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Show From page 7 Briefs TRADITION CHANGES i Exercise challenge offered to students Students had mixed emotions after ASUSU made changes to the university's traditional Homecoming dance and Halloween party, the Howl. The Homecoming dance was changed to casual dress and students and community members were not required to bring a date. For the first time in 25 years, only USU students were allowed to purchase tickets in advance for the Howl. BANNER SYSTEM ENROLLMENT DROP Students adjusted to Utah State University's transition to its new administration system, Banner, launched in April. Although the registrar's office is still working out minor complications, unlike the old QUAD system, Banner is easier to use, offers 24-hour service and can be accessed by any web-enabled browser. GAS PRICES INCREASE Gasoline experienced a roller coaster ride of prices throughout the nation, rising from an average of $1.80 per gallon in January to more than $3 per gallon in October to dropping back down to about $2.70 per gallon. A drop in enrollment from 23,128 students to 23,908 during fall semester increased in- and out-of-state recruitment efforts in an effort to make up for the decline. USU saw a decrease of 780 students from the 2004 fall semester. NEW SCHOOL OF ARTS The arts are receiving more reclognition with the [establishment of the official School of the Arts at Utah State University. The school is an umbrella program in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences that includes music, art, theatre, landscape design, environmental planning and interior design. All photos Statesman file Compiled by Marie MacKay • 7. Van accident, memorial and follow ups, Sept. 26-Nov. 9, Hits: 3,964 2* Prospective student asks about USU's 'Mormon problem/ October 31, Hits: 3,824 3.X-box360:Buyorwait?, MOST READ K STORIES : OF THE YEAR ? according to recorded hits at www.utahstatesman.com V ;••"•••...•,,.•-; Compiled b yBrooke Nelson •••>;' -•'':--•.-•- - ^ ;"V-'vr-.^""^.:^--;^-. N o v . 8 , Hits: 3,520 '--^•- • : ; •'••'''• ,.-.-• :\.; : •'•••; ^'-^--X 4 . Professor helps create space-age guide dogs, Jan. 26, Hits: 2,472 5* Giving plasma means money for some students, March 2, Hits: 2,430 . Stepping it up: Men walk in heels to increase awareness about violence against women, April 8, Hits: 2,148 7. Nicotine truth exposed: Former Phillip Morris employee speaks to " USU students, Feb. 4, Hits: 1,257 8. House of folding paper, April 11, Hits: 1,097 9 . Quinn is in, April 6, Hits: 1,017 ' '« 10. USU faculty survive car crash, Feb. 4, Hits: 963 Playing it safe while gone for the break BY KATIE ASHTON * Senior Writer i- " Students should pack wisely and take their valuable belongings with them as winter break rolls around and leaves much of the campus resembling a ghost town, Utah State University police say. • USU's campus will be closed for the majority of the break and r&any students will return home after finals, leaving most of their belongings in their apartments and residence halls, Lt. Shane Sessions siid. This behavior may invite an increase in thefts if students do not take safety precautions, he said. I Many students leave their expensive property "and think 'Ah, no ojie will be here, it's the break.' But Cache Valley doesn't dose for the break," Sessions said. !' The best things to do are for stu- dents to make an inventory of the items they are leaving to ensure that no items are missing upon return from the break, he said. Students should secure their apartment before leaving, he said, and if there is a roommate staying over the break, students may want to consider storage for their valuable property. Lori Bonham, a senior majoring in public relations, said she is leaving for home next Friday and will return Jan. 8, leaving the majority of her belongings in her apartment. "Hopefully [everything] will be OK," she said. "One of my roommates is going to stay here." Bonham added, "If I did have a laptop, I would definitely take it with me," and any jewelry, she added. Living in Old Farm, Bonham said she has heard stories of thefts, mainly of prescription pills, but those have made her more concerned about keeping her apartment secured all year around, especially during the break. "With a lot of people gone, theft is going to be a problem in the community," she said, explaining her need to take precautions over the break. It's the "high-ticket items" student should take with them, Sessions said, such as laptops, video games, cash and anything students hesitate to leave. "When students come back, we have seen that some thefts have occurred during the break," he said. However, few reports have been noticed by the assistant director of Residence Life for Housing and