May 27 and 28, 2003 Utah
State in the News
KSL
NEWSCAST: JAKE GARN FLIES USU’S REPLICA OF WRIGHT BROTHERS
PLANE
A replica of the Wright Bros. plane flew today in Mt. Pleasant.
The plane was built by Utah State University students in celebration
of the 100th anniversary of the first flight. This plane flew
in March in Wendover. Jake Garn flew the plane this weekend.
(KSL newscast, 5:30 p.m., 10 p.m., 05/25/03)
RAY CORN IS AGGIE
GYMNASTICS
Having been a former USU Aggie gymnast, the recent allegations
against Ray Corn and his program greatly saddened me. Ray has
been running a great gymnastics program for 25-plus years, providing
many young women with the opportunity to get a top-notch education
and grow into great college gymnasts and individuals. (Herald
Journal, Letter to the Editor, Krissy Richards, San Diego, 05/27/03)
HJ NEEDS TO DO
MORE RESEARCH
I very rarely read the newspaper or watch the news because
I am tired of trying to decipher where the truth lies. Has the
reporter done all the research and found the facts from many
different sources from all angles of the story? Is the whole
story being told, or just a small portion? The front-page article
about Ray Corn and USU Gymnastics in last Sunday’s paper
reaffirmed my distrust for the media. I worked very closely
with Ray Corn as a gymnast for one year and as an undergraduate
assistant for two years (one-and-a-half of those years were
also spent with Mark Lee), and I am appalled with how biased
and one-sided the article was. (Herald Journal, Letter to the
Editor, Sarah Gray, Providence, 05/27/03)
GRATEFUL FOR A
SECOND CHANCE
Rebecca Hall said the idea of going to college never occurred
to her until her junior year of high school. “It’s
a funny thing,” said the Cache High graduate and recipient
of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Utah State University.
“I just never really thought about it. I never planned
to go to college until I went to Cache High.” (Herald
Journal, 05/27/03)
HERITAGE CENTER
PUTS ZING IN ITS TEACHING
If you want to celebrate the Old West, you'd better be modern
about it. What with television and Gameboys and movies and Xboxes
and computers all clamoring for their attention, modern children
— and modern adults — are easily distracted. They're
not inclined to be taught unless the teaching has some sort
of "wow" factor. "Kids today learn differently,"
said Rhonda Thompson, the director of the American West Heritage
Center. ... So Thompson called in David Sidwell. Sidwell is
a Utah State University drama professor who specializes in storytelling.
His task, as given to him by Thompson, was to do something to
jazz up the heritage center. Give it some zing. Make the presentations,
well, sexier. Liven the place up. (Deseret News, 05/27/03) click
on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,505035977,00.html
UTAH FORESTS,
RANGELANDS ARE IN PRIME FIRE DANGER
Utah, in its fifth year of drought and with millions of acres
of forests and rangelands within its borders, is like a big
old stoke furnace looking for a light. ... Forest-ecology professor
David Roberts of Utah State University in Logan believes that
the way people think about fire depends on where they live,
work or play. "On one end of the spectrum, people want
fiber production, primarily logs big enough to saw into lumber,
but at least to make paper if not timber products," he
said. For them all fires are bad. (Salt Lake Tribune, 05/26/03)
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/may/05262003/utah/utah.asp
DAUGHTERS SPEAK
HIGHLY OF RAY CORN
We are writing this letter in reference to the Sunday, May
18, article titled “Coach Crossing Line?” Our three
daughters were involved in Ray Corn’s local gymnastics
program for years. Ray coached our girls from childhood to adulthood.
They always had positive comments concerning their close relationship
with him. He had high expectation for them, but at the same
time, respected and guided them to reach their full potential
in the sport. (Herald Journal, Letter to the Editor, Ralph and
Geraldine Cannon, River Heights, 05/26/03)
USU PROJECT SEEKS
VETERANS’ STORIES
For most people, Memorial Day is a much-anticipated day off
from their jobs and a time to enjoy the company of family and
friends. ... For Randy Williams, director of the Fife Folklore
Archives at Utah State University, this Memorial Day brings
into focus the importance of the Veterans History Project —
a project aimed to collect and preserve the history of America’s
war veterans. (Herald Journal, 05/26/03)
CORN GUILTY? NOT
AS I SEE IT
If a fired assistant coach and three athletes are to be believed,
Utah State University gymnastics coach Ray Corn is a lunatic.
