On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Mexico and said the United States should share the blame for Mexican drug trafficking and the current drug cartel violence, as heavy ammunition and weapons have crossed our borders into unscrupulous hands. Because of the far-reaching effects of the drug-trafficking problem in the United States, some people are wondering whether the legalization debate should be revisited.
In 1996, legalization supporters said this policy would ease burdens on prisons and shift billions of dollars from law enforcement to treatment and anti-drug education. It would also cut back on the number of prisoners incarcerated for illegal drug trafficking and trial time in judiciary courts. A logical extension of this argument would imply that drug cartels would lay down their weapons and the violence would end because their distribution activities would now be considered legal.
Clinton is right that U.S. demand is creating Mexican drug suppliers. In Utah, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said Mexican drug-trafficking organizations dominate the industry. Methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana come from suppliers located primarily in Mexico, California, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. Authorities have seen an increase in the availability of Mexican methamphetamine because it is far easier and cheaper to acquire compared with securing domestic materials and manufacturing locations.
Despite what appears to be a losing battle with Mexican drug suppliers, the war against illegal drugs wages on. The DEA reported 184 drug violation arrests in Utah during 2007, down from 229 in 2003. The 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that fewer than 59,000 (3.05 percent) Utah residents reported illegal drug dependence or abuse during the year. Utah-made methamphetamine labs are also declining because of the increased joint task force preventative effort.
Legalization of mind-altering, judgment-inhibiting substances is absolutely not the answer to the Mexican drug-cartel problem. What is needed is tougher law enforcement and a zero-tolerance attitude among citizens and governing officials in both the United States and Mexico.
Studies from the Journal of Drug Use report illicit drug use is directly correlated with delinquent behavior resulting in violent crimes. People do stupid things when they are under the influence of substances designed to alter moods and impair judgment.
Should these substances now become legal, society would be put in a more risky situation because users would engage in violent and illegal activities without preventative intervention. The United States government has made tremendous strides in establishing effective anti-drug law enforcement and educational programs. The Mexican government needs to follow suit and increase the policing and education effort within its own borders.
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/drug-war-can-t-be-won-through-legalization-1.1634252
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Creative writing essential
Last week, the University of Missouri eliminated its Center for the Literary Arts because of budget cuts. The center was an interdepartmental program specializing in creative writing—a form of expression that seems as though it’s becoming, or at risk of becoming, a lost art.
Although the U doesn’t have any plans at the moment to cut any departments or colleges, similar reductions seem inevitable as the U is facing a 9 percent cut in the 2009 budget that could reach as high as 19 percent during the next two years.
Creative writing is something that makes you laugh, think deeply or relive a good memory. Publishing stories not only allows us to record and share them with each other and future generations, but is also a way to express the significance of what we do and who we are.
“I take creative writing to be an endeavor which has, as its primary purpose, the ‘publishing’ of the world around us, an activity of witnessing rather than ‘communication,’ in the narrow sense of the word,” said Derek Henderson, a creative writing professor at the U. “To publish the world, to make it known, is simply to point at it, to say ‘look at all this activity.’”
Henderson is a strong believer that publishing as a résumé builder or a way to make a lot of money isn’t as important as being a means of connecting like-minded individuals. In another form of writing, it can be just as satisfying to see your work take on a life of its own, which could provide not only financial security, but also potentially generate thousands of loyal readers.
Local author Brandon Mull said it is important to be true to your own voice and interests. He penned Fablehaven, a New York Times bestselling fantasy series.
“Good fiction interprets and reflects the world around us,” Mull said. “For me, the primary purpose of creative writing is storytelling. I’m trying to breathe life into characters, create relationships between them and have those characters face interesting problems. I write because my head is full of stories. I hope my stories offer engaging, vicarious experiences for readers.”
The University of Utah Press is a publishing outlet for individuals who bring written works that feature quality research and writing that can benefit the entire academic community.
“Quite simply, if individuals don’t publish, we don’t exist, scholarship doesn’t advance and scholarly reading grinds to a halt,” said Bruce Roberts, marketing manger for the University Press. The worry of the bumpy economy shouldn’t bring writing and publishing to a halt.
Virginia Woolf once wrote, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” The truth of the statement goes beyond just women.
The U and other universities should maintain some funding for creative writing programs, even though they’re facing budget cuts. We should fight to foster this skill as the vehicle for self-actualization and as a record of who we really are.
