Holidays are the perfect time to donate

‘Tis the season for giving. As classes wrap up and Finals Week comes to an end, students can finally ease up and enjoy the holiday season. Be it a stroll downtown to see the lights or caroling in your neighborhood, this is a time of sharing and reflection. The holiday season affords us the time to consider the many opportunities we’ve been given. It also provides us an ample opportunity to give back.

A bad economy isn’t stifling charitable giving in Utah. Utah Food Bank executive director Jim Pugh said they are expecting this year’s holiday food drive to exceed last year’s collection of 350,000 pounds of food.

Pugh said that this year, more than others, hunger has become a very real thing for people. Those who can give, do, because everyone knows someone in need. According to the Better Business Bureau, more than 80 percent of money raised by charities in America comes from individuals.

Stephanie Gustafson with the Salvation Army said December is their busiest time of year. Workers often ring bells in high traffic areas to collect donations for the hungry and destitute.

“Our workers are positioned with their kettles to collect donations because many people are very generous in their end-of-year giving,” Gustafson said.

There are ample causes and organizations soliciting donations so they can give help to those in need, particularly during the holiday season. Angel Tree collects gifts for children and families in need. Participants can select ornaments at Cyprus Credit Union locations or Macy’s department stores and shop for the “angel” whose name is on the ornament. Operation Cover-Up is taking donations of coats and blankets that can be dropped off at Wasatch Front fire stations. Unwrapped toys are being collected by local businesses as part of the Toys for Tots program.

For the past 60 years, Utah State Hospital in Provo has endorsed “The Forgotten Patient Christmas Project,” which provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of patients with mental illnesses.

Event organizer Shawna Peterson said they “have never had a forgotten patient.”
Truly, the amount of money you choose to give matters little. Rather, it’s a wonderful time to recognize the blessings we have and help those in need in whatever ways we can. The real joy of the season comes by showing love and compassion to others.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/holidays-are-the-perfect-time-to-donate-1.2118921

Values, honesty should be welcomed

Sarah Palin, perhaps one of the most controversial figures in America today, is coming to Salt Lake City on Wednesday as part of her Going Rogue book tour. If her previous book signings are any indication, we can expect a few thousand people to converge at the Salt Lake Costco to get an autograph.

In terms of a Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney is clearly Utah’s favorite son, as he secured 90 percent of the party’s vote in last year’s presidential race. But his book isn’t out yet and frankly, no one has said whether he’ll make a 2012 presidential run.

In a radio interview last week, former presidential candidate Tom Tancredo said Mike Huckabee hates the idea of a Mormon in the White House. Huckabee got his way last year and thus far, Romney hasn’t done a good job addressing concerns that blocked his presidential aspirations. As of now, Palin is the GOP’s most popular choice—maybe she’ll ask Mitt to join her as vice president on the 2012 ticket.

A lightning rod for critics, Palin even attracted the wrath of the Democratic National Committee, which distributed a memo of 22 lies contained in Going Rogue. The Associated Press assigned 11 reporters to fact-check Palin’s book. Interestingly, they did not conduct similar reviews on books from Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinton. If Palin is as backward as they say, why go to such great lengths to discredit her? Clearly, if Palin wasn’t a threat to the programs and financiers these entities represent, they wouldn’t take the time to criticize her.

Palin is being held to a very different standard and despite the attacks, millions of people support her efforts and values.

The things that critics despise her for—being inarticulate at times, simplistic and folksy—are the qualities that make her attractive to conservatives. There seems to be a large section of working-class Americans who relate to Palin. Her book illustrates her strong roots in faith and family, policy achievements and defense of common-sense principles to guide her decision-making.

As Alaska’s governor, she built bipartisan coalitions and was a genuine ethics reformer. She has been criticized for leaving her post before her term was up. It’s difficult for most people to wrap their heads around, but Palin’s choice truly was in the state’s best interest. No, she didn’t do what a professional politician would do. Refreshingly, she did the right thing for her constituents, saving the state millions of dollars as Alaska avoided the legal obligation of investigating bogus ethics violations.

By resigning, Palin is now able to serve without the restrictions of an official title and the day-to-day expectations that go along with it.

Americans are sick of politicians who cover their butts rather than serve their constituents. More than anything else, it would seem Palin’s future role will be to empower everyday Americans and keep politicians accountable in preserving America’s freedoms and liberties.

Palin might not run for president, but in a kingmaker role, she will definitely influence voters and candidates in a way that gets back to the core values that seem to have been forgotten--individual rights, limited government, the sanctity of life and a strong military—all principles that empower individuals and allow them to take care of themselves and their families. She should be welcome in Utah next week.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/values-honesty-should-be-welcomed-1.2110676

Channel rivalry in positive way

Former BYU receiver Austin Collie said after a 2007 Cougar victory and amazing catch against the U, “I wouldn’t say it was lucky. Obviously, if you do what’s right on and off the field, I think the Lord steps in and plays a part in it. Magic happens.”

The enchanted Holy War will soon continue. In a 113-year tradition, the Utes will face off against the Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium in what many consider to be the state’s biggest football game of the year. Even though the same man, Brigham Young, founded both schools, a deep-rooted rivalry exists. The U holds a 53-33-4 lead in the series.

Fueling this competitive rivalry is a history of pranks by students on both sides, pranks that earn the disapproval of both academic institutions. Pulling pranks on the team you love to hate has long been a rite of passage and display of school pride. Since 1907, when the giant limestone Y and U block letters were constructed on their respective mountainsides, both symbols have been targeted by pranksters.

BYU wraps its statues in cellophane this time of year, and both schools have a security guard monitor the giant mountainside letters because of pranks committed in the past.

In 2002, the Y was covered in buckets of multi-colored paint, which caused an estimated $8,000 in damages. Little red U’s dotted the white surface in 2003, and in that same year, the Brigham Young statue in front of the Provo City Library was doused in pink paint. Cougar fans are equally culpable for pranks at the U, including 2007’s drapes of toilet paper dangling from the base of the mountainside U, creating a “crappy” Y. Successful pranks have ranged from painting the block U blue to dying U campus fountains blue.

Perhaps the most costly prank occurred in 2004, when eight U baseball players were arrested for painting the Y red. Because damages exceeded $1,000, felony charges were applied. Eventually, the players were charged with class A misdemeanors and had to pay more than $6,000 for repairs.

“We haven’t seen (a recent) increase in pranks, and part of that is both schools allocating resources to protect property, and the other part is that painting the Y invokes stronger consequences than just a fine, as it has become a legal issue,” said Carri Jenkins, BYU spokesperson. “Pranks are discouraged not only because of the damage, but primarily because of the lasting impact on a student if they are cited.”

Clearly, there are consequences for being stupid when showing your school spirit.
One example is sitting in the opposing team’s student section wearing the wrong color. You must have a death wish to bait the rival’s fans while within striking distance. Happily, the emerging trend is for schools to encourage students to cheer for their team and not trash their competitor’s lineup or property.

“Sportsmanship is connected to the broader campus values and standards of behavior including civility, integrity, and responsibility,” said U Dean of Students Annie Nebeker Christensen. “We request that our students treat opponents, fellow fans and coaches with respect and courtesy. We also encourage them to enthusiastically support our team and recognize outstanding performances by all participants.”

To channel the prankster spirit to a more productive cause, the schools partnered to create the annual food drive. Instead of damaging property, a competition is held to raise the most cans of food and cash donations for those in need.

“Rivalries get heated, and I don’t know if the pranks will ever stop,” said John Fackler, director of alumni relations at the U. “We certainly don’t condone pranks and feel a better way to fuel the rivalry is to participate in the food drive, where we’ve raised hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and tens of thousands of dollars for people who are hungry.”

Ultimately, the rivalry challenge is to beat the other guy, flat out, no holds barred. For the players, it’s a victory on the field. For the fans, it’s creating the biggest stash of food for the needy. After all, at the end of the day, it is just a game…right?

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/channel-rivalry-in-positive-way-1.2098645

Business ranking sets U at the top

Most of us are going to school hoping that an education will help us successfully compete in the workforce upon graduation. The stress and pressure of making good grades, studying late into the night to ace a test and developing lifelong friendships is all part of the college experience.

Often, we measure ourselves, our classmates and our school based on external benchmarks such as the winner of a Saturday football game, the number of national food chains on campus or magazine reviews and rankings.

Although it’s reassuring to know that BusinessWeek magazine named, for the first time, the U’s Professional Master’s in Business Administration Program as one of the best in the nation for people returning to college, it doesn’t shift a student’s responsibility to continue striving for excellence.

Things such as this are not only good for the business school, but also for the university as a whole. National recognition will bring in more alumni dollars and more competition among students. That will cause the best students competing for spots in the U’s classrooms and better job prospects for graduates since future employers will know they are hiring the best possible candidate.

Most master’s students work full-time and have families. Juggling the obligations of work, school and family is definitely a challenge, but BusinessWeek showed that students at the U are succeeding in these efforts. More than anything, it’s reassuring and a great pat on the back to be acknowledged by a publication read by more than 4.7 million people every week.

