Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270)

Logan, Utah

Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 - 7 p.m. (MT)

THINK PINK NIGHT

THINK PINK NIGHT ON TAP — In its third leg of the current four-meet home stand, Utah State [University] gymnastics (2-5, 0-1 WAC) will return to Western Athletic Conference action, hosting San Jose State (4-3, 1-0 WAC) in a dual meet on Friday, Feb. 10. Action for the duel between the Aggies and Spartans will start at 7 p.m. (MT) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270). Friday is USU's "Think Pink" Night, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Live video and live results will be available through UtahStateAggies.com.

PINK POM-POMS PRESENTED TO PINK ATTIRE — All fans who wear pink will receive free admission and the first 500 fans in attendance will receive pink and Aggie blue pom-poms. There will be donation sheets available at the USU marketing and promotions table located on the west concourse behind section S. All funds collected will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

AWESOME ALL-AROUNDERS — Friday's meet features two of the top all-arounders in not just the WAC, but their respective regions and the country as well, in SJSU's Thomasina Wallace and USU's Sarah Landes. Wallace, a senior, is tops in the WAC, fifth in the West region and tied for 20th in the nation with a 39.205 average, including breaking SJSU's record in the all-around with a 39.400 in the Spartans' meet on Sunday [Feb. 5]. Landes, a freshman, is third in the WAC, tied for fifth in the North Central region and tied for 41st in the country with a 38.994 average

THIRD IN A ROW — Friday is the Aggies' third-straight meet at home, the third of a four-meet home stand, USU's longest stretch of home events since 2004 when USU also had a stretch of four-straight home meets.

IN THE RANKINGS — San Jose State is ranked No. 26 in this week's Troester/GymInfo Women's Gymnastics Coaches Rankings while USU is up to No. 38 after being ranked 40th last week.

TICKET INFO — USU Gymnastics tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the "buy/renew tickets" under the "tickets" drop down menu.

LIVE RESULTS — Live results for Friday's meet are available by clicking on the "Live Results" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official website of USU athletics. *Note: the link will only work after the meet starts.

LIVE VIDEO — Fans can watch the meet on Friday live online by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official website of USU athletics. Fans will need to pay a small fee to watch the meet.

TWITTER / FACEBOOK — Fans can also get live updates from the meets as well as other team information through the USU Twitter and Facebook pages.

UP NEXT — USU wraps up its stretch of four meets by hosting another WAC opponent,  Sacramento State, Friday, Feb. 17, also at 7 p.m. (MT).

Read much more about Aggie gymnastics in the full summary on the Athletics website.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Richins is one of just two players from the state of Utah and one of 150 players nationwide to be named a high school All-American by PrepVolleyball.com.

Richins, a 6-1 outside side hitter from Kaysville, Utah (Davis HS/Extreme Volleyball Club), was named the Most Valuable Player of the state tournament in 2011, leading Davis High School to back-to-back region titles and the 5A tournament championship.

Richins, who is also a member of the high honor roll, earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and second-team all-state accolades her sophomore season at Davis HS.
 

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Be True to Yourself and Cultivate Class, Not Trash, Author Advises

By Becca Holliday in The Hard News Café, Sunday, February 5, 2012

Television has changed a lot from the days of Boy Meets World and other wholesome programming. Teens and young adults are now bombarded with images of young people like those in Jersey Shore and Bad Girls Club.

Jordan Christy, author of How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World, wrote her book to reach out to those who want to stay classy in a world full of Snookis and Paris Hiltons.

Christy came to Utah State University Thursday night [Feb, 2, 2012] to talk about her book on class, grace and style before a crowd of young women and men gathered in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom to ask questions and get tips on staying true to themselves and how to be classy, not trashy.

Christy didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming an author. She went to college on a piano scholarship and wanted to be a songwriter. After college, she got a job at a record label as a publicist.

Christy says she remembers being in middle school and feeling like a nobody. The other girls in school were concerned with boys and parties, but Christy says she wanted to stay true to herself and her morals even when it wasn’t fun. As a result, she says she was left with few friends.

USU students asked her how she got through it. Her mother played a big role in her life, she said.

“She is the embodiment of all this stuff I talk about,” Christy said.

In her book, Christy touches on the importance of surrounding yourself with good friends. We are often judged by who our friends are, she said.

“Friends play into the whole picture of who you present yourself to be,” Christy said.

Which raises the question: What do you do when you find yourself surrounded by people who may not be painting a pretty picture?

Christy suggests putting some distance between yourself and them. The friendship doesn’t have to end in a huge fight, she said. She also recommends participating in activities that you feel comfortable with, and “invite them into that world.”

Some other tips and tools from Christy included what to do when you’ve had a not-so-classy moment — “delete that picture from Facebook and maybe don’t Twitter about it next time” — and how to stay classy in the workplace, what to do in tacky situations, and how to attract classy men.

“Class attracts class,” she said.

Her main message: Be true to yourself and your morals. In regard to integrity and class, she says, “I think the two go hand in hand.”

Although no sequel is in sight for Christy’s book, she has begun developing plans for a movie. The screenplay is in progress and the search for a producer is under way.

“Always try to be the best possible version of yourself,” Christy told her audience.

Being classy isn’t about the little black dress, elegant hair and a string of pearls — “It all starts on the inside.”

TP

Faculty Senate Discusses Success of Online Evaluations

By Allie Jeppson in The Utah Statesman, Wednesday, February 8, 2012

When course evaluations come around each semester, few students realize their answers are used to provide USU with valuable and comparative information.

During Monday's Faculty Senate meeting [Feb. 6], university Provost Raymond Coward said to faculty that because course evaluations have recently been transitioned to the Web, data collected and compared through the IDEA database shows that USU courses lie [sic] comprehensively above the national average by 53 percent.

"That's pretty good," Coward said. "One of the reasons that the Senate Committee … was attracted by the IDEA instrument was because of the national comparison."

Many other universities across the country are users of the same database, which allows administrators to compare USU's progress to others, Coward added.

On an individual level, categories that topped the national average included progress on relevant objectives with a score of 53 percent, excellent teacher scoring at 60 percent and excellent courses at 52 percent.

Though each score was lowered to take into account students' self-reported motivation, work habits and class sizes, the adjusted scores were still high enough to top the national average, Coward said. Without the adjustment, however, USU would have been ahead by 74 percent overall.

The IDEA database also allows faculty members to look at their own individual scores on a national level, Coward said. Faculty members are able to see if they are in the top 10 percent, bottom 10 percent or somewhere in between.

"This is the kind of data that we didn't have before," Coward said. "This is the kind of data that we do have now."

Coward also shared information on the legislative push to dissolve the tenure process in Utah. The bill has been written to exempt USU and the University of Utah because of their large efforts to keep tenure, Coward said.

"We were the ones who pushed back so hard last year that rather than address our concerns, they just put us aside and went after the other six institutions," Coward said.

In last year's legislative session it was proposed that tenure be discontinued for all future professors. However, the bill was turned down by a 9-3 majority from the House Education Committee.

This year's bill is only two pages long, and, while not many details are known, USU is only mentioned in the second paragraph as an exception to the bill, Coward said.

"I guess at one level we can have a sigh of relief," Coward said. "On the other hand, it's obviously a strategic move to pick off a lesser set of institutions before moving on to the big target, which, of course, is the University of Utah and us."

During the meeting, the Senate discussed the creation of a new faculty award as a part of the annual Robin's Awards, for faculty contribution to shared university governance.

"You know, we have a lot of awards on this campus," said Senate President Glenn McEvoy. "There are awards for teaching, awards for research, awards for advising and good graduate systems. But the faculty has been talking about the lack of recognition to someone who devotes a significant amount of time and effort to the university through shared governance."

Though still in the developmental stage, criteria for the award are being discussed by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, with a circulating draft and feedback coming in, McEvoy said.

"We may not be able to pull this off for this year," McEvoy said. "But, if not, certainly by next year."

Other items discussed at the meeting included a review of the graduate program and the implementation of the new Common Hour next year.

– allie.jeppson3@gmail.com

Abstracts are invited for the conference’s poster and oral presentations from student and faculty researchers involved in water-related research. Submissions can be made online and are due by Monday, March 5. Submissions from both graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged.  

“We’d like to have involvement from every college at USU,” says David Tarboton, professor in USU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and conference organizer. “The purpose of the conference is to share diverse water research across disciplinary boundaries.”

Student participation in the two-day gathering is free but all participants must register. Cost to professionals is $50 for both days or $25 for one day. Online registration is available on the conference website. Participants can also register by phone at 435-797-0035 or 1-800-538-2663.

Featured conference topics include hydrology, water resources, water policy, water and society, water quality, water use and conservation, economics, climate change, soils, groundwater, snow hydrology, ecosystems, limnology and water computation and information systems.

The USU Water Initiative is an interdisciplinary collaboration of the university’s Utah Water Research Laboratory, the colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Resources, Science, Engineering, Agriculture and the Huntsman School of Business. Established in 2003, the initiative fosters collegial sharing of water-related research and ideas throughout the campus and community.

Related link:

USU Water Initiative

Contact: David Tarboton, 435-797-3172, dtarb@usu.edu

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu, 435-797-3517

Applications for kindergarten will be accepted through Feb. 15, 2012.

All applications received will be entered into a lottery to fill openings in the kindergarten classes. Those applicants not selected will be placed on the waiting list in sequential order as they are drawn in the lottery.

Selection of kindergarten students will be completed by the end of February and notifications will be sent following the lottery process.

For grades first through fifth, applications will be accepted through April 30, 2012.  A lottery will then be conducted to fill openings for the upcoming year.

Applications for the 2012-13 year are available online or by calling (435) 797-3085.

Edith Bowen, a public charter school, is located on the Utah State University campus.

Contacts: Susan Wall, (435) 797-3085, Susan.wall@usu.edu or Gaylene Merrill, (435) 797-3088, Gaylene.merrill@usu.edu

The evening begins with a reception followed by a gourmet dinner, live jazz music and dancing. All proceeds support the Larry Smith Jazz Scholarship. A Student-Only Dance Night is Feb. 16.

The production is a combined effort of USU’s Music Department, the Skyroom Restaurant in the Taggart Student Center, USU Catering and University Inn and Conference Center.

Tickets for “Jazz Night at the Sky Club” are $46 and are available at the USU Ticket Office in the Smith Spectrum (900 E. 900 North, Logan) through Feb. 14. The University Inn on the USU campus offers an overnight package for $189 plus tax that includes two tickets to the show, a night stay and a hot catered breakfast for two the next morning. For reservations, call the University Inn and Conference Center toll free, 800-231-5634.

For more information about “Jazz Night at the Sky Club,” contact Ann Marie Wallace at (801) 971-0859.

“This is a vital instrument to the university and a longtime fixture in the Chase Fine Arts Center,” said Lynn Thomas, director of organ studies at USU. “For more than four decades this organ has been perched in the Kent Concert Hall loft and it’s time for a little TLC.”

The organ’s refurbishment is underway but activities continue, including a workshop Saturday, Feb. 18, for organists, choir directors and conductors. The workshop is presented at St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 85 E. 100 N. in Logan, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Organists will be instructed by Thomas and choir directors and conductors will be instructed by Cory Evans, director of choral activities at USU.

Registration for the workshop is now underway. Contact Thomas via e-mail: organist@usu.edu.

The organ’s refurbishment will end in mid-March and the organ will reopen on March 31 with a rededication concert. Richard Elliot, the chief organist of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, will be featured as the guest artist and will accompany the USU choirs.

For more information on the organ renovation project, the workshop or rededication concert, contact Lynn Thomas via e-mail, organist@usu.edu.

“It’s certainly not a typical evening of scholarly music from long-gone composers,” said Cory Evans, director of choral activities at USU. “The songs will have the audience longing for the days of leg warmers, boom boxes and mullets.”

That Totally Awesome ‘80s Concert is a follow-up to last year’s That ‘70s Concert, also presented by the USU choirs.

“The ‘80s were such a rich period of popular music so it’s been hard to decide what pieces to choose, but I think we’ve got a good mix of everyone’s favorites,” said Evans.

The evening will feature tunes such as Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight, Journey’s Faithfully, Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is and The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).

The USU Chamber Singers, University Chorale and the Women’s Choir will join forces with guitarists from the USU guitar program and members of the newly-formed instrumental ensemble Out Of The Blue for the evenings “awesome” entertainment.

“The audience is invited to show up in classic ‘80s outfits and can expect to hear some really rad music,” said Evans.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for seniors and youth, $5 for USU faculty and staff and free for USU students with ID.

More information and tickets are available at the Caine College of the Arts Box Office in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center, online at the college’s website or by calling 435-797-8022.

Related links:

• Caine College of the Arts Box Office
• USU Music Department
• Caine College of the Arts

Writer: Rachelle Nielson, 435-797-9203, rachelle.nielson@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu

Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology hosts a celebration of chocolate Saturday, Feb. 11, at its weekly Saturdays at the Museum event.

