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Show Campus News Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 Page 3 From Page 1 Briefs Sustainability committee will determine allocation of money be available — and just a lot of groundwork for organization of the student office." Prior to his coordinator position he led a non-profit organization in Minnesota. His job as coordinator is made possible through the student fee, Blaiser said. USU's Office of Student Sustainability will select three student-interns with designated roles — outreach, programs and website builder, Blaiser said. Blaiser said definite amounts that will be allocated toward the coordinator and intern positions have not been determined. Abbott said the first due date for sustainability project applications is tentatively set for Nov. 14, but may be extended a few days, depending on how many are submitted. The Office of Student Sustainability will decide on multiple due dates, throughout the school year, to keep the adrenaline of USU's green movement, he said. A "rigorous" application process was created, to ensure the student projects are an efficient and effective use of student fee money, Blaiser said. When doors close for this round of applications a committee, composed of eight appointed students — one from each college — along with one of the hired student-interns, the College of Natural Resources Dean Nat Frazer, assistant Professor Roslynn Brain, two representatives from the sustainability council, Facilities Director Ben Barrett and Blaiser, will assemble to evaluate which sustainability projects are promising enough to be granted funding, Abbott said. "It's a good, well-rounded committee," Blaiser said, "because we want to make sure when a project is selected there is a strong student voice." While those who were in favor of the fee are ready to enhance USU sustainability, some students feel the burden of accumulating student fees. Students who recently started their academic careers at USU paid for the fee without knowing what it was for. "I think it would be great if the university would do a better job informing students what they are paying for with their own money," said undeclared freshman Brayden Smith. "I know $3 isn't going to kill me or anything, but students have the right to know that. It's not like I'm ignorant. I did Connections. I read up on things." Perhaps, many don't realize how many programs on campus would like to have this funding, said Mikey Rodgerson, president of the USU College Republicans. Rodgerson said USU is a microcosm of society and a fee in college is similar to a tax. On the level of a society, what student fees are, in essence, is socialism, he said. 6 I know $3 isn't going to kill me or anything ... I don't think the fee is outrageous, I just wish it was more clear what I was paying for." — Brayden Smith, USU freshman "It's taking my ability to choose away," Rodgerson said. "They're taking money away from all students to give to a few students." Rodgerson also disagrees with the way the organizations that pushed the Blue Goes Green Fee used students' money through advertising costs to "lobby them for more money," he said. "It's only $3," Rodgerson said "and next semester it will only be another $5, and right now it's only $400." Jack Greene, a Sustainability Council staff member, said now is the time students understand PoliceBlotter Friday, Oct. 28 • USU Police received a call about an accident that occurred in the crosswalk on 700 N. 800 East. Complainant said he was on his long board crossing the street when a truck turned in front of him causing him to crash into the side panel of the truck. The truck then drove off in a hurry. • USU Police responded to a suspicious odor in a University Inn room. Police arrived and investigated the odor and determined it to be marijuana. Police arrested the suspect transported him to the Cache County Jail. • USU Police received a report that a female student injured herself while climbing over the chairs at the Spectrum. Saturday, Oct. 29 • USU Police responded to Snow Hall to look for individuals dressed in police costumes harassing other students. The real officers searched the area and were unable to locate the individuals. • USU and Logan City Police observed an individual that was having trouble walking and was very slow and deliberate in his movements in the hallway of the TSC during the Howl. Police observed the odor of alcohol. Police were unable to release the individual to a sober individual, so he was booked into the Cache County Jail for intoxication. • USU Police observed two individuals, one being extremely intoxicated, leave from the Howl. Police followed the two to a vehicle parked at the Spectrum and observed the intoxicated one stumble to the front of the vehicle and urinate. The second individual was observed drinking from a container in the trunk. The first individual was arrested for public urination and public intoxication and the other was arrested on an outstanding warrant. • USU and Logan City Police observed five female individuals who appeared to be assisting one of the individuals in the group in walking. Police contacted the girls and discovered all five had consumed alcoholic beverages and were all under 21. All cited and booked into the Cache County Jail for minor in possession of alcohol. Monday, Oct. 31 • USU Police received several driver's licenses that were turned into the Card Office over Halloween weekend. Police mailed them back to the addresses listed on the cards. • USU Police assisted Logan Police and North the pertinence of addressing and improving the state of Earth's environment, atmosphere and resources. Information concerning the Blue Goes Green Fee is online and when sustainability projects are selected, detailed information on the projects will also be posted online. Greene said the Office of Student Sustainability will try to reach students through numerous colleges' and organizations' designated weeks. Greene said the biggest issue with education on environmental issues is it hardly exists in elementary and secondary schools. Students aren't taught to think long term when it comes to the effects of not conserving, he said. "Things are going to hell in a handbasket faster than scientists predicted," Greene said. "The track that the industrialized world is on is causing us horrendous damage. We are using more than the world is producing. It's overriding natural systems, and if those go down, we go down with them." USU is doing sustainability the right way by making students the center, Greene said. Compared to universities throughout the U.S., USU sustainability has some catching up to do Blaiser said. However, in Utah, USU is one of the top schools making sustainable efforts, Greene said. Rodgerson said his opinion on the fee does not come from his desire to neglect protecting the Earth, but he does question whether or not the fee was put in place simply for the sake of "going green." "We live in a bad economy," Rodgerson said. "Prices for everything go up. No one is getting raises, and then the school has the audacity to propose an Astro-Turf fee." "I don't think the fee is outrageous," Smith said. "I just wish it was more clear what I was paying for." - catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu Contact USU Police at 797-1939 for non-emergencies. Anonymous reporting line: 797-5000 EMERGENCY NUMBER: 911 Park Police in searching for an individual who ran from an apartment building. The Idaho resident was captured by Logan Police for three failure to appear warrants. Tuesday, Nov. 1 • USU Police responded to a report of a suspicious odor inside the Valley View Tower that was causing several residents to feel sick. Police arrived and determined that the generator at the Human Services Research Center was in its maintenance running period and causing the exhaust that was being sucked into the building. • USU Police responded to the Merrill-Cazier Library on a report of a male individual that may be "living" in the stairwell leading to the roof. Officers were unable to locate the individual. Wednesday, Nov. 2 • USU Police checked the welfare of a 4-year-old child that was running in a parking lot with no clothes on. The child was confirmed in good health, but for other reasons, this case has been referred to the Division of Family and Child Services. *Compiled by Megan Allen From Page 1 Trustees discuss senator's ideas to improve higher education colleges. By not doing that, we are actually shirking ourselves." Chris Hailey, associate dean of the College of Engineering, and Dan Watson, interim computer science department head, spoke to the board about why they felt it was a necessary move and how the computer science department would benefit from it. "We're delighted to have our colleagues from the department of computer science join us," Hailey said. "We're very proud of our program, and we've worked very hard to build it up," Watson said. "When Provost Coward approached us about switching, we looked at it very critically. We had to think about what we would be losing if we left the College of Science. Over a period of months of examining the move, we are very excited to make the move to the College of Engineering." By making the move, Watson said he thinks the department will have access to a different community and will be able to continue to grow and fit in better among its national competition. "This is not a program that is in chaos. It is not a program that is struggling," Coward said. "By moving into the College of Engineering we get stronger, they get stronger. The context is better." Following the theme of departmental changes, the trustees heard from a representative of the department of languages, philosophy and speech communication, which worked to have a new minor approved. Brad Hall, LPSC department head, said the addition of a Chinese language teaching certificate will benefit the department, the university and the state, by preparing students to be qualified to teach the language. There is currently a Chinese minor, but without a teaching certificate. "Chinese is one of the most common languages being needed," Hall said, "so it seems like this is the natural progression for things." "This is a basic skill more and more American students are wanting to learn and master," Coward said. "Having this program will provide more teachers and job opportunities." Other items approved for continuing progress in Friday's meeting included an on-campus housing facility to be built at the USU San Juan campus. Development will also continue on a new strength and conditioning center for USU student-athletes that will be funded by private donors. "We currently have a strength