UtahStatesman The
Utah State University
Today is Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 Breaking News Homes evacuated as Idaho wildfire moves closer to Sun Valley Resort’s ski area. Firefighters work to fight the blaze.
Going the distance to Brigham Aggie Shuttle now making twice-daily trips to Brigham City campus on weeknights
By ARIE KIRK news editor
Campus News
Parking fees have gone up and new parking restrictions are in effect. Page 3
www.utahstatesman.com
Logan, Utah
Students commuting to Brigham City for evening classes can now let someone else do the driving. The Aggie Shuttle is offering a bus route to USU’s campus in Brigham. The bus leaves twice a day, Monday through Thursday, and takes students directly to the campus. Farah Chase-Dunn, marketing coordinator for Regional Campuses and Distance Education, said both campuses are thrilled to be providing this service to students. “You can’t even get something this good with the LTD. It is just a blessing for students who need this,” Chase-Dunn said. “I am so excited to offer students this opportunity to get the classes they need.” James Earl, assistant director of USUBrigham City, called the service, which started on Monday, “a marriage made in heaven.” Earl said the route begins at USU’s Romney Stadium. The first bus departs from the Stadium’s west parking lot at 4 p.m., the second leaving at 6:30 p.m. The shuttles then stop at
the TSC at 4:08 and 6:38, Veterinary Science at 4:10 and 6:40, Industrial Science at 4:12 and 6:42, and the Fine Arts Center at 4:15 and 6:45. It will also stop at the Park and Ride in Wellsville and arrive in Brigham no later than 5:15 and 7:45. Buses leave the Brigham City campus at 7:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. Return trips from Brigham follow the route in reverse order, arriving at the Stadium parking lot at 9 p.m. and midnight. All times are approximate. Earl said they are allowing one hour for the drive through the canyon. However, it is expected to take only 45 minutes. He also said buses are not leaving earlier in the day because around 75 percent of classes in Brigham are held in the evening. Chase-Dunn said the shuttle runs all 15 weeks of each semester.
-See BRIGHAM, page 03 An AGGIE SHUTTLE route has been established between USU’s Logan and Brigham City campuses. “I think it is going to be a raving success,” said James Earl, assistant director of USU-Brigham City. GIDEON OAKES photo
And Bingo was his name-o... Students packed The ballroom Tuesday night to participate in a game of high-stakes bingo, pounding their feet and cheering enthusiastically at the start of each new game. Bingo night was put on by ASUSU as part of the Week of Welcome. Some of the prizes that went to the winners included a DVD player, an iPod Shuffle, helicopter flying lessons and a car stereo worth $300. Other prizes included a 24-pack of Pepsi. Week of Welcome continues until Saturday. Other activities that will be held this week include the Blood Battle in the Sunburst Lounge, Day on the Quad and the Coaches’ Show on Wednesday, True Blue Day and a tail gate party before the football game on Thursday, an ‘80s dance party on Friday, and Aggie Service Day and Hang With the ORC on Saturday. More information about Week of Welcome can be found on the ASUSU Web site. TYLER LARSON photo
Features Balancing work and student life can be difficult but there are resources available to help. Page 5
Sports If Aggies can win Thursday night’s game against UNLV, the season looks bright, Coach Guy said. Page 9
ASUSU sets goals for school year By LIZ LAWYER assistant news editor
Opinion “The question each of us must ask ourselves is, ‘Who is correct, and why?’” Page 12
Almanac Today in History: In 1949, the USSR detonated its first atomic bomb, a 20 kiloton atomic explosion that destroyed buildings the Soviet scientists had constructed. The bomb was named “First Lightning.”
Weather High: 91 Low: 57 Skies: Sunny in the morning. Partly cloudy in the afternoon with 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Archives and breaking news always ready for you at www.utahstatesman.com
Have you noticed campus feeling more collaborative lately? If you have, you can thank ASUSU. Increasing collaboration among campus organizations is one of five goals this year’s group of elected student leaders set for itself at its yearly retreat last week. The other goals they have set are making USU’s campus more inclusive, encouraging student involvement, boosting Aggie pride and facilitating communication between campus groups and students, said Jacob Roskelley, ASUSU executive vice president. “These are very conceptual goals,” Roskelley said. “So we started a discussion about if we met these goals, what would campus look like?” The answers to this MCCHESNEY question ranged from having students actually greet each other on the Hello Walkway by Old Main, going around at events and surveying students about how they heard about the event, and improving campus clubs’ Web pages. Tiffany Evans, ASUSU director, said the student leaders will “holistically work toward their goals” over the next two semesters. Roskelley said there will be a big push during this first week of school to give their objectives momentum. Roskelley said the creation of an interfaith organization would be a part of making campus feel more inclusive. He said it was a special project of Student Services Vice President Gary
Chambers. ASUSU President Peter McChesney said part of the reason for working toward a more inclusive campus is the fact “there is a predominant culture here, and that’s just the way it is.” He said it was a goal of ASUSU to help those who don’t fit into that typical culture to feel they have a place at USU. The next goal, encouraging student involve-
ment, was chosen because each member of ASUSU remembered needing that little extra push when they first started joining activities. “We had a great discussion that we could all trace our involvement back to one person,” Roskelley said. “As a council we shouldn’t just be
-See ASUSU, page 03
McChesney spends summer rubbing elbows with other student leaders By LIZ LAWYER assistant news editor
Newly-elected ASUSU President Peter McChesney’s summer wasn’t spent sitting around his new office. USU’s first Aussie student body president was chosen as chair of the Utah Student Association this summer, an organization that represents all students of public higher education in Utah. It is comprised of student body presidents from public universities and colleges around the state. This position gives McChesney another level of influence on a statewide plane. Some initiatives he has been working on with the USA include making textbooks
tax-free and removing Utah’s spending cap on higher education. “(The spending cap’s) a bit more of a challenging one, though,” McChesney said, “because the state of Utah, as far as the Legislature goes, may not be willing to remove the cap. Right now the issue is more that the prevention is better than the cure. If we remove the cap now it will prevent higher education from being harmed in the future. We’ll need to decide our stance on that, whether the cap needs to be removed or if it’s OK for this year.” McChesney is also responsible for selecting a new executive director of the USA, a position responsible for the daily operations of the organization. Until he finishes interviewing appli-
cants and selects a new director, that duty will fill much of the time he devotes to the USA. Not only has McChesney continued his rise in student government; he traveled to Israel this summer with Project Interchange, a highly selective program for student body presidents. As a participant in the program, McChesney heard presentations from both Israeli and Palestinian sources and learned first-hand about the conflict in that part of the world. McChesney was one of 11 student body presidents to attend. Both of the last two ASUSU presidents, Noah Riley and Quinn Millet, were participants in the program. -elizabeth.lawyer@aggiemail. usu.edu
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World&Nation
Wednesday, Aug. 29,2007
Today’sIssue
Celebs&People
Today is Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007. Today’s issue of The Utah Statesman is published especially for Phil Monday, a freshman who is undeclared from Logan, Utah.
ClarifyCorrect The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find unfair, please contact the editor at 797-1762 or TSC 105.
Nat’lBriefs
Camera at Utah mine forced to change route SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A robotic camera lowered into a mountain became stuck 10 feet from its target, forcing crews to come up with another route to attempt getting video of an area where six miners might be trapped, an official said Tuesday. The camera was pulled back from the hole, district manager Jack Kuzar of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration told reporters after briefing families in Huntington. The camera instead will be lowered through the seventh hole being drilled into the mountain, and into an eating area where the miners may have sought refuge during the Aug. 6 cave-in. The new hole probably won’t be finished until Thursday, Kuzar said. The camera got stuck Monday night, but MSHA did not publicly disclose the problem until Tuesday.
Bizarre robery has victim get change for a ten GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) – A knife-wielding robber needed only $4, so he refused to take a $10 bill from his victim and waited while the man made change at a pizza parlor, police said Tuesday. He then took the $4 and ran off, only to be captured a few blocks away, police said. The suspect, James Mitchell, 48, was arraigned Tuesday on robbery and weapon charges. His lawyer, Arlene Popkin, refused to comment. Police Capt. Joseph DeCarlo said it “really is an odd case, but it is a robbery.” The confrontation began over an artificial rose that the 18-year-old victim had just bought, police said. “He came out of the store and was approached by the suspect, who said, ‘Give me the rose,’” DeCarlo said. “The kid told him, ‘Go in there and get one.’ But the suspect says, ‘I want that one, and your money, too,’ and pulls out a knife. When the teen said all he had was $10, the suspect said he wanted only $4, DeCarlo said. “He tells the kid to go into the pizza parlor and get change,” DeCarlo said. “Then the kid comes out, he takes his $4 and he leaves.” The teenager and his mother, who was across the street, called police and led officers to Mitchell, DeCarlo said. He couldn’t say why Mitchell wanted only $4.
Turkeys newly elected president Abdullah Gul follows a military guard of honor carrying his wreath during his visit to the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founderKemal Ataturk to pay his respects in Ankara. AP photo
New Turkish president supports separation of state and Islam ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) – A devout Muslim won Turkey’s presidency Tuesday after months of confrontation with the secular establishment, promising to be impartial and praising the idea that Islam and the state should be separate. Still, in a sign that tension could lie ahead, top generals did not attend the swearing-in ceremony in parliament of Abdullah Gul, their new president and commander in chief. Local media interpreted their absence as a protest against the 56-year-old
Gul, the former foreign minister in Turkey’s Islamic-oriented government. Gul, who has tried to engineer Turkey’s entry into the European Union with sweeping reforms, received a majority of 339 votes in a parliamentary ballot in the capital, Ankara. The secular opposition had thwarted Gul’s earlier bid for the presidency, but his triumph this time was assured by a ruling party that won a second term in general elections last month.
