October 30 & 31, 2003
Utah State in the News
Friday, October 31, 2003
IT’S ALMOST PART OF THEIR
RELIGION
Mark Bigelow was a sophomore when he strolled into the opposing
arena that night a few years ago, unsure of the reception he
and his BYU basketball teammates might receive. A good hint
came two hours before tipoff, when the student section was crammed
with fanatical young faces. ... Stew Morrill knows basketball
in Utah as well as anyone. He was born and raised in Provo and
has now built Utah State into a consistent Big West power, a
team that won 20 or more four straight seasons. He knows the
kind of homecourt advantage his team enjoys inside the Dee Glenn
Smith Spectrum (capacity: 10,270, including some 4,000 maniac
students who stand the entire game). (ESPN.COM, 10/27/03) Click
on: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=graney_ed&id=1645916
THE NATION; IN BRIEF / UTAH; FORMER
LEGISLATOR TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
A former Utah legislator was chosen in Salt Lake City to be
lieutenant governor as the state prepares for Gov. Mike Leavitt
to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The appointment
of Gayle McKeachnie, 60, was announced by current Lt. Gov. Olene
Walker, who will become Utah's governor next week when Leavitt
formally resigns. McKeachnie is chairman of Utah State University's
board of trustees. He was the majority whip in Utah's House
of Representatives in 1985 and 1986. (Los Angeles Times, 10/30/03)
DESIGNEE KEEPING A LOW PROFILE:
UTAH'S NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DESIGNEE ALREADY IS FOLLOWING
HIS BOSS'S LEAD
Like Lt. Gov. Olene Walker, Gayle McKeachnie is treading lightly
during the change of power precipitated by Gov. Mike Leavitt's
appointment as Environmental Protection Agency administrator.
At his first news conference as lieutenant-governor-to-be Wednesday,
he respectfully deferred to Walker, Leavitt, state lawmakers
and even voters. ... Utah State University President Kermit
Hall calls McKeachnie "balanced, level-headed, honest and
generous." ... Walker says they will review whether McKeachnie
will resign his other public posts on the Utah State University
Board of Trustees and the Judicial Conduct Commission. (Salt
Lake Tribune, 10/30/03) Click on: http://www.sltrib.com/2003/oct/10302003/utah/utah.asp
2 DIFFERENT DIPLOMAS FOR GRADUATES
POSSIBLE: EDUCATORS LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP TRANSITION TO COLLEGE
A competent student under the proposed Performance Plus education
reform plan is not necessarily one who is ready for college.
That's why the Utah System of Higher Education and the Utah
State Office of Education are looking into creating a special
type of diploma for graduating high school students to differentiate
between "competent" and college-prepared. The diploma
is just one idea among many that has emerged from talks between
public education leaders and chief academic officers at Utah's
nine public colleges and universities. "We're trying to
define the missions of the different universities," said
Utah State University assistant provost Sydney Peterson. "While
you may graduate from high school with competencies to enter
a two-year junior college, you may not be competent to enter
a four-year research institution." (Deseret Morning News,
10/30/03) Click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,520034582,00.html
KSL NEWSCAST: WALKER SELECTS NEW
LT. GOVERNOR FROM USU
Today Gov. Leavitt took a back seat as Olene Walker announced
a new Lt. Gov., Gayle McKeachnie. McKeachnie is a member of
the Constitutional Review Commission and on the board of trustees
at USU. Walker promises a cooperative relationship with the
legislature and a firm stand on education funding. (KSL newscast,
5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m., 10/30/03)
KTVX NEWSCAST: NEW LT. GOVERNOR
NAMED
Today Lt. Gov. Olene Walker announced the new Lt. Gov. Gayle
McKeachnie. McKeachnie is on the USU board of trustees, and
has served as a state representative. Olene Walker says Utahns
should not expect a sequel to the Mike Leavitt era of governing.
Insiders call McKeachnie loyal, solid, and low-key. Olene Walker
ways she will make a strong stand for education. (KTVX newscast,
5 p.m., 10/30/03)
KSTU NEWSCAST: MCKEACHNIE ACCEPTS
NOD AS NEW LT. GOVERNOR
Gayle McKeachnie served four terms in the State House of Representatives.
McKeachnie is a member of the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission,
and on the board of trustees at Utah State University. (KSTU
newscast, 9 p.m., 10/30/03)
WALKER FILLS NO. 2 SPOT: MCKEACHNIE
HAS CONFIDENCE OF NORTHERN UTAH REPUBLICANS
Northern Utah Republicans are praising Lt. Gov. Olene Walkers
pick to succeed her when she becomes governor next week. "Gayle
McKeachnie is a fine person and is well-equipped to handle the
job," Sen. Pete Knudson , R-Brigham City, said. "He
is an individual that legislators will find very easy to approach
and delightful to work with. We wish him the very, very best."
