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Show Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 Page 3 Campus News Briefs Campus & Community Downtown alliance hosts zombie walk What do you get when hundreds of zombies gather together for a walk down Historic Main Street? Hopefully a lot of food for the Cache Community Food Pantry. This annual event, now in its second year, will take place on Friday, 19 Oct. 2012, at 6:00 p.m. Participants, dressed as zombies (or perhaps zombie hunters) will be gathering on the grounds of the Historic Cache County Courthouse beginning at 6:00pm. Every zombie and on-looker is encouraged to bring one or more non-perishable food items in support of the Cache Community Food Pantry. At approximately 6:30 p.m., the entire hoard of zombies and zombie hunters will head south on Main Street (sidewalk on westside of road) to 100 South and then cross Main Street to the and work their way back to 200 North. Photos will be posted online. This event is free and open to the public. ASUSU SPENT $8000 on four TVs for the student info booth at the start of the school year. The screens are available for student organizations to advertise events. SAMANTHA BEHL photo ASUSU seeks to improve info booth BY CRYSTAL RU PP staff writer New changes to the ASUSU student information booth in the TSC are being made to better advertise campus events. The biggest change so far, the installation of four flat screen TVs, took place just before school started. Christian Thrapp, ASUSU president, said this change was greatly needed. Before the televisions, there was only a whiteboard for advertising. "The TVs enhances it a lot," Thrapp said. "It's a lot more visual and easier to understand what's going on." Thrapp said the student information booth is a great benefit to students because it's a central place on campus. He said it's important that the student booth is well kept in order to get information out to the students in the best way possible. "It's a hub of information of what's going on within ASUSU and the university as well," he said. "Through the TSC, you get a lot of traffic between classes, and so that's a really good opportunity to help people to know what's going on within the university." Thrapp said there are still many changes that need to be made to make the booth more effective. Right now, the four TVs display many of the same messages because most clubs haven't taken advantage of them. Thrapp said he still believes all four TVs are necessary for the booth. "I feel like walking by, seeing those TVs flashing, you know exactly what's going on that week," he said. "I really do feel like it's an asset to us." Thrapp said he believes over time, more clubs will start using the booth to advertise as they realize what's available to them and all four TVs will display different information. The TVs cost $8,000, but most of the money came from ASUSU members' budgets and is included in activities fees. Linda Zimmerman, the executive director of Student Involvement and Leadership, said the rest was paid for through Capital and Support. "Capital and Support is a fund that we have that any student organization can come and request money," she said. "We have approximately $54,000 a year in a pot that students can come and request for whatever they are doing." The TVs did not directly increase student fees, but Chaise Warr, the programming vice president of ASUSU, said the changes weren't risk free. "First I was a little nervous, but sitting in class and hearing what students have said, a lot of them have noticed the info booth," Warr said. "I've seen successes come from it already so I would like to figure out ways to expand it." The new TVs aren't the only changes ASUSU is looking into. Thrapp said the council hopes to implement more ways to advertise about student events. ASUSU is developing a weekly email that students can opt into, he said. Katie Chapman, a junior majoring in English, said she has noticed the changes made to the student information booth. She said the new TVs aren't the change that has really been important. "I've noticed that the representatives have been there and consistently available to the students," she said. "I feel like having the student representatives at the booth make them more approachable to the stu- dents." Chapman said the cost of the new additions don't bother her. "I think that it's important to update technology because that's what everyone's going toward and that's what you need to talk to the people you're trying to reach," she said. "Fliers are great, but really people are ignoring fliers. In the long run, the TVs are going to save on cost." Chapman said the new changes are geared toward students having the chance to connect with the ASUSU officers more. "I don't think that it has anything to do with the TVs," Chapman said. "I think it has more to do with the personal connections with the people that's really going to help. It really comes down to relationships with people." "I just want people to realize that they do have the opportunity to know what's going and that they have the opportunity to come talk to the ASUSU officers as well," Thrapp said. — crystalisfamous@gmail.corn COLLEGE: Packed classes stop some from graduating ►From page 2 she said, shaking her head. The crowding has rippled through the school, causing long waits to see academic