The burly and affable new president was careful to reach out to the many Turks who suspect he has a secret Islamic agenda. “In democracy, which is a system of rights and liberties, secularism, one of the core principles of our republic, is as much a model that underpins freedom for different lifestyles as it is a rule of social harmony,” Gul said. “I will continue my
-See PRESIDENT, page 14
Ford receives 5 1/2 year sentence for bribery MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Former state Sen. John Ford, once among Tennessee’s most powerful lawmakers, was sentenced Tuesday to 5 1/2 years in prison for bribery. Ford, 65, was one of five former lawmakers convicted of bribery or extortion in a statewide corruption investigation code named “Tennessee Waltz.” He was convicted in April of taking $55,000 in bribes from FBI agents posing as dishonest businessmen representing a company called E-Cycle Management. The company, which sought a change in state law for a business advantage, was a front created by the FBI. In addition to the prison term, Ford was sentenced to two years of supervised probation. Ford declined to comment as he left court on Tuesday, but a day earlier he apologized for his wrongdoing. “I accept the jury’s verdict and take full, total and complete responsibility for my actions,” the Democrat said Monday. Ford’s attorney said he planned to appeals both the conviction and sentence, though he would not specify the grounds. U.S. Attorney David Kustoff called the sentence “fair and reasonable” and said it “sends a strong statement to those in public service that will hopefully act a deterrent” to wrongdoing. Ford, who spent three decades in the Senate and took the most bribe money by far of the Tennessee Waltz lawmakers, is a member of one of Memphis’ most active political families. He is the uncle of former Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., now chairman of the centrist
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) – Police were called to Owen Wilson’s home because of an attempted suicide report, according to a police log of weekend calls. The log doesn’t indicate who made the call Sunday, but lists “attempt suicide” as the reason for it. Wilson was in good condition Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Wilson Center in Los Angeles. Hospital officials said Tuesday they weren’t releasing any updated information. The actor’s publicist, Ina Treciokas, declined to answer questions Tuesday about whether Wilson attempted to commit suicide. She said Wilson’s statement asking for privacy was all that was being released. Wilson, 38, was initially taken by ambulance from his home to Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and later transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Bo Diddley was in stable condition at a Gainesville hospital after suffering a heart attack, his publicist said Tuesday. The 78-year-old singer-guitarist complained of dizziness and nausea during a routine medical checkup Friday, said his publicist, Susan Clary. She said Diddley was being treated at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. The hospital is near his north central Florida hometown of Archer. Clary said the musician was in stable condition at the hospital’s cardiac care unit after spending the weekend in intensive care. A hospital spokesman referred all questions to Clary. “He is conscious,” Clary said. “The situation is very serious.” In May, Diddley was hospitalized in Nebraska after suffering a stroke after casino performances in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was soon transferred to Florida. Diddley, with his black glasses and low-slung guitar, has been an icon in the music industry since he topped the R&B charts with “Bo Diddley” in 1955.
LateNiteHumor David Letterman, August 27, 2007 Top Ten Reasons Why Alberto Gonzales Resigned 10. Felt he wasn’t incompetent enough for the Bush administration 9. Secretly ordered himself to fire himself 8. Was offered the John Travolta role in the touring production of “Hairspray”
Former Tennessee State Sen. John Ford exits the federal building in Memphis, Tenn., Monday, Aug. 27. Ford was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for bribery on Tuesday. AP photo
Democratic Leadership Council. John Ford still faces unrelated federal charges in Nashville, where he is accused of misreporting $800,000 in payments from contractors with TennCare, the state’s medical insurance program for the poor. Former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon was also convicted at trial in the case and is serving a five-year prison sentence. The other lawmakers pleaded guilty; two await sentencing and the other spent nine months in prison. The federal Bureau of Prisons will decide when Ford must report for his sentence and where it will be served.
7. Trying his hand at failing miserably in the private sector 6. Didn’t want to be around for transition to the Kucinich administration 5. Instead of terrorism, trying to keep Lindsay and Paris off the streets 4. Got a sweet new job at Kinko’s 3. Letterman has a guy making a sand sculpture of Biff Henderson 2. Ran out of laws to circumvent 1. Why not go out on top?
StatesmanCampus News
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
Parking restrictions change, fees go up The terrace is for the Living and Learning Center residents, staff and visitor parking. More permits are often sold than there are spots available on campus, and while Leishman receives complaints about there being no more B permit parking, she said the parking lots next to the radio towers and to the south of the Nutrition and Food Science building always had spots open last year. Other changes in parking include times when lots become available for anyone to park in. In previous years the times have varied depending on the lot, and now the majority won’t be open until after 5 p.m. “This is to make things uniform,” Leishman said. “It’s an easier system and places a higher value on permits.” The exceptions to the after-5 p.m. rule include the parking lot between the Business building and the resident parking lots, which require permits 24 hours except weekends. The Big Blue Terrace and the staff parking lot east of the Ag Science building are not open until 9:30 p.m., and the Aggie Terrace requires a permit at all times. Parking and Transportation committee member and faculty member Stephen Allan said he feels the changes in opening times will be good for the The Parking and transportation Advisory committee upped the price of parking permits faculty because at times he has had to leave and and metered parking this year to help offset the cost of the new parking terrace. The committee also changed the time come back after open time began and hasn’t been able to find a spot. Faculty and staff permit rates some lots requiring permits will open to those without permits. Most lots will now open at 5 p.m. GIDEON OAKES also increased, and Allan said he believes his is by the parking and transportation committee that around $120 for the year. As he pays more than By ALISON BAUGH will stay in effect until 2012. Student B permits students, he feels the time increase is justified. senior writer increased from $78 to $81, economy permits from Meter parking prices have also increased, $19 to $20, and motorcycle permits from $18 to Leishman said. A quarter once bought 30 minutes Parking is a constant issue for college students, $19. at the meter, but now it will only give people 20 and changes in fees and open parking times are the While these increases are to help pay for minutes. Parking and Transportation Services’ way of dealexpense increases, they are also being used to pay Enforcement of these times may be hard, ing with the issue at USU. for the new Aggie Terrace next to the Living and Leishman said, as it is a new policy, but signs have All parking permit fees have increased in price Learning Center on campus. been posted and warning will be given for the first 4 percent since last year, said Lisa Leishman, “I think it’s ridiculous that we pay more for our two weeks of school as everyone is educated about director of Parking and Transportation. This permits but can’t park in the new terrace,” said the changes. constant increase is part of a resolution approved Andy Christensen, an accounting senior. -alison.baugh@aggiemail.usu.edu
ASUSU: Leaving their mark -continued from page 1 doing things ourselves, we should empower other people to do them, too.” Another goal, boosting Aggie pride, has little to do with sports teams and more to do with the simple satisfaction of feeling a connection to the school, Roskelley said. To begin the effort to facilitate communication between groups and students, the ASUSU Web site, www.usu.edu/asusu, was revamped this summer to be more user-friendly. Club Web pages were redone more like Facebook pages, with profiles and vital information as well as options to post pictures or subscribe to a club e-mail newsletter. “We want it to be a central location for being informed about events,” Roskelley said, “because every college student has access to the Internet somewhere.” Other, more concrete goals were set by ASUSU members over the summer. McChesney said he has been working toward fulfilling his campaign promise of creating more scholarship oppor-
Brigham: New route links Logan -continued from page 1
tunities. He said he wants scholarships that aren’t as determined by GPA as university scholarships and are instead more leadershipbased. He said he is having an account set aside in ASUSU for donations that will be a fund for these scholarships. “It probably won’t happen in my term of office, but the goal is to have one million in the account to set aside as an endowment,” he said. The scholarships initiative has been his main concern, he said, though he has been working on other things, like following up on projects he started last academic year as HASS senator. “This group has a lot of energy and passion and focus,” Evans said. “They have concrete objectives. For example, I know Peter’s mantra this summer was ‘Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships.’ “The overall feeling is this group is one of high energy. I think we have a real experienced, seasoned group here.” -elizabeth.lawyer@aggiemail. usu.edu
Aggie Shuttle Supervisor Alden Erickson said in cases of severe weather, the route will go through Tremonton or will be canceled. Even in the winter, Chase-Dunn said the buses should be pretty reliable. She said they have been working closely with the Utah Department of Transportation to ensure the clearing of roads. Earl said he believes traveling through the canyon in buses during the winter will be safer for students. “Riding with professional drivers is infinitely better and infinitely safer than regular automobiles,” Earl said In addition to increasing safety, ChaseDunn said there are many more benefits of the shuttle system. She said it is an advantage to students because it provides them with the opportunity to register for classes that work better with their schedule or classes that might not be available on USU’s main campus. “Our goal is not to necessarily take away students but give students the opportunity to be able to go to the Brigham City campus in the evening whereas maybe they didn’t have means to travel,” Chase-Dunn said. “It is a great opportunity to experience more faculty members and instruction styles.” Chase-Dunn said it is economically
friendly because students will not have to buy gas. It will also reduce the number of cars on the road. Earl said a rider usage report will be produced at the end of every semester to assess the service and see whether or not it is meeting its riders’ demands. Several months ago, students approached Erickson and suggested having a bus route to the Brigham City campus, Earl said. Erickson pitched the idea to Earl and Andy Shinkle, executive director of the USU Regional Brigham City campus, and planning began immediately. It was an opportunity they couldn’t refuse, he said, and it was proposed in one day. Earl commended Erickson and Shinkle for their work. “It really took the two lead goats at the two different institutions who could see and literally made it happen,” he said. “I appreciate Alden. He is very, very proactive. He leans forward in his fox hole and is really tuned in.” The shuttle is free to students and is being funded by the Brigham City campus, Earl said. “I think it is going to be a raving success,” he said. “This is a selling point no matter how you slice it.” –arie.k@aggiemail.usu.edu
Gusts whip Idaho wildfire near Sun Valley ski area KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) – Gusty winds stoked a wildfire Tuesday above this central Idaho resort town, pushing flames near the borders of the Sun Valley Resort ski area even as air tankers and helicopters armed with red retardant made passes at five–minute intervals. The Castle Rock fire, which has ebbed and flowed around this town as it burned more than 64 square miles of spruce, fir and pine trees, leapt to life again Tuesday afternoon, keeping crews busy at their station near a summit lodge adorned with fading pictures of Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper and Tyrone Power, past visitors to the resort founded in 1936. Amid the smoke, managers opted to leave ski lifts running – not for people, but to keep errant flames from cooking cables that ferry more than 200,000 visitors up the slopes each winter. Blaine County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of homes located west of the Warm Springs Bridge, in the northern part of town. Ketchum has already canceled the traditional Labor Day weekend’s Wagon Days when 10,000 guests usually come to town. The fire started Aug. 17 with a lightning strike. No structures have burned. With the latest evacuation order, about 2,000 homes are affected. Sixty Idaho Army and Air National Guard soldiers were assisting residents, going door to door in the Warm Springs area to make sure they followed the mandatory order, said Bettyann Mummert, a local Red Cross official. They were being evacuated to the Blaine County Community Campus, located in Hailey, 12 miles south of Ketchum.