An unstable man who tolerates sexual harassment, verbally abuses
his athletes and even assaults his assistants. I just don't
believe them. I have no vested interest in the current mess
in Logan. I don't know Ray Corn from Creamed Corn. I have been
in attendance at two or three gymnastics meets in which he was
involved, but that's it. Nor do I know accuser Mark Lee, the
assistant who was fired after this season, or the three gymnasts,
Sarah Colson, Kyla Mattioli and Kim Scharman. But I do know
manipulation when I see it. Corn's coaching techniques came
to light in a recent Logan Herald Journal article detailing
the complaints of Lee and several gymnasts. The impetus was
apparently Lee's firing. Corn and Lee disagreed on numerous
occasions over the past few years. Eventually the tension became
so great that Lee was let go. (Deseret News, Brad Rock, Sports
columnist, 05/25/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,505035593,00.html
ONLY 5% OF GOVERNMENT
RECORDS WORTH KEEPING
In a dusty dance hall somewhere in small-town southern Utah,
Stuart Preece was opening every door, checking behind every
little cranny and fighting the darkness in his search. ... The
Millennial Government Project is being conducted in conjunction
with Utah State University in Logan and Southern Utah University
in Cedar City, where space is provided for the microfilming
and management of the records. Recently, Preece headed to Plymouth
in Box Elder County. Last month, the two of them visited eight
towns in Washington County as part of the project. (Deseret
News, 05/25/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,505035330,00.html
YOU CAN HELP
PRESERVE WAR MEMORIES
Special Collections and Archives at Utah State University is
partnering with the Library of Congress to help preserve the
history of America’s war veterans. The program will attempt
to collect and preserve oral histories, along with related materials
ranging from letters, diaries, maps, photographs and home movies
of war veterans and those who served to support them. As part
of that effort, USU will host a training session for volunteers
on June 14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mount Logan Middle
School at 875 North, 200 East. The session is free. "The
workshop will train volunteers to record and transcribe the
story of Northern Utah war veterans and those who served in
support of them," USU’s Randy Williams said. (Standard
Examiner, 05/25/03) click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030524232045392181
NEWS BEAT: USU
FLYER TO TOUR STATE THIS SUMMER
Utah’s school children will see Utah State University’s
Wright Flyer for themselves, thanks to a $25,600 gift from the
George and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. The USU Wright
Flyer, a replica of the Wright brothers historic plane made
out of space-age materials, is touring the state of Utah early
this summer, and in July it will be transported to Dayton, Ohio,
for the centennial celebration of powered flight. U.S. Senator-astronaut
Jake Garn will pilot the plane, which was designed by USU engineering
and technology students. The USU Wright Flyer team will present
information on engineering, aviation and aerospace technology,
the history of the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments
and the history of aviation. A total of 23 stops have been scheduled
for school children so far. To date, more than 3,100 students
and their teachers have seen the USU Wright flyer. For more
information about the USU Wright Flyer, visit www.usuwrightflyer.org.
(Standard Examiner, 05/25/03) click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030524232006586023
DONATION TO HELP
USU SHOW OFF PLANE REPLICA
A $25,600 gift from the George and Dolores Doré Eccles
Foundation will help Utah State University bring its Wright
Flyer, a replica of the Wright Brothers' original airplane,
to more Utah schoolchildren. The USU Wright Flyer was constructed
by engineering and technology students. After touring Utah,
it will be taken to Dayton, Ohio, for the centennial celebration
of powered flight. Former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn will pilot the
Utah plane. Students involved in its construction will present
information on engineering, aviation and aerospace technology.
So far, more than 3,100 Utah schoolchildren have seen the USU
plane, and a total of 23 stops will be made to expand that audience.
(Deseret News, 05/25/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,505035590,00.html
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
GARNERS TOP AWARDS FROM COLLEGE OF HASS
The department of English at Utah State University earned four
of the ten college awards presented by the College of Humanities,
Arts and Social Sciences, announced HASS Dean Gary Kiger. (Herald
Journal, 05/25/03)
THREE ASSISTANT
PROFS ADDED TO USU ENGINEERING FACULTY
The Utah State University College of Engineering is expanding
in the electrical and computer engineering department thanks
to three recent additions to the staff. The search for the most
qualified electrical and computer engineers to fill assistant
professor positions was complete when Annette Bunker, George
Liang and Michael Tompkins accepted positions with the department.
(Herald Journal, 05/25/03)
I WOULD TRUST
CORN WITH MY CHILD
As a former Aggie student and staff member of Utah State University,
I too would trust my child with Ray Corn and his teaching abilities.
Ray is a great leader in the world of gymnastics and has a lot
of respect from many gymnastic clubs in the Western United States.
