April 24, 2009 by The Utah Statesman

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Utah State University

Complications interrupt USU Web services

Today is Friday, April 24, 2009 Breaking News

By RACHEL A. CHRISTENSEN news editor

The government of Iraq has recorded 87,215 civilian deaths ranging from bombings to execution-style slayings since 2005. Page 2

News

A SIGN IN CRAIG ASTON’S HONOR was unveiled during the agriculture science dinner Wednesday at the new park on 800 East, the former home of a crab apple orchard. The park honors Aston’s service. TYLER LARSON photo

Senior lecturer honored for his years of service By BECKA TURNER senior news writer

The associate dean of the College of Natural Resources was honored for her work with USU Extension. Page 3

Features The Class of 2009 prepares to enter the workforce. Page 5

The College of Agriculture celebrated the end of the year with a closing social that honored one of its most beloved senior lecturers, Craig Aston. He was honored by having the new park, formerly a crab apple orchard on 800 East, dedicated to him, said Marylynne Clark, development director for the College of Agriculture. “He has been a longtime faculty member, he has really helped to develop the Dale and Adele Young greenhouse,” she said. Aston has worked for the university for more than 25 years, said Teryl Roper, department head of plants, soils and climate. “He’s been a mentor. Since he owns a landscape company he has experience that many staff members can’t offer,” Roper said. Through his company, he has donated many materials to further students’ education, Roper said. Braden Jensen, former agricultural senator, said, “His service to the students, he’s an excellent professor and lecturer, is the reason that he is so deserv-

ing of this dedication.” Clark said Aston has a high level of dedication to his students and fellow faculty members and that makes him indispensable. “It would take at least three people to take over all that he does for his students, the university and the community,” she said. Jensen said the Ag Council made the decision to give the honor to Aston. “It was a unanimous decision from the Ag Council. We talked with Dean Cockett, and she thought it was a great idea, so we went forward with it,” he said. The council dedicated the park by unveiling a sign naming it the D. Craig Aston Park, Jensen said. “We had 200 students at (Wednesday) night’s unveiling, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor. He is so beloved by all who come into contact with him,” Clark said. Jensen said most of the College of Agriculture knew about the honor, but didn’t know for whom the park was going to be named. Roper said Aston’s current classes will continue to develop and perfect the

- See PARK, page 3

Sports USU to host the WAC Track and Field Championships. Page 16

Almanac

CRAIG ASTON’S ACCEPTS AN AWARD for his dedication to USU agriculture students. Aston was nominated for the award by Ag Council. TYLER LARSON photo

Today in History: In 1916, on Easter Monday in Dublin, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret organization of Irish nationalists led by Patrick Pearse, launches the so-called Easter Rebellion, an armed uprising against British rule.

Weather High: 47° Low: 29° Skies: Rain showers.

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Many USU students trying to prepare for finals encountered problems with Aggiemail, Blackboard and the Internet in general Thursday. This is because three different problems coincidentally happened the same day, one involving a backhoe in Salt Lake City, another involving the university’s Storage Array Network (SAN) and the third involving a power outage, said Kevin Reeve, USU Information Technology’s marketing and communications coordinator. “It was a triple whammy,” Reeve said. Around 9 a.m. Thursday, a backhoe on Beck Street in Salt Lake City severed a fiber optic cable, Reeve said. Utah State gets its Internet through the Utah Education Network (UEN). He said the Internet reaches the university through three fiber optic cables. The accident at Beck Street knocked out two of these lines, leaving only one line, the southern-most fiber optic cable, to conduct the Internet for the entire university. The line still in service has a 1G capacity and was used at up to 90 percent Thursday. It is usually doesn’t receive more than 75 percent usage, and Reeve said this extreme use caused some issues and delays. “It’s kind of like the freeway; too many cars on the freeway,” he said. Fixing the fiber optic cable requires splicing the underground cable back together, Reeve said, and it could take a while to complete the process. Reeve said Information Technology tried to spread the word to students, staff and faculty through phone calls and text messages to use the Internet for research purposes only and as little as possible. Thursday morning before word was spread, about 10 percent of campus Internet use was traceable to YouTube, he said. Qwest Communications customer service said there is no way to know how long it will take to repair the problem, but that the process has already started. Aggiemail was down due to a problem with a unit on campus, Reeve said. The SAN started flashing a light indicating it was “sick,” he said. As a preventative measure in order to avoid information loss, the SAN shut down several parts of its network, including Aggiemail’s central authentication system. This same thing happened Wednesday afternoon, he said. The SAN’s vendor sent in people and hardware to fix the problem Wednesday and again Thursday evening. The day of Internet failures continued Thursday evening when the Eccles Broadcast Center (EBC) experience power failure, Reeve said. The EBC is part of the UEN located in Salt Lake City. This last outage caused USU Internet connection interruptions. It also made logging in to BlackBoard virtually impossible. Reeve said he still encourages USU members to use the Internet sparingly while these problems are fixed. –rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu

Students sell ceramics for equipment By SETH BRACKEN staff writer

The Utah State University ceramics guild is hosting a ceramics sale and show this weekend in an effort to raise funds for the guild and to allow the students to display their work, said Joe Davis, ceramics studio coordinator. The event is held semiannually and in previous years was located in the Taggart Student Center, Davis said. However, this year the event will be held in the Fine Arts building where each student will have a place to design a display for their work. About 25 students will be participating. “We wanted the students to consider the display of their work,” Davis said. The event sale was hosted in the Fine Arts building for the first time in November of last year and sales nearly doubled, Davis said.

Last semester’s show brought in about $10,000 and in previous shows they usually sold a little less than half that, he said. “It really feels more like an open house,” Davis said. The ceramics guild is run by the students, and the students collaborate on how to use the funds. The ceramics guild provides all of the machines and other equipment for the program at Utah State, Davis said. “Students’ contributions make this such a strong program and promotes the idea of community,” Davis said. The guild focused more for this sale on advertising than they have in the past, Davis said. He said the guild posted signs around Logan and surrounding areas and ran advertisements on Utah Public Radio.

- See SALE, page 3

COMMUNITY MEMBERS BROWSE CERAMICS FOR SALE Thursday in the Fine Arts building. The guild has focused on advertising this year and expects to see it pay off. CODY GOCHNOUR photo

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World&Nation

Friday, April 24, 2009

Today’sIssue

Celebs&People

Today is Friday, April 24, 2009. Today’s issue of The Utah Statesman is published especially for Chris Bowen, a senior majoring in biology and biochemistry from Mendon, Utah.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) – Jay Leno checked into a hospital with an undisclosed illness Thursday and canceled the taping of the “Tonight” show, but was doing well and planned to return next week, his publicist and NBC said. Leno left his LENO office at NBC’s studios about midday and checked himself into a hospital for observation, said his publicist, Dick Guttman. He would not identify what ailed Leno or where he went, but characterized his illness as “mild” and said the comedian continued working throughout the day, making phone calls and writing jokes. “Jay Leno is doing just fine,” read a statement from NBC spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre. “He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses. He’s expected back to work on Monday.” A woman who answered the media line at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, which is near the Burbank studio where Leno tapes “Tonight,” said they had no patient by that name, and referred inquiries to NBC. LOS ANGELES (AP) – “American Idol” finalists Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai aren’t closer to becoming household names. Both singers were dismissed Wednesday after it was revealed they received the fewest number of viewer votes on the popular Fox singing competition. “I’m so really disappointed,” Desai said after his ouster. “I really am.” The third lowest vote-getter after this week’s disco-themed performances was Allison Iraheta. For the past several weeks, the judges have not been favorable to Rounds, the 24-year-old mother of three from Memphis, or Desai, the 22-year-old college student from Chapel Hill, N.C.

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 Texas woman charged for campus threat

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (AP) – A student was charged Thursday with terroristic threat for allegedly posting signs around Stephen F. Austin State University that warned of a deadly mass shooting. Jennifer Grant, a sophomore from Palestine, was arrested Wednesday and released Thursday after posting $7,500 bond, said Officer Katie Sanders of the Nacogdoches County Jail. Grant, 20, lives in an off-campus apartment complex where many of the signs appeared April 16. They warned that 10 people at the complex would be shot to death.

S.C. wildfire is biggest in three decades

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s biggest wildfire in more than three decades – a blaze four miles wide – destroyed dozens of homes Thursday and threatened some of the area’s world-famous golf courses at the height of the spring tourist season. The flames, fed by tinder-dry scrubland, forced hundreds of people to flee, and some took shelter in the House of Blues honkytonk. The fire got within 10 miles of Route 17, the main coastal road that links beachfront towns and is lined with fast-food restaurants, beachwear stores and trinket shops. By Thursday evening, the flames were about 3 miles west of the highway.

FARHAN HAMZA VISITS his father’s grave, which is next to other relatives at the cemetery in Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq’s government has recorded 87,215 of its citizens killed since 2005. AP photo

Tally reaches 87,215 Iraqi deaths since 2005 BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq’s government has recorded 87,215 of its citizens killed since 2005 in violence ranging from catastrophic bombings to execution-style slayings, according to government statistics obtained by The Associated Press that break open one of the most closely guarded secrets of the war. Combined with tallies based on hospital sources and media reports since the beginning of the war and an in-depth review of available evidence by The Associated Press, the figures show that more than 110,600 Iraqis have died in violence since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The number is a minimum count of violent deaths. The official who provided the data to the AP, on condition of anonymity because of its sensitivity, estimated the actual number of deaths at 10 to 20 percent higher because of thousands who are still missing and civilians who were buried in the chaos of war without official records. The Health Ministry has tallied death certificates since 2005, and late that year the United Nations began using them – along with hospital and morgue figures – to publicly release casualty counts. But by early 2007, when sectarian violence was putting political pressure on the U.S. and Iraqi governments, the Iraqi numbers disappeared. The United Nations “repeatedly asked for that cooperation” to resume but never received a response, U.N.

associate spokesman Farhan Haq said Thursday. The data obtained by the AP measure only violent deaths – people killed in attacks such as the shootings, bombings, mortar attacks and beheadings that have ravaged Iraq. It excluded indirect factors such as damage to infrastructure, health care and stress that caused thousands more to die. Authoritative statistics for 2003 and 2004 do not exist. But Iraq Body Count, a private, Britishbased group, has tallied civilian deaths from media reports and other sources since the war’s start. The AP reviewed the Iraq Body Count analysis and confirmed its conclusions by sifting the data and consulting experts. The AP also interviewed experts involved with previous studies, prominent Iraq analysts and provincial and medical officials to determine that the new tally was credible. The AP also added its own tabulation of deaths since Feb. 28, the last date in the Health Ministry count. The three figures add up to more than 110,600 Iraqis who have died in the war. That total generally coincides with the trends reported by reputable surveys, which have been compiled either by tallying deaths reported by international journalists, or by surveying samplings of Iraqi households and extrapolating the numbers.

