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Show uvu I The Independent Student Voice of Utah Valley University Monday February 16, 2009 Life News USC professor discusses newly-elected President Obama. VOL XXXVII ft Things that "must go" and things that are due for a return. "The Sonosopoher" Alex Caldiero performing on campus and in SLC. MO 45 Sports Toolson scores 2,000 points...in his career. President Hitch terminates employment Wasatch Campus takes heavy hit Courtesy of University Marketing Diversity of faith on campus Half of Wasatch Campus' employees told they Celebrating will lose jobs May 1 due to budget cuts after unique field President Hitch's speech of university success station Asst. News editor ^ELIZABETH SADLER News writer Students at Utah Valley University may easily assume that their neighbors in class or fellow group members share their same religious faith. The Utah Valley University Interfaith Student Association gives all faiths a chance to learn and gain experience about religions that are not necessarily the status quo. Linda Walton, one of the advisors of the association and an interfaith chaplain, stresses that the club is open to anyone of any faith to help its members feel comfortable exploring many different religions. "Students that I knew wanted to visit or study various faiths and they felt uncomfortable just showing up at a meeting or a service," Walton said. "They wanted to go in a group and have someone facilitate the visit so it wasn't awkward or intimidating." Previous activities for the association have ranged from visiting churches, synagogues or temples to celebrating religious events and sponsoring speakers, debates, "Students that I knew wanted to visit or study various faiths and they felt uncomfortable just showing up at a meeting or a service." Linda Walton, Advisor panel discussions and several other social activities. Abby Elieson works hand in hand with the PR firm class as the See DIVERSITY • A3 A dismal atmosphere surrounded the Wasatch Campus Feb. 6 after six of the eleven members of the support staff were told their employment would be terminated due to budget cuts as of May 1. University spokesperson Bradley Plothow said the campus is not shutting down and that the restructuring will only affect the student service functions at the campus. "Course instruction will continue as usual at UVU's Wasatch campus, but the delivery of student services will change to reflect the model followed at other distance sites, including Lehi and Spanish Fork," Plothow said. The news came during a mandatory staff, meeting in the afternoon. "President Hitch brought us all together and explained the situation and we looked at the projected enrollment, current enrollment and the budget," said Shad Sorenson, Wasatch Campus Assistant Vice President. "If you look at our current budget, we have only 25 percent going toward the cost of direct instruction and 59 percent toward student support services and administration," he said. "The goal of President Hitch was to meet the budget and still have opportunities for students to receive degrees at the Wasatch Campus.'1 After the 45-minute meeting ended, each member of the student support staff met with a representative from Human Resources to discuss whether or not their employment would continue. "During these meetings, UVU Human Resource re~ resentatives explained to employees whose positions are being terminated their options and the benefits to which they'reentitledunderUVU Policy," Plothow said. One Wasatch campus employee said that because his/her position is being terminated, he/she would have to look at early retirement which will be less than one-third of what he/she is currently making. "I will have no health insurance unless I want to pay approximately $400 a month, not including dental and the cost of keeping my life See WASATCH • A3 Kickboxing champion studying at UVU News editor Kickboxing champion of Central Asia, Azamat Umarzoda of Tajikistan, is now one of the newest members of Utah Valley University's student body. Umarzoda, who transferred to UVU this semester, is currently studying ESL at UVU and training in Orem for his next kickboxing competition. Umarzoda heard about Utah and UVU from a family friend who had previously visited Utah with the delegation of Tajik Parliament members. The UVU Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy hosted the delegation as part of the Open World program. Now in the U.S., Umarzoda is focusing on his studies while preparinjg for kickboxing competitions in this country. He took an impressive second place in the world competition two months ago in Tehran, Iran, and was a kickboxing champion of Central Asia in 2007. "My favorite competition was during the championship of Asia in 2007," Umarzoda said. "I had three fights in one day; two of the fights finished in knockouts." Umarzoda trains three to four hours a day to stay in shape and has five years of professional training behind him. He credits his mother for guiding him in his kickboxing career. "My mother encouraged me to participate in this sport," Umarzoda said. "She wanted me to grow up a strong man. I appreciate my mom's guidance a lot." Arriving from the mountainous country of Tajikistan to the mountainous Wasatch Front, Umarzoda said he feels at home in Utah. "I like the U.S. a lot," Umarzoda said. "People are very friendly and willing to help." Umarzoda plans, to finish the ESL program !at UVU and then pursue a medical degree in the U.S. He likes to play chess and football and plans to return to Tajikistan after completing his studies. Alyssa Lewis/ UVU Review Azamat Umarzoda from Tajikistan trains in Orem. • DAVIDHATGHEnL..] News writer The Capitol Reef Field Station, an eight year-long project completed last October, will be recognized in a celebration held at Center Stage . in the Sorensen Student Center Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Alongside giveaways and a performance commemorating the field station completion, the celebration will also provide opportunities and information for students to become involved. Performances planed for the event are dances by both the UVU Department of Dance and the UVU Native Sun and poetry readings by faculty members. The giveaways will include items such as GPS units, tents, water bottles, and other outdoor-themed items. The station features aclassroom, multi-room dormitory, meeting room, utility building, and caretaker residence. From the beginning, one of the goals of the field station was to have a low environmental impact. The low impact features include sound absorbent insulation, downward pointing lights, uses of solar power and passive solar heating and lighting, Capitol Reef became a national monument on Aug. 2, 1937 under President Roosevelt when he set 37,711 acres of the area aside. It was not until Dec. 18, 1971, under President Nixon, that 254,368 acres of the monument became a park. The area of Capitol Reef National Park is as described by its Web site as a classic monocline or a fold in the earth with one side being higher then the other. This area is home to many different types of animal and plant life because of its unique geographic features. |