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Show News Monday • Octo News briefs HOOGE'S HEROES Campus news UVU INSTRUCTOR WINS AWARD • Linda p. Waiton, advisor of the UVU student public relations firm and president of The Walton Group, Inc., a public relations firm in Provo, received the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce Women's Business Network (WBA) Athena Award, a national award for women leaders. "Athena recipients must demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, provide service to improve the quality of life for others in their community, and to assist women in reaching their full leadership potential," said Nicke Brown, WBA president. Walton is currently serving as the board chair for the Mountain Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, as an adjunct faculty in the Communications Department at Utah Valley University and as a volunteer at the Food and Care Coalition, and she is accredited and a Fellow with the Public Relations Society of America. She is a member of the Utah Valley Ministerial Association and the Agency for Campus Ministries in Utah and is a co-advisor of the Interfaith Student Association at UVU, where she serves as a chaplain. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • Juvenile Justice Services needs volunteers to make Halloween treat bags for youth. The bags are made at home, and gum cannot be included. For more information, contact Linda Campbell at (801) 491-0118. Courtesy of Dennis Potter Dennis Potter, a professor of philosophy and religion, helped start the Mormon studies program at UVU. Dennis Potter: An assertive course in public discourse ffAM News Writer The documentary "This Divided State," created around Michael Moore's infamous visit to UVU, shows a young professor posing hard and forceful questions to Sean Hannity. Because he speaks against Hannity's beliefs, the professor is quickly quieted, ignored and even booed by the crowd before he can finish his sentence. As astonishing and disrespectful as the Utah crowd's action was, this is not the first time Dennis Potter, UVU professor of philosophy and religion, faced antagonism and conflict for his views. Potter is known across campus for his fierce liberal opinions and radical proceedings. Yet, while' he stands far apart from many of those who inhabit this state, his genial love for people and his appreciation for intellect have placed him as this week's hero. Here is what he had to say. Why did you become a professor? While in high school, I became interested in L philosophical questions concerning political and religious issues. While serving my LDS mission, A my interest in the philosophy of religion became more focused and I decided to study philosophy upon my return. I was interested in exploring some of the more radical aspects of Mormon theology within a philosophical context. Moreover, I became increasingly convinced that a proper intellectual education of every citizen is necessary for a democratic society. Becoming a professor of philosophy was a natural choice. Tell me about your experience working as the Mormon studies coordinator. You had success as the coordinator. What is your greatest failure? A regret that I have alienated some people at I was raised Mormon UVU, especially some and so my work in the philosophy of re- conservatives, by my rather ligion has been informed assertive approach to public by that perspective. It was discourse. I hope to be able natural for me to jump at to dialogue with those on the chance to help in orga- the other side of spectrum nizing the newborn- field more in the future. I hope of Mormon Studies. I also to be able to find common helped to found the Soci- ground without sacrificing ety of Mormon Philosophy my deepest convictions. and Theology (www.smpt. org). In both ventures, we What are yc>ur have endeavored to bring dipassions outside verse voices together in civil of teaching? scholarly dialogue. We have been modestly I love the mountains. I successful in this regard, but do endurance mounthere is still work to be done. tain bike races. I reAlthough I no longer con- BLOTTER Oct. 2008 Oct. 8 • MEDICAL • UVU police and Orem paramedics responded to the roundabout where a woman had fallen and possibly broken her ankle. The woman was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further evaluation. Oct. 8 • MEDICAL • UVU police and Orem paramedics responded to the P.E. building where a female suffered from a diabetic problem. The woman was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment. very thorough in his inspecVOTE from- A1 tion of the security measures the booths to ensure added expediency. This year, security issues and convenience moved the early voting machines from the McKay Center, where they were located for the primaries, to the Student Government Office. "The county clerk was sider myself Mormon, I still appreciate its contribution to the larger religious dialogue in the U.S. I hope academics continue to take it more seriously, and I am heartened by the development of Mormon Studies programs at highly respected institutions such as Claremont Graduate School. UVU was on the cutting edge of this trend toward the academic study of the Mormon religion and I count myself lucky to be a small part of that. of the office before agreeing to early voting on our campus," said Tooke. Merrill added that the machines were kept in a small conference room each night where they were locked and could only be accessed by select people with an electronic key card. Another contribution to the success of this year's ally enjoyed the 12 hours of Sundance race this year. I like to push myself to the limit physically. Riding my bike gives me a chance to meditate and reconnect to myself and nature spiritually. The American Red Cross needs telephone support volunteers to take messages for families from their loved ones serving in the military. Volunteers should be 18 or older and need to make at least a one-year commitment. Hours are from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., Monday through Friday, and the weekends for 24 hours. For more information, contact Nancy Housekeeper at 373-8580 or nancyh@mtnvalley rede ross.org Rural Housing Development Corporation needs volunteers to help build houses for low-income families. