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Show OwrView AboutVs WE REPUBLICANS HAVE MANY STERLING CONSERVATIVE CANRCWTES! MITT, GIULIANI, MCCAIN, MAYBE FRED THOMPSON- Editor in Chief Construction a case of poor planning Seth R. Hawkins TWET WHITE ENOUGH? T here isn't much champion-like about Champ Drive these days. The drop-off area on the west side of the Taggart Student Center was difficult to maneuver in the past and was in much need of a change to accommodate the large number of vehicles and buses that navigate the area. But now with the roundabout under construction, this high-traffic and valuable drop-off point will not be available for use for at least one more week. OK, it's one week, what's the big deal? When was the last time a school building project was actually completed in a timely manner? The big deal lays in the fact that construction on this area of the school has been in progress since early May and was projected to be finished by the time school started. Construction delays are understandable and seemingly inevitable, but this one could likely have been avoided if better planning had been implemented. -^ The construction crew had all summer break to complete the project. Up until late July, not much of anything had been done to the roundabout - the truly critical aspect to the whole project. Up to that point, detail-oriented improvements were made, making the area between the TSC and the LDS Institute building smoother and easier to traverse, a definite improvement but not nearly as vital as completing the roundabout. The bulldozer used to get the actual roundabout project moving was not even brought in until the beginning of August. So why were three months wasted on details that could have been pushed back, allowing students and parents to use the roundabout^5i^vV;;-;^*-.w^i1»a»c*hu? Jhis was. a. classic case of poor planning- The_unh versity exists for the students. As such, the university should have the best interests of students in mind. Penalties should be imposed on the construction team for not completing the task on time. If the university officials responsible for the construction are not seeking for penalties, they owe it to the students to seek at least some form of a redress for grievances. Not only was this project poorly planned, but it has major consequences for students. First off, the closing of the roundabout for an extra week is an inconvenience to students who use the Stadium Express, 800 East Express and the South Campus shuttles. The drop-off at the TSC is a boon to students who have classes on the west end of campus or need to access the important functions of the student center. At any other time in the school year this would be only a minor inconvenience, but during the first week of school the TSC is packed with students trying to finalize class schedules and take care of the typical first-week routines. With the construction preventing access to one of the major entrances to the student center, this creates a hassle for students who are already in a time crunch. Also, the rerouted bus system will cause longer bus rides for the three affected routes, two of which are traditionally short transits. The drop-off point for these buses, by the meters on the west side of the HPER, take away popular close-to-campus parking spaces that are normally full. That is not the only downside, as the students dropped off by the meters will have to cross busy 700 North, slowing down traffic and walking times to classes. This project should have completed on time, and the fact that students will have to wait a week is simply not acceptable. ; •" - , >; ; ^ " - ( Statesma Info & Guidelines The Utah Statesman is the official campus newspaper of Utah State University, published three times each week of the academic school year. The Statesman is produced entirely by students. The paper is distributed to on-campus locations and selected locations in Logan every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The offices of the Utah Statesman are located in the Taggart Student Center, Room 105. Mailing address: The Utah Statesman, P.O. Box 1249-USU, Logan UT 84322-0165. Our phone number is 435-797-NEWS. Fax: 435-797-1760. Our e-mail address is: statesman@cc.usu.edu and the online newspaper can be accessed at www.utahstatesman.com. Please follow the following suggestions regarding letters and commentaries submitted: Letters should be limited to 350 words and may be edited and condensed for grammar, clarity, good taste or length. Preference will be given lo shorter letters. Letters must be topic oriented, on a subject of general interest. Letters directed toward individuals or to hurt an individual or organization may be edited or not printed. No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or e-mail address for verification. Letters representing groups — or more than one individual — must have a singular representative clearly stated as author of the letter. Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. News Editor Arie Kirk Assistant News Editor Liz Lawyer Features Editor Manette Newbold Assistant Features Editor Brittny Goodseli Jones Sports Editor Samuel Hislop Assistant Sports Editor David Baker Copy Editor Rebekah Bradway Photo Editor Tyler Larson Assistant Photo Editor Patrick Oden Forum Lett e rS since I could take ROTC classes without any obligation to the Army, I figured I would see what it was about. I stayed, and also joined the Utah Army National Guard. To thr editor: My Army involvement has I just attended the commis- been such a good thing for sioning ceremony for two of me and my family that I want my friends. They're now lieu- others to know about the tenants in the United States same opportunities. I suppose many people Army. For three years I've attended Army ROTC classes don't know why they would in addition to my Computer want to be in the Army. I sugScience studies here at gest talking to soldiers to find USU, and after graduating in out why they joined. Anyone 1 December I'll have a similar can e-mail me at jbfishert? ceremony where I'll, become cc.usu.edu to hear my story, but I'll