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Show Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Page 5 AggieLif• Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com Students lock out domestic violence By NOELLE JOHANSEN staff writer Alpha Chi Omega is locking out domestic violence, and for once it is recommended to send your friends to jail. The Alpha Chi Omega sorority built a jail for their spring philanthropy. Alpha Chi Omega is serving mock arrest warrants and raising charitable bail from April 6-8. Warrants are $3 and the resulting arrest can be lifted after arrestees raise a $10 bail. The money goes toward a $1,000 scholarship for a reentry student who was a victim of domestic violence. "We'll be selling warrants to arrest people all the way up to Thursday," said Emma Shoaf, philanthropy chair for Alpha Chi Omega. The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity helped construct the Alphatraz jail out of old ASUSU election a-frames, Shoaf said. The jail will sit outside the TSC near the fountain for the duration of the event. The jail has no door as the bars, made of PVC pipes, are set wide enough to allow for entry and exit, Shoaf said. Therefore, it is up to the arrestee to remain in the jail to creatively raise money to post his or her bail. "We're not going to force anyone into the jail cell, obviously," said Sarah Korich, Alphatraz public relations representative. Korich said arrested students and faculty are encouraged to allow themselves to be arrested and in turn raise bail in whatever way they choose, because "whatever they want to contribute helps." Shoaf said one girl plans to bring her puppy if she is put in Alphatraz, and let 10 people play with her puppy for a dollar each to raise her bail. Alcatraz Island in San Francisco held some of history's most notorious prisoners; Alphatraz will house some of the most well-known figures on campus, and anyone with mischievous friends. "We've asked people for help being in the jail," Korich said, "Some of our campus' more famous people." Shoaf said a greater bail amount will be set for more wellknown arrestees to escape from Alphatraz, such as ASUSU president Tyler Tolson. Korich said students, faculty and anyone around campus are free game to be incarcerated in Alphatraz. People will be notified by call or text that someone has paid for a warrant for their arrest. If professors allow, arrestees will be picked up during class, Korich said. "We don't want to cause a scene or anything," Korich said. She said Alpha Chi Omega does, however, want to increase awareness about Alphatraz and the prevention of domestic violence. Alphatraz shirts reading "I Helped Lock out Domestic Violence" will be sold for $7, with all proceeds going toward the scholarship. "Every year we give a $1,000 scholarship to a reentry student coming to USU that has been a victim of domestic violence," Shoaf said. The scholarship is then awarded at a special I See ALPHATRAZ, page 7 By NATSHA BODILY staff writer During the 40 days of Lent, a Christian tradition of 40 days of sacrifice, followers and participants fast and sacrifice a personal vice. Most know of Lent as a Catholic observation, but some followers of various religions, or no religion, also participate. Zachary Smith, a junior in speech communication, said he thinks Lent is a good practice regardless of your religion because you have to demonstrate self-control over your vices. "I think it's impressive that people will take the teachings of their religion and practice them," he said. Brooke Siler Some people attempt the sacrifice, but do not complete the entire 40 days. Brooke Siler, a sophomore in biochemistry, heard about Lent and said she decided it was a good idea. "I decided to give up caffeine for at least the month of March. I made it two weeks and it was good for my pocketbook," Siler said. She said she was doing pretty well until her friend offered her caffeine as a gift. But she still feels Lent is a good sacrifice. "I think it's a good idea because if you have a vice, having motivation to give it up for over a month can be liberating," Siler said. Molly Austinson Allison Huntsman Last year Allison Huntsman, marketing sophomore, gave up Facebook as a Lenten sacrifice. "One of my roommates was celebrating Lent, so I figured I might as well give up something as well," she said. "It's a good practice for anyone of any religion. I decided to give up Facebook for Lent and it was a lot easier than I thought. I realized after the 40 days I didn't need it, so I ended up deactivating it for a while." She said she did it on a whim, but realized it was a good thing to do. Huntsman said it was like having a built-in support group. "It's nice to know that so many other people are also giving up something. I thought, I can get through it if they are doing the same thing," she said. After her social media sacrifice, Huntsman said she developed a respect for the Catholic church. "It's a hard thing to do," she said. "Even if you're not Catholic, it's a good thing to implement in your life." Lynn Walker and Kerian Ludeman Lynn Walker, an environmental engineering senior, witnessed his Catholic grandmother observe Lent. He said she gave up chocolate, "but she still made brownies for everybody." "It shows self control and dedication to give up something that you really enjoy," he said. "It shows that you mean it and it shows that you're serious about it. Freshman Kerian Ludeman, who is studying dental hygiene, gave up sweets. She said she chose to become healthier during Lent because it gave her more motivation. "I