“This latest evacuation order was due to the fire conditions, the burnout operations and the increased possibility for fire spotting,” said Bob Beanblossum, a fire information officer. “The fire activity is still currently outside the ski area boundaries.” He said the concern is that embers could start spot fires in the Warm Springs neighborhood. A wall of smoke greets visitors driving State Highway 75 into the Wood River Valley, where the ski area is located. Many of the nearby mountains are obscured. Jack Sibbach, a spokesman for the Sun Valley Co. that runs the 71–year–old, 510–room resort, said accommodations were roughly 90 percent full, though guests had begun some cancellations, including a 36– person group that opted to leave the valley. “We understand safety has to come first,” Sibbach said. He praised the more than 1,650 fire personnel from across the nation who are fighting what officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, are calling the region’s top priority blaze. That’s in part because more than half of Blaine County’s $12 billion in net taxable value is in homes located in Sun Valley and Ketchum, both towns potentially in the fire’s path. With planes flying overhead, helicopters buzzing the ridgetop and smoke obscuring vision, firefighters compared the area to a historic battle scene. “Makes you wonder what Pearl Harbor was like,” said group supervisor Brad Martin, sur- FIREFIGHTERS WATCH as a helicopter gets ready to make a drop near them as billowing clouds of smoke boil behind Tuesday, Aug. rounded by firefighters directing sprinkler 28, 2007, in Ketchum, Idaho. Gusty winds stoked a wildfire above this hoses at structures.
central Idaho resort town, pushing flames near the border of the Sun Valley Resort ski area while air tankers and helicopters armed with red retardant made passes. AP PHOTO
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Briefs Campus & Community
Huntsman to honor miners in Huntington Salt Lake City – Governor Jon Huntsman is helping to organize acommunity gathering event, “A Celebration of Heroes” to celebrate the mining communities in Emery and Carbon counties. The event will beheld Saturday, Sept. 15 at Canyon View Junior High in Huntington. “It’s important for the families and the community to have a time to reflect on and give tribute to the heroic miners, the rescuers and the families affected by this terrible tragedy,” Governor Huntsman said.“But we also must come together to rise above the challenges. In times like these we must celebrate the heroes.” Country music artist Collin Raye will headline the event and former Utah Jazz player Karl Malone will be part of the program. Huntington resident Gary Arrington will chair the event. He is being assisted by Shannon Hiatt, who is the chairman of the Emery County Recreation Board and Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon as well as many other volunteers. “The families of the missing miners and all of the mine rescuers have endured so much heartache and pain while the rest of Utah and the nation have grieved for the same losses from a distance,” Governor Huntsman said. “All of the people in Utah have felt drawn to the families during the past three weeks. I hope we can use this and other upcoming events as a time to reflect both on the heroes among us and those lost.” Tickets will not be required, but donations to go toward the families will be welcome.
Nat. Resources Field Days needs volunteers
Like getting wet and playing in the water? USU Water Quality Extension seeks volunteers to teach 4th graders about water quality and water bugs. Volunteers are needed for Natural Resources Field Days Sept. 5-14 in Logan Canyon. Participants can sign up to volunteer in two-hour blocks from 9:45-11:45 a.m. or from 12:05-2:05 p.m. Lunch is provided. Volunteers will receive training to lead children in hands-on activities to learn about water quality and aquatic macroinvertebrates living in local waters. Deadline for volunteer sign-up is Friday, Aug. 31. For information, contact Susan Anderson at 435-797-2580 or susana@ext. usu.edu.
Four former students to be made dignitaries Four USU alumni were named as dignitaries for USU’s Homecoming festivities Sept. 16-22. Brothers Sidney and MacArthur Lane, Corey Christiansen and Rolf Kerr will be honored for accomplishments both at USU and during their lifetimes. “Homecoming is a time to remember the rich history of Utah State, and it is individuals such as these who carry those great traditions of excellence into communities across the country, even across the world,” said Wallace Odd, executive director of Alumni Relations. “The Alumni Association is pleased to honor such outstanding people.” Sidney and MacArthur Lane, brothers and former football players at USU, have been named the grand marshals for Homecoming. Recipients of the award are chosen to lead the annual USU homecoming parade down Logan’s Main Street. The Lanes will be honored at the Homecoming dignitaries banquet and the Homecoming football game against San Jose State. MacArthur Lane was a running back at USU and on the men’s track team from 1966-1968. He is a former professional football player and participated in 11 NFL seasons from 1968-1978 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Sidney Lane is a retired high school teacher. He also worked at the University of California. He played football for USU from 1967-1972. He and his brother established the Henry Lane Memorial Fund at USU in honor of their father, Henry Lane. This student loan fund is for African American varsity football students attending USU. “Sid and Mac are indeed USU legends,” Odd said. “They continue to share their resources and abilities in their communities and professions. They both are remarkable individuals who exhibit the meaning of ‘True Blue Aggies.’”
-Compiled from staff and media reports
Page 04
StatesmanCampus
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
Kids under five banned from pools after Utah crypto outbreak SALT LAKE CITY (AP)– Utah’s largest counties banned children under age 5 from public swimming pools Tuesday to stop the spread of cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause severe diarrhea. The state typically sees 30 cases a year but so far has confirmed 422. No deaths have been reported. “The numbers keep climbing,” the Utah Department of Health said in a statement. The state’s most populous counties, Salt Lake and Utah, ordered pools to not allow anyone under 5 or anyone in diapers. The ban covers publicly operated pools as well as pools at apartments, hotels and amusement parks. Davis, Weber and
Morgan counties in northern Utah enacted similar restrictions. “It’s everywhere, and it’s no more prolific in one pool or another,” said Pam Davenport, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. Cryptosporidium is found in soil, food, water or surfaces that have been contaminated with human or animal feces, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Toddlers are being targeted for two reasons: They are more susceptible to catching the illness and likely are crypto carriers because they wear diapers in the water. “The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very
resistant” to chlorine, the CDC says on its Web site. State and local health officials will meet again Sept. 10. If conditions don’t improve, some pools could be closed, said Dr. David Sundwall, state health director. The state is recommending weekly “hyper-chlorination” of pools. The reason for the rise in crypto cases is unknown. “Given how hot the summer has been, there may be more people in the pools and more people exposed,” said Tom Hudachko, spokesman for the Utah Department of Health. The Bear River Health Department, which covers Rich, Cache and Box Elder counties, is recommending pools keep kids under 5 out of the water, but no ban has been adopted.
White House eyes 5 potential nominees to replace Gonzales Senator Hatch reported as once having said he wouldn’t mind the job WASHINGTON (AP) – Moving quickly to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, White House officials are considering five names that “have kind of emerged” as possible candidates to take over the beleaguered Justice Department, according to a senior Bush administration official. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak more openly about the process declined to identify the five contenders who were being looked at “pretty seriously.” White House officials have consulted more than 20 members of Congress – Democrats and Republicans alike – about possible successors to Gonzales, who announced Monday that is leaving office on Sept. 17. Interviews with current and former Justice Department officials, congressional aides, attorneys and other legal experts yielded as many as 24 names of possible, if highly speculative candidates for the attorney general’s job. When contacted Tuesday, several contenders asked to remain anonymous and flatly said they did not want the job. Others declined to comment. “I love the Department of Justice – it’s the most wonderful professional experience I’ve had in my life,” said Ted Olson, a former solicitor general for the Bush administration who declined to say whether he has discussed the attorney general’s job with the White House or whether he would accept the post if offered. Similarly, George Terwilliger, a deputy attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush who has emerged as an often-mentioned contender, declined to comment. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who formerly chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, once said he would take the job if offered. When asked if he would take the job of running the Justice Department, former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson sent word through a spokeswoman that “he’s very happy in this role” as general counsel at PepsiCo. Solicitor General Paul Clement could remain acting attorney general for an indefinite time after Gonzales leaves. White House officials said Tuesday it was unlikely that a successor would be named before Bush returns Sept. 9 from a state visit to Australia and meetings with world leaders at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. He leaves Washington next Monday. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, predicted it will be tough for the White House to find Gonzales’ successor. “I think it’s going to be very challenging to find somebody who would be willing to accept that nomination,” Cornyn said. “It’s going to be a very tough partisan environment. Anybody in their right mind would have to be extremely thoughtful about whether they want to subject” themselves to the kind of environment Gonzales endured. Gonzales announced his resignation Monday after seven months of criticism that began with a congressional investigation into the firings of nine U.S. attorneys. The inquiry led to Republicans and
ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO GONZALEZ pauses while announcing his resignation at the Department of Justice in Washington, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Gonzales resigned, ending a standoff with critics, who questioned his honesty and competence at the helm of the Justice Department. AP PHOTO
Democrats alike questioning Gonzales’ honesty on a range of topics – including the administration’s domestic terrorism spying program. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said conservative candidates wouldn’t necessarily be rejected – as long as they pledged to check their politics at the Justice Department’s door. “They’d be ideologically conservative, but at the same time, who we would find acceptable, people who we believe would put the rule of law first and politics last,” Schumer told CNN. “Sort of the inverse of what Attorney General Gonzales did.” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, also mentioned as a candidate, said little Tuesday during a to Mobile, Ala., about whether he may succeed Gonzales, instead praising the attorney general as “a dedicated public servant and a good friend.” Accompanying Chertoff was Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who said “I know the president would like to have him as attorney general and I know he would like to have him as head of DHS.” Also mentioned as a possible candidate is Laurence H. Silberman, a senior judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Several Democrats and legal experts said Silberman would have difficulty winning confirmation because of his political resume – including overturning Oliver North’s conviction and discrediting Anita Hill during Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings. Hatch’s prospects were a big unknown. There is general affection for him from his Senate colleagues but also questions about his loyalty to the administration because of his gentle treatment of Gonzales. The Utah Republican was the lone member of his party on the Senate Judiciary Committee not to openly deride the embattled attorney general.
Craig says he did nothing wrong, isn’t gay BOISE, Idaho (AP) – A defiant Sen. Larry Craig denied any wrongdoing Tuesday despite his guilty plea this summer in a men’s room police sting, emphatically adding, “I am not gay. I never have been gay.” Craig, a third-term senator from Idaho, proclaimed his innocence as well as his sexuality less than an hour after Senate leaders from his own Republican Party called for an ethics committee review of his case. “This is a serious matter,” they said in Washington in a
written statement that offered neither support nor criticism of the conservative senator. Issued in the names of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the party leader, and several others, the statement said they were examining “other aspects of the case to determine if additional action is required.” Craig, his wife, Suzanne, at his side, took no questions in a brief appearance in the capital city of the state he has represented in Congress for more than two decades in the House and then the Senate.
He had “overreacted and made a poor decision” when he was apprehended by an undercover police officer in a men’s room at the Minneapolis airport and later pleaded guilty. “While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct in the Minneapolis Airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in hopes of making it go away.” He said he kept the information from his friends, family and staff, adding, “I wasn’t eager to share this failure but I should have anyway because I am not gay.”
features@statesman.usu.edu
797-1769
AggieLife
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 Page 5
Today: Campus Threads
Balancing work
and school
USU SENIoR RUSS “RJ” MADDOX splits his time between Olive Garden and his studies as an education major. Maddox works as a server as well as in the kitchen at the restaurant. Many students hold down part-time or even full-time jobs outisde of school, forcing them to shuffle schedules around to meet priorities. GIDEON OAKES photo
By Jenna Quinn staff writer
at the HPER building on campus his freshman year. Even
T
he stresses of school, friendships, dating, adjusting to college, finances and work all at the same time can be be
hard to handle for students, said LuAnn Helms, who works for the USU Counseling Center. Many college students work full time or part time, and the mere act of finding a job can be stressful itself, she said. Rebecca Sheffield, a senior in secondary education for her second bachelor’s degree, said she works part time as a teacher’s aide. “I hope I can handle the stress,” said Sheffield, who previously only worked during the summers. Audrey Merket, a senior studying English education, said
now, however, Gerth said he tries to keeps himself on a strict schedule in regard to work, school and other commitments. “No outside plans before 7 p.m.,” Gerth said. He said he was able to maintain his high GPA because he kept to his schedule. Of course, not all students are affected the same when it comes to stress caused by a tight schedule. When asked if it was difficult to have a social life, Michael Clark, freshman in premed who works part time at Lee’s Marketplace, said, “Not really.”
