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Show W E B E R ,// Chamber choir concert sings out S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y The Hockey players reflect on season see page 6 see page 5 wsusignpost.com FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2006 NEWS BRIEFS New humanities building ago Team gets Bishop faces tough questions By Aimee Geddes correspondent | The N/!;n/>o%i Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. signed the part of House Bill 3 that gave Weber State University exactly S2 million to design the new classroom building to replace Buildings 1 and 2, which are 52 years old. "We were anxious for the Governor to sign it. and he waited until the very last minute, but he did sign it," said NormTarbox, WSU vice president of administrative services. The university has started the process to find a designer so that blue prints will be ready by next year for the 2007 legislative session. The school did not received the $24.65 million requested this year to fund the whole construction. Administrators have said in the past that the state will likely fund the project in the next year since a $2-million commitment to begin designs were made. New payment policy Nearly 2,000 Weber State University students were dropped from their spring semester classes for failing to pay at least $100 by the tuition deadline. The purging process was done to clear up classes for students on waiting lists, but about 76 percent of students who were dropped re-registered at WSU. For the upcoming semesters, a change was made to retain all students who register, even if they might miss the tuition deadline, because of the large number of students who intended to pay and study. The university administered a survey to some of the purged students. A quarter of the students said they had forgotten the deadline and 14 percent said they didn't know of the deadline. Eleven percent said they didn't pay because they planned on not attending this semester. Those who register but decide not to attend will have to formally drop out of the semester. If not, they will still be considered registered for a semester and be held responsible for the coursework and tuition. Writings on campus Thursday through Saturday, the Weber State University will host the National Undergraduate Literature Conference. The conference will include speeches by professional writers, as well as student presentations. Thursday Alice Sebold wilJ speak in a Convocations in the Shepherd Union Ballrooms at noon. Sebold is author of "The Lovely Bones," which has been on the New York Times' Bestsellers list. In connection with the conference, later at 2 p.m., the "My Favorite Poem Project" will be held in the Stewart Library Special Collections Room and will feature campusand community members reading their favorite poems. The following days will feature presentation sessions and speeches by writers Glen Gold, Bret Anthony Johnston and Terry Gilford. The conference was created 21 years ago by two WSU professors, Mikel Vause and Michael Meyer, to provide undergraduate students the opportunity to present their writings. More information is available at weber.edu/nulc. PHOTO HY MATT CLASS 1 TMf SiCNPOST Randy Rahe speaks to the audience after the official announcement that he will be the new head coach for the WSU men's basketball team in the 2006-2007 season. He said he looks forward to building relationships with his players and with the community. Randy Rahe named head coach of men's basketball team By jon McBridc sports editor | The Signpost Weber State University men's basketball team has a new head coach. Former University of Utah assistant coach Randy Rahe had an official welcome to Weber State yesterday at a press conference, where Athletic Director Jerry Graybeal introduced Rahe with excitement and relief to have ended his search. Rahe was one of 25 total applicants for the highly sought after position. "We had some really outstanding people to choose from," Graybeal said, "But in the end 1 feel we found the best person for Weber State." Rahe has spent the past eight years coaching Division I college basketball in Utah, and the past 16 years coaching college basketball in other states. He spent six years as an assistant coach to Stew Morrill at Utah State University, and the past two years as an assistant coach to Ray Giacoletti at University of Utah. His wealth of experience in the state of Utah played a major factor in getting the job. Rahe said he has learned how to win during his time with Morrill and Giacoletti. Winning is something Weber State needs Rahe to instill back into the basketball program after two consecutive losing seasons. "We're looking to be the best in the Big Sky and we think you can take us there," said WSU President F. Ann Millner, welcoming Rahe to Weber State. Rahe does not have any big secrets on how he intends to get the Wildcats back to their winning ways. "1 know one thing, and that's hard work," Rahe said. Growing up on a farm in Iowa instilled See Rahe page 7 Honors issues forum explores U.S. foreign debt By Cory Duclos news editor | The Signpost The Honors Issues Forum hosted Weber State University economics professor Doris Geide-Stevenson, who spoke about U.S. foreign debt in relation to China and India. Stevenson said to understand this issue, one must understand some basic principles. She explained gross domestic product, or GDR as the amount of stuff produced inside a country. These products are then imported and exported throughout the world. Steven said a trade deficit occurs when a country imports more products than it exports. For example, Stevenson showed a graph from 1997 explaining how the U.S. exported 10 percent of its GDP and imDorted about 15 percent of the GDP: VOLUME 68 ISSUE 76 Stevenson said this deficit has its costs. "When a country buys more than it sells to other countries, it spends more than it makes as a country and the other countries aren't just saying, 'OK, here have some more of our stuff, but in essence, the country has to borrow," she said. She compared a trade deficit to a person acquiring things based on credit. However, she also explained that a trade deficit is not always a bad thing; there are some benefits to it. "Benefits are you get more stuff, today," Stevenson said. She said some developing countries might need to import machinery from outside their own country to increase production. Once they have increased production, they can pay back what deficit See Honors page 3 Congressman Rob Bishop doesn't have an answer for those who want to know how to get involved in the community or make a difference. He does have answers and opinions when it comes to eliminating the Perkins loan, improving the economic situation of the state and the war in Iraq. Bishop began by quoting one of his favorite films, "Man for All Seasons," saying, "an oath is made of words, and words have meaning, and if it's possible to take an oath, we shall." After hurriedly and breathlessly expressing how he hopes to improve Utah for about 15 minutes, Bishop opened up the session for further questions. AndreaSmith, a BIS sophomore at Weber State University, expressed her concern for the Perkins Loan by asking Bishop what he thought of the possible elimination of it. B i s h o p explained that the program was one of the least sufficient of its kind, and expressed his Rob Bishop disfavor for the loan. "I hated Carl Perkins' money because every year the federal government would impose upon the state new criteria for accepting those to receive the money," Bishop said. As the meeting pressed on, Smith spoke her mind one last time before the closing, reminding Bishop that cutting the Perkins loan would affect more than 1,000 WSU students and cost the university more than $1 million. Bishop then advised her that to resolve the matter, she should get in touch with the proper committee, Education and Workforce Services. Bishop did not have a lot of advice for other students who wanted to be involved in a cause they are passionate about. He only said that it is important to be involved and present. "If you actually happen to be there when a decision is made, you have an enormous amount of influence on that decision," Bishop said to the group of eight present at his speech in a small classroom in the Shepherd Union Building. Nicholas Holland, WSU political See Bishop page 3 PHOTO UV TRICIA CERRARD | THE SIGNPOST Nancy Con way, editor in chief of The Salt Lake Tribune, speaks about ethics in journalism Tuesday. Conway spoke with media lawyer Jeff Hunt, saying things may be legal, but also unethical. Speakers explore ethics in journalism By Trevor Warner correspondent | The Signpost PHOTO BY BRICE KELSCHf THE SIGNPOST WSU economics professor Doris GeideStevenson explains the U.S. foreign trade deficit during an Honors Issues Forum Tuesday. Stevenson explained how the U.S. has run $617 billion a trade defecit by importing more products than it exports. On Wednesday March 22, the WSU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held a discussion about the ethics of journalism. Speaking were Nancy Conway, editor of The Salt Lake Tribune, and Jeff Hunt, a media attorney at Parr, Waddoups, Brown, Gee and Loveless. The discussion was entitled "Just Because See Ethics page 3 |