Three USU Advisers Part of ‘Select Few’

Contact: John Mortensen, 435-797-9303, john.mortensen@usu.edu
Writer: Jacob Roskelley, 435-797-1350, jacobr@cc.usu.edu

LOGAN – The National Academic Advising Association will honor three

Utah State University advisers for their achievements. Doran Baker,

Sally Peterson and Dawn Black will each receive a Certificate of Merit

for Outstanding Advising in their various categories.


“The impact advisers have on our students is astounding,” said John

Mortensen, director of university advising and transfer services.

“There is a direct correlation between good advising and a student’s

academic success. I commend these advisers for their hard work and

congratulate them on receiving such prestigious awards.”


Baker, a professor and faculty adviser in the department of electrical

and computer engineering, is one of 17 faculty advisers in the nation

receiving an award in the faculty academic advising category.

Peterson, an adviser in the College of Humanities Arts and Social

Sciences, is one of seven academic advisers in the nation receiving

an award in the academic advising–primary role category. Black,

an academic adviser in the department of elementary education,

is one of six academic advisers in the nation receiving an award in

the new academic adviser–primary role category.


All three recipients will be honored and presented with their awards

at a reception Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Indianapolis, Ind., during the

annual NACADA conference. NACADA is the largest association for

higher education advisers in the nation.

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View the press release as it appeared in Utah State Today.

Famous Aggie Ice Cream Now Offering a ‘Behind the Scenes’ Look

Contact: Donald McMahon, 435-797-3644, djm@cc.usu.edu
Writer: Jacob Roskelley, 435-797-1350, jacobr@cc.usu.edu

LOGAN – Visitors to Famous Aggie Ice Cream at Utah State University

can see how ice cream is made in a 45-minute tour that ends with a

taste of the famous dessert. The store and dairy lab are located in

the Nutrition and Food Sciences building at 750 N. 1200 E.


On Saturday, July 1, tours will begin at noon and continue every 45

minutes, with the last tour leaving at 3:45 p.m. Future tours will be

on Saturdays and scheduled depending on demand. People

interested can drop in or call ahead and make a reservation for large

groups. The tour starts with a presentation by Randall Bagley, the

dairy laboratory manager, where he outlines the process of making

ice cream and shows a short video. Next, the group is taken through

the dairy plant to see that process in action. Finally, the tour ends

with an opportunity for customers to redeem their ticket for a cup

of their favorite flavor of ice cream.


“We are excited to start offering these tours again,” said Donald

McMahon, director of the dairy lab and professor of nutrition and

food sciences. “They have been a great event for the community

and an excellent opportunity for us to interact more with people.

The tours allow us to show everyone the research that is being

done and what we are all about, plus it’s just a good tasty treat.”


The cost for the tour is $2 per person. For more information call

Famous Aggie Ice Cream at 435-797-2112.

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View the press release as it appeared in Utah State Today.
View the article in the Herald Journal on July 1, 2006.
View the article in Cache Magazine on July 7, 2006.
View the article in Cache Magazine on July 14, 2006.
View the article in the Herald Journal on July 16, 2006.

USU Earns Top National Conservation Award

Contact: Larry Rupp, 435-797-2099, larry.rupp@usu.edu
Writer: Jacob Roskelley, 435-797-1350, jacobr@cc.usu.edu

LOGAN - Three Utah State University professors received the U.S.

Department of the Interior's Cooperative Conservation Award during

a ceremony June 14 in the Agricultural Science Building on the USU

campus.


The Cooperative Conservation Award was presented to Larry Rupp,

department head of Plants, Soils and Biometeorology; Roger Kjelgren

and Kelly Kopp, professors in the same department. All received the

award for their research and work on urban water conservation

performed in cooperation with Michael Stuver and Fred Liljegren of

the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region.


"This is a great honor for USU and an accomplishment to work in

conjunction with such fine national researchers on a project that has

real impact," said Brent Miller, USU's vice president for research.