Chocolate, a widely enjoyed tasty treat, has a rich history and patrons are invited to explore the many ways that chocolate can be enjoyed. The museum will provide a “Chocolate Around the World Tour” that describes what French, Italian, South American and Caribbean cultures have traditionally added to flavor chocolate. At the end of the tour visitors can sample hot chocolate with different additives from each culture.

Additional museum activities include a chance to make M & M watercolor Valentines, watch a video presentation titled Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and participate in Chocolate Trivia Bingo at noon and 2 p.m.

“Every culture has chocolate and we eat a lot of it,” said Jessica Swift, a Saturdays program coordinator.  “Americans eat on average about 11 pounds of chocolate a year, but that is 11th place compared to the rest of the world. The best part about chocolate is that it is a universal treat that transcends age, ethnicity and location.”

Community members and USU students alike can visit the museum during its operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Funding for the Saturday events is provided by a grant from the United States Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS is available online.

The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252. Admission is free. For Saturday activities, free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building.

For more information about museum events, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum website.

The Museum of Anthropology is part of the Anthropology Program at USU in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Related links:

USU Anthropology Program

USU Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology

USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Source: Museum of Anthropology

Contact: USU Museum of Anthropology, (435) 797-7545, anthro.museum@usu.edu

The event, sponsored by the Associated Students of Utah State University, runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and offers an array of activities that will suit everyone who attends, ASUSU organizers said.   

Activities this year include a magician, tarot card readers, face painters and an oxygen bar. There will also be a full casino with prize giveaways for the winners. DJ Marcus Wing will return to host the dance party that is held in the Fieldhouse. 

“Our aim for this year’s event was to pattern after the classic Mardi Gras celebration,” said ASUSU Activities Director Kellen Hansen. “We chose not to label it with a specific theme with a hope to restore the original feel of the Carnival season.”

Tickets are $5 in advance at the USU card office and at the door. Non-student tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Attendees must be 18 years old with valid identification to purchase tickets.

Masks, props, weapons, or generally offensive dress will not be permitted.

“This time of year, most people reflect on the relationships they have or want to have,” said Ryan Barfuss, USU prevention specialist. “We want students to have the information they need to be safe and help them discover and create those lifetime relationships that last forever.”

The Feb. 15 events begin with an healthy relationship expert panel at 11:30 a.m. in the TSC International Lounge. The panelists will answer relationship-related questions. Valentine cookies will be provided. The True Aggie Dating Game begins at 12:30 p.m. One participant will ask questions directed toward three anonymous contestants and choose one to be his or her date based solely upon their answers. The winners will receive a date night package. Booths will also be accessible throughout the day, providing ideas for creative dates, information about sexual health and advice on how to maintain a healthy relationship. Tables with this information will also be available Feb. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the TSC basement.

According to Barfuss, the foundations of a healthy relationship are respect, honesty, communication and patience.  He said that relationships are an important part of a student’s life. 

“Whether you are dealing with a roommate, boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse, relationships cause stress,” he said. “The effect of stress can be unhealthy to students, and have an impact on their studies and additional aspects of their lives.”

USU Student Health Services presents Healthy Relationships and Sexual Responsibility Week. The week was created by the Bacchus and Gamma Peer Education Network, a university and community based network focusing on comprehensive health and safety initiatives. The event has taken place at Utah State University for 14 years. 

Contact: Ryan V. Barfuss, prevention specialist, 435-797-1540, Ryan.barfuss@usu.edu

Writer: Erika Rasmussen, 801-349-7719, erika.ras@aggiemail.usu.edu

Guest speaker for the evening is Daniel Davis, photograph curator for USU’s Special Collections and Archives, who presents “Forgotten Photographs of the Union Pacific Railroad.” The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in Merrill-Cazier Library’s Auditorium, Room 101.

The lecture is free and open to all.

The lecture highlights the exhibit that shares its name with the title of Davis’s lecture. The exhibit has been on display in the atrium of Merrill-Cazier Library and explores the history of the Union Pacific Railroad through photographs and the work of A. J. Russell.

Davis is preparing a biography of Russell and has completed extensive research.

“In early 1868, the Union Pacific railroad hired Andrew Joseph Russell to photographically document the construction and sites along the Union Pacific railroad,” Davis said. “Russell used two cameras — a large-format that produced 10”x13” wet-plate collodion negatives and stereographic that created dual images that, when used with a stereo-viewer, produced a three-dimensional image.”

Today, Russell’s large-format views are well known and have been used in countless Western history tomes, documentaries and coffee-table books, Davis said.

During the time Russell worked, those who lived in the Eastern United States, couldn’t see enough images from the West and mostly saw the multiple series of stereoviews that were mass produced by the thousands, Davis said.

“The 900 or so stereoviews Russell produced give a more complete picture of the railroad and the West,” Davis said. “And while his large-format views tend to mythologize the building of the railroad and the men who did it, his stereoviews fill in the details for what was a very messy, ugly business.”

The images pose multiple questions that Davis will discuss in his lecture, including who were the spikers and engineers who lived and died to complete the railroad? Where did they come from and where did they go after the railroad was built.

“Today, much has been produced about the political corruption, corporate shenanigans and the violent ‘Hell on Wheels’ towns associated with the railroad’s completion,” Davis said. “On the other side, there are enthusiasts who know every minute detail for how a railroad mechanically functions. The in-between history of the Union Pacific is still mostly unknown.”

Davis attended the University of Wyoming where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. In 2000 he joined the Special Collections and Archives Department at Utah State University. In that position he is responsible for the historic photograph collections, including cataloging, acquisition, preservation and reference. His research interest is with 19th century photographers of the American West.

In the summer of 2010 Davis was on sabbatical leave and traveled from Omaha, Nebraska, to Promontory, Utah, re-photographing the images and locations that were recorded by Russell. He is currently writing a book about Russell.

Davis is an adjunct instructor with the USU History Department and has published articles in the Annals of Wyoming and the Utah Historical Quarterly.

In addition to Davis’s lecture, the evening will also feature the announcement of the winners of the Leonard J. Arrington Lecture Student Writing Awards. Students submitted essays following the 2011 Arrington lecture presented by Richard V. Francaviglia. The winners of the contest will be announced and the cash awards will be presented.

Related links:

Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library

USU Special Collections and Archives

USU University Libraries

Writer: Kristin Heal, 797-2659, kristin.heal@usu.edu

Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, patrick.williams@usu.edu

Contact: Trina Shelton, 435-797-2631, trina.shelton@usu.edu

Bankhead will present “Music — the Soundtrack of Your Life” at the next Kiger Hour talk Feb. 16.

Bankhead will discuss how individuals consciously and unconsciously use music to control their environment. He will present a framework for understanding how to understand our own musical preferences.

“What I want to do is make people conscious of how music is involved with and is an important part of their life,” he said. “It is not ‘fluff’ or ‘nice to have’ or anything like that. Music is like air and water; we need it to survive and to be human.”

Music can trigger specific memories for people. It can stir emotions they didn’t know they were feeling. Bankhead will address why this happens and why music is part of every person’s life.

“The various functions of music and the unique way it communicates human emotions add to the complex nature of exactly what music is,” he said. “Our own personal ‘soundtrack,’ the music we choose to be part of who we are, reflects a great deal about our inner self. Making choices about our sound track can have a significant impact on who we are and what we do.”

Prior to joining the faculty at USU, Bankhead directed the School of Music at Sam Houston State University, chaired the Music Department at California State University at Chico, and was executive director of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. He also worked as producer at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts where he produced shows, concerts and festivals involving artists ranging from Bill Cosby to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Bankhead also served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He held positions as commander/conductor of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., from 1985 to 1991 and deputy commander/assistant conductor of that organization from 1976-1985. He has conducted in all 50 states and 18 foreign countries and his concerts include “command performances” for the president and many world leaders.

He is also an alumnus of USU, where he completed his bachelor’s of music degree before going on to earn a master’s at Central Michigan University and his doctorate from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about Bankhead and how music affects your life at Kiger Hour, an intellectual program presented by Utah State University and sponsored by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Caine College of the Arts.

The event will be held Thursday, Feb. 16, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s Steak and Seafood, 2427 N. Main St., Logan.

A buffet with appetizers, desserts and soft drinks, iced tea or coffee is available. Cost is $6.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and billed on an individual basis. Guests can also order from the menu, and a cash bar is available.

For planning purposes, please RSVP to Natalie Archibald Smoot in the college office, 435-797-2796, or e-mail, natalie.archibald@usu.edu.

Next month’s Kiger Hour will not be held on the traditional third Thursday of the month. It will be March 22.

Related links:

USU Department of Music

USU Caine College of the Arts

USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Writer: Kristen Munson, (435) 797-0267, kristen.munson@usu.edu

Contact: Natalie Smoot, (435) 797-2796, natalie.archibald@usu.edu

The website, Politicit.com, was created by students, alumni and a faculty member from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. It took the top honors in a business innovation contest called Opportunity Quest.

The website analyzes multiple online sources to come up with what it calls an “IT score,” that offers a daily snapshot of how each presidential candidate is doing with the public. Using this technology the company says it has been able to predict poll numbers in advance.

The new website was selected from among 10 finalists as the winner of the business innovation competition that was open to all Utah State University students. Politicit.com now focuses on the race for Republican presidential nomination, and the creators of the site are working on similar features for local political races.

Josh Light, CEO of Politicit.com, said his group’s first-place finish was exciting, but their work is far from done.

“Entrepreneurship is synonymous with hard work,” Light said. “So while we are thrilled with the results of the competition, we want to use this as a stepping stone to expand the reach of our website.”

Rounding out the top three companies were second-place Page-Stroud Finance, which was awarded $2,000, and third-place Kilo Relay Series, which was awarded $1,000.

Mike Glauser, executive director of entrepreneurial programs at the Huntsman School, noted that the competition came to a close right around the same time the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence opened.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the quality of the businesses that participated in the competition,” Glauser said. “This comes at a time when we have just opened a center to assist local start-ups, and I look forward to working with many of them in the future.”

The competition began in October 2011, and since then, participants had the chance to attend a series of workshops aimed at refining essential business skills such as marketing and finance. After 24 teams submitted executive summaries, 10 finalists were announced Dec. 16. The top 10 subsequently presented their final pitches, and the top three were announced at the Final Awards Banquet.

Opportunity Quest was directed by a student and involves student volunteers, many of them a part of the Entrepreneurship Club. Stuart Richards, director of competitions, organized the most recent competition.

“There are some dynamic start-ups right in our midst,” Richards said. “I hope this competition and future competitions will ignite the entrepreneurial spirit exemplified by our school’s namesake, Jon M. Huntsman.”

Related links:

USU Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence

USU’s Jon M. Huntsman School of Business

Contact: Steve Eaton, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, 435-797-8640, steve.eaton@usu.edu

The United States is faced with an aging infrastructure, and that problem is coupled with limited fiscal means to meet these demands. The funding to USU will be used to support student-based research to find innovative ways to address these needs. The money will primarily be used to fund graduate student research to find solutions to state as well as national needs.

Three engineering professors will be involved in the project, including Paul Barr, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Utah Transportation Center; assistant professor Kevin Heaslip; and professor Marvin Halling.

“We have a great working relationship with the Utah Department of Transportation and will actively look for ways to use it to help them build and manage our infrastructure,” Barr said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation invests in the future of transportation through its University Transportation Centers Program, which awards grants to universities across the United States to advance the state-of-the-art transportation research and develop the next generation of transportation professionals.

“This success illustrates the fruits of all the hard work that has been performed over the past five years since the establishment of the Utah Transportation Center at USU,” Barr said. “This includes Long-Term Bridge Performance Program, Automated Electric Transportation, Local Technical Assistance Program and other state and federal projects totaling approximately $10 million over the past five years.”

Barr said the new funding will come from two tiers of sources. The first is with a combination of eight other universities. This collaboration will result in $300,000 each year and will be led by Barr. The second source, Tier 2, will be from the Mountain Plains Consortium that incorporates USU with seven other schools. This partnership will result in $250,000 annually led by Heaslip.

The universities will work together to solve transportation problems in each state, particularly focusing on infrastructure problems and limited fiscal means to fix it, and finding the best way to solve them. Barr said one of the important things the U.S. DOT has done is move from a competitive and earmark-based program to a purely competitive program that forced the collaboration of multiple universities.

“This collaboration will facilitate discussion from people at various universities and departments of transportation,” Barr said. “We can utilize the best practices from each of these states and work to find the best solution for our national needs.”

Barr said proposals were from universities across the United States.

“Looking at the caliber of schools that we have teamed with shows just how far we have come in terms of a national reputation,” Barr said. “I think that it also says that we are seen as having a strong core that will be successful in the future.”

Five years ago, the college received start-up grant funding from Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. Bob Bennett.

“We have used that money to develop a program that was competitively selected based on our past accomplishments against some of the best schools across the country,” Barr said.

