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Show www.utahstatesman.com Logan, Utah Utah State University Utah War still shrouded in mystery Today is Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 Breaking News By RACHEL CHRISTENSEN assistant news editor The Utah War in 1857 to 1858 is still surrounded by mystery and the future of research looks bright, said William P. MacKinnon during his lecture for the Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture Series Thursday. "I can report tonight that the world of Utah studies is alive and well, if not booming," said MacKinnon, an independent historian who has spent years researching the Utah War. "I think we've been seeing the Up of the iceberg." MacKinnon said the war has not been researched thoroughly enough and hopes its bicentennial as well as continued interest in the Mountain Meadows Massacre will bring renewed motivation and research. "By the time of my 1977 lamentation, the Utah War was a forgotten incident in U.S. history," MacKinnon said. He said he has already seen an increase in interest since he began his own research. "There hasn't been a tsunami of input, but it has been creative," MacKinnon said. One recent example of this creative research is a play called "March of the Salt Soldiers: The Utah War" by Leonard J. Arrington's son James Arrington, MacKinnon said. The comedy will show in the Caine Lyric Theatre Oct. 11. "Think of it," MacKinnon said. "We even have a stage version of the President Bush meets with congressional leaders and presidential candidates to discuss Wall Street bailout. Page 2 Campus News W I L L I A M P. M A C K I N N O N speaks about the Utah War during the Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture. TYLER LARSON photo USU professors help initiate wind power industry in Utah. Page 4 Passports get freshmen involved By CEL1A C H I L D Features staff writer Explore local parks for weekend fun. Sports Women's volleyball falls to Fresno State Thursday, 3-2. Page 9 H See UTAH, page 14 The new Passport To Aggie Adventures gives USU students the opportunity to take advantage of upcoming social and campus events. Working together, the retention and first-year experience office have developed a new way to involve students with all the great things Utah State has to offer, said Noelle Call, retention and first-year experience director. Acting like a real passport, students are able to count each activity for a stamp, as if they were visiting another country. They may choose from four different categories of events: academic, cultural, community and social. Each stamp they receive will count towards great prizes ranging from $10 gift certificates, scholarships, a new computer donated by Best Buy or to dinner with the university's president, Call said. The events are targeted toward enhancing students' experience past the classroom. Like studying abroad in another country, students are able to become more involved in culture and community events, Call said. These events are aimed at bringing new awareness and perspective, to encourage students to explore new horizons. Jeffery Curtis, sophomore at Utah State, enjoys the program because of the new insights he has gained at each event. "It really gives me a great opportunity to expand and engage in all the university has to offer," he said. At the most recent event, the USU anxiety screening, more than 100 passports were stamped. Averaging about two events a week, students can check out the upcoming events online or by dropping by the office, room 314 in the TSC. More than 3,000 passports were THE N E W AGGIE PASSPORTS were creatprinted, with about 100 or so left to be given ed to get freshmen more involved with the campus. out. CAMERON PETERSON photo Running until the end of November, students still have time to participate in some of "It's a great way to get out of my comfort zone the passport activities. First-year students were and see really what this university has to offer," introduced to the Aggie Passport during their she said. connections course, English 1010 classes and When asked if there was anything that she Day on the Quad, Call said. would add or change to the program, she said "We are hopeful this project can be extendshe thought the events should be better advered beyond fall semester and to all students in tised on campus for the passports. the future," Call said. "It just seems like things travel so much Pushing to expand on the program to more faster by word of mouth," she said. students for the upcoming year. If any students would like more informaChar Wright, USU freshman, really likes the tion, just check out the Web site, www. usu. program and is looking forward to the great edu/passport or call the retention and first-year prizes. She said she became involved through experience office. her connections class. -c.child@aggiemail.usu.edu Undergraduate research opportunities available at USU By RICHARD PERKINS staff writer Almanac Today in History: For the first time in U.S. history, a debate between major party presidential candidates is shown on television. Presidential hopefuls John F. Kennedy, a Democratic senator of Massachusetts, and Richard M. Nixon, the vice president of the United States, met in a Chicago studio to discuss U.S. domestic matters. Kennedy emerged the apparent winner from this first of four televised debates, partly owing to his greater ease before the camera than Nixon, who, unlike Kennedy, seemed nervous and declined to wear makeup. High: 82° Low: 49° Skies: Partly cloudy but clearing for the weekend. Research is always happening at USU, but few students know they can be a part of it. The Research Office has an entire program devoted toward undergraduate research. Students can come and find out how they can be involved in many exciting projects happening around campus. Jamie Wilson, sophomore in mechanical engineering, is participating in the Lunar-landing Trajectories project. Research helps to enrich his college experience and helps him apply what he learns in classes to something he'll someday use in the field, he said. "It helps me look forward from the base classes to how it applies later on," he said. "As you gain experience, then you can do cooler things and change the world." Student participation in research is very important because it helps students become prepared to get a job or go on to grad school, as a result of stronger resumes and useful skills. Student researchers develop close relationships with their professors, and that creates valuable connections and opens doors to other opportunities. Joyce Kinkead, associate vice president for research, explained the goals of research center. "(The research center is there) to help students figure out and help them with what they want to do. Our office supports laboratory research and field research " she said. One example, she said, is a recent expedition to Alaska. Many may wonder what sort of research can be done. "It's all over the map," Kinkead said, "anything you want to do." A few examples of student projects given by Kinkead were: Japanese costume design, bioplastics (water-bottles from biodegradable materials), pre-colonial slavery and punishment, cheating behavior of students and research on the freshman 15 of which USU only averages a weight gain of 9.6 pounds. Ever wonder how to get started? Most projects begin with faculty member discussing a recent project in a classroom setting. Students become involved with a faculty project. As the student gains experience, eventually the project extends over to the student's own investigation. USU has a strong tradition of research, dating back to awards in field research back in 1893. Today USU continues to maintain a strong presence in academic research. "Undergraduate research has become a hallmark of USU - hands-on learning," Kinkead said. In addition to advice and assistance, there is funding for student research. Cash awards are given out to assist projects. Last year, a total of $25,000 was given towards undergraduate research projects. To help further the involvement of students a Undergraduate Research Advisory Board has been created. They make recommendations as to how the undergraduate ART MAHONEY, GOLDWATER SCHOLAR, is one of many students doing undergraduate research, photo courtesy of JOYCE KINKEAO research program can be even better. "We plan to establish a vision for the program that will take it to a higher level and make USU undergraduate research nationally visible," said Kinkead, on the research Web site. Students present their research at a student showcase in March, at which time more than a hundred students present their research. In addition, many projects are taken to Capitol Hill be presented and show off the university. According to 2007 statistics, USU ranks first among all universities in aerospace research funding, as well as most student experiments sent into space. Also, USU is third in the nation in percentage of federal engineering research among major public universities. At USU there are more than 1,300 students employed in research labs. In addition, 26 percent of recent graduating seniors noted involvement in undergraduate research. There are already many students involved in undergraduate research. The prestigious fellowships are given to incoming students who demonstrate a strong desire to participate in research and demonstrate capability. These students work closely with faculty mentors to get a first-rate education and a lot of extra responsibility.University Research Fellowships are for students who are interested in graduate or jprofessional study following the undergraduate degree, and who are ambitious. The big emphasis is the hands-on learning, Call said. -r.perkim@aggiemaiLusu.edu |