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Show AboutUs OwrView Editor in Chief New housing options a great addition Seth R. Hawkins News Editor Arie Kirk Assistant News Editor Liz Lawyer H ousing. It is one of the biggest problems students face when beginning a new school year. However, this year the challenge of finding a quality place to live might not be quite as hard. USU has put forth $40 million in an effort to meet student demand and need. With state-ofthe-art living conditions available at the Living and Learning Center, students can rest at ease. Now that the six-building living center is completed, USU has claims to the finest housing in the intermountain west. With commercial grade kitchens, laundry rooms, flat screen televisions, projection screens and fireplaces, the LLC leaves little to be desired. Not only do the apartments, located west of the Taggart Student Center, have everything students might need, the location is ideal, and, if you are lucky enough, there is also a spectacular view of the valley. While there were no pressing circumstances for more student housing, like overcrowding, USU hired a consulting firm to assess living conditions on campus. Their survey of more than 6,000 students proved an ample demand for new and improved housing. And, as proved by the Living and Learning Center, students asked and USU delivered. The student housing complex is only one of the additions made on campus with the multimillion dollar plan. USU has gone to great lengths to also ease parking problems and improve dining facilities as well - a new parking terrace was built, and the Marketplace received a serious upgrade. The terrace has 600 parking stalls used by students, visitors and the center's residents, decreasing traffic problems and parking shortages. • While the LLC may have little kitchen space in the buildings. USU offers a variety of food in the Marketplace. USU Housing should be applauded for their work to provide students with a living center that has all the necessities of student life. They have provided an effective learning environment and also given students ideal places to socialize and relax from the stresses of school. We would like to commend USU for listening to students, taking their desires to heart and making improvements of which Aggies can really be proud. ,..•; , , - . , Features Editor Manette Newbold Assistant Features Editor Brittny Coodsell Jones Sports Editor Samuel Hislop Assistant Sports Editor David Baker Copy Editor Rebekah Bradway Photo Editor Forum Lett C rs Vote for issues, not lifestyles To the editor: I am deeply concerned about advice given in a recent opinion letter warning readers to "be careful who you vote for, because it might just be a gay man." Contrary to this advice, I believe that politicians should be voted for, or not voted for, based on what choices they make on the issues they are running to address, and not on choices they make in their personal lives. Who a politician is dating has no bearing whatsoever on their stance on taxes, war, or the economy, and it shouldn't affect our stance on that candidate. Voting in elections should be a lot like writing letters to the editor, you don't attack the person, but the issue. If, for example, the candidate is for gay rights legislation and you are against that legislation, then cast your vote because you are against the legislation, not because you are against the fact that they are gay (if that is what they happen to be). The same is true for any issue and any Letters to the editor • A public forum aspect of a candidate's life, vote based on the issue, and not on their personal involvement in it. I personally believe in the right of all people, regardless of ancestry, religion, country of origin, personal orientation, or any other characteristic, to be free from discrimination, prejudice, and hatred for just being who they are. My advice to you is to be careful of what advice you take, and to vote on the candidate's positions on the issues, and not on the candidate. Cody Tramp The proper role of government n our republic, we are faced with many cru- each need to ask ourselves if we have the right cial decisions. There are many candidates to do that which we are requesting our governand many issues. It is easy to get confused ment to do. and frustrated unless we base our decisions on If, after asking ourselves this question, we the sound principles taught and lived by our still feel justified in requesting the government nation's founders. to carry out a certain action, we must ask The Declaration of Independence, which ourselves which level of government is best established the foundation of our republic, equipped to do so. To do this, we need to teaches us much about government and its determine what the closest level of government relationship to man. It lays out many fundamen- is that can handle the issue. That level of govtal principles that we must understand. Among ernment is the one suited to take the requested those principles is the truth that men are "... measure. endowed by their Creator with certain unalienWhen voting for a candidate or supporting a able Rights..." Among the rights granted to certain government action, we must remember man by his Creator are those of life, liberty and that the Constitution explained exactly what the pursuit of happiness (a vital component the federal government was to do. The 10th of which is private property). Men, in order Amendment further enforced this by stating, to secure their rights, instituted government. "The powers not delegated to the United States The power of the government comes from the by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the people themselves. Therefore, the government, states, are reserved to the states respectively, since its power is derived from the people, can- or to the people." It was understood that this not do that which the people themselves do not would afford to the citizens of the nation the oday marks the 10-year anniversary of Mother Teresa's have the right to do. greatest