June 22, 2004 News Releases
Released 6/18/04 & 6/21/04
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 6-21-04
TEACHING
TEACHERS TO TEACH ART
LOGAN — A former Utah sculptor, now based in California,
is the special guest during an "Evening for Educators"
at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art on the campus of Utah
State University. The event is designed for teachers.
The "Evening for Educators," featuring Richard Johnston,
is Thursday, July 15, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and includes a behind-the-scenes
look at a studio critique session, a slide presentation by Johnston,
teaching materials (including lesson plans) and refreshments.
"Evening for Educators" programs are funded partially
by the Statewide Art Partnership, an organization that grants
teachers license renewal points. While the "Evening for
Educators" is free, advance registration is necessary,
and a $5 donation for materials is suggested.
"Having Richard Johnston here is fantastic, as we aim to
help teachers in various disciplines to incorporate visual art
into their lesson plans," the museum's Education Curator
Jay Heuman said. "It is vital for teachers to encourage
children to expand their creative horizons in our fast-paced,
ever-changing and technologically-driven society."
Johnston is world renowned for large-scale, welded-steel, site-specific
sculpture. Formerly an art instructor at University of Utah
(1968-1975), Johnston is professor of art at California State
University in San Bernardino, Calif.
In addition to artwork in the collection of the Nora Eccles
Harrison Museum of Art, sculptures by Johnston can be seen at
venues throughout Utah, including Brigham Young University Art
Museum (Provo), Salt Lake Art Center, Utah Museum of Fine Art
(Salt Lake City), Utah Valley State College (Orem) and Weber
State University (Ogden).
For more information, or to register, call the museum at (435)
797-0165 or (435) 797-1414.
Summer hours for the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (650
North 1100 East, Logan, Utah, 84322, (435) 797-0163, Fax (435)
797-3423, www.artmuseum.usu.edu) are: Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 7
p.m.; Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.; closed Sundays, Mondays and
major holidays. Admission is free. For more information or to
schedule a tour of the museum, call (435) 797-0165. The museum
is accessible to persons with disabilities.
June 21, 2004
Contact: Jay Heuman, Education Curator, (435) 797-0165 or jay.heuman@usu.edu
Writer: NEH museum
"HOW THE
BRITISH INVENTED THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS"
LOGAN — Utah State University associate professor of
English Ron Shook offered a popular lecture last year as part
of the Friends of Utah State University Libraries lecture series
—so popular, in fact, that he has been invited back to
share his insights again in the summer series.
Auto racing is in the spotlight when Shook presents "How
the British Invented the Bonneville Salt Flats" in a free
lecture Wednesday, June 30, at 4 p.m. in the Eccles Science
Learning Center, room 046. The building is located south of
the Taggart Student Center and the room is on the lower level.
Space is limited (140 seats) and an early arrival is recommended.
Response to Shook's previous lecture was enthusiastic, said
John Elsweiler, series coordinator and associate director of
public services of University Libraries at Utah State.
"Since everyone enjoyed the earlier lecture we thought
we should share the topic with our summer visitors," Elsweiler
said. "The lecture is informative and very entertaining."
Shook said he plans some modifications in the lecture that takes
a look at automobile racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The
evening promises a lecture with pictures of "cool, old
cars," Shook said.
The lecturer said he began attending race meets on the Salt
Flats in the early 1990s, when he took a volunteer position
as a course watcher on the nine-mile-long speed course.
"I was at the very end of the track and not too many cars
made it that far," he said. "It was pretty lonely."
Later, he worked in the timing booth and eventually served as
an announcer on the public address system.
A self-confessed car nut, Shook has worked his love of racing
into his professional life. Working with Jessie Embry, associate
director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham
Young University, Shook has published a paper in the "Utah
Historical Quarterly" that has been twice reprinted in
anthologies, and he has presented the results of his historical
research at various conferences.
Shook and Embry have researched the history of the Bonneville
Salt Flats for nearly 10 years, traveling to automobile museums
around the country and in Great Britain. The British have a
great admiration for the Salt Flats.
"They feel about Bonneville the same way we feel about
Stonehenge: it's exciting, mysterious, and they're not sure
exactly where it is," Shook said.
The Friends of the University Libraries, a support organization
for the libraries at Utah State, sponsors a summer lecture series
that is open to audiences of all ages. For information on the
lectures or on the Friends organization, contact the library's
administrative office at (435) 797-2631.