The BusinessWeek ratings are based on the quality of the academics, the students’ prospects and achievement after graduation and the overall satisfaction of graduates. Students reported seeing a 25 percent increase in average salary after they graduated. It placed the U’s Professional MBA Program sixth in the nation for its graduation rate and 11th for the number of tenured faculty.

Ninety-nine schools are evaluated every two years when the list is created. The U’s Professional MBA Program went from no mention at all to halfway up the list. Although the truth is that the program probably hired a good public relations person who made sure it met the specifications to be considered on the list, the business school has also done a fabulous job building an effective program that empowers students and prepares them for their careers.

A hearty congratulations is in order to the students, professors and administrators of the David Eccles School of Business, specifically the Professional MBA Program.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/business-ranking-sets-u-at-the-top-1.2090717

Sarah Palin's publishing and political worlds in collision

In today's publishing market, "Going Rogue" is a fat book at 432 pages, at a high price point of $28.99, with a massive (rumored 1.5 million) first printing, launched on the book world's version of a Royal Tour, where Oprah is Queen of the Universe and Barbara Walters is Duchess of the D.C.-Manhattan cognoscenti.

In today's political market, well before it was officially released, "Going Rogue" was reduced to a pinprick-sized, petty insiders squabble. How do we square these disparate perspectives?

As a person with alternating publisher and political hats, who knows the players but wasn't inside the John McCain campaign, who cares deeply about the current conservative movement and the future of the country (which are inextricably intertwined), may I offer a few thoughts to the friends on CNN.com's site?

The publishing "frenzy"

Full disclosure: Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, (for which I serve as editor-in-chief, a misnomer of a title, since my editing is confined to reading; for you political types, think, "operative/organizer") would have loved to acquire Sarah Palin's book.

She didn't really shop it and it's not certain we would have paid what she was reputed to have commanded, but upon notice she was considering writing, we, like the rest of the book world, were in a frenzy at the prospect of publishing it. Many were prepared to offer Palin's lawyer, Bob Barnett, their first-born male child for it.

We are now all watching very closely how it plays out (and more precisely, "earns-out") in a book market that's unpredictable and fickle always, but in major transition today. The pre-orders immediately kicked it onto the best-seller lists, but a dirty little secret of publishing (where spin is as prevalent as in politics) is not all best-sellers earn out (i.e., the publisher sells enough books to cover an author's advance, which is the threshold for making a profit).

"Going Rogue" will now be a "comp" (or baseline) for assessing the value of and advances for political "big books," so all you big book writers of the future better hope it sells big -- or your future advances won't be.

"The Political Palin"

On to politics. While having your own title is now de rigueur for politicians and policy makers, and the upshot is usually no harm-no foul, the goals of the publishing and political worlds are not always in tandem.

Though there is much, much more in Palin's book that fleshes out her inner core, her grounding in faith and family, as well as her policy achievements and forward-thinking philosophical framework of common sense conservatism, so far the coverage of it has constrained her in a defensive backward-focused box, re-litigating the darkest days of the campaign and reliving difficult family moments.

Though all the breathless chatter about 2012 is premature, the way Palin lays out her world view throughout the book and especially in the eloquent closing pages is sure to attract conservatives yearning for an unapologetic articulation of first principles. But because of the inordinate mainstream media focus on the political insiders' tiff, the Political Palin is getting sucked down and mucked up by the Published Palin.

Listening to her on Rush Limbaugh as I write, she is digging out of the box her detractors would like to bury her in for once and all and needs to keep on it: Get off their message and onto her own.

Now, for a point of personal privilege. I have been and will continue to be an advocate of Sarah Palin and her principles. Had I been asked about how to use her publishing opportunity to maximum political benefit, I would have proffered to Palin the received wisdom of the unlikely duet of my mother and Lee Atwater: Never burn bridges.

As campaign memoirs go, "Going Rogue" napalms bridges, incinerates detractors, hoses gas on what were smoldering embers. It is without refutation anywhere, even among rabid Palin haters, that she received political hazing of a magnitude previously unimaginable.

More mother wisdom: Two wrongs don't make a right (to which my Obama-loving daughter always replies, "Yes, but three rights make a left"). There was a way to defend her honor, make her case, pivot to the future while showcasing her moral foundation by doing unto others as she wished they had done unto her, so to speak.

Campaign pressure cooker

Anyone who has ever been in the Defcon One pressure cooker of a national campaign knows that "mistakes are made," feelings are hurt, tempers are short, bitching is background noise. There is no such thing as Emily Post for political campaigns. Except for maybe Poppy Bush, good manners do not exist on any campaign planet. For good reason: They take time.

Time is the most valuable commodity on a campaign and you just can't waste it thinking about how to choose your words carefully or get your job done more diplomatically. If someone isn't in tears every day, that day wasn't all it could be advancing the campaign. I once witnessed an experienced (big) man slap a professional female colleague across the face over an ad buy... and no one thought anything of it, starting with the woman. In fact, she would have been insulted if anyone told her she should have been insulted.

Though the two primary Palin antagonists, McCain campaign senior strategists Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace, have said little about the Molotov cocktails thrown at them in "Going Rogue" (other than a true Schmidt, aka, "The Bullet," retort, "Why are the bald guys always the villains?"), both have made it clear the accounts of their actions in "Going Rogue" are "fiction." And while I wasn't there, I have worked with and adore them both. They are uniquely talented, cool under fire, cutting-edge creative professionals, admired and respected by their peers of all political persuasions and their many high-level bosses.

And ironically, however it ended, the relationship began as a match made in heaven. Both Steve and Nicolle were ecstatic with Palin's selection as vice presidential nominee; and both were appalled at the outrageous, unspeakable, unparalleled media treatment heaped on Palin and her family.

Steve, normally the toughest guy in the room, called me at home on multiple occasions, just flabbergasted and flummoxed about how to protect Palin and her family and, of course keep the campaign on track. He was in genuine pain for her -- not a good state of mind or use of energy for the campaign guru, which he knew -- but he devoted much concentration to the astounding set of circumstances. Ditto for Nicolle.

That Palin recalls her experience with them so negatively and ugly incidents so vividly does not make her a liar, as people with neither her nor the party's best interests in mind have charged. The operating principle of campaigns, perception is reality, works inside as well as outside.

Once her perception of reality locked in negatively, particularly on Schmidt and Wallace, there was only one prism through which all their actions flowed. And it wasn't pretty. I have seen this phenomenon on countless campaigns and in the White House. It is unavoidable in any operation that is always under stress, where clearing-the-air sessions aren't possible given time or physical constraints. That campaign people tend to be uncommonly focused, which can come off as insensitive, might exaggerate the perception, but it is just an occupational hazard.

The plight of the number two

Another common source of campaign discomfort is the role of the VPOTUS (that's vice president of the United States) candidate. It is always secondary to the POTUS in every respect.

His/her operation is always subservient to the principal one. They do not set strategy or adjust message; they are assigned to B markets. They are an echo chamber. They do not give unique speeches unless they are given a specific and pointed attack, which might appear unseemly coming from the principal.

Granted, Palin was a unique nominee, with uncommon charisma and fire-power, but number two is number two. It was ever thus and will ever be. Adjusting to being number two, after being number one (as a governor) is a process. Even if you were never number one, it is a trial -- witness Joe Biden, in perpetual adjustment mode.

Bottom line: The book is a good read, an unusually detailed front-row seat view to how strained campaigns always are, and a compelling insight into Palin's perspective. Its long-term publishing and political impact are unknown for now, though as Palin moves out of the mainstream media monster publicity machine and into more hospitable, relevant political terrain, the prospects for success on both fronts improve exponentially.

But its impact on personal and professional relationships is a sad one indeed and one I hope conservatives don't let it divide us just when we are marching toward a promising midterm, which reflects an ascendant common-sense conservatism and requires all the good guys in the foxhole together.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/18/matalin.palin.book/index.html

Stimulus package ineffectual

A Nov. 6 Associated Press headline was alarming: “Obama: Gov’t working to ease pain of joblessness.”

President Barack Obama’s administration’s goal is to create 3.5 million jobs, which will completely miss the mark from what the economy actually needs, according to USA Today. About $1.5 billion was spent in Utah to save or create 6,598 jobs in schools as well as contractor and government agency positions. Divided out, it cost taxpayers $227,341.60 per job, according to www.recovery.gov. It goes without saying, the person working in that “saved” job isn’t receiving a quarter million dollar salary. Certainly we can’t afford the wasted spending the government indulges in to maintain jobs.

Two weeks ago, the White House tooted its horn saying Obama’s stimulus package is working because it created or saved 640,000 jobs this year—that tackles 4 percent of the 15.7 million unemployed. One week ago, Obama soberly reported that the national unemployment rate jumped to 10.2 percent (6.2 percent in Utah). Economists believe the unemployment rate is still growing and could reach 10.5 percent in the nation before the end of the year. Spending us into obscurity, Obama’s promise for change seems to be taking America down a road best left untraveled.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, job openings have decreased from 4.4 million to 2.4 million, while the number of unemployed persons grew from 7.5 million to 15.7 million. Given this data, the unemployed only have a 15 percent chance of finding a job.