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/creative-writing-essential-1.1629687
Although the U doesn’t have any plans at the moment to cut any departments or colleges, similar reductions seem inevitable as the U is facing a 9 percent cut in the 2009 budget that could reach as high as 19 percent during the next two years.
Creative writing is something that makes you laugh, think deeply or relive a good memory. Publishing stories not only allows us to record and share them with each other and future generations, but is also a way to express the significance of what we do and who we are.
“I take creative writing to be an endeavor which has, as its primary purpose, the ‘publishing’ of the world around us, an activity of witnessing rather than ‘communication,’ in the narrow sense of the word,” said Derek Henderson, a creative writing professor at the U. “To publish the world, to make it known, is simply to point at it, to say ‘look at all this activity.’”
Henderson is a strong believer that publishing as a résumé builder or a way to make a lot of money isn’t as important as being a means of connecting like-minded individuals. In another form of writing, it can be just as satisfying to see your work take on a life of its own, which could provide not only financial security, but also potentially generate thousands of loyal readers.
Local author Brandon Mull said it is important to be true to your own voice and interests. He penned Fablehaven, a New York Times bestselling fantasy series.
“Good fiction interprets and reflects the world around us,” Mull said. “For me, the primary purpose of creative writing is storytelling. I’m trying to breathe life into characters, create relationships between them and have those characters face interesting problems. I write because my head is full of stories. I hope my stories offer engaging, vicarious experiences for readers.”
The University of Utah Press is a publishing outlet for individuals who bring written works that feature quality research and writing that can benefit the entire academic community.
“Quite simply, if individuals don’t publish, we don’t exist, scholarship doesn’t advance and scholarly reading grinds to a halt,” said Bruce Roberts, marketing manger for the University Press. The worry of the bumpy economy shouldn’t bring writing and publishing to a halt.
Virginia Woolf once wrote, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” The truth of the statement goes beyond just women.
The U and other universities should maintain some funding for creative writing programs, even though they’re facing budget cuts. We should fight to foster this skill as the vehicle for self-actualization and as a record of who we really are.
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/creative-writing-essential-1.1629687
Monday, March 23, 2009
Southern Utah should be freed of pests Weed-killing Saltcedar beetle harmful to natural vegetation
In Southern Utah, there are several pending lawsuits in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s approval of releasing a Russian beetle on a weed management expedition. The Saltcedar beetle, imported by federal scientists from Kazakhstan, was released in Grand County in 2005 to control the Tamarisk infiltration, a weed responsible for guzzling large quantities of water.
Tamarisk, which reduces erosion, is a foreign plant originally transplanted with the intent to make the desert environment more green and verdant. It has also become home to the endangered Willow Flycatcher songbird. However, the plant has grown into a noxious weed that is rerouting waterways and crowding out native vegetation like willow and cottonwood trees.
For the government, the beetles posed the most attractive solution to the Tamarisk problem since it was cheaper and was seen as more effective than controlled fires, herbicides or mechanical removal. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s Weed Team Coordinator Lisa Bryant, the beetles were only supposed to cover hundreds of feet, but it was discovered the beetles moved at a much faster pace downstream from the original release site.
Since the beetles were first released in Moab nearly four years ago, Grand County’s Weed Supervisor Tim Higgs said more than 3.95 acres were defoliated the first year with another 9.88 acres the second year. In the third year, you couldn’t drive anywhere in Moab without beetles hitting your windshield. The good news is the beetles are doing their job; they are just doing it too well, and multiplying at an unexpectedly fast rate.
Kara Dohrenwend, who served on the Grand County Weed Board and operates a Moab restorative landscape company, said, “The entire river corridor went brown in one week,” as all of the Tamarisk plants lost their green leaves.
The beetle is starting to cross into Colorado and Arizona. The government will need to enact a solution to the beetle infiltration problem, which is spreading quickly, with some reports that it’s coming to Salt Lake City. Bring in the seagulls! It brings to mind a certain episode of “The Simpsons.” Soon enough, Southern Utah will be overrun with gorillas and flying lizards to keep tabs on other imported pests. I thought we learned this lesson long ago.
Kevin Hultine, a biology professor at the U, will be publishing a study online about his research effort to use satellite images to track the beetle and demonstrate how fast the beetles eat the Tamarisk. There are concerns that as the Tamarisk defoliates, other noxious weeds will take its place, furthering the degeneration of natural waterways and native vegetation. To get the monitoring system up and in place, it will cost about $10,000 to $30,000 a year to pay for equipment and data recorders.
