UtahStatesman The
Utah State University
Today is Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Logan, Utah
Students ready to don cap and gown
Breaking News
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said he would serve the nation, not his church, if elected president.
Campus News
USU finishes its preparations for Christmas with decorated Christmas trees in the Sunburst Lounge. Page 3
Features USU students explain what makes Christmas feel like Christmas. Page 5
www.utahstatesman.com
By RACHEL CHRISTENSEN staff writer
Students are scrambling to complete paperwork with graduation only a week away. “(Graduation’s) just a great time to honor the accomplishments of our great students,” said Tiffany Peterson, chairwoman of the Commencement and Graduation Committee for about six years. Marci Smith, supervisor at the Registrar’s Office, said 1,981 students will graduate this fall. That’s a little more than 100 more students than graduated last spring. Though more students are graduating this fall than last spring, fewer graduates are expected to attend graduation. Peterson said she expects 400 to 500 undergraduate students to attend their graduation and around 300 graduate students. “In spring we usually have a little bit more who will attend,” Smith said. “It’s probably just because spring is the traditional time of year for graduation.” This year’s graduating class holds a variety of students, Smith said. She said the youngest graduate was born in 1989 and the oldest was born in 1942. Peterson said this fall’s graduation will be different than last fall’s because there will be a ceremony for graduate students Friday afternoon and a separate ceremony for undergraduates Saturday morning. She There are 1,981 students preparing for USU’s commencement cer- said this is the format spring graduemony Dec. 15. However, only 400 to 500 undergraduate students are expected ations follow. The graduate comto attend. The fall commenecement is traditionally smaller than the spring cermencement ceremony will begin emony.This class ranges in age from 18 to 65. TYLER LARSON illustration
1:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. The undergraduate procession will begin 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 15, and the commencement ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. The procession will start in the Fieldhouse and end in the Spectrum, where the ceremony will be held, Peterson said. The commencement guest speaker will be Ross Peterson, and the student speaker will be the College of Business valedictorian Rebecca Berentzen Smith, Peterson said. “The valedictorians all get together,” Peterson said. “They each prepare the remarks they would give if they were chosen. Then they selfelect who they would like to represent them as a speaker at graduation.” After the speeches, Peterson said a graduating student will sing the national anthem, and Karlee Larsen Heaps will lead the audience in the alma mater. Emily Nelson, valedictorian for the department of health, physical education and recreation, graduates this fall. “I’m glad I’m graduating because then I’m not here for another semester,” Nelson said. “But they do have a bigger ceremony in the spring. My major doesn’t have an awards ceremony, so I have to come back in the spring.” Roberta Herzberg, head of the political science department, said she doesn’t push students one way or the other when deciding when
- See GRADUATION, page 4
Extension helps governor with CHIP By JP PARRISH staff writer
USU Extension is getting involved with marketing and promotional efforts about Utah’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) while the government is also maintaining a great level of involvement. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., alongside the Utah Department of Health, is working to ensure Utah’s children are covered with health insurance. CHIP covers well-child exams, immunizations, mental health services, dental care,
Sports Jaycee Carroll was limited to a mere 11 points as the Utes blasted the Aggies 72-48 Wednesday night in Salt Lake. Page 9
Opinion “Most of all, we want you to go out and make some money. Then gift that money back to Utah State.” Page 14
Almanac Today in History: In 1941, an early morning attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor takes the United States by surprise, killing 2,400 Americans. Five battleships, three destroyers and seven other ships were destroyed in the attack. The day after the attack, Congress approved going to war.
Weather High: 38° Low: 23° Skies: Rain and snow with accumulation 1 to 2 inches with snow in the evening. Archives and breaking news always ready for you at www.utahstatesman.com
prescriptions and hearing and eye exams. Within the USU extension program, USU educators from across the state, in each extension campuses, are called agents. The agents teach primarily family and consumer science classes that help educate the community. “USU Extension is getting involved by letting people in Utah know about CHIP and teaching low-income families how they can qualify to give their children the coverage they deserve,” said Charles Gay associate vice president of USU Extension.
Britain Parrish, freshman majoring in pre-medical biology, was covered by the insurance while young. “It paid for stuff… It was a 3$ co-pay for any doctors’ visit I went to, the dentist, the dermatologist, the gynecologist, the family doctor etc. and it was a $1 dollar co-pay for any prescription except birth control was not covered, unless it would’ve been a medical reason,” she said. “In the past, CHIP has had to periodically close enrollment because the number of enrolled children was based on state and
federal funding,” said Ann House, USU Extension bankruptcy prevention agent. “Because of this, many have forgotten about the program or still think they can’t enroll.” House said she deals with another program being used for marketing and informing the public–Utah Saves. House said Utah Saves is a program based on a national campaign called America Saves. These programs educate people and encourage and advise with financial concerns including
- See CHIP, page 4
Civilian survivors Get a whiff of this remembered on 66th anniversary HONOLULU (AP) – Children carried gas masks to the playground. Military officers commanded civilian courts under martial law. Residents feared enemy troops would parachute into the mountains and then swarm the beaches. This year’s 66th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor offers reminders of how the assault upended the lives of Hawaii’s civilians, in addition to the severe damage inflicted on the military. “It was scary,” said Joan Martin Rodby, who had to carry a gas mask everywhere as a 10-yearold – even as she sat for her fifth-grade class portrait in 1942. “It was more or less living in constant fear they were always going to come back.” Annual remembrances of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack often evoke images of burning ships in Pearl Harbor and exploding planes at Hickam Field. This year’s observance will be no different. But the plight of civilians who survived the attack has attracted more attention because of deepening interest in the home front during World War II. “Maybe the unsung heroes that we should remember and look at are the civilians that endured the attack on Pearl Harbor and the years after it,” said Daniel Martinez, chief historian at the USS Arizona Memorial. Civilian survivors who recall the attack include Hawaii’s two U.S. senators, who both were 17-year-old boys at the time. Sen. Daniel Inouye, now 83, said he served as a first-aid volunteer, helping treat civilians who were wounded in his Honolulu neighborhood. In 1943, he joined a celebrated all-JapaneseAmerican unit and was highly decorated for
- See PEARL HARBOR, page 3
AS PART OF A 3-D DESIGN CLASS, students showcased their work on the Quad this week. Photo courtesy of Eileen Doktorski
Page 2
World&Nation
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Today’sIssue
Celebs&People
Romney talks about religion
Today is Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. Today’s issue of The Utah Statesman is published especially for Richard Michelson, a soph. from Ogden Utah, marjoring in Mechanical/ Aerospace Engineering.
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
Missing missionaries found by local farmer
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique (AP) –Two missionaries missing since Monday on the tiny Caribbean island of Martinique have been found unharmed by a farmer. Church officials say Tyson Delmar Gray of Taylorsville, Utah, and Thomas Levi Swain, a British citizen from New Zealand, got disoriented in dense foliage and difficult terrain on a hike of 4,600-foot Mount Pelee. A local farmer found them at 8:30 a.m. local time Thursday. Swain has been on a mission for 18 months, and Gray for six months. The island of Martinique is part of the West Indies Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s one of 348 missions with over 53,000 full-time missionaries throughout the world. Mount Pelee is a popular attraction in the French Caribbean island. The volcano, which is still active, erupted in 1902, killing tens of thousands of people. The most recent serious eruption was in 1932.
Nebraska teen may have hidden rifle in sweatshirt
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The teenage gunman who went on a shooting rampage in a department store may have smuggled an assault rifle into the mall underneath clothing, police said Thursday. Police Chief Thomas Warren said the young man “appeared to be concealing something balled up in a hooded sweat shirt” he was carrying, according to a surveillance video. The teen entered the store Wednesday using an elevator, and moments later, gunfire pierced through the notes of Christmas music at the Westroads Mall’s Von Maur department store. People huddled in dressing rooms and barricaded themselves in offices as 19-year-old Robert A. Hawkins sprayed the floor with bullets. Six store employees and two customers were killed. When the shooting was over, Hawkins shot himself. The mall was closed Thursday as authorities continued to investigate what may have motivated the teen to go on the shooting spree. The shooting spree was Nebraska’s deadliest since January 1958, when Charles Starkweather killed 10 people in Nebraska and another in Wyoming. “We will not accept this evil action to occur in our community,” Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey said at a news conference.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) – His campaign at a crossroads, Republican Mitt Romney said Thursday his Mormon faith should neither help nor hinder his quest for the White House and vowed to serve the interests of the nation, not the church, if elected president. “When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God,” Romney said in a speech that explicitly recalled remarks John F. Kennedy made in 1960 in an effort to quell antiCatholic bias. After declining for months to address the issue of his Mormonism directly, Romney switched course as polls showed widespread unease about his religion — and showed him losing his once-sizable lead in the opening Iowa caucuses to Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister and former governor of Arkansas. Romney said some believe that a forthright embrace of his religion will “sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people.” “Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world,” he said. The Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses provide the first test of the race for the White House, followed closely by the Jan. 8 primary in New Hampshire. Romney has campaigned and spent energeti-
cally in both states in hopes of gaining unstoppable momentum for the rush of elections that will soon follow. A defeat in Iowa would be particularly difficult to absorb, given Huckabee’s shoestring operation. Polls show Romney’s religion is a political drag on his campaign, and Huckabee has risen in surveys by gaining the sup- Republican presidential hopeful, former port of evangelical Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, center, hugs Rev. Christians, who comprise an esti- Jeffrey Brown, center, of Boston, Thursday, Dec. 6, after mated 40 percent Romney’s speech at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas. Romney’s wife of likely caucus Ann is at left. AP photo goers in Iowa. “Let me assure no one interest. A president must serve you that no authorities of my church, only the common cause of the people of or of any other church for that matter, the United States.” will ever exert influence on presidential Mormons believe that authentic decisions,” he pledged. Christianity vanished a century after “Their authority is theirs, within the Jesus and was restored only through province of church affairs, and it ends Joseph Smith, who founded the religion where the affairs of the nation begin.” and is viewed as a prophet by its adherHe added: “If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one reli- See Romney, page 16 gion, no one group, no one cause and
Calif. prepares for mudslides LOS ANGELES (AP) – Southern California residents stacked sandbags Thursday ahead of possible flash flooding and mudslides in areas burned bare by recent wildfires. Meanwhile, thousands in the Pacific Northwest remained without power or clean drinking water after a deadly wave of storms there. In California, Orange County sheriff’s patrol cars broadcast warnings through loudspeakers urging about 2,000 people to get out of three canyons because some of the heaviest rainfall in more than a year was expected to hit the area overnight. The evacuations could become mandatory later in the day as the storm approached, sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said. “It’s much better to do it early than wait for the slides to start,” he said. “The canyons are narrow; the roads are narrow. Sometimes if you wait too long, it’s potentially dangerous.” In the Northwest, rescue and evacuation work ended as floodwaters continued to recede. Six people died in Washington, and another two died in Oregon. An elderly man was missing after he was believed to have fallen into a raging creek behind his house in rural Winlock, Wash. About 640 people were still in shelters, 33,000 customers lacked power and about 18,900 had no safe drinking water, Gov. Chris Gregoire said. Fourteen water systems were shut down and people served by nine others were
under orders to boil water. Some areas requested vaccines, especially for tetanus. Helicopters took flood-stranded residents to safety at the height of the storm. By the time helicopter operations ended Wednesday evening, at least 300 people had been taken to safety in what Gregoire described as Washington state’s largest aerial search-and-rescue operation in a decade. “Those folks who are literally homeless today still have a spirit in them,” the governor said. “They are determined to get back to their homes and get their lives back together again.” Recalling scenes of blown-down trees, Gregoire said, “The visual is nothing like I’ve ever seen other than my recollection of Mount St. Helens” after the volcano’s devastating 1980 eruption. Interstate 5, closed since Monday about 30 miles south of the Washington capital of Olympia, could reopen as early as Thursday night with one lane of traffic in each direction, state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said. Officials had earlier said it might take until next week to reopen the West Coast’s main north-south route. Amtrak service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, resumed, and service to Portland, Ore., was expected Friday or Saturday, Gregoire said. Damage is likely to reach into the billions of dollars but remains to be tallied.
The governor filed a formal request for a White House emergency declaration in two counties, with other counties to be added as damage assessments come in. An emergency declaration would trigger money for temporary lodging, rental assistance, money for home repairs and crisis counseling, and small-business loans. An aide to Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said that state would also seek a federal disaster declaration. In California, the National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch for coastal and mountain areas through Friday afternoon. As much as an inch of rain in urban areas and as much as 3 inches in the mountains was predicted, said Stuart Seto, a Weather Service specialist. Southern California has had a very dry rainy season, and it will be the first time since April 2006 that so much rain has fallen from a single storm, Seto predicted. Areas denuded by fires were a special concern. Wildfires this year have stripped vegetation from thousands of acres of land. That land is now susceptible to excessive runoff and erosion. “It doesn’t take much to set off those mud and debris flows,” Seto said. In Los Angeles County, crews sandbagged hillsides in Griffith Park, where about 1,200 acres were scorched in May. Work was also under way in Malibu, where a wildfire destroyed 53 homes in November.
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LateNiteHumor Top 10 things a department store Santa doesn’t want to hear from a kids, from Dec. 22, 1999 — 10: “Are you really jolly or is it the Prozac?” 9: “I can see what you had for lunch in your beard.” 8: “My mommy says that you’re my real daddy.” 7: “Red is not your color, fat man.” 6: “I see dead people.” 5: “All I want for Christmas is some gamblin’ money.” 4: “The lady over there said you’re drunk.” 3: “What’s your policy on giving cigarettes to kids?” 2: “I’m Jewish–what are you gonna do about it?” 1: “If I see one Teletubby–I’m coming after you.”