Donors pledge $250 million for Somalia

Wis. first to require cochlear implants MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin could become the first state requiring private insurance companies to cover cochlear implants for children with severe hearing problems. The state Legislature passed a bill Thursday requiring private health insurance plans to cover cochlear implants, hearing aids and related treatment for those under the age of 18. Gov. Jim Doyle has promised to sign it into law.

Graduating?

BRUSSELS (AP) – International donors pledged more than $250 million Thursday to strengthen Somalia’s security forces and try to stop the rampant attacks by armed Somali pirates that have plagued one of the world’s most important waterways. The hefty sum, which included funding for military equipment and material as well as development aid, exceeded the initial request made by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said. “We have just begun the first step of an important process to

restore rule of law in Somalia ... which has been a lawless state for 20 years,” Ban told a news conference following a one-day, U.N.-sponsored donors’ conference. Stabilizing Somalia was the focus of Thursday’s meeting, but the near-daily pirate attacks along Somalia’s 1,900-mile-long (3,100-kilometer) coastline that endanger ships from around the world immediately moved to the forefront of the discussions. “Piracy is a symptom of anarchy and insecurity on the ground,” Ban told the delegates. “More security on the ground will make less piracy on the

seas.” Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed pledged to do “everything imaginable” to stabilize Somalia and fight piracy. “This phenomenon will not last forever,” he promised, expressing “regret” for the pirates’ actions. The pledges were a recognition of the need to end two decades of anarchy in Somalia and of the threat that further lawlessness posed to the world, not just one nation. The funds included at least $134 million for the African Union peacekeeping mission.

LateNiteHumor David Letterman’s Top Ten Least Useful College Majors for September 7, 2005. 10. Stamp-licking. 9. Shopping for Scarves. 8. Guesstimation. 7. The Physics of Chair-throwing on “Jerry Springer.” 6. English Accents: Why They Sound So Fruity. 5. Comparitive Blinking. 4. Counting Backwards from 10 to 1 (with department head David Letterman.) 3. Melonballing. 2. . The Ethnobiosocioanthropsychopharmacolinguistics of Fudge. 1. Lee Majors.

Losing Coverage? Leaving for the Summer?

Make sure you are covered!! Short Term Health Insurance for less than $50/month Getting hurt or sick can be expensive, good thing we’re not. Call the Voice of Choic: 752.7200

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StatesmanCampus News

Friday, April 24, 2009

Associate dean awarded for work with water quality Briefs Campus & Community

By JACIE FASSELIN staff writer

During the annual Utah Water Environmental Association meeting in St. George April 1, Utah State’s Nancy Mesner received the Calvin K. Sudweeks Water Quality Award. Mesner is the associate dean of the College of Natural Resources. She also serves as program leader for USU Natural Resources Extension. For her work through Extension, Mesner was recognized by the Utah Division of Water Quality. Some of her work included developing a youth education program. Mesner said her program originally targeted ninth graders by correlating with earth systems science core curriculum. The program was later adapted for use

throughout grades K-12. “We build a lot of it around stream monitoring. We hope that engages (students) for the rest of their lives,” she said. The program also works to educate teachers how to present water quality materials, Mesner said. Mesner hopes her program will let kids in grades K-12 experience some aspect of rivers or lakes and riparian areas. Furthermore, she said she hopes this experience will encourage kids to care about the use and treatment of watersheds. To be successful in achieving goals for the watershed, one must partner well, find common goals, funding and the energy to make those goals happen, Mesner said. Extension works with many different agencies including

- See WATER, page 10

Two students are awarded fellowships

NANCY MESNER, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES gives a training course called Streamside Science to high school teachers, educating them to teach the science to their own pupils. Mesner received the Calvin K. Sudweeks Water Quality Award. photo courtesy of NANCY MESNER

Mother (Earth) Day

The Utah Humanities Council (UHC) recently awarded two fellowships – one to an undergraduate student and one to a graduate student – to support research in the humanities. Each student fellowship provides a cash award of $500. Unlike their peers in the sciences, students in the humanities have typically been disadvantaged by a lack of financial support to do research. Trenton Olsen, an undergraduate student in English, received a UHC fellowship for his project that compares the poetry of contemporary Irish poet Seamus Heaney to the famous Romantic writer William Wordsworth. Christopher Blythe was awarded a student fellowship for his work on the organizational diversity among Mormon Fundamentalist sects.

USU student to represent Utah at Student Congress Samantha Coombs, a political science major at USU, will represent Utah in the second annual Henry Clay Student Congress to take place in Lexington, Ky., in June. The program is a five-day course designed to further educate students in the field of statesmanship, diplomacy and networking. To be a part of the Henry Clay Student Congress, a student must be nominated by their college or university, and then chosen by the state’s senior U.S. senator. This year, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, requested that a student from Utah State serve as the representative for Utah at this year’s student congress, said Cindy Nielsen, Political Science internship coordinator at USU. “There have been many Utah State students over the past years who’ve served internships in various places that have done a wonderful job. These opportunities are arranged through the Political Science Department.” Nielsen said. “I’m sure Samantha Coombs will be a great representative for Utah State, and Utah as a whole. Her professors consider this to be a great choice because she is so talented and articulate.”

ABOVE, JAYNAN CHANCELLOR, the African dance class instructor, and Dawii, a traditional West African drum group play on the Quad for Earth Day. CAMERON PETERSON photo. To celebrate Earth Day, Student Services hosted the Earth Day Extravaganza on the Quad. Students were encouraged to participate in activities and learn how to make USU a green campus. PETE P. SMITHSUTH photo

Sale: Artworks being put to good use -continued from page 1

Park: Sign and Cache orchestra performs at USU plaque honor The Cache Chamber agriculture Orchestra performs Sunday, 26, at 7:30 p.m. in senior lecturer April the Kent Concert Hall of -continued from page 1

THE CERAMICS GUILD IS SELLING THEIR WORK throughout the weekend in order to provide machines and equipment for USU’s program. CODY GOCHNOUR photo

The pieces vary in shape, size and color, but most of them are functional, said Matt Conlon, junior in ceramics. Each piece has been shaped, glazed and fired, he said. “A pretty famous saying in ceramics is ‘Each piece takes five minutes and 25 years,’” he said. Conlon has been making pottery for more than eight years and had a few dozen pieces in this year’s show, he said. Alix Brodeur said she likes seeing other people get

excited about pottery because it is so important in her life. It is a great time to buy gifts with Mother’s Day and the wedding season approaching, she said. Brodeur is a transfer student from Massachusetts and said she came to Utah State because it has such a strong ceramics program. The show opened Thursday night and will continue Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts building, room 121. It is open to the public. –seth.bracken@aggiemail.usu.edu

new park. Part of Aston’s plans for the park is to build a pavilion and a barbecue area. It will be especially beneficial for those students enrolled in Aston’s landscape construction class, with the park serving as a good construction project. “It’s going to be an ongoing development. When it’s finished, I doubt it will ever be finished, the park will give students practical experience on a small, residential scale,” Roper said. Roper said Aston’s living legacy of caring for the students he works with will continue with the park. “Craig is richly deserving of the honor. He has been extremely dedicated to students and the department,” he said. –beck.turner@aggiemail.usu. edu

the Chase Fine Arts Center. There is no cost to attend the concert. Featured soloist Konlin Shen is a 16-year-old senior at Logan High School. He began studying violin at age 5, and currently studies with Mark Emile. In addition to soloing with the Logan High Orchestra three times, Konlin serves as concert master for the Logan High Chamber Orchestra. He has received numerous awards at both state and national levels. This is his second performance with the Cache Chamber Orchestra. Emile will conduct the orchestra for Konlin’s performance of the third and fourth movements of the “Scottish Fantasy” for violin and orchestra by Max Bruch.

