Complications interrupt USU Web servicesBy RACHEL A. CHRISTENSEN

news editor

By BECKA TURNER

senior news writer

By SETH BRACKEN

staff writer

A SIGN IN CRAIG ASTON’S HONOR was unveiled during the agriculture science dinner Wednesday at the new park on 800 East, the former home of a crab apple orchard. The park honors Aston’s service. TYLER LARSON photo

CRAIG ASTON’S ACCEPTS AN AWARD for his dedication to USU agriculture students. Aston was nominated for the award by Ag Council. TYLER LARSON photo

Senior lecturer honored for his years of service

The College of Agriculture celebrated

the end of the year with a closing social

that honored one of its most beloved

senior lecturers, Craig Aston. He was

honored by having the new park, for-

merly a crab apple orchard on 800 East,

dedicated to him, said Marylynne Clark,

development director for the College of

Agriculture.

“He has been a longtime faculty mem-

ber, he has really helped to develop the

Dale and Adele Young greenhouse,” she

said.

Aston has worked for the university

for more than 25 years, said Teryl Roper,

department head of plants, soils and cli-

mate.

“He’s been a mentor. Since he owns

a landscape company he has experience

that many staff members can’t offer,”

Roper said.

Through his company, he has donated

many materials to further students’ edu-

cation, Roper said.

Braden Jensen, former agricultural

senator, said, “His service to the stu-

dents, he’s an excellent professor and lec-

turer, is the reason that he is so deserv-

ing of this dedication.”

Clark said Aston has a high level of

dedication to his students and fellow

faculty members and that makes him

indispensable.

“It would take at least three people to

take over all that he does for his students,

the university and the community,” she

said.

Jensen said the Ag Council made the

decision to give the honor to Aston.

“It was a unanimous decision from

the Ag Council. We talked with Dean

Cockett, and she thought it was a great

idea, so we went forward with it,” he said.

The council dedicated the park by

unveiling a sign naming it the D. Craig

Aston Park, Jensen said.

“We had 200 students at (Wednesday)

night’s unveiling, I can’t think of anyone

more deserving of this honor. He is so

beloved by all who come into contact

with him,” Clark said.

Jensen said most of the College of

Agriculture knew about the honor, but

didn’t know for whom the park was

going to be named.

Roper said Aston’s current classes

will continue to develop and perfect the

-See PARK, page 3

Many USU students trying to pre-

pare for finals encountered problems

with Aggiemail, Blackboard and the

Internet in general Thursday.

This is because three different prob-

lems coincidentally happened the same

day, one involving a backhoe in Salt

Lake City, another involving the uni-

versity’s Storage Array Network (SAN)

and the third involving a power outage,

said Kevin Reeve, USU Information

Technology’s marketing and communi-

cations coordinator.

“It was a triple whammy,” Reeve

said.

Around 9 a.m. Thursday, a backhoe

on Beck Street in Salt Lake City severed

a fiber optic cable, Reeve said. Utah

State gets its Internet through the Utah

Education Network (UEN). He said the

Internet reaches the university through

three fiber optic cables. The accident

at Beck Street knocked out two of these

lines, leaving only one line, the south-

ern-most fiber optic cable, to conduct

the Internet for the entire university.

The line still in service has a 1G capac-

ity and was used at up to 90 percent

Thursday. It is usually doesn’t receive

more than 75 percent usage, and Reeve

said this extreme use caused some

issues and delays.

“It’s kind of like the freeway; too

many cars on the freeway,” he said.

Fixing the fiber optic cable requires

splicing the underground cable back

together, Reeve said, and it could take a

while to complete the process.

Reeve said Information Technology

tried to spread the word to students,

staff and faculty through phone calls

and text messages to use the Internet

for research purposes only and as little

as possible. Thursday morning before

word was spread, about 10 percent of

campus Internet use was traceable to

YouTube, he said.

Qwest Communications customer

service said there is no way to know

how long it will take to repair the prob-

lem, but that the process has already

started.

Aggiemail was down due to a

problem with a unit on campus, Reeve

said. The SAN started flashing a light

indicating it was “sick,” he said. As a

preventative measure in order to avoid

information loss, the SAN shut down

several parts of its network, includ-

ing Aggiemail’s central authentication

system. This same thing happened

Wednesday afternoon, he said. The

SAN’s vendor sent in people and hard-

ware to fix the problem Wednesday and

again Thursday evening.

The day of Internet failures contin-

ued Thursday evening when the Eccles

Broadcast Center (EBC) experience

power failure, Reeve said. The EBC is

part of the UEN located in Salt Lake

City. This last outage caused USU

Internet connection interruptions. It

also made logging in to BlackBoard vir-

tually impossible.

Reeve said he still encourages USU

members to use the Internet sparingly

while these problems are fixed.

–rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu

The Utah State University

ceramics guild is hosting a ceram-

ics sale and show this weekend

in an effort to raise funds for the

guild and to allow the students to

display their work, said Joe Davis,

ceramics studio coordinator.

The event is held semiannually

and in previous years was located

in the Taggart Student Center,

Davis said. However, this year the

event will be held in the Fine Arts

building where each student will

have a place to design a display

for their work. About 25 students

will be participating.

“We wanted the students

to consider the display of their

work,” Davis said.

The event sale was hosted in

the Fine Arts building for the first

time in November of last year and

sales nearly doubled, Davis said.

Last semester’s show brought in

about $10,000 and in previous

shows they usually sold a little

less than half that, he said.

“It really feels more like an

open house,” Davis said.

The ceramics guild is run by

the students, and the students col-

laborate on how to use the funds.

The ceramics guild provides all

of the machines and other equip-

ment for the program at Utah

State, Davis said.

“Students’ contributions make

this such a strong program and

promotes the idea of community,”

Davis said.

The guild focused more for

this sale on advertising than

they have in the past, Davis said.

He said the guild posted signs

around Logan and surrounding

areas and ran advertisements on

Utah Public Radio.

Students sell ceramics for equipment

COMMUNITY MEMBERS BROWSE CERAMICS FOR SALE Thursday in the Fine Arts building. The guild has focused on advertising this year and expects to see it pay off. CODY GOCHNOUR photo-See SALE, page 3

High: 47°Low: 29°Skies:

Rain

showers.

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Today is Friday, April 24, 2009

FeaturesThe Class

of 2009

prepares

to enter

the work-

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Page 5

SportsUSU to

host the

WAC Track

and Field

Champion-

ships.

Page 16

AlmanacToday in History: In 1916, on

Easter Monday in Dublin, the

Irish Republican Brotherhood,

a secret organization of Irish

nationalists led by Patrick

Pearse, launches the so-called

Easter Rebellion, an armed

uprising against British rule.

Weather

The associate dean of the

College of Natural Resources

was honored for her work with

USU Extension.

Page 3

The government of Iraq has

recorded 87,215 civilian deaths

ranging from bombings to

execution-style slayings since

2005.

Page 2

UtahStatesmanThe

Utah State University www.utahstatesman.comLogan, Utah

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S.C. wildfire is biggest in three decades NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s big-gest wildfire in more than three decades – a blaze four miles wide – destroyed dozens of homes Thursday and threatened some of the area’s world-famous golf courses at the height of the spring tourist season. The flames, fed by tinder-dry scrubland, forced hundreds of peo-ple to flee, and some took shelter in the House of Blues honkytonk. The fire got within 10 miles of Route 17, the main coastal road that links beachfront towns and is lined with fast-food restaurants, beach-wear stores and trinket shops. By Thursday evening, the flames were about 3 miles west of the highway.

Texas woman charged for campus threat NACOGDOCHES, Texas (AP) – A student was charged Thursday with terroristic threat for allegedly posting signs around Stephen F. Austin State University that warned of a deadly mass shooting. Jennifer Grant, a sophomore from Palestine, was arrested Wednesday and released Thursday after post-ing $7,500 bond, said Officer Katie Sanders of the Nacogdoches County Jail. Grant, 20, lives in an off-campus apartment complex where many of the signs appeared April 16. They warned that 10 people at the complex would be shot to death.

Wis. first to require cochlear implants MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin could become the first state requiring private insurance companies to cover cochlear implants for children with severe hearing prob-lems. The state Legislature passed a bill Thursday requiring private health insurance plans to cover cochlear implants, hearing aids and related treatment for those under the age of 18. Gov. Jim Doyle has promised to sign it into law.

Today is Friday, April 24, 2009. Today’s issue of The Utah Statesman is published espe-cially for Chris Bowen, a senior majoring in biology and biochem-istry from Mendon, Utah.

Today’sIssue

The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find unfair, please contact the editor at 797-1762 or TSC 105.

ClarifyCorrect

Nat’lBriefs

LateNiteHumorDavid Letterman’s Top Ten Least Useful College Majors for September 7, 2005. 10. Stamp-licking. 9. Shopping for Scarves.

8. Guesstimation.

7. The Physics of Chair-throwing on “Jerry Springer.” 6. English Accents: Why They Sound So Fruity. 5. Comparitive Blinking.

4. Counting Backwards from 10 to 1 (with department head David Letterman.) 3. Melonballing. 2. . The Ethnobiosocioanthropsycho-pharmacolinguistics of Fudge.

1. Lee Majors.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) – Jay Leno checked into a hos-pital with an undisclosed illness Thursday and can-celed the taping of the “Tonight” show, but was doing well and planned to return next week, his publicist and NBC said. Leno left his office at NBC’s studios about midday and checked himself into a hospital for obser-vation, said his publicist, Dick Guttman. He would not identify what ailed Leno or where he went, but characterized his illness as “mild” and said the comedian con-tinued working throughout the day, making phone calls and writing jokes. “Jay Leno is doing just fine,” read a statement from NBC spokeswom-an Tracy St. Pierre. “He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses. He’s expected back to work on Monday.” A woman who answered the media line at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, which is near the Burbank studio where Leno tapes “Tonight,” said they had no patient by that name, and referred inquiries to NBC. LOS ANGELES (AP) – “American Idol” finalists Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai aren’t closer to becoming household names. Both singers were dismissed Wednesday after it was revealed they received the fewest number of viewer votes on the popular Fox singing competi-tion. “I’m so really disappointed,” Desai said after his ouster. “I really am.” The third lowest vote-getter after this week’s disco-themed perfor-mances was Allison Iraheta. For the past several weeks, the judges have not been favorable to Rounds, the 24-year-old mother of three from Memphis, or Desai, the 22-year-old college student from Chapel Hill, N.C.