Contact: Paul Barr, director, Utah Transportation Center, (435) 797-8249, paul.barr@usu.edu

In the fall of 2010, students at Utah State University founded a student chapter of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), a global professional organization for research, teaching, practice and study of information systems.

Kathy Chudoba, an associate professor in the management information systems department, accepted the award for the best new chapter on behalf of the USU AIS chapter and Robert Hayden, the chapter’s faculty advisor, at the International Conference on Information Systems held in Shanghai, China, in December 2011.

Clayton Fielding is a senior in the MIS department and the USU AIS president. He said the chapter submitted a report in the spring of 2011 of its activities for its first academic year, detailing the results of its plans to help students gain knowledge, get connected and get employed. Among other events, the USU AIS chapter has a special Partners In Business session with speakers brought in to talk to MIS students, Fielding said.  That was one reason the chapter was selected for the award.

Tmitri Owens, program director for the global AIS organization, said nine other new student chapters competed with the USU chapter, and the groups were judged on their performance in the areas of fundraising, membership, communication and careers in information systems.

The organization is for all USU undergraduate or graduate students interested in technology, Fielding said. The USU chapter has MIS students, as well as computer science and computer engineering majors. Fielding said their vision is to know about the next best technology and be a resource for students who are trying to stay up-to-date with the newest tools. The chapter meets every Thursday throughout the semester, and chapter membership is $10 each academic year.

He said the chapter has also branched out to other student organizations, such as the Society for Human Resource Management and the Huntsman School’s Business Council.

The Huntsman School of Business emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial thinking, and Fielding said that many of the club's activities, such as teaching students how to build their own business websites, have been centered on encouraging entrepreneurs.

Aside from assisting USU students, Fielding said his group is also helping the Brigham Young University chapter plan the global 2012 Leadership Conference and Student Competition, which will be held April 26-28 in Provo. Those interested in the conference may visit the conference website for more details.

Those interested in the USU chapter may visit its website for more information.

The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University seeks to inspire and equip students to become innovative, ethical leaders with refined analytical skills that will help them understand and succeed in the global marketplace. The Huntsman School of Business is one of eight colleges at USU, located in northern Utah. More information on the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business may be found on the web.

Related link:

USU Management Information Systems Department

Contact: Steve Eaton, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, 435-797-8640, steve.eaton@usu.edu

"I want to welcome our new RAC members and commend them for their commitment to public service," said Salazar in the statement. "Their counsel will serve the BLM well as the agency carries out its multiple-use mission."

Though the vast majority of Utah's population resides in the urban Wasatch Front, more than 60 percent of Utah's landbase is federal, public land. And more than 40 percent of this land is managed by the BLM.

The purpose of Utah's RAC, composed of members selected for their expertise in natural resource issue, is to help the BLM carry out its stewardship of public lands. The council includes members representing the interests of conservationists, outdoor recreationalists, ranchers, oil and gas companies, Native American tribes, academia and developers, as well as state and local government agencies.

"It takes a concerted effort to get diverse stakeholders to listen to each other and work together to address issues and achieve goals," says Burr, a faculty member and Extension specialist in USU's Department of Environment and Society and director of USU’s Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. "Collaboration takes time, commitment and lots of energy.”

He notes the BLM is a multiple-use agency, meaning that lands under its management aren't simply designated for conservation.

"Many entities are involved in decisions about BLM lands," Burr says. "These lands are used for outdoor recreation and tourism activities, timber harvesting, grazing, mining and energy development and watershed protection and water development. It's a challenge for the agency to balance the management of these interests."

"Many Utahns don't realize the public lands in Utah fall into many different categories — some public and some private — and different rules and regulations apply for different uses of different areas," Burr says. "When people are out recreating, they aren't always aware of the different jurisdictions and that each has distinct rules and regulations designed by the managing agency to protect resources and enhance the recreational experience."

Burr represents "Dispersed Recreation" on the 15-member council, but also has expertise and interests in natural resources-based tourism and rural community development.

"Like the other federal land managing agencies, the BLM has a legislative mandate to work with gateway communities adjacent to public lands to provide economic development opportunities," he says. "The economic impact of outdoor recreation in Utah is really significant, and there are many opportunities for small businesses to take advantage of the recreational use of public lands."

In addition to his new appointment, Burr currently serves as chair of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Advisory Committee and chairs the Utah Council for Outdoor Recreation. In 2010, he was honored by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals for his efforts in helping farmers and ranchers development agritourism enterprises.

On the council, Burr joins previous appointee John Malechek, USU emeritus professor of rangeland management, who represents academia.

Related links:

• “USU Researcher on Team Receiving National Award for Agritourism Project,” Utah State Today
• “USU Researcher on Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument Advisory Committee,” Utah State Today
• USU Department of Environment and Society
• USU College of Natural Resources

Contact: Steve Burr, 435-797-7094, steve.burr@usu.edu

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu

As the world continues to become increasingly globalized and interconnected, businesses, universities and government agencies have responded by encouraging interdisciplinary work to solve complex problems. So has the United States Army. Today’s military leaders must be capable of operating in interagency, intergovernmental, multinational environments. CULP was established in 2006 to help cadets learn the cultural skills they will need to be better, more confident leaders on the ground. 

“Soldiers are not just trigger-pullers anymore, we are diplomats,” said Major Matthew Badel, head of the department of Military Science at USU.

Military personnel are often deployed on peacekeeping missions by the UN and often utilized for non-combat purposes. It is important they understand the impact of their presence in local communities, Badell said.

“Over the past decade, Iraq and Afghanistan have been a very educational time for the Department of the Army,” he said.

Just six cadets went overseas for training the first year of the program. Nearly 1,300 American cadets will participate in the program this summer [2012]. Among them include USU students Jeffery Belnap (Rawanda); Taylor Blauer (South Korea); John Gillespie (Indonesia); Garrett Glick (Tanzania); David Sobel (Costa Rica); Kyle Stodtmeister (Cambodia); Aaron Wolcott (Mozambique); and Tyler Worsley (Cape Verde).

Major Ammon Campbell, assistant professor of military science, will also lead a team of cadets to Jordan to participate in a CULP mission there. He believes the program is an indicator of a systemic change in the armed forces’ strategy.

“We can’t just learn when we get there,” he said.

In summer 2011, three USU cadets participated in CULP and returned with life-changing experiences. Jaron Newman visited Slovakia, where he trained with American and Slovak Army cadets and performed community service for local needy populations. He lived in their barracks, competed in military training exercises, and was tasked with building lasting relationships with their armed forces personnel.

Newman, ‘13, a political science major, is a member of Utah State University’s Army ROTC program. After returning from his LDS mission in Russia, he was eager to return to the region. CULP afforded him the opportunity to continue practicing his language acquisition and leadership training.

“The military wants officers who can understand other people,” Newman said. “Early on in Iraq and Afghanistan, a lot of troops were doing things that offended people because they didn’t know what they were doing was offensive in the culture. The Army wants people who realize that different cultures have different ideas and different ways of doing things.”

During his stay in Slovakia, Newman’s unit was assigned to participate in a service project in the remote town of Kezmarok at a social house — a place where homeless, abused and needy groups were provided shelter, food and job training. The cadets spent a week chopping and hauling firewood for the house.

“We had to work together as a team despite our language barriers,” Newman said.

His unit was later taken across the border to Poland to visit the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz. The stop was important for the cadets to understand the history of the Slovak people.

“A lot of Slovaks were sent there during World War II,” Newman said. “It is a big part of their culture. You learn all this stuff in class, and then you go there and it cements it in your mind that this really happened. You could feel the sadness there.”

Over the course of the trip Newman became friends with both the American and Slovak soldiers in his unit. He still keeps in touch with them through Facebook.

“I talk to those guys all the time,” he said. “I really hope I can see them again.”

Related links:

Military Science Program at USU

USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Writer: Kristen Munson, PR specialist, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, (435) 797-0267, kristen.munson@usu.edu

Contact: Major Ammon Campbell, (435) 797-6904, ammon.campbell@usu.edu

“I keep thinking ‘When am I going to wake up?’” says the 17-year-old junior at InTech Collegiate High School on Utah State University’s Innovation Campus. “There aren’t words to describe it.”

Warner was among about 100 teens from throughout the nation invited to participate in the second annual White House Science Fair Feb. 7. Guests included middle and high school-age recipients of top science and mathematics competitions. Warner was invited as the 2011 winner of the senior division of the DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition.

At the East Room ceremony, Warner was seated on a platform about six feet from President Obama, as her father, USU alum Alan Warner ‘99, and science teacher, Stephanie Kawamura, watched from the audience. Also in attendance were NASA head and veteran astronaut Charles Bolden, along with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of the PBS program “NOVA Science Now;” Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters,” and television personality Bill Nye the Science Guy.

“It was completely amazing — the highest honor I could imagine,” Warner says.  

In a 15-minute address, Obama praised the young scientists, along with their parents and teachers, for their dedication to scientific discovery and their work toward solutions to the world’s challenges.

“You guys inspire me,” he told honorees. “When you work and study and excel at what you’re doing in math and science, when you compete in something like this, you’re not just trying to win a prize today. You’re getting America in shape to win the future.”

Obama wasn’t the only White House occupant Warner met during her visit.

“As my dad, Dr. Kawamura and I were leaving, we saw First Dog Bo racing down a hallway with his handler,” she says. “I asked if I could pet him and his handler said ‘He never slows down!”

Warner’s winning essay, “Salt: Enhancing Lives One Breath at a Time,” was selected from more than 9,000 entries for the DuPont prize. The paper details innovations in Cystic Fibrosis research; a topic near and dear to Warner, whose sister copes with the disease.

Warner graduates early from high school this spring and plans to enter USU next fall. Though she’s been courted by numerous schools, including Harvard, BYU and the University of Utah, Warner says she’s most impressed by Utah State’s offerings.

“I chose USU for two main reasons,” she says. “One is the impressive Honors program and the other is USU’s amazing undergraduate research opportunities. I can get involved in research right away as a freshman — something that not all schools offer.”

Warner, who hopes to enter medical school following college graduation, plans to major in molecular and cellular biology.

“I’m interested in oncology and pursuing cancer research,” she says. “I’ve watched friends who’ve struggled with cancer. I think oncology would be a very rewarding field.”

Beyond the science lab, Warner enjoys languages and currently studies Spanish. She’d also like to learn Chinese and plans to participate in a study aboard program during her undergraduate career.

The young scientist also enjoys music (“I always listen to classical music when studying”) and theater. A member of Logan Youth Shakespeare, she performed in two of the troupe’s recent productions, appearing as Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Prospero in The Tempest.

“I’m excited about getting involved in different activities at USU,” Warner says. “But what I’d really like to do is become an Aggie Ambassador. Every time I visit Utah State and meet an ambassador I think ‘That would be the most fun job in the world.’”

Related links:

President Obama Addresses National Science Honorees (Video)

“Teens Find the ‘Right Chemistry’ at USU Summer Gathering,” Utah State Today

Contact: Stephanie Kawamura, Intech Collegiate High School, smkawamura@iname.com

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu

Education First and the Utah Student Association held a press conference Friday [Feb. 3] on the Capitol steps and students met with more than 50 legislators to emphasize the need to prioritize higher education. This was a significant effort by the students and Education First.

2012-2013 Budget. This past week the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee heard an overview of the system budget request adopted by the Board of Regents from Associate

Commissioner Dave Buhler and then from UVU President Matt Holland, USU President Stan

Albrecht, Dixie President Steve Nadauld, Weber President Ann Millner, SUU President Mike Benson, and UofU President-elect Dave Pershing. Each president provided an excellent presentation highlighting institutional innovations and priorities and was very well received by the committee. At their next meeting (Tuesday, Feb. 7, 8 a.m.) the committee will hear from SLCC President Cynthia Bioteau and Snow President Scott Wyatt, followed by Commissioner Bill Sederburg and Chair David Jordan. The subcommittee is expected to begin voting on budget priorities the following week.