counselors — an important issue for many community college students who need advice on navigating the sometimes complex requirements to transfer to Cal State, UC or a private university. At El Camino, Garcia said, the lines to see counselors were hours long. She'd make appointments weeks in advance, never seeing the same adviser twice, she said. "I tried to do it on my own but I was only able to get so far," she said. "Students are isolated because the counselors have such an overwhelming load." Garcia said all the delays have made her life harder. She had a full-time job at Ikea, but cut back her hours, hoping the extra time would allow her to power through Pasadena City College. Over the years, she has shifted her goals from a four-year degree, to a community college associate's degree, and now to a certificate, which requires fewer credits. That decision could cost her in the long run. A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor showed that in 2009, the median weekly earnings of workers with bachelor's degrees was about $1,137— about a third more than workers with an associate's degree. Jeffrey MacGillivray attended three community colleges in search of classes and direction. He started at Los Angeles Harbor College, then tried West Los Angeles College, where he failed to get into any classes, and now he is at El Camino. This fall, he managed to find a seat in only one academic class — philosophy. He later added a boxing class to fill some mornings. "I was thinking I can just go to community college, do my two years and transfer," said the 20-year-old Redondo Beach resident. "I had no idea I'd probably end up at El Camino for four years." MacGillivray has focused much of his attention on trying to play football and run track in community college in hopes of getting a scholarship to a four-year school. But he has never been able to get enough classes — at least 12 units each semester — to qualify for a team. At El Camino this semester, 98 percent of class sections are filled to capacity. "It's really frustrating, having this goal of running track at a university and graduating with a degree," he said. "Junior college is being a bigger obstacle than it should be." CINTHIA GARCIA ATTENDS her web design class at Pasadena City College. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to enroll in more than one class this semester. MCT photo Next semester, MacGillivray may be changing schools again. He was offered a chance to join the Long Beach City College track team — with the possibility that the school could help him get the classes he needs. For all the trouble, MacGillivray said there is a bright side to his academic wanderings. After two years, he's figured out what he wants to major in — media arts. And to his surprise, he has discovered that he actually enjoys philosophy. On a recent afternoon, he listened intently as his professor lectured on ethical relativism — the belief that morality is linked to the social norms of one's culture. "She's so deep," MacGillivray said of his professor. "I only got one class, so it's pretty cool it was that one." Helicon West hosts Utah poet at library On Thursday, Oct. 11, Helicon West presents "Out of the Ivory Tower: Poets' Engagement in the Community" featuring LANCE LARSEN Utah's Poet Laureate, Lance Larsen; Katharine Coles, former Poet Laureate; Rebecca Packard, editor of Provo Orem Word; and Star Coulbrooke, director of Helicon West. The event takes place at 7:00 pm at the Logan Library, 255 North Main. Utah poet laureate Lance Larsen and former Utah poet laureate Katharine Coles will read from their work at our next event, Thursday, October 11, 7 PM, at the Logan Library, 255 North Main. They will be joined by yours truly, Star Coulbrooke, in a panel discussion moderated by Rebecca Packard, editor of the online literary magazine, Provo Orem Word. Audience participation will be much-appreciated, as we consider poets' and writers' engagement in the community. An open microphone session for original creative writing will follow. Arrive early to sign up. Coffee will be provided by Caffe Ibis. As always, Helicon West is free, `E Pluribus Unum' combines 16 artists In Latin, the phrase "E Pluribus Unum" means "from many, one." At Utah State University, it's interpreted as an art response to the ultra-partisan nature of the United States' current political climate. At USU, the term is used as the title of a new art exhibit that can be seen Oct. 17 through Nov. 9. An opening reception is Friday, Oct. 19. The exhibit is a collaborative project involving 16 artists, most based in Utah. Bills selected the artists for their range of styles and artistic emphasis, including sculpture, paint and wood carving. Among the artists are several faculty members from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, the owner of the Kayo Gallery in Salt Lake City and a teacher from Copper Hills High School in West Jordan. Artists were invited to create a piece on their own and also work in pairs to create another piece. "E Pluribus Unum" can be seen in the Tippetts Exhibit Hall, located in the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU's Logan campus. The exhibit hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.. The Oct. 19 opening reception runs from 6-8 p.m. at the Tippetts Exhibit Hall. 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 |