Celebs&People

LENO

BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq’s government has recorded 87,215 of its citizens killed since 2005 in violence ranging from catastrophic bombings to execution-style slayings, according to government statistics obtained by The Associated Press that break open one of the most closely guarded secrets of the war. Combined with tallies based on hospital sourc-es and media reports since the beginning of the war and an in-depth review of available evidence by The Associated Press, the figures show that more than 110,600 Iraqis have died in violence since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The number is a minimum count of violent deaths. The official who provided the data to the AP, on condition of anonymity because of its sensi-tivity, estimated the actual number of deaths at 10 to 20 percent higher because of thousands who are still missing and civilians who were buried in the chaos of war without official records. The Health Ministry has tallied death certifi-cates since 2005, and late that year the United Nations began using them – along with hospital and morgue figures – to publicly release casualty counts. But by early 2007, when sectarian violence was putting political pressure on the U.S. and Iraqi governments, the Iraqi numbers disappeared. The United Nations “repeatedly asked for that coopera-tion” to resume but never received a response, U.N.

associate spokesman Farhan Haq said Thursday. The data obtained by the AP measure only vio-lent deaths – people killed in attacks such as the shootings, bombings, mortar attacks and behead-ings that have ravaged Iraq. It excluded indirect factors such as damage to infrastructure, health care and stress that caused thousands more to die. Authoritative statistics for 2003 and 2004 do not exist. But Iraq Body Count, a private, British-based group, has tallied civilian deaths from media reports and other sources since the war’s start. The AP reviewed the Iraq Body Count analy-sis and confirmed its conclusions by sifting the data and consulting experts. The AP also inter-viewed experts involved with previous studies, prominent Iraq analysts and provincial and medi-cal officials to determine that the new tally was credible. The AP also added its own tabulation of deaths since Feb. 28, the last date in the Health Ministry count. The three figures add up to more than 110,600 Iraqis who have died in the war. That total generally coincides with the trends reported by reputable surveys, which have been compiled either by tallying deaths reported by international journalists, or by surveying sam-plings of Iraqi households and extrapolating the numbers.

Tally reaches 87,215 Iraqi deaths since 2005

Donors pledge $250 million for Somalia BRUSSELS (AP) – International donors pledged more than $250 mil-lion Thursday to strengthen Somalia’s security forces and try to stop the rampant attacks by armed Somali pirates that have plagued one of the world’s most important waterways. The hefty sum, which included funding for military equipment and material as well as development aid, exceeded the initial request made by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said. “We have just begun the first step of an important process to

restore rule of law in Somalia ... which has been a lawless state for 20 years,” Ban told a news conference following a one-day, U.N.-sponsored donors’ confer-ence. Stabilizing Somalia was the focus of Thursday’s meeting, but the near-daily pirate attacks along Somalia’s 1,900-mile-long (3,100-kilometer) coastline that endanger ships from around the world immediately moved to the forefront of the discussions. “Piracy is a symptom of anarchy and insecurity on the ground,” Ban told the delegates. “More security on the ground will make less piracy on the

seas.” Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed pledged to do “everything imaginable” to stabilize Somalia and fight piracy. “This phenomenon will not last forever,” he promised, expressing “regret” for the pirates’ actions. The pledges were a recogni-tion of the need to end two decades of anarchy in Somalia and of the threat that further lawlessness posed to the world, not just one nation. The funds included at least $134 million for the African Union peacekeeping mission.

FARHAN HAMZA VISITS his father’s grave, which is next to other relatives at the cemetery in Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq’s government has recorded 87,215 of its citizens killed since 2005. AP photo

During the annual Utah Water Environmental Association meet-ing in St. George April 1, Utah State’s Nancy Mesner received the Calvin K. Sudweeks Water Quality Award. Mesner is the associate dean of the College of Natural Resources. She also serves as program leader for USU Natural Resources Extension. For her work through Extension, Mesner was recognized by the Utah Division of Water Quality. Some of her work included developing a youth education pro-gram. Mesner said her program originally targeted ninth graders by correlating with earth systems science core curriculum. The pro-gram was later adapted for use

throughout grades K-12. “We build a lot of it around stream monitoring. We hope that engages (students) for the rest of their lives,” she said. The program also works to edu-cate teachers how to present water quality materials, Mesner said. Mesner hopes her program will let kids in grades K-12 experience some aspect of rivers or lakes and riparian areas. Furthermore, she said she hopes this experience will encourage kids to care about the use and treatment of watersheds. To be successful in achiev-ing goals for the watershed, one must partner well, find common goals, funding and the energy to make those goals happen, Mesner said. Extension works with many different agencies including

BriefsCampus & Community

Friday, April 24, 2009 Page 3StatesmanCampus News

-Compiled from staff and media reports

Samantha Coombs, a political science major at USU, will represent Utah in the second annual Henry Clay Student Congress to take place in Lexington, Ky., in June. The program is a five-day course designed to further educate students in the field of statesmanship, diplomacy and networking. To be a part of the Henry Clay Student Congress, a student must be nominated by their college or univer-sity, and then chosen by the state’s senior U.S. senator. This year, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, requested that a student from Utah State serve as the representative for Utah at this year’s stu-dent congress, said Cindy Nielsen, Political Science internship coordinator at USU. “There have been many Utah State students over the past years who’ve served internships in vari-ous places that have done a wonderful job. These opportunities are arranged through the Political Science Department.” Nielsen said. “I’m sure Samantha Coombs will be a great representa-tive for Utah State, and Utah as a whole. Her professors consider this to be a great choice because she is so tal-ented and articulate.”

Two students are awarded fellowships

The Utah Humanities Council (UHC) recently awarded two fellowships – one to an undergraduate student and one to a gradu-ate student – to support research in the humanities. Each student fellowship pro-vides a cash award of $500. Unlike their peers in the sciences, students in the humanities have typically been disadvantaged by a lack of financial support to do research. Trenton Olsen, an under-graduate student in English, received a UHC fellowship for his project that com-pares the poetry of contem-porary Irish poet Seamus Heaney to the famous Romantic writer William Wordsworth. Christopher Blythe was awarded a student fellowship for his work on the organizational diversity among Mormon Fundamentalist sects.

USU student to represent Utah at Student Congress

Cache orchestra performs at USU The Cache Chamber Orchestra performs Sunday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center. There is no cost to attend the concert. Featured soloist Konlin Shen is a 16-year-old senior at Logan High School. He began studying violin at age 5, and currently studies with Mark Emile. In addition to soloing with the Logan High Orchestra three times, Konlin serves as concert master for the Logan High Chamber Orchestra. He has received numerous awards at both state and national levels. This is his second performance with the Cache Chamber Orchestra. Emile will conduct the orchestra for Konlin’s performance of the third and fourth movements of the “Scottish Fantasy” for violin and orchestra by Max Bruch.

new park. Part of Aston’s plans for the park is to build a pavilion and a barbecue area. It will be especially beneficial for those students enrolled in Aston’s land-scape construction class, with the park serving as a good construction project. “It’s going to be an ongo-ing development. When it’s finished, I doubt it will ever be finished, the park will give students practical expe-rience on a small, residential scale,” Roper said. Roper said Aston’s liv-ing legacy of caring for the students he works with will continue with the park. “Craig is richly deserving of the honor. He has been extremely dedicated to stu-dents and the department,” he said.–beck.turner@aggiemail.usu.

edu

The pieces vary in shape, size and color, but most of them are functional, said Matt Conlon, junior in ceramics. Each piece has been shaped, glazed and fired, he said. “A pretty famous saying in ceramics is ‘Each piece takes five minutes and 25 years,’” he said. Conlon has been making pottery for more than eight years and had a few dozen pieces in this year’s show, he said. Alix Brodeur said she likes seeing other people get

excited about pottery because it is so important in her life. It is a great time to buy gifts with Mother’s Day and the wedding season approaching, she said. Brodeur is a transfer student from Massachusetts and said she came to Utah State because it has such a strong ceramics program. The show opened Thursday night and will continue Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts building, room 121. It is open to the public.

–seth.bracken@aggiemail.usu.edu

THE CERAMICS GUILD IS SELLING THEIR WORK throughout the weekend in order to provide machines and equipment for USU’s program. CODY GOCHNOUR photo

Sale: Artworks being put to good use -continued from page 1

Park: Sign and plaque honor agriculture senior lecturer-continued from page 1

Associate dean awarded for work with water qualityBy JACIE FASSELINstaff writer

NANCY MESNER, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES gives a training course called Streamside Science to high school teachers, educating them to teach the science to their own pupils. Mesner received the Calvin K. Sudweeks Water Quality Award. photo courtesy of NANCY MESNER

Mother (Earth) Day

ABOVE, JAYNAN CHAN-CELLOR, the African dance class instructor, and Dawii, a tra-ditional West African drum group play on the Quad for Earth Day. CAMERON PETERSON photo.To celebrate Earth Day, Student Services hosted the Earth Day Extravaganza on the Quad. Students were encouraged to participate in activities and learn how to make USU a green cam-pus. PETE P. SMITHSUTH photo

-See WATER, page 10

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WeekendDiversions

TOP, A VIEW OF NORTH LOGAN from the backseat of a Leading Edge Aviation train-ing aircraft. Middle, Leading Edge Aviation flight instructor, Nick Thomas explains some features on one of their twin-engine training aircraft. Bottom, a Leading Edge Aviation aircraft repair hanger. TYLER LARSON photos