(Herald Journal, Letter to the Editor, Neil L. Miller, Battle
Mountain, Nev., 05/25/03)
AN EXCELLENCE
ADVENTURE
Conly Hansen acknowledges the idea of creating high-paying
jobs in Utah by transforming pig and cow waste into electricity
sounds a little far-fetched. But Hansen, professor at Utah State
University in Logan, believes his new company, created after
nearly three decades of research into agricultural waste, could
someday be a large employer. (Salt Lake Tribune, 05/25/03) click
on: http://www.sltrib.com/2003/may/05252003/business/business.asp
GYMNASTICS ARTICLE
ONE-SIDED, SHALLOW
This letter is in response to the article about Utah State
gymnastics, that appeared 5/18/03. My impression is that the
depth of your journalistic investigation is one-sided and shallow.
It appears to be the laments of a disgruntled employee and some
dissatisfied athletes. (Herald Journal, Letter to the Editor,
Steve Wiley, Logan, 05/24/03)
COACH’S
CAMP USING DIVERSIONARY TACTICS
When people are caught in disputes, a common defense is being
deployed to say public opinion in the Utah State University
gymnastics abuse fiasco. Let me remind you of the so-far undisputed
facts in this case. In February, a male trainer was relieved
from his duties for what Coach Ray Corn called “sexual
harassment.” (Herald Journal, Letter to the Editor, Mark
Lee, Logan, 05/24/03)
SLCC’S
TOOELE CENTER SAVED
Salt Lake Community College says it will not close its Tooele
Center, reversing a decision made earlier this year. The closure
was cited as a cost-saving measure caused by tightening legislative
appropriations to the community college, according to Don Porter,
SLCC's vice president of business services. "The center's
operation is not very big, but it is important to Tooele County
Workforce Development programs," said Porter. "We
are going to do whatever we can to keep it going." In targeting
the Tooele Center, SLCC's officials were looking for nickels
and dimes in savings as part of $2 million in cuts needed to
adjust the budget, he said. SLCC will no longer pay the annual
$21,000 cost to lease space for the Tooele Center in a building
owned by Utah State University. The new plan is to make the
center self-supporting. (Salt Lake Tribune, 05/24/03) click
on: http://www.sltrib.com/2003/may/05242003/utah/59792.asp
KUTV NEWSCAST:
THERE ARE WAYS TO GET OUT TOUGH STAINS
Fresh Idea: There are ways to get out tough stains. (Interview
with Pauline from USU Extension.) (KUTV newscast, 5 p.m., 05/23/03)
KTVX NEWSCAST:
REPLICA OF WRIGHT BROTHERS FLIER ON DISPLAY
The Sanpete Fly-in will be held this weekend. A replica of
the Wright Bros flier, made by USU students, is on display.
Students will also fly the airplane tomorrow during the display.
(KTVX newscast, 5 p.m., 10 p.m., 05/23/03)
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
WRIGHT FLYER
TAKES TO THE SKY IN LAS VEGAS AS TOUR CONTINUES
At Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev., the past and the
present will sit side-by-side providing a rare glimpse of aviation
history as the USU Wright Flyer will be flown and then parked
next to the Air Force's newest fighter jet, the F/A-22, on May
28. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight,
Utah State University students and faculty, working with the
Space Dynamics Laboratory, designed and built the flyer using
space-age materials, as if the Wright brothers were designing
their plane today. (Space Daily, 05/22/03) click on: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/plane-100-03a.html
SCIENCE NEWS:
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
Over the past couple of years, the satellite counts for the
gas giants in our solar system have been escalating. Jupiter
is currently in the lead with 60, while 31 have been found around
Saturn, 21 around Uranus, and 11 orbiting Neptune. The sudden
moon rush is due to an effort by astronomers to use the world's
largest telescopes to find smaller and more remote satellites
than were ever seen before. In fact, none of the moons found
recently are thought to be more than 40 kilometers wide, and
most are “irregular” with huge, elliptical, retrograde
orbits. (Utah State University professor David Farrelly and
his doctoral student Sergey Astakhov conducted the chemistry
portion of this research.) (Astronomy.com, 05/22/03)
KSL NEWSCAST:
INLAND NORTHWEST RESEARCH ALLIANCE MEETS AT USU
The Inland Northwest Research Alliance is meeting at USU to
form a battle plan for research projects into the drought, and
more specifically water reserves and climate changes. The consensus
is that steps must be taken now to conserve water. There is
one prediction that the Sierra Mountains may not have snow by
2070, panicking California lawmakers. (KSL newscast, 6 p.m.,
05/22/03)
8 UNIVERSITIES
MEET TO TACKLE DROUGHT
The Sierra Nevada may not have a snowpack by the year 2070
