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Show Local girl wins chance to audition for American Idol BY CHELSEY GENSEL Staff Writer Vanessa Jeppsen, a 17-year-old Mountain Crest High School student, is headed to the Seattle, Wash., auditions for "American Idol" on Sept. 19, after winning a contest at the Cache Valley Mall this weekend. The "So You Think You Can Sing" contest was held Saturday, Sept. 9, at the mall and was hosted by 94.5 VFX radio. Jeppsen's prize includes travel and hotel accommodations, a "rock star makeover" in Logan and gift certificates. "It was great, everyone was just trying to have a good time," Jeppsen said. "Everyone was relaxed and supportive of everyone else. We all cheered for each other." Jeppsen's winning performance was her rendition of Mariah Carey's "Hero." She will leave Sunday, Sept. 17, with hopes of making it onto the popular TV show and just "seeing what there is to see." "I love to travel anyway, so I'm just really grateful for this opportunity. I'm so excited," she said. "The following (for the finalists) was outrageous. These people already have a fan base," said VFX disc jockey Wayne Thompson, also known as DJ Absolute. "We wish them all the best of luck." Thompson said proof of that following came when VFX had to rebuild their Web site, which crashed when 2,000 people tried to log on and vote simultaneously. This resulted in voting by telephone, which kept the line busy for an entire work day. Thompson estimated about 6,000 total votes. The resulting talent contest was the main attraction of the Cache Valley Mall's backto-school event for teens. Several sponsors participated with contests, discounts and prizes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day. It included a fashion show, Pepsi prize wheel and karaoke after the "So You Think You Briefs RED ZONE From page 1 Excuses for not reporting that Sessions said he most commonly hears from victims are fears about no one believing their story, having their name published in a newspaper, going to court or having to report the incident to someone of the opposite sex. "To stop it, it's two-fold. We really need men and women to be aware of what is going on,w Bennett said. "Men are the most common perpetrators of this and we need to help create an environment where it is not acceptable." USU's SAAVI Office will be holding events on Sept. 13 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the plaza south of the TSC in an effort to bring awareness of the Red Zone and its dangers to university students. Brighton said she wants to familiarize students with services that are offered by SAAVI and other organizations in the area. More information regarding dating violence, sexual assault and counseling can be found at www. usu.edu/saavi. ~ariek@cc.usu.edu •AMERICAN IDOL see page 4 Reid calls for investigation into polygamist activity in the West CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called Tuesday for a federal investigation into activities of polygamists in Western states. Reid, D-Nev., said in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that a task force should be formed to look into interstate activities of polygamists. He also asked the Justice Department to help state prosecutors dealing with polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. "For too long, this outrageous activity has been disguised in the mask of religious freedom," said Reid. "But child abuse and human servitude have nothing to do with religious freedom and must not be tolerated." Reid, a Mormon, said Jeffs is part of a sect that broke awayfromthe Mormon church more than a century ago and has been "fully disavowed" by leaders and mainstream members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Jeffs, 50, is facing two felony counts of rape as an accomplice, accused of arranging a spiritual marriage between an underage girl and an older man. Each count carries a penalty of five years to life in prison. Court documents filed by Washington County, Utah, Attorney Brock Belnap don't identify the girl or her husband, but say that after the girl resisted the man, Jeffs ordered her to "give your mind, body and soul to your husband like you're supposed to." Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was arrested Aug. 28 by the Nevada Highway Patrol during a traffic stop, and is being held without bail. Jeffs had been on the run for about a yearand-a-half when he was arrested. He had been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list since May. Besides the Utah charges, Jeffs is facing two felony charges in Mohave County, Ariz., for a similarly arranged marriage involving an underage girl. Campus &'C6mmurf!ty^ Financial planning seminar for women The Financial Planning for Women (FPW) seminar will be held Wednesday, Sept. 13. This month's program will be about understanding retirement planning. The program is held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Family Life room 318 and is repeated later that evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center at 493 N. 700 East. Attendants are invited to bring a lunch to the afternoon program. The evening program will include more discussion because of the longer time slot. The programs are free and do not require registration. Attendants are urged to bring guests. The FPW seminar is a monthly educational seminar that meets the second Wednesday of each month at the times and locations listed above. For further information call or email: (435) 797-1569 or lown@ cc.usu.edu Cyclisting group hosts night rides (allieGrover/callieann@a.usu.edu JENISE MINER, a sophomore in photography, walks by one of the many alarm poles placed across campus for use in case of an emergency. The Cache Valley Veloists host a 12 to 26 mile bike ride every Wednesday during the summer months. The Wednesday evening rides have a C rating and provide an opportunity for mid-week, non-competitive group rides tailored to moderately skilled and advanced riders. Although longer rides are scheduled for the longest nights of the summer, all riders are highly encouraged to carry a bicycle light in addition to their usual gear. All Wednesday evening rides will depart from the west side of Merlin Olsen Park (200 East, between Center St. and 100 South) at 6:30 p.m. sharp. For specific ride destinations go to www.cweloists.org or call Nolan Warby for more information at 435753-7930. MTV creates "Break the Addiction' challenge Finance speaker talks on business TV station challenges nation's students to stop global warmingfraud and failure BY MTV MEDIA RELATIONS On Sept. 6, MTV and the Campus Climate Challenge announced the launch of the "Break the Addiction Challenge," a nationwide competition to challenge millions of high school and collegeage youth to stop global warming starting at their own schools. The Break the . Addiction competition is being launched simultaneously with the Campus Climate Challenge, a campaign of the Energy Action Coalition, a coalition made up of more than 30 leading youth and environmental organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada, including National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Campus Ecology Program. NWF's Campus Ecology team is helping to lead the Campus Climate Challenge on more than 200 college and university campuses and asking each campus to commit to a two percent reduction of carbon emissions each year. The Campus Climate Challenge leverages the power of young people to organize on high school and college campuses across Canada and the U.S. to win 100 percent Clean Energy policies at their schools. The Challenge is growing into a generationwide movement to stop global warming by reducing the pollution from high schools and colleges down to zero, and leading our society to a clean energy future. The Break the Addition competition is being launched at a time when young people are demonstrating a dramatic shift in hdw they view environmental media coverage of their "Therefore, the timissues - and have already campus activities, to ing couldn't be better taken dramatic actions to encourage students to to launch our Break the address the problem. publicize their solutions Addiction Challenge to to global warming. ignite and reward this In an MTV/CBS News poll released in June, for • In the sjpring, MTV generation for the steps they are taking to better the first time ever, young will recognize two their own lives and save people named the envischools for achieving a ronment as the number 100 percent clean ener- the planet," Norman said. one response to the ques- gy policy. "Young people across tion "Which is the most the U.S. and Canada • At the end of the important problem your are leading the way in year, MTV will recgeneration will have to the fight to stop global oenize the schools deal with?" 81 percent of warming. Students are that did the best job young people in the same overall of organizing demanding that their poll say steps need to be schools be powered by the Campus ulimate taken right away to coun- Challenge - passclean energy and become ter global warming. models of climate responing strong policies to reduce global warming sibility for the rest of The Campus Climate society. This is about our pollution and educatChallenge is designed to future and we're focused ing the student body capitalize on this growing around global warming on solutions," said Jessy momentum by empowerTolkan, Campaign and solutions to this ing young people to stop problem. All entries will Director, Campus global warming on their Climate Challenge. be judged by a panel of campus. "By partnering with MTV esteemed judges. "Make the best case ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ for the Break you can for ^^^^^™ the Addiction why it is Challenge important we'll be able to reduce to engage milgreenhouse rtments to rernem lions ofyoung gas emissions people in the "Whether it is concerns about Hurricane using science defining chaland common Katrina, high gas