The government doesn’t like the private sector because it is driven by profits rather than the “greater good,” and the private sector detests the government getting in its way. Pouring salt into an open wound happens when elected officials don’t listen to their constituents, deciding they know best. These officials pass bills requiring billions of dollars in new funding. With inflated egos, they refuse taking the tried-and-proven course of smaller government with tax reductions for citizens and business owners. With more available money, capitalists take the risks necessary to create new business, and thus, new jobs. The private sector, not stimulus spending, will drive new hires. The government pumping money into unsustainable positions and borrowing from our children is untenable and unsustainable.

Pushing irresponsible decisions through Congress in the form of convoluted, confusing 1,900-page bills is not only missing the mark, it further fuels America’s unhealthy appetite for buy-now, pay-later strategies. America is facing a serious onslaught of issues that must be met with personal accountability, hard work and letting the people develop solutions, not being force-fed by a socialist-oriented government.

“I will not rest until all Americans who want work can,” Obama said.

“Unless the Chicago Bulls are playing or I have a one-night, $24,000 date in New York with my wife,” he should add.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/stimulus-package-ineffectual-1.2064240

Reports should be scrutinized for bias

Professors at the U are responsible to not only teach classes and be available during office hours, but they also have the privilege of doing research and publishing their findings in trade and professional journals. University studies and published articles often affect public policy decisions since the research implies a “best-fit” solution for a particular issue. However, we should be wary and learn to read between the lines of these studies.

Interestingly, in March, researchers at UC Berkeley said a fast-food restaurant within one-tenth of a mile from a high school means that ninth graders are at least 5.2 percent more likely to be obese. Last month, researchers at the U came to a different conclusion. In the U’s study, people who live more than half a mile away from a restaurant tend to be fatter. Granted, the studies were conducted under different conditions, but it seems strange that their research on a nearly identical topic reached different conclusions.

The Berkeley report concluded that restricting access to fast-food options near schools could have significant effects on obesity among students. The U’s conclusion is that healthier options should be presented to individuals through multiple food destinations within walking distance.

“A full-service grocery store means more in low-income neighborhoods where access to private transportation may be limited,” said Cathleen Zick, co-author of the U’s study and professor of family and consumer studies. “It is residents with no nearby food options who are at greatest risk of obesity. Not only are they without healthy grocery options nearby, there are no destinations to walk to, not even fast food. They must drive.”

Because these studies are used to influence urban and community planner decisions of how our neighborhoods should be structured, we need to be aware of why the research is conducted in the first place. It’s also important to know that numbers say what you want them to say. Berkeley researchers said cities concerned about battling teen obesity should consider banning fast-food restaurants near schools. This sounds like a plug from lobbyists for farmers markets and independent restaurants that dislike competition from McDonald’s or Wendy’s.

Hundreds of miles away, the U study suggests that placing restrictions on fast-food outlets might not be effective, but that initiatives to increase healthy neighborhood food options that people can walk to can reduce obesity risks. Either way, readers should be wary of study discrepancies before buying in completely.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/reports-should-be-scrutinized-for-bias-1.2051906

Utah roads can be a jungle

After a long day of lectures and study groups on campus, the last thing you want is to get hit by a car when you cross the street to get to the TRAX stop. The shock of seeing a car bolting 20 mph toward you, the impact, flying 20 feet and bruising your body, isn’t all that pleasant.

Even if a pedestrian is in a crosswalk and has the signal to cross, it doesn’t mean he or she will be spared from being hit by an oncoming car. Pedestrians should especially take note of cars making turns because you never know when a Chevy Astro will be trying to beat the light and not see you in the crosswalk.

Utah’s Heads Up program is intended to raise driver awareness and prevent distracted driving. You’ve probably seen the billboards along I-15 that show a woman with tears running down her face and the ad copy that reads, “Hit a pedestrian, change your lives.”

Zero Fatalities, another state task force, reports 199 traffic fatalities to date with the cause of many of the accidents being drowsy, distracted, aggressive or impaired driving. Another cause is passengers who often do not wear seat belts. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 16,626 people died in traffic crashes between January and June. Considering how many cars are on the road, those numbers really aren’t very significant, unless you were one of the pedestrians sent to the hospital.

According to a Utah Crash Summary Report in 2007, pedestrians are 11 times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle crash than occupants of a motor vehicle, and 87.5 percent of pedestrians in pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes are injured. According to the website of the Utah Department of Public Safety Highway Safety Office, 28 percent of drivers who hit pedestrians were turning, and the place where pedestrians are most often reported being hit is in a crosswalk. Crashes occur most often between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Vehicles making a left or right turn on a green light must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk within the intersection, giving the pedestrian the right-of-way. Utah Code (41-6a-1006) states that a motorist must always exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, regardless of the situation.

The bottom line is we all need to be better drivers and pay attention to what we’re doing when we’re behind the wheel. Many people say it’s the journey that counts, not only the destination. Be courteous along the way and enjoy the journey.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/utah-roads-can-be-a-jungle-1.2044480

No easy solution to panhandling

Panhandlers hang out in high-traffic areas. Be it the 1300 East exit off I-80, the northeast corner of Temple Square or somewhere along the TRAX line, they wait and shame you into surrendering your pocket change. It’s not illegal. In fact, panhandlers are simply exercising their right of free speech, but the city wants to shut panhandlers down.

In a Homeless Summit conference earlier this month, city leaders unveiled the End Panhandling in Utah program. Because they are asking for a free handout, it is assumed that panhandlers are homeless. The Downtown Alliance said homeless shelter resources are strained by 14 percent of the tenants who use 64 percent of the beds. These people stay for six months or more and are considered chronically homeless.

It is estimated that 15,525 people will experience homelessness in Utah in 2009, an increase of 8 percent since last year, according to a report from the Utah Department of Community and Culture. It isn’t as though the government isn’t doing anything to help people hurt by the recession get back on their feet. As part of the stimulus bill or American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, $1.5 billion dollars was allocated to a Homeless Prevention Fund, and Utah got $8.4 million. The fund is intended to help those between paychecks cover rent and mortgage payments so they don’t lose their homes.

“Most panhandlers have places to live and frequently use the money they are given to fuel chemical addictions and other self-destructive behaviors,” said Jason Mathis, executive director of Downtown Alliance.

Interestingly, the city’s push to end panhandling probably won’t accomplish the goal. It’s highly unlikely that people who beg for money will be thrown in jail or deterred from asking for free money. The fact that they are begging shows they probably lack the incentive or ability to pursue a more productive means to provide for themselves and frankly wouldn’t care about being thrown in jail for a few days. They’d appreciate the free meals.

It’s more likely that the city’s purpose is to educate those who feel intimidated into giving their pocket change to a panhandler. Rather than feel the obligation to give because someone’s hand is in your face, give that money to an organization that will help people who are really in need. If panhandlers are sincerely in need and want to pull themselves out of homelessness, they are well aware of the resources available to help them.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/no-easy-solution-to-panhandling-1.2032085

Smart deserves praise, not backlash

Seven years ago, the nation anxiously awaited the Smart family press conferences to provide updates on the kidnapping of their teenage daughter Elizabeth. Nine agonizing months followed and many had all but given up hope in ever finding Elizabeth. The outcome is usually less encouraging in similar kidnapping cases after so much time has passed. Thousands of people cried in relief and joy as initial reports came that Elizabeth had been found, alive and relatively healthy.

Emerging details identified Smart’s captor as Brian David Mitchell, a homeless religious zealot, who took her at knifepoint in the middle of the night. Since his capture, he has demonstrated bizarre behavior that has, for now, allowed his attorneys to argue that he is incompetent to stand accountable for his crimes. That is a crock and clearly demonstrates a major problem in the legal system.

Laws exist to protect and create harmony within a society. When an individual violates a law, a consequence or punishment will follow so that society can be preserved. Mitchell has presented himself as incompetent to defer accountability, but evidence shows he committed the crime of kidnapping and raping a minor. It’s sick, and he should be put away for a long time where he can’t hurt anyone else.

Smart took the stand last week to testify at Mitchell’s competency hearing before the U.S. District Court. It is expected that her testimony will help convict Mitchell at his Nov. 30 trial, as she was able to better paint the portrait of who he really is. She said Mitchell’s singing is a tactic to manipulate and gain control of others and the situation—it doesn’t mean he is incompetent.

Sadly, backlash against the Smart family has come from people who don’t like that the Smarts have money, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or held daily press conferences to find their daughter. A common gripe is that if this had happened to someone without money, that person would have been just another silent victim.

These small-minded individuals couldn’t be more wrong. People who can overcome abuse deserve recognition because they exhibit the traits that can only benefit society and raise awareness about the issue. Deeply examining your past, particularly moments of abuse that keep you in a dark place, is courageous and will only help you to move on to create a better future for yourself.

