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Show Page 3 SiatcsunviCampus NCWS Monday, Feb. 25, 2008 USU grad honored by Barnes and Noble Briefs could ever win such a prestigious award. "I didn't think I had a shot in hell to get it," he said. But when the phone call came, he said he was stunned his book had won. Margie Rine, his publisher and marketing director of the University of Nebraska Press, told him he had won the Barnes & Noble New Writers award. He said the whole experience of her calling him was really moving, as Rine, almost in tears, told him over the phone the good news-about ByLANDONBUIE staff writer USU graduate Brandon Schrand's new book "the Enders Hotel," a personal memoir, is getting attention across the country, winning the River Teeth Prize for nonfiction and the Barnes & Noble Great New Writers Award selection for summer 2008. Schrand said there were no real feelings of excitement or hope of winning the award. He said he didn't believe a book about a hotel in Idaho his book. She told him to go buy some champagne and celebrate with his wife. "And that's exactly what we did," he said. His book will be coming out around this May, and Barnes & Noble will be extensively advertising the book during the upcoming summer, he said. "The Enders Hotel" is based on a hotel Schrand's family owned, which is now a museum in Soda Springs, Idaho. The hotel, built in 1917, is the oldest building in Soda Springs, and Schrand said it is a very auspicious and ornate hotel of its time. He said the hotel remains dear to him, as he spent most of his life, 20 years, living in the hotel. The hotel was very much a family operation, he said, with his grandparents renting rooms out for only $19 per night. Schrand said the book is not only about his life, but also the people [1 See MEMOIR, page 4 Buildings: Older facilities need money for renovations 01 continuedfrom page 1 beginning in the 1930s, was torn down in 2006 because it was labeled the worst building in the state in terms of safety, Hart said. So a quality of a building depends on the architect and the way it was built. What is important is if current USU buildings met building codes at the time of completion. Old Main, the oldest building on campus, has been fully renovated after a fire in 1984. Kane said the occupants were temporarily removed while exterior walls, floor and roof were strengthened to pass code. But the renovation had three phases, and it took almost 20 years before they were completed. The process for a building to be funded requires time and patience. For a big project, Hart said a time span of 3.5 years is normal. But that is after the funding comes in, he said. This is one reason donations are so vital to the university - they help speed up the development. Kane said there is a single process that splits into two means of state with a remodeling need is the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building, Kane said. Built in 1970, the HPER held half of what the student population is today. There is a need to add classrooms and labs in the building. Studies indicated, however, that a remodeling of the building instead of a replacement, is most cost effective. Still, the cost is approximately $38 million. The Building of Natural Resources also needs money - $40 million - for a complete remodel, Kane said. "The BNR building suffers from systems that are tired and worn out," Kane said. "The exterior walls have very little thermal insulation, the ventilation system is inadequate for a modern lab building and it lacks a fire sprinkler system." Although the building is fairly structurally sound, Kane said some bracing is required to bring it up to current standards. The age of campus buildings pose a concern in terms of fire and earthquake safety. The Mountain View and Valley View towers were built at a time when earthquake structural codes were not as stringent as today, Kane said. Although the towers are unpopular because of the community bathrooms, Kane said the rooms are heavily used in the summer because of youth programs. So, starting from scratch and rebuilding from the ground up would temporarily move hundreds of USU students and youth program members to a temporary location. Bringing buildings up to code can be an expensive process. However, it is important because these codes govern what buildings have to be designed for in terms of function and safety. Darrell Hart, associate vice president for facilities, said when a building is constructed, it needs to be compliant with the current code. And when a building is renovated, that section has to be upgraded, Hart said, to the new code. "Depending on the level of renovation will depend on the code updating," Hart said. Hart said a lot of older buildings, like Old Main and the Ray B. West building that were originally built in the 1930s, are quality buildings even though they have been around for more than 70 years. However, the old Merrill Library, originally built during three phases with the first phase funding for construction projects around campus. The first is known as Capitol Improvement funds. These funds are intended for projects that will cost less than $2.5 million, he said. These items often come from a list of needs in each building that have been recorded by the facilities operation staff. This list is reviewed monthly, Kane said, and each year it is used to prioritize requests for funding from the state. Eventually, this list is submitted to the state in the fall of each year prior to the legislature session in the following January, he said. By legislative mandate, each state institution in Utah receives funding. But with everyone needing money, most institutions encounter the same problem of needing more. Kane said USU receives between $8 and $9 million each year for maintenance, repair of buildings, roofs, parking lots and underground utilities. Projects that cost more than $2.5 million are known as Capital Development Funds, Kane said. Lists FIREFIGHTERS HELP P U T O U T a 1984 fire in Old Main. Older buildings on campus like Old Main are waiting for funding to make needed improvements. Animal Science will need $12 million to fix the heaters and air conditioners. Recent window replacement in Animal Science cost $464,727. Statesman file photo Contact USU Police at 797-1939 for non-emergencies. Anonymous reporting line: 797-5000 EMERGENCY NUMBER: 911 Po/zceBlotter Wednesday, Feb. 20,2008 bumping her head. The student was transported to the center for observation. • USU Police took an initial report of a theft of a Columbia jacket from the LDS Institute, which is off USU property. Because of this, USU Police will refer the case to Logan City Police. • USU Police received a fire alarm at the Old Main building. The alarm originated by an activation of a pull alarm on the fourth floor. The police have interviewed the subject who activated the alarm. Police are investigating the incident to determine if a crime has been committed. ^^^i&'&Mki . m v*>.f • .... !' Thursday, Febl 