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Show www.utahstatesman.com Friday, Sept. 30,2005 Logan, Utah * Campus Voice Since 1902 Remembering those lost USU students sign posters for families of victims BY BLAINE ADAMS Staff Writer . \-,.; BY KATIE ASHTON Senior Writer In light of Monday's accident, Utah State University officials decided Wednesday to ground its 50-van fleet of 15-passenger vans pending an investigation, which may result in eliminating use of the vans permanently. "Throughout the administration, we want to make sure that everything we do is right," said John DeVilbiss, executive director of public relations and marketing. "We want to do everything we can to ensure this never happens again." The fleet will be grounded for 30 days, he said, if not longer, depending on the investigation. All university motor-pool vehicles undergo state inspections, Dave Cowley, director of , It was a quiet day on the Quad Wednesday morning, marking the second day after the fatal accident earlier this week that killed eight Utah State University students and one instructor. Flowers and posters signed by students sat on 11 tables positioned around a tractor that held flowers in the center of the grassy lawns. Each poster bore the names of those individuals involved in Monday's accident. A box of ribbons next to the tractor continued to empty as students pinned them to their shirts. "It's a tragedy. [It shows you how] life can change in an instant," said USU student Sara Cline. For many students, the emotion is the same: grief, disbelief and a desire to help the families, to let them know that they are not alone and that the entire campus is mourning and supporting them. Markers sat by the posters and many students signed their names to show the families and friends of the victims that, although they may not have personally known the students, the families still have their support. "It's a [terrible] loss. I didn't know them, but I'm still praying for them and their families," said USU student Mike Hutchison. "Nine fatalities are unheard of." Students on campus were not the only people affected by the accident. Visitors also felt the effects. "It's devastating for the campus, it's devastating for the students and it's devastating for the families," said visitor Cathy Cassrly. "I can feel the sorrow." "I can feel the balance University van fleet grounded • VANS See page 3 Amy Fulier/omyleeQttusu.edu NATAUE BROWN, A JUNIOR MAJORING in family, consumer and human development and Bruce Richards, a dairy science graduate student, sign posters Wednesday afternoon in the center of the Quad. The posters are for the families of the 11 victimes of a 15-passenger van accidents on Monday afternoon. between a celebration of their lives [and their deaths]," Cassrly said of Tuesday night's candlelight vigil. "I'm more grateful for my life," Cline said. The accident occurred Monday around 4:30 p.m. when a group of 10 students from the College of Agriculture and their instructor Evan Parker were returning to Logan on Interstate 84 after an agricultural field trip. The van's left rear tire blew out, causing the vehicle to skid out of control and roll several times off the right side of the road, Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Ed Michaud said. All 11 individuals were ejected from the vehicle. Six were pronounced dead on the scene and two individuals died later that evening. The remaining two students are in critical condition at Ogden Regional Medical Center and McKay-Dee Hospital. Those interested in helping the families and friends of the victims can contact the USU Development Office at 7971158 to donate. -blainea@cc.usu.edu Events canceled • Aggie Humor Night Sept. 30 • Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 30 . Ag Week Sept. 26-30 • Hispanic Week Sept. 26-30 > Presidential Inauguration Oct. 10-14 Staff Writer Efficient use and prioritization of resources to best serve the goals of the university and its students are key, Brenda McCarthy, candidate for provost at Utah State University, said. McCarthy, current dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs at the University of Central Florida, visited the campus Wednesday and interviewed for the position of provost, the chief academic officer at USU. She spoke to a group of faculty, staff, students and administrators about how she views the role of the provost in a 21st century land-grant university. "We have to set priorities as to the ways we use our dollars," McCarthy said. "It's important to use gifts wiseiy" Included in fundraising, Amy Fuller/omyleegxtusu.edu McCarthy said, is "friend raising." Building good relationships and DR. BELINDA MCCARTHY speaks to USU students Wednesday afternoon as part partnerships with the community is of her interview for the new provost position. crucial, she said. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The van that rolled on Interstate 84 Monday killing eight students and one instructor from Utah State University was traveling at 95 to 100 mph when it crashed, the Utah Highway Patrol said Thursday. Highway patrol investigators use the curvature of skid marks and mathematical formulas to reconstruct accidents and calculate the speed a vehicle was traveling, trooper Jeff Nigbur said. The posted speed limit on the interstate is 75 mph. Based on the investigation it is believed instructor Evan Parker, 45, was at the wheel of the 15-passenger van, Nigbur said. But officers want to talk with the two survivors of the Amy Fuller/amylee@ccuuj.edu WHITE ROWERS AND POSTERS were displayed on tables on the Quad Wednesday afternoon in honor of families of Monday's accident victims. Last provost finalist addresses students BY D I A N A MAXFIELD Officials say van was traveling at high speeds In order to raise funds and friends, having a vision that can be effectively communicated to the community is important, McCarthy said. The impact of words in a theme has to be analyzed, she said, and the theme must be something that everyone can agree with. "The message has to resonate on campus and off campus," McCarthy said. This message needs to resonate with prospective students and faculty as well, McCarthy said. There is a huge amount of competition among universities, she said, for students and faculty, reputation and resources. McCarthy said part of competing for students is to make the university accessible and efficient. "We need to work to do as much as we can to make higher education affordable to students," she said. Affordability isn't the only fac• PROVOST See page 3 •VANS See page 3 Extensions program connecting with Logan BY MARIE MACKAY Assistant News Editor Appointing an off-campus ASUSU extensions representative to be over Utah State University's 29 extension sites has already begun breaking down communication barriers among specific sites and USU's main campus, officials say. Kiersten Hewitt, this year's ASUSU Extension's appointed chair, said this new position has already made Extension students feel like they are a part of the university even though some are far away from the Logan campus. "As a whole, there's more unity between the extension sites," Hewitt said. "It's exciting to see all the sites work with one another." In years past, the students elected an ASUSU Extensions vice president, who remained on campus and visited the different sites once or twice a year. Now, however, Hewitt works at the Brigham City Center and isn't tied down to campus responsibilities, allowing her to visit other sites, ASUSU Student Advocate Justin Atkinson said. "This new structure allows for an off-campus chair," Atkinson said. "In the past, there wasn't quite as good communication with ASUSU." Since Hewitt took over the position, she has been spending a lot of time at the different sites, talking to students about concerns they have. She has also established representatives at almost all of the 29 Extension sites and created a new communication struc- • EXTENSIONS See page 3 |