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Show StatesmanCampus News Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 Page 3 Mayor limits most press inquiries to writing Briefs Campus & Community agency, that's when First Amendment issues come into play." staff writer The Herald Journal indicated that it looks as though the policy was in Logan Mayor Randy Watts is reaction to recent articles the mayor experiencing what he called a "firewas displeased with. storm" on KVNU's talk show "For It is hard to get that evidence, The People," after enacting a new Hunt said. media policy limiting most press "The courts have said that an inquiries to writing. official is well within their rights to The policy is being widely criticized, especially by media profession- not speak with any specific media outlet," said Penny Byrne, an associals, and Watts defended it, saying it ate professor of journalism. As of this was established to ensure accurate time, his policy is legal, but "I think information was given to the public. that it's suspect in a lot of ways," "This media policy is in no way Byrne said. a means of restricting or limiting Byrne said it's hard to tell whether information to the public," Watts the real person is said. "The policy responding to the is in place to inquiry. get better, more "It really inhibits "I think, accurate informathe free flow as of today, that tion out to the we have no kind information to the citizens of Logan. of transparency This media public." in our city govpolicy has been ernment, at all," implemented on Byrne said. — Jeffrey Hunt, a trial basis and The new may be refined as media law attorney policy raises all needed." sorts of First The policy has Amendment ethinot yet been written and has been cal issues. viewed as limiting the transparency "The city has always felt above in government, ethically indefensible investigation," Byrne said on whether and failing to be accountable to its it was retaliation against the Herald citizens by media professionals. Journal. "It really inhibits the free flow On the KVNU interview, Watts of information to the public," said said he had been discussing a new Jeffrey Hunt, a media law attorney. Hunt said that at a time when Salt media policy for a month in executive session. Lake City and other cities are workCouncil members Herm Olsen ing toward transparency, Logan is and Holly Daines told the Herald going the other direction. Also poliJournal that they were never part of cies like this are usually short-lived. any discussion about the new policy. Usually the city employees dislike Later when Watts was interviewed the policies because they get bogged by The Utah Statesman, he said the down, Hunt said. media policy was discussed in execuThere is another concern about tive committee and not the executive the policy, Hunt said, "If the motivasession. The executive committee is tion is to retaliate or punish the news made up of department heads from By CODY LITTLEWOOD Robins nomination deadline extended The deadline for Robins Award nominations has been changed to Feb. 12. Feb. 5 was the old deadline, but because of a lack of nominations, this deadline has been extended. Nominations can be made on the first floor of the Taggart Student Center. The awards will be given in a ceremony April 24. As a change to the ceremony, those who made nominations will be able to attend the ceremony as well as those who were nominated. The Robins Awards are the most coveted of all Utah State honors. They reward students and faculty for hard work and dedication to their individual goals, as well as the goals of USU. of Student receives leadership award LOGAN MAYOR RANDY WATTS has been criticized for his new policy, which limits most press inquiries to writing. The policy has not yet been written, but media law attorney Jeffrey Hunt said this inhibits transparency between the public and government. PETE P. SMITHSUTH file photo the city and is held weekly. The discussion never involved the council. The executive session and the executive committee are closed meetings. "That's the kind of discussion that should take place in the open. It's of great public interest," Hunt said, citing Utah's Open and Public Meeting PROTECT YOURSELF FROM CRIME Important phone numbers: Act. Hunt said that although no legal action has been filed against the city, Alison Hess, professor at Weber State, will be holding a protest within the upcoming weeks. Hess was unavailable for comment. — cody.littlewood@aggiemail.usu.edu Sky: Telescope used by public, students I continued from page 1 • Emergencies: 911 USU Police: 797-1939 Logan City Police: 716-3900 Crimes that aren't urgent can be reported at the USU Police Web site, www.usu. edu/dps/police/report/. Crime prevention tips: • Identify your belongings — Use a permanent marker or an engraver and write your name on your belongings. Write down the serial numbers and model numbers of valuable items such as bicycles, computers, MP3 players, video game units, CDs, DVDs, etc. Take digital photos of valuable items; if stolen, photos can be used to help identify them. • Lock your belongings — Even if you are going to be away only a few seconds, close and lock your apartment, car or office doors and windows to keep thieves and strangers out. Open windows and doors are easy access points to your personal and university property. Lock up your bicycle in a bicycle rack. Don't leave your book bag, laptop or other valuable items unattended in any location on campus. The vast majority of items stolen on this campus are left unattended and unsecured. , Identify and report strangers — Ask strangers if they are lost or need help in locating someone or a particular office. Most criminals don't want to be identified. Contact the police and give a description of the person and their location and have the police make contact if you feel unsafe in contacting the stranger. „...