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Show 10 U TA FRIDAY MARCH 11,2005 T A T E S M A N Contact: 797-1762 editor@statesman.usu.edu Spring Break a time for safety TRAFFIC TicKeTS? 6 0 DOWN THe HALLToTHe 10 COMMANDMeNT-S MoNUMeWTCLUTHeRAN VeRSiON) TiLL You ReACH TH6 KORAN DiSPLAY, TAK6 A L6FT AND CoNTiNUe PAST THe BUPDHiST SHRiNe UNTIL Y O U seeTHe lo COMMANDMENTS Perhaps the student body of Utah State University isn't the the typical MTV portrayal of college life. Spring Break for a USU student might be as likely to include service than Paulie Shore and Jell-O shooters. But whether you're going to Cancun or Nauvoo, there are things that can be done to ensure your break is safe and fun. • Drive safely - Don't drive drunk. Don't drive drowsy. Break up extended time on the road with frequent stops. Switch drivers if Jinn Vinur ilffil JLivVf.:r^HMiWd you re g e t t i n g tired ' Go RIGHT AT THe A2TCC SACRiFiCiAL ALTAR AND ONTO"THe ViSHNU STATue, WHOSe THIRD ARM PoiNTS TO A DooR BeTWeeN THe DRUiD STONeHENGe RePLiCA AND THe 10 COMMANDMeNTS MONUMeWT O^ATHOUC V€RSiON% THe MONK iNSiDe W I L L YOU FROM THERE. ' rSeeyou in a week. • .' On the wake of tsunami floats detritus of litigation The dust has hardly settled in tsunami-ravaged South Asia, but trial lawyers are circling like vultures, searching intensely for ways to profit from the tragedy. Recently, attorney Edward Fagan announced he would file a class-action lawsuit in New York against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's F^cific Tsunami Warning Center. Incredibly, Fagan alleges the Hawaii-based research facility should be held liable for failing to warn the world about an earthquake that happened nearly 7,000 miles away in an ocean the institute does not study. Despite fiery rhetoric that the government's behavior was "incredible," Fagan acknowledges that, "At the end of the day, ifs quite possible (the evidence) will show that nobody did anything wrong." His lawsuit, therefore, is not so much an allegation of fault as a fishing expedition. By filing the lawsuit, Fagan can get access to thousands of documents, satellite images and e-mails from which he might be able to piece together a legal argument. In the meantime, the taxpayers must pay NOAA's legal bills, defending against what might be considered the model frivolous lawsuit. The Baltimore Sun Daniel Lyons TSUNAMI See Page 7 7 Editor in Chief Emilie Holmes News Editor Katie Ashton Assistant News Editor Brooke Nelson Features Editor Joel Featherstone Assistant Features Editor Steve Shinney Sports Editor Aaron Falk Assistant Sports Editor Andrea Edmunds Photo Editor John Zsiray Assistant Photo Editor Michael Sharp Letters to the Editor New shirts would be good Editor, The debate of new gameday shirts seems to be emerging as a touchy subject at USU. There are certainly many students who appreciate the shirt and wish that they be given no new design. Severafof these voices claim that the gameday shirt should not be changed because of "tradition," as if tradition itself was enough reason to discourage improvement. May I contend against these voices with the assertion that there are greater things in this world than mere tradition; one of such things is good design. It is no crime to appreciate the beauty and camaraderie associated with the present game-day shirts. They are truly a symbol of the loyalty and unity demonstrated by our students and fans. Yet, there is something to be said about taking that which is wonderful and bringing it a little closer to perfection. Fear or change never did anybody any good. All of the technology, science, art, music and literature that make this country great came from great improvements made on already Editorial Board great advancements. It all Statesman and keep up with came from an unwillingness university events. While to be satisfied with what was reading the opinion section already had. Let us not be in the March 9 issue, I satisfied with what we have. •noticed a letter extolling the Let us not fear the opportu- virtues of No Child Left nity to change. Behind. Besides, there is such a Now, I will be first to thing as new traditions. The admit that I think the legisBig West was a tradition, lation behind NCLB was and we are willing to aban- brainless. On the surface, don that tradition for some- the idea is a good one, but thing better. As we make our there is no way it will work. triumphant arrival in to the It's setting itself up for WAC next year, now is as implosion in the end. good a time as any for new 1 disagree with most of game-day shirts. The days of Ms. Parke's points, but the second-place conference only one that really irks me finishes and second-rate is the idea of researchshirt designs must be based instruction instead of replaced with firsts. using the students as 'lab I am confident the new rats." I'm sorry, but instrucshirts will be a drastic visual tion that is thought up by a improvement on the current bunch of people with Ph.Ds • design. After all, Aggie fans who never set foot in a deserve no less. I am also classroom, much less taught confident that the new shirts a high school course are not determine will prove a great