Keeping the V in UVSC

For five years now UVSC's Gender Studies Club has been putting on Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues as part of their V Day programming. And for five years the controversy often gets more of the spotlight than the production itself.

Organizers of the event, which always donates 100 percent of their profits to charity, usually have to put up with some form of grief; from their posters getting torn down, to the school refusing to use the "V" word, to outright hostility from legislators. And of course this year is no exception:

You hate the one about the moans, don't you (College Times, February 18 2008)

It is amazing that after five years that this production still stirs up the pot. For those of you who are not familiar with the production, The Vagina Monologues is a series of...well...monologues in which women talk about their experiences as women. Nothing is left out. Masturbation, menstruation, rape, physical abuse, psychological abuse...all the joys and the horrors of being a women are all there in black and white (OK...usually it is in black and pink feather boas, but you get the idea).

The subject matter is often shocking and the language is strong but I don't believe it is the intention to offend. Instead these "charged" words are to cause the audience to lower their guard just a little...to think about things that all of us, men and women alike, are told are dirty and wrong. To confront these notions in a forum where "anything goes".

It is always a powerful experience. If you are planning on attending expect to laugh until your sides hurt and cry like a baby. February 26th at 7 PM in the Ragan Theater.

To learn more about The Vagina Monologues and V Day visit http://v10.vday.org/www.vday.org.

New article sheds light on Yohannes case

In an excellent piece of investigative journalism, College Times reporter Joseph Laney has uncovered several facts that call the arrest of UVSC student Kidus Yohannes into question.

Nine digits
Yohannes kept in solitary confinement based on numerical discrepancy
(College Times, October 22 2007)

You might recall that Yohannes, an Ethiopian immigrant, was arrested over the summer and charged with falsifying information on a firearms application. At the time of his arrest, which was shortly after the tragic campus shootings at Virginia Tech, his roommates claimed that Yohannes often talked about killing police officers and members of the military.

Laney's article examines the case against him thoroughly, and with evidence this flakey it makes one wonder why Yohannes is still held on $250,000 bail.

UVSC College Times gets new website

Our friends over at the College Times have sloughed off their old website and have just launched www.uvcollegetimes.com.

Not everything is working just yet, but it looks nice and should provide a lot more functionality. The RSS feed isn't operational right now, but we'll add it to our feeds when it is.

One problem is the fact that the name UVCollegeTimes will soon be anachronistic.

UVSC prof gets book deal with Oxford University Press

UVSC's own Brian Birch, a professor in the Philosophy and Humanities department has agreed to a deal with the acclaimed Oxford University Press to publish his book about the relationship between Mormonism and mainstream Christianity.

Professor's book on LDS faith to be published
(College Times, September 10 2007)

Birch is currently on sabbatical and will take the next year finishing his book, entitled Mormonism and Christian Thought and completing revisions. He expects it to be published in late 2008.

UVSC Athletics latest attempt at manufacturing tradition

No doubt students returning to classes tomorrow will be assailed by the numerous hawkers, haranguers, and pitchmen that roam the halls. And once again UVSC Athletics will cry out a desperate plea for attention. And this time there total lack of relevance on the commuter campus will be called "The Unknown Zone".

Now we are not too sure why fans would want to be part of "The Unknown Zone", but what really causes us to scratch our heads is the fact that they will now have to pay for the privilege to root, root, root for the home team.

Fishing for fans (College Times, August 20 2007)

That's right, instead of students not showing up to a free game they will now pay 20 bucks for an all sports pass, and then not show up.

This is hardly the first time that Athletic Director Mike Jacobsen and his crew of flunkies have tried desperately to stay relevant at a school that just doesn't seem to care at all about athletics. It seems every year since the big move to Division I provisional status, the department comes up with some new scheme to pack the McKay. But despite pizza give-aways, free admission with student ID, and the exciting play of Ronnie Price, attendance was better when playing at the junior college level.

But this latest example of ill-conceived public relations may not be completely Athletics fault. For the past 5 years Student Government has shoveled tons student fee dollars onto the sinking ship that is UVSC Athletics. They have invested millions in Athletics, and with time running out on the provisional clock, they now are doing all they can to bail them out.

Will it work? Will students pay for something they never took advantage of when it was free? When will student government and the administration realize that the school might be best served when Athletics goes the way of the Dodo?

Utah schools slip in rankings

Every year US News and World Report puts out their rankings of the best colleges and universities in the country. And every year the state of Utah usually fares pretty well. This year Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, and Westminster College have slipped in their rankings.

BYU, Westminster, Utah rank high on top-colleges list (Deseret Morning News, August 17 2007)

Utah schools go south in national rankings (Salt Lake Tribune, August 17 2007

Kind of fun to see how different the two papers spin the news.

Also interesting, especially to those in UVSC's administration, is the fact that the magazine has changed some of its methodology in determining the rankings. In particular they now disqualify any school that does not require either the ACT/SAT as part of the admission process.

UVSC has been ranked as high as 4th for comprehensive colleges in the West (The comprehensive college category has been renamed the baccalaureate colleges category this year). And while the school has sort of required the ACT as part of admission since 2005, it is unclear if the schools iffy policy (students over 21 or not required to take the ACT) has kept them out of the rankings this year. It might also be the fact that UVSC, in keeping with its open admissions policy, does not use the ACT to determine eligibility, but placement.

