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Show UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Softball sweeps LaTech Page 9 Photo courtesy of Tony Lowry THE SINGIE-MAST GPS monument is one of the pieces USU researcher Tony Lowry uses in his geological studies. It is a single stainless-steel pipe that is set in solid bedrock. The GPS antenna is placed atop the pipe and covered by a locking plastic dome. USU researcher studying quakes BY ARIE KIRK Assistant News Editor Several years ago, scientists discovered shifts in the earth's surface occurring so gradually they didn't register on a seismograph. It is believed these movements, which occur for months or years at a time, can predict or cause future earthquakes. These so-called silent earthquakes have become the focus of a study conducted by Tony Lowry, an assistant professor in geology at USU. "This is something very new. It is very much a topic of research, seeing what they do to the earthquake cycle," Lowry said. "They probably change stress in such a way that favors another earthquake. Beyond that, we are still trying to figure it out." Lowry said silent quakes tend to occur where larger earthquakes are predicted. Even though the movement is slow enough people cannot feel them, it is believed these quakes increase the seriousness and danger of earthquakes by shifting the stress of fault lines. "It happens very slowly and doesn't produce shaking. Silent earthquakes are basically just slip events on faults. They are essentially the same things that cause earthquakes we feel," Lowry said. "Slips on faults evolve through time, but it is relevant to when and where an earthquake happens." By studying the shape of the ground surface with Global Positioning Satellite systems, scientists are able to record silent earthquakes. The majority of Lowry's work has been conducted in southern Mexico. Using a GPS system, Lowry recorded a movement of 10 centimeters in the course of three months. He said the shifts occurring there are contrary to what would be expected considering the normal movements of plate tectonics. "What you would have expected to see is just having a steady movement, moving steadily in a straight line along the fault lines, but then it is superimposed by something," he said. Lowry has said weather patterns could play a role in causing silent quakes. The weight of precipitation can create enough pressure to move the earth's surface. In previously published information, he said the smallest amount of pressure could cause significant movement of faults leading to silent quakes and, possibly, earthquakes of greater magnitude. Mexico experiences one silent quake a year, Lowry said. Silent quakes have also been recorded in California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, New Zealand and Japan. In the northeastern area of the United States, there is one silent quake about every 14months. • S I L E N T QUAKES see page 3 Logan, Utah • Campus Voice Since 1902 www.utahstatesman.com Monday, April 16,2007 Howlers compromise, create new tradition BY )GN BEASLEY Staff Writer with them," Wolcott said. "We felt better about (the howl) because we were concerned that the library would be the focal point of it." John Elsweiler Jr., the associate director for public services, said now that library officials are in communication with the howlers and know it's going to happen, things will run more smoothly. He acknowledged that in the first iterations of the howl, library staff Whether a whimsical release of tension, a childish disruption or even the achievement of the year, the finals week howl has officially made enough noise to be sanctioned as a newborn USU tradition. A meeting of the howl's founding fathers, ASUSU representatives and library officials last week allowed all parties to communicate their intentions, and ensured that the howl is here to stay. From 10 to 10:10 p.m. May 2, students are encouraged to howl their finals stresses away from Comments to remember wherever they happen to be - even 'Jilt your head back at a 45if they're in the library. Though past howl gatherings have centered degree angle and howl like in the library, generating calls to there's no tomorrow" police and much campus controversy, Eric DeFries, one of the masterEric DeFries, a finals week minds of the howl, said the intenhowl founder tion was never to have the library as the epicenter, but rather to have howlers unite across Logan. "probably overreacted," but it was "Really our vision of the howl because they were taken by surwhen we first thought of it was to prise. target the entire campus, apart"We didn't know what was going ments and whatever -just wherever on, and all of a sudden this was you are - to stop what you're doing happening, and our staff are told and howl," DeFries said. that if there's a disturbance to call Linda Wolcott, the vice provost the police," Elsweiler said. of the library, said the meeting clarNow that they know what is ified what the howl was intended to happening, the library administrado. tion seems fully supportive of the "It was really helpful to meet endeavor. Wolcott said she's even Speak Up considering getting wolf masks for the staff to put on as a way to participate in the festivities. For those disinclined to take part in the call of the finals, however, Wolcott said the library will advertise on the televisions in the library atrium, as well as make an announcement before it happens, so students can plan accordingly. "They can justcome to the library later or plan to take a break from studying then," Wolcott said. "We want everyone to know what is happening." Wolcott said students will not be punished if they howl in the library, but Elsweiler said he would still encourage students to go outside. "It's a full-moon night," Elsweiler said. "You can actually go out and howl at the full moon. How often is it going to be a full