amount of freedom possible. It is necdeath. The media coverage will douotless sing the praises Every time we urge our representatives in our essary to seek out candidates who will adhere of a woman unmatched in her compassion and service. In government to do anything, we are in essence to this principle. eulogizing her, however, the media commit a sin of omission: urging them to enact laws governing the conLet us not forget the words of George Mother Teresa was more myth than matron. duct of ourselves and our fellow citizens. We Washington, who said, "The power under the A few brave voices, like journalist Christopher Hitchens, also authorize them to carry out such measures Constitution will always be in the people. It is author of "The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and that will ensure compliance, allowing govern- entrusted for certain defined purposes, and for Practice," ment agents to use force to deprive those who a certain limited period, to representatives of have broken with the media's adoring chorus to expose Mother do not comply of either their lives, their liberty their own choosing; and whenever Teresa's organization, the Missionaries of Charity, as a peddler or their property. it is executed contrary to their in human misery and of a radical religious agenda. I pull many of One temptation all must resist is that of tak- interest, or not agreeable to my ideas from this book. ing property from one individual to give it to their wishes, the servants You're likely offended by my taking on so "saintly" a woman, another. That is theft, no matter who does it. can, and undoubtedly will, be let alone a dead one. But I'm not sorry. This expectation - that Most people would not even think of doing this recalled." her reputation be indefinitely beyond reproach - is troubling themselves, but there are those who feel justievidence of society's undue reverence for religious figures. fied in asking the government to do so in their Co/6y Lyons is a senior majorMoreover,! need to deflate this fictitious Mother Teresa because behalf. ing in law and constitutional I'm tired of religious right bludgeoning atheists with her example A simple, but essential, principle must be studies. Questions and to make their case that such selflessness requires religious belief applied when making decisions regarding govcomments can be sent to - on its face, an arrogant and fallacious claim. ernment on any level- in our cities, our counhim at c.lyons®aggiemail. I do appreciate many religions' attention to the welfare of oth- ties, our states or in the federal government. We usu.edu. ers, but the Missionaries of Charity was no friend of the poor. It was, instead, a friend of poverty. Don't take my word for it, take Mother Teresa's: "The suffering of the poor is something very beautiful, and the world is being very much helped by the Tell us what you think. nobility of this example of misery and suffering." Quite a sadistic Submit a letter to the editor at fetish, but not uncommon in the Christian tradition. www.utah5tatesman.com Mother Teresa was, after all, only echoing the teachings of Jesus. Notwithstanding the doctrinal importance of chanty, Jesus felt that poverty was ultimately insoluble, so he utilized poverty as a tool to humble people and bring them to his mesAs the 2008 presidential election edges ever closer, the plethora of sage. Jesus expressly sanctified poverty in his Sermon on the candidates are increasingly in the limelight and under close scrutiny Mount. He promised his audiences that the meekest and poorby media and concerned citizens alike. Not only are positions on hot est among them will inherit both the earth and celestial paradise. issues like the war in Iraq, education and illegal immigration being taken Poverty was made somewhat of a precondition for salvation. As into consideration, but other aspects of the candidates are becoming Jesus saw things, as recorded in Matthew 19:24 of the Bible, "It popular. For instance, major minority groups are being represented this is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for presidential election. Hillary Clinton is a woman, Barrack Obama is a black a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." man and Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Hey, to save time and votes, maybe It was in this vein that Mother Teresa, too, felt poverty played Gladys Knight should run and satisfy all three minorities. an integral role in Christianity. And for her personally, being near These characteristics of candidates define them to a point, but are they the the "poorest of the poor" buoyed her faith. Remember, she features that should be most focused on? Is having a woman in the White House found their suffering and its manifest humility to be inspiring. So the biggest worry in this election? Will a Mormon in Washington turn the country while she was entrusted to alleviate their pain, she did, on some upside down? What role do these characteristics play in the presidential race? Is it something voters should look for or are political issues more important? What's your [ I See SAINT, page 9 take? Let us know at www.utahstate5man.com. I The sinister side of the saintly life T YowrTake What makes a candidate? '< Tyler Larson i Assistant Photo Editor ,• Patrick Oden Editorial Board \ Seth R. Hawkins Arie Kirk Liz Lawyer David Baker Manette Newbold > I ' i 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. j • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be i directed toward individu-1 als. 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 tnan 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 What do you think of the new Living and Learning Center? • A good addition to the school • A waste of money • Isn't there enough oncampus housing? Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman.com to cast your vote. Check out these links on www.utahstatesman.com: • Archives • Forums • Joke's on You! • Puzzle answers • Activities and events • Classifieds m • Wedding/Engagements • Slide shows & Video |