Up, up and awaySpending the summer learning how to fly

Hiking, boating and learning to f ly an airplane. If the last option doesn’t sound like a typical summer activity, that’s because it’s not. However, Noah Carroll, f light instructor at Leading Edge Aviation, said a surprising number of USU students and Logan residents use their summer to obtain a private pilot’s license. “It’s an alternative for USU students who want to f ly, but are getting their degree in something besides aviation,” Carroll said. “You do full training at (Leading Edge), but this way you can get a degree in whatever you want and still get a pilot’s license.” Carroll said they see an even mix of people who are looking to pursue aviation as a career and those who just want to f ly as a hobby. Nick Thomas, also a f light instructor at Leading Edge Aviation, said he chose to get his certification through Leading Edge because of the f lexibility. Thomas said he has been interested in being a pilot since he was a kid and began f lying when he was 16 years old. Currently, Thomas is a member of the National Guard and a full-time student majoring in law and constitutional stud-ies. “The f lexibility with this program has been awesome for me,” Thomas said. “I do classes in the morning, work here from about 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and f ly about two to three times a week, so it’s worked well with my school schedule. It hasn’t impeded on my studies at all.” Thomas said he gets most of his f lying hours done in the summer and sees a lot of other students following that same path because it is convenient. What will it cost prospective pilots to get their license? Carroll said a private pilot’s license costs around $8,500 to $10,000, depending on how frequently students f ly. Carroll said it’s cheaper than what USU aviation majors pay because students are not getting a four-year degree along with it. Another difference, Carroll said, is the type of payment. “It’s not a tuition thing,” he said. “Our students pay as they go, rather than all at once.” For students who may cringe at the price, Thomas said there are lots of options with financing. From grants to loans, Thomas said students who are really interested usually find a way to make it work. How fast students get done, Carroll said, is up to the student. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires 40 hours of f lying time for private pilot certification,” Thomas said. “Usually people get it done in 45-50 hours, but we’ve had people do 40 hours in three weeks. Then there are people who do 50 hours over a span of a few years. There’s no requirement for time

span, it just comes down to your devotion to it.” However, before getting up in the air, Carroll said there are a few steps students must take to ensure safe f lying. Typically, Carroll said people look-ing to get their private pilot’s license first must go through computer courses, instructor-given tests and sit down with an instructor to review what they have learned. Potential pilots must also have a required physical exam, which Thomas said is usually given by a local doctor that specializes in the aviation physicals. One misconception, Thomas said, is that pilots must have perfect eyesight in order to f ly a plane. “In reality, it doesn’t have to be per-fect,” he said. “It just has to be correctable to 20/40. Lots of pilots wear glasses or contacts.” Once these steps are completed, Carroll said students are cleared for f lying. “It’s really not as complicated as people think it is,” said Cory Schow, assistant chief f light instructor at Leading Edge and USU alumnus, as his four-seat Cessna ascends thousands of feet over Cache Valley. The stunning bird’s eye view offers a unique perspective of the landscape below and is the reason, Schow said, in addition to being a training site, Leading Edge also offers an unforgettable date night. For $90, anyone can go on a discovery f light, which Schow said is a half-hour sampling of what f lying a plane is like. “We get people who want to see if f ly-ing is for them and we also get people who just want to sit back and enjoy it with their date,” Schow said. “We can take people up during sunset and if you mention this article, we can even give you $10 off the discovery f light.” While soaring thousands of feet above ground level in a small four-passenger plane may not seem like something for the faint of heart, Thomas said it is extremely safe. In addition to backup sys-tems designed to keep working even after one fails, Thomas said there is a huge emphasis on emergency preparedness when learning to f ly a plane. “There is a lot of redundancy when you’re learning. As a pilot, f lying a plane is like riding a bike,” Thomas said. “It’s pretty easy – the biggest part is learning what to do in case of emergency. That’s what all this training is for.” Logan offers a unique setting for pilots-in-training, Thomas said, due to the air density and high altitude. “A lot of people that learn to f ly at sea-level don’t know how to handle certain situations that we deal with here at higher altitudes,” Thomas said. After receiving private pilot certifica-tion and instrument ratings, Thomas said pilots are able to work toward com-mercial certification and a future career in aviation. “The outlook for commercial pilots is

great,” Schow said. According to an article in Plane and Pilot Magazine, there is a demand for up to 10,000 captains a year and the num-bers show no sign of slowing down. Schow said the reason the outlook is so good is because many pilots are retiring and people are continuing to f ly at large rates. Thomas said commercial certification entails lots of training, but will provide students for a stable job opportunity in

the future. “For every commercial pilot, the f lying part is pretty easy. You’re paid to be sit-ting there in case something goes wrong, and it’s pretty routine for something to go wrong,” Thomas said. “As a passenger, you usually don’t even notice because the pilot is on top of it. They’re just small hiccups when you’ve been trained. With training at (Leading Edge), those stan-dards are expected of us.”

–amanda.m@aggiemail.usu.edu

By AMANDA MEARS

features assistant editor

A GRADUATE STUDENT SEARCHES FOR A JOB after completing his education at USU. CAMERON PETERSON photo illustration

Tips for job hunting

in a tough market

Graduation is upon USU. Brilliant f ledgling students are spreading their educated wings only to take f light into the crumbling wasteland of the job market. All is not hopeless, though. These eight tips will improve any student’s prospects at growing a nest egg.

Start at Career Services Donna Crow, director of Career Services, said seven out of the top 10 plac-es employer find grads to hire are coordi-nated through Career Services. USU offers these services freely to students, including career coaches for each college. Coaches can help hone interviewing, resume and networking skills. Crow said most impor-tantly, coaches help students “frame the way you approach your career search so you are taking actions that create results.”

Research – Graduation doesn’t mean doing homework is over Crow said to look at industries that are experiencing growth. While it is far

and few right now, Randy Jensen, Collge of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) and Agriculture career coach, said the federal government is steadily increas-ing. Crow said many people at the top tier are heading for retirement, opening doors for many college grads to take their places. Another aspect of research involves learning about the potential employer and company. Crow said it is vital to tailor documents to their needs. To learn termi-nology, read job descriptions and use it in resumes and interviews. The last part of research relates to learning about yourself, Crow said, so a student can brand themselves.

Be branded with a hot iron Often, Crow said, students are not spe-cific enough in their documents or inter-views. Identify strengths through specific examples. General bullet points are no good. A strategy to do this is to convert a resume from a traditional chronologi-cal one to a skill-based one. Sometimes a career coach needs to help a student verbalize these, Crow said. This activity

makes students realize their capabili-ties, especially as they relate to potential employers. Also, on resumes and in inter-views, show but don’t tell about skill sets. Quantify, use numbers and stats whenever possible, Crow said. “For example,” Crow said, “If you led a team, say how many members and how often.” Jensen said, “Show personality. Your qualifications have gotten you the inter-

view, but now they want to see how you fit with them. Be natural.”

Be adaptable With the tight job market, students will probably have to compromise on something, Crow said, whether it be loca-tion, hours or type of position. A first-

By STOREE POWELL

staff writer

-See JOBS, page 6

66

Friday, April 24, 2009Page 6 WeekendDiversions

Gore, action and little entertainment Walking out of the theater I was dumb-founded, angry, upset and also a tad entertained. Is it possible to be entertained, even the slightest, by a movie hell-bent on eradi-cating each and every one of your brain cells? “Crank 2: High Voltage” is a sick, sadis-tic, over-the-top, mind-numbing, gory, raunchy slugfest. I have about 40 other adjectives ready at any moment to describe the movie, but there just wouldn’t be enough room. There’s not much to say really, because as you can surmise from the trailer, and if you’ve seen the first “Crank,” you know that Chev Chelios (Jason Statham, “Transporter”) tries desperately to stay alive the entire movie, working his way through the underground gangs of LA. In the first film Chelios was injected with a poison that required him to keep his adrenaline up or his heart would stop. After surviving that, the Chinese gangs decided it best to just take Chelios’ heart, because it was strong enough to withstand their poison and give it to their leader. With the insertion of a plastic heart run by a battery, the Chinese gangs then plan to harvest the rest of Chelios’ organs, because he has now achieved some sort of god-like status. The man that can’t die. As Chelios tries to find out who stole his

heart, he comes across all types of unsavory people. “Crank 2,” like its predecessor, is chalk-full of every racial stereotype imaginable. There is not one character that acts contrary to what its stereotype forces them to be. That’s perhaps the saddest part of the film. After a while you’ll, either find yourself laughing along with the supposed jokes, or be offended by the constant stream of racial labels placed on everyone. So now you know the

story. The rest is action, action, action. That’s it. I could delve deeper into how the “Crank” films are, on some level, a comment on the absurdity of action films in general, but truthfully I don’t think it’s that deep. “Shoot’em Up” supplies more of a sarcas-tic commentary on action films than the “Crank” movies could ever hope to achieve. It’s simply a guy movie that guys can go to and feel macho for a brief time. With that said, “Crank 2” is slightly entertaining ... if you’re in the mood for a brain blasting of epic proportions. Even the editing reflects the jerkiness and hurried state of the film. The best thing about “Crank 2” is that it is only 85 minutes long. Any longer and the audience would probably have to induce vomiting to get it out of their system.

–aaron.peck@aggiemail.usu.edu

Grade D+“Crank 2: High Voltage”

Reel Reviews

Aaron PeckMovie Critic

‘Fat Princess’ beta

is delicious fun The “Fat Princess” beta allows PlayStation 3 owners to combine three of life’s greatest guilty pleasures – cake, blood and mayhem. Gaming has never been so exquisite. “Fat Princess” is a hilarious medieval battle royale. The goal is to rescue your team’s prin-cess from the opponent’s fortress. However, rescuing your beloved princess is no simple feat; your adversary has been stuffing her full of cake, which means moving her will require teamwork and coordination. Both teams are composed of up to 16 players with different character classes: worker, warrior, ranger and mage. And changing classes is as simple as picking up a hat. So what inspired such a unique game design? I asked game producer Chris Millar this question and he said it just made sense. “Rescuing a princess is something that many people can relate to, as there are so many classic fairy tales that deal with this type of story arc,” he said. As for the gameplay, Millar said he is drawn to games like “Team Fortress 2” and “Warcraft.” With the game’s release date immi-nent yet pending, developer Titan Studios let loose a beta version to a lucky group of gamers, and I thankfully got in. So, am I impressed with the beta? Read on to find out.Pros

Cake – The cake says it all: “Fat Princess” is competitive and challeng-ing, yet equally silly and ridiculous. Everything from the comical premise to the bright cartoony graphics makes this an entertaining and light-hearted title. Blood – Despite looking like a Saturday morning cartoon, “Fat Princess’” irreverent gameplay is any-thing but childish. Players hack, slash and disembody their opponents in an exceptionally gratifying manner. However, I need to address one complaint at the request of a 13-year-old boy, with whom I was playing this game yesterday. In his own words, “They should make the blood stick to your feet, so when you run around you leave foot-prints.”