moon on the night of the howl?" Karilyn Flake, ASUSU's traditions director, said regardless of where people choose to howl, she's excited about the birth of a new USU tradition, and plans to participate when the time comes. "I love it because it's a random thing that people can do and just relieve stress. It's out of the ordinary, and it sets USU apart from other schools. That's exactly what • HOWL see page 3 It's a bull market at USU Tyler tarson/tmlarson@ccusu.edu LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MAJORS BUILT a bull to be put up for auction to benefit the American Society of Landscape Architecture and the environment. The participants are (from left to right) Mareus Pulsipher, Bryce Ward, Mark Hirschi, Colter Valcarce and Eric Godfrey. They are hoping to receive about $500 from the auction. Arlington prizes awarded BY USU MEDIA RELATIONS Winners of the Arrington Writing Award have been announced. The award is presented in conjunction with the Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture at SU. The first place winner and recipient of a $1,000 prize is Laura Newton of Logan. The $500 second place award was earned by Joshua Booth of Ogden. Newton and Booth are history majors at USU. Last fall, students from the Intermountain region were invited to attend the Arrington Lecture and submit an appropriate essay based on a presentation by Tom Alexander, "Brigham Young, the Council of the Twelve, and the Latter-day Saint Investigation of the Mountain Meadows Massacre." Students were invited to submit a 2,500 word essay related to the lecture in an expository, persuasive or reflective writing style. A minimum of two outside research sources were to be used, with an included bibliography. The awards were presented at a recent Friends of the Merrill-Cazier Library event. Newton is a transfer student from the University of Memphis and has attended Utah State since spring 2005. She is a senior. "Since I am a 29-year-old married mother of three boys, I do not get the opportunity to get involved much in campus life," Newton said. "But, I do volunteer weekly at Adams Elementary School." Newton was unable to attend the award ceremony — she gave birth to her third son two hours before the ceremony. Booth will graduate with a history degree this semester, with a minor in political science. He will attend William and Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Va., this fall. The Arrington Writing Award will again be offered next fall. The 13th Annual Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture will feature William A. Wilson, professor emeritus, Brigham Young University. The date of the lecture has not been set. The writing award is funded by the Leonard J. Arrington Foundation and USU. Tyler Larson/tmhirwn <X(.usu.edu BRIG. G E N . Scon HARRISON spoke to Air Force ROTC students Saturday night on the importance of integrity and service in the military. Air Force general speaks to ROTC BY D I LEWIS News Editor People recited rhymes and drank mysterious things Saturday, but it wasn't at Poetry and a Beverage, it was at an Air Force ROTC dinner. Saturday night was the ROTC's long-standing tradition of holding its formal Dining Out dinner to help prepare cadets for the formal dinners they will have as officers in the Air Force, Maj. Kirstin Plagge said. Cadets got to meet and socialize with dates, experience a formal Air Force dinner and get advice from Brig. Gen. Scott Harrison. Harrison said the dinner builds "fellowship, camaraderie and introduces traditions to those in the civilian world who may not know about them." One of the traditions the dates and parents who attended with cadets got to see was the grog bowl. The grog is a tradition observed at Air Force banquets where a few people are asked to bring any ingredient they would like and add it to a grog bowl. Paul Overdiek, a senior in engineering, said there is usually no coordination between the people bringing ingredients. During dinner, people are allowed to stand and ask the president of the banquet to send someone to the grog. They have to ask in rhyme, and the reasons people were asked Saturday night varied from such offenses as not showing up to morning work-outs to terrible rhymes to hitting on another cadet's sister. The person accused of the offense must then defend in rhyme, and the president decides who must drink from the grog. The person must then drink a full cup of grog without taking the cup from their lips and then hold the cup over their head to prove it is empty. Overdiek said, "This years grog isn't that bad. Last year I was too scared to do any poems for fear I'd get sent to the grog bowl." He said in past years, cottage cheese and live goldfish have been part of the ingredients. This year had a relatively tame concoction with cod liver oil, ice cream and marshmallows. Along with the grog, all dinner members had to observe 16 rules such as "Thou shalt not laugh at ridiculously funny comments unless the President first shows approval by laughing" or "Thou shalt enjoy thyself to the fullest." Cadet Abayomi Olorunsola said he thinks the USU detachment is lucky to have formal dinners because not very many other detachments have those formal events. "There are a lot of really funny things tonight, but it's all in good fun," said Kara Clark, a sophomore in mechanical engineering. The highlight of the night, however, was Harrisons speech, where he gave advice to the cadets attending. His main message was to keep integrity in every action as an Air Force officer. He said officers will have "immense frustrations and incredible success" if they follow three rules: integrity first, service before self and excellence in all they do. "There's never a time when you need to suborn your integrity," Harrison said. "However, there are many times when I've had to push the regulations. You have to learn • ROTC see page 3 |