OCR Text |
Show Page 3 CampusNews Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 Food Day stresses importance of wise consumption BY EVAN MILLSAP staff writer Food Day celebrates real, whole and sustainable food. USU students developed the theme for this national event to raise awareness and heighten education about different foods and where they come from, said Tamara Steinitz, clinical associate professor of dietetics. Multiple USU groups set up informative displays Monday in The Hub, on the lower level of the Taggart Student Center. In the afternoon USU alumna Ann Vileisis gave a speech. Vileisis authored the book "Kitchen Literacy." "It's hard to get excited about another awareness day," undeclared freshman Logan Brown, said. "Sept. 21 is National School Backpack Day. Food Day is the same day as United Nations Day. It seems like every other day is National Rape Awareness Day with all of the displays and projects SAAVI keeps putting on. So at first I was reluctant to check out the displays at Food Day." Exploring the topics at Food Day was well worth it, though, he said. Information tables covered a variety of topics, from organic farming to cooking tips. Some tables had free samples of locally grown squash and Aggie cheese. One table had statistics about hunger in the United States and Utah, highlighting problems with food and society today. A professor at another table discussed sustainable seafood. Everybody who eats food should care about these issues, said Robert Schmidt, manager of the sustainable seafood booth and USU professor. Sustainable food sources — food sources that are productive over a long period of time — are key to the future of both health and the environment, he said. Learning to identify what foods are healthy and good for the earth and the economy is crucial to everyone, Schmidt said. The problem is, he added, most students have a disconnect with their food. "I had an exercise where students were supposed to find out where all the food in a given meal they were eating came from, and they couldn't do it," English and history Professor Steve Siporin said. "Many of the food companies and restaurants couldn't tell them where all of the ingredients in their foods originated." The disconnect people have with food is a problem, Steinitz said. Because people know so little about where food comes from and how to prepare it, they cannot make healthy meals for themselves, make the most of their grocery budget or even make informed decisions about food labled "natural," "fresh," or ‘`organic," he said. Vileisis, whose speech was broadcasted across Utah, focused on the history of food and where KEYNarg SPAKER ANN Vil-giSic! ta. of MC(11E14 uTEW.1", orfrd (04* taking action, such as buying grass-fed beef, buying produce at farmers' markets and growing their own gardens when possible, Vileisis said. They also need to encourage policymakers and farmers to make wiser decisions, such as reducing subsidies to large farm corporations and decreasing the use of pesticides. "If we start moving in the right direction, it will help to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels," Vileisis said. "Also, home-grown vegetables are more delicious, and if we can ignite interest in young people, it will ensure healthiness. All of this is crucial in our age of obesity." A lot of students know there are problems with food and the way it is produced and sold, but don't know what to do about it, Steinitz said. The goal of Food Day and the speech was to bridge that gap, she said, and small choices go a long way. "Food since the beginning of history has food has been a way people have connected to the earth," Vileisis said. People used to trust and beseech the land, Vileisis said. They ate what they raised and had a connection with their bread. "Starting a vegetable garden for yourself is one of the most rewarding things you will ever try," she said. - evan.millsap@aggiemail.usu.edu IMF Of • To LW" ic14C: "WAX' "%cc> fis"4 he believes the disconnect stems from. "A few years ago, after hearing many reports about the problems with today's agricultural methods, I began to question where my food came from," Vileisis said. "I walked into a supermarket and was greeted by Tony the Tiger, Betty Crocker and Aunt Jemima in their gleaming packages, and I realized I knew none of their stories. As stewards of our land and our bodies, we can't keep looking the other way when it comes to food production." Vileisis traced the history from the early 19th century to the present, as the distance between farms and kitchens grew. "Foods frequently come from 3000-5000 miles away," Vileisis said. "Four hundred gallons of crude oil are used to transport the food the average American eats in one year." The current massive agribusiness giants have driven small family farms out of business, and the enormous feedlots created by these corporations are the biggest water polluters in America, Vileisis said. "We need to get rid of the naivety, and we especially need to get rid of the 'I don't want to know' and the 'I don't care' attitude," she said. "We need to direct consumer attention back to farms. Knowing the whole story behind food is healthier for the environment and healthier for people." Average citizens need to start wow( 4ET IT ?ALF HADITON AANA .11=111111116..- • ••• 'A 4 • •• .;1 0 Real Food at USU! 2011 Food Day goals THE HUB HOSTED VARIOUS BOOTHS providing information on healthy eating, the source of food and the importance of understanding it. USU alumna Ann Vileisis said 400 gallons of crude oil are used to transport the average amount of food Americans eat in a year. She said consumers need to shed the mentality of not wanting to know the source of food. EVAN MILLSAP photo From Page 1 Mikkelsen: Legislature doesn't see full value of higher ed tance that higher educations are to students. This will hopefully decrease or eliminate the possibility of budget cuts this year, Mikkelsen said. "Basically, the legislature doesn't quite see the value of higher education, or they see the value but they see that it can be funded in other ways with our tuition," Mikkelsen said. "But every time budgets are cut, tuition gets hiked, which is not good for students and it really eliminates opportunities, especially at Utah State because we're a land-grant institution, and we're all about providing education for those who usually wouldn't be able to provide it for themselves." The survey states Utah higher education funding has been cut by 14 percent since 2008, which means the budget has been cut by $106 million. It also states tuition has more than doubled in the past decade. "This is a great opportunity for every student executive