"This research is one example of the hard work being done by

professors and students throughout the university."


Rupp, Kjelgren and Kopp helped implement the Landscape Irrigation

Simplified program that educates residential, commercial and

institutional land owners about water use on turfgrass. The program,

which was supported by congressionally directed funds, teaches how

much water to apply to grass landscapes, how often to apply it and

how to apply it evenly.


"We searched to find an area of water conservation we could study

that would affect the most lives," said Kopp. "That desire led us to

some very interesting research."


The team looked at recent studies showing that turfgrass is the

largest irrigated crop in the United States. Research done by Rupp

and Kjelgren showed that double the amount of water, or more, is

applied to turfgrass than needed.


One of the many criteria of the award was promoting the use of

natural resources in a responsible manner that encourages a healthy

and dynamic economy. The programs created by these professors

provide an opportunity for university graduates, trained in these

principles, to educate professionals and the public about responsible

water usage.

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View the press release as it appeared on Utah State Today.

Internships: Steps to Success

By: Jacob Roskelley

For many Utah State University students, internships that start on the steps of the Capitol are stepping stones to a better future. According to a report released in December by the Utah Foundation, students who complete internships in college are more likely to have full-time jobs and receive higher salaries after graduation.

"Internships help make the connection between a field of study and its 'real-world' applications," the report stated. "Internships often translate into full-time employment after graduation as well as provide networking opportunities for other job opportunities."

The report also noted that out of the Utah State University graduates from 2004 that completed an internship, 84 percent of them are currently employed full-time. That's in comparison to the 60 percent of USU graduates that didn't do an internship who are currently employed full-time.

One of the programs at USU that has been highly successful is the government internship program offered through the political science department. Randy Simmons, the department head, said USU's reputation is so good that several congressional offices in Washington, D.C., accept USU interns without conducting interviews.

This semester, there are 20 USU students doing various government internships: 12 are in D.C., six are interning with the Utah State Legislature in Salt Lake City and two are working at the First District Court here in Cache Valley. One of the 12 students interning in Washington, D.C., is Amy Noorda.

Noorda, a junior majoring in public relations and agricultural communications, is currently one of six Utah students working as an intern in the office of Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Noorda said choosing to intern in Washington, D.C., was the best choice that she ever made.

"When you get to see a bill being made and passed into law, when you get to see a Supreme Court Justice being questioned and interviewed and found worthy to sit with the highest court in the land, you get a whole new perspective on our nation and our government," Noorda said.

Noorda said she has been assigned to work with the press secretary who handles all media relations for the senator. Because Hatch sits on the Judiciary Committee, Noorda said she has been actively involved with the recent nomination and confirmation of Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

She said her other responsibilities included writing letters to constituents, attending meetings and hearings to brief other staffers at a later time, running errands and other various office jobs.

As an intern, Noorda is also expected to give tours of the capitol building, she said, and it is actually the best part of her job. Noorda also said that Washington, D.C., is such an interesting city that she is kept busy outside of work as well.

"There is a ton of history here, so there is always something to see and do," Noorda said. "You won't just be sitting on the couch every night and weekend."

Another USU student that is interning in Washington, D.C., is Jon Cox, a senior majoring in journalism and communications, with an emphasis in print media. Cox is one of four Utah students working in Senator Bob Bennett's, R-Utah, Washington, D.C., office this semester.

"Each semester, Utah students join my D.C. office for an intensive study of how government works. While providing assistance to my staff, they also gain valuable experiences that will impact their futures," Bennett said. "I am certain this semester will prove beneficial to these four bright students as they move through their careers."

Students that are chosen for internships in D.C. live in housing that is currently being leased by the university.

USU is leasing five apartments that are 20 minutes from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Downstairs in the apartment building is an underground mall with shops and restaurants, including a McDonald's.

The success of the program also helps raise money for future students interested in taking an internship in D.C.

