Huntsman Card Competition Winner Announced Today

The top three winners in the Jon. M. Huntsman Holiday Card contest will be announced today.

The school of business will not judge entries, but the number of Facebook votes will solely determine the winner of the contest. The card with the most Facebook “likes” will receive $500; second place will earn $200 and third place will receive $100. 

Students who submitted holiday cards were given strict guidelines in order to participate.  

Entrants had to be enrolled as a student at Utah State University and at least 18 years old. Submitted cards could be graphically created, with color or black and white. The card also had to be an original creation.

One holiday card submitted was a violation of copyright and was disqualified from the completion.

Trent Morrison, an entrant in the card competition, created his card differently from the usual holiday theme.

“My card had a silhouette of a mustache on a Christmas tree with a plaid background,” said Morrison. “I went trendy with my design and also put hash tag hipster holiday at the bottom of it.”

For each “like”, The Huntsman School of Business will donate 50 cents to the Cache Valley Food Pantry. Donations will be capped after 300 votes per card.

“I think this friendly competition serves a great purpose in helping out our local food bank,” said Sloan Bailey, a student in the Huntsman School of Business. “During the holidays students are always looking for ways to help those in need.”

In the beginning Matt Witcher, manager of the Cache Valley Food Bank, did not know about this donation.

“Sometimes we find out about donations once they deliver the money to us,” Witcher said. “They bring the money to us once the event is over usually and only know about donations like these 50 percent of the time.”

Kingsford’s Promise to Utah State University if Elected

Abby Kingsford sees a problem.

There’s not enough student involvement on campus.

“If elected, I promise to make sure that students living on campus are more involved,” said Kingsford, a candidate for executive vice president.

This position of the Associated Students of Utah State University board works with the state of Utah, dealing with government relations.

“This position could also be called the government relations liaison,” said Hannah Blackburn, who is currently in charge of USU elections. “This position works very closely with the state of Utah when we go into a legislation session.”

Kingsford currently does a lot of work for the student government council and feels as though she is very qualified.

“I am on the College of Humanities, Social Student Council, Government Council and the student fee board,” Kingsford said. “I know how ASUSU works because of my current involvement.”

This week she is focusing on educating the school of agriculture and bringing in several speakers who work for the state of Utah to address agriculture students and teachers.

“Abby is very qualified for this position and is very familiar with ASUSU,” Blackburn said.

If elected, Kingsford wants to “bridge the gap between housing and ASUSU. I have talked to several housing officials and I feel as though there could be a better reach in getting them more involved,” Kingsford said.

Kyldie Heywood, a classmate of Kingsford, also believes she is qualified for this position.

“She is a great role model and student,” Heywood said. “She is very personable and works hard.”

Watson Improves College of Science.

The college of science building will soon have display cases in the building featuring a student of the week, showing who the current science council is and the legislation that is currently being written.

These are just a few ways that Joe Watson has contributed to changes at Utah State University since becoming science senator eight months ago.

Elected in 2011 to a one-year term, Watson said his job is hard work but definitely worth his while.

 “I sit on several committees as well as boards and dedicate several hours a week to meet with students and address their concerns and problems in the science college,” Watson said.

Watson ran unopposed in the 2011 election and has accomplished several of his goals he had planned while preparing for his position on the Associated Students of Utah State University board.

Watson’s biggest focus was on the classroom improvement fund. This fund provides classrooms with new technology, tables, desks, chairs, white boards and projectors. Watson made sure that the college of science received its share of $75,000 dollars.

“The fund provides anything that improves learning. This was my biggest focus as I entered into this position,” Watson said.

Since Watson has been in office he has requested for $25,000 dollars in classroom resources.

“In the last four years, the science senators have not sent in a single request for new class room materials and I wanted to make sure that the college of science got the money that we needed,” Watson said.

Watson has also taken focus off of programming and centered it more on academics.

“Programming is definitely important but academics always come first. Everything I do is natured around academics,” Watson said.

Sarah Blakely, an elections volunteer who audited Watson, said he improved the college in several ways.

 

“This semester he has done a really great job with his science council and he has involved his college in a lot of campus activities,” said Blakely. “His council has volunteered in several service projects and has really improved our school.”

Restore the Roar

Something was different.

Even those sitting in the upper seats of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum could hear the sound of sneakers squeaking on the court and coaches calling plays during the Nov. 28 game against the University of Denver.

The arena was packed. And silent.

The Spectrum at Utah State University holds 10,270 spectators and is known to have one of the rowdiest crowds in NCAA basketball. The student section, which is seated near the opposing team’s bench, is known for heckling the opposition throughout the game.

But Denver wasn’t given the treatment that other teams usually receive that night.

“I have never seen the Spectrum as quiet as it was,” said Elizabeth Tracy, an employee with the USU athletic department. “You could hear the sound of a pin drop and no one but the student section knew what was going on.”

Earlier this month Utah State University president Stan Albrecht, issued a personal letter of apology to Brigham Young University in response to the USU student section’s behavior during the Aggie versus Cougar game on the Nov. 11 match up.

Students were not happy about this apology letter and did not think their behavior was offensive.

“I think an apology was unnecessary because that kind of behavior is to be expected at college sporting events and is all part of the fun,” said Jenna Black, a member of the HURD, USU’s student section.

According to students in attendance at last Wednesday’s game, students were told that if they harassed the other team, leaned over the railing or pointed, they would be escorted out of the game and their student ID would be revoked, thereby making them ineligible to attend anymore Aggie basketball games this season. A security guard took it upon himself to issue these instructions.

Students were already angered with the recent apology letter and these instructions from the security guard enraged the crowd.