council to give a stack of surveys to to really start to make a difference at the state each member of their council and have them level for higher education," Mikkelsen said. hand out surveys in one of their classes. Frank "We're hoping, if this goes well, to get a zero said this will be how they plan on collecting sigpercent budget cut, which would be wonderful natures to compete with each other, and other because that hasn't happened for eight years." Utah schools. Currently, Salt Lake Community ASUSU Executive Vice President Kirsten College has 1,500 signatures, Mikkelsen said. Frank said additional day prizes will be given Group leaders from the various organizations to organizations or clubs that collect the most can post the number of signatures they have signatures in addition to the $300 prize. The collected to the Facebook page, Frank said. This signatures must be collected by Nov. 3, she said. is how they plan on keeping track of all the On Friday Oct. 28 the group with the most groups' numbers. recorded signatures will win a pizza party. On Students will have the option to sign the surTuesday, Nov. 1 the leading group will also win vey online, Frank said. Frank said she hopes to a pizza party, though if the same group is leadcontact students via email urging them to sign. ing, the second place group will win the party. "Even if this signature drive makes a little tiny difference, it will literally mean millions of Organizers of Education First gave USU a dollars for this university," Frank said. goal of 2,764 signatures, Frank said, and the goal is based off USU's total enrollment. Frank said she wants the members of the - chris.w.lee@aggiemail.usu.edu PoliceBlotter Friday, Oct. 14 Saturday, Oct. 15 • Four students were rappelling from the south side of the Aggie Terrace near Building D of the Living and Learning Center. The individuals were contacted and informed that they could not rappel from any structure on USU's campus. The four individuals were released at the scene and informed that they may face criminal charges. • USU Police responded to the Living and Learning Center when the received report of a female wearing a cape looking into windows. Police searched the area, but the officers did not find the person. However, they did locate a suspect wanted in another case which resulted in an arrest. • USU Police observed individuals skateboarding in the Aggie Terrace. Police warned two individuals and impounded a third individual's skateboard when he got back on the skateboard and continued to do tricks after he was advised of the skateboarding policy. • USU Police served a search warrant on a vehicle believed to have alcohol in it. Upon serving the search warrant, controlled substances were found in the vehicle. One individual has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. • USU Police and Logan EMS assisted a student in Aggie Village with a severely cut finger. The student's Contact USU Police at 797-1939 for non-emergencies. Anonymous reporting line: 797-5000 EMERGENCY NUMBER: 911 finger was checked by medical peronnel and was released at the scene. The student was transported to the hospital by private vehicle. Sunday, Oct. 16 • USU Police responded to a fireworks violation at Mountain View Tower. Police contacted the suspects. Police issued the suspects a verbal warning and seized their fireworks and a report was filed. Monday, Oct. 17 • USU Police received a report of a sexual battery. The victim is not interested in pursuing charges at this time. *Compiled by Catherine Meidell Briefs Campus & Community Center dedicates new playground The Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University celebrated a new milestone recently with the dedication of its new Developmental Playground. Nearly 100 people braved cold, rainy weather to witness the event. Many of them cooperated to make the playground possible. Landscape architects, occupational therapists and educators worked together to ensure that it would be more than fun; it would also encourage a child's movement, speech, cognition and social development. Private donors contributed more than $15,000 toward its construction. The vision for the new playground came from experts at the CPD who are well aware of the many benefits of play: how it stimulates physical and social development, fosters language, and even helps a restless child relax. The space is accessible to wheelchairs, and it's designed to stimulate the senses of developing children. "We wanted it to be socially inclu- Week addresses info access for students The Merrill-Cazier Library will celebrate International Open Access Week Oct. 24-28. Did you ever wonder why you couldn't get access to all of the information you need for your research? Everyone can get an answer to that and much more at a table (with candy!) in the MerrillCazier Library foyer between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. during Open Access Week. Librarians will be on hand to answer such questions, explain the scholarly communications crisis and provide helpful ideas on how you can help liberate research. The campus community is also invited to join a panel discussion that explores the topic "Do we have a right to knowledge?" Ethicist Erica Holberg, physicist Charlie Torre and USU Press Director Michael Spooner present their unique perspectives on our right to knowledge and the open access movement in general. The discussion is Wednesday Oct. 26, 4:30 p.m., at Merrill-Caizer Library Room 101, followed by refreshments. In conjunction with Internation Open Access Week, the campus community is invited to join a panel discussion that explores the topic "Do we have a right to knowledge?". Ethicist Erica Holberg, physicist Charlie Torre and USU Press Director Michael Spooner present their unique perspectives on our right to knowledge and the open access movement in general. The discussion is Wednesday Oct. 26, 4:30 p.m., at Merrill-Caizer Library Room 101, followed by refreshments. Dept. releases crime statistics The Federal Clery Act requires Utah State University to publish a report containing certain policies and crime statistics and to notify students of its availability. A copy of USU's Annual Security Report is now available. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by USU; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Utah State University Department of Public Safety at 435797-1967 or by accessing the following web site www.usu.edu/dps. ClarifyCorrect The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find in error, please contact the editor at 797-1742, statesman@aggiemail.usu.edu or come in to TSC 105. Compiled from staff and media reports |