AT&T recently donated $10,000 that will directly assist the internship program in the political science department. Simmons accepted the check and thanked AT&T for the donation.

"This donation provides a serious boost to our students," Simmons said. "This may help with a month's rent or travel expenses. This additional financial assistance might make the difference in a student's ability to participate in the internship program."

The check was presented on behalf of AT&T by L.J. Godfrey, a former USU intern, at a formal luncheon at Hamilton's Steak House. Cindy Nielsen accepted the check along with Simmons and President Stan Albrecht. Nielsen is the program administrator for the Institute of Political Economy, which coordinates intern activities out of USU.

Simmons said the donation is very important because the political science internship program, unlike other programs of its kind, doesn't have an endowment to assist with student expenses.

A recent press release from the political science department reported that over the past four years, 139 interns have been sent to Washington, D.C. Of those, 56 went on to accept jobs in the D.C. area.

-jacobr@cc.usu.edu

View the article as it appeared in the Utah Statesman.

Ray B. West One of the 'Least-Prepared' Buildings on USU Campus if Earthquake Hit

By: Jacob Roskelley

According to Utah State's emergency operations plan, there is "a high probability for serious damage as a result of future strong earthquakes" in Cache Valley.

The plan identifies at least two faults that extend north and south along the west side of Cache Valley and two more faults that run north and south to the east.

In 2000, Ed Brinck, the architectural and engineering coordinator for Campus Planning, identified the Ray B. West Building as one of the least-prepared buildings on campus for an earthquake.

Contemplating these facts leaves many students wondering if Utah State is prepared for such an event.

Judy Crockett, the dispatch coordinator for the USU police department, said students and faculty members need to be thinking about what they would do in an earthquake.

"We've got so many different angles that we need to cover," Crockett said.

Crockett has been with the department since 1986 and has been chosen as the university's new emergency management coordinator. Crockett said she is replacing Lynn Wright, who retired at the end of last year, but due to budget cuts, she will not formally hold her new title until July of this year.

Crockett said she has taken numerous classes through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Utah Department of Public Safety. She even attended a terrorism class at the Emergency Management Institute in Maryland, she said. In this class, she said she was trained with scenarios specific to USU. In one scenario, she said they had a big screen running news broadcasts and there was a picture of the Veterinary Science Building with a big explosion coming out of its side.

Crockett said she hopes to put all of this experience to good use here at USU.

"My main goal is that I want people to think," she said. "There are so many different scenarios, but a lot of it boils down to good old common sense."

According to the University of Utah seismograph station's Web site, www.seis.utah.edu, there are about 700 earthquakes, including aftershocks, in the Utah region each year. Only 2 percent of these are actually felt. The site also warns people not to worry only about large earthquakes causing damage since even a moderate earthquake can cause major damage.

The last major earthquake to hit Cache Valley was Aug. 30, 1962. It was located north of Richmond on the Utah-Idaho border and it had a magnitude of 5.7. According to an article that ran in the Herald Journal the next day, there was extensive damage in the Skyroom of the Student Union Building, now the Taggart Student Center, and there was a crack in the main tower on the north wall of Old Main.

Now, more than 43 years later, Crockett said USU is prepared for similar situations and there is a plan in place.

The university's emergency operations plan was last revised in early 2003. The plan says it "identifies both natural and man-made hazards which may impact the campus community. It details the response and recovery procedures that campus officials should follow if a disaster strikes."

The plan assesses the possible dangers of an earthquake, but the only specific reference in the body of the text to an earthquake is advising officials to make sure the terrace parking lot is evacuated following an earthquake. Crockett said that updating the plan is one of her goals.

"The plan needs to be more specific, but I don't want to make it so cumbersome that nobody will read it," Crockett said. "I'm working on making it thorough but simple."

She also said students need to work on the "little things" like 72-hour kits.

Alesia Semborski, a senior in marketing, admitted to not having a 72-hour kit.