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NEW YORK (AP) – Billy Joel has released a new pop single, the anti-war “Christmas in Fallujah.” Just don’t expect to hear his voice on it. At 58, Joel felt he was too old to sing the song, which was inspired by letters the Piano Man received from soldiers in Iraq. So he gave it to Cass Dillon, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter Joel from Long Island. “I thought it should be somebody young, about a soldier’s age,” Joel said in a statement on his Web site. “I wanted to help somebody else’s career. I’ve had plenty of hits. I’ve had plenty of airplay. I’ve had my time in the sun. I think it’s time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience.” Dillon said he was thrilled to be asked. “When someone of that stature, with that history of great songs behind him with such a huge catalog asks you to sing something he’s written, there’s nothing you can do but be completely honored to perform,” Dillon said in a statement. “Christmas in Fallujah” went on sale Tuesday on Apple Inc.’s iTunes. Net proceeds will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, which builds homes for severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Jessica Sierra has pleaded not guilty to charges in a weekend fracas with three Tampa police officers outside a nightclub. Sierra, a former “American Idol” finalist, is charged with disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest and violating conditions of her parole on earlier felony battery and possession charges. Attorney John Fitzgibbons said Thursday he is consulting with doctors to plan a comprehensive drug and alcohol program for Sierra. She is being held without bail and will remain in jail at least until her next hearing, scheduled Dec. 20.
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Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
StatesmanCampus News
Walking in a winter wonderland
Page 3
Briefs Campus & Community
InTech High School to host art show tonight The students and faculty of InTech Collegiate High School, a charter school with an emphasis in science, math and engineering are excited to show off their artistic side. On Friday, Dec. 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the students and faculty of InTech are hosting an Arts Night. Visual Arts and a variety of performance arts will be presented from pottery to poetry readings. Though InTech is known for it’s rigorous academic program, InTech also has a thriving artistic community and its Arts Club is proud to sponsor Arts Nights. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.
Commercial flights coming to Logan
CHRISTMAS TREES FILLED the Sunburst Lounge. There were 30 trees donated by campus groups. Organizations included HURD, Operation Smile, the Asian American Student Council, ASUSU, Habitat for Humanity and the College of Agriculture. TYLER LARSON photo
Deck at N.C. mall collapses, kills 1; one missing after Fla. garage collapse Administration investigating Florida collapse
Pearl Harbor: Day of infamy recalled -continued from page 1
combat valor. Japanese planes did not bomb residential neighborhoods, but misfired U.S. anti-aircraft shells fell on homes and businesses. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – A sec One person was missing, but was admitted in fair condition, “One shell fell into the dining room and tion of a shopping mall’s parking police did not know if the worker another was treated and released and this old Japanese lady was having her breakdeck collapsed Thursday and killed was trapped or had escaped. Search a third was still being evaluated. fast. When I got there she was slumped over one person, authorities said, as crews with dogs were looking Other workers were treated at the in her food,” Inouye said in an interview. scene. holiday shoppers filled the nearby through the rubble. “Shrapnel went through her head and killed stores. The collapse occurred as workers her. She didn’t know what hit her.” Misty Skipper, a spokeswoman A female driver crashed into the were pouring concrete on the sixth for Mayor John Peyton, said early Inouye said about a half-dozen storekeepedge of the top level of the parking searches had turned up nothing, but floor of the garage for a condomini- ers were killed when their shops were hit. um complex, which is located across The National Park Service, which runs deck at SouthPark Mall, Charlottethey would continue until searchers were certain that nobody was the street from the Jacksonville Mecklenburg Police spokeswoman the USS Arizona Memorial, lists 48 civiltrapped. Sheriff’s Office. Julie Hill said. ians who died from the attack, mostly in Twelve men and one woman were “I heard a crack, and then it just A small portion of the three-tier Honolulu. Three firefighters and four federal crumbled,” Rick Caldwell, a condeck then collapsed, and the driver’s transported to Shands Jacksonville, government employees also perished. struction worker, told The Florida hospital spokeswoman Kelly car fell through the opening, Hill Military casualties far outnumbered civilsaid. Times-Union. Brockmeir said. Two were in serious ians, with more than 2,300 dead and 1,100 There were no other concondition, 10 were in good condition Mayor John Peyton said at a news wounded. All the dead are to be remembered firmed injuries, Hill said. Two conference that the collapse occurred Friday in a ceremony at a Pearl Harbor pier and one was in fair condition. Some cars under the collapsed concrete at shift change when workers were of those in good condition have left overlooking the USS Arizona, which sank were destroyed, Charlotte Fire arriving and leaving work, so offithe hospital. with more than 1,000 sailors aboard. Department Capt. Rob Brisley said. Susan Barrow, a spokeswoman for cials are checking to make sure no In the months after the attack, the war Officials are investigating the Baptist Medical Center, said they had one else is missing. crept into all aspects of civilian life. The Occupational Health and cause of the collapse. three patients, but two have been Lei-makers made camouflage nets instead Safety Administration is investigat Meanwhile, a parking garage released and the other is in good of flower garlands. The U.S. military lined ing the collapse. under construction in Jacksonville, condition. Waikiki beaches with barbed wire, giving Fla., partially collapsed Thursday, St. Vincent’s Medical Center the island the look of paradise under siege. injuring about two dozen people, spokesman Erik Kaldor said it also A blackout order was imposed to make officials said. received three injured workers; one sure invading Japanese forces would not have any city lights to guide them in an attack. Neighborhood wardens made sure residents turned off lights and covered windows with black cloth. Rodby’s husband, Dick, and his family wanted to evacuate from their home across from the Schofield Barracks Army base to a beach house on Oahu. But they were told not to because Japanese forces might storm the beaches. Hawaiian Sen. Daniel Akaka was a senior at a military academy when the raid hap“I actually “I don’t think there’s pened. He and his classmates were ordered never eat of an affordable option to guard the mountains behind their hillside campus. I live that’s healthy. I like campus after the attack. close enough to get the vegetarian The U.S. military feared Japan would send paratroopers into the mountains and to campus I burrito from Taco sabotage the island’s water sources, so it can just go Time, but even that’s asked the students to help. home and eat. almost $5. And then “We were ordered to take care of the The prices are there’s an issue of hills,” Akaka told The Associated Press. pretty high.” when things are open. Martial law was declared the afternoon of The Quadside Cafe Dec. 7. Military officers replaced civilian – Amy is the only real food judges, meaning even people caught speedWhite, establishment that’s ing or committing other traffic violations junior open late.” were judged in military court. “We went from the Gibraltar of the – Ben Abbott, junior Pacific to this isolated outpost,” Martinez said. “The islands of Hawaii were still at risk. As such, it was constant: ‘When are they “I would say the “(Prices) are coming back? Will we be invaded, will we be price is pretty pretty good. I occupied?’” pricey. Every have a food plan The mood relaxed somewhat by midnow and then so I have money 1942, after the U.S. military victory at you have to (eat on my card. I the Battle of Midway, which dramatically on campus) but I don’t actually reduced the chance Japan would attack avoid it if I can.” pay attention Hawaii again. But martial law remained in effect until 1944. Martinez said there’s been to the prices. I – Carly growing interest in the experience of civiljust go to the ians during the war, as shown by recent disBlackburn, Marketplace to plays on martial law at the Hawaii state judijunior get a good meal.” ciary museum and the U.S. Army Museum in Waikiki. – Andrew The park service plans to build a new USS Winder, freshArizona Memorial visitors center in the comman ing years, and it will expand the civilian side of the story. Information collected by Liz Lawyer. Debra Hawkins photos “It’s been neglected,” Martinez said.
Street Speak
What do think of the price of food on campus?
The Logan Cache Airport has received approval for servicing commercial airlines to Las Vegas, Nev. and Denver, Colo. with possible connecting flights. The airport has met the FAA regulations and the expansion is taking place. Frontier is one of two main airlines that will be participating in the flight expansions. The LCA development director, Rich Stehmeier, has been working with the airlines and the FAA to meet deadlines and make this expansion go through for the airport. Stehmeier states that servicing commercial flights from Logan has many benefits for the community. “Having the local airport open to commercial flights is much more convenient and cost efficient for businesses and people that go out of town often. This will save a lot of time and hassle for travelers, not to mention the positive effects on our local community and economy,” said Stehmeier. Many of these positive effects include opening easy travel for local businesses which will influence growth and create possible increased economic activity for the community. It will also be beneficial to USU in its recruiting efforts and activities it brings to Cache Valley. Stehmeier also states that commercial flights will ultimately have a positive effect on the environment by eliminating pollution for travel to Salt Lake City International and other surrounding airports. These commercial flights will have two or three flights everyday to Las Vegas and Denver. Ticket information and flight schedules is available at www.cachecounty. org/airport. For more information contact Rich Stehmeier, rich.stehmeier@cachcounty. org.
USU theatre welcomes holidays with comedy Playwright Alan Ayckbourn’s “Absurd Person Singular” is a staged documentary of three married couples that follows their changing fortunes in three acts. Each act takes place on successive Christmas Eves. With that holiday as the base, the farcical picture of relationships around the holidays will be presented by Utah State Theatre, the production program in the department of theatre at USU, until Dec. 8 at the Caine Lyric Theatre 28 West Center Street. Curtain is 7:30 p.m., with tickets available at the door prior to each show or by calling 7978022. Ticket prices range from $6 to $10, and are available by calling 797-8022. USU student admission is free with a valid I.D. “Absurd Person Singular” is produced by the theatre department’s advanced directing class, which, according to the varied directors, should provide an interesting twist. Each student directs a section of the play and incorporates diverse perspectives to draw out comedy and angst from characters and the plot. The student directors agree that a close examination of each scene will improve the final piece. The project is lead by theatre arts department head Colin Johnson. Johnson said an unexpected glitch in the 2007/2008 Utah State Theatre season provided the advanced directing class a unique opportunity to produce “Absurd Person Singular.” Accompanying “Absurd Person Singular” is Scene III’s third social event, following the Dec. 8 performance. Scene III is a new social scene for art lovers or anyone interested in an alternative source of conversation, food, drink and location. Scene III is tailored to young, hip 20, 30, and 40 somethings, with the goal of providing unique settings for socializing open after 10 p.m. Features include discount tickets, local musicians, food, drink, local art, and late nights. For more information on Scene III, call 7971500.
-Compiled from staff and media reports
HEY! check out the STRESS BREAKER in today’s issue!
StatesmanCampus News
Page 4
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Ogden schools want notice of public comment OGDEN, Utah – Ogden’s school board wants to change the public comment process at meetings, suggesting members need time to prepare responses rather than deal with spontaneous inquiries from the public that aren’t on the agenda. Board members are considering a proposal that would require people to submit questions and comments two days before a scheduled meeting. The current policy requires
four days’ notice but hasn’t been enforced for years, said Noel Zabriskie, the district superintendent. “It basically came up because a couple of board members were concerned about our current process, where anyone can sign up and address the board,� he said. “It didn’t give adequate time for them to prepare a response.� Citizen input could be submitted by phone, in person or
through e-mail, Zabriskie said. State public meeting laws require boards to post a meeting agenda in advance and then stick to it, board member Rick Noorda said. The two-day policy would make the board more responsive, he said. “All we can do now is listen. We can’t even clap or show any kind of response. We can just say ‘Thank you for your comment,’� Noorda said. “We want, as a board, to be able to
respond honestly and frankly that night.� The policy isn’t an effort to stifle speech, nor would it block the public from speaking up during board meetings, board members said. No public objections to the policy have been raised so far. A final vote on the proposal is expected next week. If approved, the policy becomes effective in January.
CHIP: Extension promoting childrens’ health
10. 100% Tuition & Fees 9. $1200 a year for Books 8. $400 monthly cash 7. Logan Canyon is your classroom (repelling & adventure training) 6. Learn leadership by taking charge 5. Set yourself apart from your peers 4. Don’t buy action figures, be one (Like Major Bruce) 3. Make a difference in the world 2. College credit to get strong 1. Someday history classes could read about you.
-continued from page 1
evaluating spending habits, changing habits, and being more involved in your own finances. House also says she has added a question to her forms in efforts to gather data on who has health insurance in the state. Concerning the promotional efforts, House said, “We need to expand it to reach more people.� She said it didn’t cover certain things as well. Eye exams for contacts and the contacts themselves weren’t paid for but
regular eye exams and part of the glasses were covered. To qualify for CHIP, people must have a low income. Parrish said, “Both my parents were/are self-employed which is why we had no other health insurance from a company. If my dad had had a job that offered health benefits, we (wouldn’t have) been entitled to CHIP.� CHIP also has an age limit of 18 according to www.utahchip. org, the organizations webpage.
On the USU Extension Web site, it says, “Extension is unique in structure and function. As a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, the Extension System–with its network of county offices and state universities, is in a position to deliver educational programs at the grassroots level throughout the nation.� The extension is an outreach program to communities on more than 3,000 counties according to the Web site.