-Compiled from staff

and media reports

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TheUtahStatesman

Friday, April 24, 2009

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WeekendDiversions

Up, up and away Spending the summer learning how to fly By AMANDA MEARS features assistant editor

Hiking, boating and learning to fly an airplane. If the last option doesn’t sound like a typical summer activity, that’s because it’s not. However, Noah Carroll, flight instructor at Leading Edge Aviation, said a surprising number of USU students and Logan residents use their summer to obtain a private pilot’s license. “It’s an alternative for USU students who want to fly, but are getting their degree in something besides aviation,” Carroll said. “You do full training at (Leading Edge), but this way you can get a degree in whatever you want and still get a pilot’s license.” Carroll said they see an even mix of people who are looking to pursue aviation as a career and those who just want to fly as a hobby. Nick Thomas, also a flight instructor at Leading Edge Aviation, said he chose to get his certification through Leading Edge because of the flexibility. Thomas said he has been interested in being a pilot since he was a kid and began flying when he was 16 years old. Currently, Thomas is a member of the National Guard and a full-time student majoring in law and constitutional studies. “The flexibility with this program has been awesome for me,” Thomas said. “I do classes in the morning, work here from about 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and fly about two to three times a week, so it’s worked well with my school schedule. It hasn’t impeded on my studies at all.” Thomas said he gets most of his flying hours done in the summer and sees a lot of other students following that same path because it is convenient. What will it cost prospective pilots to get their license? Carroll said a private pilot’s license costs around $8,500 to $10,000, depending on how frequently students fly. Carroll said it’s cheaper than what USU aviation majors pay because students are not getting a four-year degree along with it. Another difference, Carroll said, is the type of payment. “It’s not a tuition thing,” he said. “Our students pay as they go, rather than all at once.” For students who may cringe at the price, Thomas said there are lots of options with financing. From grants to loans, Thomas said students who are really interested usually find a way to make it work. How fast students get done, Carroll said, is up to the student. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires 40 hours of flying time for private pilot certification,” Thomas said. “Usually people get it done in 45-50 hours, but we’ve had people do 40 hours in three weeks. Then there are people who do 50 hours over a span of a few years. There’s no requirement for time

span, it just comes down to your devotion to it.” However, before getting up in the air, Carroll said there are a few steps students must take to ensure safe flying. Typically, Carroll said people looking to get their private pilot’s license first must go through computer courses, instructor-given tests and sit down with an instructor to review what they have learned. Potential pilots must also have a required physical exam, which Thomas said is usually given by a local doctor that specializes in the aviation physicals. One misconception, Thomas said, is that pilots must have perfect eyesight in order to fly a plane. “In reality, it doesn’t have to be perfect,” he said. “It just has to be correctable to 20/40. Lots of pilots wear glasses or contacts.” Once these steps are completed, Carroll said students are cleared for flying. “It’s really not as complicated as people think it is,” said Cory Schow, assistant chief flight instructor at Leading Edge and USU alumnus, as his four-seat Cessna ascends thousands of feet over Cache Valley. The stunning bird’s eye view offers a unique perspective of the landscape below and is the reason, Schow said, in addition to being a training site, Leading Edge also offers an unforgettable date night. For $90, anyone can go on a discovery flight, which Schow said is a half-hour sampling of what flying a plane is like. “We get people who want to see if flying is for them and we also get people who just want to sit back and enjoy it with their date,” Schow said. “We can take people up during sunset and if you mention this article, we can even give you $10 off the discovery flight.” While soaring thousands of feet above ground level in a small four-passenger plane may not seem like something for the faint of heart, Thomas said it is extremely safe. In addition to backup systems designed to keep working even after one fails, Thomas said there is a huge emphasis on emergency preparedness when learning to fly a plane. “There is a lot of redundancy when you’re learning. As a pilot, flying a plane is like riding a bike,” Thomas said. “It’s pretty easy – the biggest part is learning what to do in case of emergency. That’s what all this training is for.” Logan offers a unique setting for pilotsin-training, Thomas said, due to the air density and high altitude. “A lot of people that learn to fly at sealevel don’t know how to handle certain situations that we deal with here at higher altitudes,” Thomas said. After receiving private pilot certification and instrument ratings, Thomas said pilots are able to work toward commercial certification and a future career in aviation. “The outlook for commercial pilots is

TOP, A VIEW OF NORTH LOGAN from the backseat of a Leading Edge Aviation training aircraft. Middle, Leading Edge Aviation flight instructor, Nick Thomas explains some features on one of their twin-engine training aircraft. Bottom, a Leading Edge Aviation aircraft repair hanger. TYLER LARSON photos

great,” Schow said. According to an article in Plane and Pilot Magazine, there is a demand for up to 10,000 captains a year and the numbers show no sign of slowing down. Schow said the reason the outlook is so good is because many pilots are retiring and people are continuing to fly at large rates. Thomas said commercial certification entails lots of training, but will provide students for a stable job opportunity in

the future. “For every commercial pilot, the flying part is pretty easy. You’re paid to be sitting there in case something goes wrong, and it’s pretty routine for something to go wrong,” Thomas said. “As a passenger, you usually don’t even notice because the pilot is on top of it. They’re just small hiccups when you’ve been trained. With training at (Leading Edge), those standards are expected of us.” –amanda.m@aggiemail.usu.edu

Tips for job hunting in a tough market By STOREE POWELL staff writer

Graduation is upon USU. Brilliant fledgling students are spreading their educated wings only to take flight into the crumbling wasteland of the job market. All is not hopeless, though. These eight tips will improve any student’s prospects at growing a nest egg.

Start at Career Services Donna Crow, director of Career Services, said seven out of the top 10 places employer find grads to hire are coordinated through Career Services. USU offers these services freely to students, including career coaches for each college. Coaches can help hone interviewing, resume and networking skills. Crow said most importantly, coaches help students “frame the way you approach your career search so you are taking actions that create results.” Research – Graduation doesn’t mean doing homework is over Crow said to look at industries that are experiencing growth. While it is far

and few right now, Randy Jensen, Collge of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) and Agriculture career coach, said the federal government is steadily increasing. Crow said many people at the top tier are heading for retirement, opening doors for many college grads to take their places. Another aspect of research involves learning about the potential employer and company. Crow said it is vital to tailor documents to their needs. To learn terminology, read job descriptions and use it in resumes and interviews. The last part of research relates to learning about yourself, Crow said, so a student can brand themselves. Be branded with a hot iron Often, Crow said, students are not specific enough in their documents or interviews. Identify strengths through specific examples. General bullet points are no good. A strategy to do this is to convert a resume from a traditional chronological one to a skill-based one. Sometimes a career coach needs to help a student verbalize these, Crow said. This activity

A GRADUATE STUDENT SEARCHES FOR A JOB after completing his education at USU. CAMERON PETERSON photo illustration

makes students realize their capabilities, especially as they relate to potential employers. Also, on resumes and in interviews, show but don’t tell about skill sets. Quantify, use numbers and stats whenever possible, Crow said. “For example,” Crow said, “If you led a team, say how many members and how often.” Jensen said, “Show personality. Your qualifications have gotten you the inter-

view, but now they want to see how you fit with them. Be natural.” Be adaptable With the tight job market, students will probably have to compromise on something, Crow said, whether it be location, hours or type of position. A first-

- See JOBS, page 6

WeekendDiversions

Page 6

Friday, April 24, 2009

‘Fat Princess’ beta Gore, action and little entertainment is delicious fun The “Fat Princess” beta allows Yeah, what he said. Are you listening PlayStation 3 owners to combine three Titan Studios? We demand more realistic bloodshed. of life’s greatest guilty pleasures – cake, Mayhem – Imagine 32 players frantiblood and mayhem. Gaming has never cally running around been so exquisite. massacring each other “Fat Princess” is a hilarious medieval battle Timothy in an online battle. It’s awe-inspiring and royale. The goal is to Russell tumultuous. rescue your team’s prinCons cess from the opponent’s fortress. Buggy – Granted, Let’s go “Fat Princess” is only However, rescuing your beloved princess in beta, but the overall is no simple feat; your experience is trifled adversary has been with glitches. “Fat Princess” stuffing her full of cake, The online play is which means moving her bogged down with lag will require teamwork and the single player and coordination. campaign features atroBoth teams are composed of up to 16 cious computer artificial intelligence. For example, the computer occasionally players with different character classes: stays in one place running in circles. worker, warrior, ranger and mage. And Overwhelming – There’s a lot changing classes is as simple as picking going on in this game and players will up a hat. So what inspired such a unique game undoubtedly feel overwhelmed. Furthermore, the user manual does a design? I asked game producer Chris mediocre job explaining all the details, Millar this question and he said it just effectively making the game more trial made sense. and error based than it needs to be. “Rescuing a princess is something That said, after playing the “Fat that many people can relate to, as there Princess” beta, I’m convinced this are so many classic fairy tales that deal game will be a success and rise to cult with this type of story arc,” he said. As for the gameplay, Millar said he is status. Stay tuned later this summer for the release of “Fat Princess” on the drawn to games like “Team Fortress 2” PlayStation Network. and “Warcraft.” And that’s a wrap folks. I hope you’ve With the game’s release date imminent yet pending, developer Titan enjoyed reading this gaming column Studios let loose a beta version to a lucky during the past two semesters as much group of gamers, and I thankfully got in. as I’ve enjoyed writing it. It’s been a So, am I impressed with the beta? privilege to share my gaming love with Read on to find out. Statesman readers and I’m flattered Pros by all the feedback and support I’ve Cake – The cake says it all: “Fat received. Princess” is competitive and challengSadly, this gaming column will not ing, yet equally silly and ridiculous. be returning during the fall semester. Everything from the comical premise to Instead, I’m pleased to announce that I’ll the bright cartoony graphics makes this be writing a new column while attending Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. an entertaining and light-hearted title. Blood – Despite looking like The new column will feature topics a Saturday morning cartoon, “Fat ranging from day-to-day living, cultural Princess’” irreverent gameplay is anyshock and yes, even gaming. thing but childish. Players hack, slash As a special thank you to my readers, and disembody their opponents in an I’m giving away one beta code for “Fat exceptionally gratifying manner. Princess” and one code for the recent However, I need to address one “Resident Evil 5” versus mode (PS3 version). complaint at the request of a 13-yearThe first two people to send me an old boy, with whom I was playing this game yesterday. In his own words, “They e-mail will get a code. Be sure to specify should make the blood stick to your feet, which one you want. Have a great summer. so when you run around you leave footprints.” –tim.russell@aggiemail.usu.edu

