Herrmann, executive in residence and lecturer, who instructs the class. "I don't even want to describe it," he said. ClASS See Page 5 See Page 5 Mitten Tree warms hands BY A N N PASSEY Staff Writer MITTEN TREE Docombor9. 2004 mitienj, li.nc. K.H+.'V nnd M.-1M5 lo waim hands, heads, fod, ;)iwJ tvufi* for Bear River HEAD START Program and Child A Family Support Cenler John Zsiray/7he Utah Statesman THE MITTEN TREE, a service project by Utah State University and the Women's Center, is showcased in the Carousel Square. The project donates mittens, scarfs and other winter clothing to needy families. The Women's Center at Utah State University has a service project that is warming not only hearts, but heads, hands and feet as well. The Women's Center and the Women's Center Advisory Board are continuing a 16 year tradition this holiday season, the Mitten Tree. "Christmas trees have been set up at more than 20 locations across Cache Valley where people can donate new mittens, gloves, socks, hats and scarves for children who are in need," said Sherrie Morrison, the office assistant for the Women's Center. All donations are given to the Bear River Head Start Program and the Child and Family Support Center. The Child and Family support center serves both Cache and Rich counties. It houses children who have been removed from their homes, and serves their families too, said Program Coordinator Esterlee Molyneux. Every child that is in need of a new pair of gloves is given a pair, she said. "The priority here is the children," Molyneux said. "It's incredible," Molyneux said. "As items come in, it seems like there is always a family that desperately needs that item. Nothing goes to waste here." The Mitten Tree began in 1988 by the Women's Center Advisory Board. Each board member was asked to donate two pairs of mittens, a hat or scarf to provide needy children with new items as a way to give back to the community. Many people where impressed when they saw the tree and wanted to donate. "The project began as a way to involve both the campus and community," said Carol Rosenthal, co-chair of the Women's Center Advisory Board. "It's become one of IREE See Page 6 |