Much research is accomplished through this, House said. For information about CHIP and to see where the CHIP van will be next, visit www.health. utah.gov/chip for a complete van tour schedule. Call 1-877KIDS-NOW for an application or apply online at www.health. utah.gov/chip. To learn more about UPP, visit www.health. utah.gov/upp or call 1-888-2222542. For information about PCN visit www.health.utah. gov/pcn or call 1-888-222-2542. –j.p@aggiemail.usu.edu
Graduation: Fall Commencement next week
-continued from page 1
to graduate. She said it’s a personal decision and it depends on when the student is ready to graduate or when the student wants to graduate. She said she does, however, like the fact that fall ceremonies aren’t as big as spring ones. “The fall ceremony is smaller, so you don’t sit through as much,� Herzberg said. “I think that’s a plus. There’s more of an intimate sense to it.� Herzberg said she also knows some students like the theatrics of spring graduations. “Graduation in spring is a bigger event, and it tends to have more emphasis on the
speaker,� Herzberg said. “That might make spring a more exciting time to graduate. More friends are doing it. More students around the nation are too.� She said in the end it comes down to the students’ preferences and if they’d rather their graduation be “small versus lots of hooplah.� Herzberg said not much difference exists between students who choose to graduate in the fall versus those who graduate in the spring. “There’s fewer (political science students) graduating in fall,� Herzberg said. “So
perhaps we’re more aware of those who are graduating in fall because they come in smaller groupings. We have a little more time and get a better sense of who they are. But there aren’t many distinctions between the overall quality and success rate of students who graduate in fall instead of spring.� Scott Barclay, the Logan branch manager for SOS Staffing Services, said he thinks now is a good time for students to graduate and look for jobs. “It’s easier to find jobs in the fall this year because the
unemployment rate is so low,� Barclay said. “Our customers are looking for qualified employees, and these graduates are going to be in high demand.� Emily Nelson said she is excited to graduate but said she’ll also miss college life. “It’s kind of bittersweet,� Nelson said. “I don’t have to stress about tests or papers, but at the same time I won’t be able to take the fun classes and I won’t get to walk around on campus and meet new people. I’ll miss that.� –rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu
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Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 Page 5
features@statesman.usu.edu 797-1769
WeekendDiversions
And so this is Photos and story by Debra Hawkins
I
aspen olsen sits on santa’s lap and tells him what she wants for Christmas Wednesday, Dec. 5.
t’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go with Christmas lights, eggnog and snow. Christmas is less than a month away, but students like Sarah Amundson, sophomore in accounting, say it just doesn’t feel like Christmas until certain things fall into place. Amundson said she personally can’t feel like Christmas is coming until she sees people putting up Christmas lights. “Sometimes I hate Christmas because I work in retail,” Amundson said. “Although sometimes I hate Christmas, I love driving down a street when all the houses on both sides have lights. It is the most comforting feeling in the entire world. It is just lovely.” Matt Jaggi, undeclared sophomore, said he feels the same way about Christmastime. It isn’t Christmas until the whole world is covered in lights, he said, because the lights help make the atmosphere. “I don’t even know hot to describe what I love about Christmas,” Jaggi said. “I love the excitement, everyone is so excited. Everyone just seems happier.” Mike Jaggi, senior in graphic design, said he thinks it isn’t the Christmas lights that make it feel like Christmas, rather it is the traditions families celebrate together that make the season fun. “Eggnog makes it feel like Christmas,” Mike Jaggi said. “My family drinks eggnog every Christmas morning, and so when I drink it, it starts to feel like Christmas.” Cami Hunsaker, junior in family consumer and human development, said she doesn’t think the Christmas spirit has to wait for anything to fall into place. She said she thinks Christmas happens as a natural progression of the holidays. “As soon as my family is done eating on Thanksgiving, it is Christmastime,” Hunsaker said. Dustin Petersen, freshman in human
resource management, said he disagrees. He said he feels like Christmas is a matter of timing and the Christmas season can’t start until December. “It is not Christmas time until December,” Petersen said. “You can’t even buy clearance Halloween candy anymore, because the day after Halloween, all the stores are covered in Christmas things. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until December.” Hunsaker said even though she thinks Christmas starts right after Thanksgiving, it’s her family traditions that keep the spirit alive. “I love Christmas food,” Hunsaker said. “Every Christmas season, my family dips chocolates. The food is always so good.” Paul Carter, freshman in mechanical engineering, said even with everything people do to try and prepare for Christmas, Christmas just can’t happen until there is snow. “I like getting stuff, but I like the snow better,” Carter said. “I love to ski, and so it is just not Christmas without snow.” Mark Nance, junior in elementary education, said he feels like Christmas has gotten out of hand and that it doesn’t even feel like the holiday has special meaning anymore. “It makes it feel like Christmas time when people keep asking me what are you going to get for everyone and their dog,” Nance said. “Christmas should be more about giving service instead of giving gifts, like giving of your time and gifts instead of things. Look at the commericials and tell me if you think it is too materialist, the focus has gone to giving the priciest things instead. To Christians, Christmas is about Christ, and it is not really ever going to be Christmas until so much stress is not placed on the material things of the world.” -debrajoy.h@aggiemail.usu.edu
TOP: STEVEN VIDTOR AND HIS SON CHARLIE make snow angels in the newly fallen snow at the beginning of December. Left: dustin petersen, freshman in human resources, kisses his wife Heather, senior in nursing, under the mistletoe.
the fairgrounds are lit up in support of Alliance for Youth at the second annual Nights of Lights.
during a christmas nativity Dec. 5, a little angel waits for her turn to go on stage.
taylor and benson best LATTER-DAY VOICES SINGS Christmas carols at the play shepherds in a children’s redition USU tree lighting on Monday, Dec. 3. of the nativity Wednesday, Dec. 5.
below: christmas lights are strung around the Block A on campus, which is another place wellknown for kissing.
HEY! Today is the last Statesman of the semester. See you Jan. 7!
WeekendDiversions
Page 6
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
A day in the life of Santa Claus Other wardrobe calamities have included the time when Hogue was in his Santa outfit and the elastic that holds up his David Hogue, a resident of beard broke. Consequently, his Riverton, has dressed up as Santa Claus for the past 15 years. beard kept dropping down for As a former member of the state the remainder of the night. Hogue also said he rememLegislature, many individuals bers a night when it was not a would never guess Hogue spent wardrobe mishap that caused his free time as the man in the problems, but it was the Santa big red suit. But according to chair he was sitting in. Hogue, it is something he stum “I was being Santa at a place bled into and has enjoyed ever that had a really deep seat on the since. chair,” he said. “I sat down in the “I was asked to fill in for a chair, and when I tried to get up Santa at the ZCMI Mall several years ago,” Hogue said. “It was a I couldn’t. I had to have someone come and pull me out.” lot of fun and it just seemed to However, aside from many stick with me.” misfortunes that have occurred Hogue has had at least 200 while portraying Santa Claus, children sit on his lap at one Hogue said many touching setting, and he said that can moments have also happened. become difficult. One night as Hogue was por “It becomes difficult when traying Santa Claus, he said he you have everyone sitting on had one very special kid tell him your lap and each parent wants his Christmas wishes. a picture of that child while “A young boy came and he or she is on your lap. Plus, sat on my lap,” Hogue said. “I I can become very thirsty, and asked him what he wanted for it is nearly impossible to drink Christmas, and he told me he through the beard I wear,” wanted to get well. I could tell he Hogue said. was sick. You could see he had But aside from sore legs, lost his hair and had received playing the role of Santa Claus chemotherapy.” can bring many other mishaps, This young boy and Hogue from wardrobe malfunctions talked for a few minutes, and the to disasters with the North Pole boy then asked Hogue a quesbackdrops and Santa’s chair. tion that caught him a little off “I remember a night when guard, Hogue said. I was playing Santa in a build “The boy asked me if I knew ing that was very warm,” Hogue said. “The entire night my glass- he was sick, and I told him that I did,” Hogue said. es kept fogging up and I could Hogue later received word not see a thing.” ++ that this young boy’s mother had contacted the mall and told them how Santa had comforted her son. “His mom said that the boy was thrilled that her son got to talk to Santa,” he said. “It made this little boy’s day to know that Santa knew he was sick. Just the By COURTNIE PACKER senior writer
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Thur, Dec 6 - Fri, Dec 7, 8am-5pm Saturday, Dec 8, 11am-3pm Mon, Dec 10 - Thur, Dec 13, 8am-5pm Friday, Dec 14, 8am-4pm
Old Main (east entrance) Mon, Dec 10-Thur, Dec 13, 8am-3pm
Business Building Mon, Dec 10 - Thur, Dec 13, 9am-4pm
Lundstrom Student Living Center Mon, Dec 10 - Thur, Dec 13, 11am-3:30pm
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fact that he got to talk to Santa, and that he wanted to see Santa so badly to ask him to make him well, made it one of the most touching moments I have experienced.” Hogue said acting as Santa does not only require him to pass out candy canes and wish children a merry Christmas. “As Santa, you have to keep up on what the popular toys are,” he said. “I have had kids ask me for new cars and new
houses. I get questions all the time like where the reindeer are because the kids did not see them outside, or what the North Pole is like. You have to be prepared to answer any type of question thrown at you.” One of Hogue’s favorite parts of playing Santa is when he randomly will call a child by their correct name, he said.
- See SANTA, page 8
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“Memories of Christmas” Choirs Concert December 7 & 8 6:30 pm Featuring the Institute Choirs, USU Chamber SIngers, and the Logan High School Crimson Colony.UNIVERSITY Pre-show begins at 6:30 (USU) with the main show at 7 pm in PLACEMENT: UTAH STATE STATESMAN Size: 5.75” x 5” the USU Kent Concert Column: 5.75” x 5” Hall. Tickets are $2 per person, $12 per family, and free IO: 121190_w47 for registered Institute students. Tickets available at the Institute Bookstore. Color: Spot_2607 Date: 11.14.07
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WeekendDiversions
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Page 7
“Awake” is definitely not a snore There’s nothing better than going into a movie knowing nothing about it (Warning: Do not even look at the movie poster. It gives away such an important plot device that the person who made the poster should be out of work). That’s right, I’m talking about “Awake.” Yes it’s that movie that has a dismal 17 percent rating on RottenTomatoes. com. But don’t believe that percentage. Just go and see this movie. “Awake” stars Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”) as Clay, a rich kid who has taken over his father’s company after his somewhat controversial demise. Clay has a heart problem and needs a transplant. He has a best friend, Dr. Harper (Terrence Howard, “Crash”)
Aaron Peck Movie Critic
Reel Reviews Grade B+
“Awake”
who is the only person he trusts to perform the transplant surgery. Clay is also head-overheels in love with a person he shouldn’t be, named Sam (Jessica Alba, “Fantastic Four”). Sam isn’t in Clay’s tax bracket, and his mother (Lena Olin, “Alias”) would never approve of them getting married. Clay is stuck in the world of ‘old money’ and high society. He would desperately give
up everything just to be with his girlfriend Sam, who he’s been hiding from his mother. When the time comes for Clay to get his transplant surgery, he insists that Harper does it, which is against the wishes of his mother. She has picked out a surgeon of her own, a man who has actually “had his hands inside of presidents.” His mother is overprotective, and Clay, even though he loves his mother, goes against her wishes and has his friend perform the surgery. After the surgery starts, a series of events unfold at break-neck pace which I will not begin to describe here because it would spoil the fun. The only thing anyone who goes to see this movie needs to know is Clay experiences a phenomenon known
Bistro
as anesthesia awareness in which a person is paralyzed by the anesthesia but can hear and feel everything going on. Imagine being able to feel a bone saw cut open your rib cage. Christensen is fantastic as Clay, Alba is surprisingly not awful, and Howard brings another great performance to the screen, which he does in every movie he’s in. “Awake” is the most suspenseful show I’ve seen in a long time. It’s only 78 minutes long, and every single one of those minutes is filled with suspense. “Awake” is a wellcrafted thriller which will miss the masses of America. But a few will go and see it, and hopefully, like me, they’ll love it. -aaron.peck@aggiemail.usu.edu
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A guide to holiday do’s and don’ts
F
or the most part, Christmas sucks. So here are some ways to survive this wretched season. Music Do: Spend at least one day listening to the most ridiculous Christmas albums you can find. Any more than one day, and you will develop an ostrich-egg-sized brain tumor, an inner ear defect and temporary paralysis, which will relegate you to the floor where you’ll be puking rivers of blood and fruit cake. Any less than one day, and you miss out on a host of ridiculous Christmas albums. A favorite: Twisted Sister’s “A Twisted Christmas. Last year, I saw their video for “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” sung to the tune of “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” It’s ridiculous on several levels. The video consists of old, fat men in costumes and makeup from 20 years ago trying to be androgynous. These creepers are playing a weird mixture of a tune that was popular the last time someone scored because they had a mullet and a Christmas carol. All in a Christmas–tree–and–stocking–rich environment. The video ruined my life. It haunts my eternity. We were at Christmas Eve service, and I couldn’t stop laughing when we were singing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.” All I could see was Dee Snyder tramping around the church in ridiculous eye makeup, kicking over people and chairs. Old ladies were looking at me in a very queer manner, but I didn’t bother to explain, because they simply wouldn’t have understood – too old to grasp such harsh realities. Don’t: Listen to country Christmas songs. No one needs some jackass hillbilly, or white–trash, hillbilly jackass – cough, cough, Toby Keith, I hate you – singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night,” “Rudolph,” or worst of all, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Sorry kids, but if your residence – trailer, house, log cabin, what–have–you – has four or more rusty Chevys
in the front yard, 18 mutts tied to the same tree in the backyard and one set of false teeth for 13 people to share, Santa probably isn’t coming to town. Santa is an elitist bastard who hates white trash, rednecks and those who don’t understand Dennis Miller’s stand–up routine. Shopping Do: Buy gifts for special people in your life, or those you’d like to see naked. But since shopping is such a terrible experience, ensure that you will get some satisfaction out of the deal. Don’t buy anyone anything you can’t get something out of. Say I want a Nintendo Wii. To make sure that I get one, I’ll buy one for my girlfriend – who exists in this hypothetical scenario, but is imaginary in real life. She won’t really want it, so I can play it to my heart’s content. This philosophy works particularly well with alcohol and CDs. I want a certain Strung Out CD, so I go ahead and buy it for my brother, knowing full well I’m going to take the real disc out, burn him a copy, seal the thing up and wrap it. Then, we both get a CD we want, and the possession of the original disc isn’t important because he’ll just put it on his mp3 player anyway. With alcohol, you buy something you want to drink, give it to a friend and make sure you’re there when they drink it. After a few drinks, they’ll be too drunk to remember that it was their bottle and they’ll just let you drink most of it. This way, you drink at least half a bottle of whatever you bought. Basically, a gift for someone else should be a gift to you, too. Selfishness and Christmas mix like gin and tonic. Don’t: Shop early. The people out Christmas shopping from the middle of August to mid–December are mostly likely semi– sedate, fruit–cake maniacs, totally whacked to oblivion with holiday spirit and cheer. These people are dangerous. They are toxic and should be locked in plastic candy cane prisons and constantly prod-
ded with sharpened pine boughs. You want to shop a week before Christmas, at the earliest – a couple days is a more realistic time frame. The people shopping later are in too big of a hurry to be cheery. They are often terribly spiteful, even to the point of outright rudeness, violent paranoia and ill temperament. People who are screaming at cashiers about the endless stream of Christmas noise are the ones you want to be associated with, not Prozac– addled holiday well–wishers. An additional don’t: Get a girl you don’t know lingerie. That’s just creepy. When it fits perfectly, it’s proof you’ve been secretly stalking them and stealing their undergarments. That right there is probably enough evidence to get your ass thrown in jail, or at least slapped with a fat restraining order. And buying gifts for people you know aren’t buying them for you is in poor taste. People you buy the gift for feel sorry for not getting you something, and that creates a lot of undue pressure. Those found buying gifts and causing these circumstances should be shackled in the town square and spit on.