Gaming

Walking out of the theater I was dumbheart, he comes across all types of unsavory founded, angry, upset and people. “Crank 2,” like its also a tad entertained. Is it predecessor, is chalk-full Aaron Peck of every racial stereotype possible to be entertained, even the slightest, by a Movie Critic imaginable. There is not one movie hell-bent on eradicharacter that acts contrary cating each and every one to what its stereotype forces of your brain cells? them to be. That’s perhaps “Crank 2: High the saddest part of the film. Voltage” is a sick, sadisAfter a while you’ll, either tic, over-the-top, mindGrade D+ find yourself laughing along numbing, gory, raunchy with the supposed jokes, or “Crank 2: High slugfest. I have about 40 be offended by the constant Voltage” other adjectives ready at stream of racial labels placed any moment to describe on everyone. the movie, but there just So now you know the wouldn’t be enough room. story. The rest is action, action, action. There’s not much to say really, because That’s it. I could delve deeper into how the as you can surmise from the trailer, “Crank” films are, on some level, a comment and if you’ve seen the first “Crank,” you on the absurdity of action films in general, know that Chev Chelios (Jason Statham, but truthfully I don’t think it’s that deep. “Transporter”) tries desperately to stay alive “Shoot’em Up” supplies more of a sarcastic commentary on action films than the the entire movie, working his way through “Crank” movies could ever hope to achieve. the underground gangs of LA. It’s simply a guy movie that guys can go to In the first film Chelios was injected and feel macho for a brief time. with a poison that required him to keep his With that said, “Crank 2” is slightly adrenaline up or his heart would stop. After entertaining ... if you’re in the mood for a surviving that, the Chinese gangs decided brain blasting of epic proportions. Even the it best to just take Chelios’ heart, because editing reflects the jerkiness and hurried it was strong enough to withstand their state of the film. poison and give it to their leader. With the The best thing about “Crank 2” is that insertion of a plastic heart run by a battery, it is only 85 minutes long. Any longer and the Chinese gangs then plan to harvest the the audience would probably have to induce rest of Chelios’ organs, because he has now vomiting to get it out of their system. achieved some sort of god-like status. The –aaron.peck@aggiemail.usu.edu man that can’t die. As Chelios tries to find out who stole his

Reel

Reviews

Jobs: Students search careers during the tough economy -continued from page 5

STUDENTS BEGIN THE JOB HUNT following graduation. CAMERON PETERSON photo illustration

choice job might not be feasible at this time. Jensen said, “Look outside the box and opportunities won’t be so bleak.” Tap your social networks “Eighty percent of USU grads get their job through social networking,” Jensen said. “Knowing somebody who knows somebody can get you the contact.” According to Crow, students usually neglect to look to social media and current employers and friends as potential job networks. “You’ve been having fun with these people your whole life, now let them work for you,” Crow said. Both Jensen and Crow recommended LinkedIn, a professional networking Web site with specific job elements all a little on the social side. Practice makes perfect with interviewing skills “The biggest mistake students make in interviews is actually not doing preparation that should take place beforehand. Often employers ask standard questions. If you do the research (available in career guides at Career Services) and practice, you won’t be caught off guard,” Jensen said. According to Jensen, America’s become a casual society, but students need to remember that interviews are a formal setting. “Don’t dress like you’re going to school. The rule is, know the organization’s dress standard, and go to the interview one step up,” Jensen said. The biggest trend in interviewing now is behavioral questions, Jensen said. Employers describe a situation, and ask how the interviewee has dealt with something similar in the past. The theory,

Jensen said, is that past performance will be an indicator of future performance. Another mistake students often make is not asking employer questions, which they do expect. Jensen said it comes across as indifferent. Always ask questions, one being, what is the process and time for choosing a candidate so you have an idea of what to expect and when to follow up. Always write a thank-you letter immediately after the interview. Seize the moment Asking current employers for a project or additional exposure to skills, even if it’s not directly related to your field of study, is a great way to “pad your resume,” Crow said. “Be the person who is always looking for new skills, a life-long learner.”

Look on the bright side While it may seem contradictory to be realistic and positive, Jensen said the job market is not dismal. “There are jobs still out there, but it is going to take more work and time, and may take students out of their first job choice,” Jensen said. “A lot of people want a fresh look, someone young and different with ideas. Job hunting requires persistence; it’s a job in and of itself. Yesterday was yesterday. Look today.” Crow said, “Don’t take failure personally. See it as a challenge and additional ways to build contacts, and interview skills. It’s a better way to frame it psychologically. Self-esteem issues come through in your resume and interviews.” Career Services are open all summer for students struggling to find work. A heartening statistic, Crow said, is 90 percent of USU students looking for jobs have one within six months after graduation. –storee.powell@aggiemail.usu.edu

Friday, April 24, 2009

WeekendDiversions

Thriller with a Thai twist

If you like detective noir Bangkokâ€™s seedy red-light thrillers by authors such as district. During the advenRaymond Chandler, Ignacio ture, Burdett depicts a harsh Paco Taibo II or Dashiell world of rich white tourists Hammett, who see Bangkok youâ€™ll enjoy Brendon Butler as a sort of Disney John Burdettâ€™s staff writer world of prostituhard-boiled tion. Itâ€™s a world detective of drug-addiction, thriller disease and povâ€œBangkok 8.â€? erty. Somehow we Sonchai manage to laugh Grade B+ Jitpleecheep is â€œBangkok 8â€? at the caricature the half-caste he paints of some son of a Bangkok prostitute of the prostitutes, including and an American Marine. Jitpleecheepâ€™s god-mother He grew up in the red-light Kat, who makes her living district as a child criminal as a sharp-shooting dart who became a Buddhist player, and Nit-nit, Noi and saint to assuage his karma Nat, three beautiful young after committing a drugwomen who teach the saintly hazed murder. Now heâ€™s the Jitpleecheep the pleasures of only incorruptible cop in a love. city that thrives on bribery Jitpleecheep is soon and nepotism. joined by shapely FBI agent Kimberley Jones, and The story begins when Jitpleecheep and his partner the two of them uncover come upon a group of drunk a connection between squatters peering into a Pitchaiâ€™s murder and locked car. Inside, a giant Sylvester Warren, a seempython has wrapped itself ingly untouchable billionaire around the neck of a dead American jade smuggler. American Marine and is try- The connection is Fatima, ing to fit its enormous jaws a beautiful half-caste prosover his head. Jitpleecheepâ€™s titute with a rainbow Afro fearless partner Pitchai and a past-life connection to makes the mistake of openJitpleecheep. ing the car door to help the Burdettâ€™s book is a hardMarine. Bad idea; heâ€™s gronosed, darkly funny romp tesquely bitten by dozens of through the other City of amphetamine-crazed black Angels: â€œKrung Thep,â€? or cobras. Bangkok, Thailand. â€“brendon.butler@aggiemail. To solve the mystery of Pitchaiâ€™s murder, usu.edu Jitpleecheep must dive into

Book

Review

Page 7

Day set to honor birth mothers Residents of Cache Valley will honor a select group of women May 9, the day before Motherâ€™s Day. Birth Motherâ€™s Day is a nationally recognized day that most people have probably never heard of. The term for a woman who chooses adoption for her baby is birth mother. In Utah, most birth mothers are unmarried, pregnant and between the ages of 15 to 24. A woman who places her child for adoption does so based upon what she feels is in the best interest for her child now and in the future. Some birth mothers have expressed that on occasion they feel judged by other people as being irresponsible, selfish or not loving their baby. Birth Motherâ€™s Day is set aside to pay tribute to the birth mothers who choose to place their babies for adoption, thereby giving the gift of motherhood/ fatherhood to those couples who cannot have a child. For many women, adoption is the only way they can become a mother. Motherâ€™s Day, for women who struggle with infertility, can be a devastating, emotionally painful reminder of what she longs for, but cannot have. Motherâ€™s Day for a birth mother who placed her child for adoption often times is a day she feels great loss. A 21-year-old birth mother attending USU writes: â€œI placed my son for adoption 10 months ago and it has been quite a journey to say the least. Along the way I learned many valuable lessons and had some extraordinary moments that have been seared into my heart forever. One of the hardest lessons I learned was that this was not about me. There was an innocent baby boy that would be brought into the world, and it was up to me to decide his fate. The entire experience became focused around his little life â€“ it would be his life that would be affected more than anyone elseâ€™s. There are no small decisions when it comes to the life of a child.â€? For more information, contact LDS Family Services at 752-5302, or drop in at 175 W. 1400 North, Suite A, Logan, Utah. Birth parent services are free, confidential and available to all experiencing pregnancy outside of marriage. Sandy Burborough is supervisor at LDS Family Services. Questions or comments can be sent to her at burboroughsl@ldsfamilyservices.org.

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Not so easy life Man tells about struggles coming to U.S. By SETH BRACKEN staff writer

Editorâ€™s note: The interview was conducted in Spanish and translated by the reporter. Names have been changed. â€œI am not a bad person, Iâ€™m really not,â€? said Gustavo Martinez. â€œOther people make me do bad things. I donâ€™t want to do them.â€? Martinez, 34, is a Mexican citizen who is here in the United States illegally to provide a life for his children that he never had. He came to the United States seven years ago. â€œThree days and two nights across the dessert, through some big mountains,â€? Martinez said. â€œI donâ€™t know where I was. I just know that I ended up in Phoenix tired, hungry and dirty. There was a man there who gave me a ride to Dallas.â€? Martinez arrived in Dallas with about $5 in American money, no friends, no family, no job and he couldnâ€™t speak any English. He found a job at a paper factory where he lifted large boxes for 12 hours a day, six days a week and was paid about $5 an hour, most of which he sent back to Mexico to his girlfriend and kids. â€œThings were going good until the police came and arrested some men at the factory. I was lucky, I wasnâ€™t caught,â€? Martinez said. He lost his job and he didnâ€™t have adequate skills or education to help him find a new one. He looked for help in the wrong places, but he had no choice, Martinez said. He joined a gang called Los Surrenos, a deadly gang that dealt drugs, dabbled in prostitution and was notorious for assassinations. He fought with their lethal rivals, Los Nortenos, and with other factions within his own gang that were struggling for power and control of the gang. His olive-toned arm is decorated with about seven scars, including a jagged one that runs from his elbow to wrist. â€œI got that one when someone from another group representing a group of villagers pulled out a knife and started to swing it at me,â€? he said. â€œHis group was trying to get more power than mine. He surprised me so he cut me. But I pulled out my knife and I cut him once on his stomach, from end to end. Then I stabbed him in the neck and twisted. I ran away before I found out if he lived. I really donâ€™t know. I hope not.â€? It was the first time that he had stabbed someone, or seriously injured someone else. â€œI didnâ€™t want to kill him. I didnâ€™t even want to hurt him. I didnâ€™t want to be in that situation. But people always find a way to make me do bad things, even though I am not a bad person,â€? he said. Martinez continued to fight his way through life. He carries countless scars, including a large â€˜Vâ€™ on top of his head, hidden by the plain blue baseball hat that he always wears. After he lost his job at the paper factory, he did odd jobs, construction work, janitorial

