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Show =Free Speech Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Page 1 0 • Opinions on this page (columns, letters unless otherwise identified are not from Utah Statesman staff, but from a wide variety of members of the campus community who have strong opinions, just like you do! This is an open forum. Want to write something? Contact: statesman@aggiemailustLedu Utah State Universit Lo • an. Utah • www.utahstatesman.com OurVi ew Don't be afraid to start a business I won't hesitate to say that ASUSU in my few years as an entrepreView neur I have learned more about business outside of the classroom than inside. Don't think for a minute that I'm discounting what we do here at school; the fact is that we learn skills in class so that we can apply them in real situations. Lucky for me, I've been able do learn and apply these skills at the same time. This has given me a focus and a drive that I wouldn't otherwise have. During lectures, presentations, study sessions and homework, I am constantly wondering, "How will this help me to strengthen and grow my business? We have all asked ourselves at one time or another in school, when will I ever use this?" For me, the answer is every day. Since beginning my education at USU, I've started an oilfield inspection company, a specialty commercial finance company, and I do some free consulting for a start-up company in North Dakota. Now, I'm working on a highly technical business plan involving energy exploration and another involving a salon supply. There is no better time to start a business and get a taste for entrepreneurship than while you're still in school. Sure, we all have busy class schedules intertwined with extracurricular activities, dating and perhaps family, work or religious obligations. But life will only get busier after graduation. Never again will we have so much time to dream, scheme and plan as we do now. We can attend conferences and seminars at no cost that REED PAGE See ASUSU, Page 11 TT 4liwrr MV:CC _OVA a USI Abo ut US fihree,oa giqROY 0,6ms- To those who make the Police Blotter possible At The Statesman, we're all about keeping neighborhoods safe, helping old ladies cross the road and saving cats caught in tall trees — you know, superhero stuff. We feel part of our responsibility as journalists is to publish the Police Blotter in the paper, which can usually be found in the first few pages in Monday's edition. This way, readers can witness the abundance of crime happening on campus. If you've read the Police Blotter, you will understand that was a joke. However, some of the things we find ourselves publishing make us laugh and often make us scratch our heads. For example, in the March 26 Police Blotter, one entry reported, a concerned "citizen" phoned the police wondering why people were walking around campus dressed in military-type attire and carrying weapons. The citizen was informed of the Humans vs. Zombies game, but the citizen "objected to this type of game ... and advised police of some of his concerns." Though we fully support complainants who have issues with nerdy games of tag, it is comical how frequently we see this type of report. Do the police have better things to do? Guess not. One report stated: "USU police responded to a suspicious incident at the Sci-Tech portion of the Merrill-Cazier Library involving a man in one of the women's restrooms. Police are investigating." It is probably acceptable for children under the age of three to frequent the wrong restroom while accompanied by a parent, USU students are all old enough to know the difference between the male and female icons on bathroom entryways. Another report from March 19 states: "A student placed some personal items in a car in the Big Blue Terrace and after contacting a friend who the student believed owned the car, the student realized the items had been placed in the wrong car." Really, people? We see a number of problems with this. Most prominently, who doesn't lock their car? This behavior is almost an invitation for thieves. Secondly, if someone wants to leave their valuables in a vehicle, the intelligent — and obvious — thing to do is make sure someone knows who owns the car and could potentially drive off with the valuables. There have been countless times when police have responded to suspicious smells in apartments or alarms that were accidentally set off by small children. Almost every time these things are detected, you can bet nothing is the matter. The classic is the curling iron/hair dryer fire — we've learned just how touchy residence hall smoke alarms can be. We love Police Blotter entries, not only because they are hilarious but because we are reassured of the safe environment our community provides. While the news section is often difficult to fill, partially due to a lack of crime, we'd rather not live in a city with soaring rape and murder statistics. e• Zone Editor in Chief ±.1\11S1--t 2.4■11S1-1 ZANIS1-1 Catherine Bennett Copy Editor D. Whitney Smith News Editor Steve Kent Assistant News Editor Megan Allen Features Editor Allee Evensen