"I worry about earthquakes, but I don't consciously think about them on a daily basis like I would a car accident," Semborski said.

Crockett said she realizes that students don't have a lot of money. It just needs to be something small that someone could grab in case of an emergency, she said.

"There are a lot of things that you could get a t a dollar store and put in a garbage bag," Crockett said.

Overall, Crockett said she realizes there is a lot to do, but she said no matter what, "we need to be doing something."

-jacobr@cc.usu.edu

View the article as it appeared in the Utah Statesman.

Election Packets Available Now

By: Jacob Roskelley

With goals set, the theme picked and elections quickly approaching, packets are now available for students wanting to run for positions on the Associated Students of Utah State University Executive Council.

The theme for this year's election is "we want you."

Students said they appreciate the annual elections because peer representation at the university is a necessity."

It's good to have someone like me out there who has a little bit of say," said Emma Frost, a senior majoring in fine arts.

But while students say they understand the importance of student government positions, voter turnout has been relatively low in recent years.

According to records kept by former election committee chairs, voter turnout has decreased over the past few years and so has the number of candidates running for office. Holly Scott, the ASUSU public relations director, said she hopes to reverse those trends.

Scott said the reason she hopes to increase voter turnout is because that would mean that "the students on campus are really having a say in who they want to be their voice." Another goal she has is to get candidates that are qualified and who will do a good job once in office, she said.

In order to reach these goals, Scott said she is planning on posting more signs and posters around campus to make students aware of elections. Making students aware of who is running, on the other hand, is up to the candidates themselves, she said. Scott hopes that candidates can help students realize the importance of the ASUSU Executive Council.

"The Executive Council affects students," Scott said, "because they are the ones that are able to voice opinions and they have the authority to get the ball rolling."

Logan Ipsen, a junior majoring in animal science, said he is planning on running for Agriculture senator. He said he has traveled and met with students and representatives of other universities from around the country."

My pride as an Aggie has increased and has built a desire to represent the agriculture student body," Ipsen said.

Election packets can be picked up in the Student Involvement Center located in the Taggart Student Center Room 326. The packets include a list of important dates, a declaration of candidacy form, a list of offices available, the election by-laws, a food policy form and a list of frequently asked questions.

Some of the information found in the packet is as follows: A $20 filing fee is required and is used to offset costs for receptions, advertising for elections and for publication costs. The offices available include ASUSU president and various vice presidents and senators. The filing deadline is Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.

Those that want to be kept informed about elections and the candidates that are running should keep their eyes open, Scott said. Students should check ASUSU's Web site (a-station.usu.edu) for updates. Paying attention to posters and taking the time to meet candidates around the campus are other good ways to stay informed, she said.

Scott said she has also made minor changes and clarifications to the election by-laws to make sure that there is no confusion or ambiguity. She hopes that her efforts will help make this year's elections a success, she said.

"From my perspective," Scott said, "I just want elections to run smoothly."

-jacobr@cc.usu.edu

View the article as it appeared in the Utah Statesman.

Animal Liberation Team Promotes Veganism

By: Stevie Anne Stewart and Jacob Roskelley

Human health, environmental concern and consideration of animal rights and welfare are reasons why everyone should consider a vegan diet, said Jennifer Moss-Holmes, president of the USU Student Animal Liberation Team.

Moss-Holmes laid out the benefits of being both a vegetarian and a vegan to several groups of students last week. She broke the topic into five categories: human health, the environment, human rights, animal welfare and animal rights.

"Veganism is without a doubt the best choice for both health and the environment," said Moss-Holmes.

Moss-Holmes said veganism is defined as not utilizing any animal products. Vegans neither wear nor eat any form of animal products, she said. Health should be a concern for those who consume animal products, Moss-Holmes said. She said the cholesterol level of the average meat-eater is 210, whereas vegetarians have an average cholesterol level of 161 and vegans have an average level of 132. Doctors recommend a cholesterol level below 150, Moss-Holmes said.

