UVSC College Times, 2007-10-29

              The College Times MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2007 UVC0LLEGETIMES.COM VOLUME XXXVII . NO. 10 The Independent Student Voice of Utah Valley State State Wide State Wide 2007 Elections Orem City Council elections draw closer, find out . which candidate is right for you L Markseastrand.com - II r i Justin Ritter News writer All across Utah, people will have the opportunity to make their voices heard in the 2007 municipal election on Nov. 6. In Orem, citizens will elect three city council members. Candidates Margaret Black, Carl Hernandez, Mark Seastrand, Tom Fifita Sitake, Brent Sumner and Michael J. Whimpey are all competing to fill the open seats on Orem's city council. Black, an incumbent who was appointed to the city council in January, said her greatest 2007 Elections Tue,.Nov. 6 7 am to 8 pm More info at elections.utah.gov Carl40rem.com Brent Sumner strength is her experience. She has held several positions in the Orem community over the past 29 years, includ ing CERT coordinator; chairperson of Orem's Orchard North Neighborhoods in Action and many positions on the PTA. "I work very hard," Black said. "I will continue to listen and respond to citizens and to enhance our community."Incumbent Mark Seastnuid has served on the city council for almost two years. "I bring to the city council a solid business background," he said, adding that as an incumbent, "I'm very well up-to-speed on the issues." A longtime Orem resident, Seastrand said he understands the culture, values and history of the city. "I grew up in Orem," Seastrand said. "This is my home." Brent Sumner, the adviser of The College Times and former publisher of the Orem-Geneva Times, is another lifelong Orem resident. He served on the Chamber Board of Directors for 12 years and has held many positions in the community. Sumner said he has the time to serve on the city council, something he said is a "big factor." See ELECTIONS A4 Margaretbiack.com From fop to bottom; Mark Seastrand, Brent Sumner, Carl Hernandez, Margaret Black, and Michael Whimpey (Not pictured: Tom Fifita Sitake). All are running for Orem City Council in the election to be held on Tuesday, November 6. Mikewhimpcy.com On Campus A prayer for bachelor degrees UVSC launches program aimed at persuading students to finish their degrees Jennie Nicholls Assistant News editor UVSC is launching a new cam-' paign to keep students thinking about and remaining at UVSC to finish their bachelor degrees. The idea that has surfaced is a wallet card. Why a wallet card? The card will be easy for students to hold onto and to have on their person in times of need. The card is projected to have tips for graduating, discounts and a chance at prizes. Ron Hammond, a professor of sociology, directed a small conference to present the wallet card idea and get feedback for the project from other departments and faculty on campus. During the conference, Hammond said, "This card is to make retention a part of our culture on campus. We are making a card to keep students thinking about staying in school." The card itself will be the size of a traditional business card on durable, high-gloss paper meant to last the duration of a student's college years. The theme selected for the cards, "Success, Never Stop Learning," goes along with previously adopted mar-See WALLET CARD A3 CROSSROADS O? TH WE5TVV 1 " i Utah Arts Council (Left) Drawing of Utah's official state quarter to be released into circulation Nov. 9. (Top Right) Beehive concept drawing of potential design. (Bottom Right) Snowboarder concept drawing of potential quarter design. Utah's state quarter unveiled 45 of 50 in the U.S. Mints 50 State quarters program Robert Hayden Assistant News editor On Monday, Oct. 15, Utah's state quarter was unveiled to the public at the US Mint in Denver. The quarter commemorates the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869. On the back, two locomotives face each other separated by a spike. The words "Crossroads of the West" stretch above the trains. Residents favored this design over the other two final designs chosen by the US Mint in 2006. These finalists portrayed the unique history of Utah. One coin depicted The XIX Winter Olympic Games, which Utah hosted in 2002, with a snowboarder above a range of mountains. The other displayed a beehive after the state's flag and nickname. ' "All citizens of Utah were invited to be a part of the design process by submitting proposals that would best represent the state and citizenry of Utah. This process was open through June 2005," read the Utah state Web site. The Utah quarter will be the 45th in the state series, which, in 1999, began releasing different state quarters every 10 weeks in the order states were admitted into the union. The series will complete its run next year. According to the Associated Press, the quarter will be available on Nov. 5. State Wide Referendum 1 vote approaches Controversial school voucher issue to finally be settled Justin Ritter News writer It has been 33 years since Utahns last voted on a referendum, but on Nov. 6, their decision on Referendum 1 will settle one of Utah's most heated controversies.Referendum 1, Utah's first since 1974, will decide the fate of H.B. 148, the bill that would create a school voucher program, and H.B. 174, that makes amendments to H.B. 148. Known as the "Parent Choice in Education Program," the voucher plan would give scholarships from public funds to parents wanting to enroll their children in private school. The scholarships would range from $500 to $3,000, depending on income and the size of the student's family. The scholarships would increase each year by the same percent as public school funding. Opponents of the bill say it could have a negative impact on Utah's educational future. "There is little accountability, both economically and academi cally," said Marilyn Kof-ford, a member of Utahns for Public Schools, of the bill. "It will suck the education system of Utah for a long time to come." Supporters of the bill disagree, saying it would help many Utah students, especially minorities. "H.B. 148 is about helping these kids," said Paul Mero, head of the Sutherland Institute, during an Oct. 3 debate. "These kids need a new opportunity. They need a new start." Kofford said the Utah Voter Information Pamphlet is the best source for a breakdown of H.B. 148 and arguments for and against the voucher program. "We need to look at the voter registration booklet and derive more there than anything else," she said. The pamphlet is available at newsstands around UVSC. H.B. 148 was passed in February by a vote of 1 9-1 0 in the State Senate, and 38-37 in the House of Representatives. Utah law gives the State Senate power to require the vote of Utah See REFERENDUM A5