That money will be spent to provide numerical confirmation of the beetle infiltration problem to convince the government to take action. However, it’s hard to justify that kind of expenditure in a recession to push for a solution like pesticides that would inevitably re-create the initial problem of no beetles and too much Tamarisk. It’s a mess with no surefire solution, but the goal should be to get rid of the Russian beetle and work toward restoring native vegetation to the area. Introducing another pest is always a risky move.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/southern_utah_should_be_freed_of_pests-1.1623973
Tamarisk, which reduces erosion, is a foreign plant originally transplanted with the intent to make the desert environment more green and verdant. It has also become home to the endangered Willow Flycatcher songbird. However, the plant has grown into a noxious weed that is rerouting waterways and crowding out native vegetation like willow and cottonwood trees.
For the government, the beetles posed the most attractive solution to the Tamarisk problem since it was cheaper and was seen as more effective than controlled fires, herbicides or mechanical removal. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s Weed Team Coordinator Lisa Bryant, the beetles were only supposed to cover hundreds of feet, but it was discovered the beetles moved at a much faster pace downstream from the original release site.
Since the beetles were first released in Moab nearly four years ago, Grand County’s Weed Supervisor Tim Higgs said more than 3.95 acres were defoliated the first year with another 9.88 acres the second year. In the third year, you couldn’t drive anywhere in Moab without beetles hitting your windshield. The good news is the beetles are doing their job; they are just doing it too well, and multiplying at an unexpectedly fast rate.
Kara Dohrenwend, who served on the Grand County Weed Board and operates a Moab restorative landscape company, said, “The entire river corridor went brown in one week,” as all of the Tamarisk plants lost their green leaves.
The beetle is starting to cross into Colorado and Arizona. The government will need to enact a solution to the beetle infiltration problem, which is spreading quickly, with some reports that it’s coming to Salt Lake City. Bring in the seagulls! It brings to mind a certain episode of “The Simpsons.” Soon enough, Southern Utah will be overrun with gorillas and flying lizards to keep tabs on other imported pests. I thought we learned this lesson long ago.
Kevin Hultine, a biology professor at the U, will be publishing a study online about his research effort to use satellite images to track the beetle and demonstrate how fast the beetles eat the Tamarisk. There are concerns that as the Tamarisk defoliates, other noxious weeds will take its place, furthering the degeneration of natural waterways and native vegetation. To get the monitoring system up and in place, it will cost about $10,000 to $30,000 a year to pay for equipment and data recorders.
That money will be spent to provide numerical confirmation of the beetle infiltration problem to convince the government to take action. However, it’s hard to justify that kind of expenditure in a recession to push for a solution like pesticides that would inevitably re-create the initial problem of no beetles and too much Tamarisk. It’s a mess with no surefire solution, but the goal should be to get rid of the Russian beetle and work toward restoring native vegetation to the area. Introducing another pest is always a risky move.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/southern_utah_should_be_freed_of_pests-1.1623973
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Liquor law change is valid
In Utah, people over the age of 21 can buy liquor at the state-run liquor store or a private club and they can buy beer at most grocery stores. In California and most states all over the country, people can buy liquor not only at clubs, but also at grocery stores and restaurants. For years, Utah has maintained some of the nation’s most stringent and inane liquor legislation. Finally, these unrealistic and arcane rules will change.
The Utah Legislature has negotiated a new set of liquor laws that will do away with the private club law, which requires temporary memberships for entry. Instead, a scanner will be installed to verify the authenticity of a driver’s license and now allows for restaurants and other establishments to sell liquor without a temporary membership.
At the urging of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., these changes will be made to secure Utah’s economic growth.
In a report by the Real Estate Professionals for Economic Growth, 40 companies that relocated to Utah or expanded in the state discovered that the perceptions of Utah’s liquor laws were an obstacle to business and growth within the state. Eating out and drinking with business associates are common practices that are critical to building relationships and partnerships within corporate America. Stringent liquor laws have not only caused awkwardness for individual businesses, but also for Utah’s tourism industry, considering that those from out of state are accustomed to getting a drink without paying a membership fee.
The late Larry Miller, who owned the Utah Jazz, allowed the sale of beer at the EnergySolutions Arena because fans wanted the product. Although it doesn’t conflict with Utah’s liquor laws, it still pushes the envelope for conservative-minded individuals.