Yeah, what he said. Are you listening Titan Studios? We demand more realis-tic bloodshed. Mayhem – Imagine 32 players franti-

cally running around massacring each other in an online battle. It’s awe-inspiring and tumultuous.Cons

Buggy – Granted, “Fat Princess” is only in beta, but the overall experience is trif led with glitches. The online play is bogged down with lag and the single player campaign features atro-

cious computer artificial intelligence. For example, the computer occasionally stays in one place running in circles. Overwhelming – There’s a lot going on in this game and players will undoubtedly feel overwhelmed. Furthermore, the user manual does a mediocre job explaining all the details, effectively making the game more trial and error based than it needs to be. That said, after playing the “Fat Princess” beta, I’m convinced this game will be a success and rise to cult status. Stay tuned later this summer for the release of “Fat Princess” on the PlayStation Network. And that’s a wrap folks. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this gaming column during the past two semesters as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. It’s been a privilege to share my gaming love with Statesman readers and I’m flattered by all the feedback and support I’ve received. Sadly, this gaming column will not be returning during the fall semester. Instead, I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be writing a new column while attend-ing Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. The new column will feature topics ranging from day-to-day living, cultural shock and yes, even gaming. As a special thank you to my readers, I’m giving away one beta code for “Fat Princess” and one code for the recent “Resident Evil 5” versus mode (PS3 ver-sion). The first two people to send me an e-mail will get a code. Be sure to specify which one you want. Have a great summer.

–tim.russell@aggiemail.usu.edu

“Fat Princess”

Let’s goGaming

TimothyRussell

Jobs: Students search careers during the tough economy -continued from page 5

STUDENTS BEGIN THE JOB HUNT following graduation. CAMERON PETERSON photo illustration

choice job might not be feasible at this time. Jensen said, “Look outside the box and opportunities won’t be so bleak.”

Tap your social networks

“Eighty percent of USU grads get their job through social networking,” Jensen said. “Knowing somebody who knows somebody can get you the contact.” According to Crow, students usually neglect to look to social media and cur-rent employers and friends as potential job networks. “You’ve been having fun with these people your whole life, now let them work for you,” Crow said. Both Jensen and Crow recommended LinkedIn, a professional networking Web site with specific job elements all a little on the social side.

Practice makes perfect with interview-

ing skills

“The biggest mistake students make in interviews is actually not doing prepara-tion that should take place beforehand. Often employers ask standard questions. If you do the research (available in career guides at Career Services) and practice, you won’t be caught off guard,” Jensen said. According to Jensen, America’s become a casual society, but students need to remember that interviews are a formal setting. “Don’t dress like you’re going to school. The rule is, know the organization’s dress standard, and go to the interview one step up,” Jensen said. The biggest trend in interviewing now is behavioral questions, Jensen said. Employers describe a situation, and ask how the interviewee has dealt with some-thing similar in the past. The theory,

Jensen said, is that past performance will be an indicator of future performance. Another mistake students often make is not asking employer questions, which they do expect. Jensen said it comes across as indifferent. Always ask questions, one being, what is the process and time for choosing a candidate so you have an idea of what to expect and when to follow up. Always write a thank-you letter immedi-ately after the interview.

Seize the moment

Asking current employers for a project or additional exposure to skills, even if it’s not directly related to your field of study, is a great way to “pad your resume,” Crow said. “Be the person who is always looking for new skills, a life-long learner.”

Look on the bright side

While it may seem contradictory to be realistic and positive, Jensen said the job market is not dismal. “There are jobs still out there, but it is going to take more work and time, and may take students out of their first job choice,” Jensen said. “A lot of people want a fresh look, someone young and different with ideas. Job hunting requires persis-tence; it’s a job in and of itself. Yesterday was yesterday. Look today.” Crow said, “Don’t take failure person-ally. See it as a challenge and additional ways to build contacts, and interview skills. It’s a better way to frame it psycho-logically. Self-esteem issues come through in your resume and interviews.” Career Services are open all summer for students struggling to find work. A heartening statistic, Crow said, is 90 per-cent of USU students looking for jobs have one within six months after graduation.

–storee.powell@aggiemail.usu.edu

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Page 7WeekendDiversionsFriday, April 24, 2009

Not so easy lifeMan tells about struggles coming to U.S.

Editor’s note: The interview was conducted in Spanish and translated by the reporter. Names have been changed. “I am not a bad person, I’m really not,” said Gustavo Martinez. “Other people make me do bad things. I don’t want to do them.” Martinez, 34, is a Mexican citizen who is here in the United States illegally to provide a life for his children that he never had. He came to the United States seven years ago. “Three days and two nights across the dessert, through some big mountains,” Martinez said. “I don’t know where I was. I just know that I ended up in Phoenix tired, hungry and dirty. There was a man there who gave me a ride to Dallas.” Martinez arrived in Dallas with about $5 in American money, no friends, no family, no job and he couldn’t speak any English. He found a job at a paper factory where he lifted large boxes for 12 hours a day, six days a week and was paid about $5 an hour, most of which he sent back to Mexico to his girl-friend and kids. “Things were going good until the police came and arrested some men at the factory. I was lucky, I wasn’t caught,” Martinez said. He lost his job and he didn’t have ade-quate skills or education to help him find a new one. He looked for help in the wrong places, but he had no choice, Martinez said. He joined a gang called Los Surrenos, a dead-ly gang that dealt drugs, dabbled in prostitu-tion and was notorious for assassinations. He fought with their lethal rivals, Los Nortenos, and with other factions within his own gang that were struggling for power and control of the gang. His olive-toned arm is decorated with about seven scars, including a jagged one that runs from his elbow to wrist. “I got that one when someone from another group representing a group of villag-ers pulled out a knife and started to swing it at me,” he said. “His group was trying to get more power than mine. He surprised me so he cut me. But I pulled out my knife and I cut him once on his stomach, from end to end. Then I stabbed him in the neck and twisted. I ran away before I found out if he lived. I really don’t know. I hope not.” It was the first time that he had stabbed someone, or seriously injured someone else. “I didn’t want to kill him. I didn’t even want to hurt him. I didn’t want to be in that situation. But people always find a way to make me do bad things, even though I am not a bad person,” he said. Martinez continued to fight his way through life. He carries countless scars, including a large ‘V’ on top of his head, hid-den by the plain blue baseball hat that he always wears. After he lost his job at the paper factory, he did odd jobs, construction work, janitorial

jobs or anything he could. He saved all the money he could to send back to his girlfriend and two kids. He got a break when a fellow gang mem-ber told him of a job in a small town in a state called Utah, bussing tables and clean-ing the kitchen in a restaurant. He would be hired and a fake social-security number is all that would be necessary to begin work-ing. His friend helped him get a fake social security number, and he even got a driver’s license in Texas. The new job would be miles away from the life he was living and he could get away from it all, as long as he made a quick get-away and never went back to Dallas, he said. “If I went back there, they would kill me. So many people would want to kill me, even in Mexico,” he said. “When I went back to Mexico, I carried a gun with me always. I don’t want to hurt people, but they might try to hurt me or my kids. What would you do?” Martinez has been working at least two jobs since he first arrived in Logan logging in overtime in both, well more than 100 hours some weeks. He lives as cheaply as possible in a small apartment with as many as six other people at times, and since he works at restaurants he tries to get as much free food as possible to save on expenses. Every penny that he saves, he sends home to his kids, Maria-Angel, 10, and Lorenzo, 8. “I’m not a good father, I know that,” Martinez said. “I am so far away. Whenever I think about my kids, I think of how much distance there is between us. I just want to give them a life that I never had.” Growing up, Martinez always had holes in his shoes and lived in a shack made from cardboard and whatever other random mate-rial that was lying around. He used to use his imagination to make branches and rocks into toys and dolls. Providing a better life for his children is his motivation, even if it means that he has to live in a different coun-try and go years without seeing them. “When I get lonely or think about how far my kids are, I think, focus on work and think to myself, ‘With the money that I make today, my daughter will be able to have some shoes. Nice, pink shoes without holes,’” he said. “Or I’ll think about how they will be able to eat for a week with the money that I make today. It helps me to stay focused.” Sometimes he thinks about just moving back to Mexico. He wants his family to have a father, but he is torn because he also wants to give them the best. “When my daughter took the commu-nion, I felt like I was in two places at once. My mind was in Mexico with her, and I am here, washing dishes,” Martinez said. Martinez went back to Mexico three years ago to visit his family and marry his girl-friend of 15 years. He hadn’t seen his family in four years. He stayed for two weeks, and

By SETH BRACKENstaff writer

-See MEXICO, page 8

Day set to honor birth mothers

Thriller with a Thai twist Residents of Cache Valley will honor a select

group of women May 9, the day before Mother’s Day. Birth Mother’s Day is a nationally recognized day that most people have probably never heard of. The term for a woman who chooses adoption for her baby is birth mother. In Utah, most birth mothers are unmarried, preg-nant and between the ages of 15 to 24. A woman who places her child for adoption does so based upon what she feels is in the best interest for her child now and in the future. Some birth mothers have expressed that on occa-sion they feel judged by other people as being irre-sponsible, selfish or not loving their baby. Birth Mother’s Day is set aside to pay tribute to the birth mothers who choose to place their babies for adoption, thereby giving the gift of motherhood/fatherhood to those couples who cannot have a child. For many women, adoption is the only way they can become a mother. Mother’s Day, for women who struggle with infertility, can be a devastating, emo-tionally painful reminder of what she longs for, but cannot have. Mother’s Day for a birth mother who placed her child for adoption often times is a day she feels great loss. A 21-year-old birth mother attending USU writes: “I placed my son for adoption 10 months ago and it has been quite a journey to say the least. Along the way I learned many valuable lessons and had some extraordinary moments that have been seared into my heart forever. One of the hardest lessons I learned was that this was not about me. There was an inno-cent baby boy that would be brought into the world, and it was up to me to decide his fate. The entire experience became focused around his little life – it would be his life that would be affected more than anyone else’s. There are no small decisions when it comes to the life of a child.” For more information, contact LDS Family Services at 752-5302, or drop in at 175 W. 1400 North, Suite A, Logan, Utah. Birth parent services are free, confi-dential and available to all experiencing pregnancy outside of marriage.

