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Show "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." Franklin D. Roosevelt 11 Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 797-1762 statesman@cc.usu.edu www.utahstatesman.com Utah Statesman' The gloves are off: smokers v. non-smokers Staff Editor in Chief There are two words that make a large percentage of the student body moan and grumble: TSC patio. Year-round you can find groups of students using the patio as a good place to sit and smoke with friends or a newspaper. The area always smells distinctly of cigarettes, which bothers many of the — yp students who pass through the Our VlGW Elizabeth Lawyer News Editor Di Lewis i Assistant News Editor Features Editor Holly Mitchell a t o n tneir w a t 0 c ass p '° y ' - £!,_ J j s u s u a ]|y the most convenient way for students to get from the TSC to class or the dorms. It's also the most convenient place for those students who smoke. So who wins out? Smoking regulations state that smokers cannot light up closer than 25 feet to a building entrance. Some people who use the patio don't follow this regulation. A new "awareness campaign" by USU's Tobacco Task Force is designed to remind people of that standard, as well as push a proposal for new regulations that would ban smoking in high-traffic areas and anywhere smokers are highly visible, increase antitobacco advertising and stop the sale of tobacco on campus. Following federal regulations is issue number one. Promoting public health isn't a bad idea either. But, it's not fair to banish smokers to some unseen corner of campus like they're lepers. Though a restriction on smoking in designated high-traffic areas would help settle the issue, not allowing people to smoke anywhere they may be seen doing so is unnecessary. This is an issue that could be resolved if each side just gave in a little bit. Smokers ought to step away from building entrances and non-smokers ought to accept that there are students who smoke and they have the right to do so on campus. Somebody is going to be inconvenienced. Such is life. A couple ideas: smokers could use the second floor balcony of the TSC, which is currently mostly unused. The smoke wouldn't bother people passing by underneath and the between-class traffic wouldn't disturb those who want to sit and relax. We know it's cold, but, really, if you're bothered by the smoke you can walk around. Bundle up. Resist the Loganite tendency to ignore the fact that it's winter and not wear warm enough clothing. The smokers are sitting out in the cold; you're probably warmer than they are. The bottom line is, since both sides think they have a right to something, be it to smoke or to have clean air to breathe, neither seems very willing to give anything to the other. A compromise is possible, so the sooner it is made, the better for all parties. Smoking on the patio has been an issue for long enough. Assistant Features Editor Mat'l View L I I Manette Newbold Sports Editor ) Seth Hawkins Assistant Sports Editor "; Samuel Hislof) Diversions Editor j Steve Shinney Copy Editor Rebekah Bradway Letters to the Editor Photo Editor Administration: help us out To the editor: Banner may be an upgrade from the old system but it is still pathetic considering the technology that is out there. If referring students to online documents seems too cold and impersonal to recruit new students then at least be willing to shoulder some of the blame when, due to dissemination of misinformation, one of your students encounters a problem, such as not being able to graduate on time. The "you-shouldhave-known-because-youare-responsible-so-you-areout-of-luck" approach to problem solving isn't doing much for recruitment either. I'm certainly not going to recommend anyone attend USU due to this problem alone. D Jamie Crane Assistant Photo Editor I vPu&liM.Forum\";;_„;; Students need accurate information on university policy to graduate on time. Their source is the administration. Unfortunately, a student may not get the right answer to their question or they may receive conflicting answers from different sources. There is a lot of policy so some errors are understandable. Advisors, for instance, need to know a lot of information and it's unlikely they will have a flawless memory of it. The problem with the current system is that while the student relies on administration for information, the administration is completely unaccountable. The school's policy is that the student alone is responsible for getting the information that they need. There is a logical problem here - if students get their information from administration, and administration doesn't give the right answer, how can the student get accurate information? How can the student be the only one held accountable? This is nothing more than a convenient strategy to sidestep even appropriate accountability. I don't mind being held accountable. In fact, I prefer it with one stipulation. If I am going to be held With the release of the new our planet, one that made it accountable, I want to have reportbythelntergovernmental hospitable to life, but did not all the information that I'm Panel on Climate Change this have any political implica- being held accountable for available to me - organized, week, the fourth since the tions. organization's founding in That began to change in centralized, and accessible. 