UVSC College Times, 2004-09-20

              rsl oYol u k e :4ifeil! iMtetKri wfcflfc TUSSl! fey i X5& MteKyil:: UTAH VALLEY STATE COLLEGE 1 nTinirrn I AJ U N ( EL BUEN PANO EN EL ARCA SE VENDE 3 I The Angels will soon be among us. Read more about the win in the playoffs. See page 12. f" . i! hij : ... Check out how to see legislative processes first-hand. See page 8 f 'LOJ ?OLC 'HE Check out how Meryl Streep is involved with UVSC on page 9. 3 Ten to the hour, every hour, UVXNews brings you the latest. PttaiHEE ' QaVtnOuh " The new monthly mag that gives it to you straight. My -i in' -:. m p . . ,' i''; ,Hj '(:-. volume33 issue7 ) i - -. f J)S0 MP3 TME By Ammon Van Orden News Writer "A bullet flying through the air has a very distinct sound to it," said UVSC student Sean Vreeland. "It's kind of a high pitched noise." Sean put his education on hold, serving for six months in the hills of Afghanistan last spring when his reserve unit was mobilized. More than once, his life was spared when snipers barely missed their mark. Each time that Sean and his fellow soldiers stepped out the front gates, they knew they were moving into another world, a third world country with death just around the corner. Sean and his fellow soldiers were guarding the gates one month before Sean was released to come home when his life would change forever. Kaboooom! The all too familiar sound of a mine erupting could be heard in the distance. The 82nd Airborne base located in the wilderness of Afghanistan was virtually surrounded by these crippling and killing devices. The Russians laid mines in the 1980's when they fought against the Mujahadeen. To the dismay of local residents and soldiers stationed there, many of these Soviet death machines were crafted so well that nearly twenty years after being set, they continue to be active. It was not uncommon for soldiers within the protected gates to hear mines explode two or three times a day, and this day was no different. Not long after the mine went off the guards noticed the silhouette of a young girl, and it appeared as though she was caring a sack of potatoes on her back. As the girl approached the front gate, the guards were horrified when they realized the sack of potatoes was actually her younger brother who had been maimed by one of the rusty but effective mines. Mines do not discriminate between friend and foe man or boy; they wage terrible revenge on whovNci steps upon their backs. The joung child was missing one of his legs and his jaw, and the Americans knew immediately there was nothing they could do for him. Because of the infestation of disease in Afghanistan, and the uncertainty of blood type, soldiers are ordered not to give medical support to the locals. Anything past basic first aid is forbidden, and must be dealt with by local hospitals which don't exist. Sean and his comrades did all they could to comfort the girl, but they knew her plight was helpless. They took one of their clean army issue sheets and draped it on the boy as he passed, all the while praying that they would never have to witness this again. Even with the daily fear of becoming another casualty or witnessing the brutality of that war torn land, Sean still likes to accentuate the positive. He 1 Photos Courtesy of Sean Vreeland Prayer causes stir at local complex By Shawn Mansell Your News Editor There is some controversy brewing over a grassy knoll, and this time it has nothing to do with JFK. Members of an LDS congregation have been told to stop gathering outside their apartments for a weekly prayer meeting. Pinnacle Canyon View apartments, home to several UVSC students, are no longer allowing the group to meet for their "ward prayer" meeting on Sunday nights. Jason Allman, a member of the College 10th ward has seen contention over the Sunday activities build up. "It is just one or two guys," he said. "The police have been called before." Allman suspects it is the same unhappy resident or two that has caused Pinnacle's man- it FT: , ' - i ,. i ii J , I i '; Ml I h : . . '' ' 1 Andy HuntNetXNews Pinnacle apartments is the home to many Mormon UVSC students. The management recently threatened to have the local Bishop arrested if he holds public prayer on the property again. Due to the amount of controversy surrounding Michael Moore's visit to UVSC, we wanted Student Government to have a chance to answer some questions about their decision to do so. Joe Vogel V.P. of Academics Why Michael Moore? Why not? He's one of the biggest figures in the political scene right now. Whether you like him or not, he's accomplished a great deal-he's won numerous awards and influenced millions with his films. Fahrenheit 911 is the most successful documentary of all time, and could potentially have the power to sway the outcome of the elections. To have him come to UVSC at 'this time is an opportunity we can't pass up. People don't have to agree with him. We expected the controversy and complaints. But at an institution of higher education, we should be willing to at least acknowledge other viewpoints and let different perspectives be heard. The main thing is it's exciting for the students-they will be talking about it and engaging in the issues. On October 20, the McKay Events Center will be packed, and every news channel and newspaper in the state will be here covering it. That's exciting. - If people don't want to come they don't have to. But