People who take cheap shots at someone who has been abused and is trying to move past the pain need to take a hard look at themselves. Elizabeth Smart’s composure and maturity to use the experience to help others is admirable and praiseworthy. Her efforts since the kidnapping have facilitated national programs that help other kidnapping victims so these cases don’t go unnoticed and result in more happy endings than sad ones.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/smart-deserves-praise-not-backlash-1.1946562

We can all help prevent theft

It’s a little unnerving that you have to leave your backpack alone while you shop at the University Campus Store. The intent is to prevent theft in the store so people don’t sneak out with a MacBook or a $500 textbook in their bag. If these items were routinely stolen, the cost of goods stolen would be absorbed by students in the form of higher prices.

For a bookstore shopper, it’s unnerving because you can’t see your bag and have no control if someone decides to walk off with your stuff. In essence, you’re trading levels of risk with the bookstore. Unfortunately, the no-backpack policy creates negative externalities, as unattended bags are often stolen.

During the course of an average school year, about 30 backpacks are reported stolen from the cubbies that line the entrances to the campus store. Sure, the campus bookstore has up-to-date security measures, such as plain-clothed guards and 64 strategically placed cameras, but that doesn’t seem to prevent backpack theft. In fact, the store’s security guards often don’t guard the backpack cubbies because it is impossible to tell whether people are stealing or just taking their own backpack. The surefire option is not to stop shopping at the store, but rather to leave your bag in one of the lockers—the bookstore will even give you a free quarter to use it.

Theft or burglary on college campuses is nothing new. In fact, it’s the highest crime statistic for all institutes of higher learning in the state. According to the Department of Education, burglary far outpaces reports of murder, rape, motor vehicle theft, assault and arson. In fact, burglary represents 77 percent of on-campus crimes in the state.

Maybe the U should play a card used by the school down south and implement an honor code policy so 30 backpacks aren’t stolen each year.

The U Police Department said transients are increasingly responsible for crimes committed on campus because TRAX gives downtown drifters greater access to the university. Regardless, we can all do a better job of keeping our eyes open to potential crimes and not be personally responsible.

Theft is a matter of integrity, which some argue represents everything you can ever offer to the world. Will you tell the truth, will people be able to count on you, will you be able to count on yourself? Integrity is a decision.

Stealing property from another person is a cheap violation of integrity and a cowardly act. Even though it isn’t practical to expect zero violations each year, the U can do better than 30 stolen backpacks. It is everyone’s responsibility to be aware of the issue and try to stop theft from happening.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/we-can-all-help-prevent-theft-1.1934247

Prevent spread of flu--Instead of infecting others, seek treatment

Late last week, NBC correspondent Chuck Todd honked a sneeze heard round the world during a White House briefing. Because he forgot to cover his mouth, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius scolded Todd and quipped, “Who’s got some Purell? Give that to Mr. Todd right away. Elmo knows how to sneeze.” (Elmo promotes sneezing into one of your arms to limit the spread of germs.)

Although the incident sparked giggles and a few YouTube videos, it is no laughing matter.

Flu season is just around the corner and the H1N1 virus is looming with the coming winter months.

Since the virus was uncovered in Mexico in April, the United States has confirmed more than 600 swine-flu related deaths and federal officials are particularly concerned about the virus on college campuses. Five cases have been confirmed at the U.

During a conference call Friday, the Department of Education said the threat is being taken seriously and, disproportionately, the target population is people under the age of 25. Universities are a hotbed for the virus because it typically affects younger people—especially considering the proximity of students to one another.

Doctors recommend that you isolate yourself and seek treatment if you experience any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, dizzy spells, sore throat, vomiting, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The standard flu preventative measures still apply, such as washing your hands, wiping off surfaces that are touched by a lot of different people and staying away from others if you are sick.

The Federal Drug Association approved a vaccine for the H1N1 virus that will be administered in the form of a free flu shot in mid-October. Although it is certainly good sense to become educated about the H1N1 virus, panicking will do no good. Instead, it’s best to become educated to the symptoms, seek treatment if you’re affected and most importantly, take preventative action.

People older than 55 should have already built up immunity from a similar strain in the 1970s. Experts say young people with underlying illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the virus. That vulnerability will increase if you come down with the flu and then the H1N1 virus. Do yourself and those around you a favor by getting your flu shot this year as well as the vaccine for the H1N1 virus. Plus, if you get sick, don’t come to class and share it with everyone else.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/prevent-spread-of-flu-1.1911907

Homecoming Queen still bleeds Utah red

Margaret Price Carlston is a living heirloom of family, wisdom and the U—and her story starts more than 70 years ago on this very campus, when she became the U’s first homecoming queen.

Homecoming Week at the U has certainly seen changes during the years. Gone are the days of massive floats, quartets and KSL radio broadcasts at the Union dances. Few remember the time of matinee dances, sissy-kissing on the Park Building steps or sitting on the lawn with your best gal. And only one dimple-cheeked 93-year-old can say she was the U’s first member of Collegiate Royalty.

Utah Supreme Court justices David Moffat and William Folland hand-picked Margaret “Suzie” Price from a group of 26 coeds to greet alumni during Homecoming Week in 1936 as the first U Homecoming Queen, then known as the Homecoming Hostess. They even let her ride on the Associated Students of the University of Utah float. Tall, vivacious, gracious and dignified, Margaret used her opportunity as Homecoming Hostess to bridge the gaps between young women from the cities and rural communities.

For Margaret, people, relationships and a quick wit mean everything. She was constantly questioned about whether she played basketball because of her height. Margaret would respond, “No, do you play miniature golf?”

Standing 5’10”, a rarity for her day, Margaret was chosen for royalty on the basis of beauty, personality and poise. But she was not just a “weekend fluff” of a beauty queen, she said. Margaret engaged in many pursuits as a coed at the U, including her service as president of Associated Women Students, vice president of Delta Gamma and a member of the Utonian staff.

The beauty queen spent her summers working at the national parks in Southern Utah. In between shooting tin cans and clay pigeons with the forest rangers, she worked as a waitress at Bryce and Zions. With the wrinkle of her nose and rise of her shy eyes over a wide smile, she won over customers who opened their pocket books for tips with the line, “Isn’t there something else I can bring?”

A life can take many turns after college. For Margaret, it meant raising a child while her husband, Ken Carlston, was serving in the Pacific during World War II. After her husband returned from the war, they eventually settled down in Whittier, Calif., to raise their five children.

She worked for 30 years as a full-time substitute high school English teacher, shaping young minds until she retired at age 86. Margaret served up many bowls of ice cream to family and friends between poker games on her back porch with Disneyland fireworks booming in the distance. As a gift to graduates and newlyweds, Margaret wrote her local congressman, requesting flags from Washington, D.C. She would plan weeks ahead so that the flag would be flown over the Capitol on the day of their special occasion to personalize the gift.

Sharing a lifetime worth of wisdom for U coeds, Margaret advises to “just get up every morning and be happy.” Be involved in a lot of things, get to know a lot of people, enjoy your college years—not just the setting of college, and set your goals and strive to achieve them, she said.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/news/homecoming-queen-still-bleeds-utah-red-1.1912024

Nuclear waste storage a slam dunk for Utah

No one likes garbage, unless your name is Oscar. If the garbage truck didn’t come every week, we’d be swimming in a pool of disease and filth. Some items are harder than others to dispose of, such as glow-in-the-dark watches, smoke detectors, wiping rags, mops and injection needles. These items earn the special designation of low-level waste and typically need to be disposed of at a specialty site approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Enter EnergySolutions, which specializes in the disposal of class A material—the lowest category of nuclear waste. If you’ve been to a Jazz game, you know the old Delta Center has been changed and renamed by the Larry H. Miller Group as EnergySolutions.

Earlier this month, the state continued its stalemate of prohibiting EnergySolutions from importing low-level waste from Italy. Wanting to build a track record and expand its business into international markets, EnergySolutions wants to bring 1,600 tons of foreign nuclear waste to dispose in Utah. A federal judge has ruled that the foreign nuclear waste can come to the state. However, Utah is appealing the ruling. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, millions of tons of radioactive waste needs to be disposed of every year. The federal government relies on three facilities to complete this job. The Italian waste deal represents a miniscule part of this task, less than 1 percent.

“This is nothing new,” EnergySolutions said in a statement. “We made a proposal at the beginning of the year that we discussed in television ads as well as with government and community leaders. We believe that it is in the best interest of the state, the citizens of Utah and EnergySolutions to settle this matter and we hope the state considers this proposal.”

The company said it is offering Utah 50 percent of its net revenues from the disposal of foreign nuclear waste if it agrees to let the waste in the state. This means the state is expected to get $100 million a year for 10 years, just for signing a contract to let a company do what it’s in business to do.

According to the governor’s office, the state’s $3 billion budget for education was cut by 6 percent this year because of a bad economy. With the EnergySolutions proposal to split revenues, a third of the mandatory budget cut on education would be reconciled. EnergySolutions projects revenues for this project would be about $200 million a year for 10 years and the state would be given half those revenues should it allow the transaction to take place.