Key Legislation of Interest to USHE

• HB 4, Higher Education Base Budget* by Rep. Mike Morley appropriates the base budgetfor all of the Utah System of Higher Education at the same level as 2011-12. It passed theHouse on Wednesday [Feb, 1] , 74-0 and the Senate on Friday [Feb. 3], 28-0, and now goes to the governorfor his signature.
• HB 12, Corrections Education Amendments* by Rep. Bill Wright clarifies that the Board of Regents has a collaborative role but not responsibility for education of prison inmates. It passed the Senate 2nd Reading on Wednesday [Feb. 1] (28-0) and was circled on the 3rd Reading Calendar. It will likely pass this week.
• HB 19S1, State Issued Identification Numbers by Rep. Wayne Harper has been substituted. The original bill may have prohibited the use of Social Security numbers or other nine-digit numbers by higher education. The substitute bill seems to have no impact on higher education operations. It is awaiting a committee hearing.
• HB 24 S1, Health Insurance for School Districts by Rep. Jim Bird would have required school districts and higher education institutions to bid health insurance services every three years. USHE had serious concerns about the short-time frame required for bids and other provisions. The bill was defeated in the House on Wednesday [Feb. 1], 25-49.
• HB 49S1, Firearms Revisions by Rep Paul Ray modifies laws related to the open carry of firearms. USHE is closely monitoring. It was approved by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on Monday [Jan. 30], 10-3, and is now on the House floor for further consideration.
• HB 53S1, Utah Education Network Amendments* by Rep. Ronda Menlove modifies the governance of UEN by establishing a new steering committee with new authority and representatives from higher education, public education and the governor. It was approved Monday [Jan. 30], 71-0, and by the Senate Education Committee on Thursday [Feb. 2] 5-0. It now goes to the full Senate.
• HB 94, Government Competition with Private Enterprise**, by Rep. Johnny Anderson is sweeping in scope and would require a study before any new activity, service, or program could be offered to see if it is being provided in the private sector. It is scheduled to be heard in Committee Monday morning [Feb. 6], but there are indications the sponsor is interested in seeing if an amendment would make it more palatable to Higher Education.
• HB 284, Higher Education Governance** by Rep. John Dougall would be the most sweeping change in higher education governance since 1969, changing the Board of Regents to a coordinating board. This would result in a variety of negative consequences for students and taxpayers. It has not yet received a committee hearing but may this week.
• HB 285, Repeal of Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program* by Rep. Steve Eliason was requested by the Commissioner’s Office to repeal the “UTAP” program established by the Legislature years ago but never adequately funded. It is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on Monday [Feb. 6].
• HB 322, Higher Education Tenure** by Rep. Chris Herrod is similar to the bill he introduced last year. It would eliminate new tenure at all USHE institutions except for the University of Utah and Utah State University. USHE will vigorously oppose.
• SB 10, College and Career Readiness Amendments* by Sen. Margaret Dayton modifies testing of public and charter school students from UPASS to the ACT. It previously passed the Senate, 28-0, and the House Education Committee 12-0. It is being held in the House Rules Committee due to fiscal impact (until/unless the $2 million fiscal note is funded).
• SB 39, Gubernatorial Authority over Higher Education Officials by Sen. Stuart Reid leaves appointment of the Commissioner of Higher Education to the Board of Regents but adds the requirement of concurrence by the governor and Senate confirmation. It also gives the governor the power to terminate the Commissioner after consultation with the Board of Regents (the Board retains that power unilaterally). Similar changes are made for the UCAT President. The governor’s office has expressed support for the bill. It previously passed the Senate 23-2 and passed the House on Thursday [Feb. 2] 39-34. It now goes to the governor.
• SB 44, GI Bill Tuition Gap Coverage by Sen. Luz Robles requires USHE institutions to provide a tuition waiver for students who have received Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits but have not completed their bachelor’s degree. The sponsor has agreed to our suggestion to substitute the bill and change it from a tuition waiver to a funded grant program.
• SB 114, Contesting Public Procurements by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser amends procedures for contesting procurement by state agencies and USHE. It is being held in the Senate Government Operations Committee for possible amendments.
• SB 153, Procurement Amendments by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser made numerous changes to the state procurement code and applies them to higher education. USHE purchasing officers and the Commissioner’s Office have been involved in numerous meetings seeking to resolve potential negative consequences. Some have been resolved, others have not. We will continue to work with the sponsor and State Purchasing to see if all negative consequences can be removed from the bill. As currently written, it is estimated it would cost USHE $1.9 million a year to implement. It has not yet been assigned to committee.

*USHE has taken an official position in support; **USHE has taken an official position in opposition.

Please contact Neil Abercrombie, USU director of Government Relations, with questions specific to USU’s 2012 legislative priorities or developments during the session, neil.abercrombie@usu.edu.

Also, for more frequent updates follow USU’s Government Relations on Twitter.

More information on legislation and committee agendas — or to view or listen to floor debates — is available online.

OGDEN — FJ Management, Inc., formerly known as Flying J Inc., today announced that it has donated $3.5 million to be divided between the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University and the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

Each university will receive $1 million to fund brand new, fully staffed career services centers that will bear the Flying J name. The facilities will provide conference space and staff and will act as a valuable career outreach resource in connecting students with key hiring people at organizations. The universities will also eachreceive an additional $750,000 to be allocated over a 15-year period for undergraduate and graduate scholarships, with preference given to current and former FJ Management employees.

Crystal Call Maggelet, chief executive officer of FJ Management, said the donations were a fulfillment of her late father’s vision to help young people. Maggelet’s father, Jay Call, founded Flying J Inc. in 1968.

“My father died suddenly at a young age. He was generous every day in small ways but never had much of an opportunity to give back in ways that could help hundreds of students for years to come," Maggelet said. “He started with nothing, but through hard work and determination he built Flying J to become one of North America's largest diesel fuel retailers. This gift will help hundreds of students accomplish their educational dreams. It is my hope that those who receive this scholarship will apply the same spirit of entrepreneurship and independence in their lives that my father demonstrated."

Taylor Randall, dean of the David Eccles School of Business, called the donations significant.

“I applaud FJ Management for its generosity in making higher education a priority,” Randall said. “This donation is helping to fund our new career services center, the first time the business school has had a specific facility dedicated to career enhancement. This donation will personally touch the lives of many university students for generations to come.”

Douglas D. Anderson, dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, said the donation presents new opportunities for students in helping them pay for higher education.

“FJ Management’s noble vision of what is possible sets a new standard for each of us,” Anderson said. “Because of that spirit, countless students will benefit from FJ Management’s generosity. The advantages born from these scholarships will reach far beyond the classroom as they help build future business and civic leaders.”

About FJ Management, Inc.

FJ Management Inc. (“FJM”) is the new name of the restructured entity previously known as Flying J Inc. Following its successful emergence from bankruptcy in 2010, FJM has been transformed from an integrated oil company with a primary focus around the retail network of Travel Plazas in North America to a multi-faceted holding company for financial service and energy businesses. For more information, visit http://fjmgt.com

Press Contact:

Alex Koritz

Method Communications / FJ Management

801.461.9795

alex@methodcommunications.com

Renewals are available online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the “buy/renew tickets” under the “tickets” drop down menu.  Fans interested in new sales should contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

Prices range from $90-$160, and at least a 50 percent deposit is required at the time of renewal or new purchase. Fans interested in new sales can also reserve seats online and will be contacted late spring-early summer for a specific location.

Renewals and new ticket sales will also be available at the USU Football Spring Game Saturday, April 28.

Utah State opens the 2012 season Thursday, Aug. 30, against in-state foe Southern Utah, one of six home games. The Aggies will also host another in-state opponent in Utah on Saturday, Sept. 8, as well as hosting UNLV Saturday, Sept. 29, which will be USU’s Homecoming. Utah State will also have three home Western Athletic Conference games. 

USU posted a historic season in 2011 with a 7-6 record, its first seven-win season since 1993, capping its season with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Ohio in a 24-23 thriller. 

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at Twitter or on the USU football blog. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at Twitter or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Contact: Zach Fisher, (435) 797-2066, zach.fisher@usu.edu

"Kassy Uchida is a five-foot person but plays like she is a six-foot player,” said Aggies head coach Carissa Millsap-Kalaba. “I expect for her to supersede what she did last season. She is growing in her game and getting better. Allison (Lenzora) achieved something that, at the beginning of the year, if you would have asked me if she could have achieved, I would have said no. I am very proud of the hard work she put in to achieve what she has. She has become a very even-keeled player and always manages to come up with what we need in a pinch. She did a great job of that last year."

Utah State was also selected to finish eighth in the WAC for the third season in a row in the WAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Defending WAC champion Fresno State was picked to finish first by the coaches with 44 votes and three first place votes. Hawai'i was selected to finish second with 42 votes and two first place votes. New Mexico State finished third in the voting with 37 votes and also received two first place votes. The WAC coaches welcomed newcomers Brigham Young with 35 votes and one first place vote, which put them fourth in the poll. Nevada was selected to finish fifth with 20 votes, tied for sixth with 17 votes apiece were Louisiana Tech and San Jose State. USU received 12 votes.

The Aggies played their best softball in conference action last season and finished a school best fifth in the WAC. Utah State returns six starters from last year's squad, including Lenzora, Uchida, all-time home run leader senior Kelley Kaneshiro and pitchers Mandy Harmon and Shelbi Tyteca. USU has nine newcomers joining the effort for 2012, including junior transfer Christine Thomsen who brings a big bat to the middle of the lineup for the Aggies.

"We are going to have a very good team this year, the challenges that we have been trying hurtle over the last two seasons are going to come to fruition,” said coach Millsap of the upcoming season. “We have all the pieces that we need offensively, defensively as well as in the circle. We have a good balance between athleticism and maturity on this team.,"

The Aggies open the softball season in the Red and Black Showcase Softball Tournament Feb. 10, hosted by Georgia, opening against Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina State at 9 a.m. (MT)

2012 WAC Preseason All-Conference Team

2012 WAC Preseason Poll

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

This is Andersen's fourth Aggie signing class as head coach of the USU program. Andersen announced the 2012 signing class at a press conference Wednesday afternoon as well as unveiling the class to the public at a sold-out Big Blue Scholarship Fund Signing Day Reception Wednesday night at the Spetman Auditorium at the Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex.

"We would like to welcome the 15 young men that signed with us today to our family, it is great to have them with us," Andersen said. "It was a great day overall, I think that the cycle went well for us overall in bringing quality young men into the program. We still have four more to go, so this recruiting class is not done, we have two more on offense and two more on defense."

Of the 15 players in the signing class announced by Andersen, five are juniors, one is a sophomore and nine are freshmen. There are eight states represented by the signees' hometowns, led by Utah with four, with two each from California, Florida and Georgia, as well as one each from Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

"We have developed ourselves as a program where we ask our young men when they are on trips to understand who we are and enjoy their experience and their time in Logan, but also it is a job interview for those kids,” Andersen said. “The thing that is most impressive for these 15 that we actually got and signed today is how prepared and how excited they were to wrap their arms around Cache Valley, Utah State University and what Logan as a city is truly about. I think our coaches did a tremendous job of prepping them and again understanding that this is who we are, this is what we are about and you need to be prepared to be very happy that you are in this environment. You are very lucky to be in this environment and those 15 kids were unbelievably excited about the opportunities that they had to move forward in life socially, academically and athletically and they knew that this atmosphere was best for them."

Of the 15 signees, 11 are on the offensive side of the football, including five offensive linemen and four wide receivers, along with one running back and one quarterback. Four of the 15 are defensive players with two cornerbacks, one linebacker and one safety/linebacker.

In addition to the 15 players who either signed at mid-year or on Wednesday, Andersen also announced that three players will be returning from LDS church missions, including defensive lineman Eric Berntson, quarterback Jeff Manning and linebacker Travis Parrish who return to the Aggies' squad and will be in action during spring drills.

"It is great to have the three missionaries back, Eric (Berntson) has come back and done a nice job,” Andersen said. “He is in the weight room working hard for us. Jeff (Manning) is back in the weight room doing a nice job, working hard for us and Travis Parrish is the third young man that has come back and done a tremendous job. It is great to have those three Utah return missionaries back in our program. We are excited about those young men."

The Aggies' head coach also announced that five former walk-ons have been awarded scholarships, including safety McKade Brady, linebacker Jefferson Court, defensive lineman B.J. Larsen, tight end Brad Theurer and linebacker Zach Vigil.

"Five of the former walk-on young men have earned scholarships for us, they are important to this program and Utah kids are very important,” Andersen said. “We are 50-plus kids in the program from the state of Utah and the five men, McKade Brady, Jefferson Court, B.J. Larsen, Brad Theurer and Zach Vigil are all young men who came in here as walk-ons and are now our scholarship players. Congratulations to them and their families, they have worked very hard and they deserve it and they deserve to be recognized for that."

Utah State posted a historic season with a 7-6 record, its first seven-win season since 1993, capping its season with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Ohio in a 24-23 thriller. Five of USU's losses were by one score or less, and 10 of the Aggies' games were decided by one score this season which are the most in the nation.

Fans are invited to join Utah State football at its end of the season banquet Friday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. at the Riverwoods Conference Center at Spring Hill Suites in Logan. Cost of the event is $27.50 per person.

The night starts at 5 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. Head coach Gary Andersen will address the audience, show some season highlights and present team awards.

Anyone interested in attending the banquet should contact Mark Andersen in the USU Football office at (435) 797-1870 or register online.

*Note, pre-registration is required, walk-ups will not be accepted on the night of the banquet.

