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Show Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 Utah Statesman The Campus Voice since 1902 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Construction to begin on Equine Education Center By RACHEL A. CHRISTENSEN news editor USU President Stan Albrecht announced a donation of $400,000 for the USU Equine Education Center at the center’s groundbreaking ceremony Friday. Albrecht said The ALSAM Foundation’s donation will be used to complete the first phase of the Equine Education Center. Phase one is construction of a 150-by-300 indoor arena, horse stables and site improvements. The foundation was started by the Skaggs family, and part of the center will be named the “Sam Skaggs Family Stable” in their honor. According to a press release, the cost to build phase one will total $2.9 million. Albrecht said ALSAM Foundation representatives signed the donation’s paperwork 30 minutes before the groundbreaking ceremony. Ronny Cutshall, president of ALSAM Foundation, said the Skaggs family had a ranch in Idaho and has been involved in agriculture for a long time. Along with agriculture, the Skaggs family emphasizes education, so the donation was a good fit, Cutshall said. Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture and vice president for Extension and Agriculture, said the center is still looking for more donations and horse stalls can be named for a $10,000 donation. Albrecht said the $400,000 gift will significantly help pay for the center, and the rest of the money will come from College of Agriculture funds and gifts from other sources. In a time of budget cuts, Albrecht said some campus community members express concern over creating new buildings while university salaries are being cut. The university receives gifts, or one-time donations, specifically for the purposes of building and that’s what the university has to use it for. “What people need to realize is we can’t deflect (money from these gifts) to salaries,” he said. Cockett said the college has a significant need for the new Equine Education Center. “It has an impact not only to our students but throughout Utah and the region,” she said. The old equine building was located at 1400 North and 600 East across the street from Lee’s Marketplace. It was built in the 1970s and was beginning to show its years, she said. When building of the Innovation Campus began at the same location, the agriculture research buildings in the area were moved to the South Farm in Wellsville. The Matthew Hillyard Animal, Teaching and Research Center was opened in May, and a sheep facility was also built at the South Farm. Construction of a new USTAR building on the Innovation Campus was the last push to build a new equine building at the South Farm, she said. Once the decision to make a new center began, plans were developed and administrators began looking for financial help from donors, Cockett said. The campaign successfully raised $1.6 million and the decision to start building was made, even though the project is not yet completely financed. The price of construction is currently favorable, and she said the building will allow local - See EQUINE, page 3 AFTER BREAKING GROUND at a ceremony for the USU Equine Education Center, Leland Hogan and Randy Parker from the Utah Farm Bureau chat with USU President Stan Albrecht. Once completed, the center will be used for the university’s equine science and management undergraduate teaching program as well as 4-H and community events. PETE P. SMITHSUTH photo Board approves Ag minor, VP for Business and Finance By RACHEL A. CHRISTENSEN news editor A new stand-alone minor for the College of Agriculture, called climate change and energy, was approved by the Board of Trustees Friday. This minor will become effective spring 2010. Provost Raymond Coward said, “This is obviously something that is an important issue for our campus, our state and our nation.” The minor would require 15 credits, and according to the proposal the minor “will not require new finances initially as teaching resources will be drawn from existing faculty.” The board also approved the appointment of David Cowley as the new vice president for business and finance. Cowley will take over the position, currently occupied by Fred Hunsaker, Jan. 1. USU President Stan Albrecht said although “Vice President Hunsaker is as good as it gets,” he is excited for Cowley to step up. Cowley has years of experience and has worked alongside Hunsaker, which Albrecht said more than qualifies Cowley for the job. Cowley said working with Hunsaker has been a privilege. Inside This Issue “He is a strong leader and has been a great mentor for me,” Cowley said. “We have worked very closely together over the past two and a half years and I appreciate everything that Fred has taught me about being successful in the vice president position.” During the meeting, Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture, said plans for the new agriculture buildings, which will be built next to the Quad, are underway. The original plan was to construct one building, but the new plan includes a state building and a United States Department of Agriculture building, which will stand side-by-side on the Quad. The new buildings will have classrooms, offices and research wings as well as a cafe and kiosks in the halls for where agriculture students can sell their products. Aggie Ice cream will be sold there as well, bringing USU’s hallmark dessert back to the university’s central campus, Cockett said. Albrecht said he anticipates the university will break ground for the buildings early next spring. USU has sponsorship from both the House of Representatives and the Senate to go forward with its merger with the College of Eastern Utah, Albrecht said. He said he doesn’t anticipate any 10/12/09 USU football suffers devastating loss to WAC rival New Mexico State Aggies Saturday. Page 9 David COWLEY problems getting the Legislature on board as well. “USU has a great deal of credibility with the Legislature,” Albrecht said. University administrators are also working with the Legislature on “budget-related issues,” Albrecht said. The Budget Reduction Committee has been reorganized in an effort to combat the most USU’s Museum of Anthropology explores historical and fictional heroes. Page 3 recent $13 million budget cut, what Hunsaker called the “fourth round” of budget cuts. Hunsaker said the committee should have a recommendation for how to handle the cut by Dec. 1. Albrecht said the Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship program has been successful, attracting about 240 legacy students its first year. Many of these students transferred to USU from Brigham Young University and BYUIdaho. “This (legacy program) puts us on an even level with other institutions,” he said. Master’s students in the School of Accountancy placed USU in the top 10 in the last two years, making USU one of three schools to do so, said Cliff Skousen, professor in the School of Accountancy. BYU has also been in the top 10 for the last two years. The fee increase has helped the athletics department and improvement in the athletics program is visible, said Scott Watterson, Board of Trustees member. “I think Scott (Barnes) is on the top of his game. We’re all excited and supportive of it,” Watterson said. – rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu www.aggietownsquare.com Reel Review ... movie reviews with real people, like you! 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