This should be a no-brainer, slam-dunk decision to proceed and the state should stop dragging its feet in this political tap dance. Unfortunately, the business issue has been intercepted by environmental lobbyist groups and politicians prohibiting a relatively small transaction that will propel a Utah company into an international business. The state needs to give up on playing politics and let a tax-paying, revenue-sharing company move forward with its business operations.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/nuclear-waste-storage-a-slam-dunk-for-utah-1.1881852

Herbert’s flip on stimulus is unwise

Gov. Gary Herbert says it’s time to hit a second home run in the housing industry. The successful program started by former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to allocate $10 million in stimulus funds to give first-time home buyers a $6,000 down payment is being copied by the new governor. Herbert’s plan is to give $2,000 to $4,000 to Utahns who buy a new home before the money runs out.

This comes as no surprise because Herbert is a real estate guy. Shortly after leaving the National Guard, he created a successful real estate firm, Herbert and Associates Realtors, and served as president of the Utah Association of Realtors.

“We know from experience that the creation of new homes does more than just benefit developers and contractors,” Herbert said. “It revitalizes broad sectors of the economy, from painters and plumbers and electricians to decorators and furniture shops and specialty stores. Programs like Home Run are the best use of our economic stimulus dollars because they put people back to work.”

I thought people were already back to work from the last government spending spree. The saddest part of this package, besides the governor’s impaired ability to look beyond the housing market, is that he doesn’t have a backbone.

Angie Welling, the governor’s spokeswoman, said Herbert is “against the federal stimulus package in theory, but it happened and it would be foolish at this point to turn that money away. He might as well make the best of it for purely stimulus projects, creating and saving jobs.”

If the governor is truly against federal stimulus money, he shouldn’t spend it. This is no different than saying you are against adultery, yet still sleep around (no, I’m not implying anything). His political maneuvering is scary because it clearly shows he is comfortable saying one thing and then doing another—whatever it takes to keep the votes coming in or padding the pockets of old friends in the real estate market. This is every politician’s plague.

Taking a page from Herbert’s book, this money could have been well spent in several other productive ways. Housing already had a shot in the arm with the first stimulus check. How about taking a look at improving health care options or extending unemployment health insurance benefits, road and transportation projects, or better yet, education.

There is a saturation of new homes. That’s why builders are struggling. There are a lot of people with older homes that want to sell. Perhaps builders should adjust to market conditions rather than further saturation.

In February, the Legislative Education Budget Committee was talking about a 17.6 percent recommended cut to Utah’s education budget for the 2009-2010 school year. Because of a separate federal stimulus bailout of $298 million for public education in Utah, the 2010 budget now only faces a 6 percent cut. Thanks, Uncle Sam.

Spending federal stimulus money is going to hit us hard across the head in the form of higher property taxes, income taxes and inflation because the government will have to do something to tackle the expected $9 trillion deficit. Rather than burdening value producing businesses and individuals with heavy taxes, the incentive should be to let them keep their money. The best way to stimulate the economy and create jobs will be through the efforts and innovation of hard-working individuals without government interference.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/herbert-s-flip-on-stimulus-is-unwise-1.1872226

Online textbooks hurt students in the end

After spending a sweaty summer going door to door selling pest control, you were able to put away $3,500. With school starting, it’s time to hit the stores so you are ready to study chemistry, English, physics and calculus.

New school clothes: $300. New backpack: $35. Pencils, erasers, paper: $15. This week’s grocery bill, stocking up on Top Ramen and Dr. Pepper: $150. Fall Semester tuition: $3,000. University Campus Store: there’s no money left.

The Utah Student Association has just the thing to solve your short-term crisis. They want to make textbooks available online—as a service provided to students for free.

You haven’t heard of the Utah Student Association, your new best friend? It is composed of student body officers from every Utah college. According to USA, the Make Textbooks Available initiative will save students $4.7 million annually. This is coupled with House Resolution 4137, a bill being presented to Congress that would require more transparency from publishers putting out revised editions that typically cost more even though the content isn’t substantially different.

Sadly, in forming the initiative, the USA didn’t bother checking with textbook publishers, authors of those textbooks or the stores that sell those books. They only considered student complaints about high prices.

Frankly, should the initiative pan out, students are just going to get dumber in the long run, and here’s the extreme reason why: If professors want to write textbooks but don’t have the incentive to do so, they will market their knowledge via another format. Instead of getting books written by leaders in the field, texts would often be authored by second-class sources. Therefore, the online textbook will have no valuable content and the reader won’t gain the knowledge intended.

Although I agree that textbooks are an incredibly expensive burden on students, the solution is not to make the content free. There are a lot of low-price options that can be found through online bookstores, e-books and book rentals. To curb a student’s hesitation to spend money on a textbook, the campus store guarantees a 50 percent buy-back deal. Rather than thinking about one-sided solutions for students, the USA would better invest its time by lobbying President Barack Obama to fund its program using federal stimulus money. He seems pretty open-minded to funding programs that produce short-term solutions.

Textbooks are part of the price for a student’s education. Take out a student loan, work part-time, whatever you need to do, but don’t ask for freebies when it comes to education. You’ll get a job and make the money back after graduation.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/online-textbooks-hurt-students-in-the-end-1.1864514

Pit bulls have gained an inaccurate reputation

Michael Vick recently signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after serving a prison sentence for dog fighting. The deadly gambling ring was organized to see who will be “the last dog standing.” The Vick incident fanned animal torture flames in the media just as Utah’s senate pushed for stricter laws against torturing domestic animals.

Pit bulls, the breed Vick used for dog fighting, have a bad rap and it didn’t improve during the weekend, when two pit bulls attacked a man in South Salt Lake. The man reacted to the approaching dogs by kicking at them. They responded by biting his arm and face. This is the fourth such attack in Utah this summer.

In March 2008, the Utah Senate passed Senate Bill 297, which makes animal torture a felony. They didn’t touch on what should happen when an animal tortures a person. Typically, police will either quarantine the dog or put it to sleep.

According to a 20-year study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pit bull attacks have accounted for nearly a third of the 238 fatal dog attacks in the United States. According to the study, pit bulls were the most deadly dog, with 32 percent of fatal attacks. South Jordan, for one, is apparently afraid of pit bulls, having banned their sale, residence or breeding within city limits.

Please keep in mind, your odds of being hit by a bus are better than being killed by a dog, all variables considered. In the United States, less than 5 million people are bitten every year, resulting in only 12 fatalities a year, according to federal statistics.

When Vick’s case hit, PETA and the Humane Society said the pit bulls, like all dogs saved from similar fight rings, were beyond rehabilitation and they should be put down. Ultimately, thanks to a letter-writing campaign, 47 of the dogs were saved and effectively rehabilitated; 10 were even relocated to Utah.

Veterinarian Frank McMillan, the director of Best Friends Animal Society in Southern Utah, said that of all dogs, pit bulls possess the single greatest ability to bond with people.

The bottom line is that dogs bite for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, fear, pain or just plain surprise. Any dog can bite, not just pit bulls. People should take care when they are around unfamiliar animals, even if they don’t do anything to provoke an attack. Should a “tame” dog start biting, it is the owner’s fault for not properly training the animal. Rather than condemning a breed, maybe the answer is to just spay and neuter bad pit bull owners.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/pit-bulls-have-gained-an-inaccurate-reputation-1.1823301

Respectful protests are more effective

On July 9, Matt Aune, 28, and his partner, Derek Jones, 25, were asked to leave the Main Street Plaza, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for “engaging in behavior deemed inappropriate for any couple on the Plaza.”

The LDS Church’s statement read: “They engaged in passionate kissing, groping, profane and lewd language, and had obviously been using alcohol. They were politely told that the Plaza was not the place for such behavior and were asked to stop. When they became belligerent, the two individuals were asked to leave church property.”

According to Aune, both he and Jones had been drinking and per the police report, refused to adhere to multiple requests from church security when asked to stop their inappropriate behavior and leave. Even after Salt Lake City police officers arrived, they initially refused to supply their names and were cited for trespassing.

However, the next day, Aune and Jones told the media a different story. They said they had been “targeted” because they were gay, and the headlines read, “Gay couple detained after kiss near LDS temple.” That is a misrepresentation of the facts.

Unfortunately, because of festering grievances over Proposition 8 in California, time and time again the LDS Church has become a scapegoat for its unchangeable view on the traditional definition of marriage.

To the pro-gay movement’s credit, they downplayed the incident but have since demonstrated with several “kiss-in” protests near the Salt Lake Temple, a place LDS Church members hold sacred. The goal of such protests, one would assume, is to gain acceptance, tolerance and open minds from the LDS community.

There is no other organization that should be more open-minded than the LDS Church. Having experienced extreme persecution in its early days, from a governor’s extermination order applicable to all members, to the assassination of the LDS Church’s founder, the LDS Church has experienced a good deal of intolerance and rejection. However, the church has rightly refused to be goaded into a “Mormons versus gays” battle and simply restated its position more respectfully than holding a “kiss-in” equivalent.

A pamphlet titled God Loveth His Children, that was released recently by the LDS Church reads “some people with same-gender attraction have felt rejected because members of the church did not always show love. No member of the church should ever be intolerant.”

