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Show Page 4 StatesmanCampus News Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 Bill would require ASUSU reps to spend time at info desk By BENJAMIN WOOD news senior writer A bill presented by Spencer Lee and co-sponsored by Ben Croshaw regarding the ASUSU Information Desk is being considered by the Executive Council of the Associated Students of Utah State University (ASUSU). The bill seeks to establish the use and scheduling of the desk, limits it to members and organizations of ASUSU and requires elected officers to spend time at the booth interacting with the student body. “(It will) make it the ASUSU info booth, which it is,” said Lee, ASUSU executive vice president, at Tuesday’s Executive Council meeting. Current legislation requires officers to spend one hour per day $5.00 off Howl Ticket at the information desk, located on the first floor of the Taggart responsible for overseeing the coordination of the booth as well Student Center, something that Lee said is “neither followed nor as holding officers accountable for their required hours. The understood.” The bill would call for members of the Executive bill unanimously gained preliminary approval in the council Council and Academic Senate to spend one hour per week at the meeting and will include clauses to address concerns of council desk. Originally, officers were to spend two hours at the booth members before a final vote occurs. The bill will also pass before but Vice President of Graduate Studies Rick Kelly voiced concerns the Academic Senate for approval and if adopted by ASUSU will of excessive overlap between the members of take effect Jan. 1. Currently, the bill does not ASUSU and the hours were reduced. Lee did include the Graduate Student Senate (GSS), say that some overlap is expected and helps but GSS President Rick Kelly said he would “If one person fulfill the bill’s goal of stimulating student put it before the senate in its meeting to posinteraction with elected representatives. sibly include the GSS member’s participation is there, nobody “If one person is there, nobody stops. If in the bill. If included, the bill will require stops. If two two people are there, many people stop,” Lee approval by the GSS before ratification. people are there, said. Also during the meeting, ASUSU many people Lee included in the bill that failure to President Tyler Tolsen spoke with members complete the required hours would result in of the Executive Council about the proposed stop.” a stipend reduction, which will be considered merger of the College of Eastern Utah (CEU) by the committee on a case-by-case basis. and USU. Being a pre-existing institution, – Spencer Lee, ASUSU CEU has, and will preserve, its own student Many members of the council suggested that exceptions be allowed during activity weeks, executive vice president government. This will allow CEU to preserve in which they are involved in planning pursome degree of separation from USU, and poses, and during finals. Such exceptions will CEU’s student government’s involvement with be included in the final consideration of the bill. Excluding weeks the ASUSU has yet to be determined. Tolsen said many options that qualify as exceptions, Lee said governmental officers should are being considered by USU administration, such as monthly be present instead of members of their committees. phone conferences, but he also asked members of the council for “I am really adamant about the actual officer being there,” Lee their opinions on a CEU representative being incorporated into said. the Executive Council of ASUSU. Most people present did not feel Many officers agreed that their presence would be more effecthat a standing seat at all meetings for CEU would be appropriate. tive than that of their constituents. “Why do they get that privilege when other (regional) cam“I think there is a real power in having the elected officials at puses don’t?” Student Advocate Tyler Haws asked the council. the booth,” Athletics Vice President Jeremy Winn said. Given that most council actions would not affect students at Lee and many of the officers stressed the importance of reguCEU, public relations Director Allie Anderson said, “If they’re lating student use of the information desk, where the space is trying to be separate I don’t know why they’d want to sit on our often inundated with pamphlets and fliers. council.” “We can’t open it up to the 200-plus clubs on campus,” Lee Tolsen said while no changes are currently being made, upcomsaid. ing legislation on the subject of CEU representation is likely. Campus Diversity Vice President Krista Bustamante said, – b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu “Technically that space is reserved for us.” In the bill, the ASUSU administrative assistant would be Animal bells to be on display at library By USU Media Relations animals to people and the land. This connection is the focus It is not uncommon in rural of the latest exhibit at Utah communities to see a belled State University’s Merrillanimal. The small instrument Cazier Library. An opening alerts the owner to the place and safety of the herd. Bells are reception and lecture, sponsored by the Friends of USU used on animals throughout Library, is also planned. the world, from goats to chickThe exhibit, “Bells: ens, sheep to camels to connect Connecting Animals, People and Land,” can be viewed in the first-floor foyer area of Merrill-Cazier Library. It highlights the significant animal bell collection of professor Thad Box, retired dean of USU’s College of Natural Resources. Interpretive and descriptive panels guide visitors through the exhibit. Friends of the MerrillCazier Library host an opening reception for the exhibit Oct. 28, 6-7 p.m. in the library foyer. The reception is followed by the Friends’s annual fall lecture that begins at 7 p.m. in Merrill-Cazier Library, Room 101. The lecture features professor Box who will share stories reflecting the cultural connection people have to animals and their landscapes through bells. “The bell exhibit highlights the relationship of bells and stories, beginning with the earliest animal belling traditions in Africa more than 5,000 years ago and continuing today,” said exhibit co-curator Randy Williams. The idea for the exhibit grew out of USU’s Land Use Management Oral History Project. The project is a collaborative effort of USU’s Special Collections and Archives, department of environment and society in the College of Natural Resources and the Mountain West Center for Regional Studies. Barbara Middleton is an exhibit co-curator and faculty member in the department of environment and society at USU. “While working with Thad Box, I noted his continual use of bells and storytelling to explain the connection of people and animals and landscape,” Middleton said. “At that point, I knew we needed to conduct an extensive interview with Thad to get the stories behind his bell collection and to host an exhibit to share this story.” While working as the department head of USU’s rangelands department and then dean of the College of Natural Resources, Box amassed a wide assortment of bells. As artifacts of livestock management and cultural history, the bells echo personal stories and experiences across several continents. The bells are gifts from many individuals and colleagues across a 60year span, as well as pieces from his youth on his family farm in central Texas. “Bells: Connecting Animals, People and Land” runs Oct. 28 through Jan. 22, on the first floor of Merrill-Cazier Library. The exhibit is free and all are welcome. For more information, call Williams at 7973493. Visit: ID theft Thursday’s focus -continued from page 1 a secure truck to Georgia-Pacific, which recycles the paper for things like toilet paper and printer paper. Knapp said ESS’ services are not limited to the government. Private community members can bring in documents and have them shredded for a fee. The best way 1to prevent identity theft is through the use of common sense, Morrill said. “Be very careful with your information,” he said. “I would never give it out if I don’t absolutely have to.” – rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu - Related info, page 8 |