The Bridger Folk Music Society presents an intimate Bakery Concert with singer and songwriter Justin Roth on Saturday Jan. 5, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. at Crumb Brothers Bakery, 291 S. 300 West in Logan. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or by calling 792-4996. Seating is very limited, so advance purchase is recommended. The concert is co-sponsored by Utah Public Radio and Import Auto. Raised in Minnesota on rock and roll, singer-songwriter Justin Roth picked up the guitar in 9th grade, taking lessons from a heavy metal guitarist. As his teacher started playing with an acoustic
trio, Justin became more interested in playing unplugged. His path to acoustic music was solidified at 17, when he saw innovative guitarist Michael Hedges open for Crosby, Stills & Nash. He had gone to see the famed headliners, but it was Hedges’ music that truly spoke to him. Justin was enthralled by Hedges’ expressive playing and inventive compositions and was immediately hooked by this new sound of the acoustic guitar. Justin saw that the acoustic guitar was capable of so much more than he had been exposed to before, and from that moment on, he knew that it would be the root of his musical world. He began experimenting with alternate tunings and exploring the two-handed tapping technique he learned from acclaimed finger-
Ask for Curtis Craig.
Dave Baker is a senior majoring in print journalism. Comments and questions can be sent to da.bake@aggiemail.usu. edu.
Festivities Do: Drink and be merry. I will always encourage the consumption of Christmasy alcoholic beverages. Drink some Southern Comfort and egg nog. Hell, you could even leave out the egg nog, I won’t tell. Recently, I’ve found out if you let your blood alcohol content drop below .10, you are likely to catch a virus, the flu, cancer or worse – out of your drunken stupor, you are liable to catch the Christmas spirit, the full repercussions of which are currently unknown. I’m not really sure what it means to be merry, actually. Since I don’t know, I’ll take it as this: Grow a beard, claim to be Santa Claus and try to score with some hot moms at malls. ‘Merry’ sounds romantic in origin, so my definition sounds close to the root of the word. Don’t: Be someone’s buzz
Justin Roth concert coming to Logan By USU MEDIA RELATIONS staff writer
kill. This is not a good time of the year to confront family members about their behaviors, whether it’s their drinking habits or definition of the word ‘merry.’ Stay off people’s back. There is no need to poke Uncle John about his illegal betting operation, or berate your Aunt Jane about her penchant for doing voodoo on strange men she’s slept with over the years. These people are family, and an intervention during Christmas dinner won’t be productive. In fact, it’s probably a step toward having the electric turkey carver turned into an implement of death. Maybe suggest some of those things as New Year’s resolutions around Dec. 30. Whatever you do, don’t forget the reason for the season: The constant replaying of “A Christmas Story.”
photo courtesy USU Media Relations
- See JUSTIN, page 8
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WeekendDiversions
Page 8
Gender-neutral bathrooms serve all on campuses By STACEY HOLLENBECK McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)
When Robin Peckham first began attending Brown University, the bathrooms in his dormitory made him uncomfortable. But it wasn’t the messy sinks or soap scum that made Peckham ill at ease; it was the signs on the door. Peckham, a 19-year-old sophomore, does not identify as male or female. So when he, who also goes by “she” and “it,” had to decide whether to use a femaleonly or male-only bathroom, the choice was not easy. “When I used men’s bathrooms, I felt awkward wearing skirts or sitting down to pee or shaving my legs. When I used women’s bathrooms, I felt awkward shaving my face or wearing boxers,” Peckham said in an email. “I also hated switching back and forth for different activities because I didn’t want people to think I was some weirdo,” he said. Some students, including Peckham, have experienced verbal and physical harassment while using gender-specific bathrooms because of their gender identity and expression, which do not involve sexual orientation. For students who feel uncomfortable or unsafe using traditional restrooms, universities across the country are implementing gender-neutral bathrooms, bathrooms that are not designated as male or female, in academic buildings and dormitories. On many campuses, these actions are met with praise. But some groups, mostly conservative, are condemning the trend. Most universities that changed bathrooms from gender-specific to gender-neutral did so by simply switching restroom signs, making the cost of converting the bathrooms minimal. This summer Brown University converted 12 restrooms, including single-use and multiuse bathrooms, to gender-neutral by switching signs. These changes are partly the result of advocacy from stu-
dents in the university’s Queer Alliance, a group that helps promote transgender and gay rights on campus. Along with various subgroups, the alliance has been insisting on having gender-neutral bathrooms for years. Despite changes, members hope to help implement more of the bathrooms at Brown. “I think we’re seeing more transgender students and more students who don’t identify in traditional gender-binary ways,” says Margaret Klawunn, associate vice president for campus life at Brown. “We want our students to feel comfortable. (Gender-neutral bathrooms) are a good way to help meet those needs.” Brown is not alone. Fiftyfour percent of the country’s top 25 universities have gender-neutral bathrooms, says a study by the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) released this August. The goal of GenderPAC is to ensure that schools, workplaces and communities are suitable places for those who do not meet expectations for masculinity and femininity to succeed. According to the study, both private institutions, like Princeton and Harvard, and public schools, like the University of Virginia and University California, Berkeley provide gender-neutral restroom facilities. More than 140 campuses have made the change. In 2005, officials at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania decided all buildings on campus should have at least one gender-neutral bathroom, preferably single-occupancy. By converting signs on handicapped bathrooms, they achieved their goal. “Here at Swarthmore we’re very much concerned about social justice and social equality. Every member of our community is valuable and should be respected,” said Sharmaine LaMar, the college’s equal opportunity officer. “Any institution that has similar values would want to recognize all members of its community.” At Brown, members of
RUQUS, a subgroup of the Queer Alliance, demonstrated against gender-specific bathrooms last year by designating entrances to an on-campus dining hall as male or female. Dressed in drag, students directed those entering the dining hall through the “appropriate” entrance and verbally harassed those who went through the “wrong” door. According to Peckham, who participated in the protest, the demonstration, along with editorials in the university’s student newspaper, generated conversation on campus and drew the attention of university administrators. Prior to implementing gender-neutral restrooms at Brown, officials surveyed students this past spring and determined most were comfortable with the change. A more recent survey this semester showed 46 percent of Brown’s student body was in favor of gender-neutral bathrooms, Klawuun said. “We’re balancing multiple needs. Our (Queer Alliance) students were saying we want more gender-neutral restrooms. But we wanted to make sure other students felt comfortable with these changes as well,” Klawunn said. The growing trend has received applause from those advocating for transgender rights and criticism from some evangelical groups. David Kotter, executive director of the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a group that helps the church deal biblically with gender issues, says the council is concerned with the growing number of college campuses implementing genderneutral restrooms. “We were concerned because we have a biblical understanding that God created human beings in his image, male and female,” Kotter said. “It is something that we are created with, not something we get to choose or we get to discover.” The position of the council is that men and women are created equal in the eyes of God, but have different, complimentary roles. For men, this means loving
Santa: He loves making children smile
-continued from page 6
“The kids are so surprised when I say, ‘Oh, here’s Johnny,’ and their name really is Johnny,” Hogue said. “I often will even have parents come up and tell me their child’s name beforehand just so I get it right and the child will get even more excited.” Parents also help Hogue play Santa Claus sometimes by giving him a present to give to the children, he said.
“Some parents will hand me presents to give to their child of something the kid has asked for,” Hogue said. “Especially at the family parties, the parents will give me presents beforehand for me to stick into my bag.” Children’s expressions and excitement is what has kept Hogue going for all these years. “To watch the kids’ expressions and see their faces is what
this is all about,” Hogue said. “It is this time of year and to see the kids having a good time and getting excited is probably my favorite part. When the kids see Santa, they all clamor and run around and get excited, and you can hear that excitement in their voices.” -courtnie.packer@aggiemail. usu.edu
headship of a family. For women, it’s joyful and intelligent submission. “I think that gender-neutral bathrooms and gender-neutral dorm rooms that appear on college campuses can actually be more confusing for young men who should be learning what a good man should be like and women who should be learning what a good woman should be like,” Kotter said. “We’re not picketing gender-neutral bathrooms. We’re educating people. So that men and women in their hearts know there is a distinction in roles,” he said. Katie Lamb, a 19-year-old sophomore at Brown and advocacy chair of the Queer Alliance, says the goal of the alliance is not to convert all bathrooms to gender-neutral, but rather every third or fourth bathroom. “Everyone’s lifestyle should be taken into consideration,” Lamb said. “I think that if it’s an easy change to be made, (one) that makes people more comfortable, than it should be done.” In addition to implementing gender-neutral restrooms, colleges looking to make students who don’t identify as male or female more comfortable are also changing official forms by adding an additional category to the options of male and female. Some universities, including Brown, also allow students of any gender to live together in certain on-campus housing buildings. “I want more people to feel safe and comfortable,” Peckham said. “I want there to be more options for everyone. Mostly I don’t want anyone’s existence to be elided.”
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Venues
Arts • Entertainment • Outdoors • Culture
Steppin' Out This Weekend
Friday, Dec. 7 •Absurd Person Singular, Utah State Theatre Production, Caine Lyric Theater, Friday and Saturday 7:30-9:30 p.m., free for students •USU & Institute Combined Choirs, Kent Concert Hall, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., free for students •Annual Military Ball for Veterans, USU LDS Institute, 7:3010:30 p.m. •Santa’s Elves: A North Pole Musical, Eccles Conference Center, Friday and Saturday, dinner at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m., $13.95-$28.95 •Babes in Toyland, Heritage Theatre, Brigham City, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., www.heritagetheatreutah.com •Unicorn Children’s Theatre presents: A Christmas Cavalcade, Christmas scenes and vignettes, Friday and Saturday, call 435792-3325 for more info Saturday, Dec. 8 •Valley Carolers, Music Theatre West, Logan Tabernacle, 7 p.m., Free •Stokes Nature Center Holiday Celebration, 1-3 p.m., $3.50$6, www.logannature.org/contact •Winter Wonderland on Ice, Eccles Ice Center, 6-7:45 p.m., “Skate with the Stars” public skate session, 8-9:15 p.m. •Austin Weyand Concert, Crumb Brothers Bakery, 7:30 p.m., $10 •Lace N Levis Square Dancing, Cache Senior Center, 240 N. 100 East 7-10 p.m., $5
Want something posted on VENUES? Send to statesman@cc.usu.edu Information compiled by: Kate Rouse
Justin: Guitarist comes to Crumb brothers
-continued from page 7
style guitarist and composer Billy McLaughlin. From there, Justin added more layers to his playing using partial capos to create an even wider range of textures and voicings in his compositions and live performances. Inspired by the singer-songwriters he saw perform in his college home of Duluth, MN, Justin began honing his craft as a writer, marrying his accomplished guitar playing with his already strong vocals. By his senior year, he had recorded his first album “Up Until Now.” Not really intending to pursue a performing career, Justin was majoring in music business and planned on seeking a music industry job. But following graduation, he was encouraged by his friend Chris Cunningham (of acoustic/pop duo Storyhill) to drive out to Colorado to attend the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Song School. Keeping company with other musicians, swapping songs around late-night campfires, and hearing stories from other tourings artists, Justin realized that being a touring musician was what he really wanted to do. An epic moment in his young life, it would later inspire the title track of his 2003 release
Shine. In 1998, Chris Cunningham invited Justin to join him on a cross-country tour. While they were on the road, they would often play on each other’s songs, working out harmonies and twopart guitar arrangements. One night when they were playing at a church, Justin saw a djembe drum left by the church band. During the soundcheck, Justin began drumming, backing up Chris. They both enjoyed the sound so much, Justin played percussion that night and every night thereafter. Justin has been playing the djembe ever since and has gone on to back up such musicians as Ellis Paul, LJ Booth and Tom PrasadaRao. In 2000, Justin recorded a live duo album with Chris Cunningham called “2 Forms of ID.” That same year he released his second solo album “in between” and contributed four original compositions to the solo guitar compilation “Lifescapes – Solo Guitar”, produced by Billy McLaughlin. Sold exclusively in Target stores, the album went on to sell 70,000 copies nationwide. Since then Justin has gone on to wow audiences across the country, performing at such renowned venues as the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, The Ark in
Ann Arbor and Saint Paul’s historic Fitzgerald Theater, home of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. He has toured with Red House recording artist John Gorka and has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in the acoustic music scene, including Shawn Colvin, Martin Sexton, Lucy Kaplansky, David Wilcox and Richard Shindell. A dynamic live performer, Justin has won fans over with his intricate guitar solos, heartfelt songs and spontaneous delivery, often composing songs during his shows with the audience’s help. His growing popularity has led to performances at some of the top festivals including Kerrville Folk Festival (TX), Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (NY) and the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest (CO). Gaining recognition as a songwriter as well as performer, Justin has won numerous songwriting awards. He has twice been a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival and has won the Indie Acoustic Project’s award for Best Song of 2005 for his song “Shine,” the title cut to his most recent release. For more information, go to www.justinroth.com or www. bridgerfolk.org.