Sandy Burborough is supervisor at LDS Family Services. Questions or comments can be sent to her

at burboroughsl@ldsfamilyservices.org.

If you like detective noir thrillers by authors such as Raymond Chandler, Ignacio Paco Taibo II or Dashiell Hammett, you’ll enjoy John Burdett’s hard-boiled detective thriller “Bangkok 8.” Sonchai Jitpleecheep is the half-caste son of a Bangkok prostitute and an American Marine. He grew up in the red-light district as a child criminal who became a Buddhist saint to assuage his karma after committing a drug-hazed murder. Now he’s the only incorruptible cop in a city that thrives on bribery and nepotism. The story begins when Jitpleecheep and his partner come upon a group of drunk squatters peering into a locked car. Inside, a giant python has wrapped itself around the neck of a dead American Marine and is try-ing to fit its enormous jaws over his head. Jitpleecheep’s fearless partner Pitchai makes the mistake of open-ing the car door to help the Marine. Bad idea; he’s gro-tesquely bitten by dozens of amphetamine-crazed black cobras. To solve the mystery of Pitchai’s murder, Jitpleecheep must dive into

Bangkok’s seedy red-light district. During the adven-ture, Burdett depicts a harsh world of rich white tourists

who see Bangkok as a sort of Disney world of prostitu-tion. It’s a world of drug-addiction, disease and pov-erty. Somehow we manage to laugh at the caricature he paints of some

of the prostitutes, including Jitpleecheep’s god-mother Kat, who makes her living as a sharp-shooting dart player, and Nit-nit, Noi and Nat, three beautiful young women who teach the saintly Jitpleecheep the pleasures of love. Jitpleecheep is soon joined by shapely FBI agent Kimberley Jones, and the two of them uncover a connection between Pitchai’s murder and Sylvester Warren, a seem-ingly untouchable billionaire American jade smuggler. The connection is Fatima, a beautiful half-caste pros-titute with a rainbow Afro and a past-life connection to Jitpleecheep. Burdett’s book is a hard-nosed, darkly funny romp through the other City of Angels: “Krung Thep,” or Bangkok, Thailand.

–brendon.butler@aggiemail.usu.edu

Grade B+ “Bangkok 8”

Book Review

Brendon Butlerstaff writer

88

Friday, April 24, 2009Page 8 WeekendDiversions

Now PlayingWhat’s on your

playlist?Jake Wilson

freshmanbusiness management

1. “Fly” – J. Holiday

2. “One Love” – Bob Marley

3. “Amber” – 311

4. “Creatures” – 311

5. “Perfect Situtation” –Weezer

6. “Pork and Beans” – Weezer

7. “Road to Zion” – Damian

Marley

8. “The Mission” –Damian

Marley

9. “Three Little Birds” – Bob

Marley

10. “Get Up Stand Up” – Bob

Marley

Information compiled by Catherine Meidell

Each week The Statesman will find one student lis-tening to his or her iPod and see what is playing on their playlist.

Mexico: Building a better life

-continued from page 7

then he had to make his way back to the United States. The

reunion was bitter-sweet because in the back of everybody’s

minds, they all knew that they were going to have to say

goodbye in just a short while.

“Everyone had told me that my son looked just like me,

but I just didn’t see it in the pictures that they sent me,

not really,” Martinez said of his son who shares his name,

Gustavo. “But when I saw him there, it was like looking at

myself when I was his age. I was shocked.”

Before Martinez left Mexico, he took care of some busi-

ness with the local police.

“I had to pay them off. I did some bad things when I was

younger and if I didn’t pay them, I would have to hide or go

to jail,” Martinez said. “I tried to do the right thing so that I

could stop running.”

Martinez cannot read or write in Spanish or in English

and he has had no formal education, but through his life, he

developed his own ideas about how to stay alive. Martinez

explained his philosophy that there is no room to allow any-

one else to see weakness and if someone shows disrespect,

it is likely to happen again. When that happens, a man has

to stand up for himself and strike back – if he shows weak-

ness, even once, he’s putting his life in danger. Martinez said

he tries to live by this standard and will react strongly and

sometimes violently without much provocation.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone, but from experience I have

learned that I have to do it sometimes for my own sake,” he

said.

Despite his somewhat surly attitude at times, Martinez is

a trusted employee and has a strong work ethic, said Randy

Jackson, one of the managers at a local restaurant.

“He can work faster than any other busser and always

leaves the restaurant cleaner than he needs to,” Jackson said.

“He does more than the standard. He always goes the extra

mile.”

Whitney Burgess, one of the waitresses at another restau-

rant where Martinez works, said that he is her favorite busser

and that he sings and is always willing to help.

“I get so used to working with Gustavo and when I have

to work with someone else, I get frustrated because I have

to help them do their jobs,” Burgess said. “I get spoiled with

Gustavo.”

Martinez said with so much work, he has almost no time

or money to stay in contact with his family, and the relation-

ship is strained even with weekly phone calls on his day off,

Wednesday.

“I worry so much about my wife, but she is strong and I

am doing this for her,” Martinez said. “Sometimes I wonder

how long her love will last, though.”

His wife, Angelica, is 27 years old, seven years younger

than her husband. But she too comes from a poor area and is

happy that her husband is giving her children a life that she

did not have growing up, Martinez said. He said even from

such a great distance as the one separating him from his fam-

ily he is still proud of his children.

“My daughter is so intelligent, she’s at the head of her

class,” Martinez said. “Sometimes I spend my days while I

am washing dishes or taking out the trash, thinking of how

beautiful she is. I imagine what she must be doing, how

school is going. And I always think about how she will never

wear shoes with holes in them, not while I am alive.”

The future is uncertain, but Martinez is trying to save up

about $30,000 before returning to Mexico.

“I will never bring my children here to the United States,”

Martinez said. “We are Mexican, and they will be raised

in their country, eat their food and speak their language,

always.”

–seth.bracken@aggiemail.usu.edu

Artist unique with smooth style Nick Motil is a young, up-and-

coming artist that has toured with

the likes of Jason Mraz among oth-

ers, and is putting out a good, strong

sound in the “Everything’s Alright

EP” he released April 15, 2008.

Motil recently visited USU to

showcase his talents at the Big Blue

Ball, the USU formal spring dance

and also to host the Robin’s Awards,

the most prestigious annual awards

ceremony for students, staff and fac-

ulty of USU. Motil did an excellent

job and also helped out Fusion HD3,

the USU student radio station, in the

process by generously donating his

EP and some promo work in return

for some publicity. I’m happy to

oblige.

The first thing that caught my

attention when I heard about Motil

was that he has toured with Mraz. I

love Mraz’s music. I’m a Mraz junk-

ie. So, naturally, I thought anyone

that has toured with him can’t be

horrible, and I was absolutely right.

As an individual, Motil is cordial,

forthcoming and he certainly knows

how to bust a good joke every now

and again. His humor brought a

wonderfully light atmosphere to the

Robin’s Awards and his live music

kept USU students and alums alike

dancing the night away.

“The Everything’s Alright EP,”

by no means, is the debut effort for

Motil. He has released three studio

albums to this point over the last

four years. His debut album was

released in 2004, and Motil has

released a strong album every year

since then.

Indeed, it can be said that Motil

has enjoyed a lot of success, especial-

ly while touring with Mraz, where,

according to CDBaby.com, he sold

more than 5,000 CDs.

Motil’s style is unique, very simi-

lar to James Taylor in his heyday. His

sound, which employs strong guitar

progressions and scaling vocals, gen-

erates an upbeat feeling in all those

who listen. His lyrical style is also

cross-genre. It could be argued that

Motil is a country artist, although

his guitar style and the absence of

violins would tell listeners the oppo-

site of him. Motil’s voice is silky

smooth – his music is the perfect

complement to the weekend get

together with family, the occasional

barbecue and road trip.

Also, Motil’s lyrics do something

that very few superstars of the music

world do today – they tell a story.

Motil’s lyrics mean something, and

in a day and age where “I Kissed a

Girl” can sit on the top of the charts

for three straight months, I find that

refreshing.

Motil’s music is anything but

repetitive. Indeed, this may be one of

Motil’s strongest points, in my opin-

ion, but it could also be what may be

holding him back from super-star-

dom. Motil’s music, although very

strong, lacks one thing above all else

– a convincing and strong hook that

sticks in the mind of the listener

after the song is over.

The strongest of Motil’s various

attempts at this would be in the first

track, “Try Harder,” but the hook

comes at an odd place that ends up

being a slight drawback. That having

been said, if this is Motil’s biggest

challenge, he’s definitely got a bright

future ahead of him.

The first track of the EP, “Try

Harder” is excellent. By far, the

strength of this track is in its lyr-

ics. Some of lyrics from the lullaby

“Momma’s gonna buy you a mock-

ing bird ...” set to an upbeat and

progressive melody and provide a

optimism to the romantic theme in

the excellent lyrics. Motil did well in

this track, which is by far the best of

the EP.

Track number two, “Butterf lies,”

continues the romantic theme estab-

lished in the first. The tempo is

much slower, and the melody slides

quite a bit more. This song reminds

me of James Taylor a lot, perhaps

more than track five, “Either Way,”

which sounds a lot like Taylor. It cre-

ates a very relaxing ambient that is

very difficult to dislike.

The last track of the EP, “Home”

is also very good. However, I think it

should be the track to take either the

opening position or the climax posi-

tion of the EP. The tempo is upbeat

and forward, and the harmony in

this song that Motil’s female coun-

terpart, whoever she is (I don’t know

who it is. Nick, tell me that girl’s

name) completes the song. It, along

with “Try Harder,” constitute the

meat of this EP and should be show-

cased as such.

Special thanks to Nick Motil for

the sound byte and for the EP. USU

loves you, man.

