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Show AggieLife Page 12 Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 Ring leader of the rat training circus BY STEVE SCHWARTZMAN staff writer Andy Craig, a first-year graduate student at USU, said he's never done anything close to what he Andy Craig, does now in all graduate student, his previous research experipsychology, ence. Though Point Marion, Pa. he said he loves it now, it wasn't something he always had as a goal for his field. Craig, 23, is a research assistant for the USU Laboratory Animal Research Center, investigating different behaviors in rats and pigeons in an effort to transverse the understanding of the behaviors from animals to humans. "I never did anything like this in my undergraduate," Craig said. "But to come in to work in this setting, I feel what we're doing is of the utmost importance." The Point Marion, Pa., native received his bachelor's degree in psychology at West Virginia University. He said he originally planned on pursuing a degree in music, but after a while he "fell in love with psychology" and made the decision to finish his undergraduate in the psychology field by earning a graduate degree in psychology. "I feel as though I really enjoy the process of being in graduate school, because it's something that I really love, and I have worked with fabulous individuals. It's been a great experience," he said. Most of the research, he said, is studying addictive behaviors in rats and pigeons. Craig, along with other lab workers, puts the animals in a controlled environment — a cage or collective place — where they simple tasks such as opening a door, flipping a switch or spinning a wheel. He said the animals are rewarded with food or, more often in this place, small amounts of alcohol or cocaine. Lab assistants then observe the animals' reactions to receiving the reward and how they react if they do not receive the award. "One of our major goals is to study relapse of drug taking and drug seeking," Craig said. "We'll have a rat that will respond to alcohol for instance, then we'll stop giving them alcohol and go to drug seeking to see if things decline. We can really see how conditions thwart behavior." Caught on Campu Craig said he feels privileged to be engaged in such a study, because USU is one of only four schools in the United States involved in this study. This doesn't surprise him, he said, and it's added proof of the positive experience he's had so far with USU. "I don't think I could have ended up in a better program," Craig said. "My adviser and I get along really well, and my experience here can only help to get a good career." As he continues to progress in his degree, Craig said he hopes to find himself in a future faculty position at a university. "I've worked with some awesome individuals," he said, "and it has inspired me to pursue this field and even grad school. I look at the people I've worked with, and I feel I could work with students in that kind of way." Aside from his core studies, Craig said he looks to music to get him through tough times. Craig has been playing the saxophone for seven years and the oboe for four, and he said he tries to play as often as time permits. "It is really my stress relief," he said. "After a long day, I really look forward to coming home and playing and listening to music." Craig said he also loves to cook and tries to find and come up with new recipes and ideas. His favorite creation as of late, he said, was an Asian stir fry, but overall he has no set food preferences, he mainly just enjoys cooking. "I'm a grad student and don't get much time to do leisure activities," he said. "So it's fun to try and make something awesome I've never tasted before, which has grown more in Logan, since it has become a way to separate school with my personal life." Craig said he's grateful he is where he is, after finding something he loves to do and pursuing it during his undergraduate years, which is something he suggested to all students. "If I could tell (students) anything, it is to follow what they want to do," Craig said. "The undergraduate years are a perfect opportunity to find the field you fall in love with. Once you find it, run with it and pursue it." - steve.schwartzman@aggiemail.usu.edu USU GRAD STUDENT Andy Craig spends his day in a lab giving cocaine to rats, or otherwise observing the addictive qualities of drugs on animals. Craig said he uses music as a stress reliever when time allows. Photo courtesy of Andy Craig Five bands that never should have broken up Have you ever wondered what it would be like if bands never broke up? What would happen if, like day jobs, band members stuck it out because they needed the income, even if they hated it? What if bands were like bad marriages— keeping together for the sake of the kids, or in this case, songs? What if famous musicians never died? Well, I posed this question to myself, and so this week I mourn fallen bands by assembling the greatest list — the five bands that should have never broken up. 5. The Continentals: The Continentals are the band that was almost famous. The fullness of their sound, the tightness of their performances and the fantastic chemistry of their songs made The Continentals one of my favorite bands. With their release, "Rhino," they proved that a layered sound could be full, yet not cluttered. After going on