The Utah Statesman - September 21, 2007

Page 1

UtahStatesman The

Utah State University

www.utahstatesman.com

Logan, Utah

Today is Friday, Sept. 21, 2007

New campus master plan outlined

Breaking News

By ARIE KIRK news editor

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis lost his doping case and will forfeit his title and is subject to a two-year ban from the event. Page 10

Campus News Author Ron Carlson gives a reading of one of his published works and gives writing advice to students. Page 3

USU revealed its five-year campus master plan aiming to preserve the university’s history and appeal and to accommodate the estimated growth in enrollment. The plan, presented Wednesday, includes the construction of a new College of Agriculture building, an early childhood education and research center and the renovation of some of the oldest buildings on campus. “The purpose of having a master plan is to ensure some of that growth can occur and some enduring qualities don’t get lost,” said Stanley Kane, director of planning for Facilities. “We want to enhance the campus experience for visitors and users.” Kane said it is important to maintain the feel of USU’s campus, it’s attractive green space and beautiful vistas even with the construction of new buildings. The construction of the College of Agriculture and Agriculture Research Service building is the university’s first priority, Kane said. Part of the building will be funded by the state. During the next legislative session, he said the school will ask for $42 million for construction of the building. Because USU has already received $2.5 mil-

lion for design, Kane said he is confident the university will be granted the remaining funds needed for construction. “I am positive once federal government funding begins a project, the remainder of the funding just comes in subsequent years, maybe two to three years,” he said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Research Service will also be funding part of the building. Kane said the ARS is confident its can raise $60 million. The COA/ARS building, to be located on the east side of the Quad, will be about 250,000 square feet and cost approximately $102,000,000, according to a Facilities pamphlet. An Early Childhood Education and Research Center is also in the works. Kane said the center is expected to be privately funded. He said he is “99 percent sure” the funding will come through. Construction could begin as early as 2008, Kane said. Also part of the five-year plan, the Utah Science Technology Research Facility will be built on USU’s Innovation Campus. Jordy Guth, staff planner for Facilities Planning, Design and Construction, said the facility will be funded by USTAR, and according to the pamphlet, it

- See MASTER PLAN, page 3

Proposed additions

The college of Agriculture and Agriculture Research Service Building, top, will be located on the east side of the Quad. It is estimated to cost $102,000,000. The Utah Science Technology Research Facility will be built on the Innovation Campus. These two buildings are part of the five-year master plan presented to the public Wednesday. Illustrations courtesy of Jordy Guth

Unique program brings grad students together the business and grants office of CIB, said, “This is pretty unique. (Though) some schools are starting to go toward this sort of program.” Eleven students applied for the grants from several different departments. Ken White, associate director for research at CIB, said the common thread among the various research projects funded through CIB is some relation to biotechnology. This field can have applications in many disciplines, including chemistry and biochemistry, biology, plants, soils and biometeorology, nutrition and

By LIZ LAWYER assistant news editor

Features Equipped with instructions, a GPS unit and determination, two USU students try geocaching. Page 6

Sports The Aggies look for their first win of the season as they take on San Jose State, Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at Romney Stadium for the Homecoming game. Page 8

Opinion “It shouldn’t be too big of an effort for walkers and riders to coexist.” Page 12

Almanac Today in History: In 1942, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress, the class of airplane used to drop the nuclear bomb on Japan in World War II, made its debut flight in Seattle, Wash. The Superfortress was the largest bomber used by any nation in World War II.

Weather High: 82° Low: 45° Skies: Partly cloudy.