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and need to be 18 years or older. Groups and families welcome. For more information, contact James Hendricks at (801) 368-5231 or hendricks.lj@gmail.com National news SAN If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? I hope for a society based on the principles of reason and love rather than irrational fear and alienation. Cooperation is essential to the continued survival of the human species. Realizing that we are a part of nature rather than above it is essential to avert the coming environmental crisis. If there was one particular message that you could get across to students, faculty and staff what would it be? Question everything and think critically. Reasoning is at the core of human intersubjectivity and cooperation. Without it we will not survive. Oct. 9 • AGENCY ASSIST • UVU police spotted a vehicle matching a description of a vehicle that had been involved in a home invasion earlier in Orem. The officers began to follow the vehicle, at which time the vehicle fled. UVU officers searched the surrounding neighborhoods and located the vehicle and observed a bloody bat inside the vehicle. The information was passed onto Orem Police Department. The information ultimately led to live dangerous suspects being taken into custody. Oct. 13 • AGENCY ASSIST • UVU police responded to750 W. 1200 S. on a report of a bicycle vs. automobile accident. The bicyclist said that his bike had faulty brakes and he was unable to slow or stop as he came down the hill. The bicyclist struck the rear of a passenger car that was exiting the College Terrace Apartments parking lot. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital by Orem Paramedics. Oct.13 • MEDICAL • UVU police and Orem paramedics responded to the Digital Learning Center where a female had collapsed. The female was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further evaluation. early voting on campus included the friendliness of the election officials. "I found the patience of our election officials to be commendable, said Tooke." They did a great job." Tooke also said that he was impressed with how many community members chose to come to our campus to cast their ballot. "One voter complained that he had no idea where English for Speakers of Other Languages volunteers are needed to help non-native speakers register for English classes. Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old and are needed Tuesday through Thursday. Hours arc flexible. For more information, contact Abraham Hernandez at (801) 374-4904. the Sorensen Student Center was located on our campus," said Merrill. "I then asked him if he knew where the Wilkinson Center was located on the BYU Campus, he said yes, so I told him that one of the reasons we have the machines here is so you can get to know our wonderful campus, whether you want to or not." FRANCISCO CONSIDERS ALLOWING PROSTITUTION • Next month voters will decide if Proposition K, which forbids local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex, will pass. If the proposition passes, San Francisco will be the first major U.S. city to decriminalize prostitution. Other states that have legalized some forms of prostitution include Nevada, which allow brothels to operated in rural counties, and Rhode Island, which allows prostitution between consenting adults behind closed doors. The ballot would technically not legalize prostitution due to a -state law that prohibits it, but it would not allow law enforcement officials to prosecute the act itself. Supporters of Proposition K claim that it will free SI 1 million that San Francisco spends each year arresting prostitutes. MONGOL BIKER GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED • More than 60 members of the California biker gang the Mongols were arrested after a three-year investigation. Gang members are accused of engaging in criminal acts including money laundering, extortion, gun trafficking, robbery, drug dealing and murder. During the three-year investigation, federal agents posed as gang members and girlfriends, even submitting to polygraph tests administered by the bikers. The gang has engaged in an escalating battle with its rival gang, the Hells Angels, since 2002 during a casino riot in Laughlin, Nev., and has been linked to violent attacks on African Americans. An insignia patch representing the gang is attached to all members1 jackets. Law enforcement officials have been instructed to confiscate any jacket with this patch due to an injunction that outlaws further use of the gang's name. World news TOKYO • Killing a virtual spouse is a crime. A 43-year-old Japanese woman playing "Maple Story," an interactive virtual life game, had her virtual spouse suddenly divorce her, making her so angry that she killed her virtual husband. Police said she was later arrested on suspicion of hacking. The woman is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data. She used her on-line husband's identification and password to log onto the game and commit the virtual murder. Officials say the woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world. The woman faces a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000. This has not been the first case of misconduct regarding virtual interactive games. In August, a woman in Delaware was charged with plotting the real-life abduction of a boyfriend she met through "Second Life." Another incident in Tokyo led police to arrest a 16-year-old boy on charges of swindling virtual currency worth $360,000 in an interactive game by manipulating another player's portfolio using a stolen ID and password. LONDON • The last living survivor of the Titanic, Millvina Dean, 96, is selling her mementos from the event to help pay her nursing home fees. She was only two months old when she was put into a lifeboat and saved from drowning. Among her collection is a suitcase from the event and letters from the Titanic Relief Fund. Dean, her mother, Georgetta, and brother Bertram Jr. were part of the 706 people who survived the sinking. Her father, however, was among the 1,500 who died. Dean did not know that she had been on the Titanic until she was eight years old and her mother told her how her father died. She has no memories of the sinking and has told the AP that she prefers it that way. NORTH KOREA • North Korea announced that it will be disabling its key nuclear complex after the U.S. dropped them from its terrorism blacklist. It is expected that a breakthrough will occur to help energize stalled talks about ending the country's atomic ambitions. North Korea's nuclear program began five years ago and has since caused international discussion at dismantling the program. U.S. officials had insisted they would not take North Korea off its list of terror-sponsoring countries unless it accepted a thorough inspection of its nuclear program under an international agreement. This prompted the country to start reassembling its facilities and barring international monitors from the site. Washington announced it was taking North Korea off the list, saying that it had accepted all of its nuclear inspection demands. Countries still on the list include Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. |