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Show 5 UTAH""STATE SM AN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2,2005 SDL receives contract for radar imaging BY GARETT BROWNLEE Staff Writer The Space Dynamics Laboratory and Utah State University has won a $240,000 contract to determine the feasibility of using small satellites to create a virtual radar antenna in space. The six-month contract, awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, will study the use of radar imaging using a constellation of small satellites, said USU officials. The program, called SMART (Space-based Multi-Aperture Research and Technology), could lead to tracking targets more accurately, making more precise terrain maps and improving communication capabilities. "There are only a handful of schools that do this kind of research," said Pat Patterson, director of the lab's technology department branch. "We have many brilliant people here who know a lot about space craft," Researchers will be developing six designs for small satellites toflyin cooperating constellations, said lab officials. One constellation will include a larger mother ship surrounded by six less capable satellites. Other constellations will have small satellites that are the same size and have exact capabilities. The research will be conducted under the direction of Todd Mosher, a USU professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Researchers will include four other USU professors, along with three engineers and two graduate students in the university's space lab. "Dr. Mosher is putting together the research ideas and concepts for USU" Patterson said, "and SDL will carry out the research." If results are positive, government officials may ask Congress to purchase the satellites. The study is scheduled to be completed in June. The contract is part of the $70 million research contracted each year with USU's space lab. Among the many other projects conducted at the space lab are the well-known experiments in space. "Utah State has sent more experiments into space than any other university in the world," said SDL spokeswoman Trina Paskett. -gbrownlee@cc. usu. edu Asusu JUMPING From Page 7 From Page 7 had to do something to show off," said. Petersen said they had wanted to climb the wall for a long time. "I love climbing," he said. "I saw the wall and I thought, 'I can't pass that up, I have to climb that,'" The boys were caught by "some guy in a tie" Petersen said, "he asked us to stop and he told us that the Love Sacs were getting ruined." The Love Sacs are now being kept in the new student center behind the auditorium, which is not yet opened. Essig said he is working on getting the Love Sacs back in the Juniper Lounge. "It's been exciting seeing the lounge become a relaxing place for students to come between classes to relax, study or sleep, if needs be. I want to get the Love Sacs back out there," Essig said. "If they were here I would come here more often," said Ryk Heiner, a human nutrition and food science sophomore found studying on the couches in the Juniper Lounge. Essig said many students have been asking about where the Love Sacs went. "I feel like the lounge is my sanctuary and now that they're gone, a part of my inner peace is gone," Tristin Taylor, a senior in political science said. Taylor also expressed frustration in the reason the Love Sacs were removed. "What are we, in high school?" she said. International studies senior Ryan Anderson said he used to like sitting on the Love Sacs. "[Climbing and falling onto them] sounds fun, but it makes me mad that they had to be removed " he said. Other students did not use the Love Sacs very often. -ashschi!ler©cc. usu. edu able for intramural sports. The Executive Council also supported a new bike policy that would allow bikes on campus at all hours, but enforce state laws that allow police officers to give warnings and citations to careless bikers. "This is a pedestrian and bike friendly policy," ASUSU Student Advocate Al Lambert said. The old policy didn't allow students to ride their bikes in-between classes or in certain zones and was unreasonable and to hard to enforce, USU Chief of Police Steven Mecham said. The council discussed in detail a proposal to close the Registrar's Office to graduation needs during the first week of school and only tend to registration needs. The proposal would curb the problem with long lines during the first week of school, Heidi Beck, associate registrar, said. The council was split on the issue, but the proposal eventually passed with a vote by ASUSU President Les Essig as a tie-breaker. Concern was raised as to the graduation application deadline and late fee. The deadline is determined by the advisers and thus hard to change, Beck said, but it is possible to eliminate the $100 late fee, A bill was also passed giving money to the USU recycling department to place recycling bins in all campus housing. ~hilaryi©cc. usu.edu VOTE From Page 7 activities for the students." Of USU's more than 20,000 student population, 692 voted in the special election. More than 400 approved the proposal, and nearly 150 voted against the changes. Johanna Carling, a junior in political science, voted against the proposition saying the cut in voting members on the Executive Council could mean a cut in the amount of representation. "The way I understand it, [the council] needs a quorum present to pass decisions. Three or four students could potentially be making decisions for everyone," she said. "I hope it turns out better than it sounds like it will. I would be happy to see it be a positive change for the students - hopefully over time I'll be proven wrong." Most of the offices that were combined have to do with programming, Archibald said, changes that will not affect the representation of students or their concerns. Essig said students will still elect a relatively large number of students to office. Nine will vote on the Executive Council. Senators, elected by members of their college will vote on an academic senate. "It's not a perfect structure, but it's the best we could come up with, and we hope Executive Councils in the future will continue to perfect it," Archibald said. "Everyone has to remember that we're students too and we're not going to do anything on purpose to reduce representation on campus." A. J. Rounds, graduate studies vice president, said the changes are especially welcomed by graduate students. "This will empower grad students to take their future into their own hands and mold out a future for them," he said "This gives us the opportunity to eventually break away from ASUSU and effectively deal with and find solutions to problems that specifically concern us." A smaller student government will allow the voice of graduate students to be more clearly heard, Rounds said. Graduate students currently make up 18 percent of the student population but only holds 5 percent of the vote on the current council. Essig said the changes will create more opportunities for students who don't want to campaign for an office to be part of ASUSU leadership. Programming is one example. The approved proposition will place three appointed chairs, activities, arts and lectures and traditions, under one programming vice president elected by the students, Leslie said. "I think we really did our homework to find