prices, war or national secu- lenge of our sense." generation," rity, young people are beginning to connect "Get the Tolkan said. support of the dots between their daily behavior and the faculty and The health of our environment" staff for your Campus initiatives. Christina Norman, President of MTV Climate Get the college ^ ^ - ^ — Challenge is leadership and trustees meant to leverage the Winning campuses to endorse a specific goal power of young people to will receive prizes rangfor reducing emissions. organize on college caming from monetary supPut a portfolio of projects port for their ongoing puses and in high schools together and show how efforts to an "eco-renova- across Canada and the they will pay back in dol- tion" of a student lounge U.S. to win 100 percent lars saved and emissions Clean Energy policies at or other hang-out space avoided. And, have fun their schools. valued at up to $10,000, doing it!" Middlebury as well as the chance to The Challenge is growCollege, 2006 National be featured in an MTV ing a generation-wide Wildlife Federation on-air news segment. movement to stop global Campus Ecology warming, by reducing "Whether it is concerns Yearbook said. about Hurricane Katrina, the pollution from our Students will be chalhigh schools and colhigh gas prices, war or lenged to conduct the leges down to zero, and national security, young following activities for leading our society to a people are beginning to the Break the Addiction connect the dots between clean energy future. The competition: Challenge is a campaign their daily behavior and of the Energy Action the health of our enviCoalition. For more ronment," says Christina • In the fall, MTV information, visit: www. will reward five schools Norman, President of climatechallenge.org or MTV. that have garnered Speak Up www.energyaction.net. National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Canjpus Ecology Program, a member of the Energy Action Coalition, supports and recognizes more than 200 campuses in the U.S. and Canada in conservation initiatives to slow global warming. NWF challenges its campus team members to take the Two Percent Pledge! to reduce carbon emissions by two percent per year. For more information, visit: www.nwf. org/campusecology. Break the Addiction is part of think MTV - a vibrant community where young people get informed, connect to each other, express themselves and take action on the issues important to them, their community and their world. With the credo "Reflect. Decide. Do." think MTV, in partnership with almost 40 national and international organizations, enables young people to get involved in important domestic and international issues - such as education, sexual health, discrimination, the environment and natural disasters, and global affairs. The campaign will be implemented through long-form documentaries, public service announcements, news segments, think moments, a comprehensive website and interactive forum at think.mtv.com, emerging media platforms, speaking engagements, and grassroots activities, materials and issue guides by the MTV media aimed at students across the nation. The USU Finance Club is having Craig Hooton as their first speaker of the year. He will speak Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. in Room 215 of the Business Building. He will be going over telltale signs that a company is failing or cooking the books by looking at its financial statements. In addition to many years in public accounting and hospital administration, Mr. Hooton has acted as Chief Financial Officer for St. Elizabeth Hospital and Health Care Center as well as for Spectrum Manufacturing. He is a member of the Health Care Financial Management Association, the National Property Management Association, and the American Accounting Association. He is currently an instructor at StevensHenager College where he teaches accounting, management, and health care administration. Nature Center gets more grant money The Stokes Nature Center received a grant from Wells Fargo Foundation in the amount of $1,000. The grant is meant to teach children about the natural world. By making this contribution, Wells Fargo is a proud sponsor of important educational programs that pay dividends to our children now and in the future. Contributions from grants and private donors help SNC to carry out its mission, to provide opportunities for students of all ages to explore, learn about, and develop appreciation and stewardship for our natural world. The money will be used to help cover a portion of the cost of SNC School Programs. In 2005, nearly 6,000 students of all ages participated in SNC programs including 3,500 students grades K-5 plus their teachers and chaperones. The Stokes Nature Center located in Logan Canyon, east of Logan, Utah, on HWY 89, is open Tuesday - Friday and the 2nd Saturday of the month from 1 0 - 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 435755-3239 or visit www.logannature. org. • Compiled from $taffm and media reports |