–la.hem@aggiemail.usu.edu

Grade B+

“Everything’s Alright EP”

by Nick Motil

Tune Takes

Landon

Hemsley

99

Friday, April 24, 2009 Page 9TheUtahStatesman

CampusNews Friday, April 24, 2009Page 10

Women’s and re-entry director to retire

On April 14, Patricia Stevens, director of the Women’s and Re-entry Centers, publicly announced her pending retirement during the Women’s Center’s Spring Awards Event. Susan Crosbie, one of Steven’s assistants in the Women’s and Re-entry Centers, said working with Stevens has been hectic because the centers are always busy, but Stevens has been a lot of fun, too. “She’ll be greatly missed. She’s done a lot to promote women’s issues in the community and on campus,” Crosbie said. Stevens said she would characterize her time as director as satisfying and humbling. “When I took the job, I decided the only way they were going to get me out of here was with me kick-ing and screaming, feet first. Leaving the center is very sad for me and very difficult. ... One moment I’m really excited about the

change and the next I’m tearing up, but I will keep my finger in the center as much as I can,” she said. Having served as direc-tor since 2006, Stevens steps down for a greater cause. Her husband, John Peregoy, suffers from a degenerative spine disease that has no cure. Eventually it will extremely limit his future mobility. “I think it’s more impor-tant for me to be with John while he’s mobile. We are going to go while we still can go,” she said. Stevens and Peregoy plan to make a wide loop through and around the United States with their trailer to visit friends, fam-ily and children. A new director has not yet been announced. Stevens said they are look-ing for someone to con-tinue to help the Women’s Center blossom as it did under the direction of Janet Osborne, originator of the Women’s Center, for 27 years and as it has contin-ued to do so.

–jennifer.whiteley@aggi-email.usu.edu

By JENNI WHITELEY

staff writer

the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and different conserva-tion districts. People can no longer address water quality by just fix-ing the lake; the whole watershed needs to be addressed, she said “You can’t do it unless you get everyone at the table,” she said. Walt Baker, director of the Utah Department for Water Quality, said of Mesner, “Nancy has developed this exempla-ry extension program, while also maintaining an active research pro-gram in the influence of land use on water quality and in teaching courses on oceanography, water quality and pollution.” Not only has Mesner worked to implement the youth education program, she has also continued to conduct research. Nonpoint source water pollution is

the focus of her research, Mesner said. Mesner has worked for USU Extension since 1999, but has worked in water quality her whole professional career. Mesner also received the Utah Watershed Improvement Award in 2004. Calvin K. Sudweeks, a past water quality direc-tor for whom the award is named, made great strides toward resolv-ing water quality issues, according to a UDWQ press release, and the award is given annually to those who make great contributions to the water quality field. Chuck Gay, associate vice president and direc-tor for cooperation, said Mesner works hard and the Sudweeks Award was a well-deserved honor. “I firmly believe she has been terrifically suc-cessful,” Gay said.

–jacie.fasselin@aggi-email.usu.edu

Water: Associate dean recognized -continued from page 3

Students teach for AmericaBy CANDICE SANDNESS

staff writer

Educational inequity is the nation’s greatest injus-tice, said Katrina Galbraith. One of her goals is to elimi-nate this injustice. Galbraith, who gradu-ated from Utah State in December with a human resources and economics degree, was one of three accepted undergrad stu-dents who were chosen by Teach for America (TFA) to commit themselves for two years as teachers in the U.S.’s highest poverty com-munities. Walt Nate Eiman, senior in anthropology and Spanish, was selected to teach in Indianapolis, Ind. and biology major Elisabeth Mussler was selected to teach in Native American reservations in New Mexico. Galbraith said she never thought she’d be a teacher,

and now she finds herself departing from Utah June 4 to teach elementary aged children from Pre-K to fourth grade. She’ll teach in high Spanish-speaking populations in Houston, Texas, for two years. “It’s more than just teaching (that I’m doing), I’m changing the outcome of their life,” Galbraith said. “I can’t think of anything more that I would want to be doing at this point in my life.” Low socio-economic areas with already poor education systems keep these kids in a “trapped cycle” of not graduating high school and creates the idea of college being impos-sible, Gabraith said. “The reality is (these kids) can make all the dif-ference in their lives and the future can be better,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much their family has or what their skin color is; they can still change their

future.” Many children are already raised in high-pov-erty and high crime rate areas with odds already against them, she said. “As a nation we have a responsibility to these chil-dren,” Galbraith said. “I get angry because these kids start with less and then they are put into public schools that also give them less. It’s not fair and it’s not right.” Teach For America is the national corps of outstand-ing recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity, according to TFA’s Web site. “I think people think that it’s just a career but (Teach for America) is real-ly a movement to change the nation,” Galbraith said. Galbraith said she is looking forward to the com-mitment of working with kids and seeing the growth that comes from teaching them. “I’m excited to see them become passionate about their own education,” she said. Galbraith was an under-graduate teaching fellow for the class MHR 4890 and was also a USU SI instruc-tor for sociology 1010, where she had her first teaching exposure. “That was when I discov-ered I loved teaching,” she said. That passion carried Galbraith into furthering her education after her two-year commitment with

TFA: she plans to obtain her master’s in education. Galbraith said her future plan is to run her own non-profit organiza-tion, much similar to an organization like TFA, but in South America. In many circumstances throughout South America, orphans are kicked out of orphanages because of overcrowding and shortage of staff to take care of the children, she said. Many are forced out without any education or job skills at ages 14 to 18, which is what Galbraith said she wants to change. “My goal is to have these kids start a life for them-selves because the reality is many end up on the streets, which I don’t want to con-tinue happening,” she said. Anyone who wants to make a difference in some-one’s life and anyone who is passionate about education should apply, Galbraith said. Undergrads who are accepted into the program start at the same sal-ary as beginning teachers, ranging from $27,000 to $50,000 a year, depending on the cost of living and the district they are teaching in, said Andrea Valley, USU recruiter director for Teach for America. TFA doesn’t just look for education majors, they look for a diversified range. Sixty-six percent of TFA alumni stay in a career in education, while the other 44 percent go into either law school, medical school or business school, Valley said.

–candice.sandness@aggi-email.usu.edu

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FridayApril 24

SaturdayApril 25

MondayApril 27

StatesmanBack BurnerFriday, April 24, 2009

Check www.utahstatesman.com for complete calendar listings

Page 12

Free Range • B. Whitehead Brain Waves • B. Streeter

Pearls Before Swine • Steve Pastis

- Textbook Buyback, TSC Bookstore, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.- USU Ceramics Guild Annual Spring Pottery Sale, Fine Arts Visual 121, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.- ECE Colloquium: Global Warming as a Problem in Statistical Physics, 12 to 1 p.m.- Science Unwrapped, Matters of the Heart, Eccles Science Learning Center Auditorium, 7 to 9 p.m.- Tanner Lex Jones CD release, Asher in the Rye, Hammer Brothers, Mo Edwards, 1295 E. 1000 North, Logan, 7:30 to 10:55 p.m.- USU Wind Orchestra, Kent Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.- Once Upon a Time in 2009, Sixth Annual Spring Ice Show, Eccles Ice Center, 8 to 10 p.m.

- Textbook Buyback, TSC Bookstore, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Textbook Buyback, TSC Bookstore, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.- USU Ceramics Guild Annual Spring Pottery Sale, Fine Arts Visual 121, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.- Balanced Man Triathlon and 5K run, HPER, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.- Live music by Bruce Moulton and Jordan Bianucci, Pier 49 in Providence, 7 p.m.- Valley Dance Ensemble SHIFT, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 7 to 8:30 p.m.- American Festival Chorus: Beethoven’s Ninth, Kent Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.- Once Upon a Time in 2009, Sixth Annual Spring Ice Show, Eccles Ice Center, 8 to 10 p.m.

April 23 and 24 is the Music Tour Show, The Latter-day Voices and Logan Institute Choir present “In Defense of the Family.” The show will begin at 7 p.m. each night in the Institute Cultural Hall with a pre-show at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost. Tickets can be obtained from the Institute Office or a choir member.

Come have fun with Walking Bingo, Thursday, April 30, 12 to 1 p.m. in the Fieldhouse. Everyone is welcome. You won’t even know you’re get-ting a workout. Great prizes: exercise bags, f lashlights, pedometers, T-shirts, water bottles, caps, lunch bags, Be Well meals.

Applications due April 30 for Undergraduate Research Scholar transcript des-ignation that requires a minimum of two semesters’ research, dissemination and faculty certification. Applications online at http://research.usu.edu/under-grad/htm/awards-recogni-tion/transcript-designation; submit electronically to the Undergraduate Research

program.

Peace Vigil every Friday 5 to 6 p.m., 50 N. Main Street, Logan. For more information e-mail info@loganpeace.org or call 755-5137.

USU ice skaters will per-form in Once Upon a Time

2009 Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m. at the Eccles Ice Center.

Free workshop – The Power

of Connection, by the Cosmic Nudge, Saturday, April 25, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 East, Logan. You will learn how to connected with others, lessons in team-work and lessons in attitude. Call (435) 363-7173 for info.

Army ROTC Jim Bridger Detachment Spring 2009 Commissioning Ceremony is Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. at the USU Alumni House.

Auditions for the 10th Annual Celebrate America Show “Yankee Doodle

Dazzle!” Cast members receive three hours class credit, a cash scholarship and perform in a profes-sional production. Singers,

call Michael Dubois (801) 746-9011 to schedule audition time. Download audition packet at www.celebrateamericashow.com For more info call (435) 753-1551.

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1313

FridaySportsPage 13April 24, 2009

TouchBase

Men’s tennis

headed to

Hawaii

Utah State men’s ten-

nis will travel to Honolulu,

Hawaii where they will com-

pete in the Western Athletic

Championship Friday,

April 24 at the University

of Hawaii Tennis Complex,

looking to take their first

win in WAC action. The

Aggies enter the champion-

ship as the seventh seed and

will play No. 46 and second-

seeded Fresno State at 4

p.m. (MT).

This will mark the sec-

ond match between the

Bulldogs and the Aggies.

Fresno State swept USU,

7-0, on April 4 in Fresno,

Calif. The first round will

be a rematch of last year’s

championship where sec-

ond-seeded and No. 49th

ranked Bulldogs defeated

the seventh-seeded Aggies,

4-0.