... The Vernal resident currently serves as chairman of the
Utah State University Board of Trustees and is a member of the
Uintah Basin Applied Technology Board. He was also an adjunct
professor of political science and business law at USU and taught
law practice management at Brigham Young University’s
J. Reuben Clark Law School. (Standard Examiner, 10/30/03) Click
on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00031030001115300828
WALKER PICKS SUCCESSOR: USU TRUSTEE
CHAIRMAN SELECTED TO BECOME LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Gov. Olene Walker has selected an attorney and longtime public
servant from
Vernal with no aspirations of becoming a career politician to
replace her when she becomes governor. Gayle McKeachnie was
tapped Wednesday to become Walker’s lieutenant when current
Gov. Mike Leavitt resigns next week to become head of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. (Herald Journal, 10/30/03)
USU TOUTS TRUSTEE’S WORK
Gayle McKeachnie likely will step down as chairman of Utah
State University’s Board of Trustees due to his appointment
as lieutenant governor, USU officials said Wednesday. John Devilbiss,
USU’s executive director public relations and marketing,
said that due to time constraints and possible conflicts fo
interest, McKeachnie, who’s been chairman of the board
since 2001, is expected to resign. McKeachnie could not be reached
for comment. (Herald Journal, 10/30/03)
Thursday, October 30, 2003
STUDENTS ARE FACING NEW HIKES
IN TUITION
Students attending Utah's public colleges and universities should
plan on digging a little deeper next year to pay for their education.
Utah Commissioner of Higher Education Cecelia Foxley will recommend
Friday that the state Board of Regents approve a tuition hike
of 3.5 percent to 4 percent in annual tuition costs for the
state's nine institutions of higher education. The increase
would be effective for the 2004-05 academic year. ... If there
is a salary increase for higher education faculty and staff
paid out of state funds, the law requires that 25 percent of
that increase be paid out of tuition dollars, according to Utah
State President Kermit Hall.(Salt Lake Tribune, 10/29/03) Click
on: http://www.sltrib.com/2003/oct/10292003/utah/106468.asp
WALKER'S PICK: GAYLE MCKEACHNIE
NAMED THE NEW SECOND-IN-COMMAND
Lt. Gov. Olene Walker named Vernal attorney and former state
legislator Gayle McKeachnie today as her replacement when she
becomes governor next week. McKeachnie's former colleagues laud
Walker's choice for lieutenant governor. But many Utahns may
wonder, "Who?" A longtime public servant, his resume
is filled with prestigious positions -- including his current
post as chairman of Utah State University's Board of Trustees
and membership on the Judicial Conduct Commission. (Salt Lake
Tribune, 10/29/03) Click on: http://www.sltrib.com/2003/oct/10292003/utah/106455.asp
WALKER NAMES GAYLE MCKEACHNIE
AS LT. GOV.
Vernal attorney and former state legislator Gayle McKeachnie
will become Utah's next lieutenant governor, continuing the
transition after Gov. Mike Leavitt's confirmation as head of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. McKeachnie, 60, is
the current chairman of Utah State University's Board of Trustees.
He was the majority whip in Utah's House of Representatives
in 1985 and 1986. His appointment was announced Wednesday by
current Lt. Gov. Olene Walker, who will become Utah's governor
next week when Leavitt formally resigns and takes over the EPA
in Washington. (Deseret Morning News, 10/29/03) Click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,520034488,00.html
MOST DON'T THINK SMART BLITZ IS
GOOD: UTAHNS HAVE CONCERNS ON MOTIVES, TEEN'S WELFARE
Two TV interviews with "Today Show" host Katie Couric,
chats with Oprah Winfrey and a spot on CNN's "Larry King
Live" — all coinciding with the release of a book
regarding Elizabeth Smart's high-profile kidnapping —
have Utahns questioning the Smart family's motives and the teenager's
welfare. ... "It's easy for us to say we're taking advantage
of Elizabeth's tragedy," said Ted Pease, head of the communication
department at Utah State University. "But we are still
dying to watch it." (Deseret Morning News, 10/29/03) Click
On: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,520034424,00.html
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Math, science, ptarmigans and snow. In Sweden, where students
of all ages learn through a curriculum that integrates the environment
with regular subjects, they go together like reading, writing
and arithmetic. Now students in Cache Valley can make the connection
as well. ... "The curriculum in Sweden is tied very closely
with the environment and the Arctic ecology," said Barbara
Middleton, a program associate in the USU department. (Herald
Journal, 10/29/03)
RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY LACKING ON
PANEL
Imagine to my great surprise and chagrin when I opened my paper
to Page A3 last Thursday and saw a color photo plus article
about a discussion of faith and religious diversity that was
held on the USU campus the previous Tuesday. In the body of
the article, it was stated that eight of 12 religious groups
contacted responded to the invitation to participate. My disappointment
was this: Why was Cache Community Connections, our local interfaith,
business and civic organization, not asked for a list of religious
leaders in our valley? (Herald Journal, Letter to the Editor,
Rev. Karen J. McFarland, Cache Valley, 10/29/03)
AGGIES NEED FAN SUPPORT
Saturday Utah State played Arkansas State in an important contest
in the Sun Belt Conference. It was a gorgeous day and Utah State
prevailed in a blow-out, 49-0, making them 2-1 in the conference
race for the New Orleans Bowl. Unfortunately the outcome of
this game was marred by the lack of interest by the students
of Utah State, and of the general populace of Cache Valley in
general. (Herald Journal, Letter to the Editor, Vincent Saunders,
West Jordan, 10/29/03)
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