The next lecture is July 14 and features Ken White with "Cloning
— Everything You are Afraid to Ask Your Kids About."
June 21, 2004
Contact: John Elsweiler (435) 797-2636, johels@cc.usu.edu
Ronald Shook (435) 797-3499
Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354
UTAH STATE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE REPUBLICANS STAGE ALL-NIGHT VIGIL FOR REPUBLICAN
PARTY
LOGAN — College students are known for standing in line
or camping overnight for concerts and movies, but this time
students are standing in line to be the first to cast votes
in the June 22 Republican primary.
Members of the Utah State University College Republicans will
gather at Mount Logan Middle School (875 East 200 South in Logan
Utah) Monday, June 21, at 8 p.m. to be first in line to cast
votes in the June 22 Republican primary Tuesday morning.
The group expects to listen to several elected officials during
the overnight vigil.
Utah State College Republicans said they are standing in line
to show how important democracy and voting are.
"Millions of young people in the world do not have the
opportunity to vote in a democratic election," said Scott
Dewey, Utah State chapter chairman of the College Republicans.
"We hope our enthusiasm will encourage other students and
members of the community to come out and vote in the Republican
primary."
The Utah Republican Party primary will determine the Republican
nominee for Utah governor and other state offices.
Tom Robins, state chairman of the Utah Federation of College
Republicans, said he will attend the Utah State event. "The
Republican primary is an opportunity for college students to
choose between two qualified candidates for governor, Jon Huntsman
Jr. and Nolan Karras."
Robins said students are excited they have a choice in this
election. Students who identify with the Democratic Party must
accept Scott Matheson as their only option for governor, he
said.
The Utah State College Republicans invite all college students,
community members, elected officials and members of the media
to join them as they line up to participate in the Utah Republican
primary elections Monday at 8 p.m. at Mount Logan Middle School.
For more information, contact Dewey at (435) 764-1782 or Robins
at (435) 760-3877.
June 21, 2004
Contact: Scott Dewey- chairman Utah State College Republicans
(435) 764-1782
Tom Robins- state chairman Utah Federation of College Republicans
(435) 760-3877
WASSERMAN
FESTIVAL BROADCAST NEXT ON UTAH PUBLIC RADIO SERIES
LOGAN – A broadcast of highlights from the 2004 Wassermann
Festival Concert Series is featured next on a collaboration
between Utah Public Radio and the Utah State University department
of music.
A Wednesday (June 30) afternoon broadcast on Utah Public Radio
features selections from the festival in March. The broadcast
begins at 1 p.m. with a repeat Wednesday, July 7, at 9 p.m.
This year's festival opened with a collaboration between the
Fry Street Quartet and Misha Dichter performing Brahms' "Piano
Quintet in F Minor". The work will be heard in its entirety
later in the broadcast.
Dicter, an internationally renowned pianist, performed the final
concert in the series in March. The first portion of this broadcast
will feature his interpretation of works by Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.
The Fry Street Quartet is in its second year as Faculty String-Quartet-in-Residence
at Utah State University. Founded in 1997, the Fry Street Quartet
took its name from the little street in Chicago on which it
was born. The quartet keeps a busy international touring schedule.
This broadcast collaboration was created as a forum for Utah
State's performing artists – from students and faculty
– in addition to visiting faculty, lecturers, performers
and artists-in-residence.
The Wassermann Festival is named for Irving Wassermann who began
teaching in the Utah State University music department in 1955
and served as a director of the piano program and was music
department head. He founded the Music West Festival in 1980
with the goal of providing quality educational opportunities
for local music students. It later became the Wassermann Festival.
A service of Utah State University, Utah Public Radio is heard
on KUSU (91.5 FM) and KUSR (89.5 FM) in Logan and throughout
Utah on a system of 26 translators.
The Utah Public Radio Web site is at UPR.ORG.
June 21, 2004
Contact: Richard Meng, (435) 797-3132
Writer: Craig Hislop, (435) 797-1352
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASE FOR 6-18-04
UTAH
STATE UNIVERSITY NAMES NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
LOGAN, Utah – Air power is on its way to Utah State
University with the former athletic director from the Air Force
Academy being named to head up its athletic program, announced
President Kermit L. Hall during a news conference Friday.
Air Force Colonel Randall W. Spetman, who begins work July 1,
said he and his wife, Becky, are thrilled for the opportunity
to come to Utah State.