-See STRESS, page 7
she works part time at the Writing Center at USU. To have time for school, she said she often stays up late and spends a lot of personal time at the library to maintain her grades. Merket said having a social life is even harder to balance as a full-time student with a job and that her social life is replaced by “study partners and coworkers.” Sophomore Adam Gerth, in aerospace engineering, said he is currently looking for a job, although he did work part time GIDEON OAKES photo
Workforce Services helps community find jobs By Mark Ferguson staff writer There’s an office in town where the people inside are more worried about the people outside. According to its mission statement, the Department of Workforce Services states that its focus is on providing employment and support services to customers to improve the customers’ economic opportunities. For JaNae Peterson, she said her work is all about helping people. “(It’s about) just seeing people make changes and working hard to make those changes for themselves, seeing people succeed and people being self-sufficient and taking initiative,” said Peterson, lead employment counselor. “That’s what makes the job worthwhile, seeing people do
that.” Peterson, who attended USU, graduated in social work in 2002. Before she began working at Workforce, she was required to attend training workshops, which were usually held in Salt Lake City and occasionally via video conferencing. Peterson said technology has pushed the advancement and availability of these local services. For example, Peterson said nearly the entire process of finding a job is now done online. In fact, much of the building is dedicated to provide access to the Internet for the job-searching residents of Cache Valley. The Workforce Web site is www.jobs.utah. gov, which houses most of the service’s options. Peterson said job seekers can view thousands of current job listings, access information about training services, explore various career options
and even search for local childcare. All services are free and available 24 hours a day. When visiting the Web site isn’t enough, however, people can visit the Workforce office. Scott Clark, employment counselor and local veterans employment representative, said he is used to helping job seekers in person. Clark graduated from USU as well in 1997 with a degree in natural resources and agriculture. He said he is in charge of handling the Veteran’s Affairs, such as benefits and services, that the government provides. Clark was in the marines for 20 years and now specializes in working with veterans searching for a job through the company. Clark said he feels he’s done a good job after “knowing that you’ve helped someone achieve a
-See WORKFORCE, page 7
Majoring in play Whoever came up with the maxim “Work comes before play” is no friend of mine. I’m a big fan of playing, whether it be sports, video games or playing war in the mud with little green army men with my best friend on a Friday night. Which reminds me, I’d better call him and set that up for this weekend. If only he weren’t imaginary, it would sure make this a lot easier. In fact, as a child, I was encouraged to play. I was told it would enhance my creativity. All I knew was it sure beat whatever it was my dad did all day. Playing was my only task, and I was good at it. Sadly enough, I am a product of my environment and I was taught from a young age to play by imitating professions. The professions I played included such lucrative careers as a Ghostbuster, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or a cowboy. All these were worthwhile endeavors, and my dream growing up was to stop the Stay Puft marshmallow man from destroying Salt Lake City. Seriously though, as I think back on childhood, I realize when I thought I was playing, I was really being bred to choose a career. I wasn’t the only one either. My entire generation was. Think about it, what games do children play? They pretend to be doctors (not in the sick, perverted way), construction workers, fire fighters and police officers. Children even play house – though the feminist movement confused this fun game by making the wife work outside of home. Maybe that’s why whenever I played house with girls they would disappear and I wouldn’t see them the rest of the day. So instead of learning to have true fun like lighting fireworks, sliding on a Slip ‘n Slide or how to become a top secret spy (oh wait, that’s a career again. Dang it.), I was being tricked into thinking work was fun. Sure that sounded good enough as a kid, but as soon as I turned 16, I knew the fun was over. I can still remember that fateful morning when I woke to a rent bill taped to my bedroom door and a note that said, “Get a job. It’s about time you paid your way in this world.” So off I went to get a job. My first task was to sit down and make a list of all my skills: amateur checkers champion, supporting actor in my sixth grade play, skilled at Star Craft, able to make macaroni and cheese and fairly decent at writing my name in cursive. Of the last I was particularly proud of. I was sure if every other job opportunity closed to me, surely I could be a monk. With my skill list in hand, I started pursuing job postings: CEO wanted with more than 15 years experience in technology sector; marketing director needed with four years sales experience and masters degree; bagger at local grocery store, essential qualifications include being able to breathe, walk and not drool on the food (at least not while the customer is looking). Glancing down at my skills list, I knew the only thing I was qualified for was the latter, so I applied at my local grocery store as a bagger. I guess a lesson I learned from this was every job wants someone with experience, but nobody wants to give somebody a chance to get that experience. I remember going to the interview dressed up in a blue shirt and tie, thinking it was stupid that it’s proper etiquette to dress up for an interview to get a job as a bagger. Wouldn’t throwing on peasant clothes or a nice orange jumpsuit be more appropriate? All I really remember from the interview was the interviewer staring at me with a hard edge in his eye and him slowly sharpening a knife on a stone while he grilled me under a bare bulb about where the rebel spy base was located. I was later told by other employees that they didn’t have the same experience. Weird. I somehow convinced the interviewer that I was capable of picking up cans of chicken noodle soup and placing them in a plastic bag without crushing eggs or squishing bread. Bagging groceries is not the most exciting job in the world, but it sure beats other jobs I’ve seen my peers doing, such as waving to traffic in a giant ice cream cone suit for an ice cream shop or conducting telemarketing surveys about which brand of laundry detergent leaves clothes feeling fresh and light. Now there’s a poll that will change the course of humanity. I’ve held a few other jobs since my days as a courtesy clerk – sadly that is the politically correct term for a bagger – and all of them have strengthened my belief that our society places way too much emphasis on work and not enough on fun. Just think of it, if fun came before work, dentist visits wouldn’t be dreaded because he would give an extra dose of laughing gas and everyone could have a good time. Or lawyers would actually crack a joke that was funny. Or teachers wouldn’t take themselves so seriously and would give homework assignments like blowing bubbles in chocolate milk for 15 minutes a day. Sure nothing would get done, but maybe less people would get sick from stress and everyone would sure be a lot happier, especially the chocolate milk industry. I may not have all the answers, but all I know is all work and no play sounds like communism to me, so I’m going to live the American dream by earning a spot on the “Price is Right.” Seth Hawkins is a junior majoring in public relations. When he’s not popping out of giant birthday cakes, he fills his time thinking up names for his pet rocks. Send comments to seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu
You will be graded on the curve.
Page 6
AggieLife
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
Places to be, things to know
A look at USU campus Taggart Student Center The Taggart Student Center is the community center of the university for students, staff, faculty, administration, alumni and guests. It’s the home of The Hub, Quickstop, Skyroom, Aggie Marketplace, Financial Aid and Registrar’s Office, the Ticket Office and ASUSU offices.
The Hub PATRICK ODEN photo
65 South Main Street Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm Sat. 10am-5pm 753-7175
Registrar’s Office
NOELLE BERLAGE photo
Computer lab PATRICK ODEN photo
Fieldhouse
NOELLE BERLAGE photo PATRICK ODEN photo
Recreation 797-1495 (HPER) 797-7529 (Main Office) Students interested in intramural, club or leisure sports activities can fulfill their interests by checking out activities listed at the Campus Recreation Office, located in HPER Room 126. Campus Recreation has access to two facilities, the HPER and the Fieldhouse, which are located across the street from each other. Recreation activities include racquetball, basketball, indoor track, weights, tennis, softball, swimming and more. Club sports include ballroom, baseball, women’s basketball, cycling, hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, rodeo, rugby, skiing, soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball and water polo. Bring student ID card to get into Fieldhouse for free.
PATRICK ODEN photo
Old Main This building lights up Logan every night and is one of the most historic buildings on campus. Students look to the “A” after game nights to see if it has been changed to blue, which means a win. The “A” is also always blue on full moon nights when students can kiss on top of the Block A and become True Aggies.
-See CAMPUS, page 8
Register for Institute at our NEW website wise.ldsces.org
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
AggieLife
Page 7
TWO JOB BOARDS are LOCATED outside of the Student Employment Office in the TSC. One board lists available on-campus jobs while the other lists available off-campus jobs. These boards are updated daily. PATRICK ODEN photo
USU offers job service to students Students now allowed to work more hours
By BRITTNY GOODSELL JONES assistant features editor
Students needing to work more than 20 hours a week at their on-campus jobs can now rest assured they won’t get into trouble. Paula Miller, human resource specialist, said the old rule, which only allowed a maximum of 20 working hours per week for students, has been somewhat dropped. “They’ve kind of let go of that,” Miller said. “We do post the jobs that are 20 hours a week or less, but if a student gets a job (on campus) and works more than 20 hours a week, we don’t really monitor that anymore.” The new rule is just one advantage, Miller said, of working on campus. Another advantage is a flexible schedule that can fit between classes. Miller, who works at the Student Employment Office, also said working on campus is convenient because there is no need to leave campus. “The pay is also slowly getting better,” Miller said with a laugh.
USU’s Student Employment Center staff members are there to help speed up the process of finding, applying and getting jobs for students and nonstudents. Ryan Bohm, senior in international business, said there are two ways to apply for on-campus jobs. The first way to apply is to go online to the student employment Web site at http://www.usu. edu/studemp/. The second way to apply is to directly go to the Student Employment Office and begin in person. A job board is located outside the Student Employment Office and is updated each day by 8 a.m. The job board also shows off-campus jobs available as well as some temporary jobs, summer jobs, work-study jobs and part-time only jobs. Bohm, who works in the USU Student Employment Office, said students can apply for only two jobs per day. The first step in applying for a job is to locate the oncampus job board outside Student Employment Office
or online at its Web site. Students must then find the job number located on the job description. The second step is to take the job number to the office to fill out any necessary paperwork or fill out any paperwork online. If applying in person, the Student Employment Office will then print the student a referral that will give information on how to apply for the particular job. If applying online, students need to hit the Print Job Referral button located on the Job Details page to print their referral. The final step is to contact the department about its referral and bring the referral and a personal resume to the interview. Bohm said students can apply for jobs “whichever way is easier for them” and that the application process goes quickly as long as instructions are followed. The Student Employment Office is located in Room 106 in the Taggart Student Center, and the staff can be reached at 797-0184. -britg@cc.usu.edu
Does studying in bed hurt grades? By Frank Greve McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) WASHINGTON – Forty years ago, Robert Gifford, a senior at the University of California at Davis, spent a few weeks banging on dorm doors and asking occupants whether they were studying. Gifford didn’t want to party; he just wanted to see whether the students were working at their desks or on their beds. Then he wanted to compare the grade-point averages of the erect to the supine.