If gay-rights activists truly want to further their position in gaining more civil rights (a fair and reasonable appeal), the forum is not on the footsteps of a place considered sacred by any religion and unleashing lewd, drunken profanity. The correct forum is working through legislative channels where the issues are eventually presented to the voters for ratification.

In spite of this trendy era when it’s tolerated to label someone as a “homophobe” these unwarranted, generalized accusations against the LDS Church and its members are not right or fair. Tolerance does not require one to embrace another’s position or lifestyle, but both sides can be more understanding and accepting of those who hold a different opinion and refrain from public behavior designed to be offensive. Let’s all resist being carried away by the emotional tirades of those who scream the loudest.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/openings/respectful-protests-are-more-effective-1.1816416

U research enters realm of Hogwarts

This week on the big screen, the world will be watching the latest adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling Harry Potter series. Defying reality, Harry dons a magic invisibility cloak to disappear and sneak around Hogwarts undetected. The dream of making objects invisible has always crossed the imaginations of humanity and is seen throughout works of fiction.

Researchers around the world are chasing down the invisibility theory and developing models to create a technology that makes an object become invisible. Several of these building blocks have come from the work of Graeme Milton, a professor of mathematics at the U. In 1994, Milton began his cloaking research using applied mathematics in Australia.

His concept is simple, assuming you know biology, calculus, engineering and physics. Milton’s superlens research describes the ability to hide or “cloak” an object through the manipulation of light. Rather than the cloaking region being contained within the device, Milton suggests that ability lies outside the device.

According to the National Science Foundation, the superlens theory “cloaks a nearby object by making light behave in an unusual way. Instead of having a positive refractive index that makes light bend in the same way as it does when passing from air into a medium like glass or water, the superlens has a negative refractive index that in essence causes light to reverse and travel backwards. When an object is placed next to the superlens, the light bouncing off the object is canceled out by the light reflecting off the superlens, rendering the object invisible. Milton said the phenomenon is somewhat analogous to the noise cancellation headphones passengers wear on airplanes.”

Although the research has a long way to go before invisibility devices can be applied in real-world situations, scientists are now testing the theory. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed optical-camouflage technology while scientists at the University of California-Berkeley have created a “carpet cloak” from nanostructured silicon that conceals the presence of objects placed under it from optical detection.

Technology will continue to surprise us and achieve things we never thought possible. We won’t need to be a wizard to become invisible. The invisibility application and other creations from science fiction novels will continue to come increasingly faster as we continue dreaming and developing the technologies to make them a reality. It’s nice to know there are people at the U doing such interesting work. Bravo to those at the university, such as Milton, who put the U on the map.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/u-research-enters-realm-of-hogwarts-1.1774115

A degree isn't worth much without ambition

Most people who go to college do so not because they enjoy sitting in stuffy lecture halls while listening to monotone-voiced professors, but so they can carve out a better place for themselves in the world when they graduate. Or at least, that is what most expect.

Still, there are plenty of indifferent college students floating through the motions. This same indifference will continue after graduation as they wonder why no employer calls after submitting résumés to the Monster.com or CareerBuilder black holes.

A new study from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston found that college graduates who take jobs below their education level not only earn less, but also trail the earnings of other graduates who were able to secure career-track employment upon graduation.

Students who settle are the ones simply going through the motions of taking classes without a clear focus of where they want to end up after graduation. Some even go to school blindly with no major and hope that eventually they’ll fall into a cushy job just because they went to college. What a stupidly expensive and risky proposition on your future—the world doesn’t work that way.

Take just a few unscientific examples of individuals I have encountered. One student just finished her associates degree at the local community college. She says she wants to be a nurse, but none of her classes fulfilled the nursing pre-requisites. Now she’s discouraged that she wasted two years pursuing a degree that isn’t quite what she needs.

A communication student is currently looking for an internship. He said the bad economy is preventing him from getting any work, but the truth is, he hasn’t been networking or really taking ownership to secure an internship. He has the secret hope that someone will just call and offer a job.

My point in all of this is that you have to plan ahead and take responsibility. You can’t leave your future up to fate or naive wishing that things will simply turn out because you showed up. Find a mentor, a career counselor, a professional who can help coach and guide you through the logistics and obstacles of ending up where you want to be.

In the end, there is no one to blame for your failures and disappointments except yourself. Too many people are trapped in a state of indifference and lack the ambition to develop the necessary problem solving skills to compete in the world.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/a-degree-isn-t-worth-much-without-ambition-1.1771537

Increase in savings a good reaction during recession

A well-known parable says you have to walk a mile in another person’s shoes before you can really understand them. Putting this parable to work, the Community Action Partnership dedicated the month of May to raising awareness about helping low-income families achieve economic stability. It hopes to raise awareness by inviting its employees to go without the luxuries they are accustomed to for three weeks. The idea is that by having its workers voluntarily live beneath the nation’s poverty line, they’ll be able to better service those in poverty who come to them for help.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, it is estimated that 254,000 Utah residents live beneath the federal poverty level. Each year, poverty guidelines are released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Federal Register indicating poverty levels. For a family of four, the magic number is just more than $22,000 in annual income and a single person has to earn less than about $10,000 per year.

It’s an interesting exercise to impose a meager allowance on people with plenty so that they can learn to deal better with those who have less. Unfortunately, the experiment doesn’t offer any kind of tangible solution beyond leaving participants a little more empathetic, with a story to tell at dull cocktail parties.

Many people are poor because of circumstances beyond their control, while others are poor because they can’t market their skills or effectively manage their money to build wealth. The recession is causing a lot of people to save their pennies and plan for unexpected misfortune.

Economists say families are saving more and spending less because they are worried about layoffs, unpaid job furloughs or getting behind on house payments. According to RealtyTrac, more than 342,000 households received at least one foreclosure-related notice in April. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the savings rate last year was about zero, but now it is hovering above 4 percent.

You don’t have to pretend to be poor to know what it feels like to be in poverty. At one time or another, life is going to deliver some form of financial stress. The key is to plan for the unexpected to ensure you can take care of yourself and your family. You teach people how to manage their resources and how to improve their condition rather than pretending you don’t have enough, as the CAP is suggesting.

It is a telling statistic that people are saving more today than last year—that’s a good thing for families. For many of us, the recession is forcing circumstances we’re not used to dealing with. Students especially need to wise up financially, live within their means and plan ahead.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/increase-in-savings-a-good-reaction-during-recession-1.1752619

Dino park restoration overdue

Outside of Vernal is an attraction that closely resembles Jurassic Park. Who knows, maybe it’s a place Michael Crichton went for inspiration for his best-selling book. For years, visitors have come face-to-face with scale models of dinosaurs in Vernal and could also see and touch fossils at Dinosaur National Monument.

A tram operator would carry passengers along the dusty desert of the Utah-Colorado border to reach the visitor center, where they could learn about creatures that once inhabited the region. Sadly, because of a lack of funding, the visitor center has been closed and access to the dinosaur bones has been unavailable for the past three years.

Portions of the visitor center were literally cracking and falling apart, making it unsafe for people to experience all that was once available. Now, with the aid of federal stimulus money, the Quarry Visitor Center will get a $13 million dollar face-lift to demolish and replace condemned sections of the building. Because it was originally built 50 years ago on bentonite shale clay, warping and shifting have caused the building to be in constant movement, making it wobbly and unsafe.

The National Park Service plans to fix the problem in a way that not only creates a safe environment to visit the facility, but that will also preserve the impressive 150-foot fossil wall where you can see dinosaur bones poking out from the rock surface. It is hoped that the repairs and remodeling will be completed by late spring 2011.

Landmarks of this size and scope should be preserved and maintained for visitors. Although Dinosaur National Monument won’t initially create large revenues, there will be a positive turn in entrance fee revenue, as well as an increase in the hotel and dining industries of eastern Utah and western Colorado that have likewise suffered. According to Mary Risser, Dinosaur National Monument’s superintendent, entrance fees decreased from $300,000 a year to $100,000 because the visitor center has been closed.

Indirectly, the reopening of the visitor center will again inspire the imaginations of young people who come to visit. Also, university students will benefit as they can return to a place that sponsors paleontology research and in-field digs. Dinosaur National Park is a restoration initiative that is long overdue.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/dino-park-restoration-overdue-1.1736279

Shooting a pigeon shouldn’t make you a jailbird

It’s time to face the facts—some birds are pests. It’s especially unnerving when our kamikaze state bird swoops down to steal a muffin from your hand or looks eerily at you with his dinosaur-like eyes. After Easter weekend, it’s a safe bet that U engineering student David Schutt now detests pigeons.

A few weeks ago, a city building inspector dropped by Schutt’s home, insisting the residents get rid of the birds that had been leaving ugly messes around the property. Taking matters into his own hands, Schutt grabbed his BB gun to resolve the problem. Unfortunately, his neighbors saw the gun, heard the shots and contacted police. Five Salt Lake City police officers responded and he was arrested for animal cruelty and firing a weapon inside city limits.