1988, many will be looking the early 20th century, when Put it online and let me read for what's new. How have Swedish geochemist Svante it myself. Tell my advisor to estimates of sea-level rise Arrhenius deduced from answer my questions with changed? How soon will we Tyndall's work that CO2 hyperlinks so that I can't achieve a doubling of carbon released to the atmosphere blame anyone but myself for dioxide levels? by burning fossil fuels could misreading the policy. If we don't have the Scientists and journalists alter Earth's climate. By the focus on novelty, because 1930s British engineer Guy in-house talent to build a both are largely about discov- Callendar had compiled usable online system then empirical evidence that this go to eLance.com, spend effect was already discern- the money, and get it done. ible. Dthef Voices.___, ^Jpolicy Calendar's concern was pursued in the 1950s by perspective, what matters is not numerous American scienwhat's new but what's old. tists, including oceanograWhat matters are not the pher Roger Revel le, a onedetails that may have shifted time commander in the U.S. since the last report, or that Navy Hydrographic Office, may shift again in the next who helped his colleague one, but that the broad frame- Charles David Keeling rind work is established beyond a funds to implement a systemreasonable doubt. Although atic monitoring program. By few people realize it, this the 1960s, Keeling's assiduframework has been in place ous measurements at Mauna for nearly half a century, and Loa Observatory in Hawaii scientists have been trying to demonstrated conclusively alert us to its importance for that atmospheric carbon dioxide was, indeed, steadily risalmost that long. Scientific research on car- ing. (For this work, President bon dioxide and climate dates Bush awarded Keeling the to the 19th century, when National Medal of Science Irish scientist John Tyndall in 2002.) Although these sciestablished that CO2 is a entists may not be household greenhouse gas _ meaning names, they are well known that it traps heat and keeps it from escaping to outer space. In the 19th century, this was • G L O B A L WARMING REPORT see page 13 understood as a fact about The long consensus on climate change Arie Kirfe J will always be written? To those few who have taught people, not classes - thank you. You'll always be written on my heart. Ben Watkins 'Scope' makes you think To the editor: I had the luxury to attend "Scope" on Wednesday night. It is a delicious blend of humor and nerve-racking pressure that constantly engages ones mind, directing it toward the affecting nature of war and the dehumanization of the people at the forefront, the soldiers. Though many like myself _ Brian Gladu who hold conservative viewpoihtsmay feel itsjocu-' lar comedy to be irreverent, even revolting at times, it reflects human experience, shows the dramatic effects To the editor: of the sociology of war, and leaves the audience member I once had a teacher at this contemplative and reflective university. Let me describe about what they have seen. her. She knew me by name. The arts are important for She encouraged me to do this reason alone: that we my best. She complimented do not need to experience my efforts. She taught me things directly to experience with questions; with stories, them (Thus debunking the with books. She facilitated "Don't knock it till you try discussion. She helped me it" mindset). The arts make learn things for myself. She you feel part of a society brought wno she really was and help you understand to class, with real emotion, the broader spectrum of life with real truth. And that so that you may more fully made the subject glow and appreciate what others have grow and become alive for gone through, and what me. She wanted me to find they will go through, to projoy in learning. She was tect us. Until they all come our advocate, she was our home, friend, and we all knew it. During five years at this David Joseph Neville institution, I have had many professors. But few teachers. Do you as a professor teach? Or do you profess to teach? In the end, will the trophy of most value to you be a book or journal To the editor: with your name on it, a I would like to respond promotion or pay increase? Or will your greatest prize be the heart or a student, a • LETTERS heart on which your name see page 13 The meaning of 'teacher' Founders had a range of beliefs Tyler Larsen Editorial Board Elizabeth Lawyer Di Lewis Seth Hawkins Steve Shinney Holly Mitchell About letters , ! i • Letters should be limited to 350 words. ,, • All letters may be short- ,j ened, edited or rejected F. for reasons of good taste, i redundancy or volume of ii similar letters. d • Letters must be topic ori- 4 ented. They may not be j directed toward individu- P als. Any letter directed to a' specific individual may befi edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters ,j 'will be published. Writers 3 . must sign all letters and , include a phone number d or e-mail address as well h as a student identification & number (none of which is published). Letters will ^ not be printed without this' v verification. • Letters representing groups — or more than one indi-n vidua! — must have a sin- , gular representative clearlyj stated, with all necessary >A identification information. •: • Writers must wait 21 days>i before submitting succes- 3 sive letters — no excep- l tions. * • Letters can be hand deliv-^ ered or mailed to The t Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be emailed to statesman@cc.usu.edu or click on www.utahstatesman.com for more letter guidelines and a box to sumbit letters. Online poll What do you think about the cheering in the Spectrum? • It's gone way too far. (12%) • It occasionally gets too rough. (15%) • It's fine if it goes no fur then (10%) • We could push it a little further. (13%) • We need to be a lot louder. (50%) 82 votes Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman.com • to cast your vote. 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