-••■•Ne•- 111.11w io ■ .1111.7, moollIPAL. • Personal safety escort — This service is available for those who feel unsafe as they leave or enter a building, their car or apartment. This service is available 24 hours a day for any person on campus. It is mainly a walking escort and is not available off campus property. USU Police services: • Jumpstarts — Dead car batteries are common on campus during the winter. An officer will respond as soon as possible and jumpstart your battery. • Lockouts — USU Police can open most cars with professional equipment. Please note, officers rarely damage a car while unlocking it. However, should they damage the car, USU will not pay for any damages. a Personal escorts — Although, USU campus is safe and relatively crime free per capita, one of USU Police's primary interests is the safety of all persons while on campus. A uniformed officer will provide anyone with a personal escort to another location on campus. You need not be a student or employee for this service. • Let-ins — Officers will respond to open a campus location for which you are authorized. Authorization must be received from the necessary university department. A picture ID is required at the time of the let-in. Emergency stations: Emergency stations are located across campus. When the button on the station is pressed, USU Police will be notified that someone needs immediate emergency assistance. For a map of emergency stations across the USU campus, visit The Utah Statesman online at www.aggietownsquare.com . Information compiled by Rachel A. Christensen. This information was pulled from USU Police's Web site, www.usu.edu/dps/police/, and the map was provided by USU Police Lt. Shane Sessions. JAMES COBURN'S IMAGE reflects through the mirror array of the new 20-inch diameter telescope. STEVE SELLERS photo The observatory they designed was relatively lightweight and built under budget, Kane said. The roof of the SER Building was chosen to house the new telescope because of the lack of other light as well as student accessibility. The new telescope exists for three reasons, Coburn said, with students being the main one. "The most important thing is getting students to put their eye to it," Coburn said. "They can see things they've never seen before. They can look at Saturn and say, `Wow, it is rear The new telescope will give students a lot of opportunities they didn't get with the old one, Coburn said. It will be used during astronomy classes and to help complete research projects, Coburn said. Eventually, the device will be hooked up to a computer system that will allow students at regional campuses to view findings of the telescope. The second reason is for research. Faculty, staff and students will be able to do more extensive research with the new machine, Coburn said. Third, the telescope is for public outreach. Shane Larson, assistant professor of physics, said the department plans to hold open houses twice a month at the observatory. Larson said the open houses will be an opportunity for everyone to experience astronomy first hand. "The skies change slowly over the course of the year," he said, so there is always something new for the casual stargazer to see." The physics department and the university are excited about the prospects the new telescope holds. "The department has been looking forward to this for a long time," Coburn said. "It opens the sky up." " — megan.allen@aggiemaiLusu.edu USU undergraduate researcher Brooks Marshall is among about 15 students nationwide recognized by the American Chemical Society with a 2010 Student Leadership Award. The honor afforded the chemistry major the opportunity to attend the society's Leadership Institute Jan. 22-24 in Fort Worth, Texas. Marshall is the first USU student ever to receive the award, which, according to the ACS Web site, recognizes and provides guidance to emerging leaders. "The training institute was interesting, fun and they kept us going each day from 7:30 in the morning to early evening," said Marshall, a 2006 graduate of Wyoming's Laramie High School. We heard from ACS leaders and talked about ways to motivate volunteers and make our student chapters more effective." A longtime member and officer in USU's ACS student chapter, he says participation in the group is helping him "become a better chemist." Marshall graduates from USU this May. He and fellow chapter members are leading outreach activities at local elementary and high schools — Marshall will visit USU's Children House next week — and preparing to present a poster on green chemistry instructional techniques at this spring's ACS annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif. On April 22, they plan to again lead USU's Earth Day Extravaganza on the Quad. Fawson gives his inaugural speech USU professor of reading and associate department head Parker Fawson presented his Inaugural Professor Lecture Jan. 22 in a presentation titled "Twenty Years Ago, I Knew Everything." Parker received a bachelor's in elementary education from Weber State University, a master's of education in educational leadership and a doctorate of education in reading from Brigham Young University. Prior to his academic career, he was a classroom teacher. Besides his classroom teaching, Fawson has experience working with teachers of struggling readers in high poverty settings, including elementary schools in both urban and rural environments. In addition to his previously mentioned university responsibilities, Fawson currently coordinates global initiatives in education for the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. The Inaugural Professor Lecture Series is coordinated by the provost's office and is hosted by President Stan Albrecht and First Lady Joyce Albrecht. Faculty members in the series have been promoted to full professor within the last academic year and present a lecture that highlights their research, creative activity or teaching at the university. LlCompiled from staff and media reports |