marketing qualified to success because of the which teaching techniques incredible love, loyalty and are more efficient and effecunity Aggie fans have for tive. Techniques have to be their team and for each tried out on the students at other. Indeed, from Aggie some point. How else will fans, we can expect no less. you be sure they work? That type of defense is the reason Michael B. Alley NCLB is protested by a large percentage of teachers in the United States. Techniques need kid testing Teri Gee 2004 graduate Editor, 1FTTFRS See Page 7 7 I am an alumna of USU, but I still like to read the Don't even think about it The ugliest, most deceitful organ in the body is the brain. It's not even really an organ but rather more of an engorged gland. It just keeps inflating itself with drivel such as ESP, IQ tests and my own persona! favorite "you can do anything you put your mind to." NETWORK TO &JN UQvofi. APS VIEWERS Staff World & Nation Editor Lindsay Kite' a n d make sure that someone knows where you are going and when you expect to arrive there. • Protect yourself from the elements - After months upon months of covering up to fight the Logan winter, UV rays will seem inviting, but probably aren't your friend. We'd recommend wearing SPF 30 sunscreen. Conversely, if you've decided to spend your break in a sub-zero climate, bundle up. • Practice moderation - If you're of age to drink, refrain from excess. The Statesman has absolutely no desire to cover the story of a student dying of alcohol poisoning. Even if you don't like us, we like you and hope to see you live a full and meaningful life. • Get your homework done *- Spring Break is a break from school. Remember that/without the school, there wouldn't be the break. Classes aren't going to go away, and failing grades are at least semi-permanent. These are generally common sense tips for having a good time over Spring Break. Be safe. Be courteous of others. Have a good time. ON DIRECT Utah Statesman Why should you believe me? Well, because I have lived long, hard and have pruned enough brain cells to get it down to a i»««™^™ manageable size. Most people have just let their brains run amok and are thus at its mercy. My favorite load of brain stem effluent is that "we only use 20 percent of our brain's capacity." It is just as likely that- the entire brain has already been tapped. Maybe the reason we forget things is because the brain evolved in an age when there wasn't so much to remember and life spans topped out at 40. Maybe it is the brain that is holding the rest of the body hostage because it is insatiably jealous of not having the power of movement itself. Take note that the brain is constantly trying to sabotage the body by tempting it with potato chips, double bacon/cheese burgers and deep fried cheese sticks. Left to its own devices, the body would exercise regularly, eat only low fat choices from each of the four food groups, choose monogamy as its nat- Slightly Off Center DftiuikHinkamn ural state and contribute regularly to Public Radio. Drugs, alcohol and stimulants wouldn't be necessary if the brain weren't constantly trying to bust out of its cranial confines. Lefs examine some the gambits the brain has tried to pass off in recent years: Extra Sensory Perception (ESP): The brain has trouble minding its own business so it is always trying to horn in on the thoughts of others. Most of us don't even have proof of regular sensory perception much less ''extra" sensory perception. If we had even' normal perception we'd never marry the wrong person, buy lottery tickets, put our lives in the hands of politicians. Rast Lives: If everybody has past lives why is it we continue to make the same pathetic mistakes? Why is it that BRAIN See Page 7 7 Emilie Holmes Katie Ashton Brooke Nelson John Zsiray Aaron Falk Michael Sharp About Letters ; \ • Letters should be limited : to 350 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, \ redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic ori- \ ented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be ; edited or not printed. ; • No anonymous letters will , be published. Writers must! sign all letters and include a phone number or e-mail ' address as well as a student' identification number. ! • Letters representing groups — or more than ' ; one individual — must have a singular representa- '• tive clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The ; Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e- • mailed to editor@statesman.usu.edu or click on www.utahstatesman.com for more letter guidelines and a submission box. Utah8tatesman.com Online Poll What are you doing for Spring Break? • Getting out of Utah. (33%) • Going to Anaheim for the Big West Conference tournament. (15%) • Going home for the week to visit my family. (15%) • Staying in Cache Valley. (16%) • Doing homework. (7%) • We'll see when the time comes. (15%) Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesmah.com to cast your vote and see results from past Utah Statesman online polls. Check out these links on www.utahstatesman.com • Local TV listings • Faculty evaluations • Comics • Activities and events • Classifieds • Weather • Archives |