Gifford’s little experiment was a rare serious effort to answer a question that erupts in millions of households and dorms across the nation: Will I do better if I study in an uncomfortable position? The answer’s certainly yes if you go by published study guides and the venerable experts who write them. “You need a chair that’s not real comfortable, and you certainly don’t want to be studying on
-See GRADES, page 8
STRESS: Students balancing work and school
-continued from page 5 So how do students handle a job, school and a social life? “No sleep,” Merket said. She also said working out helps her find energy to deal with her stressful schedule and to stay productive for a longer period of time. Helms said students deal with stress in two ways: healthy and unhealthy. The healthy way includes activities such as talking to a friend and exercising. The unhealthy way, Helms said, can include activities like drinking too much alcohol.
Gerth said he makes time to relax by swimming, listening to music and hanging out with friends. Sheffield said she handles her stress by reading, taking walks and breathing deeply. A few tips Helms said she recommends in dealing with stress include enjoying nature, exercising moderately, eating healthy and getting enough sleep. Students can also try yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. Helms also suggests spending time with positive and
Workforce: Web site and office available for community -continued from page 3 goal … so they feel good about themselves and help their selfesteem.” The supervisor of Workforce, Scott Balls, is from Cache County and received a business administration degree from USU. Balls said he is responsible for a service that offers many job types. On average, Balls said there are about 32,000 jobs available in
the state of Utah, with more than 150 jobs usually available in the Logan area. If students are interested in the services offered by Workforce, they can visit its Web site or office, located at 180 N. 100 West in Logan. Students can also call 792-0300 for more information. -mark.ferguson@aggiemail.usu.edu
supportive friends, being creative through hobbies such as painting or writing, and listening to calming or uplifting music. For more information, students can call the USU Counseling Center at 797-1012. -jennaq@cc.usu.edu
Page 8
AggieLife
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
Campus: Important places at USU
-continued from page 6
138 N. 100 E.
Mon-Sat 9-6
435.753.3294
www.sunrisecyclery.net
Come in to get paid to commute by bike Offer good until 9/6/07
*free labor w/ purchase of tube
any tune up
Flat Repair*
FREE
OR
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Come in for closeouts on all ‘07 bikes PATRICK ODEN photo
Merrill-Cazier Library 797-2678 When students need to study, the library offers a quiet setting with several resources, including special collections and archives, computers and private rooms for group projects. Students can check out textbooks and get help from librarians on how to find materials for papers.
PATRICK ODEN photo
Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall This building is a new addition to USU and was designed to make the most out of any performer’s music. Recitals and special guests are often held here. Information compiled by Manette Newbold Sources: USU Web site and the Adviser Handbook 2001-2002
GRADES: Bed studying -continued from page your bed,” said Sherrie NistOlejnik, a recent retiree from the University of Georgia at Athens, where she directed or delivered various “learning to learn” efforts for 24 years. And how does Nist-Olejnik know beds are bad for scholars? “There’s not a lot written about it, but if you ask students about studying on their beds, they laugh and tell you they fall asleep,” said Nist-Olejnik, author of a popular study guide called “College Rules!” Indeed, Emily Kopilow, 21, a junior at Haverford College in Haverford, Pa., did laugh at studying abed – but she also spurned the uncomfortable chair idea. “If you’re uncomfortable,” she said, “you’ll focus on your body and your discomfort, not what you’re supposed to be reading about.” Michael Kimmel, a sociologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook who’s studied advice manuals, acknowledged that lots of college reading can put students to sleep. But he saw something puritanical in both the straight chair recommendation and the aversion to anything involving a bed other than sleeping in it. Cultural historian Edward Tenner, author most recently of “Our Own Devices,” a book about technology’s influence on behavior, agreed. He suspects that the uncomfortable chair theory is rooted in the good-posture movement that flourished between World Wars I and II. It asserted a connection between sitting straight and straight thinking.
Page 9
WednesdaySports Gameday Preview
Looking for No. 1
Winning opener has proven to be a key to success for Ags By SAMMY HISLOP sports editor
Study the schedules from the past 20 years of Aggie football and you find something very important: No. 1 is a big deal. In only three of those 20 seasons have the Aggies won the first game. It’s a critical number when coupled with the fact that all three of those campaigns were winning ones, and in two of them USU qualified for bowl games. Come Thursday at 6:05 p.m., the Aggies will be given another opportunity to snag that first game when the University of NevadaLas Vegas Runnin’ Rebels come to town. “We’ve got to win the first one,” USU Head Coach Brent Guy said. “It’s a home opener. You look at the history of this school in the past two decades, with season opening wins has a huge impact on the outcome of that team. It’s pretty dramatic when you look at the history of it. That’s something we’re going to talk about. We’ve got a great opportunity to play at home. Our focus is on the first game.” The circumstances are looking good for the Aggies — at least on paper. Of the seven games the program has won over the past three years, two of those victories have come against the Runnin’ Rebels. UNVL is 5-12 all time against USU. Plus, USU hasn’t had a season opener at Romney Stadium since 2002 (a 23-3 loss to the University of Utah). USU Quarterback leon jackson iii drops back to pass as backup tailback Curtis Marsh looks on at practice Saturday. Jackson will start Thursday vs. UNLV. Kickoff is slated for 6:05 p.m. TYLER LARSON photo
-See No. 1, page 11
All 11 starters back for USU defense By SAMMY HISLOP sports editor
A handful of things may be said of a 2006 Aggie defense that ranked 111th nationally against the rush, 112th guarding the pass, 116th in total yardage given up, and 117th in points allowed. Unfortunately, not many of those things are enlightening to the ears of Aggie faithfuls. Yes, looking back on last year’s Aggie football campaign is a difficult and sour thing for any Aggie coach, player or fan to do. But unlike Head Coach Brent Guy’s first two seasons as the leader of the Aggies, this year all 11 of his defensive starters are back.
Even with that experience coming back, however, one large and unanswered question remains: How will these starters put a nightmare of a season behind them? Sophomore linebacker and 2006 Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Paul Igboeli said it’s simple enough for him. “I already have,” the Grand Prairie, Texas, native said of forgetting about last year’s defensive performance. “I couldn’t even tell how you get (confidence) or how it happens. (It’s) having a good year in the weight room and spring ball, and how fall camp started. Everybody’s feeling pretty good about the little situation we’ve got going. You start fresh. You start anew. We’re looking forward to that chance.” Luckily for this season’s team, that kind of optimism seemed to be a general
feeling of everyone involved during the annual Aggie Media Day held Aug. 10. Being positive is really the only option for a defense that gave up 38.5 points per game last season. And Igboeli is just one of the signs of light returning on the defensive side at linebacker. Defensive end Ben Calderwood, a junior from Smithfield, was Second-Team All WAC in 2006 and has already received a plethora of preseason hype. He was put on the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award Watch List as well as the All-WAC Preseason Team by Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s, Sporting News, Street and Smith, cbs.sportsline. com, and Athlon Publications. His mindset of the season reflects that of Igboeli.
“I think guys have tried to work harder on football and put some of their personal interests aside to benefit the team,” Calderwood said. “We have to have a positive attitude and be confident in our abilities to achieve the success we’re hoping for.” Other good tidings come with the news that middle linebacker Jake Hutton, a junior from Pocatello, Idaho, is back to full health. Hutton missed the final eight games of 2006 due to a foot injury during the team’s loss at BYU. Before being sidelined, he was the team leader in tackles. Guy said losing Hutton to injury was perhaps one of last year’s most daunting and devastating losses of personnel for the team.
-See DEFENSE, page 11
On the defensive end, USU returns the strong defensive line that characterized the Aggies’ style of play last season. Sophomore defender Lindsey Smart was named the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She scored one goal for the Aggies last season. After playing every minute of last season between the pipes, junior goalkeeper Ali Griffin will have competition this year in fellow junior goaltender Lisa Willardson, Last season the Aggies were led by senior standout Charity who played the first half of USU’s exhibition game. She Weston, who led the team in scoring with 11 points. Much snagged two saves before bowing out at the half when of the attack last season was based around Weston’s speed Griffin took over, making three saves. and positioning. Griffin holds a career goals against average of 0.83 and Even though the Aggies don’t have Weston again, there has played more than 1,000 minutes for the Aggies. But are plenty of returning players who contributed to the this year she has to compete for her chance to defend the success of the 10-8-2 season, which tied for the best season -See ATTACK, page 10 record in USU history. USU returns nine starters and 22 letter-winners from the 2006 squad. Three of the starters, Peart, Shannon Ross and Abby Hunt, are seniors who started all 20 matches last season. Peart, who is co-captain with Ross and junior defender Alyssa Lowry, led the team in shots on goal last season with 19, scoring three goals and tabbing one assist. Primarily a midfielder last season, Peart occasionally moved into the forward position to aid in a strengthened Aggie attack. This season, Peart is listed as a forward and is a key player in the attack. “Dana provides that spunk, that ability to turn games,” Cairns said. “Shannon brings a lot of communication, organization and competitiveness. Alyssa provides that spunky feistiness. The common trait in all three of them is bringing out the best in their teammates. They can pull them along.” One challenge for the Aggies early on will be the absence of two top scorers from last season, sophomore forward Erin Salmon and junior forward Candice Clark, as they USU defender alyssa lowry (12) looks to recover from knee injuries. Cairns said both players are getting better, but she is not sure when they will be back in head the ball as a Dixie State defender and Aggie teammate look on. The Aggies next game takes place Friday at Texas action.
Attacking style to be hallmark of ’07 USU women’s soccer By SETH R. HAWKINS editor in chief Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Making adjustments in the attack, the USU soccer team will implement a new style of play this season, said Head Coach Heather Cairns, now in her fifth season at the helm. “We’ve changed our attack,” Cairns said. “We’re playing three forwards instead of two. It’s really about getting as many players to step up and fill that role. We’re not going to have one person. We’re going to jump on their back and go with it.” In the Aggies’ exhibition game against Dixie State on Aug. 18, the soccer team gave a glimpse of the new attack formation, which was led by freshman forward Lauren Hansen. She was joined up top by forwards Kiersten Nilsson and Dana Peart. But, even that performance didn’t truly exhibit the new style of play, as the team had only practiced together three days prior to the game. Since that game, Cairns said the team has focused in on improving the attack and tactical aspects of the game. “I think our preseason went very well,” she said. “We had a fairly good fitness base. I think that we’ve been pleased with the tactical knowledge, tactical understanding the girls have been working on. We’re pretty excited. We’ve done some nice things in practice, and we want to see where it compares to other college teams.” While Cairns wouldn’t go into specifics about the changes, she said one of the major focuses will be on getting more players in a position to score for the team.