It doesn’t make sense that the city would leave this kind of problem up to a resident to resolve on his own. The people renting didn’t invite the birds—and since they now own the problem, they should be allowed to implement whichever creative solution they deem best. It’s ridiculous that the city would expect tenants to solve the problem on their own, and then slap them for trying.

If the city wants a resident to take action, then it needs to provide information on how it should be done. Not to mention, the firepower of a BB gun falls far below that of just about any other gun the law is concerned with, so it’s unreasonable that shooting a BB gun within city limits should qualify for the same punishment—a misdemeanor.

“There was more than one shot,” said Dennis McGowan, public information officer for the Salt Lake City Police Department. “Even if it’s a BB gun or bow and arrow, you can’t use it within city limits, even if it’s on private property. Logic dictates you don’t shoot birds to get rid of them.”

After a nine-hour visit to the county jail, Schutt’s detention officers realized it was a relatively harmless violation and let him go. The city prosecutors office says it will make a decision early next week on whether to follow through on the misdemeanor charges or dismiss them.

“I wasn’t trying to kill them, I was just trying to scatter them away,” Schutt said. “It was a pretty stupid idea, broad daylight with a BB gun, but I figured guns are legal in Utah and it’s nothing nobody’s seen a million times.”

For all of you pigeon lovers, as far as animal rights are concerned, legislation in Utah was passed last year to allow prosecutors to charge individuals with a felony if they torture their cats and dogs. Pigeons were not ever mentioned in the legislation. If Schutt is prosecuted, there truly is no hope for anyone who wants to rid himself of unwelcome marmots. Be careful, setting a mouse trap or stepping on an ant could mean a prison sentence.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/shooting-a-pigeon-shouldn-t-make-you-a-jailbird-1.1734387

Graffiti on TRAX can’t be tolerated

The state government is using federal stimulus money to expand Utah’s transportation highways and the Utah Transit Authority TRAX lines. Many U students depend on TRAX each day to attend classes and other events on campus. Unfortunately, the main TRAX line has fallen victim to tagging, primarily between 1300 South and 7200 South.

A new white fence along the Hamlet Homes residential development at 3900 South, businesses and even the street artist Statue of Liberty mural closer to downtown, have been hit with ugly black spray paint. Frankly, I’m inclined to get a bucket of white paint and a roller to blot out the ugly tagging, but I know I’d get busted for vandalizing private property.

After an initial series of calls to UTA and then South Salt Lake City’s graffiti hot line, I was told nothing could be done. Although the tags are on UTA’s side of the property line, it is not their property, so they can’t do anything about the spray paint. In addition, the city said that they couldn’t do anything because UTA wouldn’t let them on the train line to clean up the marks. With this kind of progress, it looks like a graffiti-saturated future.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point he outlines how ideas catch on and how change can occur. One of his examples shows how the crime rate in New York was at extremely high levels. The chief of police approached the problem by first removing the graffiti from the city’s rail and subway lines. This initial effort caused a dramatic reduction in crime because it showed the taggers that they would no longer be tolerated.

Although Salt Lake City definitely doesn’t pop up on any “worst cities to live in” lists, it definitely isn’t acceptable for private spaces in public sight to be covered with graffiti.
“Usually, whoever’s property it’s on, it’s their responsibility,” said UTA spokesperson Carrie Bohnsack-Ware. “Property owners need to coordinate with us because we don’t want anyone to get hit by a train.”

UTA has taken the information to the Salt Lake City Police Department. Supposedly, all of the graffiti along the TRAX line will be cleaned up in the coming weeks—so cross your fingers.

It’s lame that TRAX patrons must continue seeing vandalism during their travels, but at least UTA and the city’s “catch-22” appears to be cleared up and the graffiti will soon go away. Let’s hope the city can better discourage this kind of vandalism in the future.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/graffiti-on-trax-can-t-be-tolerated-1.1729941

Living through Columbine was a learning experience

Much has been said about today’s 10-year anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colo. Gun control extremists are using the date to stage rallies, entertainment companies are debunking myths about video games that allegedly are to blame for extraordinary violence and Columbine survivors will mark the day in a profound way.

I was in my trigonometry class at Columbine on April 20, 1999. I was just a junior, and my varsity basketball team had just completed our first winning season in 12 years. I was excited for the prospects of my senior year. That morning, shots rang out and I escaped from the school with my classmates at the prompting of a strobe-lighted fire alarm. At the end of the day, 25 people lay wounded in hospital beds and 15 others were dead, including my basketball coach.

By no means was it easy to recover from Columbine. The barrage of media attention, celebrity visits, classmate suicides, therapy focus groups and sad glances from strangers made the world seem so foreign and cold. The assumption that “this kind of stuff doesn’t happen to kids” was no longer true.

Gerda Weissmann-Klein, a Holocaust survivor, came to our school shortly after the shootings to share her experiences. Hearing about how her brother was killed during the war and her parents were sent to Auschwitz invited us to relate to her words. Hearing that she was able to recover and create a happy life for herself, despite the horrible atrocity committed by the Nazis, gave us hope. Knowing someone had made it through a much more difficult time than Columbine helped us know that we could make it through, too.

Now, 10 years later, I look back at Columbine as a day of learning and a day when exceptional individuals rose to the occasion to help their neighbors and comfort their friends. Columbine clearly demonstrates that you can be happy despite the crap that happens in life. We choose how to feel and how to react to different situations. In fact, many of my high school friends have looked forward to the anniversary as a day to celebrate life and friendship. Some are even throwing parties to recognize how far they have come—with time, they no longer feel captive to the anxiety and fear that shattered their innocent view of the world. They are picking up the pieces and making a new reality.

At some point during your life, you will have a Columbine moment—a moment when your view of the world changes forever. Although these times are never easy, you can fully count on the guarantee that someone has been through something worse. It will be a time when you’ll learn life-changing lessons that will make you better and you’ll emerge a stronger person. You will be more empathetic and patient, more compassionate and loving, and more full of hope and joy. No matter what happens to us during life’s journey, it all turns out right in the end. It truly will be OK.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/living-through-columbine-was-a-learning-experience-1.1723488

Legislator squabbles over immigration bill

It is definitely a rare occurrence when the chief of police won’t enforce the law, but that’s what happened last week when Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank publicly refused to uphold Senate Bill 81. The state’s immigration reform legislation S.B. 81 calls for cross-deputizing officers as federal immigration agents to better police people who are here illegally.

Burbank said the law, effective July 1, would put Salt Lake City police officers in the position of violating human rights by engaging in racial profiling in order to enforce S.B. 81. This is a stance he has taken since the inception of the legislation more than a year ago.

Kudos to Chief Burbank. Clearly, the Salt Lake Police Department should not be burdened with responsibilities belonging to a different agency that is better trained and equipped for the job. It would be a violation of human rights should citizens with Latino heritage be targeted as illegal immigrants during routine traffic stops.

The sad part of this story is the way Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, House sponsor for S.B. 81, is behaving. He has threatened to withhold $4 million in jail reimbursement funds from the state because of Burbank’s stance. Rather than making vengeful threats, Noel would do better to seek a compromise and solution to the issue. Unfortunately, he instead is taking an arrogant stance of power and blowing a lot of smoke, as it is now out of his hands.

Although this is a very complicated issue, it is disturbing that a state legislator is wielding his authority and making threats without giving more attention to a viable complaint by the police. Although it’s hard to say whether Noel’s threat to withhold $4 million is legal or not because of existing precedence, it is unethical at the very least.

“This (withholding funds) would have to be pursuant to a valid law, not just the statements of a legislator. Of course, any legislator can make threats that if the funds are not spent according to his or her wishes, he/she will introduce a bill that would either prevent the agency from spending additional funds or further direct the agency on how to spend such funds,” said Alexander Skibine, a law professor at the U. “Still, this bill would have to become law, which means it would have to be passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the governor.”

Noel would be best served to start listening and try to find a different solution. Immigration reform and monitoring is definitely a tricky issue, so it is absolutely critical to have all parties involved. It appears that Noel is too busy pushing for his own agenda to be part of a constructive dialogue.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/legislator-squabbles-over-immigration-bill-1.1720659

U.S. needs tighter belt, not higher taxes

Although demonstrators probably won’t dump tea into the Great Salt Lake, several tea party events are planned across the valley for Wednesday—tax day—to protest wasteful government spending and taxation. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the tea party at the Federal Building—even Rep. Jason Chaffetz plans to make an appearance.

Both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for the nation’s debt, pork-barrel spending and bailouts. This isn’t an issue of partisanship, it’s an issue of what is right for America, for both the short- and long-term. Many citizens who elect local officials to represent them feel powerless as their representatives pursue personal agendas instead of the will of the people. The Salt Lake Tea Party will unite like-minded individuals who want to effect real change and restore our free-market system.

“My brother and I have spent 14 years of (our lives) at a socialist factory in Poland and I don’t want my children growing up in a socialist society,” said Utah Tea Party organizer David Kirkham. “Bribery and corruption are pervasive throughout the entire culture. Socialism disintegrates the moral values of society and that’s the direction we’re currently moving.”