Assistant Features Editor Natasha Bodily www.investors.comicartoons Change requires more than tweeting Watch and feel moved. Maybe even shed a tear that compels those fingertips into action. Retweet. Repost. Blog. Email. Help a link spread and save the world. After all, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea ... whose time has come ... whose time is now." These are the familiar words to the introduction of the YouTube sensational campaign video, "Kony 2012" — that has more than 85 million views — which set the precedent for the remainder of the video. It's a powerful, emotion-evoking presentation revealing the horrors of invisible children. I am not writing to debate the accuracy of the information from "Kony 2012" or talk about if the dispersion of the proceeds is entirely ethical. Nor am I writing to deny the horrors surrounding the harsh reality of invisible children, or promote the cause itself. I think the reality of the issue is horrifying and if Mindful I could, I would Musings save every single one of those mistreated kids singlehandedly. Instead, I will candidly consider implications of the growing trend of social media activism. Due to the widespread viewership and overall familiarity USU students have with "Kony 2012," it will stand as an accessible reference to point out the pros and cons of social movements. The Kony campaign video stated social media are changing the world. We rarely see See MUSINGS, Page 11 TYRA SIMMONS ForumLetters Racism is not related to genetics To the editor: The recent events in Sanford, Fla., leading up to the senseless killing of Trayvon Martin saddened me and made the world a darker place. Reading Mike Burnham's column of March 26 makes me even sadder, especially for Mr. Burnham and those who share his attitudes. Nothing in our biology makes us racist, fearful or untrusting of those who appear different from ourselves. Those are things that we learn and even choices we make. It is just as easy for us to choose to treat others with dignity and respect as it is for us to choose to treat others with fear, suspicion and hatred. And choosing the first opens up wonderful friendships. I hope one consequence of this tragedy might be more of us trying to put ourselves in the shoes of a black man, like Trayvon. How much more difficult would your life be if you were constantly being treated with fear and suspicion. Imagine the frustration at others assessing your character based upon the color of your skin. Suspicious looks would be like a slap in the face, while racial epithets would be like a red-hot poker. Imagine if George Zimmerman had greeted Trayvon Martin with a smile and a warm greeting rather than a challenge. Then both men's day would have been brightened, rather than leaving millions of people with dark, heavy hearts. James A. Bay Injury to car near students playing To the editor: The windshield on my van was destroyed while parked by the Lundstrom Building. My wife and children were attending an activity being put on by Reslife. There were several people playing soccer and football on the grass nearby. I am confident that some of these individuals damaged the windshield and have failed to own up to it. I would venture a guess that at least some of the individuals were LDS and if this guess is true demonstrates a gross lack of integrity in the LDS membership. Please come and take a picture of the car and do a story on this, encour- Letters to the editor • A public forum aging the responsible parties to come forward. I also contacted Reslife, and I feel that they handled this poorly. A police report has been filed. Aaron Smith Circumcision a 'tenet' of Judaism To the editor: I believe Ms. Emery used an unfortunate event — death of a Jewish infant in New York — as the springboard for an opinion piece attacking all circumcision. Readers should know that "metzitzvah b'peh" — oral suction — is primarily practiced only by UltraOrthodox Jews. Therefore, this issue is not relevant to the majority of American Jews. In 2005, the Rabbinical Council of America even issued a statement recommending, but not requiring, that mohels desist from doing metzitzah b'peh, and instead suction the blood through other, safer methods. Even though I am affiliated with a branch of Judaism that does not practice metzitzvah b'peh, I still support Orthodox Jews who feel bound to follow this ancient tradition. My conSee LETTERS, Page 11 Sports Editor Tavin Stucki Assistant Sports Editor Tyler Huskinson Photo Editor Delayne Locke Assistant Photo Editor Carl R. Wilson Web Editor Meredith Kinney Editorial Staff: Catherine Bennett Steve Kent Allee Evensen Meredith Kinney Delayne Locke Tavin Stucki D. Whitney Smith About letters • Letters should be limited to 400 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or e-mail address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. • Letters representing groups — or more than one individual — must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e-mailed to statesman@aggiemail.usu. edu, or click on www. utahstatesman.com for more letter guidelines and a box to submit letters. |