Dining Services, Whitney Milligan. The only disturbance Milligan said she sees as a common trend is students being slightly apprehensive when new roommates move in over the break. It "just makes students feel like their turf or space is being invaded," she said. However, this is few and far between, she said, because the housing office notifies all students receiving new roommates over the break and they are more aware of what is going on in their living space. With on-campus housing being open during the break for the second year in a row, staff will be available, but in fewer numbers and shorter office hours, she said. Resident assistants will conduct rounds to "make sure there'is nothing strange going on, no doors propped open." If students staying over the break witness anything suspicious, they should call USU Police and contact the staff immediately, Milligan said. ~kcashton@cc.usu.edu Utah State University students and employees are invited to participate in the Student Wellness Center's 2006 Physical Activity Challenge, Jan. 16. The fitness challenge is part of the statewide 'A Healthier You' Legacy Awards program, funded by the Utah Department of Health, Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and community partners. Initiated in conjunction with the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the program recognizes efforts by college campuses, communities, public schools and the private sector in increasing opportunities for healthenhancing activities. "We achieved the 'Healthy Campus' bronze level last year, and we've got our eye on advancing to the silver level in 2006," said Jamie McKinlay, SWC program coordinator. "We want to get as many Aggies involved as we can." According to the A Healthier You Web site, more than half of all Utah adults are overweight or obese. Almost 50 percent of Utah adults get insufficient physical activity and about 17 percent participate in no leisure activity at all. "We can do better," said McKinlay. "After all, we live in the heart of an outdoor activity mecca." The competition will conclude with an awards ceremony in mid-April (exact date to be announced). Each team should track each member's hours of physical activity. Eligible physical activity includes walking, jogging, running, cycling, skiing, skating, blading, weight lifting and participation in competitive sports. "Just about any physical activity counts," said McKinlay. "The important thing is to get moving." Prizes will be awarded to the teams achieving the most hours of physical activity. "It doesn't matter what your current ability level is," said McKinlay. "This is more about improving your fitness level than completing a marathon or setting a world record. It s supposed to be fun." Each participating team should have six members. To register, send your team member names, contact information, team name and team captain's name, along with the department, campus unit, academic major or other campus group your team represents, to McKinlay at jjmckinlay@cc.usu.edu or 797-1010 by Friday, Jan. 13. For more information, contact McKinlay at 797-1010 or jjmckinlay@ cc.usu.edu, or visit the A Healthier You Web site at http://www.health.utah.gov/ ahy/Campus/Campus_home.htm. Residents urged to respect snow rules The Logan City Street Departments asks each property owner to not push snow into the roadways during the snow removal season. Such is a violation of city ordinance. Pushing snow into the streets creates a potential for accidents, both for snow plow operators and private vehicle. The snow freezes and can cause automobiles to be forced off the roadway into oncoming traffic, according to a Logan City press release. Property owners are also reminded that parking on the streets is prohibited between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The city also asks to clean snow from the sidewalks adjacent to their property to accommodate pedestrians as they travel throughout the city. For questions contact Logan City Street Department Manager Jed Al-Imari at 7169643. Gymnastics class offered to students Utah State Campus Recreation Department is starting a new Recreation Instructional Gymnastics program for college age men and women starting Spring Semester 2006. Students will learn all 10 Olympic Gymnastics events as well as learning how to tumble. The cost is $50 persemester for students enrolled in PE 1230 and $100 for the semester for those not enrolled. It will be held Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Those interested can register at the Campus Recreation Service Counter located in the HPER building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information contact Amanda Jenkins at 755-5998 or amadajenkins@ yahoo.com. ^Compiled from stafl and media reports |