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Page 9
FridaySports
‘Just like football’ Aggies go cold at Huntsman Center, suffer worst loss to Utes since 1999
glimpses where it looked like we might get By DAVID BAKER in the game, but they were short lived.” assistant sports editor The Aggie offense was just as anemic at the end of the game, as they only scored The only good showing from Utah State four points on two Brayden Bell jumpers Wednesday night at the Huntsman Center in the last eight minutes. was in the stands. Overall, USU shot 37 perA rowdy sea of Aggie cent from the field on 17blue took over three secof-46 shooting. Mistakes tions of the upper bowl, on the offensive end, U tah 72 making noise for most of including 13 turnovers and the game. USU 48 a few ill-advised 3-point The same couldn’t be shots killed some of the said for the men in blue on the court. Aggie runs, as they only recorded two Utah State was handed a 24-point beatpoints off 10 Ute turnovers. ing—72-48—by the University of Utah, breaking the first two-game winning - See BLOWOUT, page 10 streak of the year and pushing the Aggies back to .500 at 5-5. “We’ve come down here and played well and we’ve come down here and got hammered, and that’s what happened tonight,” USU head coach Stew Morrill said. “They just beat us in every phase of the game ... We couldn’t guard them. We couldn’t score. We got out-rebounded. They’re a lot better basketball team than we are right now. It’s not even close.” From the start, it never looked good for the Aggies. The Utes came out on fire, scoring the first 11 points of the game on four makes—three 3-pointers and a dunk—and they never looked back. Utah pushed that run to 19-4 before the Utah State offense woke up and went on a 7-3 mini run in the middle of the first half. Except for a few little runs during the game, the Aggie offense was almost nonexistent. It took until the 9:45 mark in the first half for Utah State to reach double digits on a three from junior guard Desmond Stephens. usu coach stew morrill chas“We were behind the eight ball all tises his team late in the second half in the night,” Morrill said. “We showed a couple Huntsman Center. TYLER LARSON photo
GameOver
utah center luke nevill snags a rebound away from Utah State forward Tai Wesley Wednesday night. Nevill scored 20 points and had 14 rebounds in the Ute route. Wesley had nine points, three rebounds and USU’s only blocked shot. TYLER LARSON photo
AggieNotebook By SAM BRYNER senior writer Carrol versus the Utes Playing in his fourth game against the University of Utah, Aggie senior guard Jaycee Carroll went into Wednesday night’s contest averaging 21 points per game on 58 percent shooting. Last year at the Spectrum, Carroll scored 27 points, including five 3-pointers. Wednesday night Carroll tied a season low with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting including, 1-of-3 from beyond the 3-point line. When asked if Utah used a different strategy defensively this year against him, Carroll said they did not. “I saw the same stuff last year, saw the same stuff this year,” Carroll said. Head coach Stew Morrill blamed Carroll’s lack of touches on the teams poor screens. “They did a good job on Jaycee,” Morrill said of the Ute defense. “We ran the whole play book at them, but we didn’t screen. It’s tough to get him a look when you don’t screen.” Two point guard system Utah State saw success against Santa Clara when playing senior point guard Kris Clark and junior point guard Desmond Stephens at the same time. Against the University of Utah, the two-guard system didn’t produce the same kind of results. Combined, the guards recorded seven assists and six turnovers. Shots were not falling either as the duo combined to shoot 3-of-13 from the field. All three of the shots they made were 3pointers. “Offensively we didn’t play our game,” Carroll said. Battle for the Old Oquirrh Bucket Established prior to the 1974-75 season, the Old Oquirrh Bucket is the symbol of in-state basketball supremacy in Utah. Over the last six years Utah State has won the
A letter of rage and discontent
D
In what Morrill considers 20/20 time—when a team is up by 20 or down by 20—many Aggies saw playing time Wednesday who haven’t been off the bench for very long this season.
ear men’s basketball team: Where where you Wednesday night? Salt Lake City. Huntsman Center. 8 p.m. start. Does that ring a bell? Three sections of fans from Logan showed up. But, you? Where were you guys? You might think you were there, but I didn’t see much of anything. From my grade school years I remember being taught how winter is a time for bears to hibernate. Normal humans, however, don’t hibernate—especially you, the college basketball players, who usually come alive in winter. What I witnessed from the comforts of my parents’ television was 100 percent pathetic, heartrending, miserable, pitiful, poor, rueful, sorry and wretched. Any of those can describe a 17-of-46 field goal shooting performance. Any of those can paint the picture of a 30 percent firsthalf shooting performance. Any of those can fit a team that made 23 percent of its 3-pointers—a good number of them wide open. But, most important of all, any of those tell you how I felt about being crushed—CRUSHED!— by a team I simply despise losing to—the University of Utah. I know Stew Morrill has already done his share of chewing you out, but I cannot refrain. There’s a certain man on your team who is an AllAmerican candidate. Do you remember him? His name is Jaycee Carroll. If he continues scoring 20 points each game, he will be Utah State’s all-time leading scorer. Yet, most of the night the ball was on the opposite side that he was on. What was that all about? Sure, the University of Utah’s Lawrence Borha is a good defender, but he certainly isn’t that good. You guys did an excellent job at making him look good. Come on. Carroll ends with 11 points and only one 3-pointer? Ridiculous. Last year in the Spectrum Carroll was able to drop 27 points on nearly the same Ute squad except for the ever-energetic Jim Boylen. The Utes drain 9-of-18 mostly wide-open shots from 3-point range? Two words: help defense. Brayden Bell, it was good to see you get into the game in the final eight minutes. However, it isn’t custom for a 6foot-9-inch center like yourself to put up a 3-pointer from NBA range as the first thing you do when you get into the game. Gary Wilkinson, you did the same thing, but in the first half. I know you made one against Santa Clara last Saturday, but let’s leave the 3-pointers to the smaller guards who are usually more consistent at converting
- See NOTEBOOK, page 10
- See TEAM, page 12
Old Oquirrh Bucket twice, while the University of Utah has won it three times. Overall Utah State has won the Bucket seven times. With the loss to Utah, the Aggies are now 1-2 on the season against in-state teams. The Aggies have lost to the Utes and the Weber State Wildcats, while picking up a win at home against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Utah has a 2-0 record in-state. Weber State is 1-2, while Brigham Young has a record of 1-0 versus in-state competition. Utah State has one in-state game left when they take on Utah Valley at home Dec. 20 during the Gossner Foods Holiday Classic. Carroll record watch When Carroll made his first and only 3-pointer of the game with 7:11 left in the second half, he extended his consecutive games with a made 3-point shot to 31. For his career he has made at least one 3-pointer in 97 out of 108 games. Wednesday night’s trey moved Carroll into sole possession of made 3-pointers for a Utah State player. He passed former Aggie star Tony Brown, who played from 1999-2002. Carroll now has 284. Carroll needs to score 71 more points to move ahead of Wayne Estes for second place in all-time scoring at USU. Carroll currently has 1,931 points for his career while Estes scored 2,001 points. The all-time points leader is Greg Grant, who scored 2,127 points. If Carroll continues on his scoring average of 19.4 points per game, he would pass up Estes on Dec. 21 at home during the Gossner Foods Classic, and he would break the all time record at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 24. Garbage Time
Dec. 7, 2007
TouchBase AggieSchedules Men’s Basketball
Saturday Dec. 8 USU @ CS Bakersfield, 8 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 15
USU vs. Prairie View A&M, 8 p.m.
Thursday Dec. 20
USU vs. Utah Valley State, 8 p.m.
Friday Dec. 21
USU vs. Furman/No. Arizona, 8 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 29
USU vs. Oral Roberts, 7 p.m.
Thursday Jan. 3
USU vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Saturday Jan. 5
USU @ Nevada, 8 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
Saturday Dec. 8 USU @ No. Arizona, 3 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 15 USU @ Utah, 3 p.m.
Monday Dec. 17 USU vs. Montana St., 7 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 22
USU vs. St. Mary’s, 1 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 29 USU vs. BYU, 5 p.m.
Wednesday Jan. 2 USU @ Southern Utah, 7 p.m.
Saturday Jan. 5
USU vs. San Jose State, 7 p.m.
Hockey
Friday Dec. 7 USU vs. Utah Valley State, 8 p.m.
Friday Dec. 14
USU @ BYU, 8 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 15 USU vs. Utah, 8 p.m.
Nielson named to AVCA West Region 1st team By USU ATHLETICS
Utah State volleyball player Amanda Nielson was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) West Region first-team it was announced on Wednesday. With her selection, Nielson is now eligible for All-American consideration, which will be announced on Dec. 12. Nielson was one of just three players from the Western Athletic Conference to earn first-team AVCA West Region honors and one of three players from the state of Utah to be recognized. Utah State has now had four players earn AVCA all-region honors in the last five years as Erin Cartwright-Davis and Zuzana Cernianska earned first-team honors in 2003 and 2005, respectively, while Erin Graybill earned honorable mention all-region honors in 2005.
Aggie softball releases 2008 schedule By USU ATHLETICS
Utah State softball head coach Candi Letts announced on Thursday the Aggies’ 2008 schedule, as the Aggies will play a total of 51 games, including 19 home contests at the LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field. USU will play its first 23 games of the season on the road before hosting Utah on March 26 in its home opener. “The schedule is very challenging but I think it will make us step up and become a better program,” Letts said.