“With alcohol, that’s a choice that, up to a point, only affects the person who is drinking,” Miller said in a 2003 interview. “I don’t think I’m smart enough to be the censor for the whole community. I do have some element of that censorship whether I like it or not. With alcohol, there is a broad enough spectrum in the community who choose to use it that we adopt certain policies. I can’t say that half of our community can’t drink—it’s not my role.”
The new progressive liquor legislation is a breath of fresh air and long overdue. Finally, popular grocery outlets such as Trader Joe’s, which makes substantial profits from liquor sales, will be able to come to Utah. Loosening restraints on tourism and business will be welcome during the economic recession.
It should not be left up to the government to be the social conscience of its citizens.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/liquor_law_change_is_valid-1.1605348
The Utah Legislature has negotiated a new set of liquor laws that will do away with the private club law, which requires temporary memberships for entry. Instead, a scanner will be installed to verify the authenticity of a driver’s license and now allows for restaurants and other establishments to sell liquor without a temporary membership.
At the urging of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., these changes will be made to secure Utah’s economic growth.
In a report by the Real Estate Professionals for Economic Growth, 40 companies that relocated to Utah or expanded in the state discovered that the perceptions of Utah’s liquor laws were an obstacle to business and growth within the state. Eating out and drinking with business associates are common practices that are critical to building relationships and partnerships within corporate America. Stringent liquor laws have not only caused awkwardness for individual businesses, but also for Utah’s tourism industry, considering that those from out of state are accustomed to getting a drink without paying a membership fee.
The late Larry Miller, who owned the Utah Jazz, allowed the sale of beer at the EnergySolutions Arena because fans wanted the product. Although it doesn’t conflict with Utah’s liquor laws, it still pushes the envelope for conservative-minded individuals.
“With alcohol, that’s a choice that, up to a point, only affects the person who is drinking,” Miller said in a 2003 interview. “I don’t think I’m smart enough to be the censor for the whole community. I do have some element of that censorship whether I like it or not. With alcohol, there is a broad enough spectrum in the community who choose to use it that we adopt certain policies. I can’t say that half of our community can’t drink—it’s not my role.”
The new progressive liquor legislation is a breath of fresh air and long overdue. Finally, popular grocery outlets such as Trader Joe’s, which makes substantial profits from liquor sales, will be able to come to Utah. Loosening restraints on tourism and business will be welcome during the economic recession.
It should not be left up to the government to be the social conscience of its citizens.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/liquor_law_change_is_valid-1.1605348
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wind power might be Utah's best bet
Huge wind turbine towers with blades the size of semitrucks are popping up in desolate locations all across the country. Utah plays host to several of these wind farms, which are capable of producing enough energy to supply thousands of homes. A one-megawatt wind turbine can generate enough electricity in a year to power as many as 300 homes, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s Web site. In the works are proposals to build hundreds of new wind turbines in Iron, Beaver and Millard counties, but you have to ask if this really is the best course of action to meet America’s growing energy needs.
According to the AWEA, the industry goal is to achieve 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025. Wind energy represents less than 1 percent, according to a recent AWEA report. Texas produces the most wind power of any state, followed by Iowa.
President Barack Obama is dumping $20 billion into projects such as the wind turbines that are supposed to help solve our energy needs as well as help sustain the environment. In terms of performance, coal is the most reliable and affordable energy source in the United States. Critics say drilling for coal damages the environment and it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to quickly access this resource. However, we have still not found another resource that matches coal’s energy potential and performance.
As construction jobs have dried up in this sour economy, the government is looking to the renewable energy sector hoping they can capitalize on the transition into creating green-collar jobs. The wind towers are being touted as a viable substitute to burning carbon-emitting fossil fuels as the turbine’s generators capture natural energy and transform it into power.
Also attractive about this industry is that costs have dropped by 80 percent since the 1980s, which has enabled this developing industry to compete with coal- or gas-fired power plants, according to the AWEA. Suzlon Energy, the manufacturer of wind turbines in Spanish Fork Canyon, forecast that the wind energy industry will grow by 24 percent during the next five years. Nearly $500 million of Obama’s stimulus package will go toward green job training programs that will prepare individuals to become solar-panel installers, wind turbine mechanics, fuel-cell engineers or energy efficiency experts.
