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Show lnions MONDAY-AUGUST27-2007 , 1 . ; , ; • * • • • • % • • - • # * • • . ' • • • • ; Editorial The cost of money in one man's eye I i The mine collapse thatoccurred on Aug. 6 in the CrandaJl Canyon Mine, located in Hunu'ngton, Utah never should have happened. Three weeks after the disaster, it's clearly evident what went wrong, how it went wrong and whp'js responsible for the loss of nine men's lives. Sificp: the incident, Bob Murray, co-owner of the CraridaU Canyon Mine (and 18 other mines like it across the country), has been the spokesperson for Murray Energy Corp. and the rescue effort. ' ; Since his first statement, it's been clear that he's not exactly a public speaker or the most effective candidate to represent a major company in such a disastrous event. Instead of taking credit for the collapse of his mine and voicing sorrow and guilt for the incident that would end up taking nine lives, Murray has relentlessly blamed an earthquake for the mine's collapse, even though since the second day of the rescue^attempt, official seismologists and geologists have been making official claims that the seismic activity pickedrtip was the collapse itself, not an earthquake. Reports show-that the cause of the collapse was a'^mountain bump." Imagine a giant game of Jenga where you've taken put all strong blocks and left a wobbly support-less tower. When you take out the key pieces, you're bound for doom. When mining for coal, many veins, or "columns," are left intact to provide support to take on the rest of the mountain's stress. Most mines will leave these columns even after mining is complete to avoid hazard. If you remove these columns, the stress of the mountain can cause either the walls of coal to explode outward faster than the speed of sound (which is what took the lives of three rescue workers during a bump on Aug. 16) or a complete cave-in. For some reason, a government agency called the Mine Safety and Health Administration granted approval for "retreat mining" in Crandall Canyon.. This means the government gave them permission to collect the coal from remaining columns in the alreadymined mountain. This technique is usually used to create controlled cave-ins in dangerous mines; only this wasn't part of the plan for Crandall Canyon. They were in there with the purpose of mining more coal. It sounds an awful lot like Bob Murray and Murray Energy Corp. weren't on a mission to cause deliberate, controlled cave-ins of dangerous mines, but to send six men back in on a suicide mission to suck every dime's worth of coal out of the depleted sections. • Since the collapse, many miners have contacted families of the victims and officials, making claims that the mines have never been safe environments. A colleague of six trapped miners has made statements saying that one of them was looking for a new job because the conditions were so bad compared to other mines he'd worked in. Some have said that the signs of disaster were there. Others have said there were certain mines they wouldn't enter. And everyone is pointing a rigid finger of blame at Bob Murray for the [its that have happened over the last three weeks. the Aug. 6 cave-in, Bob Murray has been to aim at from many angles. He's under fire |nune conditions that caused the cave-in, for addition deaths of rescue workers, for callrescue attempts entirely, for not shelling frgh money for the rescue and for being cold, If and misleading to the families of the victims, major change should take place. And though it may be a change only recognizable to those who work in the industry, they are the ones who need it. This is the event to cause it. This never should have happened. Murray Energy Corp. and the Mine Safety and Health Administration never should have had those men working there. Six men died in their line of work because of a bad executive order. Three others died in a brave heroic effort to save them. And while all this goes on, there's Bob Murray on live TV. He's not apologizing and trying to win over the masses. He's butchering an official statement about a touchy subject while the death of several of his men rests on his shoulders. And all the while he's claiming it wasn't his fault; it was an earthquake's. Staff Infection Brandon Schelln/College Times artwar On cliff swallows stroying cliff swallow nests the reason they are believed with his broom, the swal- to be responsible for up to lows sought refuge by nest- half of all nestling; deaths, Opinions editor ing in the local Catholic mis- according to some studies. sion. They have returned en However, they tend to be Petrochelidon Pyrmasse to that city ever since. unfriendly and apathetic to rhonota, commonly So, it appears the arch- the plight of the wolverines, known in the warmenemy of the wolverine is and have even been known weather climates of the a cunning one; one who to attack other warmAmerican Southwest _ feels no shame in blooded creatures when as the cliff swallow, — seeking refuge in swallow blood runs scarce. was recently dubbed "He will win who knows when to houses of sanctuary Subsequently, all attempts numero uno atop the fight and when not to. that it might live to to woo these hematophags list of mortal enemies poop another day. have been stonewalled. to the wolverine. - Sun Tzu And, considerNot to be dissuaded from Legendary in local folklore for being an in- ern California, gave up their ing the high number of realizing victory the wolversurrounding ines have concocted a diaterloper into and defecator crusade to eradicate cliff churches upon the ancestral rangeland swallows from their pres- wolverine territory, cliff bolical strategy that implicates- swallow bugs of the wolverine, the cliff ence and now pay homwhether they agree swallow has, since time im- age to these flying poo to participate or not. memorial, imposed its filthy dispensers. Their trib- "/ will be an enemy to your You see, if we go will upon all fellow inhabit- ute comes in the form enemies and will opose those through the proper ants with relative impunity. of a two-month long who oppose you" channels, we can The powers that be within festival held each year -Exodus 23:22 launch a direct asthe wolverine community called "Fiesta de las sault on existing have decided that they will Golondrinas," which suffer this insolence no celebrates the return of the swallows may prove to cliff swallow nests. We'll longer: This means WAR! swallows from their winter be a more formidable en- get wolverine biologists Three years ago, in re- range in Argentina around emy than anyone realized. to blame it on a "potensponse to the insuf_ In recent days, the tial" swallow bug infestawolverines have made tion. They can say it's for ferable encroachment "All warfare is based on attempts to recruit the birds' own good, and of the cliff swallows, an ally, an enemy of everybody will believe a strategy was de- deception." the enemyj Oecia- them; after all, they're sci-, vised. A plan was set -Sun Tzu "" cus Vicarious — the entists. It could work. It in motion. Defenses were fortified. The ponds the time of the vernal equi- swallow bug. A. parasitic would be the death blow. that once provided cliff nox. Perhaps their folly will bloodsucker from the same And it will work, just as swallows; with insects to lend some insight as to what family as bed "bugs, swal- long as nobody mentions eat and raud to build nests the wisest course of action low bugs can survive in that cliff swallows abanwere drained and the pon^l should be for the wolverines. cliff swallow -nests for up don bug-infested nesting beds were cemented in. No According to a San Juan to three years without eat- sites on their own accord. more bugs, no more mud, Capistrano legend, after an ing, just lying in wait. Their It will be our little secret. no more swallows building angry innkeeper began de- diligence as combatants is JaredMagill nests on overhanging structures to facilitate surprise poop attacks on unsuspecting passers-by. It was the beginning of the end of the cliff swallows' reign over wolverine territory. The people of San Juan Capistrano, a city in south- How do we solve the parking problem on campus? Merinda Pearce "Go green"....think of the environmental impact if all major universities went green and rode their bikes, bussed it or carpooled. Eleanor Cleverly Takahashi '£'• - I have three words for you. Ride a bike. Mark Johnston Light rail to Utah Valley with stops at [*. campus! Save the'.;' •'•';'• envifonmentand /,• save otir student's : |