21,2008 r are made each year for building or remodel requests. The list is submitted to the State Board of Regents, the group that reviews all requests for building priorities within the state higher education system, Kane said. The projects are then ranked in importance and sent to the State Building Board which make recommendations, he said, to the the governor and the legislature. "The higher enrollment at Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College plays in their favor for new buildings and older campuses with a backlog of aging buildings tend to fall behind," Kane said. A problem seen more prevalently in older buildings around campus is the presence of Box Elder bugs. But even if all the buildings on campus were replaced, Kane and Hart both said it would not stop the insects from coming in. New buildings may have fewer cracks, but Kane said the bugs will find a way. ~brittny.jo@aggiemail.asu.edu " ;. • USU Police responded to Richards Hall ^ on a report of a large dog at large. Police f; searched the area and no dogs were located, vff ^ f ufu r t h e r action was taken. ., , %• • USU Police received information from !>iLbgan City Police of a credit/debit card v; fraud, which took place at USU. USU Police • are investigating the matter. • USU Police responded to the Bookstore on a medical assist. A student wanted to be transported to the Wellness Center after Friday, Feb. 22,2008 • USU Police responded to the Center for Persons with Disablilities building on an unsecured premises report. Police contacted the appropriate employees to handle the matter. There was no further action taken. • USU Police received a phone call from a mother who was concerned about her daughter who said she had received several suspicious text messages. The mother requested USU Police perform a welfare check on her daughter. Police located the daughter and found her to be in no danger or in need of police assistance. Saturday, Feb. 23,2008 ^U; • A Logan City Police officer responded to the area of 800 N. 1000 West following a report of a citizen assist for an individual who believed they had been sold used goods when they understood they would be getting new goods. The officer helped the two involved individuals reach a resolution. USU Police responded to Aggie Village fora report of a couple fighting in their apartment. Police spoke with the individuals and believe the two are OK and had a verbal disagreement. Police have documented the incident. Sunday, Feb. 24,2008 • Logan City Officers responded to the area of 750 N. 800 East on the report of a suspicious person. Officers arrived and searched the area but were unable to locate the suspicious person. • A Logan City Police officer was assigned a vehicle theft case by dispatch. The officer was told the vehicle was stolen from the , ,;•=• area of 800 W. 600 South, but hail since1AJK; been locatecl in Young Ward. Dispatch ' ' informed the officer the stolen vehicle was, located in Young Ward, but it had been set on fire. The on call investigator was called out, evidence was gathered and.the proper,; paper work was filled out'. ' l-y • Logan Police responded a 60-year-old male having difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, they assisted the paramedics. No foul play was suspected. a Compiled by Arie ; Kirk Campus & Community Password changes affecting accounts USU employees, students and alums will need to change the password they use to log into key computer access programs beginning Monday, March 10. The A-number and a 12-character temporary password will be used to access the following systems: Banner SSB (Access); Aggiemail; Blackboard; Aggie Exchange Email; Student Computer Labs; VPN Proxy Footprints; Campus Card System; and VMS (if your username is A#). All users will have until April 10 to change the temporary password to a permanent password. For more information about the temporary password and to create a new password after March 10, visit http://password.usu.edu. Questions may be directed to the USU IT service Desk at 435-797-HELP (4357) or 1-877878-8325. Rhetoric Associates Program hiring The Rhetoric Associates Program at USU is now accepting applications from students who would like to be a part of the program during the fall 2008/spring 2009 school year. "The purpose of the [Rhetoric Associates] program is to have students who have strong writing skills tutor other students and help them become better writers," said Julie Foust, current director of the Rhetoric Associates program. Rhetoric Associates assist professors by reading 10-15 students' papers in a class, making written comments and suggestions and then following up with individual conferences with each student. By the time that the professor reads his or her students' papers, a rhetoric associate has already helped each student revise and improve his or her paper, thus helping each student improve his or her writing skills and be better prepared to hand in their paper. "At the moment we have between 40-45 students working with 17-20 courses," said Foust. "We would like to expand that number if the demand continues to grow." Members of the Rhetoric Associates Program receive $600 each semester that they work with the RA program and attend a two-credit class during the fall semester where they discuss the theory and practice of writing, grammar, and working one on one with students. The class is held on Thursdays from 7:30-8:45 a.m. Applying to the Rhetoric Associates Program does not require students to be English majors. Students from all departments and fields are welcome to apply. Any student interested in applying should go to the Rhetoric Associate's website, www.usu.edu/ raprogram. Applications are accepted until March 10. Funds available for sophomores Students who will have 24 to 45 USU credits-after spring semester 2008 are encouraged to apply for the ASUSU Sophomore Scholarship, due Mar. 7. This scholarship is funded from a 2005-2006 Tier II Tuition initiative, intended to increase funding for second year students who often have less opportunities for financial help than their class-rank counterparts. The ASUSU Academic Senate receives $20,000 each year to award 10 students $1,000 for two semesters. "For sophomore students, this scholarship is an excellent source of funding," said Kevin Abernethy, : ASUSU Academic Senate President. "It also provides a way for them to get involved with ASUSU and see first ] hand what student government does to * l p " • •. • • / . • ; ^ l ii Abernethy said the ASUSU V-^gjEj Academic Senate reviews and vofeV;pn the applicants based on grade .point- :4 average, financial need and extracurricular activities. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 to apply. Concurrent enrollment classes do not count when tallying credits, but credits earned at junior colleges and from •/ ;j other transfers do. Applications are- -£ available in the Taggart Student Center Room 326,and are due Mar. 7 by 5 ' i [MCompiled from stafi and media reports |