several tours, The Continentals were almost at stardom, but sev- of the band, then use your big mouth to record a single album. Biebs does it every single day. Literally hundreds singof ers release records they probably don't even help write. So Tyler, either stay with the band, go on tour and make money off of the suckers that still love the couple of songs you guys wrote back in the day or release something new with your band Aerosmith, or go do something else. I'm tired of hearing about you. 1. *NSYNC: I think I fooled all of you. You were probably expecting Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd or Simon and Garfunkel. But no, you get *NSYNC, and this is why. *NSYNC almost controlled pop music back in the boy band days of Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block, but yet again too much estrogen broke up another band. Seriously, if *NSYNC stayed together despite differences, the pop music world would be different today. Justin Timberlake probably wouldn't have gone on to do "Sexy Back," or it would have been toned down. - alexander.h.van_oene@aggiemaiLusu.edu The Postal Service: The Postal Service is the best side project that everyone loves but doesn't love you back. Heard of "Such Great Heights" or "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight"? Yeah, that was The Postal Service. They found the perfect blend of electronic and pop with catchy beats and vocal lines; it will come back and rock the music world. Until then, I will have to remorsefully enjoy their wonderful CD. is a crime they aren't creating music anymore. "Give Up" is one of the best releases of the and "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing," they are breaking the bank with just the royalties on the songs. I don't have beef with them playing and making music, but I do have beef with Steven Tyler constantly breaking the band up and then getting it back together. Seriously, if you don't want to be a part the world and himself more real, every day. 3. eral band members went on LDS missions and the other band members wanted to do new projects. Hopefully in a couple of years, they 4. Aerosmith: Aerosmith is one of those bands that was really cool back in the '80s and '90s. Wayne's World 2 is pretty much the best testament to their greatness. With several great releases like "Walk This Way," "Dream On" White isn't a god of rock, but he is in the ranks of messiah. Even with simple beats and songs, The White Stripes not only brought back classic blues rock, but they moved the hearts of millions. In a fake, plastic-like world, they brought emotion back. "Seven Nation Army," "Icky Thump" and countless others have fueled the teenage angst of several — nay — millions of young adults. Sure, it was a good time to end it. Sure, the Raconteurs have that one good song. But is one song really worth it? I think if they stayed together and released another album of soft, emotion-filled blues, then the world would be a better place. Jack White redeemed modern rock, but he shouldn't stop. He should make 2000s, not only because it pioneered a new sound and type of music, but it effectively helped Ben Gibbard's other band Death Cab for Cutie. When "Codes and Keys" was supposed to drop like a keyboard-driven beatfest in the same vein as The Postal Service, I was so pumped. When it released like a fart in the wind, making little waves critically or musically, I cried "Foul." I just want Gibbard to go back and find the perfect song writing that he found with The Postal Service. Don't give up. 2. The White Stripes: The White Stripes found the hole in modern music and filled it. Jack SOMETIMES DRAMA BREAKS UP bands that should have stayed together, such as *NSYNC. One of the biggest boy bands of the movement, *NSYNC made many a girls' hearts pound with infatuation. From Page 10 Cars not a necessity when buses are free or friends are available "I don't have a car mostly just because of money. I don't have to pay for gas, insurance or (need) a place to park," Emch said. He said he wants to do well in school, therefore he doesn't have the time to earn extra money for a car. "Out-of-state (tuition) is pretty steep," Emch said. "There are free buses in Logan, and I don't see a need for having a car as far as travel within the city goes." Holt said she got her first vehicle-related ticket last summer, and not having a car at school makes her less worried about liability with speeding or other situations. "I feel like, in Logan, people just walk right out in front of you when you're driving through campus," Holt said. "I can't imagine hitting someone, and not having a car makes me less worried about that." Thompson said she likes not having to worry about fines from illegally parking or speeding, getting boots, paying for parking passes or getting in wrecks, but she's also learned from going without a vehicle. "I definitely think it has been an advantage, because I've learned to prioritize," Thompson said. "Just having to schedule ahead of time, having to account for delays — I think my planning skills have gotten a lot better." Thompson also said not having a car is something that signifies her complete independence from her parents. "If I were to have a car right now, it would be because I'd buy it and be making payments," Thompson said. "I don't have to rely on my parents as much (this way)." - m.noble@aggiemail.usu.edu |