out what would work best for our system," she said. Essig said the turnout for the election was actually higher than many special elections that have been held in the past "I think it's embarrassing that so few people care about what goes on at the university. We complain about tuition and restructure but then none demonstrates that they care," Carling said. "There's a disconnect between what we see and what we do tofixit" However, Carling said she felt the special election was poorly advertised. "There is more that we could have done but we were on a verytighttime schedule," Archibald said. "We encouraged students to come up and talk to us, but we can't make everybody happy" -bnelson @cc. usu. edu PLASMA Book presented to USU president In the coming months, Utah State University President Stan Albrecht will join next fall's incoming freshmen in reading about a controversial chapter in American and Utah history. On Feb. 23, past participants in USU's Connections academic orientation program, along with Connections coordinator Noelle Call, presented Albrecht with a copy of the 2005 Summer Literature Experience book selection, "When the Emperor was Divine," by Julie Otsuka. The book is a fictional account of on a family's experience in Utah's Topaz internment camp during World War II. The book was presented to Albrecht Feb. 24, the same day that in 1983 a Congressional Commission released a report condemning the internment of Japanese- Americans in World War II as a grave injustice. Students Ben Toney, a freshman majoring in biology, and Kaitlin Neville, a freshman majoring in engineering, talked about their experience with last years book, "Hope in the Unseen." Both spoke about how they got to meet the main character in the novel and about their experiences in the Connections program. This year readers will have the opportunity to meet the author of the novel about Utah's Topaz internment camp. The author of this year's featured book, Julie Otsuka, is scheduled to speak to Connections participants at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27 in the Kent Concert Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. Auditions in March for annual play Auditions for singers and dancers to perform in the annual "Celebrate America Show" in the Utah State University Ballroom. The evening includes dinner, a broadway-style show and dancing to the live 17-piece big band orchestra. Singers should come prepared to perform a maximum of one minute each of an up-beat Broadway-styled selection and a ballad. However, individuals must provide their own accompaniment pianist or sing acappella. Dance auditions consist of learning and performing jazz, lyrical and novelty numbers. Dancers should wear . appropriate dance attire and dance shoes. Individuals who have tap and pointe shoes should bring them to auditions. Auditions will be held at 180 E. 2600 North, in North Logan on March 10 at 6 p.m., March 11 at 7 p.m. and March 12 at 9 a.m. for returning performers and callbacks. For more information call Brenda Anthony at 753-1551 or e-mail brenda@celebrateamericashow.com. From Page 7 called centrifugation. The red blood cells are then put back into body by the same needle and line from which they were drawn. The entire system is closed, Kitchen said. The process is repeated untjl an appropriate amount of plasma has been taken, which is determined by body weight, Kitchen said. Women typically give about 700 milliliters and men give about 810 milliliters, Kitchen said. After each donation, the needles and tubing are replaced, Kitchen said. Bruce O'Very, a pediatrician practicing in Logan, said as long as the plasmapheresis system is closed, there is no danger to students when donating plasma. "The biggest issue is the maintenance of a closed system. If there is no break in the system, the risk is zero," he said. After each donation, the body compensates for the loss of plasma, O'Very said. The albumin and antibodies can be replaced in hours, he said. The fluid itself is transferred into the blood vessels from the third volume spaces, which are spaces between tissues, he said. Within 24 hours all the components of the plasma have been replaced and the third tissue spaces are replenished. Because the body needs this time to replace lost fluids, it is probably best not to exercise for 24 hours after each plasma donation, he said. "It might be a problem to donate twice a week with an existing exercise program," O'Very said. "For me, that would be a mistake." Gretchen Wyatt, manager of public affairs for the Plasma Proteins Therapeutic Association, said she doesn't think anyone should be concerned about safety when giving plasma. Marketability of the plasma is driven by adherence to quality standards. Two of the highest standards are the International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) and Quality Standards of Excellence, Assurance and Leadership (QSEAL), Wyatt said. Western Plasma follows both IQPP and Q3EAL standards, Kitchen said. In addition, state and federal regulations ensure that not only is a high quality of plasma Professor receives dairy award File photo/The Utah Statesman STUDENTS DONATED BLOOD LAST FALL during a campus blood drive. Some students donate plasma to earn extra money while at school. During the donation process, the blood is drawn from the individual and the plasma is separated from the blood, which is put back in. obtained, but that there is no danger to donors, Kitchen said. Kitchen said donating plasma is great for students because they can study while they donate and can make $180 to $200 a month doing it. Wyatt said that pay received for plasma donation is not a payment for the plasma itself - the plasma itself is truly a donation. "You don't sell plasma," she said, "donation centers compensate for time." Plasma donations help hemophiliacs and cancer patients, Kitchen said. He said the fibrinogens in the plasma are clotting factors that can help hemophili- acs. The globulins supply white blood cells that can help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, he said. "Plasma donations are not used for cosmetics " Kitchen said. Plasma donations are used for strictly medical purposes, he said. -jks@cc.usu.edu At the annual dairy convention held last week in Ogden, the Dairy Farmers of Utah honored Utah State University professor as a dairy leader for his commitment and dedication to the industry. Bruce Godfrey was awarded the "Service to the Industry Award" because of his dedication to the dairy industry and his community. As a professor and extension specialist at Utah State University, Godfrey has responsibility for teaching, conducting research and coordinating extension programs. Most of his work involves the general areas of farm and ranch management, and natural resource economics. Godfrey has been a leader in his profession and has served as president of Western Agricultural Economics Association, Chair of the WRCC-55 Committee on Range Economics and currently serves on the USU College of Agriculture Alumni Council. Godfrey has received numerous awards for his efforts, including USU's Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year for the College of Business, Utah Farm Bureau Federation's Friend of Agriculture Award and USU Collage of Agriculture's Teacher of the Year award. COMPILED BY STATESMAN STAFF |