Utah State football season ticket renewals and new sales for the 2012 season are available at 2011's prices until May 1. Renewals are available online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the "buy/renew tickets" under the "tickets" drop down menu. Fans interested in new sales should contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at Twitter or on the USU football blog. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at Twitter or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

2012 Aggie Football Signing Day Central

Returning LDS Missionaries

Former Walk-Ons Now On Scholarship

Signing Day Press Conference Video

Signing Day Press Conference Quotes

Complete Utah State Football 2012 Signing Class Information

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

USU Revamps Summer School

By Catherine Bennett in The Utah Statesman, Wednesday, February 1, 2012  

Students who regularly enroll in USU's summer semester classes will find that five departments are adding courses that may be difficult for students to get into during the fall and spring semester.

Departments adding classes include health physical education recreation, biology, geology, English and family, consumer and human development.

Prior to the summer 2012 semester, the summer class schedule was separated into four periods of time allotted for classes. There were three four-week periods and one eight-week period. Now, the schedule is more simple to follow, said Lisa Hancock, program administrator for new student orientation.

The new schedule includes one four-week block beginning in May and one seven-week block beginning the first week of June. Classes in session during the four-week block will occur Monday through Friday with each class lasting two hours. The seven-week block allows for a three-day weekend, as classes do not meet Fridays. These class periods are one hour, 15 minutes each.

"The university wants more students to take summer classes," Hancock said. "The classes are typically smaller, but it's good for classes that are hard to get into the other two semesters. It helps the university as well, because it relieves some of the congestion of those classes in the fall and spring semesters."

Sophomore Aaron Anderson said because his computer science major requires many math courses, he is planning to attend summer school for the first time this summer so he can get ahead.

"If I want to graduate on time, I will need to take classes during the summer," Anderson said. "I will probably do the four-week course in May, because it will still allow me to have a summer. I don't need the four months off school."

He said it will be convenient to be able to finish the courses he needs all at once, so he can enjoy the rest of his summer.

The previous summer semester bell schedule was difficult to follow, said John Mortensen, USU registrar. Now, the schedule is more uniform with a clear bell schedule, because none of the designated course periods overlap. He said USU administrators found it necessary to make summer semester more attractive to students.

"There is stricter enforcement of the calendars," Mortensen said. "We want students to package together classes that work with their schedules."

Mortensen said this strict schedule will not allow much flexibility for professors and instructors to decide when they want to teach.

USU's Outdoor Recreation Program is taking advantage of the summer school schedule changes, too, Hancock said. Because many summer school students will have a three-day weekend, ORP is setting up trips to local areas to give those interested a lesson in Cache Valley's many outdoor recreation possibilities, Hancock said.

"People complain about the winters in Logan," Mortensen said. "And the summers are amazing here. I think a lot of students would want to take advantage of it."

Attending summer semester may be appealing for out-of-state students, Hancock said, considering in-state tuition applies for everyone during this semester. It is also ideal for those who want to attain residency and pay in-state tuition the following semester, she said.

"For out-of-state students it's a bargain," Mortensen said. "And tuition hikes begin in the summer after the legislative session."

Some USU scholarships can be applied to summer semester tuition, Hancock said, but this usually means it counts as one of the total number of semesters the university agreed to grant the student. Departmental scholarships may not be eligible to use during the summer, but Hancock said she suggests talking with the department awarding the scholarship to ask if this would be an option.

Almost all housing complexes on and off campus offer reduced prices. For example, USU's online Housing guide states: One shared room in Davis Hall during the summer is $490. This same room during the fall and winter semesters is available for $1,315 per semester. The on-campus housing summer contracts begin May 6 and end Aug. 13.

Hancock said USU Housing and off-campus housing lower their rates to entice students to stay and keep producing an income from those living areas.

– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu

Interactive stations will be set up throughout the museum where guests can journey to ancient Greece. Museum visitors can learn about fashion in ancient Greece, the history of Greek culture, the mythology of the Greek gods, Greek art and how archeological excavations contribute to the understanding of ancient Greece.

Activities for children will be provided throughout the day. Visitors can make copies of constellations named by the Greeks or make up their own constellations, event organizers said.

“It’s no secret that the ancient Greeks have influenced the modern world,” said Prairie Fox, a Saturdays program planner. “From our system of government to the popular children’s books The Percy Jackson Series, Greek culture is still constantly affecting modern society.”

Community members, as well as Utah State students, can visit the museum during its operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Funding for the Saturday events is provided by a grant from the United States Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS is available online.

The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252. Admission is free. For Saturday activities, free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building.

For more information about this event, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum website.

The Museum of Anthropology is part of the Anthropology Program at USU in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Related links:

• USU Anthropology Program 
• USU Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology
• USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Source: Museum of Anthropology

Contact: USU Museum of Anthropology, (435) 797-7545, anthro.museum@usu.edu

Close to 500 students ages 5-18 will participate in this year’s concert. Unlike a typical piano recital, the students will perform in rotations of 20 students on 20 pianos playing their parts in unison.

“It’s like an orchestra of pianos filling the Kent Concert Hall,” said Kevin Olson, director of the Youth Conservatory and assistant professor of music in the Caine College of the Arts and the Department of Music at USU.

This year’s theme, “Once Upon a Time…,” features the Utah Storytelling Guild whose members will provide narration between songs. The songs and stories will combine into a fantasy fable for audience members. The event is family-friendly and children of all ages are invited to attend, Olson said.

The Monster Concert has been a yearly event since the 1980s. All proceeds will go toward a scholarship fund to support students and families with tuition for piano lessons at the YC.

Tickets for the Monster Concert are $3 for general admission, $10 for a family group ticket and free for USU students with I.D. For more information and tickets, visit the CCA Box Office located in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-9022 or go to the college website.

Related links:

Caine College of the Arts Box Office

USU Music Department

Caine College of the Arts

Writer: Kara Rindlisbacher, 435-797-9203, kara.rindlisbacher@gmail.com

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu

The USU Regional Campus Art Exhibition features student artwork from Brigham City, USU Eastern and the USU Eastern San Juan campuses starting Feb. 6 in Gallery 102 located in the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus.

“Since the regional campuses and distance education programs of USU are increasing, I thought it would be great to showcase the work being created in art classes offered at these campuses,” said Tyler Vance, adjunct instructor for the USU art department, who teaches painting and drawing at both the Logan and Brigham City campuses.

The exhibition will feature student work reflecting the variety of projects and class levels available across the USU regional campuses. The student work comes from non-major basic classes to major advanced classes.

“This is the first time work from three different USU regional campuses has come together for a single show, which I’d love to make a yearly tradition,” said Vance.

The USU Regional Campus Art Exhibition is a traveling exhibition that will start in Logan and then travel across USU regional campuses located in Brigham City, Price, Tooele and Moab.

In Logan, the USU Regional Campus Art Exhibition is open to the public Feb. 6-10 from noon-4 p.m. in Gallery 102 of the Chase Fine Arts Center.

An opening reception is Feb. 6 from 6-8 p.m. in Gallery 102.

Related links:

USU Department of Art and Design

Caine College of the Arts

Writer: Rachelle Nielson, 435-797-9203, rachelle.nielson@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu

The agenda includes reports from the Bookstore and the Educational Policies Committee.

Information items will be presented to discuss the Graduate Program Review, implementation of the Commons Hour and a new Robins Award for Faculty Contribution to Shared University Governance. 

The full agenda with all documents can be found on the Faculty Senate web page.

The conference, hosted by Partners In Business at the Eccles Conference Center, will also explore a number of other trends in information technology and also features a speaker who will talk about Google Streetview.

Tom Bittman, of Gartner Research, is a featured keynote speaker at the conference, said John D. Johnson, management information systems department head at USU.

“We are fortunate to have Tom join us at this year’s seminar speaking on the ‘Current State of the IT Nation,’” Johnson said. “He has years of experience in the IT industry, and those who want to understand the latest developments in IT will benefit greatly by taking in his presentation.”

Bittman has served as Gartner’s lead analyst covering IBM and Microsoft. He has also served for three years as a Gartner’s Senior Research Board member. In 2005, he earned Gartner’s Analyst of the Year Award. He recently co-authored, “Predicts 2012: Cloud Computing is Becoming a Reality.”

“Another cloud expert who will join us is Peter Coffee,” Johnson said. “He is the lead cloud platform developer at Salesforce.com, which is one of the best examples of outsourcing applications. He will discuss ‘The Cloud: Today, Tomorrow, and the Future.’”

Other keynote speakers at the conference include Niel Nickolaisen, CIO of the Western Governors University, and CIO of the Utah Association of Information Management; Carl Allen, corporate IS security Intermountain Health Care; Jeremy Pack, senior software engineer for Google Streetview; David Berg, Whitesands Technology business consultant, and Michelle Kolbe, senior business intelligence developer for IHC.

Partners In Business is a management and educational organization in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at USU. The event is open to the public and the cost to attend the conference is $325.

More information on Partners In Business or conference registration is available at the Partners website.

The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University seeks to inspire and equip students to become innovative, ethical leaders with refined analytical skills that will help them understand and succeed in the global marketplace. The Huntsman School of Business is one of eight colleges at USU, located in the beautiful Wasatch Range of northern Utah. More information on the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business may be found at its website.

Contact: Steve Eaton, (435) 797-8640, steve.eaton@usu.edu

A variety of professionals and producers will present on current agricultural topics, including tracks on production, urban farming, marketing/management and new business and agritourism. The agritourism track on Thursday afternoon will culminate in a discussion about implementing a Utah Agritourism Association. Local agricultural tours will be held on Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

“With the conference being in Layton, we wanted to focus on urban agricultural issues,” said Ruby Ward, conference organizer and USU Extension agribusiness specialist. “This will be a great conference for anyone who thinks they might want to farm. They will be able to learn about issues and possibilities. There are also many other topics besides urban agriculture.”

Ward said the conference will feature something for everyone. Students from area high schools are invited to attend to learn about a future in agriculture. Special student registration is available by contacting Ward.

The conference is a result of USU Extension working with many other organizations. Grant funding from the USDA-Risk Management Agency helps keep registration costs low.

Conference registration cost is $40 by Feb. 8 and $60 after and includes workshops, breaks and meals. Further information, including session and tour descriptions, is online or contact Ward at ruby.ward@usu.edu or 435-797-2323.

Related link:

Utah State University Cooperative Extension

Writer: Julene Reese, 435-797-0810

Contact: Ruby Ward, 435-797-2323

“It’s certainly not a typical evening of scholarly music from long-gone composers,” said Cory Evans, director of choral activities at USU. “The songs will have the audience longing for the days of leg warmers, boom boxes and mullets.”

That Totally Awesome ‘80s Concert is a follow-up to last year’s That ‘70s Concert, also presented by the USU choirs.

See the Caine College of the Arts website for ticket information.

A crowd of 40,646 in attendance and a national television audience on the NFL Network saw Wagner snare an interception and lead the North with seven tackles, tying for game-high honors with Antonio Allen of the South team. One of Wagner’s seven tackles was for a loss and he also had a pass break-up at the goal line in a similar play that he snared an interception in double overtime to seal USU’s win at Idaho this season. 

Wagner and the North squad were coached by Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Leslie Frazier.

“It feels great,” Wagner said. “I’m just happy to represent small schools and prove that no matter where you play you can shine. I was very proud to represent Utah State with the U-State logo on my helmet and help create some buzz about Utah State. No matter what I do or where I go, I will always be an Aggie.”

Wagner, a native of Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS), led the Western Athletic Conference and ranked eighth in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in tackles with 11.3 per game, ranking tied for third in the FBS in total tackles with 147 on the season. Wagner earned first-team all-WAC accolades for the third-straight season and was a strong candidate for the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. In the Aggies’ 13 games this season, Wagner posted nine double-digit tackle outings, highlighted by a career-high 20 stops against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 22, while adding 18 stops against Colorado State on Sept. 24.   

The Senior Bowl is the nation’s most unique football game and football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the country’s best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams.

After a seven-year drought for a Utah State player to be selected to the Senior Bowl, this was the second-straight season for an Aggie to be invited to the prestigious game. Cornerback Curtis Marsh was selected for the 2011 game, but could not play due to an injury. Prior to Marsh, the last time a USU player was selected was tight end Chris Cooley in 2004. 

Overall, Wagner is the 16th USU player selected to the Senior Bowl since 1962.

Contact: Zach Fisher, (435) 797-2066

“This activity is something we are excited about because it gives our museum guests a rare opportunity to interact with the artwork we have while displaying their own feelings or reactions to the artwork for the rest of the public to see,” said Casey T. Allen, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art registrar and webmaster. “People can use a certain painting or photograph to express their feelings for someone else.”

From Feb. 1-18, museum visitors are invited to select artwork at the museum as a symbolic Valentine’s Day gift for their sweethearts, friends or family. Visitors may write a personal message on heart-shaped Post-it notes to be placed next to the artwork they select. Visitors can search for artwork together or select artwork in advance and send their Valentine on a search through the museum for the gift. Throughout the month of February, visitors can see which pieces of art others have chosen to give. Examples of visitor-selected gifts will also be posted to the museum’s Facebook page.