am LDS, so Easter does have a significant place in my life, but it's not in the traditional Catholic way," Ludeman said. Molly Austinson, who graduated in English education, said she would describe Lent as a preparation for Easter. "During Lent, Catholics reflect on Jesus and his teachings. We cleanse ourselves spiritually by prayer and by physically abstaining from things to remember the sacrifices Jesus made for our sins," she said. Austinson said she participates in Lent, though she had not for a few years recently. She said she found it was one of her favorite times of the year. "During this time, I have a conscious reminder of my faith and why I choose to be Catholic," she said. "First, I have given up wine. I am not a lush by any means, but I really enjoy a glass at dinner," Austinson said. She said she also is participating in a traditional Catholic fast throughout the duration of Lent. "This means that I do not snack between meals, cannot have meat before dinner, and my breakfast and lunch cannot equal an evening meal combined," she said. "I benefit from my Lenten sacrifices because it is a reminder that my trials are not impossible," Austinson said. "It humbles me to feel small pangs of hunger, especially before dinner, and realize that many people feel this all the time and not by choice." Austinson said she supports non-Catholics participating in Lent. "I would hope that they are doing it for spiritual fulfillment and they can connect their sacrifices to their beliefs," she said. For Catholics in Cache Valley, St. Jerome Newman's Center holds regular mass every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at noon. Tuesday and weekend masses are held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Hyde Park. — natasha.boddy@aggiemaiLusu.edu The price was right for one USU student By JESSICA SWEAT features senior writer Ault is responsible for the history education at Baby Animal Days. She will be running a historical treasure hunt and an art project booth, which will provide information about summer camp programs. "Everyone at the center contributes by doing the heavy lifting, fence building and other physical labor required to put on this event," she said. All staff members work hard for this event, as its proceeds provide funding for all events for the rest of the year, Megan Darrington, True Blue Communication account manager said. Darrington has been helping with the PR for Baby Animal Days since January. "Our team has been working incredibly hard on reaching the USU student demographic, The SLC demographic and Whitney Kofford is one student that can say she had a memorable spring break. This fourth-year student majoring in photography ventured out to the west California coast for her mid-semester break. Not knowing what was to come, Kofford said she sought a good time with friends in attempting to appear on the game show "The Price is Right." Kofford said she was at the gym one morning when she saw the show air and thought to obtain tickets to a filming of the show. When she returned home, Kofford went online and got tickets but they told her that even with tickets, a spot in the audience was not guaranteed. On a sunny California morning, Kofford said she and her friends decided to arrive at the studio at 6 a.m. to receive an order-of-arrival pass. Kofford was number 22. With spots secured, Kofford and her friends returned around noon and found they had been bumped up in line. Kofford was then given the famous pricetag name badge and proceeded through the studio to participate in a pre-screening group interview. Kofford said one man would ask individuals questions while a woman would jot down notes about potential contestants. "I just had this feeling ... I just knew I was going to make it up there," Kofford said. From then on, the crowd of 200-300 was asked to wait until filming would begin. "It was way fun, even the line, because we met a lot of people," Kofford said. Feeling antsy, Kofford ended up in the third row of the set and enjoyed music and old episodes of the show. She then said everyone was getting pumped up for the show to begin when "all of a sudden, it just started." Because of all the excitement, Kofford said she did not actually hear the announcer call her name, but she saw it on a cue card producers hold up to help contestants know when they have been selected to play. Kofford was the third contestant called to play. "I swear I was going to have a panic attack, I was like 'oh my gosh!"' Sophomore Stephanie Romney, who was on the trip with Kofford, I See ANIMALS, page 6 I See PRICE, page 7 COURTNEY MORALES AND ASHLEY BROUGH hold baby chicks. American West Heritage Center is hosting Baby Animal Days, an annual event where participants can get up close to various baby animals. KYLE PETT photo Tis the season forfurry little animals By NATASHA BODILY staff writer Spring is swiftly approaching and with the warm change of weather comes another annual springtime event. Baby Animal Days, which has been running for more than 25 years, will take place April 7-9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the American West Heritage Center. Each year this event brings baby animals, American history, demonstrations, vendors and pony and train rides to Cache Valley. Nelda Ault, education manager for the American West Heritage Center, said Baby Animal days is "a festival that celebrates springtime through giving people a chance to pet and hold baby farm animals, learn about the history of the American West and come together as a community that remembers its agricultural past." |