Although the concept of harnessing natural energy is logical and is becoming more affordable with government support, time will tell whether it will truly be a sustainable industry and energy solution. It just might be what Utah needs.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1600610-1.1600610
According to the AWEA, the industry goal is to achieve 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025. Wind energy represents less than 1 percent, according to a recent AWEA report. Texas produces the most wind power of any state, followed by Iowa.
President Barack Obama is dumping $20 billion into projects such as the wind turbines that are supposed to help solve our energy needs as well as help sustain the environment. In terms of performance, coal is the most reliable and affordable energy source in the United States. Critics say drilling for coal damages the environment and it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to quickly access this resource. However, we have still not found another resource that matches coal’s energy potential and performance.
As construction jobs have dried up in this sour economy, the government is looking to the renewable energy sector hoping they can capitalize on the transition into creating green-collar jobs. The wind towers are being touted as a viable substitute to burning carbon-emitting fossil fuels as the turbine’s generators capture natural energy and transform it into power.
Also attractive about this industry is that costs have dropped by 80 percent since the 1980s, which has enabled this developing industry to compete with coal- or gas-fired power plants, according to the AWEA. Suzlon Energy, the manufacturer of wind turbines in Spanish Fork Canyon, forecast that the wind energy industry will grow by 24 percent during the next five years. Nearly $500 million of Obama’s stimulus package will go toward green job training programs that will prepare individuals to become solar-panel installers, wind turbine mechanics, fuel-cell engineers or energy efficiency experts.
Although the concept of harnessing natural energy is logical and is becoming more affordable with government support, time will tell whether it will truly be a sustainable industry and energy solution. It just might be what Utah needs.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1600610-1.1600610
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Avoid Mexico for Spring Break
Be wise and stay away from Mexico during Spring Break, especially if you plan on drinking a lot.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert for Mexico that is effective through Aug. 20, 2009 because of an increase in drug-related crimes. Recent Mexican law enforcement confrontations with drug cartels have resembled mini-battlefields as some cartels are using automatic weapons and grenades in a surge of indiscriminate violence.
“It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim,” according to the State Department Web site. “Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.”
The State Department also reports that in recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico and several of these cases remain unresolved. Many areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in crime, including robberies, homicides, petty thefts and carjackings. In Ciudad Juarez alone, Mexican authorities reported that more than 1,800 people have been killed since Jan. 2008.
“The university policy is to not travel to countries where a travel warning has been issued,” said Bill Barnhart, director of the U International Center. “In the case of Mexico, there is not a travel warning, but rather an alert, which is advisory and cautionary, regarding certain areas of Mexico like the U.S.–Mexico border.”
Good judgment does not blend well with the inherent risks of traveling in Mexico along with a boatload of drinks in the sun.
According to a study from the University of Wisconsin, 75 percent of college males and 44 percent of college females reported being drunk on a daily basis during Spring Break.
After weeks of studying hard and enduring long classroom lectures, we all deserve a few days to put our feet up and relax during Spring Break. Be smart and have a good time. But know that there are potential dangers and Spring Break isn’t all about reckless fun and games. No one wants to be the friend of the person that didn’t come home.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/avoid_mexico_for_spring_break-1.1596852
The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert for Mexico that is effective through Aug. 20, 2009 because of an increase in drug-related crimes. Recent Mexican law enforcement confrontations with drug cartels have resembled mini-battlefields as some cartels are using automatic weapons and grenades in a surge of indiscriminate violence.
“It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim,” according to the State Department Web site. “Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.”
The State Department also reports that in recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico and several of these cases remain unresolved. Many areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in crime, including robberies, homicides, petty thefts and carjackings. In Ciudad Juarez alone, Mexican authorities reported that more than 1,800 people have been killed since Jan. 2008.
“The university policy is to not travel to countries where a travel warning has been issued,” said Bill Barnhart, director of the U International Center. “In the case of Mexico, there is not a travel warning, but rather an alert, which is advisory and cautionary, regarding certain areas of Mexico like the U.S.–Mexico border.”
Good judgment does not blend well with the inherent risks of traveling in Mexico along with a boatload of drinks in the sun.
According to a study from the University of Wisconsin, 75 percent of college males and 44 percent of college females reported being drunk on a daily basis during Spring Break.