A silent protest began and lasted for the first few minutes of the game that ended in a loss of 67-54. This defeat broke the Aggies’ 33-game home-court winning streak.

According to USU Athletic Director, Scott Barnes, it was a miscommunication with the security guard and no policies had been changed in regard to cheering.

The Aggies’ next home game is Dec. 6 where they will face Utah Valley University.

Ryan Baylis, Athletics Vice President, said this week “everything should be back to normal for the next game. The athletic department said they would let us go back to the way things were.”

Students are prepared for this week’s game and “the athletic department does not have any new rules,” Baylis said. 

Dead Week Activities

In order to provide a break from Dead Week — the last week before finals — the Associated Students of Utah State University are offering several activities for students throughout the week. 

On Monday, ASUSU is offering free apple cider and holiday music in the Taggart Student Center at 11:30 a.m.

Holiday sugar cookies and a showing of the movie “Elf” will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. 

Starting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, students can warm up with a cup of complimentary hot chocolate. 

Thursday two events will be provided. Starting at 12:30 p.m. churros will be available and The Eclipse Holiday Concert, a cappella group from Northern Utah, will perform at 7 p.m.

Cupcakes and a benefit concert, beginning at 7 p.m., will finalize the festivities Friday evening.

All Dead Week activities are free to students and will be held in the TSC Sunburst Lounge. 

“Dead Week gives me a solid week to focus on my studies and helps me prioritize my time,” said Heidi Smith, a junior at USU. “Dead Week activities are always fun to attend. It provides students with a much-needed study break and a second to breathe.”

In order for students to study late hours in a quiet place, the Merrill-Cazier Library will be extending hours during Dead Week and finals from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Sloan Bailey, a junior majoring in business, studies at the library until it closes everyday during Dead Week and finals. 

“I am one of the last people at the library during those two weeks. I have several business tests and I have to study in a quiet place. It is great that the library hours are extended this week and it will be very helpful,” said Bailey.

“These activities will provide students with a small break in their studying,” Bailey said.

Students will attend these events “because it is a great study break tool. The location may be better if it was in the library,” said Danica Moran, a USU student. 

Festival of Wreaths Benefit Cache Valley

In the mist of the holiday season the Utah State University’s Bookstore prepares for the second annual Festival of Wreaths. This event will benefit Cache Valley families who are in need of food during the holiday season. It will be held on Dec. 1^st from 5-7 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center.

A silent auction will take place on all wreaths that have been donated by departments on campus, colleges, clubs, organizations and members of the Cache Valley community.

This is a nonprofit event and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Cache Valley Food Bank where the money will be used to purchase food for families.

If one would like to donate a wreath he or she must sign up with the Marketing Department at the USU Bookstore to pick up his or her wreath. Wreaths may be decorated in any way and then are to be turned in at the customer service desk in order to be displayed.

“People have been bidding on the wreaths throughout the whole month of November,” said Amy Jepsen, a manager at the USU Bookstore. “We have over 41 wreaths total.”

Anyone who wishes to place a bid on a holiday wreath can go to the customer service desk located in the bookstore until 7 p.m.

“If you are the winning bidder we will call you and give you a time to pick up your holiday wreath,” said Jepsen.

“Bids start at fifteen dollars and go up to about seventy five. We have several different wreaths and it all goes to a great cause,” said Whitney Jones, cashier at the USU Bookstore.

Mat Wittier, manager of the Cache Valley Food Bank, enjoys helping local families in need, especially during the holiday season.

“With all of this donated money that we get from the event we are able to use it to operate the cost for food purchase,” said Wittier. “We also are in the process of building a new building for our food bank and this is completely based off of donations.”

Edited by:

M. Menzdorf

BlueSquare- The New Place to be for Students

Opening in August 2012 at Utah State University, the BlueSquare project will provide luxury-housing complexes that will be available to students.

The BlueSquare project will provide a total of 220 beds in units of 1, 2 or 4 bedroom suites and have luxury amenities such as: hot tubs, flat screen TVs and granite countertops. Several restaurants, a shopping center and a pub will also be built.

1987, Utah State University graduate David Miller knew that giving back to his alma mater was something that he would always do. Miller attributes much of his success today to the education that he gained at USU so giving back to his roots was the least he could do he said.

And in August he did just that.

Miller cut a several million-dollar check to USU to get his BlueSquare project started.

His niece, Alejandra Manjares, who currently attends USU, has made his alumni involvement more prevalent in order to provide her and other students with the best college experience possible.

“I have always had a dream of raising the standard of living for the students at Utah State University,” Miller said. “We are working hard to fulfill every single student need and want.”

The projected $15 million development will be located near Romney Stadium.

Some students who live near the BlueSquare sight find this project unnecessary and a waste of money. Candice Weller, who lives in Old Farm student housing, thinks that luxury amenities aren’t necessary for the average college student. 

“I don’t see anything wrong with Old Farm housing. I think it is a waste of money spending all of it on this project,” said Weller.

Manjares’ uncle, who currently lives in Florida but travels to Utah frequently, has large BlueSquare staffs that are currently developing plans. Manjares, who is part of this staff, attends contracting meetings, brings consultants to the site and is the voice for her uncle when he is unable to make it to Utah.

“He knew I have always desired to be a part of something big at Utah State and that is the biggest reason why he is putting so much effort into this and giving me so much responsibility,” said Manjares. “He knew that I had great potential even though I am only a sophomore.”

Her uncle has always been a large donor to Utah State mainly because of his want to give back to Cache Valley. Though Miller funds several buildings, athletic facilities and projects, BlueSquare is what he looks forward to the most.

Edited By:

K. Haywood