"Meat, dairy and eggs are making us sick. Animal products are making us fat and lethargic. If you don't get hit by a bus or die of cancer, your arteries close off and you die, " Moss-Holmes said. "If people were being run down by trucks at the same rate, something would be done."

Moss-Holmes said many vegetarians still eat fish, chicken and eggs. She said people should consider eating more plant-based foods and less animal-based foods. Many people think that they need fish to get essential fatty acids in their diets, but these fatty acids can be found in vegan food sources as well, Moss-Holmes said. Grocery stores are being stocked with contaminated and spoiled fish and the antibiotics in these food sources are exposing people to unsafe levels of chemicals, Moss-Holmes said.

Besides humans, there is no animal that drinks the mammary secretions of other animals and there is no other animal that drinks milk after infancy, Moss-Holmes said. Dairy products lead to obesity, heart disease, lethargy and an array of other problems, she said.

"You can be an obese vegan or a skinny meat-eater," she said, "but on average, vegans are 20 percent lighter."

Speaking about human health, Moss-Holmes said animal protein can cause cancer "even at usual levels of consumption." She said to help prevent cancer, people need to eat more plant-based rather than animal-based foods.

Moss-Holmes said the environmental effects of consuming animal products should also be of concern to people. The greenhouse effect from fossil fuels needed for transportation of animals as well as the damage that livestock do to soil are destroying the ecosystem, she said. There is an 85 percent loss of topsoil due to growing livestock animals for food, Moss-Holmes said. She said the animal waste drains into the ground and contaminates water sources.

Moss-Holmes said, "This makes about as much sense as running water through a sewer system and then drinking it."

The gas-guzzling trucks that are used to transport animals are polluting the world, Moss-Holmes said. She said in terms of pollution, a meat eater is equivalent to an 18-wheeler, a vegetarian to a small car and a vegan to a bike or walking. Moss-Holmes said each year 60 million people die from starvation. It is more resource-intensive to raise animals for food than to raise plants for food, she said. The world's people would be more easily fed if there were not so many meat eaters, Moss-Holmes said. It takes one-sixth of an acre to feed one vegan, one-half of an acre to feel a vegetarian an 3.3 acres to feed one meat-eater, Moss-Holmes said.

"If veganism were no better for the planet or human health, it would still be the only sure-fire way to avoid cruelty to animals," Moss-Homes said. "A true environmentalist can't eat meat, dairy or eggs."

Moss-Holmes said 500 animals are killed per hour in the United States. She said, If people are eating meat, they are supporting cruelty to animals. Animals have feelings just like people do, she said. Due to changes in genetics, chickens today grow to slaughter weight in less than two months, as opposed to more than three months a century ago, Moss-Holmes said. The bodies of chickens are growing much too fast for their legs and brains to keep up, she said. It is unfair for them to live in discomfort, Moss-Holmes said. Animals are being pumped full of antibiotics and chemicals to make them grow faster, she said.

People need to grow the understanding that she believes animals feel pain like people do, Moss-Holmes said. Humans have a "species bias," Moss-Holmes said. Certain things aren't human, so they get treated horribly, she said.

Moss-Holmes quoted author Alice Walker who said, "Animals were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women were made for men."

Moss-Holmes said 100 years ago, there were no child abuse laws and the right to vote was not guaranteed to all humans. One hundred years from now, humans will look back and hopefully something will have changed, she said.

"I try not to support things I oppose," Moss-Holmes said. "Solutions will require the time and devotion of people who care."

Moss-Holmes, a junior in the art department at USU, said it is easier than ever to be a vegan and people should do all they can to make the world a better place. She said she has been a vegetarian for five or six years and a vegan for almost a year. She said she doesn't have any trouble finding food to fit the vegan diet in Logan.

View the article as it appeared in the Utah Statesman.