"There is a great deal of pride, not just at Utah State,
but among the entire community," Spetman said. "It
is fun for Becky and me to see how we can be part of that and
what will come with the move into the Western Athletic Conference.
There are going to be very good times at Utah State, and the
support for our athletic programs will grow exponentially."
Hall said Spetman draws from deep wells of experience and understanding
and a wide range of skills and abilities that will serve Utah
State University well during this important transition period
in its athletic program.
"In Randy Spetman we have a new athletic director committed
to the success of our student athletes, both academically and
athletically," Hall said. "We wanted an individual
who knew football, understood athletics in the West, could work
with our fine coaching staff, was respected for integrity and
character, believed in academic success, and who could help
build an increasing base of private support. We found that person
in Randy and his best supporter and one of future great fans,
Becky."
He praised the search committee, saying it had excellent leadership
under Ken White, a faculty member who has garnered worldwide
attention for his animal research and who is Utah State's National
Collegiate Athletic Association faculty representative.
"The search committee exercised fidelity to its charge,"
he said. "My thanks goes to each of them for a job well
done."
Spetman said he is impressed by the university's dedicated staff
in the athletic department, which includes several relatively
long-term coaching staff, including gymnastics coach Ray Corn
and basketball coach Stew Morrill, and others who are at Utah
State and want to remain here.
"When you have staff like that in place, it helps build
on reputation," he said.
A major reason for accepting the offer to come to Utah State,
he said, is its emphasis on academics and the way it believes
in its student athletes. He said the university's 10th highest
graduation rate in the nation among its student athletes is
evidence of its commitment.
Over the next six months, Spetman said he plans to get to know
the students, athletes and staff. He will also devote time to
meet with alumni and donors in Utah and across the nation. "I
want to help them understand where the program is going."
This will include building five-year strategic and business
plans for the athletic program to be distributed among the president,
staff, students and administration. He said it's a plan that
will most likely see continued emphasis on improving football
facilities, including locker room expansions and a sports medicine
area. "We need a strong football presence when we move
into the WAC," he said. "We want to make sure we have
a first-class facility."
He said he's pleased that renovation and improvements are already
under way at Romney Stadium. It establishes interest and momentum
among university and community fans. He said he is impressed
with the community support and would like to expand stadium
use to involve even more community members.
Spetman said entrance into the WAC brings new energy and spark
to athletics at Utah State. He said he is looking forward to
being able to compete in this historically significant conference.
He looks forward to continuing his rivalries against Mountain
West teams as well, such as the University of Utah and Brigham
Young. "The WAC has to be able to compete against the Mountain
West and to be a top conference if it wants to compete in a
Bowl Championship Series," he said.
While at the Air Force Academy, Spetman’s influence went
full circle. As the only military athletic director in the nation
at the Division I level, Spetman was the first athletic director
to have been an athlete and a coach at the Academy.
A 1976 graduate, Spetman's competitive spirit and warrior-like
attitude earned him three letters in football. The team co-captain
as a senior, he also captured the heavyweight Wing Open Boxing
Championship twice.
After receiving his commission, he served as an assistant football
coach at the Academy in 1977 under legendary coach Ben Martin.
Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Spetman assumed his duties
as athletic director at the Academy in 1996. He administered
the school's 27-sport intercollegiate program as well as the
physical education and intramural programs.
While there, Spetman directed a major building addition, the
first in 30 years, that included a new weight room, training
room, locker rooms and administrative offices.
Spetman's military career has taken him around the world and
in a variety of positions. A command pilot with more than 3,000
hours of flight time, Spetman's range of positions has taken
him from assistant football coach to a pilot and from the Chief
of Bomber Planning in Desert Shield and Desert Storm to serving
as Chief, Command and Control Division, Operations Directorate
at the U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
A graduate from Squadron Officer School, he attended the National
War College and earned a master's degree in National Security
Strategy. Spetman also holds a master's in management and supervision
from Central Michigan University.
He was a member of the Mountain West Conference Championship
Committee, Handbook Committee and Television Committee. He was
also the third vice president of the National Association of
Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
He and his wife, the former Rebecca Luhring of Des Moines, Iowa,
are the parents of two children, Brian and Kim.
Spetman replaces Rance Pugmire who resigned in April.
June 18, 2004
Writer: John DeVilbiss, 435.797.1358
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