The original 1773 Boston Tea Party helped spark the American Revolution. Colonists were upset about being taxed by the British government without representation so they dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. The Boston Tea Party has become an iconic event referenced today in political protests.

There are principles, such as accountability and freedom, that our founding fathers agreed on. If we don’t have economic freedom because our government digs us into debt, our political freedom will very shortly follow. Money makes the world go round, but personal choice and accountability will effect change too.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama outlined a $3.5 trillion spending plan featuring ambitious goals to expand health care coverage for the uninsured, provide more money for college loans and address global warming. Recent bailouts for the banking and auto industries have everyone asking for a handout as the United States sinks further into debt.

A Mesa, Ariz. radio station staged a spending protest recently by asking listeners to bring signs telling Obama what they wanted from the savior-based economy. Everything from “I need a beachfront condo! Mr. President,” to “Henrietta got a house, all I want’s a swimming pool,” to “Give me Pelosi’s plane.” Today’s uncertain economy leaves everyone with questions and no guarantees. We used to work hard for our stuff and put money into our 401ks for retirement. But 401ks have lost much of their value so people are turning to the government for handouts.

The bottom line is that wasteful spending will send us deeper into the red. If the government would just let free enterprise work, then by Adam Smith’s invisible hand, the economy will sort itself out. There will be winners and losers, but for now, America needs to go through this belt-tightening to purge through bad credit and bad decisions. The outcome will be a stronger America, one that will produce long-lasting sustainable economic value.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/u-s-needs-tighter-belt-not-higher-taxes-1.1711695

Stem cell perks outweigh potential drawbacks

There are a lot of people in the world who are scared by the possibilities of stem cell research.

One specific argument is that if stem cell research is permitted to continue, it will lead to human cloning, which can lead to a new definition of personal identity. This culture of fear was further magnified in 2001 with former President George W. Bush’s executive order that limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Fortunately, President Barack Obama reversed Bush’s executive order last month.

Opponents of stem cell research say that it compromises life. Although the exact moment of when an embryo actually becomes a human life is still up for debate, science should not be inhibited by ideologies. The bottom line is that research can save future generations from the disease and health problems facing us today.

“If we are going to discard those embryos and we know that there is potential research that could lead to curing debilitating disease, I think we should go ahead and pursue that research,” Obama said in a March 10 press conference. “Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident.”

History is full of cases where researchers, in the name of science, have done horrible things to humans. During World War II, Nazi scientists ran grotesque experiments on prisoners in the name of research. The classic psychological Stanford prison study was deemed unethical after subjects were emotionally traumatized. Although there are isolated cases of unethical medical research, the potential innovation and advancement in medical knowledge that will come from stem cell research should not be inhibited because of isolated research that has been conducted unethically by a small minority.

Researchers at the U are in the trial process to test the ability of using a patient’s own stem cells to treat cardiovascular and heart ailments. Heart failure affects nearly 5 million Americans each year, according to the American Heart Association. In many of these instances, a heart transplant has been the only option.

“This is the first trial of its kind in the United States, providing patients who have limited to no other options with a viable treatment,” said Amit Patel, a professor of surgery in the U’s medical school. “By using a patient’s own cells, we eliminate the concern of rejection and the need for potentially harmful immunosuppressive drugs. We hope these cells will help with new blood vessels and support the heart muscle in order to improve the heart’s function, thereby greatly improving the patient’s quality of life.”

Medical researchers at the U are also using stem cells to treat vascular disease to prevent leg amputations as well as other innovative research leading the nationwide effort.

With Obama’s stem cell executive order, we are moving in a better direction—one in which advancement and innovation can occur in science. New medical and scientific discoveries can be found that will improve our lives and hopefully relieve health ailments. New ideas can now be pursued and we no longer have to live in a climate of fear and distrust stemming from a broad stroke immobilization of stem cell research. The federal government’s new policy on stem cell research is a good thing and will lead to more life-saving medical technologies in the future.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/stem-cell-perks-outweigh-potential-drawbacks-1.1650804

Volunteer work shouldn’t have monetary award

Most students have participated in some sort of service activity. Be it picking up trash on a hike, visiting residents in a retirement home or building a house for someone less fortunate, we gain a unique sense of satisfaction after our efforts. Rarely are these acts of service ever coupled with payment—we do it for no other reason than it being the right thing to do.

Sen. Orrin Hatch wants to formalize service rendered in America and give it a dollar value. He envisions service-learning programs with a goal to keep young students engaged in school, which in turn will increase the likelihood of graduation because of their levels of involvement in academic programs. For adults, service provides opportunities to mentor and improve their communities. For nonprofit organizations, the federal government should be a partner that supports its community service efforts because of the far-reaching benefits to American citizens.

This past week, Hatch’s vision, in the form of the Serve America Act, was approved by Congress and will soon go to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it into law. Should Obama sign the legislation into law, the altruistic reasons for volunteer service will be compromised by enterprising individuals whose real incentive is gaining access to government grant money. The idea is well-meaning, but it would undermine the entire point of service.

“The passage of the Serve America Act is a significant milestone for our country,” Hatch said. “By increasing opportunities nationwide for Americans to serve and, thus, enabling private citizens to do more for their communities, personal and community responsibility will take the place of direct government aid. Volunteer service is a keystone of our country’s traditions, and it is becoming increasingly important in these troubled economic times that we help our neighbors.”

In reality, the federal government isn’t establishing a system in which nonprofits and volunteer service are completely self-sustainable ventures because the government will still be providing financial aid. Nearly $5.7 billion will be set aside in grant money to help nonprofit organizations such as AmeriCorps expand their community service programs. The educational award for AmeriCorps volunteers will increase to $5,300 from $4,725 last year if they serve at least a year. Committing a year of service to an organization that doesn’t offer much compensation isn’t a job, but it’s also not volunteering. This arrangement falls somewhere in between.

This grant money will surely provide assistance to organizations such as the Utah Foster Care Foundation or Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, which help communities by providing mentors and open young eyes to new possibilities and opportunities, but the altruistic incentive is lost.

Given the alternative for government funding, spending on volunteer efforts is a lot wiser than bailing out behemoth companies that are crumbling and allocate their bailout dollars for golden parachutes given to the executives responsible for the financial disaster. The Serve America Act should not become a vehicle that feeds comparable greed instead of altruistic volunteer service.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/volunteer-work-shouldn-t-have-monetary-award-1.1644568

City should leave cab industry alone

The Salt Lake City Council is proposing to cut the number of taxicabs by 25 percent. The council argues that a driver’s income will increase (conveniently ignoring the fact that more than 58 drivers would be out of work) because there will be fewer down hours per cab.

In 2005, the City Council commissioned the Ground Transportation Study from Ray Mundy, a transportation studies professor at the University of Missouri. Mundy’s recommendation led to the City Council’s March 24 proposal to move from regulating taxicab companies through certificates of public convenience and necessity to a contract-based system. When interviewing cab drivers, Mundy found that many complained they weren’t making money.

City Council analyst Russell Weeks said they are in the process of determining whether to continue the current cab service regulation model, switch to a contract system or open the market to let anyone provide the service.

The bottom line is that government involvement will not improve the economy, and legislation in this case will not enhance the free enterprise system.

The cab industry in Salt Lake City is facing enough day-to-day problems without the City Council telling it how to manage the supply-chain model. According to a Ground Transportation Study for the city, many cab drivers work 14 to 16 hours a day, but make less than minimum wage because of the down time waiting for riders. The cab industry also faces stiffer competition with new shuttle services and courtesy vehicles offered by hotels and resorts, as well as the pending Utah Transit Authority TRAX line extending to the airport.

“Someone has told the city that if they reduce the cabs in the city, then the drivers will make more money, but that is not true,” said Don Barron, director of Yellow Cab. “It’s not a good deal for drivers who work as independent contractors or cab companies. The business that we would lose in the city and county will go to gypsy cab drivers who don’t pick up at one in the morning. Why throw away something that’s working?”

The city has given permits to three cab companies, totaling 268 cars, that serve the Wasatch front and resort destinations. The proposal would cut the number of cabs down to 210.

Barron adds that for his company, if 68 drivers had to be turned away, nearly 200 family members would be affected by that lost income. Yellow Cab turns away potential drivers every day because the city only allows them to operate 145 cabs. Yellow Cab pays roughly $1900 in insurance per cab each year. If those cabs can’t operate, Barron said he’d be losing money in a market where he knows there is demand.

The City Council is waiting for survey results before it’ll move forward with any final decisions, but rather than surveying community members, it needs to explain why it’s getting into the business of determining how many cabs are on the road, what a cab driver can make and why it is only targeting cab drivers and not shuttle drivers or bus drivers. With such unrestricted and asinine intervention, who is to say it won’t start dictating how many mechanics, hair stylists, waiters or receptionists are allowed to work in Salt Lake City? It seems as though someone in power prefers a socialist system.

It is entirely appropriate for the City Council to be involved in measures that ensure public safety and well-being, but definitely not in dictating what the cab industry is allowed to supply the market. That is something that market forces will dictate and companies will respond to.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/city-should-leave-cab-industry-alone-1.1641698