Archives and breaking news always ready for you at www.utahstatesman.com

A new program beginning at USU that brings graduate students together to collaborate across several scientific disciplines is one of the first of its kind. Six students were awarded a total of $40,960 in grants through the Center for Integrated Biosystems and were honored at a banquet Thursday. As grant recipients, the students will meet monthly to compare how their master’s and doctorate research projects are going. Through this collaboration, they can benefit from each other’s findings and apply them to their own studies. Students who received grants were Ryan Jackson, of the biochemistry department; Jillian Guttormsen, of The amount of Music downloading this semester has already nearly doubled last year’s numbers. Students have received the bioveterinary science depart“take-down” notices from the recording industry warning of illegal sharing. ment; Jared Ervin, of the civil and DEBRA HAWKINS photo illustration environmental engineering department; Michelle Mendenhall, of the bioveterinary science department; Mingxiang Liang, of the plants, soils and climate department; and Whitney Wooderchak of the chemistry and biochemistry department. Bart Weimer, director of the CIB, semesters. This number equals said the program centers around havBy ALISON BAUGH out to 14 per month. ing a little extra funding for research senior writer In contrast, 29 notices have projects as well as giving a boost to been received by Bayn since graduate programs. school began less than a month The program is built off the suc Downloading music is part of many students’ lives, but it ago. While most of these numcess of a seed grant program for could put them in financial dan- bers deal with music violations, faculty. The mandate, along with the ger if done or shared illegally. there are also notices from vid- provided money, is to support bioeos, movies, TV shows, games, USU has been receiving an technology research broadly across increased number of “takesoftware and books, Bayn said. campus, Weimer said. down” notices since school Earlier this year, the record Graduate student collaboration began. These notices are from ing industry began to focus and discussion between disciplines is the recording industry and say on catching those who have usually encouraged but not formalusers are illegally sharing music. downloaded music and have it ized, Weimer said. available to others illegally. The “I don’t know of any (other pro Bob Bayn, team coordinator for Information Technology, Recording Industry Association gram) that has this organization,” he said 112 notices were reported said. - See MUSIC, page 3 during the spring and summer Carol Achziger, group leader for

Illegal downloads draw music industry scrutiny

Speak Up

“In this day and age, you need people with lots of different backgrounds, bringing expertise that helps projects move down the track faster and get funding more easily.” Ken White, associate director at Center for Integrated Biosystems food science, civil and environmental engineering and computer science. “In this day and age,” White said, “you need people with (lots of different backgrounds), bringing expertise that helps projects move down the track faster and get funding more easily.” Achziger said, “It’s hard to get funding without having a collaborative project.” Jackson, who is working on his

- See GRANTS, page 3

Board of Regents in search of commissioner By RACHEL A. CHRISTENSEN staff writer

The State Board of Regents is conducting a search for the next commissioner of higher education due to the current commissioner Richard Kendell announcing his plans in June to retire at the end of this year. The search for a new commissioner is currently underway. The process usually takes about six months, though the search can go longer or shorter depending on how many applications the board receives and how much information they have to go through. “The real key is finding the right person for the job,” said Amanda

Covington, communications director for the State Board of Regents. “They need to fit just right. We don’t like to set a strict time frame for the search because it’s more important to find the right fit than to try to find someone to fill the spot by a deadline.” The board creates a list of qualities and talents necessary in the next commissioner. Criteria will be largely decided by input as the board members gather information from all around Utah to find what citizens and educators want from the new commissioner and what type of representative they need. Heads of the 10 public universities and colleges in Utah’s educational system meet with the board to discuss the needs of the

individual schools. Covington said USU President Stan Albrecht is included in this and will give his input to help the board choose finalists who will better represent the school’s needs. A lot is expected from those who apply to the job of commissioner, Covington said. Education is vital, and an applicant is expected to have at least a doctorate or equivalent degree. Part of the commissioner’s job is to represent higher education as spokesman in the government, so the board looks for applicants with a thorough knowledge of the legislation process. A record of achievement in the higher education system, experience and talent in leadership and

experience in making policies is also part of the committee’s criteria. The process for choosing the next commissioner consists of many interviews. The job posting on the board’s Web site states applicants must first submit a resume along with five references and other supporting documents to the board. The board will then review the applications and begin a series of interviews. Covington said the board started reviewing nominations and applications in late August. From the interviews, the board will choose anywhere from three

- See SEARCH, page 3


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