StatesmanSports
Page 10
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Blowout: Utes hold Carroll to 11 points, get easy win at Huntsman Center
-continued from page 9
usu guard jaycee carroll steals the ball from University of Utah guard Lawrence Borha during the first half of Wednesday night’s game in the Huntsman Center. Carroll ended up scoring a layup on the latter end of the play. Borha helped the Utes in holding Carroll to 11 points—nine below his average. Borha scored only three points, one rebound and a steal. TYLER LARSON photo
Utah also kept senior guard Jaycee Carroll under wraps. Carroll, who didn’t get a lot of touches throughout the game, finished with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. Morrill said they ran the whole play book at the Utes to get
Carroll the ball, but USU’s inability to screen and execute kept the ball out of the hands of the Aggies’ biggest threat. “We didn’t play Utah State basketball at all — it’s about that simple,” Carroll said. “(Utah) executed their game
ute center luke nevill is pressured by Utah State’s Gary Wilkinson (55) and Tai Wesley. The Aggies weren’t able to do much with Nevill as he put in 20 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked two shots. TYLER LARSON photo
plan almost—well, we scored 44 points—almost to perfection, I guess.” Things weren’t much better on the defensive end for the Aggies. Utah State allowed the Utes to shoot 53.7 percent from the field on 29-of-54 shooting and 50 percent from behind the arc—that number could have been much worse, because Utah was burning the nets to the tune of 77.8 percent, 7-of-9, on 3-pointers in the first half. It wasn’t just the Utes’ outside game that killed the Aggies. Utah’s 7-foot-1-inch junior center Luke Nevill dominated the paint, picking up 20 points and 14 rebounds against smaller USU defenders. The Aggies threw different looks at Nevill, with redshirt freshman Tai Wesley and junior center Gary Wilkinson taking turns on the big Aussie. “He’s about 8 feet tall,” Morrill said about the difficulties in guarding Nevill. “He’s skilled. He’s strong. They throw him the ball way up high. You name it.” Nevill’s presence in the paint also affected the USU offense. He only recorded two blocks, but seemed to worry Aggies entering the key. Despite Nevill, the Aggies were able to score 18 points in the paint, including a couple good post moves from Wesley with the Utah center on his back. Wesley was one of the few
Fast Stats
• Carroll finished with 11 points, one rebound and three turnovers. • The Utes shot 53 percent for the game on field goals. • The Utes outrebounded the Aggies, 34-28. • Utah finished 9of-18 on 3-point shots. bright spots for the Aggies, posting nine points and three boards in 29 minutes. Wilkinson also ended up with a double-double, leading USU with 12 points and 10 rebounds. “I was really disappointed in our competitiveness,” Morrill said. “We had guys who just didn’t compete. We had some noshows ... It’s understandable with young guys, it’s not understandable with older guys, and junior college guys are older guys.” Some veteran Aggies didn’t show up much on the stats
usu center stephen ducharme has a rebound taken away from him by University of Utah forward Kim Tillie. DuCharme had one of his worst games as an Aggie, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound in 15 minutes. TYLER LARSON photo
sheet. Senior forward Stephen DuCharme only put in two points in 15 minutes of play on 1-of-4 shooting. Senior guard Kris Clark also struggled, recording three points on one 3-pointer, six assists and two turnovers. Wesley showed some of the only competitive fire for the Aggies after taking a charge against Utah guard Lawrence Borha with 3:50 left in the first half. With Wesley still on the floor after the offensive foul, Borha stepped over the Aggie forward, who took umbridge with the act or something Borha said. Wesley leaped up and stood toe-to-toe with Borha, exchanging words, earning both players technical fouls. After the exchange, Utah State went into the half down 38-23—a difference that could be explained by an 18-point difference on 3point baskets. Utah would finish the game with a 9-4 advantage from behind the 3-point line, including three from guard Tyler Kepkay and forward Shaun Green and two from sophomore forward Kim Tillie. A Frenchman, Tillie
was a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field for 16 points. Wednesday’s loss broke a trend of one and two-point games between the in-state rivals over the last two years, and it exemplified the Aggies’ road woes this season. “There’s no good reason,” Carroll said about USU’s inability to win on the road. “It’s the simplest thing in the world. It’s the same game. It’s the same offense, the same defense. I don’t know what it is, besides maybe guys don’t focus when they get away from Logan and their minds start drifting or they get leg weary or something.” The loss leaves USU winless at other teams’ gyms so far this season. The Aggies are 1-5 away from the Spectrum, with the only win coming on a neutral court against the University of Iowa at the South Padre Island Invitational. Utah State has another chance to pick up their first road win Saturday as they head west to play Cal State Bakersfield at 8:30 p.m. “When you’re a good basketball team, you win at home and compete on the road and have EXCD a chance to win,” Morrill said. CD “The Spectrum doesn’t make that much difference. We’ve had a lot CW of very good basketball teams that have won at home, eight-straight AD post-season teams that have won at home. So we had good teams SM that won at home and then went on the road and won some. GA“If you’re an average team, you win some home games, but you AS don’t win on the road. If you’re less than average, you lose at PPM home and on the road. Take that for what you may. At best, we’re average right now, and I wouldn’t Spell even Check call us that.” -da.bake@aggiemail.usu.edu Proofreader
Notebook: Garbage q OK TOtime PRODU Traffic Manager
-continued from page 9
The most notable player put FILE BUILT AT 100%big man in was sophomore LASER PROOF AT 100% Brayden Bell, who played the final eight minutes of the game. In the previous four games, hi res placed the 6-foot-9-inch transfer from Ohio State had played only five minutes total. After cleaning off the rust with an awkward looking 3-pointer that wasn’t close, Bell hit his next two shots to finish the game with four points. Freshman Matt Formisano came off the bench to record three minutes off play. -sam.bryner@aggiemail.usu. edu
StatesmanSports
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Page 11
USU defender maciej michalik handles the puck against defenders from Long Beach State earlier in the fall season. Jordan Francom and Matt Geer plan on returning to the lineup in spring after sitting out the fall for personal reasons. TYLER LARSON photo
Ag hockey should be improved in spring By G. CHRISTOPHER TERRY staff writer
With three games against in-state rivals Utah Valley, Brigham Young and Utah left in the first semester, it is time to take stock of Utah State’s first semester performance and look forward to the second semester. The Aggies have fought their way to a 9-9-1 record with a depleted roster, but they have a significant chance to better that in the second half of the year. Jordan Francom and Matt Geer plan on returning to the lineup after sitting out the first semester for personal reasons. Both are big point scorers (Francom set the USU record for points by a defenseman last year) and should help the Aggies avoid getting in the kind of games which typified the first semester: a 3-4 loss to UVSC, a 3-3 tie with Long Beach, or 3-2 overtime wins over Metro State and BYU. “Right now we’re lacking a lit-
tle bit of scoring punch,” team captain Scotty John said. “Geer is so creative, he opens it up for the other players.” Francom added, “The first semester was one of the weaker parts of the season since I’ve been here. We’re going to get all of our guys back for the second semester and hopefully it’ll be a lot better. We’ll be disappointed with anything less than going to nationals.” Paul Reinhardt is another difference maker who will be returning to the lineup after missing the better part of the first semester due to a broken wrist. Without Francom and Reinhardt, the defensive lines have been stretched thin, forcing Ben Tikka to move back. John said he is excited about both players’ returns. “Having Francom and Paul back is going to be huge,” John said. “They are passionate and smart, and Francom provides a lot of offense for us. Him alone would be a huge help for both offense and defense. Not to
mention, he is a captain and he is one of the fiery guys on the team who gets guys motivated and gets guys scared.” Looking ahead at the schedule, the biggest dates for the Aggies are Jan. 19 at Eastern Washington, Jan. 26 vs. Eastern Washington, Feb. 1 vs. University of Colorado, Feb. 2 vs. Colorado State and Feb. 9 vs. UVSC. “Those will be big, intense games to decide our rankings if we can even get to regionals,” Francom said. “Right now we’re just trying to get to regionals.” Ultimately, while the .500 record does not measure up well against the historical precedent of winning USU has established, John called the first semester “adequate. We put ourselves in a position to make a run second semester. I’d say we had some ups and downs. We had some real big wins and some disappointing losses.” -graham.terry@aggiemail.usu. edu
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Dave Baker 65%
Sam Bryner 63%
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Ohio State. vs. LSU
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LSU
Hawaii vs. Georgia
Hawaii
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
Missouri vs. Arkansas
Arkansas
Missouri
Missouri
Arkansas
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
West Virginia
USC vs. Illinois
USC
USC
USC
USC
Kansas vs. Virginia Tech
Kansas
Virginia Tech
Kanasas
Virginia Tech
Virginia vs. Texas Tech
Texas Tech
Texas Tech
Texas Tech
Texas Tech
Arizona State vs. Texas
Texas
Texas
Arizona State
Texas
Florida vs. Michigan
Florida
Florida
Florida
Florida
Clemson vs. Auburn
Auburn
Auburn
Auburn
Auburn
Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee
Wisconsin
BYU vs. UCLA
BYU
UCLA
BYU
BYU
Utah vs. Navy
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
Kentucky vs. Florida State
Florida State
Kentucky
Kentucky
Florida State
Boise St. vs. East Carolina
Boise State
Boise State
Boise State
Boise State
Fresno St. vs. Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Fresno State
Houston vs. Texas Christian
TCU
TCU
TCU
TCU
New Mexico vs. Nevada
Nevada
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Page 12
StatesmanSports
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Dodgers sign Jones for big $ baltimore’s jay gibbons, left, and kansas city’s jose guillen, right, wearing a Seattle Mariners uniform, are shown in 2007 file photos. Guillen and Gibbons were suspended for the first 15 days of next season by Major League Baseball on Thursday for violating the sport’s drug program. AP photo
MLB hands out suspensions NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Thursday for the first 15 days of next season for violating baseball’s drug policy, an indication how the sport might treat players named in the Mitchell steroids investigation. Guillen and Gibbons were accused in media reports of receiving human growth hormone after January 2005, when it was banned by baseball. Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis also were linked to HGH, but baseball decided there was “insufficient evidence” to determine they committed a doping violation. They were accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs before 2005. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell was hired by baseball commissioner Bud Selig in March 2006 to investigate drugs in baseball, and his report is to be released by the end of the month. Guillen instructed the players’ association to file a grievance, which would be decided by an arbitrator. Gibbons will not challenge his penalty. Earlier in the day, Guillen and Kansas City finalized their $36 million, three-year contract. “We signed Jose knowing that was a possibility,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said of the free-agent outfielder. “While my initial reaction is one of disappointment, I am thoroughly convinced that Jose will put this behind him and we collectively support him.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Andruw Jones is following Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Gold Glove center fielder and the Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a $36.2 million, two-year contract that gives him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues. Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. But if he rebounds, he could give the Dodgers a desperately needed boost in the middle of the lineup. He must pass a physical for the deal to be completed, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. A five-time All-Star, Jones will receive a $12.2 million signing bonus, of which $5.1 million is payable next year, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2010. He well get salaries of $9 million next year
and $15 million in 2009, and also will receive a no-trade clause. His agreement with the Dodgers was first reported by the Los Angeles Times on its Web site. Scott Boras, his agent, wouldn’t confirm the agreement but sounded as if a deal had fallen into place. “Being on a competitive team was a very, very important part of his process,” he said. Jones hit .222 this season, his lowest average since he batted .217 in 106 at-bats as a rookie in 1996. His 26 home runs were his fewest since 1997. He drove in 94 runs for the Braves, but finished with a paltry .311 on-base percentage. Had Jones finished with big numbers, he likely would have sought a longer-term agreement. Boras said there were really only two options when it came to length. “Very, very long-term or very, very short term,” he said. “Nothing in between.” Jones didn’t consider a one-
in this sept. 23 file photo, atlanta braves’ andruw jones celebrates as he scores the go-ahead run against the Milwaukee Brewers during an MLB baseball game in Atlanta. AP photo
year contract. “I wouldn’t put a player in that position, mainly because (he) just went through that,” Boras said. “That was never an option.” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Jones is a .263 career hitter with 368 home runs and 1,117 RBIs. He was runner-up for the NL MVP award in 2005, when he had 51 homers and 128 RBIs. The following season he hit 41 home runs with a careerhigh 129 RBIs.
He made $13.5 million this year, the final season of a fiveyear contract. The Braves made no effort to re-sign him. Jones’ $18.1 million average salary trails only those of the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), Boston’s Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees’ Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million). Adding Jones was the first major move for Los Angeles since Torre replaced Grady Little as manager on Nov. 1. Jones will get a chance to work with Don Mattingly.
NFL’s ‘Pacman’ Jones pleads no contest LAS VEGAS (AP) — Suspended NFL player Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded no contest Thursday to a reduced charge in a Las Vegas strip club melee which preceded a triple shooting that left a man paralyzed. The Tennessee Titans cornerback appeared in Clark County
District Court to take a plea deal that officials said will get him probation in return for his testimony about the gunman who opened fire outside the club at the end of NBA All-Star weekend in February. The 24-year-old Jones, who is seeking reinstatement to the Titans, said little during the brief arraignment. He doffed a blue Texas Rangers baseball cap as he walked into court, handed it to a lawyer, and answered “Yes, sir,” to a judge who asked him if he understood the plea deal. Jones will be sentenced to one year of probation for agreeing not to contest a charge of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, a gross misdemeanor, and to testify about the gunman. Prosecutors dropped two charges of coercion, a felony carrying a possible sentence of one to six years in prison. Clark County prosecutor Victoria Villegas has said authorities hope Jones can help identify the gunman. Defense attorney Robert Langford has declined to say if Jones knows the shooter’s identity. No one has been charged in shooting, and Las Vegas police have not linked Jones to the gunfire. Police have instead called Jones the instigator of the melee
that broke out inside the club after he showered dancers with dollar bills pulled from a black plastic trash bag — a stunt known as “making it rain.” Witnesses told police that Jones and members of his entourage threatened people while they were being ejected, and that Jones spoke outside the club with the man who was suspected of opening fire minutes later. Under the plea deal, Jones will receive a suspended oneyear jail sentence, must attend an anger management program, complete 200 hours of community service within a year and submit to random drug testing. Langford said the probation and community service requirements might be fulfilled near Jones’ home in Tennessee. Jones already is subject to the NFL’s drug testing program. Two co-defendants in the case also took plea deals that Langford said should spare each jail time. Langford represents all three. The plea had been scheduled Wednesday, but was postponed one day after Jones’ bodyguard, Robert “Big Rob” Reid, missed a flight from Los Angeles, Langford said. Reid, 37, of Carson, Calif., pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct in return for a promise of one year of probation. Reid had faced a
felony coercion charge. Sadia Morrison, 25, of New York, pleaded no contest to a felony battery charge in return for dropping other felony charges. Morrison had faced five charges, including coercion, assault with a deadly weapon and battery. She will be sentenced to three years’ probation, and her conviction would be reduced to a gross misdemeanor if she stays out of trouble, Langford said. Morrison, wearing red stiletto heels and a black mini-dress and leggings, told the court she understood the plea.
sadia morrison, 25, stands in a courtroom for her arraignment, Thursday in Las Vegas. Morrison pleaded no contest to a felony battery charge in return for dropping other felony charges. Morrison is a codefendant in a case against suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones.
Jones left the courthouse swarmed by reporters and photographers. He pushed a television camera out of his face before he got into an SUV and drove away. The three people wounded in the Feb. 19 shooting — club employee Tommy Urbanski, co-worker and bouncer Aaron Cudworth and club patron Natalie Jones — have each have filed civil lawsuits seeking damages from Jones.
Team: It’s time to get it together -continued from page 9
Good luck on Finals! See you Next Semester!
them. Too bad the entire team was an ice cold 4-of-17 from behind the 3-point arc. It’s aggravating. I would hope I speak for all Aggie fans. We all just sat through another loss-filled football season. You, the basketball team, are supposed to be the group that brings us all out of the misery consistently found on the gridiron. You have had eight straight 23-win seasons and eight consecutive visits to the post season. The only way you are going to be able to make it nine in a row of the above-mentioned achievements is if you become tough enough to win away from the Spectrum. S a m m y Hislop is a junior majoring in public relations. Contact him at hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu.