“We are developing events and programs that allow visitors to participate with the art museum and leave their personal touch behind,” said Elizabeth Benson, the museum’s associate education curator. “We want to expose more visitors to our extraordinary collection, but we also want to learn more about the unique tastes and interests of the visitors that we serve. This Valentine’s Day event is a great way to encourage a new level of visitor participation.”

For more information or to schedule a tour of the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art call 435-797-0165. The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art is located on USU’s campus at 650 N. 1100 East in Logan. Information is also available at the museum’s website. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is closed Sundays and holidays. The museum is also accessible to persons with disabilities.

Parking for the museum is available in the orange lot west of the museum. The parking fee in this area is $5. Museum visitors who RSVP will receive free parking, and parking is free after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Two dedicated stalls in the orange lot are available for museum members. Call Rachel Hamm for reservations at 435-797-1414.Parking is also available in the Big Blue Terrace located near the Taggart Student Center for $1.50/hour. Free parking after 5 p.m. is available at the blue lot located at the corner of 700 N. and 1200 East by Aggie Ice Cream.

Related links:

USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art

USU Caine College of the Arts

Writer: Casey T. Allen, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, 435-797-0166, casey.allen@usu.edu

Contact: Elizabeth Benson, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, 435-797-0158, elizabeth.benson@usu.edu

The “Best Under-the-Radar” competition will find the craziest, loudest, most unique, tradition-rich game-day atmospheres that are lesser-known nationally. Nine other schools are nominated and the winner will have an in-depth feature presented during the “GEICO Best of College Basketball” special that airs March 25, at 3 P.M. (ET) on CBS Sports.

“The Aggie’s student section leads the Utah State faithful in providing one of the most intimidating home-court advantages in college basketball,” the Intersport press release said. “Bellowing chants and ruthless intensity are the norm when the Aggies take the floor at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.”

Watch the Aggie fans in action and vote for the “Best Under the Radar” award on Facebook (facebook.com/BestofCollegeBasketball).

In addition to featuring the “Best Under-the-Radar College Basketball Atmosphere,” GEICO Best of College Basketball will relive the season’s greatest moments, players and coaches, as well as uncover the top plays of the year as voted by fans at the website (Facebook.com/BestofCollegeBasketball).

The nine additional schools nominated for “Best Under-the-Radar College Basketball Atmosphere” presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car are: Dayton, John Brown, Missouri State, New Mexico, North Carolina A&T, Northern Iowa, San Diego State, Taylor and Western Kentucky.

To support Utah State or watch highlights from any of the participating schools, visit the website. Fans can share their vote with their friends on Facebook.

Voting opened Jan. 30 and ends Wednesday, Feb. 15, at noon ET.

VOTE FOR THE USU AGGIES!

For more information, contact Nick Owen at Intersport, (312) 644-5231 or nowen@intersportnet.com

Utah State University biologist Morgan Ernest is among the authors of the study published Jan. 31, 2012, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She and her colleagues describe increases and decreases in mammal size following the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

“The demise of dinosaurs provided vast evolutionary opportunities for mammals,” says Ernest, associate professor and co-director of graduate programs in USU’s Department of Biology. “It is well known in biology that size profoundly influences everything from how quickly a species reproduces to its vulnerability to extinction.”  

The research team of 20 biologists and paleontologists, led by Alistair Evans of Australia’s Monash University's School of Biological Sciences, discovered size rates decrease much faster than growth rates. It takes only 100,000 generations for very large decreases, leading to dwarfism, to occur.

Evans, an evolutionary biologist and Australian Research Fellow, says the study is unique because most previous work focused on microevolution, the small changes that occur within a species.

“Instead, we concentrated on large-scale changes in body size,” he says. “We can now show it took at least 24 million generations to make the proverbial mouse-to-elephant size change — a massive change, but also a very long time. A less dramatic change, such as rabbit-sized to elephant-sized, takes 10 million generations."

The study looked at 28 different groups of mammals, including elephants, primates and whales, from various continents and ocean basins over the past 70 million years. Size change was tracked in generations rather than years to allow meaningful comparison between species with differing life spans. 

Co-author Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at Museum Victoria, says changes in whale size occurred at twice the rate of land mammals.

“This is probably because it’s easier to be big in the water — it helps support your weight,” he says.

Evans says he was surprised to find decreases in body size occurred more than ten times faster than the increases.

“The huge difference in rates for getting smaller and getting bigger is really astounding — we certainly never expected it could happen so fast,” he says.

Many miniature animals, such as the pygmy mammoth, dwarf hippo and ‘hobbit’ hominids lived on islands, helping to explain the size reduction.

“When you get smaller, you need less food and can reproduce faster, which are real advantages on small islands,” Evans says.

The research furthers understanding of conditions that allow certain mammals to thrive and grow bigger and circumstances that slow the pace of increase and potentially contribute to extinction.

Related links:

• “USU Biologist says Mammal Size Exploded after Dino Demise,” Utah State Today
• Ernest Lab, USU
• USU Department of Biology
• USU College of Science

Contact: S.K. Morgan Ernest, 435-797-8751, morgan.ernest@usu.edu

Source: Monash University

Both the women’s and men’s basketball teams will be taking on Louisiana Tech starting with the women’s game at 4: p.m. followed directly by the men’s game.

Student Appreciation Night is made possible through the efforts of Trademarks and Listening, Athletics and the Bookstore.

The first 200 students to arrive will receive free pizza, courtesy of the Athletics department.

Students can look forward to discount coupons that will be distributed in the Spectrum.

Students are also encouraged to vote in two national contests for “Best Student Section. ” Fans can cast their vote for USU on the Facebook pages of GEICO Best of College Basketball and I Love College Hoops.

Contact: Heidi Adams, Trademarks and Licensing, heidi.adams@usu.edu

Galeev is first author on the article, published in the Feb. 1, 2012, online issue of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, a journal of the German Chemical Society.

“The ‘VIP’ designation means that Timur’s paper is among the top five percent of articles selected by the journal’s referees,” says Alexander Boldyrev, professor in USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and faculty mentor to Galeev. “This is an impressive honor from a prestigious journal and an impressive accomplishment for a doctoral student.”

Boldyrev is quick to point out that Galeev has published 10 papers in peer-reviewed journals in the past year and a half. The doctoral student’s paper in Angewandte Chemie details the research team’s successful production of a molecular nanowheel that achieves the highest coordination number for a central atom to date.

“It’s a new record,” Boldyrev says.

In chemistry, the coordination number of an atom refers to total number of “neighbors” of a central atom in a molecule or ion. In this case, Galeev and Boldyrev, working in collaboration with Brown University scientists Constantin Romanescu, Wei-Li Li and Lai-Sheng Wang, modeled clusters of 10 boron atoms gathered in a ring-like structure, unlike any seen before. The highly symmetrical model resembles an old American West wagon wheel with ten spokes.

“It’s a very stable structure,” Galeev says. “It reveals a new understanding of how chemical bonding theory works.”

The team conducted the National Science Foundation-funded research using a laser-vaporization supersonic molecular beam technique combined with photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. Boldyrev’s alum Boris Averkiev, recipient of USU’s 2009 Robins Award as Graduate Researcher of the Year and now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota, contributed to the project’s calculations.

Boldyrev, recipient of USU’s 2009 D. Wynne Thorne Career Research Award, says the research lays the groundwork for development of a variety of nano-objects.

“The development of these kinds of chemical bonding models will have a significant impact on rational design of nanocatalysts, nanomaterials with tailored properties, nano-scale electronic devices and more,” he says. “That’s our goal.”

Related links:

• “Challenging Science, Challenging Students,” Utah State Greats
• USU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• USU College of Science

Contact: Alexander Boldyrev, 435-797-1630, a.i.boldyrev@usu.edu

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu

That’s the tagline for Aggie BluePrint — a new student-produced magazine launched spring semester 2012 by students at Utah State University. The monthly online magazine is the brainchild of Kate Rouse DuHadway, a senior journalism major, who wanted to create an outlet for students to share their perspective with the rest of the Cache Valley community.

“To me, this is a different animal than the [Utah] Statesman,” she said. “I think we need both a student newspaper and a magazine. We want to be able to reflect, and to be, the voices for the students. As journalists, it’s our responsibility to be the voice of the community.”

During the course of her study at USU, Rouse DuHadway noticed how siloed the various departments were across the university. There are amazing things that happen here, but people only know about them if they occur in their discipline or building, she said. Rouse DuHadway, a features writer for the Herald Journal, wanted to devise an interactive magazine that would connect students with ideas and happenings on campus and throughout the valley.

“I took an entrepreneurship class to see what it would entail. I wrote a business plan,” she said.

Then Rouse DuHadway enrolled in journalism professor Cathy Bullock’s magazine writing class Beyond the Inverted Pyramid. A requirement of the course is that students develop and pitch stories to area magazines for publication.

“They kept coming up with ideas that would be great for an on campus publication,” Bullock said.

During class, Rouse DuHadway asked her peers if they would be interested in starting their own magazine. They were. She offered her business plan and BluePrint spun out of the course, with Bullock guiding the process. She serves as faculty advisor for the magazine.

There are nearly 29,000 students at USU. They comprise a significant portion of the county’s population. They are tech savvy. And they have opinions they want to share. BluePrint is one way they can.

“We need their perspective,” Bullock said. “The students are really on fire about it. I love that it is student run. It is student writing, student editing, student photographers and student designers.”

The editorial team assembled surveys they distributed over Facebook to learn what USU students care most about. Section editors were named. Stories were assigned. And a website constructed. Aggie BluePrint came online in January.

They also entered Opportunity Quest — an annual business innovation competition in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business that is open to all USU students. It fosters new business ventures by giving students a chance to present their ideas to a panel of judges and potentially win startup funding. They were among the top 10 finalists.

The majority of students involved with BluePrint are seniors. Because they don’t want the magazine to expire when they graduate, they developed what they believe will be a sustainable business plan with room to grow. They are now recruiting students to participate.

“The beauty of it is it started with journalism students, but it is a place for everybody,” Rouse DuHadway said. “It’s exciting for students to be building something from the ground up.”

A key component of their magazine is connecting with their readers. They want Aggie BluePrint to be your homepage. They want students to contribute their stories, experiences, and ideas to the magazine.

“An integral part of what we are doing is building a community,” Rouse DuHadway said. “We want everyone to contribute and make their voices heard. That’s what makes it work; it can’t be only one person. This is for USU students. They have to be excited about it — and they are.”

Results from the student surveys revealed a strong preference for a print component. Starting next semester, they aim to have a print publication in addition to the work and forums available online now.

Print isn’t dying; it’s changing, Rouse DuHadway said. “People will always want news, they will always want information. We are integrating the best of both worlds with BluePrint. But we need a print edition in order to survive.”

Students interested in writing for the online magazine can earn academic credit for their work. Rhett Wilkinson, assistant managing editor, believes the online magazine is where students can marry their interests with the application of skills they learn in the classroom.

“This is a great opportunity for students,” he said. “This is an interactive machine.”

BluePrint is designed to adapt to changes in how news is delivered. The founders wanted to make a model that will work now, in the future, and gives students a skillset they can apply once they graduate. They also intend to be independent from university funding so that if budgets tighten in the future they won’t be on the chopping block.

“It’s a requisite for our community that we don’t have just one source [of information],” said Max Parker Dahl, editor of the campus life section. “I just want to write something that is my voice as a student. Even if I look back one day and say ‘Wow that was stupid.’ At least I was able to do it.”

For more information about how to write for BluePrint, contact Kate Rouse DuHadway,  k8rouse@gmail.com. Contact Cathy Bullock for questions about how to earn academic credit at cathy.bullock@usu.edu.

Readers can access Aggie BluPrint online.

Writer: Kristen Munson, (435) 797-0267; Kristen.munson@usu.edu

Contacts: Kate Rouse DuHadway, k8rouse@gmail.com; Cathy Bullock (435) 797-, cathy.bullock@usu.edu

Widely known for its early roots in cooking and agriculture, 4-H has grown during the last century to include offerings such as rocketry, robotics and global positioning systems.

The organization reaches every corner of the country with more than 6 million youths in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards and rural farming communities and supports young people from elementary school through high school, according to 4-H.org.

Head, heart, hands and health are the four H’s in 4-H and are the four values members work on while participating in the program.

According to Kevin Kesler, USU Extension director of Utah 4-H programs, many people attribute their success to 4-H.

“It is amazing how many people tell me they were in 4-H as a youth, and they then tell me how much 4-H contributed to their success in life,” he said. “We hope that the 4-H centennial events held around the state will provide an opportunity for 4-H alumni to come together and also to experience today’s 4-H program.”

According to Kesler, there are approximately 8,000 volunteers in Utah working with more than 75,000 youths in the Utah 4-H Program.

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, shows young people involved with 4-H are nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school, nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college, 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors and 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.