briefly list the reasons an Army officer. At ROTC recruiting"events why I do what I do: service, like our table on the quad patriotism, challenge, perfor A-Day, I've asked people, sonal growth, fatherhood, "What ao you know about physicaf fitness, financial supthe Army?" Generally, they port, education, travel possay, "Not much." Three years sibilities, fun...these are the ago I didn't know anything reasons that come to mind about the Army either, but just off the top of my head. Army provides rewards Letters to the editor • A public forum It's been very satisfying to me for religious reasons also; again, e-maii me for further explanation. The world is an uncertain place, and by the later portion of next year I'll be deployable. I don't want to leave my family. Like anything worthwhile, military service requires sacrifice, but that's the point, right? Let me reiterate: one can take ROTC classes without signing any contract or incurring any obligation. I know several people who tried out the ROTC and decided not to continue. And that's fine. I just hope to let more students know about this experience they can have while at USU, one that, if they choose, can be a life-changing experience. Jay Britton Fisher On the brink of a special year A ugust will often bring an extra bounce in the footsteps of many faculty members as they anticipate the start of a new academic year. This year, I especially look forward to what lies ahead of us. As President Albrecht often says, "This is a special time to be at USU." I hope that all of you share his excitement. Consider just six examples of activities that will shape the 2007-2008 academic year: We have had a second consecutive successful recruitment of first-year students to our Logan campus. This incoming class is not only large - it is among the most talented group of students we have ever recruited to campus. The university has made a multimillion dollar commitment to the library to acquire a valuable suite of electronic journals (containing 2,000 titles) and to prevent further cancellation of journal subscriptions for the next five years. This outlay ensures that our students and faculty will have instantaneous access to the most current research in the world. We continue to build new facilities on campus to enhance our academic programs and to improve the educational experiences of our students. The buildings scheduled for completion this year include the new David G. Sant Engineering Innovation Building; a new College of Agriculture complex located on the east side of Highway 89 as you enter Cache Valley from the south; and the new North End Zone Facility with extensive academic space. Each of these new buildings will expand and enhance the academic experiences of our students. We will continue an aggressive effort to upgrade classrooms on campus by improving their physical appearance, enhancing their technological instruction capacity and expanding their Broadcast abilities. Starting with this academic year, the presi- dent has dedicated additional permanent monies for each of the next five years to enhance our international education programs. These monies will both increase the opportunities for our students to study abroad and increase the number of international students who study in Logan. President Albrecht has had a busy summer traveling the United States, talking with alumni and friends about the "Campaign for Utah State." To date, the campaign has raised more than $112 million (or 56 percent of our campaign goal of $200 million). We look forward to announcing several very significant gifts during the upcoming academic year. The generosity of donors helps us create new scholarships for students, improve our academic facilities and create new student-oriented programs. This is just a sampling of the many activities that have me excited about the upcoming academic year. After all, I haven't mentioned the 78 percent increase to the operating budgets of academic departments that will occur over the next five years and will allow them to serve students better, or the nearly 40 new faculty hires that the Legislature funded to expand access to our degree offerings for students at our three regional campuses (in Brigham City, Tooele and the Uintah Basin) and in partnership with Snow College and the College of Eastern Utah. But, I hope that even this brief list will bring an extra bounce to your footsteps as well. This is a special time to be a USU Aggie. Raymond T. Coward is the Provost at USU. Comments can be sent to him at ray-1 'r • mond.coward@usu.edu.' Editorial Board Seth R. Hawkins Arie Kirk Liz Lawyer David Baker Manette Newbold About letters • Letters should be limited to 350 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or email address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. • Letters representing groups — or more than one individual — must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e-mailed to statesman@cc.usu.edu or click on www.utah statesman.com for more letter guidelines and a box to sumbit let ters. Online poll Who will win in USU's home opener on Thursday? •USU •UNLV Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman.com to cast your vote. Check out these links on www.utahstatesman.com: Tell us what you think. Utah mining disaster Submit a letter to the editor at www.utahstate5man.com The tragic mine collapse in Huntingdon, Utah, has sent reverberations across " the state. Countless hours have been devoted to rescuing or recovering the r bodies of six trapped miners following the collapse. The rescue method being used involves drilling holes down to areas near open pockets, deep inside the mine, in hopes of making contact with the trapped miners. In these efforts, three miners were killed, calling into question whether or not these efforts are worth risking additional lives. Should drilling efforts be continued or should they cease before more lives are taken? Is it worth the time, money and risk involved? Tell us what you think. • Archives • Forums • Joke's on You! • Puzzle answers • Activities and events • Classifieds • Wedding/Engagements • Slide shows & Video |