jobs or anything he could. He saved all the money he could to send back to his girlfriend and two kids. He got a break when a fellow gang member told him of a job in a small town in a state called Utah, bussing tables and cleaning the kitchen in a restaurant. He would be hired and a fake social-security number is all that would be necessary to begin working. His friend helped him get a fake social security number, and he even got a driverâ€™s license in Texas. The new job would be miles away from the life he was living and he could get away from it all, as long as he made a quick getaway and never went back to Dallas, he said. â€œIf I went back there, they would kill me. So many people would want to kill me, even in Mexico,â€? he said. â€œWhen I went back to Mexico, I carried a gun with me always. I donâ€™t want to hurt people, but they might try to hurt me or my kids. What would you do?â€? Martinez has been working at least two jobs since he first arrived in Logan logging in overtime in both, well more than 100 hours some weeks. He lives as cheaply as possible in a small apartment with as many as six other people at times, and since he works at restaurants he tries to get as much free food as possible to save on expenses. Every penny that he saves, he sends home to his kids, Maria-Angel, 10, and Lorenzo, 8. â€œIâ€™m not a good father, I know that,â€? Martinez said. â€œI am so far away. Whenever I think about my kids, I think of how much distance there is between us. I just want to give them a life that I never had.â€? Growing up, Martinez always had holes in his shoes and lived in a shack made from cardboard and whatever other random material that was lying around. He used to use his imagination to make branches and rocks into toys and dolls. Providing a better life for his children is his motivation, even if it means that he has to live in a different country and go years without seeing them. â€œWhen I get lonely or think about how far my kids are, I think, focus on work and think to myself, â€˜With the money that I make today, my daughter will be able to have some shoes. Nice, pink shoes without holes,â€™â€? he said. â€œOr Iâ€™ll think about how they will be able to eat for a week with the money that I make today. It helps me to stay focused.â€? Sometimes he thinks about just moving back to Mexico. He wants his family to have a father, but he is torn because he also wants to give them the best. â€œWhen my daughter took the communion, I felt like I was in two places at once. My mind was in Mexico with her, and I am here, washing dishes,â€? Martinez said. Martinez went back to Mexico three years ago to visit his family and marry his girlfriend of 15 years. He hadnâ€™t seen his family in four years. He stayed for two weeks, and

- See MEXICO, page 8

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WeekendDiversions

Page 8

Artist unique with smooth style Nick Motil is a young, up-andcoming artist that has toured with the likes of Jason Mraz among others, and is putting out a good, strong sound in the “Everything’s Alright EP” he released April 15, 2008. Motil recently visited USU to showcase his talents at the Big Blue Ball, the USU formal spring dance and also to host the Robin’s Awards, the most prestigious annual awards ceremony for students, staff and faculty of USU. Motil did an excellent job and also helped out Fusion HD3, the USU student radio station, in the process by generously donating his EP and some promo work in return for some publicity. I’m happy to oblige. The first thing that caught my attention when I heard about Motil was that he has toured with Mraz. I love Mraz’s music. I’m a Mraz junkie. So, naturally, I thought anyone that has toured with him can’t be horrible, and I was absolutely right. As an individual, Motil is cordial, forthcoming and he certainly knows how to bust a good joke every now and again. His humor brought a wonderfully light atmosphere to the Robin’s Awards and his live music kept USU students and alums alike dancing the night away. “The Everything’s Alright EP,” by no means, is the debut effort for Motil. He has released three studio albums to this point over the last four years. His debut album was released in 2004, and Motil has released a strong album every year since then. Indeed, it can be said that Motil has enjoyed a lot of success, especially while touring with Mraz, where, according to CDBaby.com, he sold more than 5,000 CDs.

Landon Hemsley

Tune Takes

Grade B+

“Everything’s Alright EP” by Nick Motil

Motil’s style is unique, very similar to James Taylor in his heyday. His sound, which employs strong guitar progressions and scaling vocals, generates an upbeat feeling in all those who listen. His lyrical style is also cross-genre. It could be argued that Motil is a country artist, although his guitar style and the absence of violins would tell listeners the opposite of him. Motil’s voice is silky smooth – his music is the perfect complement to the weekend get together with family, the occasional barbecue and road trip. Also, Motil’s lyrics do something that very few superstars of the music world do today – they tell a story. Motil’s lyrics mean something, and in a day and age where “I Kissed a Girl” can sit on the top of the charts for three straight months, I find that refreshing. Motil’s music is anything but repetitive. Indeed, this may be one of Motil’s strongest points, in my opinion, but it could also be what may be holding him back from super-stardom. Motil’s music, although very strong, lacks one thing above all else – a convincing and strong hook that sticks in the mind of the listener after the song is over. The strongest of Motil’s various

attempts at this would be in the first track, “Try Harder,” but the hook comes at an odd place that ends up being a slight drawback. That having been said, if this is Motil’s biggest challenge, he’s definitely got a bright future ahead of him. The first track of the EP, “Try Harder” is excellent. By far, the strength of this track is in its lyrics. Some of lyrics from the lullaby “Momma’s gonna buy you a mocking bird ...” set to an upbeat and progressive melody and provide a optimism to the romantic theme in the excellent lyrics. Motil did well in this track, which is by far the best of the EP. Track number two, “Butterflies,” continues the romantic theme established in the first. The tempo is much slower, and the melody slides quite a bit more. This song reminds me of James Taylor a lot, perhaps more than track five, “Either Way,” which sounds a lot like Taylor. It creates a very relaxing ambient that is very difficult to dislike. The last track of the EP, “Home” is also very good. However, I think it should be the track to take either the opening position or the climax position of the EP. The tempo is upbeat and forward, and the harmony in this song that Motil’s female counterpart, whoever she is (I don’t know who it is. Nick, tell me that girl’s name) completes the song. It, along with “Try Harder,” constitute the meat of this EP and should be showcased as such. Special thanks to Nick Motil for the sound byte and for the EP. USU loves you, man. –la.hem@aggiemail.usu.edu

Friday, April 24, 2009

Mexico: Building a better life -continued from page 7

then he had to make his way back to the United States. The reunion was bitter-sweet because in the back of everybody’s minds, they all knew that they were going to have to say goodbye in just a short while. “Everyone had told me that my son looked just like me, but I just didn’t see it in the pictures that they sent me, not really,” Martinez said of his son who shares his name, Gustavo. “But when I saw him there, it was like looking at myself when I was his age. I was shocked.” Before Martinez left Mexico, he took care of some business with the local police. “I had to pay them off. I did some bad things when I was younger and if I didn’t pay them, I would have to hide or go to jail,” Martinez said. “I tried to do the right thing so that I could stop running.” Martinez cannot read or write in Spanish or in English and he has had no formal education, but through his life, he developed his own ideas about how to stay alive. Martinez explained his philosophy that there is no room to allow anyone else to see weakness and if someone shows disrespect, it is likely to happen again. When that happens, a man has to stand up for himself and strike back – if he shows weakness, even once, he’s putting his life in danger. Martinez said he tries to live by this standard and will react strongly and sometimes violently without much provocation. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, but from experience I have learned that I have to do it sometimes for my own sake,” he said. Despite his somewhat surly attitude at times, Martinez is a trusted employee and has a strong work ethic, said Randy Jackson, one of the managers at a local restaurant. “He can work faster than any other busser and always leaves the restaurant cleaner than he needs to,” Jackson said. “He does more than the standard. He always goes the extra mile.” Whitney Burgess, one of the waitresses at another restaurant where Martinez works, said that he is her favorite busser and that he sings and is always willing to help. “I get so used to working with Gustavo and when I have to work with someone else, I get frustrated because I have to help them do their jobs,” Burgess said. “I get spoiled with Gustavo.” Martinez said with so much work, he has almost no time or money to stay in contact with his family, and the relationship is strained even with weekly phone calls on his day off, Wednesday. “I worry so much about my wife, but she is strong and I am doing this for her,” Martinez said. “Sometimes I wonder how long her love will last, though.” His wife, Angelica, is 27 years old, seven years younger than her husband. But she too comes from a poor area and is happy that her husband is giving her children a life that she did not have growing up, Martinez said. He said even from such a great distance as the one separating him from his family he is still proud of his children. “My daughter is so intelligent, she’s at the head of her class,” Martinez said. “Sometimes I spend my days while I am washing dishes or taking out the trash, thinking of how beautiful she is. I imagine what she must be doing, how school is going. And I always think about how she will never wear shoes with holes in them, not while I am alive.” The future is uncertain, but Martinez is trying to save up about $30,000 before returning to Mexico. “I will never bring my children here to the United States,” Martinez said. “We are Mexican, and they will be raised in their country, eat their food and speak their language, always.” –seth.bracken@aggiemail.usu.edu

Now Playing What’s on your playlist? Jake Wilson freshman business management

1. “Fly” – J. Holiday 2. “One Love” – Bob Marley 3. “Amber” – 311 4. “Creatures” – 311 5. “Perfect Situtation” –Weezer 6. “Pork and Beans” – Weezer 7. “Road to Zion” – Damian Marley 8. “The Mission” –Damian Marley 9. “Three Little Birds” – Bob Marley 10. “Get Up Stand Up” – Bob Marley Each week The Statesman will find one student listening to his or her iPod and see what is playing on their playlist. Information compiled by Catherine Meidell