After weeks of studying hard and enduring long classroom lectures, we all deserve a few days to put our feet up and relax during Spring Break. Be smart and have a good time. But know that there are potential dangers and Spring Break isn’t all about reckless fun and games. No one wants to be the friend of the person that didn’t come home.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/avoid_mexico_for_spring_break-1.1596852
Monday, March 2, 2009
Religion minor a step forward for global-minded students
Starting in September, the U will offer a religious studies minor for the first time. This is a great first step in providing students a means to broaden their worldview of diverse cultures and religions.
Ed Barbanell, the associate dean of undergraduate studies, said no additional financial resources will be needed at this time, as the minor is composed of existing courses taught by employed faculty.
“The climate has changed the status of religion,” said Muriel Schmid, assistant professor of comparative literary and cultural studies. “You almost have to have religious literacy to compete in this global economy. The religious studies minor has expanded into disciplines beyond the humanities and is such a great compliment to any major.”
Schmid said religion came to the forefront after Sept. 11, as it was a driving factor in decisions made about social policy and politics. An ongoing dialogue is crucial to being part of a global conversation and knowing how to interact effectively within a shrinking world.
According to the proposal that was approved by the U Board of Trustees in February, the religious studies minor will better prepare students to work and live in a world that is increasingly shaped by religious pluralism and traditions.
Students can take classes that introduce the religious traditions of others to broaden their visions of internationalism and cross-cultural studies. Barbanell said the new religion studies minor will be offered through the College of Humanities and will replace the existing languages and literature minor.
“We have a tremendous demand for all of our religion classes,” said Charles Prebish, director of the Religious Studies program at Utah State University. “We are in the middle of the fundraising process to create new endowments to expand our program.”
Schmid hopes that as the U’s program grows, classes can be developed that incorporate the cultural background of Salt Lake City. But if you’re looking for an undergraduate course in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you’ll have to walk across the street to the LDS Institute of Religion.
“The religious studies minor will be a broad range study from historical and comparative religion classes from across the university,” Barbanell said. “Because these courses already existed, they just needed to be packaged differently in a way to provide a broad range of religion classes.”
Combining classes from 13 departments across campus, the minor will include courses such as Biblical Hebrew Poetry, Early Christian Literature, Renaissance Europe, Native American Religion, Medieval England, Islamic Mysticism, Religions of India and Tai-Chi yoga movement.
“The Early Christian Literature class is giving me a deeper sense of what the modern academic community understands about the Bible, and its history,” said Jordan Rainey, a senior in comparative literature with an emphasis in religion and culture. “Seeing how the Bible is the most published literature in all English literary history, this class has been a great introduction into what I hope will be my focus in grad school.”
The U is pressing ahead of other major universities in the state that have religious curriculum. Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University and Utah State University all have coursework focused on the study of religion, with BYU predictably requiring all of their undergraduate students to take religious classes. UVU has seven students involved in a religion minor, USU has 15 students with it as a major and four with it as a minor and the U has 15 students who have a major with an emphasis in religion and culture.
The U should be commended for providing the minor to students—and better yet, without increasing spending.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/religion_minor_a_step_forward_for_global-minded_students-1.1590928
Ed Barbanell, the associate dean of undergraduate studies, said no additional financial resources will be needed at this time, as the minor is composed of existing courses taught by employed faculty.
“The climate has changed the status of religion,” said Muriel Schmid, assistant professor of comparative literary and cultural studies. “You almost have to have religious literacy to compete in this global economy. The religious studies minor has expanded into disciplines beyond the humanities and is such a great compliment to any major.”
Schmid said religion came to the forefront after Sept. 11, as it was a driving factor in decisions made about social policy and politics. An ongoing dialogue is crucial to being part of a global conversation and knowing how to interact effectively within a shrinking world.
According to the proposal that was approved by the U Board of Trustees in February, the religious studies minor will better prepare students to work and live in a world that is increasingly shaped by religious pluralism and traditions.
Students can take classes that introduce the religious traditions of others to broaden their visions of internationalism and cross-cultural studies. Barbanell said the new religion studies minor will be offered through the College of Humanities and will replace the existing languages and literature minor.
“We have a tremendous demand for all of our religion classes,” said Charles Prebish, director of the Religious Studies program at Utah State University. “We are in the middle of the fundraising process to create new endowments to expand our program.”
Schmid hopes that as the U’s program grows, classes can be developed that incorporate the cultural background of Salt Lake City. But if you’re looking for an undergraduate course in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you’ll have to walk across the street to the LDS Institute of Religion.
