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Show StatesmanCampus News Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 Page 3 ASUSU discusses budget concerns Briefs Campus & Community By BENJAMIN WOOD staff writer Associated Students of Utah State University’s executive council discussed making changes to its financial-compensation packages as well as possible participation in a fundraising program for a Community Abuse Prevent Service Agency (CAPSA) housing project in its meeting Tuesday. In a document presented by Tiffany Evans, Student Involvement and Leadership director, a number of possible models was presented to address budgetary concerns. One model that was heavily discussed by the council suggested requiring governmental officers to pay for their own student fees. Evans said factors such as differential tuition and the cost of online courses have led to unequal compensation between officers and difficulties in calculating costs. “We can’t accurately budget,” Evans said. ASUSU compensation for differential tuition alone amounted more than $14,000 last year, Evans said. ASUSU Executive Vice President Spencer Lee said requiring officers to pay fees could possibly result in less commitment to their positions, in that many would have to work part-time jobs in addition to their responsibilities at the university. “I think that it’s very essential that the type of people we attract are the type that will want to give all they can,” Lee said. “The commitment that I would give would be lessened by a part-time job.” Lee suggested there are other possibilities, like conglomerating responsibilities to limit positions on ASUSU, to address budget concerns. “We can move toward a smaller government,” Lee said. “If we’re going to talk budget we can really broaden our scope.” Student Advocate Tyler Haws said, “I don’t think it’s in the best interest to limit positions.” If the changes were enacted, Lee said he would gladly pay the student fees and would not be deterred from running for office. Other council members felt that by paying fees, student officers would be better involved in the decisions made by student government. ASUSU Graduate Studies Vice President Rick Kelly suggested that officers would have more stake in their votes. “It’s a small contribution to avoid pulling budget from somewhere else,” Kelly said. Evans said part-time jobs would most likely be a concern regardless of changes to compensation policy. She then asked those present about jobs and a majority indicated that they were either currently employed or likely entering part-time employment. No decision on the matter was made at the meeting and options and alternatives will continue to be researched. The council also discussed its involvement in a fundraising endeavor by CAPSA. The agency, which began at USU, is developing a Transitional Housing Project and selling commemorative bricks to raise funds. ASUSU Service Vice President David Knighton presented a video from the CAPSA Web site that detailed a friendly competition between teams made up of local entities during October for selling the $50 bricks that will eventually make up a centerpiece at the facility. Knighton suggested that ASUSU create teams or a single team to encourage students to donate, in whatever quantity, to the project. Given the time constraints, the council did not enact a decision regarding the fundraiser individual members will likely be pursuing fundraising opportunities. Students can also visit the Val R. Christensen Service Center on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center for more information. – b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu Scientists can still be religious, speaker says By ADAM WARD staff writer TRICIA SHEPHERD, professor at Westminster College, tells her audience the historically scientists often had trouble reconciling their scientific findings with their religion. TODD JONES photo Science and religion can go hand in hand was the main assertion by Tricia Shepherd at her lecture on Tuesday night for the F.O.C.U.S. (Fellowship of Christian University Students) club at USU. Shepherd hoped to show that science and religion don’t necessarily have to conflict, and it is possible to be both a scientist and a member of a Christian religion. Shepherd is a physical chemist professor at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. She received her BS and MS at the University of Idaho and her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. While she doesn’t teach a class on how religion and science can coincide, she has lectured this idea at USU several times, as well as the University of Utah. The title of shepherd’s speech was “In the Beginning of God ...” She did, however, warn everyone that this is a limited perspective because she is just human. And while she does believe that there is an omnipotent, great God, she does not understand everything about God. Shepherd used a Venn diagram to show how she believes science, philosophy and religion can work together to solve many questions in life, such as “what is the universe made of?” She believes that all three of these can answer some things alone, but when combined they can answer many more questions. Shepherd presented a slideshow that showed many mathematical and scientific ideas that have gone head to head with Christian religions in the past. She said historically the Catholic church has had a problem with science, which has shown when scientists such as Copernicus tried to prove that the earth revolved around the sun and not the sun around the earth. When Galileo, who Shepherd said was one of the creators of science, proved Copernicus’ idea, the Catholic church put him under house arrest. The only reason he had not been put to death was because he renounced his findings, agreeing that the sun revolved around the earth. Shepherd also made references to people who had religious ties that could not believe the work they had done because of their religion. In particular, Max Planck’s constant is a physical constant that is the basis of all quantum mechanics. However, when Planck came up with the constant, he didn’t believe it himself. He died still unable to believe that his constant was real or that it made sense. Shepherd believed that these scientists were plagued by having a bias. Even when Planck’s constant was obviously correct and important, he couldn’t accept it because of his beliefs. This has affected many scientists throughout time, including people like Albert Einstein, who believed in god and that god wouldn’t just “roll dice” on the world, as many chaos scientists believe. Shepherd closed the lecture by urging people who are interested in science to not be afraid to become scientists. She believes there is much good scientists can do without jeopardizing their religious beliefs. – adam.ward@aggiemail.usu.edu Group discusses long-term Cache Valley growth By JARED PRICE staff