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Show UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY THE It takes a village page 4 www.utahstatesman.com Mondav. Seot. 19.2005 Logan, Utah • Campus Voice Since 1902 Homecoming dance back with new twist Bv BROOKE NHSON Edilnr in Chief The Homecoming dance is back on. "As traditions chair, I am here to give students what they want," said Maren Barnett, "and this is what they want." Following announcement the Homecoming dance was canceled, Barnett said student feedback came back loud and clear. "I can't tell you how many e-mails I got," she said. "The people who were passionate about it were the ones who have attended in the past." While the dance is returning, it will be informal this year, and will actually be similar to the pre-game party already planned. The emphasis now, however, will bt on dancing. "We want it to be a dance atmosphere," Bryce Cranney, Homecoming co-chair, said. "But not everyone likes to dance so we will also have other activities. We want accommodate the whole USU population." Barnett said the decision to axe the formal dance in the first place came from student feedback implying that $20 was just too much for a ticket and that the majority of students don't want to dress up. Many students said they wanted a dance experience that was more active. The pre-game party was a way to give students what they wanted, Barnett said. It became clear, however, some sort of dance was needed. "Change is hard for everyone," Cranney said. "We heard mostly from students who opposed taking it away, even though most people don't go to it. The dance is tradition. We decided to stick with that tradition and add a new twist." The Homecoming dance will take place in the TSC on Friday, Oct. 7 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. and unlike a formal, will be free to USU students. Tickets are $5 for non-students. "It'll be Homecoming and more," Barnett said. "It will be dance oriented." While dates are still encouraged, they aren't necessary, Barnett said. With a large variety of disc jockeys and live bands, there will be something for everyone she said, whether your taste is big band or swing, or if you're single or married. "We want this to be a fun evening for students to get to know people," she said. The dress code for the dance "is whatever makes people feel comfortable," Barnett said. In the past, she said, the dance has mainly been attended by freshman and sophomores. Barnett says she hopes the changes will encourage more upperclassmen to attend. "We want to get as many people as we can this year and afterwards, get feedback. We really want feedback," she said. Depending on student response, the new tradition might continue, or the formal dance could be reinstated. Both Barnett and Cranney • HOMECOMING See page 14 JCC ^d£c / *t Statesman file photo USU CADET MATT JONES participates In the Army physical fitness test last year. While Army recruiting numbers are down nationally, USU recruiting director Capt. Jeff Dula says USU hasn't suffered a shortage of recruits. Staying strong With recruiting numbers down nationally, USU is holding steady BY KATIP ASHTON Senior Writer Although national numbers indicate the Army is losing thousands of potential recruits because of overseas worries this year, Utah State University's ROTC program can boast a fairly consistent track record of students electing to be cadets. The ROTC program has about 37 cadets, which may be a lower number by a couple of students from last year, Capt. Jeff Dula, the ROTC's recruiting director, said. However, Dula says he is optimistic about the program attracting potential cadets because of the benefits ROTC offers for students. "Next year there is going to be just as many kids looking for ways to pay for school just as there was the year before," he said. It's just getting the word out to students about the program that is difficult. ROTC relies on word word of mouth from current cadets to tell friends and fellow students about the program and demonstrations such as the Black Hawks landing on the HPER field last week, and giving out promotional items, like mini footballs with ROTC logos and pencils to spark interest. "We try to put the image out there and let the kids know who we are and know there is scholarship money [available]/' Dula said, who returned last spring from a 14-month stint in Iraq. However, as the war continues in Iraq and national number of recruits declines, Dula says he can't ignore the implications this may have on potential ROTC cadets. Students realize the extra risks that come with joining any branch of the military while a war is going on and this may be a deterrent, Dula said. Yet, what most students don't realize is while cadets are in ROTC, they are exempt from being called to serve. At the most, ROTC cadets are used for national emergencies. With With the the devastating devastating impacts impactsof of emergencies. Hurricane Katrina, there was talk about sending USU ROTC cadets to help, Dula said, but they were never called upon. "The Army isn't going to yank them out of school unless they absolutely have to," he said. "They understand the priority is getting officers, not yanking them out of school to go down to national emergencies." ROTC is a four-year program unless students come in with previous military experience — then their time might be less, Dula said. For the first year, students are obligation free, he said, meaning although they are enrolled in ROTC courses, they are not a part of the Army. When cadets complete the program, they are commissioned as second lieutenant officers in the Army, the National Guard or the Reserves. • RECRUITING 5 e e page page 33 See Constitution Day pits Founding Fathers against Bill Gates BY ELIZABETH ELIZABETH LAWYER LAVVYI-R BY . Staff Writer Students gave speeches and handed out pamphlets on the TSC Patio in honor of Constitution Day Friday afternoon in accordance with a new law authorized in December 2004. The law, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, states that "each educational institution that receives federal funds ... shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on Sept. 17." Constitution Day, also called Citizenship Day, is held in honor of the signing of the Constitution on that day in 1787. "Educational and training materials concerning the U.S. Constitution" are also required to be distributed to new employees as part of orientation and to ah1 employees on Sept. 17 of each year. Nate Putnam, executive vice president of ASUSU, said he was only informed of the new requirements requirements three three weeks weeks ago ago and and had had to to find find funding for the event. The money had to be taken out of the year's planned budget. Schools all across the country held their own commemorations of the Constitution on Friday. At USU, students heard other students speak on the Constitution from a platform on the patio. Anyone who could recite the Preamble to the Constitution won a Constitution Day Tshirt. The speakers underscored the significance of the Constitution. Scott Dewey of the College Republicans urged students to read the founding documents, such as the Federalist Papers and the Declaration of Independence, to gain an understanding of the original intent of America's forefathers. Johanna Carling, president of the College Democrats, spoke on Thomas Jefferson and the need to view the Constitution flexibly. "We live in a different time than our great forefathers," forefathers," she she said. said."I"Isuspect suspectthat thatthey theywould would be appalled that although our society has changed drastically since 1787, we are still governed by a document created for people living in 1787." Peter McNamara, a professor in the political science department, spoke about the signing of the Constitution and James Madison's role in it. Madison is considered the "Father of the Constitution" and took extensive notes on the Constitutional Convention. "Madison was the chronicler of the convention because he believed it solved a problem not solved by any governing system in the world — to establish a republican government over a large area," McNamara said. "It had never been •CONSTITUTION See page 3 ^H^HI^H3HH^HEK9niX^^BB Jamie Cwne/jamecran&^a.usu.edu JOHANNA CARLING speaks during Constitution Day on Friday. |