The research-driven programming of 4-H allows young people to engage in issues from global food security, climate change and sustainable energy to childhood obesity and food safety, according to 4-H.org. Out-of-school 4-H programs, in-school enrichment programs, clubs and camps also offer a wide variety of science, engineering, technology and applied math educational opportunities.

“Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future,” Utah 4-H’s state centennial celebration will be held Thursday, July 12, through Saturday, July 14, at Utah State University. Activities will include youth and adult workshops, youth contests, a 4-H alumni reunion, 4-H Hall of Fame awards, banquets, a barbecue on the Quad, games, alumni contests and awards. Individual county events will also be held throughout the year. Contact specific county Extension offices for more information.

Kesler said it is his goal that by the end of the 4-H centennial year, everyone in the state will know that 4-H is alive and well.

“We invite everyone to join 4-H alumni and friends in ‘Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future,’” he said.

For further information on Utah Extension’s 4-H centennial celebration, contact Kesler’s office at 435-797-4444 or visit the Utah Extension 4-H website.

Related links:

Utah Extension 4-H

Utah State University Cooperative Extension

Writer: Julene Reese, 435-797-0810

Contact: Kevin Kesler, 435-797-0930

Below is the first submission that takes a look at week one.

This is the first weekly report for 2012 on the legislative session from the perspective of the Utah System of Higher Education.

Overview. The 2012 session of the Utah State Legislature got underway Monday, Jan. 23, and will conclude Thursday, March 8. There will be a number of bills considered impacting the Utah System of Higher Education, all of which will be carefully tracked by the Commissioner’s Office and institutions.

On day two of the 2012 session the Utah Legislature welcomed 34 Utah State University students to Capitol Hill to present their research along with other undergraduate students from the University of Utah. This marks the 12th consecutive year of undergraduate students from the state’s two research institutions presenting during the Legislative Session. USU students displayed posters of their cutting-edge research to legislators in the Capitol rotunda throughout the day.

2012-2013 Budget. For the first time since 2008, the Legislature convened with significant revenue growth. According to December revenue estimates, the state will have an on-going increase of $280 million for the General Fund and Education Funds (combined) over 2010-11, an increase of approximately 6 percent. The revenue estimate also includes surplus funds (one-time money) of $128 million. Thus for the first time in four years the session opened without the threat of base-budget cuts.

The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee met twice this first week, leading out with Dr. Clayton Christensen of the Harvard Business School on his theory of Disruptive Innovation as it relates to higher education and hearing from others described as innovators from the private sector. On Thursday [Jan. 26] the Legislative Fiscal Analyst recommended $1.9 million in one-time funds for the Higher Education Technology Initiative (HETI), $1.5 million in one-time funds for Success Stipends (need-based financial aid), and $1.7 million in on-going funds for the Regents’ Scholarship. USHE officials will begin testifying to the subcommittee on Monday [Jan. 30].

Capital Budget. The Infrastructure and General Government Subcommittee heard presentations on non-state funded projects on Tuesday [Jan. 24], and Friday [Jan. 27] on capital projects for state funding. Regent Bob Marquardt, Commissioner Bill Sederburg, Associate Commissioner Greg Stauffer, University of Utah President-elect David Pershing, Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland, Utah State University President Stan Albrecht, USU-Eastern Chancellor Joe Peterson, and Weber State University Vice President Norm Tarbox all presented before the committee.

• President Albrecht presented on the proposed USU academic building on the Brigham City campus. This proposed project is for a 60,000 square feet building that will accommodate phase I of the USU move to the newly acquired 40 acres of land in downtown Brigham City. The legislative request is for $7.5 million, which will be matched by $7.5 million from Brigham City.
• Chancellor Joe Peterson presented on the proposed arts and education building for USU-Eastern. This project will demolish the existing Geary Theatre, Music Buildings, and SAC and construct a new Arts and Education Building at USU-Eastern. This new building would cost $23.7 million.

For more information on these USU specific proposals or other capital facility requests this year please review the Utah State Building Board Five Year Building Program.

Key Legislation of Interest to USHE

• HB 4, Higher Education Base Budget* by Rep. Mike Morley, appropriates the base budget for all of the Utah System of Higher Education at the same level as 2011-12. It is expected that later in the session a supplemental bill will be passed to build upon that base. The bill is on the House 3rd Reading Calendar and is expected to be passed early this week.
• HB 12, Corrections Education Amendments* by Rep. Bill Wright, clarifies that the Board of Regents has a collaborative role but not responsibility for education of prison inmates. It passed the House on Tuesday 65-0, and was approved by the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, 5-0.  It now goes to the full Senate.
• HB 19, State Issued Identification Numbers by Rep. Wayne Harper, may prohibit the use of Social Security numbers or other nine-digit numbers by higher education. We understand that the bill is being re-drafted and we are hopeful that the next version will not have an adverse impact on higher education operations. 
• HB 24 S1, Health Insurance for School Districts by Rep. Jim Bird, would require school districts and higher education institutions to bid health insurance services every three years.  Higher Education has serious concerns about the short-time frame required for bids and other provisions. The bill was circled Friday [Jan. 27] on the floor of the House.
• HB 49, Firearms Revisions by Rep Paul Ray, modifies laws related to the open carry of firearms. Institutions are working with the sponsor to address Higher Education concerns. It is scheduled to be considered by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on Monday [Jan. 30] at 2 p.m.
• HB 53S1, Utah Education Network Amendments* by Rep. Ronda Menlove, modifies the governance of UEN by establishing a new steering committee with new authority and representatives from Higher Education, Public Education and the Governor. It was approved (10-1) by the House Education Committee on Jan. 23, and is on the House floor.
• HB 65, College and Career Counseling for High School Students by Rep. Patrice Arent, creates a pilot program to provide internships for graduate students to augment high school counselors. It was approved by the House Education Committee on Friday (10-1) and now goes to the full House.
• HB 256, Retirement Modifications by Rep. Don Ipson, modifies the time-frames for filing disability claims. It has been referred to the House Retirement Committee.
• HB 284, Higher Education Governance** by Rep. John Dougall, would be the most significant change in higher education governance since 1969, changing the Board of Regents to a coordinating board with a variety of negative consequences. It may be heard in the House Education Committee this week.
• HB 285, Repeal of Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program* by Rep. Steve Eliason, was requested by the Commissioner’s Office to repeal the “UTAP” program established by the Legislature years ago but never adequately funded. USHE objective is to have the program money (about $36,000) added to Success Stipends. It is awaiting a committee hearing.
• SB 10, College and Career Readiness Amendments* by Sen. Margaret Dayton, modifies testing of public and charter school students from UPASS to the ACT. Passed the Senate on Wednesday [Jan. 25], 28-0, and the House Education Committee on Friday [Jan. 27] 12-0. It now goes to the House but final passage will likely be delayed until a $2 million fiscal note is funded.
• SB 39, Gubernatorial Authority over Higher Education Officials by Sen. Stuart Reid, leaves appointment of the Commissioner of Higher Education to the Board of Regents but adds the requirement of concurrence by the Governor and Senate Confirmation. It also gives the Governor the power to terminate the Commissioner after consultation with the Board of Regents (the Board retains that power unilaterally). Similar changes are made for the UCAT President. The Governor’s office has expressed support for the bill. It passed the Senate on Friday [Jan. 27], 23-2, and now goes to the House.
• SB 44, GI Bill Tuition Gap Coverage, by Sen. Luz Robles, requires USHE institutions to provide a tuition waiver for students who have received Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits but have not completed their bachelor’s degree. It has not yet been heard in Committee.
• SB 114, Contesting Public Procurements, by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, amends procedures for contesting procurement by state agencies and USHE. It is being held in the Senate Government Operations Committee for possible amendments.

* USHE has taken an official position in support; ** USHE has taken an official position in opposition.

Please contact Neil Abercrombie, USU director of Government Relations, with questions specific to USU’s 2012 legislative priorities or developments during the session, neil.abercrombie@usu.edu.

Also, for more frequent updates follow USU’s Government Relations on Twitter.

More information on legislation and committee agendas — or to view or listen to floor debates — is available online.

Wagner will play for the North squad, which will be coached by Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Leslie Frazier. Wagner will wear No. 45 and the North will be wearing blue jerseys.

The NFL Network can be seen on Comcast Ch. 180 or 675 HD in Cache Valley, as well as Ch. 154 on Dish Network or Ch. 212 on DirectTV. Contact your local cable provider for more information.

“It’s a big honor to be recognized among the top seniors in the country,” Wagner said.  “It is a great opportunity to showcase my talents against other talented seniors in the country and show that I’m worthy of this honor. I’m excited to represent the Utah State Aggies in this national showcase.”

Wagner, a native of Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS), led the Western Athletic Conference and ranks eighth in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in tackles with 11.3 per game, ranking tied for third in the FBS in total tackles with 147 on the season. Wagner earned first-team all-WAC accolades for the third-straight season and was a strong candidate for the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. In the Aggies’ 13 games this season, Wagner posted nine double-digit tackle outings, highlighted by a career-high 20 stops against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 22, while adding 18 stops against Colorado State on Sept. 24. 

“This is a tremendous honor for Bobby to play in this prestigious all-star game,” USU head coach Gary Andersen said. “It is very well-deserving for him to be selected to play in this game as one of the premier seniors in the country. This is a fantastic opportunity for him to get exposure and showcase his talents for the chance to play at the next level.”

The Senior Bowl is the nation’s most unique football game and football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the country’s best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams.

After a seven-year drought for a Utah State player to be selected to the Senior Bowl, this is the second-straight season for an Aggie to be invited to the prestigious game, as cornerback Curtis Marsh was selected for the 2011 game, but could not play due to an injury. Prior to Marsh, the last time that a USU player was selected was tight end Chris Cooley in 2004. Overall, Wagner is the 16th USU player selected to the Senior Bowl since 1962.

Wagner also led the USU defensive unit with 11.5 tackles for loss, adding four sacks and also led the Aggies with two interceptions, snaring one in the Wyoming game and the second sealed USU’s wild double-overtime win at Idaho, ending the game with a pick at the goal line on Idaho’s final possession. Wagner also had one fumble recovery on the season, which came in USU’s bowl eligibility-clinching win over Nevada. It came on a 4th-and-1 play from the USU 12 with just over five minutes left, as Nevada was driving for the go-ahead score.Wolf Pack QB Tyler Lantrip ran an option play, and had the first down, but was stripped of the football and Wagner recovered to thwart the threat and send USU bowl bound. Wagner posted a total of 15 tackles in the Nevada game, including half a tackle for loss, earning WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

With 147 tackles on the season, Wagner ascended both USU’s and the WAC’s Single-Season Tackles list, finishing at No. 5 on the Aggies’ yearly list and No. 7 on the WAC’s season list.

For his career, Wagner ended with 446 tackles as an Aggie, the most in the WAC since 1999 and tied for the USU record since 1979. Wagner is just the third Aggie since 1979 and the fourth WAC player since 1999 to reach the 400 tackle milestone.

Wagner helped Utah State post a historic season with a 7-6 record, its first seven-win season since 1993, capping its season with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Ohio in a 24-23 thriller. Five of USU’s losses were by one score or less, and 10 of the Aggies’ games were decided by one score this season which are the most in the nation.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at Twitter or on the USU football blog. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at Twitter or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Contact: Contact: Zach Fisher, (435) 797-2066

The cook-off is held at the Lundstrom Student Center located at 1295 E. 1000 North in Logan. The cost of submitting chili in the competition is $3 for USU students and $5 for all other entrants. Tickets for dinner are $3 for individuals, $5 for couples and $10 for families.

“The College of Ag Chili Cook-off is a great participation event for students, faculty and the community,” said Lisa Allen, academic advisor in the College of Agriculture. “It’s an evening full of good food, great entertainment and lots of fun at a minimal cost.”

Proceeds from the event support College of Ag activities and other university needs.

“This year’s cook-off promises to be an exciting time,” Allen said. “The Sagwich Basin Boys, a local band from Avon, Utah, will be back again to provide music and entertainment as participants enjoy a variety of chilies and fresh corn bread.”

For further information on submitting chili in the competition or for more information about the event, contact Allen at 435-797-0454.

Related link:

USU College of Agriculture

Writer: Skyler Di Stefano, 435-797-7406     
Contact: Lisa Allen, 435-797-0454

Johnson has significant experience in performance assessment, evaluator calibration, rubric design, competency based education, technology integration and data utilization.

Prior to USU, Johnson spent seven years as the senior manager of the Performance Evaluation Department at Western Governors University. Under her leadership, WGU pioneered the development of a scalable system for scoring high volumes of assessments. Johnson also spent three years as a program specialist with the Utah Personnel Development Center and has more than ten years’ experience as a K-12 special educator.

Johnson’s passion for USU’s Regional Campus and Distance Education system comes from experiencing the challenges of being a non-traditional student in need of educational opportunities.

“RCDE provides access to education for those who otherwise would not have the opportunity,” said Johnson. “I am pleased to be able to contribute to the RCDE team.”

Johnson holds degrees from Utah State University and Brigham Young University and has a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Assessment from James Madison University.  

