October 29, 2002 News Releases
Released 10/25/02 & 10/28/02
UTAH STATE ENHANCES WORKFORCE DIVERSITY
LOGAN
— As a land grant institution, one of Utah State University’s
primary purposes is to serve the people of Utah with educational
and employment opportunities. That mission includes an increasing
commitment to enhance the ethnic diversity of its workforce
and to make the community, as well as staff and students, aware
of the importance of diversity.
“For the last two years Utah State took the lead in providing
English training to enhance employment opportunities for immigrants
in Utah,” said Idania Mirabal, coordinator of the Enhancing
Diversity in the Workforce program at Utah State.
“We hope to expand our employment skills training to ethnic
minorities in northern Utah,” she said.
Directed by Clark England, the program offers ten weeks of free
training to people with limited English skills. Workshops are
held Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Logan High School. Personnel
Services and the Intensive English Language Institute at Utah
State coordinate an elementary and intermediate level class
each semester, which focuses on workplace English and enhances
representation of ethnic minorities in the workforce through
education and training.
“We prepare the participants to find and retain employment
through English classes focused on employment, cultural skills
and technical training,” said Mirabal. “As a result,
we are improving job opportunities for those who face significant
barriers because of their limited English proficiency and insufficient
technical skills.
“People from the multicultural community with insufficient
language skills increase their self-esteem,” she said.
“As they learn more English, they become more independent
and have more educational and career options.”
The curriculum features guest speakers from the Department of
Workforce Service, the USU Personnel Office and USU Facilities.
“We appreciate the support of the Utah State Office of
Education, the Department of Workforce Service, Logan and Cache
County school districts and many local businesses, including
Pepperidge Farms, Albertson’s and Deseret Industries,”
said Mirabal. “Partnership is a key element of this program,
and we continue our efforts to increase local and state support
and coordination.”
The program, in its third year, has graduated more than 107
students. Some graduates have been hired by Utah State.
“I learned so much,” said program graduate Virginia
Perez. “Now I am prepared to find a better job and to
make a good interview. I know how to make a resume and fill
out a job application.”
Another graduate, Azam Mohadesy, noted how important the child
care component is. “This service (child care) helped me
very much, and if you didn’t have it I couldn’t
have come.”
All of the students echoed Valeria Ortiz’s thoughts. “I
want to say thank you.”
For registration information contact Idania Mirabal at 797-0698.
October
28, 2002
Writers: Idania Mirabal, IdaniaM@personnel.usu.edu, and Nadene
Steinhoff, nadene.Steinhoff@usu.edu
Contact: Idania Mirabal, 797-0698
NEW
DEPARTMENT HEAD NAMED IN SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT UTAH
STATE
LOGAN — Dr. Barry Franklin has been named new head of
the Department of Secondary Education in the College of Education
at Utah State University.
Franklin comes to Utah State with impressive academic credentials
from the University of Michigan-Flint, said Gerry Giordano,
dean of the College of Education.
“Dr. Franklin is a world-class scholar who already has
made important contributions to our programs,” Giordano
said. “Over and above his impressive academic achievements,
he is a seasoned administrator who shares the College of Education’s
commitment to students and to public education. We are extremely
fortunate to have a professional of this stature in this critical
position.”
Franklin has a long list of publications and areas of research
interest, including curriculum policy, theory and history, urban
education, teacher education, program evaluation and service
learning. He has written or edited seven books on education
and published dozens of articles, essays and papers in some
of the most prestigious education journals and conferences.
He is finishing a book about educational partnerships with colleagues
from the University of Wisconsin that will be published by Palgrave
MacMillan.
He is a member of the editorial board of the journal “History
of Education,” and he serves as current program chair
for the curriculum studies division of the American Educational
Research Association.
Franklin graduated with a bachelor’s degree from California
State University-Northridge in 1966 majoring in history. He
received his master’s of arts in teaching history from
the University of Chicago in 1969 and his doctorate at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison in1974. Franklin received a second master’s
degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1978, majoring
in special education.
Giordano said the college was looking for someone with strong
organizational and leadership skills along with an exceptional
scholarly record and teaching knowledge.
“Dr. Franklin surpassed all our expectations in those
areas, and he brings added interpersonal skills and evidence
of a commitment to meet the needs of diverse learners and language
minority students in the public schools. We are extremely pleased
to have him join us.”