Advancement in the

tournament will be deter-

mined by Thursday’s

matches. The victor of

the USU and Fresno State

match will play the win-

ner of the match between

third-seeded and last year’s

WAC Championship winner

Hawaii and sixth-seeded

Idaho on Saturday, April 25.

BY USU ATHLETICS

With all the changes that will be visible on the gridiron next season,

none may be more visible, arguably more important, than the quarterback

position. It takes a special athlete to run the spread offense, and in Diondre

Borel the Aggies have just that.

“(Borel) is by far the most talented kid there,” said offensive coordinator

Dave Baldwin. “Everybody knew that he was athletic and that was evident

when we watched film. He is outstanding to play in the spread where he

can make you miss with his feet.”

Aggie fans only have to look back as far as last season to see evidence of

how good Borel can be. After taking over the starting job just three games

into the 2008 season the sophomore quickly showcased his athleticism by

shattering USU’s single-season rushing mark by a QB.

Borel rushed for 632 yards in his sophomore campaign, nearly doubling

the previous record of 338. He also threw for 1,705 yards becoming just the

17th player in school history to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark – and that was

in an offensive system that didn’t play to his skill set.

Running the spread should only increase those numbers.

It’s given me a better opportunity to make more plays, put more guys

out there to catch the ball,” Borel said. “They also have some runs for me in

the spread offense, so I think it’s just a good offense for me and the team.”

Due to Borel’s ability to elude defenders and his propensity to want to

make plays with his feet, Balwin said the coaches have really been stressing

his pocket presence this spring.

“Those are things we’re asking him to do and he’s buying into it,”

Baldwin said. “He can’t carry the ball 25 times a game. He can throw it 25

and he can carry it eight or nine and that’s what we’re asking, so if we can

get him to continue that progress we’re going to have great success.”

Both Baldwin and Borel said early on the process was a slow one, but as

the spring advanced he really improved on working through his progres-

sions and finding the open man.

“What we tried to do this spring with him was make him a thrower

and he really adapted into the program,” Baldwin said. “I think he became

very accurate and learned … last year he was told right of the peak if it’s not

there, run. We want him to run when we call his number on a run.”

Despite the focus on becoming a pass first QB, there’s no reason to

expect that in this offense Borel could feasibly have a 1,000-yard rushing

season.

“I think when you spread people out from sideline to sideline horizon-

tally, it creates a pause on defense because they’ve got to be accountable for

the quarterback. He is a running back in the spread offense,” Baldwin said.

“If they don’t pay attention to him he’ll be a big play guy. We hope they do

pay attention to him and the other guys can take over and do the things

that they’re capable of doing. I think that’s what he provides in the spread

offense is he’s dangerous running and you’d better account for him, and

that will open up other things for us.”

Borel also alluded to the danger the offense will pose as a unit.

“I think we’ll be a lot more dangerous than we were last year. We had

big plays last year, but this year we’ve got a lot of guys stepping up,” he said.

“Guys are catching the ball and running after the catch, and we’ve got a lot

By TIM OLSENsports editor

SPRING FOOTBALL SERIES: PART 8 OF 8

USU QUARTERBACK DIONDRE BOREL, 12, eludes defenders during the annual Blue and White game last Saturday. Borel is the Aggies clear-cut No. 1 QB and should be a dangerous weapon in USU’s new spread offensive system. PATRICK ODEN photo

Gamebreaker

-See QUARTERBACKS, page 17

Golf headed

to Provo

Utah State’s men’s golf

team will continue its spring

schedule this weekend as

it travels to Provo, Utah

to compete in the PING

Cougar Classic Friday and

Saturday, April 24-25. The

two-day tournament, hosted

by BYU, will be held at the

Riverside Country Club in

Provo.

The 54-hole tournament

will begin at 8 a.m. Friday

with two rounds, while the

final 18 holes will be played

on Saturday. The Riverside

Country Club is a par-72

course with a total yardage

of 6,902.

The 15-team field

includes Air Force, Boise

State, BYU, BYU-Hawaii,

Colorado State, Hawaii,

Idaho, New Mexico State,

Sacramento State, Southern

Utah, Utah, Utah State, Utah

Valley, Weber State and

Wyoming.

Competing for the

Aggies will be seniors Devin

Daniels, Toph Peterson

and Tyler Labrum, junior

Thad Truman, and sopho-

more Tyson McFarland.

McFarland has been USU’s

top finisher in each of the

last two tournaments.

BY USU ATHLETICS

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Friday, April 24, 2009Page 14 TheUtahStatesman

Choose your own adventure with Sunrise Cyclery

www.sunrisecyclery.net

Solution of

today’s

puzzle, found

on the FunPage.

How did

you do?

Friday, April 24, 2009 Page 15StatesmanSports

With six games left in the USU softball team’s regular season, the Aggies are going to need to snag at least two wins and will need some help from Boise State to get to the confer-ence tournament, said head coach Candi Letts. Letts said the USU softball team has had a difficult season, posting an overall record of 10-32 and a conference record of 3-12, but that these losses have not come against weak teams. The softball team has played six teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation, such as Stanford, Arizona State, Tennessee and Washington. This is a team that has taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and not backed down. Yet, there

is still work to do. If the USU softball team is able to win at least two of the games they have ahead, and if Boise State, which holds a current record of 4-10 in conference, either lays a goose egg over the rest of their season or wins at least two less than the Aggies, USU will overtake them in the conference standings and will earn the final seed to the tournament. Of all the WAC teams, only seven earn the right to take a trip to the tournament which will take place in Fresno, Calif., May 6-9. Right now, USU is sitting at last in the conference, but could potentially move as high as the sixth seed with a good showing. The Aggies will host six games over the next two weeks at home against the top two teams in the con-

ference, the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Nevada Wolfpack. As of now, the Pack is sitting at first place with a conference record of 10-4, and Fresno is nipping at their heels with a record of 10-5. Letts said USU will have to play with “reckless abandon” if they want to have a chance at a win. “We have to play aggres-sive, take chances and risks,” Letts said. “When we do that, we forget about all the technical things and start playing softball. That’s when we’re at our best game.” Letts also said in order to win these games, USU has to become a more con-sistent team and focus on continuing their develop-ment. She said USU has put themselves in a position for a lot of growth. She said if anyone asked the players

how this year has gone so far, the general consensus among the team is that it’s been a good year, but disap-pointing. The team is much better than their record would let on to believe, Letts said. “We’re definitely a much better and stronger team than we’ve been the last two years,” she said. “We’ve put ourselves in a very good position for growth.” The first three of these six games will take place Friday and Saturday on the road in Reno, Nev. Utah State will then return home to face Fresno May 1-2 to finish off the season.–la.hem@aggiemail.usu.edu

Do or die time for Ags

SOFTBALL

By LANDON HEMSLEYstaff writer

USU’S NICOLE RUPP connects witch a ball during the Aggies game against Utah earlier this season. The Aggies have strug-gled on the year and have some work to do in order to make the conference tournament. PATRICK ODEN photo

Golf back in action The USU men’s golf team has two more events before their season is over. The Aggies will compete in the BYU Cougar Classic sponsored by Ping this weekend in Provo, and the WAC Championships April 27-29 in Las Vegas. The five golfers that have played in all the other spring tournaments will be trav-eling the to these. They are: Devin Daniels, Toph Peterson, Tyler Labrum, Tyson McFarland and Thad Truman. Head coach Dean Johansen said the Aggies are hoping to make a lot of birdies at the BYU Classic. “It’s a golf course and a golf tourna-ment that you have to go low at, sometimes really low, so the kids have got to get into that mindset of making a lot of birdies,” Johansen said. “The golf course just isn’t really long, it’s a birdie makers golf course.” The Aggies are the host team. The team

will have a practice round Sunday of that week and then will play 18-holes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be the longest trip of the season for Utah State. “We are on the road for seven days straight which is different, we usually don’t do that,” Johansen said. “So the kids are on the road for a long time during finals week but I think most of them are ready and pre-pared and I am expecting good things at the conference championship.” Johansen said he is hoping to bring home a WAC championship, and he feels like his team has a good chance at doing that. “I think if you start the year and don’t have that goal as your main goal for the entire year then you are wasting your time,” Johansen said. “I certainly have five kids that if they play well can definitely compete for a WAC conference title, no question in my mind.”

–p.d.k@aggiemail.usu.edu

By PAUL KELLEYassistant sports editor

AGGIE GOLFERS WALK to their golf balls during practice. Golf swings back into action this week after nearly a month hiatus. photo courtesy of RYAN TALBOT

GOLF

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Downloadingto laptops

is what we do best.The Utah Statesman

Friday, April 24, 2009Page 16 StatesmanSports TRACK & FIELD

POLE VAULTER SONIA GRABOWSKA celebrates with coach Joel Johnson after set-ting a new USU indoor record earlier this spring, Johnson himself holds a school record in the decathlon. CAMERON PETERSON photo

I Got CaughtReading It.

UtahStatesmanThe

Brant Whitehead

Freshman Brant Whitehead, an undeclared business major from Sandy, Utah, was caught skimming the sports section of The Utah Statesman Wednesday while lounging in the engineering build-ing. Forget the longboards and bicycles, Brant wants to be the first person at USU to sport a motor-cooler around campus. “That would be awesome!” he says. Brant wins an “I Got Caught Reading It!” T-shirt, and is eligible for more prizes. Thanks for reading, Grant!

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Laren Hedin Laren Hedin is a junior, majoring in elementary education from Preston, Idaho. She says she enjoys reading world and nation news in The Statesman and can usually be caught reading it on the second floor of the TSC between classes. Thanks Laren! Enjoy your T-shirt and free lunch!