“The religious studies minor will be a broad range study from historical and comparative religion classes from across the university,” Barbanell said. “Because these courses already existed, they just needed to be packaged differently in a way to provide a broad range of religion classes.”
Combining classes from 13 departments across campus, the minor will include courses such as Biblical Hebrew Poetry, Early Christian Literature, Renaissance Europe, Native American Religion, Medieval England, Islamic Mysticism, Religions of India and Tai-Chi yoga movement.
“The Early Christian Literature class is giving me a deeper sense of what the modern academic community understands about the Bible, and its history,” said Jordan Rainey, a senior in comparative literature with an emphasis in religion and culture. “Seeing how the Bible is the most published literature in all English literary history, this class has been a great introduction into what I hope will be my focus in grad school.”
The U is pressing ahead of other major universities in the state that have religious curriculum. Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University and Utah State University all have coursework focused on the study of religion, with BYU predictably requiring all of their undergraduate students to take religious classes. UVU has seven students involved in a religion minor, USU has 15 students with it as a major and four with it as a minor and the U has 15 students who have a major with an emphasis in religion and culture.
The U should be commended for providing the minor to students—and better yet, without increasing spending.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/religion_minor_a_step_forward_for_global-minded_students-1.1590928
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Smokers should police themselves in cars
Back in the 1950s, smoking was a trendy status symbol. That was before society became educated about the negative effects of smoking, such as asthma and lung cancer. It was way before we understood that even secondhand smoke can cause problems.
Last week, the Utah House of Representatives defeated a bill that would have banned smoking in a car with a child present if the child is younger than 8 years old.
House Bill 284, sponsored by Rep. Jay Seegmiller, D-Sandy, was defeated by a 7-3 vote in the House Transportation Committee because some lawmakers feared it infringed on personal property rights. The bill was supported by Utah law enforcement and would have imposed a $45 fine per violation. The age of 8 was chosen as the cutoff because that is the cutoff age of when children are no longer required to be in a car seat.
H.B. 284 would have installed a second degree offense, meaning police officers would not be able to pull vehicles over if they only saw the drivers smoking. Instead, the smoking violation would have had to be coupled with a different violation like speeding.
Although the spirit of the bill is good in that it attempts to protect a group that doesn’t have a voice, it is not an effective use of law enforcement and it doesn’t make sense from a financial standpoint.
According to the Utah State Legislature Web site, the bill would require $6,600 per year to be appropriated to the courts for servicing the initiative while only creating $5,000 in revenue. That’s not a lot compared to the entire state budget, but in the face of already extreme budget cuts, it’s not a necessary expense.
Having said that, the American Lung Association has found that secondhand smoke is the cause of 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, causing 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations each year. It is also the cause of 430 sudden infant death syndrome deaths in the United States each year.
Smoking should be a no-brainer decision, particularly when a child with developing lungs is present. But the government shouldn’t be responsible for policing citizens’ behavior around their children. They should be able to police themselves.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1575337-1.1575337
Last week, the Utah House of Representatives defeated a bill that would have banned smoking in a car with a child present if the child is younger than 8 years old.
House Bill 284, sponsored by Rep. Jay Seegmiller, D-Sandy, was defeated by a 7-3 vote in the House Transportation Committee because some lawmakers feared it infringed on personal property rights. The bill was supported by Utah law enforcement and would have imposed a $45 fine per violation. The age of 8 was chosen as the cutoff because that is the cutoff age of when children are no longer required to be in a car seat.
H.B. 284 would have installed a second degree offense, meaning police officers would not be able to pull vehicles over if they only saw the drivers smoking. Instead, the smoking violation would have had to be coupled with a different violation like speeding.
Although the spirit of the bill is good in that it attempts to protect a group that doesn’t have a voice, it is not an effective use of law enforcement and it doesn’t make sense from a financial standpoint.
According to the Utah State Legislature Web site, the bill would require $6,600 per year to be appropriated to the courts for servicing the initiative while only creating $5,000 in revenue. That’s not a lot compared to the entire state budget, but in the face of already extreme budget cuts, it’s not a necessary expense.
Having said that, the American Lung Association has found that secondhand smoke is the cause of 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, causing 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations each year. It is also the cause of 430 sudden infant death syndrome deaths in the United States each year.
Smoking should be a no-brainer decision, particularly when a child with developing lungs is present. But the government shouldn’t be responsible for policing citizens’ behavior around their children. They should be able to police themselves.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1575337-1.1575337
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