OCR Text |
Show Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 Page 4 A&EDiversi Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com Thinking outside the bubble BY CALE PATTERSON staff writer Study abroad trips can be a great way for students to enrich their education. In addition to study abroad opportunities, USU has a very ethnically diverse staff, which allows Aggies to expand and enrich their international education without ever leaving campus. Professor Brad Hall, head of the language, philosophy and communication studies department, said diversity of faculty is beneficial to students and allows them to gain perspectives on global issues as well as a deeper understanding of culture students wouldn't be able to achieve otherwise. "The diverse faculty helps students get a better feel for different ways of looking at the world," Hall said. "If a faculty member is international, they have perspectives on global issues that others would not." Hall said the exposure of students to faculty members that have lived and worked in other countries is helpful to students, adding to an international experience. Thirteen of the 37 faculty members in the language department are natives of other countries. Hall said most of those thirteen received their doctorate PROFESSOR ATSUKO NEELY CONSULTS wih a student in her Japanese calligraphy class. Neely, a native of Japan, introduced the class and has been been teaching at USU for more than 20 years. JESSICA FIFE photo degrees in the U.S. and have been in the country for at least five years. "Our faculty does a very good job," Hall said. Atsuko Neely, a native of Japan, is currently in her 21st year as a professor at USU and teaches upper division Japanese classes, as well as culture and calligraphy. Neely said she feels an international experience is an exchange rather than a one-sided concept. In addition to interna- tional staff and students being brought to Utah State, American students and staff also go to other countries. Neely said this exchange promotes cultural understanding in all countries affected. Neely's husband is a native of the United States, and she said in spite of differing backgrounds their families share very similar value systems. "My philosophy is that a major difference between two individuals is greater than a cultural difference, in spite of a great ocean," she said. Neely said the cultural diversity which she and other international faculty members have to offer is of benefit to students. "Living in a remote area, the university provides a great deal of authentic experience for students," Neely said. "If you have a live person in front of you it's the best example — better than a book. You actually feel how they are like in other countries because you're coming into contact with someone." Like others might when experiencing a new culture, many faculty members have a new perspective on American culture upon their arrival to the United States. "It came as a surprise that there was privacy here," said Adele Cutler, a statistics professor. "In New Zealand, they posted our names and grades in the paper. My grandmother found out my grades sometimes before I did." Cutler was born in England ►See CULTURE, Page 5 Preparingfor the slopes BY TRAVIS WILLIAMS staff writer With the winter season approaching, some locals dread the temperature change while others look forward to it. The latter are often skiers and snowboarders. People can be weary of snow and the tasks associated with it, like shoveling, scraping off windows and moisture. Skiers and snowboarders might see it as an opportunity to pursue their hobby. Austin Jensen, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, has skied since he was 5 years old. He switched to snowboarding at 8 years old because he said he got too cool for skis. Jensen comes from a family of skiers and snowboarders. His parents taught him how SNOWBOARDERS AND SKIERS invest time and money in their winter hobby. CURTIS RIPPLINGER photo to ski and his older brother helped him transition to snowboarding. Jensen said he doesn't consider snowboarding or skiing as a sport, unless it is a competition. "Seeing myself progress and constantly pushing my limits are the reasons I enjoy riding," he said. Josh Phillips, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, has snowboarded for three years. Phillips is from Alabama and was stationed in Utah for the military, but he said he stayed for the snowboarding. Growing up surfing, Phillips said his transition to snowboarding was easier since he is familiar with a board beneath his feet. "Now all I think about all year is snowboarding," Phillips said. "It's my escape. I don't have to worry about anything: It's just me and the mountain." Jensen said she has been on the mountain for most of her life. She said she has been skiing since she was shorter than the snowpack. Turley used to have her mother carry her up the steps to Powder Mountain because the snow was taller than she was. Skiing for ten years and boarding for the last five, Turley said she has always loved being on the mountain because she loves the smell of fresh air. "Being able to escape the pollution is one of the reasons I ride," she said. "You just realize how lucky you are, even if you are paying a lot of money to be up there" Tanner Hale, a Logan resident, has skied since he was 8 years old. Taught by his father, Hale used to go with his family multiple times a year. "The adrenaline is one ►See SLOPES, Page 7 COPY CENTER EMPLOYEES Louise Monson and Kelly Elbert have worked at the center for decades. Photo courtesy of Donna Barry Copy crew evolves with technology BY APRIL ASHLAND features senior writer The two full-time workers at the Copy Center in the Taggart Student Center said their goal is to make the best product possible to serve the on-campus community. The Copy Center used to have a sign that said "We work miracles," but Louise Monson said she thought of an improved slogan for the Copy Center. "The impossible we do immediately — the miracles take a little longer," she said. The Copy Center is an extension of USU Printing, located behind the softball diamond on 800 East, and used to have many more stores. Due to budget cuts, there is now only one. Monson has worked at the Copy Center for 33 years, but spent the first 30 of those in a copy center formerly located in the Biology and Natural Resources Building. "I've worked at the copy center for a lifetime," she said. "Before I worked at the copy center, I worked in the bindery. That was before things were as automated." Monson said she has seen the technology change in the Copy Center significantly over the years, from hand collating papers for books and print-offs to having a machine do it for her. "It was a different time," she said. Monson said the change has been mind-boggling for her — in some ways good, in some ways not so positive. "In some ways it's fascinating to see how far technology has brought us," she said. Before Xerox machines, there were offset printing machines. According to the "How Stuff Works" website, offset printing requires multiple steps where long strips of paper are fed through machines and stamps are used. Monson said the move from offset printing to Xerox was challenging because the processes different, but in some ways the process is very similar. She said she's still learning. "Especially with the younger generation, they are programmed from a very young age to know how to use a computer, whereas for me, I'm still learning," she said. Kelly Elbert is the manager of the Copy Center. She ►See COPY, Page 5 |