writer Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and members of Envision Cache Valley unveiled a long term plan for Cache Valley and encouraged citizens to be proactive and anticipate growth in order to create a better future for the valley at a meeting Tuesday at the Logan Tabernacle. Dirk Bowles, Franklin County commissioner and co-chair of Envision Cache Valley, said the population of Cache County is projected to double by 2030. Herbert said the Envision program has seen success in other parts of the state that have faced the challenging issue of growth that now faces Cache Valley. Herbert said Utah and Washington Counties have benefited greatly from the planning program. “We have one chance here to get ahead of the curve and make sure what we’re doing in anticipation of growth is the correct thing,” Herbert said. Herbert said this project is unique because it cuts across state lines to create a dialogue among all of those in the valley. Herbert said things such as air and water quality pay no attention to borders and that working across these borders is crucial to the betterment of the valley. Herbert said, “This is an exciting opportunity for us to bring people together and talk about those issues that are important to this valley.” Idaho Rep. Marc Gibbs also spoke at the gathering. Gibbs said the old adage, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail,” applies to this situation and that planning now is crucial to building the ideal future of Cache Valley. Gibbs also said Idaho is “pleased and honored” to have been invited in this process. Tom Jensen, Envision Cache Valley co-chair, presented a draft of the vision for Cache Valley the group put together. “This is what the people of Cache Valley, in their responses, have said,” Jensen said. According to Jensen, citizens said to “keep the city, city and the country, country.” Jensen said, “Now what this means is let’s not mix our soup with our dessert.” Feedback from the public said the community wants to invest in towns while protecting agriculture and natural lands. Jensen said, “Living close to where we work, shop and play” was another hope from citizens. Jensen said preserving existing neighborhoods along with creating diverse new neighborhoods within walking distance of services is a part of the plan. Another statement from the report stated citizens wish to “create goodpaying jobs close to home” and to “create a balanced transportation GOV. GARY HERBERT speaks at the Envision Cache Valley meeting Tuesday at network” that increases transportathe Logan Tabernacle. PETE P. SMITHSUTH photo tion options and makes travel more efficient. tural land and scenic views. big picture are necessities. Anderson Developing efficient infrastructure “Connect local trails with nearby also said the implementation should is another facet of the plan. Jensen parks and a regional trail system” was be inclusive and not a “heavy-handed said making the most of the existing also a desire expressed by those citimandate.” system is crucial to facilitate the com- zens surveyed. “The challenge is ours. It’s not ing growth. Jensen said the report also stated necessarily easy but it’s necessary,” Citizens expressed desire to “prothat it is necessary to cooperate to Herbert said regarding the plan for tect, preserve and improve our natuachieve these goals. Cache Valley. “If we all pull together, ral resources and working farms.” Cache Valley Regional Council what we come up with here is going to Jensen said this entails preserving Chair Gary Anderson said when be something that we’ll be proud of.” and improving air and water quality, implementing the plan, maintaining – jared.price@aggiemail.usu.edu preserving wildlife habitats, agricula balance and staying focused on the Speech, debate team places at conference USU’s speech and debate team returned from its first conference meet with first- and second-place finishes in the debate arena and a third-place over-all finish. The Northwest Forensic Conference Tournament was held at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and 28 colleges and universities competed. Boise State University placed first and College of Idaho placed second in overall points. “It is rewarding to successfully compete against teams that are three to four times the size of Utah State’s squad,” said Tom Worthen, USU coach. The team’s second conference tournament will be held at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Nov. 20-21. The USU speech and debate team is based in USU’s department of languages, philosophy and speech communication in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Museum finds meaning in masks The USU Museum of Anthropology and its “Saturdays at the Museum” series host the event “Ancient Masks Through Modern Eyes” Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. The event focuses on masks and the cultural aspects behind them. “We all have different faces – masks if you will – that we present to the world,” said USU student and Saturday Program Planner Heather Laaveg Wencl. “In some cultures, masks are used for protection or concealment, while others are used for performance or amusement.” Activities for the Saturday event include a tour of masks throughout the centuries and around the world. Activities for both young people and adults are planned, ranging from a scavenger hunt to unmasking the visitors’ creative side by making a mask to take home. “It’s fascinating to learn how different cultures use masks to communicate and express themselves,” said USU student and Saturday Program Planner Amiee Blank. “We encourage everyone to come and join us while we explore different masks around the world.” Funding for the event is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS and its grants is available online at www.imls.gov. USU students and members of the public are invited to attend the museum any time during the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours. Grad student wins writing prize Jennifer Bateman has won the Director’s Prize for her paper “I Don’t Believe in Progress in Quite the Way You Seem To: An Exploration of Gender Roles in the 1960s through Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose.” Bateman presented the paper at the sixth annual multidisciplinary conference “The Art of Gender in Everyday Life VI” last spring. The conference is an ongoing national series held at Idaho State University. In 2010, in addition to sessions, the conference will include a keynote, “Sexual Fluidity” by Lisa Diamond, an associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of Utah, on Friday evening; a Friday lunchtime talk by an ISU faculty member and a screening of LUNAFEST on Thursday evening, Feb. 25. A formal call for papers, an announcement of student paper competition, and a registration form can be found at www.isu.edu/andersoncenter. Abstracts must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 19. -Compiled from staff and media reports |