Friday, April 24, 2009

TheUtahStatesman

Page 9

Wedding Info? Send the Good News to office@statesman.usu.edu

CampusNews

Page 10

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Educational inequity is the nation’s greatest injustice, said Katrina Galbraith. One of her goals is to eliminate this injustice. Galbraith, who graduated from Utah State in December with a human resources and economics degree, was one of three accepted undergrad students who were chosen by Teach for America (TFA) to commit themselves for two years as teachers in the U.S.’s highest poverty communities. Walt Nate Eiman, senior in anthropology and Spanish, was selected to teach in Indianapolis, Ind. and biology major Elisabeth Mussler was selected to teach in Native American reservations in New Mexico. Galbraith said she never thought she’d be a teacher,

and now she finds herself departing from Utah June 4 to teach elementary aged children from Pre-K to fourth grade. She’ll teach in high Spanish-speaking populations in Houston, Texas, for two years. “It’s more than just teaching (that I’m doing), I’m changing the outcome of their life,” Galbraith said. “I can’t think of anything more that I would want to be doing at this point in my life.” Low socio-economic areas with already poor education systems keep these kids in a “trapped cycle” of not graduating high school and creates the idea of college being impossible, Gabraith said. “The reality is (these kids) can make all the difference in their lives and the future can be better,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much their family has or what their skin color is; they can still change their

Water: Associate dean recognized -continued from page 3 the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and different conservation districts. People can no longer address water quality by just fixing the lake; the whole watershed needs to be addressed, she said “You can’t do it unless you get everyone at the table,” she said. Walt Baker, director of the Utah Department for Water Quality, said of Mesner, “Nancy has developed this exemplary extension program, while also maintaining an active research program in the influence of land use on water quality and in teaching courses on oceanography, water quality and pollution.” Not only has Mesner worked to implement the youth education program, she has also continued to conduct research. Nonpoint source water pollution is

the focus of her research, Mesner said. Mesner has worked for USU Extension since 1999, but has worked in water quality her whole professional career. Mesner also received the Utah Watershed Improvement Award in 2004. Calvin K. Sudweeks, a past water quality director for whom the award is named, made great strides toward resolving water quality issues, according to a UDWQ press release, and the award is given annually to those who make great contributions to the water quality field. Chuck Gay, associate vice president and director for cooperation, said Mesner works hard and the Sudweeks Award was a well-deserved honor. “I firmly believe she has been terrifically successful,” Gay said. –jacie.fasselin@aggiemail.usu.edu

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future.” Many children are already raised in high-poverty and high crime rate areas with odds already against them, she said. “As a nation we have a responsibility to these children,” Galbraith said. “I get angry because these kids start with less and then they are put into public schools that also give them less. It’s not fair and it’s not right.” Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity, according to TFA’s Web site. “I think people think that it’s just a career but (Teach for America) is really a movement to change the nation,” Galbraith said. Galbraith said she is looking forward to the commitment of working with kids and seeing the growth that comes from teaching them. “I’m excited to see them become passionate about their own education,” she said. Galbraith was an undergraduate teaching fellow for the class MHR 4890 and was also a USU SI instructor for sociology 1010, where she had her first teaching exposure. “That was when I discovered I loved teaching,” she said. That passion carried Galbraith into furthering her education after her two-year commitment with

TFA: she plans to obtain her master’s in education. Galbraith said her future plan is to run her own non-profit organization, much similar to an organization like TFA, but in South America. In many circumstances throughout South America, orphans are kicked out of orphanages because of overcrowding and shortage of staff to take care of the children, she said. Many are forced out without any education or job skills at ages 14 to 18, which is what Galbraith said she wants to change. “My goal is to have these kids start a life for themselves because the reality is many end up on the streets, which I don’t want to continue happening,” she said. Anyone who wants to make a difference in someone’s life and anyone who is passionate about education should apply, Galbraith said. Undergrads who are accepted into the program start at the same salary as beginning teachers, ranging from $27,000 to $50,000 a year, depending on the cost of living and the district they are teaching in, said Andrea Valley, USU recruiter director for Teach for America. TFA doesn’t just look for education majors, they look for a diversified range. Sixty-six percent of TFA alumni stay in a career in education, while the other 44 percent go into either law school, medical school or business school, Valley said. –candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu

Women’s and re-entry director to retire By JENNI WHITELEY staff writer

On April 14, Patricia Stevens, director of the Women’s and Reentry Centers, publicly announced her pending retirement during the Women’s Center’s Spring Awards Event. Susan Crosbie, one of Steven’s assistants in the Women’s and Re-entry Centers, said working with Stevens has been hectic because the centers are always busy, but Stevens has been a lot of fun, too. “She’ll be greatly missed. She’s done a lot to promote women’s issues in the community and on campus,” Crosbie said. Stevens said she would characterize her time as director as satisfying and humbling. “When I took the job, I decided the only way they were going to get me out of here was with me kicking and screaming, feet first. Leaving the center is very sad for me and very difficult. ... One moment I’m really excited about the

change and the next I’m tearing up, but I will keep my finger in the center as much as I can,” she said. Having served as director since 2006, Stevens steps down for a greater cause. Her husband, John Peregoy, suffers from a degenerative spine disease that has no cure. Eventually it will extremely limit his future mobility. “I think it’s more important for me to be with John while he’s mobile. We are going to go while we still can go,” she said. Stevens and Peregoy plan to make a wide loop through and around the United States with their trailer to visit friends, family and children. A new director has not yet been announced. Stevens said they are looking for someone to continue to help the Women’s Center blossom as it did under the direction of Janet Osborne, originator of the Women’s Center, for 27 years and as it has continued to do so. –jennifer.whiteley@aggiemail.usu.edu

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Page 11

Friday, April 24, 2009

Loose Parts • Blazek

FunStuff

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The book is a collection of Scootah Steve comic strips, along with my comments about each one, and a few short essays about different things (first time holding hands, school sports, running for class office, etc) They will be sold at the USU bookstore for $15. Thanks for reading these past two years! Steve Weller

Friday, April 24, 2009

Page 12

StatesmanBack Burner

Check www.utahstatesman.com for complete calendar listings

Friday

Saturday

Monday

- Textbook Buyback, TSC Bookstore, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - USU Ceramics Guild Annual Spring Pottery Sale, Fine Arts Visual 121, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - ECE Colloquium: Global Warming as a Problem in Statistical Physics, 12 to 1 p.m. - Science Unwrapped, Matters of the Heart, Eccles Science Learning Center Auditorium, 7 to 9 p.m. - Tanner Lex Jones CD release, Asher in the Rye, Hammer Brothers, Mo Edwards, 1295 E. 1000 North, Logan, 7:30 to 10:55 p.m. - USU Wind Orchestra, Kent Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. - Once Upon a Time in 2009, Sixth Annual Spring Ice Show, Eccles Ice Center, 8 to 10 p.m.

- Textbook Buyback, TSC - Textbook Buyback, TSC Bookstore, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bookstore, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - USU Ceramics Guild Annual Spring Pottery Sale, Fine Arts Visual 121, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Balanced Man Triathlon and 5K run, HPER, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Live music by Bruce Moulton and Jordan Bianucci, Pier 49 in Providence, 7 p.m. - Valley Dance Ensemble SHIFT, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 7 to 8:30 p.m. - American Festival Chorus: Beethoven’s Ninth, Kent Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. - Once Upon a Time in 2009, Sixth Annual Spring Ice Show, Eccles Ice Center, 8 to 10 p.m.

April 24 April 25 April 27

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program.

call Michael Dubois (801) 746-9011 to schedule More to remember ... audition time. Download Peace Vigil every Friday 5 audition packet at www. to 6 p.m., 50 N. Main Street, celebrateamericashow.com Logan. For more information For more info call (435) e-mail info@loganpeace.org 753-1551. or call 755-5137. Single and pregnant? USU ice skaters will perFree, confidential counform in Once Upon a Time seling and support for 2009 Friday, April 24 and anyone facing pregnancy Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m. outside of marriage. at the Eccles Ice Center. Pre-marriage counselWalking Bingo ing, preparing for single Come have fun with Walking Free workshop – The Power parenthood and adoption counseling. Assistance Bingo, Thursday, April 30, 12 of Connection, by the Cosmic Nudge, Saturday, with medical and commuto 1 p.m. in the Fieldhouse. April 25, 1 to 4 p.m. at the nity resources. Call LDS Everyone is welcome. You Whittier Community Center, Family Services/Sandy at: won’t even know you’re getting a workout. Great prizes: 290 N. 400 East, Logan. You (435) 752-5302. will learn how to connected exercise bags, flashlights, with others, lessons in teampedometers, T-shirts, water bottles, caps, lunch bags, Be work and lessons in attitude. Call (435) 363-7173 for info. Well meals. April 23 and 24 is the Music Tour Show, The Latter-day Voices and Logan Institute Choir present “In Defense of the Family.” The show will begin at 7 p.m. each night in the Institute Cultural Hall with a pre-show at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost. Tickets can be obtained from the Institute Office or a choir member.