Date: October 25, 2002
Contact: Barry Franklin, 435-797-2225
Writer: D’Artagnon Wells (435) 797-1350
POLITICAL
COMICS, CAPITOL STEPS, TO PERFORM AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
LOGAN — Political comedy often stands the all test of
time. From political cartoons to masks and stand up, it canbring
a laugh. In this tradition, Capitol Steps is a troupe of Congressional
staffers-turned-comedians who travel the states satirizing the
very people and places that once employed them. The Steps perform
more than 500 shows a year across the country, and this year
one stop is at Utah State University. Brought in by ASUSU Arts
& Lectures Series, Steps will perform Wednesday, Nov. 6
at 7:00 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts
Center on Campus. Tickets are currently on sale at the Spectrum
ticket office. Tickets are $10 general admission and $3 for
Utah State students.
Capitol Steps was born in 1981 when Ronald Reagan was President.
Co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured
that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians
could become entertainers. Since then, the Steps has provided
more than 4,500 performances in 48 states. The group now includes
22 cast members, five of whom are on stage for any show. The
troupe has recorded 22 albums, including its latest “When
Bush Comes to Shove.” It’s been featured on NBC,
CBS, ABC and PBS and can be heard four times a year on National
Public Radio stations nationwide in “Politics Takes a
Holiday.”
Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill; some for Democrats,
some for Republicans and others for politicians who firmly straddle
the fence, promotional material states. No matter who holds
office, there’s never a shortage of material.
“Typically the Republicans goof up,” Elaina Newport
says. “And the Democrats party. Then the Democrats goof
up and the Republicans party. That’s what we call the
two-party system.”
Although Capitol Steps is based in Washington D.C., most shows
are for out-of-town audiences whether it’s the National
Welding Supply Association, a University audience, high schoolers,
or state legislators. In fact, the Capitol Steps has performed
for the last five presidents. The only complaints the Steps
seem to get are from politicians and personalities who are not
included in the program.
Performance material is updated constantly, whether to include
George Bush’s latest malapropism in “Don’t
Go Fakin’ You’re Smart” (sung to the tune
of Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”)
or the group’s Little Orphan Annie in “Osama Come
Out, Tomorrow.” Whether it’s politicians or Mike
Tyson (“Pardon my Boys, Is this the Chap Who Tried to
Chew You?”), the Capitol Steps are equal opportunity offenders.
Surgeon General’s Warning: “The Capitol Steps will
cause your sides to split” (C. Everett Koop, 1/6/89).
For photos stored on-line please visit http://www.capsteps.com/live/pr-nyc02.html
October
25, 2002
Contact: Julie Dethrow, ASUSU Arts & Lectures Vice-President,
(435) 797-1722,
aggiepride21@yahoo.com
UNDERGRADUATES
SHOW ART AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
LOGAN — Interesting, perplexing, something that knocks
your socks off”
These are the qualities juror Ric Collier, director of the Salt
Lake Art Center, will look for when students at Utah State University
submit work for the university’s Undergraduate Art Exhibit.
Collier will begin his survey of work Nov. 1 and the public
can enjoy his selections during the exhibition’s run Nov.
7–14 in the Tippetts Exhibition Hall of the Chase Fine
Arts Center at Utah State. Exhibition hall hours are weekdays
1–5 p.m.
All undergraduates at Utah State, working in all media, were
invited to submit their work to be judged by Collier. For many
of these students the opportunity to display their art work
outside a classroom setting is limited. This student-organized
show gives them a chance to participate in a juried gallery
experience and receive awards.
“It’s a good opportunity to share ideas and see
what everyone else is doing,” said senior Shasta Fletcher,
a photography major.
Chris Warwrinofsky, a senior studying painting said that undergraduate
students and their work receives public exposure, and that is
important.
The Undergraduate Art Exhibit runs one week only and closes
with a reception Nov. 14 from 6–9 p.m. The reception is
free and all are invited. Awards, donated by the Utah State
Bookstore and other sponsors, will be presented at the closing.
This is an excellent opportunity for the community to view an
art show that is bound to be diverse and full of energy, student
organizers said. “Who knows, you may wind up leaving the
show with no socks.”
October
25, 2002
Contact: Art Department (435) 797-3460
Writer: Alissa Marie Fausett
utah
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