State. DEBRA HAWKINS photo
Aug. 29, 2007
TouchBase Sharapova out of U.S. Open
NEW YORK (AP) — Maria Sharapova shanked a backhand wide, prompting her opponent to leap in the air and pump her fist and smile as though she won the match _ or, indeed, the U.S. Open championship itself. Uh, not quite. That little celebration by 51st-ranked Roberta Vinci of Italy was for winning one game, allowing her to narrow Sharapova’s lead to 6-0, 5-1. A few minutes later, Sharapova’s 50-minute day was done and she was into the second round at the tournament where she produced her second Grand Slam title a year ago.
Judge in NY rules against metal bat ban NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Tuesday upheld New York’s ban on metal bats in high school baseball games, saying it was not his place to overturn a law that was approved by a local government with the public’s safety in mind. U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl said there is no clear evidence that metal bats cause more serious injuries than wooden bats but added the City Council is entitled to make the judgment that the risk is too great.
Briggs says he panicked after crashing car LAKE FOREST, Ill (AP) — Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said he panicked after crashing his new Lamborghini along a highway early Monday morning and initially reported his car stolen after abandoning the mangled vehicle. Speaking to reporters after practice on Tuesday, Briggs said he called a tow truck after leaving the scene and then reported his 2007 Murcielago was stolen.
MLBStandings American League
East Division Boston New York Toronto Baltimore Tampa Bay
W L Pct 80 51 .611 72 59 .550 66 65 .504 58 71 .450 51 80 .389
GB 1 8 14 21 29
Central Division Cleveland Detroit Minnesota Kansas City Chicago
73 57 .562 71 60 .542 67 64 .511 57 72 .442 57 74 .435
2 1/2 6 1/2 15 1/2 16 1/2
West Division Los Angeles Seattle Oakland Texas
77 54 .588 73 56 .566 3 65 68 .489 13 58 72 .446 18 1/2
National League East Division New York Philadelphia Atlanta Washington Florida
73 57 .562 68 62 .523 68 64 .515 58 74 .439 57 75 .432
5 6 16 17
66 63 .512 65 65 .500 63 64 .496 60 70 .462 58 73 .443 57 72 .442
1 1/2 2 6 1/2 9 9
74 58 .561 71 59 .546 68 63 .519 67 64 .511 60 72 .455
2 5 1/2 6 1/2 14
Central Division Chicago Milwaukee St. Louis Cincinnati Houston Pittsburgh West Division Arizona San Diego Los Angeles Colorado San Francisco
StatesmanSports
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
The Blue and the White Sports Debate
Sam Bryner is a senior majoring in business management. Comments can be sent to him sam.bryner@ aggiemail.usu.edu
David Baker is a senior majoring in print journalsim. Comments can be sent to him da.bake@aggiemail.usu.edu
1. What do you think of Michael Vick now? First of all, I’m not being insensitive about this. There’s your disclaimer. Now comes the fun. Besides not stepping on the field again this year, Vick also won’t be asked to do any dog sitting for the rest of his earthly days. He won’t find himself on any boxes of doggie Wheaties. Vick isn’t making a cameo on “The Dog Whisperer.” And he definitely won’t be asked to co-star in “Air Bud 12: Prison Yard Ball,” which would really just be another remake of “The Longest Yard” with a golden retriever playing the Bert Reynolds/ Adam Sandler role.
Where do I begin with this? There is so much to talk about. I am happy to finally see a high profile celebrity get what they deserve. Seeing Vick behind bars will hopefully send a message to other athletes to shape up. Hearing his apology made me sick. Does anyone buy what he said? That was the most insincere rant that I have ever heard.
2. Who is the real home run king? In my eyes, Babe Ruth will always be the home run king. Bonds may or may not have been on steroids – that’s between him and his god – but I know for darn sure that Babe Ruth was a fat, cigar-smoking, party animal. Do you know how hard it is to get out of bed and crawl to the couch with a hangover? Well, it’s hard. Ruth was not only hitting dingers hungover, he was calling his shots. So not only is he the home run king, but he’s a better psychic than Miss Cleo.
He broke the record didn’t he? The last time I checked, he had not been proven guilty for taking any performance-enhancing drugs. Until that day comes, and it probably will, he deserves all of the credit. For those of you that can’t stand this, take solace in the fact that Alex Rodriguez will break the record soon enough.
3. Impact of referee gambling on the NBA I think this will push the NBA in the right direction. You think I’m crazy, right? Think of it this way: The NBA is already turning into a mildly less flashy version of the And1 Mixtape Tour. So, why not just replace the refs with up-andcoming rappers and let the players all pick sweet nicknames like “McDonald’s Fry Sauce” and “Elementary School Lunch Lady?” Then, nobody will care about gambling because they’ll be too busy rushing the court after a three-quarter-court alley-oop.
This is the biggest black eye to ever hit the NBA. The implication of his betting on games is huge. Take the fact that he refereed the playoff series between the Spurs and Suns. With the Amare Stodoumaire suspension having already caused controversy, the level of controversy now is through the roof.
4. Who’s the real No. 1 team in college football? I hope it’s not USC. I really do. I’m a huge Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow fan, so I think it’s the Gators from the University of Florida. It will still be another year or so before people figure out Meyer’s offense. Tebow is a stud, and I fully expect him to throw enough jump passes for touchdowns to keep the Gators rolling into another BCS Championship Game next January.
Until another champion is crowned, I believe that last year’s champion should stand supreme. Do I see them on top of the polls come January? That is debatable, but until someone comes out and knocks the king off the hill, he is still king.
5. Rant I know everybody wants more terrible Michael Vick references – and probably more ridiculous animalfilled movies, like Vick not taking over for Eddie Murphy in the ninth “Dr. Dolittle” movie – but I can’t do it. I’d like to have a little sit down with all of you and talk about a more pressing issue – I think I’m addicted to fantasy football. I’m in three leagues. I have two live drafts on the same day. I will be managing something like 40 players. One of my leagues even has me pick a coach. This is just madness. And the worst part about the whole thing is, I don’t even know how I got to this point. It was like a night at the bar where you just go to have a beer and watch the first half hour of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” with a few close friends – because you wouldn’t want anyone but your close friends knowing you watch that show – and then you wake up in Franklin, Idaho, in some old lady’s bird bath with your pants on your head and a rendition of a Monet painting on your torso. Basically, this is a cry for help.
This will be more of a plea on behalf of the football team. It is obvious which sport reigns supreme on campus – men’s basketball. But I would ask all students to put the basketball team on the shelf for a couple of months and support the football team. Romney Stadium has the potential to be like the Spectrum, but outdoors. I know about the football team’s history. I have lived my entire life in Cache Valley and have seen fewer winning seasons than I have fingers on one hand. But the fact remains that this year the team currently has a record of 0-0, which is not a losing record. Get behind the team and give them a chance. Here are two reasons to do so. First, Head Coach Brent Guy is doing things the right way. He is focusing on discipline and academics. Secondly, the team seems to be representing the school well. For the first time in a while, I can’t think of any problems off the field committed by the team that have been publicized in the off-season. Give the team a chance – that’s all I’m asking. Go Aggies.
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Page 10
Sky is the limit for Ags if. . .
T
o you Aggie football skeptics that are sick of numbers like 1-11 and 3-8, may I make a plea that you not start your countdown to the basketball season just yet. If you don’t know why I said that, you must be new to USU and completely unacquainted with the mighty struggling of the Aggie football team through much of the past 20 or so years. Don’t start your countdown yet because I suggest the 2007 season, which begins at Romney Stadium Thursday at 6:05 p.m. against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, will be better. Now you ask, “How can this be? Don’t you know the Aggies’ best quarterback of last year (a true freshman and graduate of Logan High School, who threw the winning touchdown pass in the team’s only win) is serving an LDS Church mission in Spain? Have you even looked at the schedule? Did you fail to notice words like ‘Oklahoma,’ ‘Boise State’ and ‘Hawaii’ on there? Some hard-core pessimists are saying the Ags might go 0-12. They’ve been picked to finish eighth in a Western Athletic Conference loaded with talent. Where do you come up with the word ‘better’ to describe this year’s 12 games?” I’m not about to proclaim a 12-0 season of first downs in abundance, touchdown passes on every drive and crunching quarterback sacks. But, I’ve been a fan and follower of Aggie athletics since I was 8, and I’ve seen enough to know when things are on the verge to change for the better. For one thing, look at the leadership in the athletic department. Under Athletic Director Randy Spetman’s leadership savvy, the north end zone complex has brought Romney Stadium, and Aggie athletics as a whole, up to date. Make no mistake – this complex, which affects all 16 university-sanctioned sports, will lead to better recruiting, more talented and experienced teams, and eventual winning seasons at USU. Another aspect of that leadership is Head Coach Brent Guy. He carries with him similar qualities in management, organization and trying his very hardest to get the job done. Following last season’s dismal and disappointing one-win, 11-loss season, Guy and his associates literally turned things upside down and backward to find the solution to fix whatever was wrong. During the annual team Media Day in early August, Guy spoke of completely redoing the squad’s off-season spring program – everything from having players go from three days to five days of lifting weights to walking and talking team members through situations when they couldn’t do it in pads. And then there is new offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, a former head coach at North Texas, where he guided the Mean Green to four consecutive conference championships. Dickey, with his fun Texas drawl, is
an easy guy to talk to, and the players took a quick liking to him, even if for some of them he was their fourth offensive coordinator in four years. “After lengthy discussions with Coach Guy, I strongly believe in how he is going about building this program,” Dickey said. The optimism and nobility of good and dedicated leaders is contagious. And the Aggies, who haven’t won a game since Oct. 7, 2006, need that as well as the confidence that comes with victory. “I’m constantly looking at myself and asking what I can do different to get these guys over the hump,” Guy said. “The more games you win, the more confidence you get. It’s something we have to do.” A taste of success – no matter how small it might be – is critical for the Aggie football squad this season. No matter how pampered the team might be (which is a criticism of late by some fans and athletes from other university sports), it’s important to realize that it is still very hard to go out on the field against monstrous opponents, knowing full well a beating is coming. Going 1-11 stinks. I know from firsthand experience. When I was 12, my Junior Jazz team, coached by former Aggie basketball great Jimmy Moore, went 0-12. We had solid coaching, we just didn’t have talent. It really was hard, after a few losses, to really get ourselves to believe we could go out and win a game. Losing is contagious, and so is winning. I believe this season the Ags have coaching, talent and, most importantly, experience from a year ago. From being in interviews with Guy and seeing his seriousness on the sidelines, it is apparent that he wants to succeed, and, with time, he will. Remember, Guy didn’t inherit much from those who went before him. Now it all begins again Thursday with UNLV. If USU takes down the Runnin’ Rebels, the sky is literally the limit for what could be accomplished this season in Aggie football (aside from likely defeats to Oklahoma, Hawaii and Boise State). Remember San Jose State a year ago? The Spartans climbed from the bottom half of the league to the top half, winning a bowl game. The Aggies should have beaten them last season at Romney Stadium, but youthful mistakes proved too costly. There are those who refute c o m pletely the idea that this year’s Aggie team can amount to much of anything. But those are the same people who fail to realize what a transforming power even a little bit of confidence can be. Sammy Hislop is a junior majoring in public relations. Comments can be sent to him at samuel.hislop@ aggiemail.usu.edu
Attack: New style to aid in net and “it’s up to them and how the trainings go,” Cairns said. “They’re competing for one spot,” she said. “I don’t go into a season saying we have to use two goalkeepers or we have to use one goalkeeper. It’s strictly based on the performance of the players day in and day out.” But even with a large returning cast, the Aggies have yet to prove themselves on the field. Like last season, USU faces a road-heavy schedule early in the season, including four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Aggies also play four teams this season that are currently ranked in Soccer Buzz Magazine’s Top 30. Cairns said she plans a tough season early on so her team is prepared to face the physicality and competition of WAC teams later on.