The school year may be coming to a close but USU’s track and field team is far from calling it quits. The runners, throwers and jump-ers head to BYU this weekend for the Robinson Invitational where every USU track athlete is looking to hit the NCAA regional qualifying marks for their event. Some of the team will then head back down to Cougar country May 1 for BYU’s Last Chance Meet. So far this year the track has been good to the Aggies, who have broken two school records. Sophomore Sonia Grabowska set a school and WAC record in the women’s pole vault earlier this year at UCLA clear-ing 13-09.75. Junior Steve Strickland came into the ’09 outdoor season hot, setting a school record in the 300m steeple chase, blowing out his competition with a time of 8:49.53. Strickland’s record came in the first meet of the season at track and field holy land Heyward Field during the Oregon Invitational. Many other Aggies have finished with season bests, new personal records and statewide honors. Three athletes have been named WAC athlete of the week and three more have been named America First Credit Union’s Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week. Senior John Strang was awarded 2009 U-Star Male Athlete of the Year as well as the Robin’s Award Male Athlete of the

Year. Strang started his USU career as a walk-on in 2004 and now graduates with a school and WAC record in the heptath-lon, two conference championships in the heptathlon and two conference champion-ships in the decathlon. Strang, Strickland, Keith Williams, Heath Wing and Chio Lopez all have the opportunity to defend conference titles. This year’s WAC conference champion-ships are held at home for the Aggies on USU’s Ralph Maughan Stadium Outdoor Track and Field, something Grabowska said she’s thrilled about. “I’m really excited about the WAC championships being at home,” Grabowska said. “It’s a great opportunity to compete well and to invite friends and family to cheer for you and your team-mates. It might be a little bit weird to wake up in my own bed before the most important meet of the season but I’m very excited for WAC Championships in Logan.” Strang said the event organizers origi-nally wanted to charge students for atten-dance but after a lot of hard work from the athletes, attendance is now free for WAC students. The Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships will be May 13-16 so get sunscreen, a cool pair of shades and a friend to picnic with and head over to the Ralph Maughan Track, located between the football field and the student health care center.

–c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu

USU to host WACBy CONNOR HARRIS JONESsports senior writer

Tennis hoping for more than just fun in the sun

With regular season play wrapped up, both the USU men’s and women’s ten-nis teams head to Hawaii this weekend for to compete for the Western Athletic Conference championship. Following two late-season WAC vic-tories over Louisiana Tech and San Jose State a week ago, the Aggie women’s team pulled themselves out of the bottom of the WAC standings to claim the seventh seed in the tournament. They will face the No.

36-ranked Boise State Broncos, who are the second seed in the tournament. The two teams met once earlier this year in Boise where the Broncos defeated the Aggies 7-0. Boise State won each of the six singles pairings in straight sets while sweeping the three doubles match-ups. Sophomore Hailey Swenson and senior Bridgette Strickland, USU’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, both narrowly missed winning the first set in their match-ups before each falling 6-2 in the second set to

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Friday, April 24, 2009 Page 17StatesmanSports

more people to make plays – this offense fits everybody.” Behind Borel there is a lot of inexperience and no clear-cut No. 2. Redshirt freshman Exavier Johnson and true freshman Adam Eastman split the majority of playing time with the second team offense during spring practice and scrimmages. Along with those two, JC transfer Jeff Fisher could also battle for the job come fall. “The No. 2 position, I’m not sure, we’re still at a question who that’s going to be,” Baldwin said. “Exavier Johnson showed some things in the spring game that are very posi-tive: That he can run the ball and the prog-ress is getting better.” Regardless of who eventually lands the

backup roll, Baldwin said he is hoping the level of competition increases so that the athletes not only push each other, but push Borel to get better as well. “The No. 2 pushes the No. 1 spot and the No. 1 becomes better,” Baldwin said. “We see that at receiver, we see that at runningback, we see that at some spots at the O-line, but we don’t see that at the quarterback, so we’ve got to get our No. 2 to come to that level.” With Borel at the helm and the spread offense in place the Aggies are primed to have possibly their best season in over a decade, as well as the pieces in place to mold the quarterback of the future.

–t.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu

Quarterbacks: Borel Ags’ No. 1 -continued from page 13

DIONDRE BOREL shows off his running ability during the Blue and White game last

Saturday. He holds USU’s QB record for most rushing yards in a season. PATRICK ODEN photo

USU’S MONICA ABELLA returns a shot during the Aggies home match against Louisiana

Tech. The Ags are headed to Hawaii for the weekend. CAMERON PETERSON photo

Hawaii: Ags hoping for an upset -continued from page 16

their opponents. The winner of that first round match-up will go on to face the winner between the University of Nevada and the University of Idaho in second round action Friday. The women’s team currently holds a season record of 5-19 in head-to-head matches, including 2-6 in WAC play, while boasting a roster of which the majority are underclassmen. One of those younger players is Swenson, who has been competing in the No. 1 singles slot this season and logged a record of 13-11 on the year. The Aggie men’s team also has their fair share of youth on the roster with two of their top three singles players being underclassman. Like the women’s team, the men have just one senior on this year’s squad in No. 4 singles player Mike Banks, who is 9-10 in matches this season. After getting off to a scorching 7-4

start to the season, USU’s men hit a mid-season slump and finished the regular season with a record of 8-12, including a 0-6 record in WAC matches. Like the women’s team, the men enter the WAC tournament as the seventh seed and will face second-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs in the first round of the tournament. The winner of the Aggies and Bulldogs first round match-up will face off Saturday with the winner of Hawaii and Idaho’s first round match. Sophomore Jakob Asplund leads the Aggie men into the tournament in the No. 1 singles slot with a 7-11 record on the season. WAC Tournament play wraps up Sunday with the championship matches for both the men’s and women’s tourna-ments.

–matt.sonn@aggiemail.usu.edu

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Friday, April 24, 2009Page 18 World&Nation

HATFIELD, England (AP) - In the search for Earth-like planets, astronomers zeroed in Tuesday on two places that look awfully familiar to home. One is close to the right size. The other is in the right place. European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realized that a neighbor-ing planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for poten-tial life. The Holy Grail of current exoplanet research is the detection of a rocky, Earth-like planet in the habitable zone, said Michel Mayor, an astrophysicist at Geneva University in Switzerland. An American expert called the discov-ery of the tiny planet ìextraordinary. Gliese 581 e is only 1.9 times the size of Earth ñ while previous planets found out-side our solar system are closer to the size of massive Jupiter, which NASA says could swallow more than 1,000 Earths. Gliese 581 e sits close to the nearest star, making it too hot to support life. Still, Mayor said its discovery in a solar system 200 light years away from Earth is a good example that we are progressing in the detection of Earth-like planets. Scientists also discovered that the orbit of planet Gliese 581 d, which was found in 2007, was located within the habitable zone, a region around a sun-like star that

would allow water to be liquid on the plan-et’s surface, Mayor said. He spoke at a news conference Tuesday at the University of Hertfordshire during the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science. Gliese 581 e is probably too large to be made only of rocky material, fellow astron-omer and team member Stephane Udry said, adding it was possible the planet had a large and deep ocean. It is the first serious water-world candi-date, Udry said. Mayor’s main planet-hunting com-petitor, Geoff Marcy of the University of California, Berkeley, praised the find of Gliese 581 e as the most exciting discovery so far of exoplanets planets outside our solar system. This discovery is absolutely extraordi-nary, Marcy told The Associated Press by e-mail, calling the discoveries a significant step in the search for Earth-like planets. While Gliese 581 e is too hot for life it shows that nature makes such small planets, probably in large numbers, Marcy commented. Surely the galaxy contains tens of billions of planets like the small, Earth-mass one announced here. Nearly 350 planets have been found outside our solar system, but so far nearly every one of them was found to be extreme-ly unlikely to harbor life.

Most were too close or too far from their sun, making them too hot or too cold for life. Others were too big and likely to be uninhabitable gas giants like Jupiter. Those that are too small are highly difficult to detect in the first place. Both Gliese 581 d and Gliese 581 e are

located in constellation Libra and orbit around Gliese 581. Like other planets circling that star scientists have discovered four so far Gliese 581 e was found using the European Southern Observatoryís telescope in La Silla, Chile.

Scientists discover earth-sized planet

AN ARTIST’S IMPRESSION of “Planet e” , foreground left, released by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere Tuesday April 21. AP photo

Australian newspaper receives fishy threat

SYDNEY (AP) – Journalists have a lot to be nervous about lately: layoffs, furloughs, newspaper closures. But reporters at an Australian paper may have received the scariest threat of the day when a live shark was left on their doorstep. Police said the two-foot creature was spotted early Wednesday by a man who was leaving a McDonald’s restaurant next door to the offices of The Standard in the small Victoria state town of Warrnambool. When police arrived, the animal – believed to be a relatively harmless Port Jackson shark – was still breathing, Warrnambool police Sgt. Tom Revell said Thursday. So officers borrowed a bucket of water from McDonald’s, placed the shark inside it and drove to a nearby pier, where they

released the creature back into the ocean. But why would someone dump a shark outside the newspaper? “We’ve got no idea why,” Revell said. Nor does the newspaper’s chief of staff, Glen Bernoth, who learned of the bizarre incident in a middle-of-the-night phone call from a friend who’d heard about it on his police scanner. “Naturally, I assumed it was like some sort of prank or something, but I’d been asleep for a couple hours,” Bernoth said with a laugh Thursday. There are a couple of theories on the motive: Some readers were angered by a photograph the newspaper recently ran on its front page featuring a man who caught a large reef shark.

6 years in prison for Pakistani immigrant NEW YORK (AP) – A Pakistani immigrant described by prosecutors as “Hezbollah’s man in New York City” was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison for airing the militant group’s televi-sion station. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman handed down a sentence of five years and nine months to Javed Iqbal, who had plead-ed guilty in December to providing aid to a terrorist organization. Iqbal, 45, admitted as part of a plea agreement that he used satellite dishes on his Staten Island home to distribute broad-casts of Al Manar, the TV station of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which has been fighting Israel since the early 1980s and has been branded by the U.S. government as a terrorist group.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Snyder said Iqbal recruited Al Manar, even traveling to “the belly of the beast, South Beirut,” to meet with its general manager. “He was, in a very real sense, Hezbollah’s man in New York City,” Snyder said. Snyder said Iqbal bought special satellite equipment to allow Al Manar to provide 24-hour programming from November 2005 through May 2006 so Hezbollah could use it to recruit follow-ers and suicide bombers. Prosecutors said Iqbal’s business was paid $28,000 monthly for at least five months for airing the sta-tion to its North American customers. Iqbal’s lawyer, Josh Dratel, said his cli-ent didn’t intend to aid Hezbollah as he tried to build his Brooklyn-based satellite.