World&Nation
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Page 13
Jeffs resigns as leader after prison sentencing
A photo provided by the Israel Antiquities Authority show Israeli archeologists at work on the 2,000-year-old remains of a building just outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City Wednesday, Dec. 5. AP photo
Archeologists discover 2,000 yr. old mansion
JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old mansion believed to have been home to Queen Helene of Adiabene, whose clan ruled a region now in Iraq. The remains of the building were unearthed just outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, underneath layers of a more recent settlement that was hidden until recently under the asphalt of a small parking lot in east Jerusalem. Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast War. Palestinians see the eastern part of the city as capital of a future state. The dig site is in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan, built on a slope that houses the most ancient remnants of settlement in Jerusalem and is known to scholars as the City of David. The building, which includes
storerooms, living quarters and ritual baths, is by far the largest and most elaborate structure discovered by archaeologists in the City of David area, which was home 2,000 years ago almost exclusively to the city’s poor. Jewish historian Josephus Flavius mentions just one wealthy family living there — the family of Queen Helene. There is a “high probability” the mansion belonged to Helene’s family, Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Doron Ben-Ami told reporters Wednesday. “This amazing structure was destroyed with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.,” Ben-Ami said. Built when Jerusalem was capital of the Roman-ruled territory of Judea, the building was destroyed along with the temple and the rest of the city when
Roman legions quelled a Jewish revolt nearly two millennia ago, he said. Diggers at the site said the massive stones of the second floor were toppled onto the arches of the first, causing the house to collapse. In the ruins they found ceramic shards and coins dating to the time of the Jewish revolt against Rome. The queen came from a royal clan that ruled Adiabene, a region now in northern Iraq, and converted along with her family to Judaism. They came to Jerusalem in the first half of the first century A.D. In texts she was praised for her generosity to Jerusalem’s poor, and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, near her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) –Warren Jeffs, the leader of a polygamous-sect for five years, resigned his position as president of his church on Nov. 20 — the same day he was sentenced prison for convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice, his attorney said Wednesday. Information about Jeffs’ resignation as head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came in a statement from defense attorney Wally Bugden that was faxed to media outlets. The statement says Jeffs wanted the information released to reporters and church members. An assistant at Bugden’s law office said no one would be responding to questions from media. It’s unclear if that means Jeffs also surrendered his religious authority as the faith’s prophet. In January, a despondent Jeffs attempted to hang himself after telling his brother he was “not the one to be the prophet.” He later renounced the statement and has continued to pass spiritual and practical messages to church members through visi-
tors. On Tuesday, lawyers asked a 5th District Court judge to grant Jeffs a new trial, claiming “errors and improprieties” occurred during the four-day trial in September. Court documents gave no specifics, but defense attorneys have contended that Jeffs’ prosecution was a form of religious persecution and was politically motivated by state officials who disapprove of polygamy. A telephone message left by The Associated Press for Brian G. Filter, a deputy Washington County attorney, was not immediately returned. A jury found Jeffs guilty of two counts of accomplice to rape for his role in the 2001 marriage of 14-year-old Elissa Wall to her 19-year-old cousin. Wall, now 21, said Jeffs used his church authority to coerce her into the marriage and sex by threatening her eternal salvation. Jeffs was sentenced last month to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life and is in the Utah State Prison near Salt Lake City. Jeffs, 52, took over the FLDS
church in 2002 after the death of his father, Rulon Jeffs. The insular southern Utah-based sect practices polygamy in arranged marriages. Jeffs’ lawyers argue during the trial that Jeffs did not arrange Wall’s marriage, nor was he ever told the girl was being forced into sex. Jeffs allowed the union to dissolve in 2004 after Wall became pregnant with another man’s child. She has left the church and remarried. The Associated Press does not generally identify people who say they were sexually assaulted, but Wall has repeatedly used her maiden name in public. She and her lawyer have declined to say what name she uses now. Prosecutors charged her onetime husband, Allen Steed, with rape the day after Jeffs’ conviction. Jeffs is now facing two criminal trials in Arizona on similar charges. His Utah accuser is also an alleged victim in one of the cases. The church leader is also under federal indictment for flight to avoid prosecution.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of strapped homeowners could get some relief from a plan negotiated by the Bush administration to freeze interest rates on subprime mortgages that are scheduled to rise in the coming months. “There is no perfect solution,” President Bush said Thursday as he announced an agreement hammered out with the mortgage industry. “The homeowners deserve our help. The steps I’ve outlined today are a sensible response to a serious challenge.”
Bush has been accused of moving too slowly to address a crisis that has spread to the broader financial market. But he also was careful not to sound as if he were imposing a government solution and violating his free-market principles. He billed his plan as a voluntary, privatesector arrangement that involves no government money. “We should not bail out lenders, real estate speculators or those made the reckless decision to buy a home they knew they could never afford,” Bush
said after meeting with industry leaders at the White House. “But there are some responsible homeowners who could avoid foreclosure with some assistance.” Bush said 1.2 million people could be eligible for help. But only a fraction will be subject to the rate freeze. Others would get assistance in refinancing with their lenders and moving into loans secured by the Federal Housing Administration, Bush said.
Bush plans to freeze interest rates for many homeowners
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Views&Opinion
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raduates of the class of 2007 ... good riddance. Bon voyage. You see, that was a joke, and you’re always supposed to start with a joke, that’s what they say. A USU graduate walked into a bar ... wait, no they didn’t. Another joke. For real now, December graduates are among the most intelligent creatures. You’re all getting out at the perfect time. The rest of us schmucks are stuck to brave another frozen, Logan winter, wade through the snow and do intricate ice dances with our cars during the next six months. There is no doubt in our minds you will all be whisking yourselves away to warmer climates, flying south like a flock of well-educated birds with the whole world ahead of them, beating their wings incessantly to keep the massive piles of student loan debt afloat. Some would call you cut-and-runners. We would agree, but there’s no shame in it. It’s like declining an invite to cage fight an 18-foot-tall abominable snowman – no one is really going to blame you. Unless you had the means to acquire a blowtorch, and then you would be cowardly and yellow. We all lament the loss of bodies at basketball games. Those people who cheer mindlessly, no matter how poorly the game is going. Those people who get dressed up like the game is some sort of church meet-and-greet. Those people who text message throughout the game and have to ask which team won. We lament the loss of hearts and soul that are devoted to causes. When you are old, which you all will be in about a week, there is no room to have a cause. Your cause is to stay fed. Your cause is to keep the lights on. Your cause is to work your way up to middle management and have a midlife crisis. Then and only then, deep in the throes of that midlife crisis, can you revert back to your college days and wear your “Don’t Taze me, bro” shirts raging against police brutality, or your “Students Helping Indonesian Tea Sellers” shirts that caused a rise with their poorly thought out acronym. Most of all, we want you to go out and make some money. Then gift that money back to Utah State. Students of the future will be in need of lots of things: A large campus hot tub in the middle of the Quad with all of someone’s names on it. Hover buses. An army of cyborg athletes. A vending machine where drinks aren’t $4. We will be needy, and since this university has educated you, the least you could do is hook it up with a sweet climate-control bubble that will keep campus a perfect 72 degrees and sunny, even in the middle of the most frozen, awful inversions. So, for the good of USU, we wish you good luck.
Food Service monopoly needs some busting
U
SU has some prime real estate. We’re up here on the hill, looking out over the rest of Logan, effectively cut off from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Unfortunately, we’re also cut off from the food. Like fast-food restaurants in airports or concessions in theaters and football stadiums, USU Food Services uses its advantage of an isolated customer base to jack up prices. I don’t have proof, because I haven’t been keeping a record of the prices at the Hub, but I swear they just took a jump. This is ridiculous. Food on campus already costs an exorbitant amount. A bottle of soda costs $1.39 at the Hub or $1.19 at the Quick Stop, but the same soda would cost maybe 80 cents to a dollar some place where there was competition for food prices. A wrap from Hazel’s costs something like $4.89. Frankly, they don’t taste like $4.89. A personal pizza from Freschetta in the Hub costs upwards of $4, too. A Blazing Chicken Sandwich from the Grill is $3.09. Pretty much everything is overpriced. Burritos from Taco Time cost $4-5 or more. What gives? Isn’t Food Services milking enough from the students at the Living and Learning Center, who have to eat at the Marketplace for $6 a meal? Is it unreasonable to make just enough profit off food sales to cover operation expenses and employee wages? If there was a place where students could get off campus during the day, and access other restaurants and vendors not
Statesman Soapbox
- See FOOD, page 15
Arie Kirk
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
In Iowa, they like Mike
W
AUKEE, Iowa — Lori Hommer is threading blue ribbon through contribution envelopes to hang on the Christmas trees at Point of Grace Church, and she scarcely pauses when asked if she’s decided on a candidate in next month’s caucuses. “Yes, Mike Huckabee,” said Hommer, 50, who teaches at the church. “He has conservative Christian values ... the same values I have.” As to the man who had been leading in the polls here What others are until recently, saying about issues. she said, “I could probably support Mitt Romney if I had to. I’m just a little leery of him. I’m just not sure he’s genuine.” Hommer was both typical and atypical of the people I spoke with during Sunday-morning visits to three evangelical churches outside Des Moines. She was atypical in that she was even thinking about caucusing. Most people — noshing on bagels before the early service at Point of Grace, dropping off toddlers at day care at Valley Evangelical Free Church, sipping coffee after services at Crossroads Fellowship Christian Reformed — practically recoiled when asked about caucuses. It wasn’t a question of the event conflicting with the Orange Bowl or coming so soon after the holidays or of dissatisfaction with the field — though those may also depress turnout. They had made it to church on an icy December morning, but politics didn’t interest them enough for them to consider venturing out on a frigid January night. Hommer was typical in that, among likely caucusgoers at the churches I visited, support for Huckabee was overwhelming. I encountered more Hillary Clinton voters (one) than Romney backers. “Romney seems like a politician to me — a little bit like Hillary Clinton — they’re going to say what they need to say to get elected,” said Nate Schelhaas, 33, an Urbandale actuary who attends Crossroads, where Huckabee preached this summer. “At first I was more interested in Mitt Romney,” said Jeff Williams, 41, pastor at Point of Grace. “I’m just too nervous about his past changes on issues. If the right situation comes along, will he change policies again?” Huckabee is getting help delivering that message from some surprising bedfellows: A new ad by the Republican Majority for Choice details Romney’s shifting positions on abortion — and urges him to flip back, but it may have the effect of driving more voters to the staunchly anti-abortion Huckabee. For now, Williams is wavering between Huckabee and former Tennessee Sen. Fred
Nat’lVoice
YourTake The untouchables
?
Thompson, but Huckabee’s recent surge has swayed him. “As he became stronger, I was more interested.” With evangelicals expected to comprise four in 10 Republican caucusgoers, voters such as Williams hold the key to a Huckabee victory — and they could deliver it. In the latest Post-ABC News poll of likely GOP caucusgoers, the former Arkansas governor led Romney 44 percent to 22 percent among evangelical Protestants. It is no coincidence that Huckabee’s new TV ad opens with a shot of the Southern Baptist minister and the words “Christian Leader.” A little unsettling — imagine an ad touting Joe Lieberman as a “Jewish leader” — and perhaps a subtle effort to reinforce evangelical voters’ squeamishness about Romney’s Mormonism, but no doubt effective: Huckabee’s “Christian values” was the most commented-on selling point I heard here. Romney scoffs that he is not running for “pastor in chief,” but it is no coincidence that TrustHuckabee.com, an outside group mobilizing caucusgoers, asks supporters in its online form, “What church do you go to?” Without Romney-level money to build an infrastructure, Huckabee may be able to rely on a word-of-mouth get-out-the-vote strategy. Huckabee hasn’t sealed the deal with all these voters. Some wonder whether he will end up like Pat Robertson, who finished second here in 1988 and then fizzled. Others have misgivings about whether he’s prepared to be commander in chief. Evangelical leaders worry that the Huckabee effect could be to boost their least favored candidate, Rudy Giuliani. “He’s the one candidate who would be a disaster for our movement,” says Iowa Christian Alliance President Steve Scheffler. Activists “understand that a Huckabee win in Iowa ... plays right into Giuliani’s hands,” says one Romney campaign strategist. “That’s not quite where the rank and file is, so part of our challenge is to communicate that effectively over the next 30 days.” Huckabee has been such a non-factor that “nobody cared enough for a very long time to go define who he was as governor and what he did,” the strategist says. Now, the Romney campaign has to assess the risk of going negative on someone who comes off as the ultimate nice guy. But time is short, and even diehard caucusgoers are about to be distracted by Christmas. The Romney campaign may end up ruing that it didn’t do its defining sooner.
Tyler Larson
Assistant Photo Editor Patrick Oden
Editorial Board Seth R. Hawkins Arie Kirk Liz Lawyer David Baker Manette Newbold Brittny Goodsell Jones
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Leave it to an often-outspoken Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers to get himself in touble by saying something the NBA didn’t like and made him voice an apology. After getting beaten badly by hot 3-point shooting by the San Antonio Spurs, Jackson was asked about the Spurs’ penetration leading to open shooters, to which he responded, “We call this a ‘Brokeback Mountain’ game, because there’s so much penetration and kickouts.” At the time he said it, he said many journalists laughed, but the NBA and many activist groups seemed to miss the humor. Sure the comment wasn’t in the best taste, and Jackson admits that. But would the situation be different had Jackson made a joke about lawyers or accountants? Would people be in such an uproar? In our increasingly complex society of special interest groups, there seems to be a large number of groups that have special protection. While it may be kosher to say something about one group – such as lawyers – it is completely out of line to say things about other groups. Is this special protection necessary? Is there actually special protection taking place? Is there a double standard here? What should be done about it? What’s your take? Tell us at www.utahstatesman.com/messageboard.