because of drought. But that's 70 years away. However, 70 years
in a geological time frame is next to nothing. That's why professors
from the eight research universities that make up the Inland
Northwest Research Alliance were at Utah State University Thursday
for a drought workshop. The INRA and its partner, the Idaho
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, are holding
a workshop at USU to determine research questions and then develop
proposals to take to the United States Department of Agriculture
and other federal entities. “We're always going to have
the impact of drought felt,” said Steve Billingsley, chief
of staff of INRA. How then, is that impact mitigated? The workshop
will determine the areas of expertise of each university, USU’s
being water research, said Dave Tarboton, chairman of the USU
Water Task Force. USU also houses the Utah Water Research Laboratory,
which the delegates toured. (Deseret News, 05/23/03) click on:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,505035211,00.html
BANKRUPTCY JUDGES
NEEDED: CANNON SAYS CASELOAD HAS INCREASED IN UTAH, NATIONWIDE
Rep. Chris Cannon, chairman of a subcommittee that oversees
the bankruptcy court system, says Congress is way past due in
creating more federal bankruptcy judgeships nationwide —
including in Utah. “Additional bankruptcy judgeships have
not been authorized since 1992,” and the caseload has
increased nationwide by 61 percent since then, said Cannon,
R-Utah, and chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on
Commercial and Administrative Law. In a hearing Thursday, Cannon
endorsed a bill calling for creation of 36 new bankruptcy judgeships
nationwide — including one in Utah, where three existing
judgeships are now. My state, Utah, according to a recent Utah
State University study, ranks first in the nation in the number
of consumer bankruptcies per household,” Cannon said.
(Deseret News, 05/23/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,505035160,00.html
USU HAS BIG PLANS
FOR DORMS
The future of student housing at Utah State University looks
promising, if the goals set out in the institution’s new
master plan are realized. The collaborative effort — of
representatives from USU Housing and Food Services, students
surveyed by e-mail, Logan city officials and designers from
the Sasaki & Associates architectural firm — is a
25-year conceptual plan for on-campus growth. Gary Chambers,
assistant vice president for student life at USU, said the master
plan is a tentative proposal, subject to modification as the
needs of the student population change. (Herald Journal, 05/23/03)
NEW THEME HOUSING
HELPS STUDENTS FIND THEIR NICHE
Students living on campus this fall in specialized residential
programs at Utah State University will get much more than a
place to sleep. The implementation of some new student-friendly,
living-learning programs, along with improvements to some old
ones, will give students a stronger link to the university at
large, said Shannon Jolley, USU’s theme housing coordinator.
(Herald Journal, 05/23/03)
LITTLE IMPACT
EXPECTED IN TOP OF UTAH BY BAN ON CANADIAN CATTLE: OFFICIALS
CONCERNED ABOUT SPREAD OF MAD-COW DISEASE
Area meat processors expect little impact from a ban on beef
imports from Canada. U.S. officials banned all imports of cattle,
beef, beef-based products and animal feed coming from Canada
after mad-cow disease was found in a cow in that country. ...
The ban likely will have more of an effect on the Canadian market
than locally, said Dale Zobell, a beef specialist and Utah State
University Extension associate professor. (Standard Examiner,
05/23/03) click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030522211509383583
WRITING WORKSHOP
Join acclaimed poet and Utah State University alum C.L. Rawlins
for a weekend of hiking, writing and the inspiring beauty of
Logan Canyon at the Mt. Naomi Nature Writing Workshop (formerly
Petroglyph: Up the Canyon). (Herald Journal, 05/23/03)
PRETTY PRINTS
Caffe Ibis presents an exhibit of recent works by Utah State
University graduate Alisha Tolman through June 10. Tolman is
a recent graduate of Utah State University, where she earned
a bachelor of fine arts degree with an emphasis in drawing.
(Herald Journal, 05/23/03)
ENDANGERED HISTORY
Utah is fortunate to have world-class prehistoric rock art
sites. Our panels are a significant part of the cultural heritage
of Utah and North America, and yet they are virtually unprotected.
... These 24 photographs by USU professor Craig Law have been
selected to represent the several hundred he has taken for the
project from 1993 through the spring of 1996. (Herald Journal,
05/23/03)
SOUNDS FROM BEFORE
Utah Public Radio continues a collaboration with Utah State
University’s department of music in broadcasts next week
spotlighting performing artists on campus. (Herald Journal,
05/23/03)
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