and conditioning center in the Student Health and Wellness Center, but its size and the equipment are inadequate for our athletes," said Dwight Davis, associate vice president for Business and Finance. In the middle of executing its action agenda, the board received a phone call from Utah Sen. Steve Urquhart, who wanted to share and discuss his plan to improve higher education in Utah. Urquhart broke down the issues of university retention to the Board of Trustees, asking for its help in executing his plan. He said the first problem is the inadequate college preparation in high schools. Students are entering the university without the necessary skills and basic knowledge. By increasing high school standards, students will be better prepared and more likely to finish degrees in college. "If we set the standards, students will respond," he said. Trustee Susan Johnson was the first to respond to Urquhart's plan and gave her support. "I think one of the things that characterizes Utah as a whole is when we set our minds to something we get it done," she said. "I think we need to set the expectation that when you start college, you plan to get out. We need to start teaching that at the elementary level." High costs and lack of flexibility of a university education are two of the other issues preventing people from graduating from college, Urquhart said. "People are getting married and having babies, that costs a lot, and then to add in the costs of school, graduation is often hindered," he said. Urquhart said the costs of education can be reduced by using technology. By using online versions of textbooks and reducing the cost of online classes, the overall cost of college will go down and allow more students to complete school. "I hope you sense that you have the board's support," said Ronald Jibson, the chairman of the Board of Trustees. "This has been a great discussion, and there will be more details to come," Urquhart said. The Board of Trustees will not meet again until January 6, 2012. The majority of the meetings are open to those interested or who would like to address the Board. - megan.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu Campus & Community London actors back with 'The Tempest' The magic unfolds as the selfdirected ensemble of five professional British actors of Actors from the London Stage present William Shakespeare's The Tempest Nov. 10 12 at Utah State University. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. at the Morgan Theatre located in the Chase Fine Arts Center. A free workshop, open to the public, will be conducted by Actors from the London Stage Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. in the Morgan Theatre. Tickets for the evening performances are $15 for reserved seating, $10 for seniors and youth and $5 for USU students with ID. To purchase tickets, visit the CCA Box Office located in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU's campus, call 435-797-8022 or online. - October's 'Inspire Me' winner named In the world of health, specifically weight loss programs, Weight Watcher's is among the most recognized and is highly visible. Thanks to Shannon Johnson, Utah State University employees have the opportunity to participate in a Weight Watcher's program without the hassle of leaving campus. Johnson observed a Weight Watcher's program at Primary Children's Hospital that she later learned was called a Work Program. She saw how well the coworkers of the hospital worked through the weight loss program together and the support that was there. Over the next five months Johnson worked to get a program like the one at Primary Children's at USU. It was in May 2006 that the first meeting was held on campus. December marks the 20th session. The Weight Watcher's program is a "how program," Johnson said. "It teaches you how to get past those holidays while still eating healthy. It teaches you how to balance things out." Together, members at USU lost more than 400 pounds in 2010. "If anyone is interested in having a change in their life, then they should start with the small and simple things," Johnson said. She suggests things like taking the stairs, walking to work, lowering sugar and salt intakes, eating whole grains and drinking diet soda instead of regular. To submit "Inspire Me!" Be Well nominations, contact Dayna Barrett, dayna.barrett@usu.edu, or download a nomination form from the website. Grant supports training for teachers Irina Sopina has taught English to high school students in Kazakhstan for the past 25 years. They often ask her about America, wanting to know: What is it like? Until September, she couldn't really say. However, a grant from the U.S. State Department brought Sopina and 20 other international teachers to Utah State University for seminars in instruction and curriculum. They were paired with local educators across Cache Valley to observe instructional techniques and to gain exposure to American culture and its educational system. For teachers like Jennifer Nilson, an English instructor at Logan High School, the benefit has gone both ways. Faculty members at Utah State were awarded the $184,000 grant to implement the International Research & Exchange Board's Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program. 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. - a Co mp iled from staff and media reports |