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Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Opinion
15
Food: Prices
are exorbitant
Coupon Corner
-continued from page 14 controlled by Food Services, I guarantee prices on campus would go down to stay competitive. It would be a matter of market dynamics. Any economics major will tell you that. Unfortunately, there’s no good place to stick a bunch of cafes or sandwich shops where students could walk to for their lunch break. North of the main part of campus are fields and campus facilities for more than a mile. East is the Golden Toaster and neighborhoods. South is Highway 89 and beyond that a sharp drop to the Island. West of campus, the hill runs quickly down to more neighborhoods. No place for stores. The only restaurant anywhere near where students spend their day is Fredrico’s on 700 North. The best way I can think of to drive prices down would be to arrange a boycott of all on-campus food. That would mean no buying from the Hub, the Junction, the Marketplace, the Quick Stop, the Skyroom or the Quadside Café. Every student planning on staying on campus for lunch would have to bring something from home. I bet a couple weeks of that would bring Food Services and its fixed prices to their knees. But, considering the level of student activism on this campus, that’s less likely than Mike Gravel winning a presidential nomination. I’m not done complaining. Not only does the food at the Hub cost an unreasonable amount, it is often not what I would chose for lunch, were there a choice. The bagels at Hazel’s are nice, but nothing I couldn’t make myself if I had the time at home. If you’ve ever had a real, New-York style bagel, you’ll know what you’re missing when you eat at Hazel’s. And, those little pizza boxes sit next to signs asking you not to open them. You bet I’m going to open them. If I don’t check what I’m buying, I may get one single slice of burned pepperoni on my pizza. I don’t want that. I require an even distribution of pepperoni across my entire pizza. And why does the Grill stop serving breakfast at 10:30 a.m.? It’s the best thing they serve at the Hub, after the prohibitively expensive Hogi Yogi sandwiches, which I only indulge in once or twice a semester. OK, three or four. Since pretty much all the Grill’s lunchtime items are now sold at Sunset Strips, there’s no reason the Grill shouldn’t be open to serve breakfast all day. Give me breakfast or give me a crappy, gray burger. The wraps at the Quadside Café offer a nice occasional alternative, but they fall apart if you try to eat them. What I’d like to see at the Hub: Reasonable prices and breakfast all day; maybe a couple new places in there, if that were feasible. In any case, USU is using its isolated vantage point from atop the hill to bleed the students dry. How capitalist of them. Liz Lawyer is the assistant news editor and a senior majoring in print journalism. Questions and comments can be sent to her at elizabeth. lawyer@ aggiemail. usu.edu
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Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Romney: serve nation, not church
-continued from page 2
ents. Smith revised â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and in his view corrected â&#x20AC;&#x201D; large sections of the Bible in the 19th century, an act of heresy in the eyes of Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders. The Mormon scriptures include the Old and New Testaments, as well as books containing Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revelations. Romney mentioned the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mormonâ&#x20AC;? only once, and Huckabee not at all in his speech at the George Bush Presidential Library. In speaking frankly about his beliefs, he hoped to reassure other Christians about his intent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the savior of mankind. My churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding that these differences are â&#x20AC;&#x153;not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.â&#x20AC;? He assailed â&#x20AC;&#x153;the religion of secularismâ&#x20AC;? he said was creeping into American life, and drew chuckles from his invited audience as he complained that Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picturesque cathedrals are largely empty amid societies â&#x20AC;&#x153;too busy or just too â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;enlightenedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to venture inside and kneel in prayer.â&#x20AC;? Romney said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should acknowledge the Creator as did the founders, in ceremony and
word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history and, during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places.â&#x20AC;? Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Christian Alliance, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think he did what he thought he needed to do to address concerns about whether he might use his particular faith as the basis for his decisions as president.â&#x20AC;? James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, called Romneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech â&#x20AC;&#x153;a magnificent reminder of the role religious faith must play in government and public policy.â&#x20AC;? He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether it will answer all the questions and concerns of evangelical Christian voters is yet to be determined, but the governor is to be commended for articulating the importance of our religious heritage as it relates to today.â&#x20AC;? The Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;While I may disagree with some of the points made in the speech, including his lack of acknowledgment of the values and contributions of the nonreligious among us, I appreciate the overall tone.â&#x20AC;? Among the critics was Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Fordham University. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make no mistake about it, this was a political speech,â&#x20AC;?
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Panagopoulos said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Romney sounded like he is running for pastor-in-chief rather than commander-in-chief.â&#x20AC;? Romneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rivals generally steered clear of comment on the speech, but Huckabee told NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Todayâ&#x20AC;? show that Romneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religion has no bearing on whether he would make a good president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has nothing to do with what faith a person has â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whether or not that personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life is consistent with how he lives it,â&#x20AC;? Huckabee said. While Romney has been subject to some leafletting and phone calling pointing to religious differences between his faith and others, he has faced little outright religious bigotry or questions on the campaign trail. Yet, in an AP-Yahoo poll last month, half said they had some problems supporting a Mormon presidential candidate, including one-fifth who said that would make them very uncomfortable. Fifty-six percent of white evangelical Christians â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a major portion of likely participants in the early GOP presidential contests in Iowa and South Carolina â&#x20AC;&#x201D; expressed reservations about a Mormon candidate. Romney sought to allay those concerns by confronting them, and his remarks received wide attention. His staff released favored excerpts before the network morning shows and distributed photos of him editing his remarks, much as the White House does before a State of the Union speech. And Romney chose a presidential library, with a backdrop of 10 flags and the presidential seal, for his speech. Former President Bush introduced him, noting his own connection to Romneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly one of my mentors when it comes to points of light,â&#x20AC;? said Bush, who enacted a volunteer initiative while president called, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thousand Points of Light.â&#x20AC;? That said, Bush said he had no intention of endorsing anyone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I simply have too much respect for all of the candidates,â&#x20AC;? he said. Striking a family chord, Romneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife of 38 years, Ann, and four of the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five sons sat in the front row for the speech â&#x20AC;&#x201D; two with their own children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are a long way from perfect, and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the selfsame as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation,â&#x20AC;? Romney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.â&#x20AC;?
Belguim Foreign Affairs Minister Krel De Gucht, right, poses for photographers with U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, left, prior attending a Transatlantic working dinner held at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 6. AP photo
Europe backs U.S. on sanctions against Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuclear program BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won support from European allies Thursday for new U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. NATO foreign ministers agreed to stay the course in seeking fresh measures at the United Nations to persuade Iran to stop uranium enrichment and reprocessing despite a new U.S. intelligence report that concluded the country halted it nuclear weapons ambitions in 2003. At a working dinner in Brussels, the allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters, the ministers accepted the Bush administration argument that Iran remains a threat and needs to be treated as such, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On Iran, everybody around the table agreed we should not change our position,â&#x20AC;? he said after the dinner at which Rice presented Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position. Earlier Thursday, ahead of Riceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meetings in Belgium, the leaders of both France and Germany expressed similar sentiments, calling for a two-pronged approach of pressure and negotiations with Iran. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we are in a process and that Iran continues to pose a danger,â&#x20AC;? German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Paris at a joint news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in response to the new American findings that were released Monday. Sarkozy, who supports Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view, said he backs new sanctions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The threat exists,â&#x20AC;? he said.
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U.S. actors Woody Harreson, left, and Owen Wilson pose during a visit to the Andean City of Cuzco, Peru, Thursday, Dec. 6. Wilson and Harrelson are the latest celebrities to visit the region, rich in archeological ruins. Actresses Cameron Diaz, Olivia Newton-John and Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates meandered through Cuzcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centuriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; old cobblestone streets earlier this year. AP photo
Iran still is working aggressively to build nuclear arms, despite the new U.S. conclusions. The Islamic regime in Tehran strongly opposes Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence and frequently boasts of its ability to strike the Jewish state with longrange missiles. Bush administration officials concede that their abrupt abandonment of that point could hurt their efforts to impose more sanctions on Iran to increase pressure for it to cease uranium enrichment and reprocessing. Tehran insists it is enriching uranium only for peaceful energy production; but the U.S. notes that it also could produce the ingredients for a bomb. Discussions on that point, between the U.S. and the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Britain, France, Russia and China â&#x20AC;&#x201D; plus Germany in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;P5 plus oneâ&#x20AC;? grouping had been on hold pending consideration of the new intelligence. Ahead of the NATO decision, Rice said she would impress on her counterparts the need for Iran to disclose the nature of its alleged secret nuclear weapons program prior to 2003, returning to a theme addressed Wednesday by President Bush. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should also start to look at ways for Iran to account for what was happening before 2003,â&#x20AC;? she said, without elaborating on what type of mechanism she had in mind, if any. Bush on Wednesday demanded that Tehran detail its previous program to develop nuclear weapons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;which the Iranian regime has yet to acknowledge.â&#x20AC;?
LIMA, Peru (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A cheap hotel and a bath in an irrigation ditch â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not the usual travel arrangements for Hollywood celebrities. But Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson were apparently out to show the locals in Peru that they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your average high-maintenance movie stars. Local celebrity gossip program â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magaly TeVeâ&#x20AC;? aired video Wednesday night of the two actors deep in Peruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Andes bathing in an irrigation ditch wearing nothing but their boxer shorts. It showed the pair pouring handfuls of water over themselves under the highland sun. Harrelson and Wilson were
reportedly visiting a local orphanage they support near Cuzco, the ancient Incan capital. They dodged reporters at Limaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jorge Chavez International Airport on their way to a hotel that cost less than $50 a night, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magaly TeVeâ&#x20AC;? said. They flew to Cuzco Wednesday morning. Wilson and Harrelson are the latest celebrities to visit the region, rich in archaeological ruins. Cameron Diaz, Olivia Newton-John and Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates meandered through Cuzcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centuriesold cobblestone streets earlier this year.
Peru becomes a hot spot for celebrities vacations
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In Brussels, Rice held talks with European and Russian officials to bolster the U.S. case in her first face-to-face sessions with world powers that are considering new sanctions since the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate was made public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see that the NIE changes the course that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on,â&#x20AC;? Rice told reporters as she flew to Belgium for talks that will include discussions with former Cold War foe Russia, which, along with China, has resisted new Iran sanctions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, I would think given the assessment that Iran is indeed susceptible to coordinated international pressure that (this) is the right approach,â&#x20AC;? she said, referring to the NIE finding that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program due to intense diplomatic activity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This suggests that you ought to keep up that international pressure,â&#x20AC;? Rice said. Ahead of formal alliance meetings on Friday, Rice met Thursday with the foreign ministers of Italy, Belgium and Britain, as well as European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Iran was a major topic in all of those discussions and will be again on Friday when she sees Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, perhaps the figure most suspicious of the U.S. policy on Iran, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Rice also sees Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday. Israeli officials maintain that
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StatesmanBack Burner
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Page 18
Check www.utahstatesman.com for complete calendar listings
Friday
Saturday
Monday
- USU String Academy open registration, all day, Chase Fine Arts Center. - Women’s Center Mitten Tree donations – final day, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., TSC. - Santa’s Elves: A North Pole Musical, 6 to 9:30 p.m., Eccles Conference Center Auditorium. - USU Big Band Swing Club, 7 to 9:30 p.m., HPER. - USU and Institute combined choirs, 7:30 p.m., Kent Concert Hall. - USU Theatre Production: ‘Absurd Person Singlular,’ 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Caine Lyric Theatre.
- USU String Academy open registration, all day, Chase Fine Arts Center. - 4-H Aggie Adventures for kids, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - USU women’s basketball at N. Arizona, 1 p.m. - Santa’s Elves: A North Pole Musical, 6 to 9:30 p.m., Eccles Conference Center Auditorium. - USU and Institute combined choirs, 7:30 p.m., Kent Concert Hall. - USU Theatre Production: ‘Absurd Person Singlular,’ 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Caine Lyric Theatre. - USU men’s basketball at Cal State Bakersfield, 8:05 p.m.
- BEGINNING OF FINALS - USU String Academy open registration, all day, Chase Fine Arts Center.
Dec. 7
Dec. 8
Dec. 10
Flying McCoys • G&G Mccoy Brain Waves • B. Streeter
Extended lab hours TSC Extended hours: Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 2-6. The TSC will remain open for 24 hours during these dates. UR Extended hours, Dec. 2-6 and Dec. 9-13. The UR will be open until 1 a.m.
Public health
Industrial Hygiene Social, Dec. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. at the University Inn, Room 507. Come learn more about the public health program. Everyone welcome. Great major for pre-health students.
Dec. 18, and Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. in the MCHS Auditorium.
Tot nature hour Parent Tot Nature Hour, Dec. 7, 10 to 11 a.m. Explore animals, plants, and nature with through music, crafts and games. Costs are $3. Holiday celebration, Saturday, Dec. 8, 1 to 3 p.m. A variety of crafts will be made to accommodate all ages and interests. Costs are $6, space is limited, pre-registration is required. To register, call 435-755-3239 or visit www.logannature.org.
Flu shots available More to remember ... Flu shot available at the Student Health and Wellness Center. Cost is $22
Research scholar
Undergraduates who have engaged in a minimum of two semesters of research may qualify for a new transcript designation as an Undergraduate Research Scholar. Application available at http:// www.usu.edu/research/undergrad/designation/.
Music performances Mountain Crest High School band & orchestra will present “Christmas Fantasy” on Tuesday,
• All are invited to participate in a candle-light Peace Vigil every Friday between 5 and 6 p.m. on the east side of Main Street between Center Street and 100 N. Logan. E-mail loganpeace@hotmail.com or call 755-5137 if you have questions. • PE 1720 presents: Friday, Dec. 7 7-9:30 p.m. in the HPER, Room 209, no cost to attend, anyone can attend (open to all) a night of ballroom and social dance (cha cha, waltz, salsa, big band, and more). •Stress Bust is on Dec. 10 at the TSC from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and at Lundstrum Hall, 5 - 7 p.m.
• HOLIDAY ICE SHOW at the Eccles Ice Center, Dec. 6, Annual Winter Wonderland on Ice, Saturday Dec. 8 from 6 - 7:45 p.m. Free admission to the show. Stay after the show and “skate with the stars” at a public skate session from 8-9:15 p.m. for a discounted price. • InTech Collegiate High School Arts Night: The evening will feature an exhibition of visual art, musical, dance and dramatic performances by InTech students and faculty. Friday Dec. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. USU innovation Campus, 1787 North Research Parkway • Mariska Romney will be playing a violin recital on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. in the Performance Hall. • Registration for Spring Semester 2008 is now open! Go online at WISE.ldsces.org to enroll. Click on Logan, Register for Classes and then click “CHANGE TERM“ and select Spring 2008. • Religion in Life, Friday, Dec. 7, 11:30 a.m: Tyler Griffin. Preservice trainer at the Logan Institute of Religion. USU degrees in electrical engineering and instructional technology. • Come to your community book sale. 50 percent off everything. Lundstrom Hall, 1295 E. 1000 North. Dec. 4-8 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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