uiargonaut.com
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Will dance for money Students raise money for Make-AWish with inflatable dancing tube man Erin Bamer Argonaut
ment has yet to be set, as Pitman has committed to remain in his position through the search process, in order to eliminate the need for an interim. He said he’s not in any hurry to leave and an interim would only hinder the operations of the department. Pitman said retirement will allow him to commit more time to recreational activities, travel opportunities with his family and community projects such as “Family Promise of the Palouse” which he said he’s become very involved with in recent years. “It’s a program that I’ve been deeply committed to in the last few years in helping families with children,” Pitman said. “Certainly I’m looking forward to a bit more recreational time. I think, instead of gold retirement watches, I’d rather have a new pair of running shoes. I’m also looking forward to finding some sunshine in February.” Pitman said he and his wife are deeply rooted in Moscow and
Chase is a 10-yearold boy living in Moscow, with a brain tumor near his optic nerve that makes him blind in one eye and is causing him to lose vision in the other. When the MakeA-Wish Foundation contacted him, Chase wished to travel with his family to Disney World. This cause was something the fraternities and sororities of the University of Idaho decided they can work together to achieve, as part of an All-Greek Philanthropy project. “When (Make-AWish) approached us and said that we have a child in the Moscow area that has a wish to come true, we really wanted to get involved,” said Elise Moote, vice president of leadership for UI Panhellinic council. During Greek Week, more than $1,000 was raised in a penny drop fundraiser. Brittany Bowles, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said it costs about $6,500 to send a family to Disney World — so they still need to raise about $5,500. That’s when Moote came up with the idea of Gerald. Gerald is a bright yellow waving air dancer who began his trek throughout the UI campus in Dean of Students Bruce Pitman’s office Monday and will end his journey on April 18. Moote said the idea was inspired by another idea the Office of Alumni Relations came up with, and when they were thinking of names, “Gerald” just sounded right.
SEE Vandal, PAGE 5
SEE dance, PAGE 5
Parker Wilson | Argonaut
Dean of Students Bruce Pitman announced on Friday his plan to retire from the University of Idaho next fall. Pitman began his career in 1973 as the Greek adviser and became Dean of Students in 1981. Pitman said the beginnings of a search process are underway, and will remain at UI until a replacement is found.
40 years a Vandal Dean of Students Bruce Pitman announces plans to retire next fall after replacement is named Kaitlyn Krasselt Argonaut
When Dean of Students Bruce Pitman arrived in Moscow as the University of Idaho Greek Adviser in 1973, the drinking age in Idaho was 19, the Kibbie Dome wasn’t yet a dome, the pedestrian-only streets running through campus were open to cars, he had yet to go on four Alternative Service Break trips and there wasn’t a single McDonald’s in town. Now, after 40 years of service spanning five decades, Pitman has announced his intention to retire from UI early next fall. The announcement — which could have come seven years ago when Pitman became eligible for retirement — came as a surprise to few and many have expressed their sadness at the news of Pitman’s impending departure. “This is very bitter sweet,” Pitman said. “But I think it’s better to leave when people are encouraging you to stay rather than wait until they are wishing you’d go.” Pitman said he’s been considering retirement for a while, but the decision wasn’t an easy one, because of the
passion he has for UI and its students. “I have great passion for the work that we do and I love this place,” Pitman said. “When I put the key in the ignition to come to campus it’s because I feel it’s important.” Pitman said his colleagues throughout the years have also contributed to his deep-rooted passion for the university. He said his love for the community and a combination of other factors contributed to his hesitation when it came to the question of retirement. But he said his family has always been supportive of his desire to continue working. “My wife and family have been wonderfully supportive and have simply encouraged me to make the change only when I’m ready to and have not been putting pressure on me to do this,” Pitman said. Jeanne Stevenson, vice provost for Academic Affairs, has worked with Pitman in a variety of capacities since the early 1990s. The two co-chaired the implementation of a strategic plan under former provost Doug Baker, and Stevenson said they continued their working relationship across student
Finding waves UI professor finds waves on Saturn’s largest moon Emily Aizawa Argonaut
Jason Barnes, assistant professor of physics, has found waves on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan — the first waves found anywhere besides Earth. Titan is the only moon with an atmosphere, Barnes said. Like Earth’s moon, the rest are airless. Titan’s atmosphere is a lot like Earth’s, made up of mostly nitrogen with about the same pressure, he said. Inside Titan’s atmosphere there are clouds, rain and lakes. It’s the only known place in the solar system, other than Earth, where this happens. Titan and Earth also differ in
many ways. Titan’s temperature is 90 degrees Kelvin which equals to negative 297.67 degrees Fahrenheit, he said. The clouds on Titan are not made of water but of liquid methane, which is the same natural gas that is used to power stoves. The natural gas is what forms the lakes and rivers on Titan. Since lakes do exist on Titan, Barnes said, surely there must be waves on the lakes. But when first looking for waves the research showed there was no evidence of wave activity, he said. SEE waves, PAGE 5
This is very bitter sweet. But I think it’s better to leave when people are encouraging you to stay rather than wait until they are wishing you’d go. Bruce Pitman, Dean of Students
and academic affairs ever since with a focus on student retention, success and capacity. She described their relation ship as a “sharing sweet spot” between academic and student affairs. “I think that he has had a very significant and a very positive impact on the University of Idaho,” Stevenson said. “I am confident that the process that has been described — to be able to do a search while he is still here — will help us have as smooth a transition as possible, and hopefully we will have a highly qualified person like Bruce.” The exact date of Pitman’s retire-
Spreading awareness, not disease Get Yourself Tested campaign begins on campus this week Erin Bamer Argonaut
The Vandal Health Education Office will table the Health Hut April 16 in the Idaho Commons, as part of the Get Yourself Tested campaign to spread awareness of the importance of STD testing. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, one in two people will contract an STD by the age of 25. This statistic shocked Bailey Hewitt, a Vandal Health
Ed intern, and led her to search for more facts about STDs. Hewitt said there are many misconceptions people have about STDs. She said one of the most dangerous misconceptions is that someone with an STD will always show symptoms. Often people with STDs don’t show symptoms and can pass the disease on to other people, Hewitt said. Another misconception she mentioned is that doctors will automatically screen their patients for common STDs without being asked. Hewitt suggested for patients not to assume they don’t have an STD just because their doctor didn’t call them back after getting tested, and urges people
to follow up with their doctors. Hewitt said she thinks many college students don’t get tested, because they are afraid it will show up on their parent’s insurance. According to Hewitt, there are multiple ways to avoid a test showing up on insurance records. She said there are laws that provides the person getting tested a certain amount of control. Hewitt said she thinks if students aren’t scared about talking about the subject, then they instead label the topic as too awkward. A strategy used by Vandal Health Ed is comedy to make people more relaxed about the subject, she said. SEE awareness, PAGE 5
IN THIS ISSUE
Josh McCain breaking onto the scene as Idaho’s newest wide receiver. sports, 6 News, 1
Sports, 6
Opinion, 9
UI needs to improve transparency, openness, communication. Read Our View.
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Opinion, 9
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