“Our nonconference teams aren’t going to be the bottom teams in Division I soccer,” Cairns said. “That is the way we get confident in WAC play.” Following last season’s performance where the Aggies placed second in the WAC season standings, USU is ranked third in the preseason polls. “The preseason polls are really an opinion and it doesn’t really matter where you start, it’s where you finish,” Cairns said. “While it’s great that we moved up, it’s really about proving it every day again. Nobody’s going to care that we were ranked third when they play us.” The Aggies start their season on the road against Texas State on at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, and continue action against Texas Christian University at noon on Sunday, Sept. 2.
Check the www.utahstatesman.com at the half of Thursday’s football game vs. UNLV for a first-half update.
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Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 StatesmanSports
Page 11
Yankees pull Mussina from rotation NEW YORK (AP) - After winning 247 games in the major leagues, Mike Mussina lost his spot in the New York Yankees’ rotation Tuesday. Following three terrible starts in a row, the 38-yearold right-hander was told by manager Joe Torre that he’ll be passed over for his next sched-
uled start Saturday against Tampa Bay. “He was disappointed, naturally. This was very difficult for me,� Torre said. “We have relied on him every year since he’s been here.� The Yankees will call up touted prospect Ian Kennedy, a first-round draft pick last year,
from Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre to pitch against the lastplace Devil Rays in the middle of a pennant race. How long Kennedy stays in the rotation will depend on how well he pitches. “It’s basically what we’re getting from that spot. That’s what you look at first,� Torre said.
&ALL )NTO
Defense: Back with a vengance in ‘07
-continued from page 9
“When I first arrived here he was a walk-on who had not played a snap,� Guy said. “That next fall he was the first Aggie freshman ever to lead the team in tackles. He finds the football. He’s a very intelligent football player. He’s strong and physical. It’s hard to replace a guy like that. There’s a lot of guys that learn it through method, but he has a lot of the natural instincts. We’ll get that back.� Here’s a brief look at each of USU’s defensive positions: Defensive Line Calderwood headlines this area, along with seniors Ben Childs and Frank Maile. Childs and Maile will again control the interior at the tackle positions. In 2006, Maile started eight games while recording 26 tackles. Childs started six, tallying 19 stops and one sack. At defensive end, Calderwood (44 tackles in ‘06) will be joined
by sophomore Darby Golden and senior Carl Singleton. Others joining them could include a score of freshmen, which is why, among all the areas of concern throughout the team, the defensive tackle position is the biggest headache for Guy right now. “It’s just awfully hard to ask a (freshman) to go in there and play,� Guy said. “They have the body type but just don’t have the experience. But you can’t count on a true freshman in the trenches. We’ve had to do that in the past, and we’ve learned our lessons the hard way. It’s just not productive because, physically, it’s just so much different in there.� Linebacker Igboeli and Hutton, health permitting, should be a force at this spot. According to the team media guide, Igboeli is the expected starter at strong-side linebacker, while Hutton will patrol the middle.
Other notables are Devon Hall, a junior who ranked third on the team in tackles (68) and recovered three fumbles last season. Hall is expected to start at the linebacker spot as well. Juniors Derrick Cumbee and Daryle Fields should also see playing time. Secondary The entire starting secondary is back for USU. Marquis Charles and Kejon Murphy will again be the top cornerbacks. Charles, a junior, is one of only five Aggies from ‘06 to start every game. Murphy, a sophomore, was thrown in as a starter for the final four games of the season. Senior Antonio Taylor, the returning team leader in tackles (74), is back at safety, along with Caleb Taylor. Taylor was fourth in tackles (64) and collected two interceptions. -samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu. edu
Gameday: First win crucial for Ags
-continued from page 9
The Rebels are coming off a 2006 season that was similar to USU’s. UNLV finished 2-10 overall and 0-6 in road games. Notable changes in their roster include Travis Dixon, a red-shirt freshman, who will be the Rebels’ starter at quarterback. Dixon is the fourth different quarterback for the team in as many seasons. Dixon replaces returning starter Rocky Hinds, who has been slow in recovering from an off-season knee injury. USU is returning a quarterback who has experience, as well as all 11 defensive starters. But, the Aggies still haven’t won a game since Oct. 7 of last year. USU was picked in the preseason coaches’ poll to finish eighth in the Western Athletic Conference. What are the feelings of team members on the chance of being the surprise WAC team
that the San Jose State Spartans were a season ago? “There’s no reason we can’t,� said sophomore linebacker and 2006 Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Paul Igboeli. “We lace up our shoes the same way Boise State, Nevada, Louisiana Tech and everybody else does. All we have to do is go out and compete. In high school, my team was picked dead last and finished first. The only thing you want to do is go out there and prove you’re better than they think you are.� In an effort to boost team morale during the off-season, the Aggie coaching staff gave each player a white card with blue Block A on it. Why? “When we win the Old Main hill is blue,� senior starting tailback Aaron Lesue said. “That’s a symbol for us. We want to be on
the same page. That’s important to us. The thing is, I don’t think (winning) was as important last year to a lot of the players, but this year it is because we’re getting a little older. We’re a lot more mature. We have a lot more seniors this year and guys that want to win.� Since the end of last season, Guy has been straightforward and serious about what a win in Game 1 of ‘07 will mean for the remainder of the year, as well as what measures the team will take to get it. During Monday’s press conference, his tone was no different. “If we need to put in a freshman at the end of the game because of an injury, we will do whatever we have to in order to win this football game,� Guy said. - samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu. edu
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Views&Opinion
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Rising parking fees rub against the grain Every year students pay close attention to ASUSU to see how much student fees will go up and to Tier I and Tier II tuition to know how much money to start stuffing into their piggy banks. You thought you had it covered, didn’t you? You thought you had an eye on all moving targets. Now students have been hit with yet another fee increase, but from a different direction. This time it came from the Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee in the form of slightly higher parking meter fees and more expensive permits. The increased fines will go toward paying off the school’s loan for the big new parking garage on the west side of campus. The garage hasn’t filled up as hoped and the money has to come from somewhere. So instead of increasing the cost just for the people who are using the garage, the burden is falling on all students and faculty who park on campus. The justice of this is questionable. Why should people who aren’t using the $7.5 million terrace have to pay off the cost of building it? The burden should fall on those who have permits for the terrace or who just want to leave their car there for a few hours. The cost of permits has only gone up a few dollars, and the cost of a half hour at a meter only costs a few cents more, but as expenses mount up, students start to panic. Most things get more expensive over time. Whether the terrace had been built or not, and whether the Living and Learning Center had been finished on schedule and in time to fill it right away or not, the fees would have gone up to cover some other rising expense. It just rubs against the grain to have that expense be due to poor planning.
Political craziness you missed this summer
B
efore I begin, here’s a bit about me: My name is Jon Adams (not a bad name for a political science major, eh?). Like many of you, I had a fairly conservative and religious upbringing here in Utah. Politically, I think of myself as unabashedly liberal, but I may soon have to identify as moderate considering today’s leftward swing. Too bad, actually, because I’m most comfortable as the “fish out of water.” How else could a liberal, bisexual, single and secular student survive at USU? Enough about me. What did you do over the summer? If you’re the typical college student, you put your brain on standby for the break. No New York Times, no PBS, not even The Daily Show – for months. You are woefully uninformed. Luckily for you, I have a chronic fixation with current events. And as a testament to how dull my life is, I often find three to four hours each and every day to scour the news. So allow me to bring you up to date: Since May, we have already been subjected to 12 vacuous political debates. At this rate, by Election Day, the candidates will have had more debates than Mitt Romney’s had political reinventions. No simple feat. Seriously, though, I’m thrilled by what seems like an early interest in presidential horse race. It’s evidence that America is starving for change. But this early on, and given the characters running, you should be watching this race if for no other reason than your amusement. For example, did you catch Gov. Richardson’s gigantic gaffe at the Human Rights Campaign? Before an audience of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender couples, Richardson said homosexuality was a choice. A choice?! The hilariously awkward incidentcould’ve qualified as a scene from “Borat.” I knew the state of American politics was a joke, but, until this race, had no idea just how funny that joke can be. “Sicko,” Michael Moore’s acclaimed documentary on our health care crisis, made a hard-hitting debut in theaters across the country on June 22. The film compares our corporate system to the universal systems of Canada, the UK, France and (gasp!) Cuba. After reviewing each system, Moore makes a sobering diagnosis: America’s health care system is hazardous to our health. And who better to remind us how unhealthy we Americans are than Michael Moore? Love him or loathe him, Moore’s thesis in “Sicko” is validated by the facts. Despite our system being the most expensive in the world, the World Health Organization ranks the US system No. 37. This is no surprise to the 60 million Americans who are either uninsured or under insured. While you may ultimately disagree with Moore’s prescription for America, a not-forprofit universal system, only the most callous person could leave the movie without being embarrassed by and angry with the status quo. Global warming was, quite literally, a hot topic this summer. Yes, in brazen defiance of Al Gore’s Live Earth concerts, global warming continued unabated – in fact, 2007 is slated to be the Earth’s second warmest year on record. Generally speaking, this translates into extreme weather events, glacial
-See POLITICS, page 13
Aug. 29, 2007 Page 12
Seth R. Hawkins News Editor
Arie Kirk
Assistant News Editor Liz Lawyer Features Editor Manette Newbold Assistant Features Editor Brittny Goodsell Jones Sports Editor Samuel Hislop Assistant Sports Editor David Baker Copy Editor Rebekah Bradway Photo Editor
ForumLetters ASUSU creates disturbance
To the editor:
Monday night ASUSU decided to have a party at the Fun Park. Unfortunately they did not realize that the Fun Park is surrounded by apartments. The also did not realize that their music was so loud that residents, such as myself, could here the words to the music clearly with all the windows in their apartments shut. Unfortunately they also did not realize that many of these people go to bed before 11:00 and also have small children. I hope that ASUSU activities will be more considerate of the people they affect in the future. John Mulholland
Ride bikes responsibly To the editor: For the first time in sev-
T
eral years, new students aren’t being apprised of an important bike safety concept - riding on the right side of the street is safer than riding on the roadside sidewalk or riding on the wrong (left) side of the street. And the results are quite apparent on campus as the new school year begins. Back home, new students may have gotten the impression that roads are for cars, or that bikes don’t belong on the road, or that bike riders must behave like pedestrians, or that riding on the road isn’t safe. Those impressions are false. Various crash analysis studies have shown that riding on the roadside sidewalk is two to eleven times more hazardous than riding on the right side of the road. Riding on the wrong (left) side of the road is the leading cyclist-fault cause of car/bike collisions. Visit the Aggie Blue Bikes shop for advice from one of their certified bike safety instructors, or check out their website at www.usu.edu/ucc/ bikes/ Don’t look like a newbie on a bike! Be a visible, predictable, legal cyclist.