Applications due Applications due April 30 for Undergraduate Research Scholar transcript designation that requires a minimum of two semesters’ research, dissemination and faculty certification. Applications online at http:// research.usu.edu/undergrad/htm/awards-recognition/transcript-designation; submit electronically to the Undergraduate Research

Army ROTC Jim Bridger Detachment Spring 2009 Commissioning Ceremony is Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. at the USU Alumni House. Auditions for the 10th Annual Celebrate America Show “Yankee Doodle Dazzle!” Cast members receive three hours class credit, a cash scholarship and perform in a professional production. Singers,

Pearls Before Swine • Steve Pastis

April 24, 2009

FridaySports

Page 13

TouchBase Golf headed to Provo BY USU ATHLETICS

USU QUARTERBACK DIONDRE BOREL, 12, eludes defenders during the annual Blue and White game last Saturday. Borel is the Aggies clear-cut No. 1 QB and should be a dangerous weapon in USU’s new spread offensive system. PATRICK ODEN photo

SPRING FOOTBALL SERIES: PART 8 OF 8

Gamebreaker By TIM OLSEN sports editor

With all the changes that will be visible on the gridiron next season, none may be more visible, arguably more important, than the quarterback position. It takes a special athlete to run the spread offense, and in Diondre Borel the Aggies have just that. “(Borel) is by far the most talented kid there,” said offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin. “Everybody knew that he was athletic and that was evident when we watched film. He is outstanding to play in the spread where he can make you miss with his feet.” Aggie fans only have to look back as far as last season to see evidence of how good Borel can be. After taking over the starting job just three games into the 2008 season the sophomore quickly showcased his athleticism by shattering USU’s single-season rushing mark by a QB. Borel rushed for 632 yards in his sophomore campaign, nearly doubling the previous record of 338. He also threw for 1,705 yards becoming just the 17th player in school history to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark – and that was in an offensive system that didn’t play to his skill set. Running the spread should only increase those numbers. It’s given me a better opportunity to make more plays, put more guys out there to catch the ball,” Borel said. “They also have some runs for me in the spread offense, so I think it’s just a good offense for me and the team.” Due to Borel’s ability to elude defenders and his propensity to want to make plays with his feet, Balwin said the coaches have really been stressing his pocket presence this spring. “Those are things we’re asking him to do and he’s buying into it,”

Baldwin said. “He can’t carry the ball 25 times a game. He can throw it 25 and he can carry it eight or nine and that’s what we’re asking, so if we can get him to continue that progress we’re going to have great success.” Both Baldwin and Borel said early on the process was a slow one, but as the spring advanced he really improved on working through his progressions and finding the open man. “What we tried to do this spring with him was make him a thrower and he really adapted into the program,” Baldwin said. “I think he became very accurate and learned … last year he was told right of the peak if it’s not there, run. We want him to run when we call his number on a run.” Despite the focus on becoming a pass first QB, there’s no reason to expect that in this offense Borel could feasibly have a 1,000-yard rushing season. “I think when you spread people out from sideline to sideline horizontally, it creates a pause on defense because they’ve got to be accountable for the quarterback. He is a running back in the spread offense,” Baldwin said. “If they don’t pay attention to him he’ll be a big play guy. We hope they do pay attention to him and the other guys can take over and do the things that they’re capable of doing. I think that’s what he provides in the spread offense is he’s dangerous running and you’d better account for him, and that will open up other things for us.” Borel also alluded to the danger the offense will pose as a unit. “I think we’ll be a lot more dangerous than we were last year. We had big plays last year, but this year we’ve got a lot of guys stepping up,” he said. “Guys are catching the ball and running after the catch, and we’ve got a lot

- See QUARTERBACKS, page 17

Utah State’s men’s golf team will continue its spring schedule this weekend as it travels to Provo, Utah to compete in the PING Cougar Classic Friday and Saturday, April 24-25. The two-day tournament, hosted by BYU, will be held at the Riverside Country Club in Provo. The 54-hole tournament will begin at 8 a.m. Friday with two rounds, while the final 18 holes will be played on Saturday. The Riverside Country Club is a par-72 course with a total yardage of 6,902. The 15-team field includes Air Force, Boise State, BYU, BYU-Hawaii, Colorado State, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley, Weber State and Wyoming. Competing for the Aggies will be seniors Devin Daniels, Toph Peterson and Tyler Labrum, junior Thad Truman, and sophomore Tyson McFarland. McFarland has been USU’s top finisher in each of the last two tournaments.

Men’s tennis headed to Hawaii BY USU ATHLETICS

Utah State men’s tennis will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii where they will compete in the Western Athletic Championship Friday, April 24 at the University of Hawaii Tennis Complex, looking to take their first win in WAC action. The Aggies enter the championship as the seventh seed and will play No. 46 and secondseeded Fresno State at 4 p.m. (MT). This will mark the second match between the Bulldogs and the Aggies. Fresno State swept USU, 7-0, on April 4 in Fresno, Calif. The first round will be a rematch of last year’s championship where second-seeded and No. 49th ranked Bulldogs defeated the seventh-seeded Aggies, 4-0. Advancement in the tournament will be determined by Thursday’s matches. The victor of the USU and Fresno State match will play the winner of the match between third-seeded and last year’s WAC Championship winner Hawaii and sixth-seeded Idaho on Saturday, April 25.

Page 14

TheUtahStatesman

Friday, April 24, 2009

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StatesmanSports

Friday, April 24, 2009

Page 15

SOFTBALL

USU’S NICOLE RUPP connects witch a ball during the Aggies game against Utah earlier this season. The Aggies have struggled on the year and have some work to do in order to make the conference tournament. PATRICK ODEN photo

Do or die time for Ags By LANDON HEMSLEY staff writer

With six games left in the USU softball team’s regular season, the Aggies are going to need to snag at least two wins and will need some help from Boise State to get to the conference tournament, said head coach Candi Letts. Letts said the USU softball team has had a difficult season, posting an overall record of 10-32 and a conference record of 3-12, but that these losses have not come against weak teams. The softball team has played six teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation, such as Stanford, Arizona State, Tennessee and Washington. This is a team that has taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and not backed down. Yet, there

is still work to do. If the USU softball team is able to win at least two of the games they have ahead, and if Boise State, which holds a current record of 410 in conference, either lays a goose egg over the rest of their season or wins at least two less than the Aggies, USU will overtake them in the conference standings and will earn the final seed to the tournament. Of all the WAC teams, only seven earn the right to take a trip to the tournament which will take place in Fresno, Calif., May 6-9. Right now, USU is sitting at last in the conference, but could potentially move as high as the sixth seed with a good showing. The Aggies will host six games over the next two weeks at home against the top two teams in the con-

ference, the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Nevada Wolfpack. As of now, the Pack is sitting at first place with a conference record of 10-4, and Fresno is nipping at their heels with a record of 10-5. Letts said USU will have to play with “reckless abandon” if they want to have a chance at a win. “We have to play aggressive, take chances and risks,” Letts said. “When we do that, we forget about all the technical things and start playing softball. That’s when we’re at our best game.” Letts also said in order to win these games, USU has to become a more consistent team and focus on continuing their development. She said USU has put themselves in a position for a lot of growth. She said if anyone asked the players

GOLF

Golf back in action By PAUL KELLEY assistant sports editor

The USU men’s golf team has two more events before their season is over. The Aggies will compete in the BYU Cougar Classic sponsored by Ping this weekend in Provo, and the WAC Championships April 27-29 in Las Vegas. The five golfers that have played in all the other spring tournaments will be traveling the to these. They are: Devin Daniels, Toph Peterson, Tyler Labrum, Tyson McFarland and Thad Truman. Head coach Dean Johansen said the Aggies are hoping to make a lot of birdies at the BYU Classic. “It’s a golf course and a golf tournament that you have to go low at, sometimes really low, so the kids have got to get into that mindset of making a lot of birdies,” Johansen said. “The golf course just isn’t really long, it’s a birdie makers golf course.” The Aggies are the host team. The team

will have a practice round Sunday of that week and then will play 18-holes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be the longest trip of the season for Utah State. “We are on the road for seven days straight which is different, we usually don’t do that,” Johansen said. “So the kids are on the road for a long time during finals week but I think most of them are ready and prepared and I am expecting good things at the conference championship.” Johansen said he is hoping to bring home a WAC championship, and he feels like his team has a good chance at doing that. “I think if you start the year and don’t have that goal as your main goal for the entire year then you are wasting your time,” Johansen said. “I certainly have five kids that if they play well can definitely compete for a WAC conference title, no question in my mind.” –p.d.k@aggiemail.usu.edu

AGGIE GOLFERS WALK to their golf balls during practice. Golf swings back into action this week after nearly a month hiatus. photo courtesy of RYAN TALBOT

Solution of today’s puzzle, found on the FunPage. How did you do?

how this year has gone so far, the general consensus among the team is that it’s been a good year, but disappointing. The team is much better than their record would let on to believe, Letts said. “We’re definitely a much better and stronger team than we’ve been the last two years,” she said. “We’ve put ourselves in a very good position for growth.” The first three of these six games will take place Friday and Saturday on the road in Reno, Nev. Utah State will then return home to face Fresno May 1-2 to finish off the season. –la.hem@aggiemail.usu.edu

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StatesmanSports

Friday, April 24, 2009

TRACK & FIELD

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POLE VAULTER SONIA GRABOWSKA celebrates with coach Joel Johnson after setting a new USU indoor record earlier this spring, Johnson himself holds a school record in the decathlon. CAMERON PETERSON photo

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from Sandy, Utah, was caught skimming the in sports section majoring elementary of The Utah Statesman Wednesdayeducation from Preston, while lounging in the engineering buildIdaho. She says she enjoys ing. Forget the longboards and bicycles, reading world and nation Brant wants to be the first person atnews in The Statesman USU to sport a motor-cooler aroundand can usually be caught campus. “That would be awesome!”reading it on the second he says. Brant wins an “I Got Caught floor of the TSC between Reading It!” T-shirt, and is eligible classes. for Thanks Laren! more prizes. Thanks for reading, Grant! Enjoy your T-shirt and free lunch!