Johnson and her husband, Doug, have 10 children and six grandchildren.

As director of operations, Harris will help manage and direct the various projects in which RCDE staff are involved. He also will aid in the gathering and presenting of data to the decision makers within the organization to help them make more data driven decisions.

He spent the past three years at USU working as a systems engineer and Distance Education coordinator. In those roles he worked with the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services to facilitate the offering of its online and broadcast courses to make offerings and instructional payments as smooth and efficient as possible. He also worked on many internal processes in RCDE to make them more efficient.

Prior to working at USU, Harris worked for the corporate office of Stevens-Henager College of America. While there, he was the director of scheduling and instructional improvement. He implemented processes and helped create software systems to increase the effectiveness of the scheduling of students as well as various other processes.

“An important priority for me is to create efficiencies in the way we help students access education,” he said. “I enjoy helping others achieve their educational goals and want to put processes in place that will allow them to achieve them as quickly as possible.”

He has a master’s degree in instructional technology from USU.

Contact: Diane Johnson, (435) 797-7201, diane.johnson@usu.edu

Contact: Darrell Harris, (435) 797-1698, Darrell.Harris@usu.edu

Writer: Paige Pagnucco, (435) 797-1429, paige.pagnucco@usu.edu

“As a joint effort with Student Services and Human Resources, this event’s purpose is to inspire others and engage people to fulfill their potential of living strong, successful and healthy lives,” said USU Wellness Coordinator Dayna Barrett. 

The Wellness Expo is open for students, employees and the community, and is offered as a way to motivate everyone on a wellness journey during any stage of life.  

Interactive booths, displays and health screenings are available at the Wellness & Benefits Expo, offering information about nutrition, fitness, relaxation, sustainability and financial health. Those attending can try on a 20-pound body fat suit and experience how difficult it is to perform simple tasks, or find out your current health numbers and how to improve your lifestyle.

Health screenings to determine body mass index, body fat percentage, blood pressure, blood sugar, grip strength and flexibility will be open to attendees. Free diabetes and blood sugar screenings will be available thanks to the generous support of Logan Regional Hospital.

To participate in a free hearing test provided by the USU Hearing Clinic, call 435-797-1375.  

Most people have the potential to live a long, healthy and full life lasting at least 70-80 years, but the odds increase when the body is properly maintained, Barrett said. But, the body should be protected and appreciated. Poor food choices and lack of physical activity are common risk factors for an unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity and diabetes rates are increasing, but these obstacles can be prevented. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, engaging in fun physical activities, and learning about the resources and support available are key components of leading a healthy life. 

Barrett said if these simple steps are neglected, serious consequences, including anxiety and depression, high blood pressure and irregular blood sugar levels can result. These aspects will occur in addition to illness, lack of energy and decreased academic performance. 

“Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels,” Barrett said. “Once you feel healthy, feel great, have endless energy, have great concentration and feel happiness — it’s hard to ever think that unhealthy was the ‘normal.’”

The USU Wellness & Benefits Expo, along with the USU Wellness Program, is dedicated to making life-changing decisions easier, Barrett said. By providing fitness classes, ways to decrease stress levels, delicious Be Well meal and snack options, fitness assessments and support, the programs and activities ensure the journey is not traveled alone.

“The USU Wellness Program strives to support and enhance the health and wellness of employees and their families and the broader community by building partnerships, programs and policies that enrich lives,” Barrett said. “Many of our programs are available to students and community members.”

More information is available at the Wellness website or contact dayna.barrett@usu.edu (435-797-8519).

Contact: Dayna Barrett, Employee Wellness coordinator, 435-797-8519, dayna.barrett@usu.edu

Writer: Erika Rasmussen, 801-349-7719, Erika.ras@aggiemail.usu.edu

The night starts at 5 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. Head coach Gary Andersen will address the audience, show season highlights and present team awards.

Anyone interested in attending the banquet should contact Mark Andersen in the USU Football office at (435) 797-1870 or register online.

*Note, pre-registration is required, walk-ups will not be accepted on the night of the banquet.

Utah State posted a historic season with a 7-6 record, its first seven-win season since 1993, capping its season with its first bowl appearance since 1997 with a trip to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Ohio in a 24-23 thriller. Five of USU's losses were by one score or less, and 10 of the Aggies' games were decided by one score this season which are the most in the nation.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at Twitter or on the USU football blog.  Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at Twitter or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Guv gives Aggies Political Pep Talk, Vows More Support for Colleges

Story & Photo by Allie Jeppson, HNC staff writer, The Hard News Café, Friday, January 20, 2012

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert encouraged university students to develop marketable skills and become more informed during his Wednesday [Jan. 18] appearance on the USU campus at Pizza and Politics, hosted by the USU College Republicans.

There was a large crowd, and the governor’s staff appreciated it.

“This was a great turnout,” said Herbert’s campaign manager Scott Ericson. “And it’s exciting to see how many students care about Governor Herbert.”

Herbert, a Republican who served as Jon Huntsman Jr.’s lieutenant governor, is running for reelection. He told the students that the future depends on them.

“You are the rising generation and you are the rising future,” he said. “Are you ready?”

Career success and positive influence on the future depend on three factors, Herbert said: lower tax rates, decreased regulation and labor.

“I recognize that we can make it difficult for business by overregulation, just as well by over-taxation,” Herbert said.

While taxes are necessary to raise revenue, Utah’s tax rates are competitive, if not better, than many states, he added.

Utah has 1,969 laws and regulations on the books, with 48 percent of those affecting businesses, Herbert said. To encourage Utah’s free market, he said, 360 of those regulations are being eliminated.

“If we can lower those down,” Herbert said, “maybe we can have a lower cost product, and that helps all of us.”

The third essential element is a strong labor force and work ethic, which Herbert said Utah students already possess.

“We have great labor,” the governor said. “We have the youngest work force in America. We are young, we are tech-savvy, we are productive, and we come from a background of a great work ethic.”

With this type of work force, he said, Utah is already on the right track, leading America out of the economic downturn. And with continuing improvement in the other areas, Utah is growing in prominence.

“It’s important that we keep this unique and special place that we call Utah,” he said. “Utah is the shining city on the hill and an example of how a good state ought to be governed.”

As the discussion turned to Q&A, the leading concern among the student audience was higher education, with questions including tenure for higher education faculty, support of the voucher system, economic success with the lack of education and state investment in higher education.

In response to these questions, Herbert said that although Utah is not where it needs to be, the state is headed in the right direction.

“We’ve clearly got to figure ways to invest in education,” Herbert said. “We’ve got to make sure you have the skills necessary to move forward.”

Herbert said that with the easing of the economic downturn of the last few years, cuts on higher education in Utah will cease. Herbert promised that the state will add $24 million in support of higher education. The Governor’s Education Excellence Commission has set a 2020 target of 66 percent of Utahns to earn college degrees. An educated and skilled population is essential to economic prosperity, he said.

Asked about the presidential campaign, Herbert said he supports former Massachusetts governor and head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Mitt Romney because of his success in creating jobs and his experience as a public and private official.

Herbert encouraged students to get involved and to vote in the upcoming election.

“It’s your future and if you care about your future, you better care about politics,” Herbert said. “It takes a commitment and determination to participate in the political process.”

Students who turned out to hear the governor and eat pizza agreed that they should pay closer attention to the presidential campaign and politics in general.

Sara Driggs, a senior in mechanical aerospace engineering, says she needs to become more aware.

“I haven’t been able to look up all those issues because I spend so much time doing homework,” she said. “It just makes me want to be more aware of what’s going on.”

Freshman and co-chair of the Pizza and Politics event Brayden Smith agreed.

“I think it’s important for students to be involved in politics and know what their leaders believe,” Smith said.

TP

ASUSU Announces New State Funding Campaign

By Rouchelle Brockman, The Utah Statesman, Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A new online system for reporting service hours and a statewide campaign for higher-education funding was unveiled at the ASUSU Executive Council meeting Tuesday [Jan. 24].

The Aggies Giving Service site will be released online starting Monday [Jan. 30] for students to record their service hours, said ASUSU Service Vice President Maddie Busteed.

"This way students will have accurate numbers to put on resumes," said ASUSU President Erik Mikkelsen. "(The system) is another tool to help make Utah State students more marketable."

The system will also help USU organizations apply for funding, Busteed said. Many student groups receive funding based on their community impact, and this tracking system will allow them to specifically demonstrate that impact, she said.

Busteed said even though any student will be able to access the system, it is initially aimed at helping established organizations and their administrators track service hours. Once all technical and other administrative concerns with the site have been worked out, she said, she "sees it expanding to the whole university."

Busteed said also she wanted to create the site since she came into office last year, and the system will be a vast improvement to the Service Center's previous hand-written tracking system.

The system was co-created with ASUSU webmaster John Reynolds and has been in its testing phase since Friday [Jan. 20], she said.

A new advertising campaign encouraging university and governmental support for increased state funding to universities will be displayed on campus, beginning sometime in the next few weeks, Mikkelsen said at the Tuesday meeting.

"Utah is very fiscally conservative," said ASUSU Executive Vice President Kirsten Frank. "Higher education has taken so many cuts, there is not more fat to trim."

Mikkelsen, along with the other members of the Utah Student Association, based the campaign on a Georgetown University study that says by 2020, 66 percent of Utah jobs will require some sort of post-high school education.

The campaign will be styled after the "99 percent" campaign used during the Occupy movement and will depict a student holding a piece of paper with his or her personal education story written on it, stating "I am the 66 percent," Mikkelsen said.

"It's about return on investment," Frank said. "The only way to ensure Utah stays economically competitive is by investing in higher education."

Mikkelsen said this is a statewide campaign, and other universities around the state will display similar ads.

"It brings all 170,000 Utah students together under one voice," he said. "It will not be fragmented by institution, like in the past."

– rouchellebrockman@gmail.com

The program provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to contribute to the Carbon Offset Travel Fund to help mitigate the impact of their university-related travel.

The program gives USU faculty and staff the opportunity to donate $10 to the university’s Carbon Offset Travel Fund by voluntarily deferring part of their travel reimbursement. A check off box has been added to the existing form to make it easy for users to donate.

The impetus for the drive towards sustainability comes from President Albrecht’s signing of the American College and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007.  USU was the first university in Utah to sign the commitment. Upon signing, participating colleges and universities pledged to implement plans in pursuit of climate neutrality.

“A large proportion of our carbon emissions is due to air and automobile travel by staff and faculty on university business trips,” said Nat Frazer, chairman of the USU Sustainability Council. “For example, last year USU travelers logged over 17 million miles in air travel and over 7 million miles by car. Nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of USU’s carbon emissions are due to faculty, staff and students travelling on university business.”  

Frazer said several universities are achieving net carbon reductions by purchasing carbon offsets from other organizations that implement carbon sequestration programs.  A college in Maine claims it has achieved zero net carbon emissions by purchasing carbon offsets in Oregon.  USU’s Sustainability Council decided early on that it would work to reduce carbon emissions locally rather than purchase “carbon credits” from some distant location. 

“Given the air quality problems we sometimes see in Cache Valley, we’d like to help lower emissions right here at home,” said Frazer. “As a land-grant university, we have also always been committed to sustainability so it is our responsibility to manage environmental, social and economic sustainability programs with specific goals and objectives.”

This year, funds will be used to lower carbon emissions from USU’s grounds-keeping operations which might include replacing smaller gasoline-powered lawnmowers with rechargeable electric mowers.  Electric mowers not only reduce carbon emissions; they also require much less maintenance than gasoline-powered mowers.  Another option is to replace large gasoline-powered riding mowers with propane-powered models.  Propane models emit less carbon and also have lower operating costs.

Later this spring, USU’s Sustainability Council will solicit additional ideas from faculty and staff on how to best use future funds generated by the Carbon Offset Program to further reduce USU’s carbon footprint.

The new program was designed and built by Sharyn Bradfield, manager of finance systems, Megan Maples, travel lead, in the USU Controllers’ Office, and Ryan Merrill database administrator in USU’s Information Technology Office. Bradfield said that they wanted to keep the process simple and easy for participants to use.

“All they have to do to donate is simply check a box. We take care of the rest,” said Bradfield.

When completing travel reimbursement forms, travelers will be able to check a box indicating their intent to deduct $10 from their reimbursement check as a tax-exempt donation to the fund.  The check off is entirely voluntary and is optional each time an individual submits a form for travel reimbursement. Based on previous travel data, the fund has a potential to collect more than $50,000 per year.

Bradfield is proud to have developed a way to make a positive impact that benefits the community in Cache Valley. She and Frazer both agree that the program is innovative and will serve as a model for other universities to follow.

The program began January 23, 2012.

For more information about the Carbon Offset Program, visit the website.

Contact: Nat Frazer, (435) 797-2452, nat.frazer@usu.edu

Writer: Paige Pagnucco, 435-797-1429, paige.pagnucco@usu.edu