Assistant Photo Editor Patrick Oden
Letters to the editor • A public forum
Kudos to USU Facilities To the editor: I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone in USU Facilities and the Taggart Student Center for the wonderful new covered bike parking on the west end of the TSC, not to mention the new covered bike structure being built on the east side of the Fieldhouse. For many years multiple students, staff, and faculty have been begging for more sheltered bike parking on campus. It’s these little improvements that will encourage more of us in the USU community to ride to campus and reduce air pollution. It’s very comforting to know that after I’ve pedaled up Old Main Hill I can at least park my bike where it will not become damaged due to rain, UV rays, snow, and sprinklers. Sean Damitz
Does the Constitution matter?
oday there are many conflicting views on the position of the U.S. Constitution in our government today. There are some who believe the Constitution is just as relevant today as it was the day it was signed. However, there are also those who hold the Constitution to be a be “outdated” and “quaint.” The question each of us must ask ourselves is, “Who is correct, and why?” One of the most important things for all of us to remember is that the Constitution was a product of lifetimes of study and experience. The Founding Fathers were well read. They had studied their contemporaries, such as Blackstone, Locke and Montesquieu. They were also just as familiar with Cicero, European history and the Bible. This amazing group of individuals had a great understanding of philosophy, religion, economics and history. They were conscious of both the strengths and weaknesses of mankind. They were well acquainted with various forms of government, many of which are being sold to Americans as “new alternatives” to what some would claim to be an “outdated” Constitution. Among these were monarchy, democracy and the welfare state. The Founders had a great deal of practice and experience in writing constitutions. Many had helped in the drafting of their state constitutions. Much experience was also gained in the drafting of the failed Articles of Confederation. The constitutional convention took many months to slowly develop the great document we know as the Constitution. It was carefully crafted and polished What does this mean for us today? To me, it means that the Constitution was based on basic, eternal principles. These principles existed long before the days of ancient Israel. They applied in the times of the Founding Fathers, and they are still relevant in today’s modern society. Technology has changed, and the world has changed, but man has not. Power can be just as corrupting today as it was in the days of Caesar. The Founders understood this and created a Constitution which would hold all of the representatives of the people in check and
Tyler Larson
appropriately distribute power so as to keep any individual from becoming too powerful. Many would contend that the Constitution is “flexible” and can be changed at the whims of Congress, the court and the president. The Founders did understand that times would change, so they provided for amendments to the Constitution. However, they made it clear that until amended, the Constitution was to be strictly followed. They taught that this nation is based on rule of law, not the whims of man. They specifically directed our representatives to give an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution before taking office. Those words are not just a mere formality, but an obligation of trust entered into by our representatives in government with us, their fellow citizens. There are those who would simply do away with our Constitution. To those who would replace the Constitution, I would ask with what would they replace it? Can anyone show me a system that has turned a small, developing nation into the prosperous nation we enjoy today? A nation that has but a small share of the world’s resources, land and people, but that possesses a vast majority of the world’s wealth? What else would you have? Any other system of government either leans too far to the side of tyranny or too far to the side of anarchy. Neither has proven effective. The Founders placed our government squarely in the center of this spectrum, at a place that maximizes the freedom of its citizens. Any departure from the basic principles of the Constitution would lead us to too much government to still ensure freedom, or so little that freedom cannot truly be maintained. To me, the proof that the Constitution is effective is in its fruits. These fruits are all around us. This nation, and indeed the world, is more prosperous because of it. If this nation is to continue to flourish, we must maintain the principles of freedom, self- sufficiency and integrity that allowed the United States to prosper. I sincerely hope that all of us will strive to
-See PRESERVE, page 13
Editorial Board Seth R. Hawkins Arie Kirk Liz Lawyer David Baker Brittny Goodsell Jones
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Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
Views& Opinion
Pg. 13
Politics: The world in chaos -continued from page 12 melting, floods, droughts and, perhaps most underreported, species extinction. Grizzlies, penguins and polar bears will all be sorely missed, but global warming has also chalked up a uniquely American casualty to the endangered species list: the baseball bat. The sturdy wood of the white ash tree, used to create a majority of the nation’s baseball bats (including those for Major League Baseball), has been threatened by invasive beetle populations in recent years. Some scientists worry that a warmer climate will exacerbate the beetle’s invasion by creating stressed trees and a faster reproductive cycle of the beetle. This study didn’t make so much as a blip on the media’s radar, but it’s an insight into how far-reaching the climate crisis is. And lastly, the Iraq War troop “surge” came into full-swing, but its judgment day is nigh. The Bush administration asked us to withhold criticism of the plan until Gen. Petraeus returned with his assessment, when there could appropriately be a national referendum on the surge. So over the summer, many of us stomached the spike in car bombings, the mounting U.S. casualties and the spread of sectarian violence beyond Baghdad. I personally bit my lip and hoped the strategy would succeed. My patience was in vain. Not only has the surge failed to meet its most critical objectives, but, as it turns out, Petraeus’ long-awaited report will be authored by the White House, not the general himself. Shameless. But knowing this administration’s troubled relationship with the truth, what excuse did wae have to grant them the benefit of the doubt? None. If we buy the administration’s empty rhetoric on Iraq once more, we will be complicit in the disastrous consequences this war has wrought. To borrow the president’s favorite adage: “Fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.” Well, you get the point. Jon Adams is a junior majoring in political science. Comments and questions can be sent to him at jonadams@cc.usu.edu.
Preserve: Freedom is valuable -continued from page 12 understand the Constitution and recognize how valuable it is today, before it is taken from us by those who would also deprive us of our freedom. Colby Lyons is a senior majoring in law and constitutional studies. Questions and comments can be sent to him at c.lyons@aggiemail.usu. edu. For more constitutional conservatism, visit www.constitutionalconservative.info.
This is where Angie’s wedding ring would have been if she hadn’t lost it at the beach on her honeymoon. It would have been replaced, no charge, had she bought it at S.E. Needham’s Jewelers.
World&Nation
Page 14
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007
PRESIDENT: Gul to campaign for gender equality and the rule of law
-continued from page 3
path, in a transparent and fully impartial manner, embracing all my citizens.” Gul, a former practitioner of political Islam who later cast himself as a moderate, vowed to campaign for gender equality and the rule of law, and he said “change and diversity” were not things to be feared. “It is imperative for our country that we carry out the political and economic reforms geared toward EU membership more resolutely,” he told lawmakers in a nationally televised speech. He also praised the military as a necessary deterrent and a symbol of independence, a day after the military chief, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, warned that “centers of evil” were plotting to corrode secular principles crafted nearly a century ago by Turkey’s revered founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The military has ousted four governments since 1960, and an initial presidential bid by Gul was derailed over fears that he planned to dilute secular traditions. Some commentators said the generals’ failure to show up for Gul’s oath-taking was ominous. “It shows that his presidency is a source of tension from the onset,” Rusen Cakir, a leading analyst on political Islam, said on Turkey’s private NTV television. “We will need to wait and see if the tension turns into a crisis or whether some kind of harmony is reached.” One of Gul’s sons attended the ceremony, but his wife, Hayrunnisa, did not. She wears an Islamic-style head scarf, which is banned in government offices and schools and is viewed by secularists as a troubling symbol of religious fervor, and even militancy. Some who wear the head scarf say the
state’s restrictions on Islamic attire amount to a curb on freedom of expression. Turkey’s president has the power to veto legislation and official appointments, and Gul has failed to allay secularist fears that he would eagerly approve any initiatives of the government of his close ally, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan said he planned to submit his new Cabinet to Gul on Wednesday. Erdogan had presented his list earlier this month to outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who said the new president should approve it. “I hope (Gul’s presidency) is beneficial to the country, the people and the republic,” Erdogan said. “God willing, together, shoulder to shoulder, we will carry Turkey forward.” Gul took over the post from Sezer, a staunch secularist, in a low-key ceremony that was closed to the media. On his way out of the palace, Sezer stopped his car to say goodbye to guards and journalists. Outside the palace gates, secularists waved Turkish flags, threw flowers at his vehicle and shouted: “We are proud of you!” Police also prevented two dozen demonstrators who were protesting Gul’s election from approaching the palace. Gul failed to win the presidency in two rounds of voting last week because the ruling Justice and Development Party lacked the two-thirds majority in parliament needed for him to secure the post. But the party which holds 341 of the 550 seats had a far easier hurdle Tuesday, when only a simple majority was required. President Bush called Gul to congratulate him on his victory, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.
Turkeys new president Abdullah Gul,right ,and his wife Hayrunisa. AP file photo
“The president reiterated the United States’ commitment to a strong relationship with our partner and ally,” said Stanzel. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he hoped the government “will be able to resume work ... to give fresh, immediate and positive impetus” to EU entry talks. In Gul’s hometown of Kayseri, in Turkey’s conservative heartland, hundreds gathered at a main square to celebrate his victory, private NTV television reported. Secularist Turks had staged mass rallies and the military threatened to intervene when Erdogan nominated Gul for president in the spring. This time, Gul said his party’s victory in the general elections gave him a strong mandate to run again. Sinan Ogan, head of the Turkish Center for International Relations and Strategic Analysis, said Gul’s election reflects the rising power of a middle class with religious values and mistrust of the old secular elite. But he warned that Gul’s foes will scrutinize his conduct. “If he slides into cronyism, then Turkey will see what instability really means,” Ogan said.
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