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The school year may be coming to a close but USU’s track and field team is far from calling it quits. The runners, throwers and jumpers head to BYU this weekend for the Robinson Invitational where every USU track athlete is looking to hit the NCAA regional qualifying marks for their event. Some of the team will then head back down to Cougar country May 1 for BYU’s Last Chance Meet. So far this year the track has been good to the Aggies, who have broken two school records. Sophomore Sonia Grabowska set a school and WAC record in the women’s pole vault earlier this year at UCLA clearing 13-09.75. Junior Steve Strickland came into the ’09 outdoor season hot, setting a school record in the 300m steeple chase, blowing out his competition with a time of 8:49.53. Strickland’s record came in the first meet of the season at track and field holy land Heyward Field during the Oregon Invitational. Many other Aggies have finished with season bests, new personal records and statewide honors. Three athletes have been named WAC athlete of the week and three more have been named America First Credit Union’s Utah State StudentAthlete of the Week. Senior John Strang was awarded 2009 U-Star Male Athlete of the Year as well as the Robin’s Award Male Athlete of the

Year. Strang started his USU career as a walk-on in 2004 and now graduates with a school and WAC record in the heptathlon, two conference championships in the heptathlon and two conference championships in the decathlon. Strang, Strickland, Keith Williams, Heath Wing and Chio Lopez all have the opportunity to defend conference titles. This year’s WAC conference championships are held at home for the Aggies on USU’s Ralph Maughan Stadium Outdoor Track and Field, something Grabowska said she’s thrilled about. “I’m really excited about the WAC championships being at home,” Grabowska said. “It’s a great opportunity to compete well and to invite friends and family to cheer for you and your teammates. It might be a little bit weird to wake up in my own bed before the most important meet of the season but I’m very excited for WAC Championships in Logan.” Strang said the event organizers originally wanted to charge students for attendance but after a lot of hard work from the athletes, attendance is now free for WAC students. The Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships will be May 1316 so get sunscreen, a cool pair of shades and a friend to picnic with and head over to the Ralph Maughan Track, located between the football field and the student health care center. –c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu

Tennis hoping for more than just fun in the sun By MATT SONNENBERG staff writer

With regular season play wrapped up, both the USU men’s and women’s tennis teams head to Hawaii this weekend for to compete for the Western Athletic Conference championship. Following two late-season WAC victories over Louisiana Tech and San Jose State a week ago, the Aggie women’s team pulled themselves out of the bottom of the WAC standings to claim the seventh seed in the tournament. They will face the No.

36-ranked Boise State Broncos, who are the second seed in the tournament. The two teams met once earlier this year in Boise where the Broncos defeated the Aggies 7-0. Boise State won each of the six singles pairings in straight sets while sweeping the three doubles match-ups. Sophomore Hailey Swenson and senior Bridgette Strickland, USU’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, both narrowly missed winning the first set in their match-ups before each falling 6-2 in the second set to

- See HAWAII, page 17

Friday, April 24, 2009

StatesmanSports

Quarterbacks: Borel Agsâ€™ No. 1

Page 17

Hawaii: Ags hoping for an upset

-continued from page 13

-continued from page 16

USUâ€™S MONICA ABELLA returns a shot during the Aggies home match against Louisiana Tech. The Ags are headed to Hawaii for the weekend. CAMERON PETERSON photo

DIONDRE BOREL shows off his running ability during the Blue and White game last Saturday. He holds USUâ€™s QB record for most rushing yards in a season. PATRICK ODEN photo

more people to make plays â€“ this offense fits everybody.â€? Behind Borel there is a lot of inexperience and no clear-cut No. 2. Redshirt freshman Exavier Johnson and true freshman Adam Eastman split the majority of playing time with the second team offense during spring practice and scrimmages. Along with those two, JC transfer Jeff Fisher could also battle for the job come fall. â€œThe No. 2 position, Iâ€™m not sure, weâ€™re still at a question who thatâ€™s going to be,â€? Baldwin said. â€œExavier Johnson showed some things in the spring game that are very positive: That he can run the ball and the progress is getting better.â€? Regardless of who eventually lands the

backup roll, Baldwin said he is hoping the level of competition increases so that the athletes not only push each other, but push Borel to get better as well. â€œThe No. 2 pushes the No. 1 spot and the No. 1 becomes better,â€? Baldwin said. â€œWe see that at receiver, we see that at runningback, we see that at some spots at the O-line, but we donâ€™t see that at the quarterback, so weâ€™ve got to get our No. 2 to come to that level.â€? With Borel at the helm and the spread offense in place the Aggies are primed to have possibly their best season in over a decade, as well as the pieces in place to mold the quarterback of the future. â€“t.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu

their opponents. The winner of that first round match-up will go on to face the winner between the University of Nevada and the University of Idaho in second round action Friday. The womenâ€™s team currently holds a season record of 5-19 in headto-head matches, including 2-6 in WAC play, while boasting a roster of which the majority are underclassmen. One of those younger players is Swenson, who has been competing in the No. 1 singles slot this season and logged a record of 13-11 on the year. The Aggie menâ€™s team also has their fair share of youth on the roster with two of their top three singles players being underclassman. Like the womenâ€™s team, the men have just one senior on this yearâ€™s squad in No. 4 singles player Mike Banks, who is 9-10 in matches this season. After getting off to a scorching 7-4

start to the season, USUâ€™s men hit a midseason slump and finished the regular season with a record of 8-12, including a 0-6 record in WAC matches. Like the womenâ€™s team, the men enter the WAC tournament as the seventh seed and will face second-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs in the first round of the tournament. The winner of the Aggies and Bulldogs first round match-up will face off Saturday with the winner of Hawaii and Idahoâ€™s first round match. Sophomore Jakob Asplund leads the Aggie men into the tournament in the No. 1 singles slot with a 7-11 record on the season. WAC Tournament play wraps up Sunday with the championship matches for both the menâ€™s and womenâ€™s tournaments. â€“matt.sonn@aggiemail.usu.edu

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Page 18

World&Nation

Friday, April 24, 2009

Scientists discover earth-sized planet

HATFIELD, England (AP) - In the search for Earth-like planets, astronomers zeroed in Tuesday on two places that look awfully familiar to home. One is close to the right size. The other is in the right place. European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realized that a neighboring planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for potential life. The Holy Grail of current exoplanet research is the detection of a rocky, Earthlike planet in the habitable zone, said Michel Mayor, an astrophysicist at Geneva University in Switzerland. An American expert called the discovery of the tiny planet ìextraordinary. Gliese 581 e is only 1.9 times the size of Earth ñ while previous planets found outside our solar system are closer to the size of massive Jupiter, which NASA says could swallow more than 1,000 Earths. Gliese 581 e sits close to the nearest star, making it too hot to support life. Still, Mayor said its discovery in a solar system 200 light years away from Earth is a good example that we are progressing in the detection of Earth-like planets. Scientists also discovered that the orbit of planet Gliese 581 d, which was found in 2007, was located within the habitable zone, a region around a sun-like star that

would allow water to be liquid on the planet’s surface, Mayor said. He spoke at a news conference Tuesday at the University of Hertfordshire during the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science. Gliese 581 e is probably too large to be made only of rocky material, fellow astronomer and team member Stephane Udry said, adding it was possible the planet had a large and deep ocean. It is the first serious water-world candidate, Udry said. Mayor’s main planet-hunting competitor, Geoff Marcy of the University of California, Berkeley, praised the find of Gliese 581 e as the most exciting discovery so far of exoplanets planets outside our solar system. This discovery is absolutely extraordinary, Marcy told The Associated Press by e-mail, calling the discoveries a significant step in the search for Earth-like planets. While Gliese 581 e is too hot for life it shows that nature makes such small planets, probably in large numbers, Marcy commented. Surely the galaxy contains tens of billions of planets like the small, Earth-mass one announced here. Nearly 350 planets have been found outside our solar system, but so far nearly every one of them was found to be extremely unlikely to harbor life.

SYDNEY (AP) – Journalists have a lot to be nervous about lately: layoffs, furloughs, newspaper closures. But reporters at an Australian paper may have received the scariest threat of the day when a live shark was left on their doorstep. Police said the two-foot creature was spotted early Wednesday by a man who was leaving a McDonald’s restaurant next door to the offices of The Standard in the small Victoria state town of Warrnambool. When police arrived, the animal – believed to be a relatively harmless Port Jackson shark – was still breathing, Warrnambool police Sgt. Tom Revell said Thursday. So officers borrowed a bucket of water from McDonald’s, placed the shark inside it and drove to a nearby pier, where they

released the creature back into the ocean. But why would someone dump a shark outside the newspaper? “We’ve got no idea why,” Revell said. Nor does the newspaper’s chief of staff, Glen Bernoth, who learned of the bizarre incident in a middle-of-the-night phone call from a friend who’d heard about it on his police scanner. “Naturally, I assumed it was like some sort of prank or something, but I’d been asleep for a couple hours,” Bernoth said with a laugh Thursday. There are a couple of theories on the motive: Some readers were angered by a photograph the newspaper recently ran on its front page featuring a man who caught a large reef shark.

AN ARTIST’S IMPRESSION of “Planet e” , foreground left, released by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere Tuesday April 21. AP photo

Most were too close or too far from their sun, making them too hot or too cold for life. Others were too big and likely to be uninhabitable gas giants like Jupiter. Those that are too small are highly difficult to detect in the first place. Both Gliese 581 d and Gliese 581 e are

located in constellation Libra and orbit around Gliese 581. Like other planets circling that star scientists have discovered four so far Gliese 581 e was found using the European Southern Observatoryís telescope in La Silla, Chile.

Australian newspaper 6 years in prison for receives fishy threat Pakistani immigrant NEW YORK (AP) – A Pakistani immigrant described by prosecutors as “Hezbollah’s man in New York City” was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison for airing the militant group’s television station. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman handed down a sentence of five years and nine months to Javed Iqbal, who had pleaded guilty in December to providing aid to a terrorist organization. Iqbal, 45, admitted as part of a plea agreement that he used satellite dishes on his Staten Island home to distribute broadcasts of Al Manar, the TV station of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which has been fighting Israel since the early 1980s and has been branded by the U.S. government as a terrorist group.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Snyder said Iqbal recruited Al Manar, even traveling to “the belly of the beast, South Beirut,” to meet with its general manager. “He was, in a very real sense, Hezbollah’s man in New York City,” Snyder said. Snyder said Iqbal bought special satellite equipment to allow Al Manar to provide 24-hour programming from November 2005 through May 2006 so Hezbollah could use it to recruit followers and suicide bombers. Prosecutors said Iqbal’s business was paid $28,000 monthly for at least five months for airing the station to its North American customers. Iqbal’s lawyer, Josh Dratel, said his client didn’t intend to aid Hezbollah as he tried to build his Brooklyn-based satellite.