Former president of College Republicans changes sides

Former president of UVSC's chapter of the College Republicans Bryan Horn has renounced his GOP affiliation and will be running as a Democrat in next year's state legislature race.

Former UVSC Republican will run for house as Dem (Daily Herald, August 17 2007)

You might remember Horn from his College Republican days, as he was one of the most active presidents the club ever had. To get a taste of some of the positions he once held dear, head on over to the College Times website and type in "Bryan Horn" into the search box.

Perhaps Michael Moore, The Vagina Monologues, and all those left-wing professors have succeeded in brain-washing even the most elect. Maybe Norm Nielsen and Kay Anderson were right all along.

God Speed Bryan Horn! The Green and Gold are pulling for you!

UVSC July Police Beat

Each month The Pipeline will publish the UVSC Police Department's response record for the previous month. You can find an archive of the police beat at http://www.uvsc.edu/police/Police_Beat/index.html.

July 3rd- DUI- Officer Liddiard stopped a vehicle for speeding. The driver was found to be intoxicated. The driver was booked into the Utah County Jail for DUI, Fail to Signal, Stop Sign Violation, and Open Container. The driver also had several warrants out of Salt Lake County.

July 6th- Agency Assist- Officer Sprague responded to the I-15 southbound on ramp on a report of a male having a heart attack. Officer Sprague arrived on scene and found the driver lying on the ground next to his van with his wife and bystanders assisting him. Orem Paramedics arrived on scene and transported the patient to a local hospital for further treatment.

July 7th- Evading, DUI- Officer Sprague attempted to stop a motorcycle for a stop sign and speeding violations. The motorcyclist attempted to evade the officer by running a stop sign and speeding 50mph in a 25mph. The suspect crashed his motorcycle into a fence at 900 S 50 W and ran on foot. After a brief foot pursuit Officer Sprague caught up to the suspect. The suspect attempted to hide behind a bush at a residence. The suspect was ordered out from behind the bush at gunpoint. The suspect refused and was ultimately tased in order to take the suspect into custody. The motorcycle was impounded and the suspect was booked into the Utah County Jail on numerous charges.

July 9th- Disorderly Conduct- A husband and wife were asked to leave the Owlz Baseball game after they began to have a argument.

July 14th- Medical- A 32 year old Fire Academy Student began to experience chest pains after participating in a physical test. The student was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment.

July 15th- Agency Assist- A UVSC Officer was dispatched to WalMart to assist Orem Police with a civil disturbance.

July 16th- Mental Subject- A UVSC Officer came in contact with 68 year old male mental patient. It was determined that a Utah County Sheriff Deputy had stopped the suspect for a traffic offense and told him he could not drive. The patient was found by UVSC Officer Liddiard after being flagged over by a female that was being harassed by the patient. The patient was showing signs of mental illness and was recently released from a psychiatric unit in Salt Lake City. The patient was transported to a local psychiatric unit for further treatment.

July 17th- Illegal Consumption- A 59 year old male was trespassed and cited for drinking alcohol at the bus stop near the round-a-bout.

July 18th- Criminal Trespass- A 59 year old male was again trespassed from UVSC property and Sinclair on 1200 S.

July 18th- Medical- UVSC Police along with Orem Paramedics responded to the Liberal Arts building on a report of a female that had collapsed. The female was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

July 18th- Trespassing- A 45 year old homeless man was trespassed from UVSC property after being found in the Physical Education building.

July 20th- Agency Assist- UVSC Police responded to Sinclair to assist Orem Police with a accident involving injuries.

July 20th- Agency Assist- UVSC Police responded to Center Street to assist Orem Police with traffic control during a power outage.

July 21st- Criminal Trespass- A 16 year old male was cited for driving his personal vehicle on a set of stairs in lot H. Officers were able to obtain a video of the offense from the 16 year old friend's cell phone.

July 21st- Alarm- Officers responded to a alarm at the National Guard building.

July 21st- Agency Assist- Officer Rockwood responded to 1330 S 1100 W to back an Orem Police Officer out with a suspect performing Field Sobriety Tests.

July 21st- Agency Assist- Officer Rockwood responded to College Terrace apartments to back an Orem Officer responding to a noise complaint.

July 21st- Agency Assist- Officer Ross responded to I-15 on a report of a rollover with three people ejected.

July 23rd- Agency Assist- UVSC Police responded to I-15 to assist Utah Highway Patrol with a motorist who had locked herself out of her vehicle with a small child inside.

Speaking of the Campus Police, there is an interview with the school's new Chief over at the College Times

Meet UVSC's new Director of Public Safety (College Times, August 13 2007)

Utah soldier killed in Iraq has UVSC ties

Yesterday Sgt. Nathan Barnes was laid to rest in American Fork. Barnes was killed in Rushdi Mullah, Iraq on July 17. His mother Donna is the herbarium curator in the biology department at UVSC.

Utah soldier laid to rest: Bronze Star, Purple Heart awarded to American Fork sergeant (Salt Lake Tribune, July 29 2007)

Condolences to the Barnes family for their loss.


UPDATE: The College Times has done a nice piece on Donna Barnes and the loss of her son.


UVSC employee loses son in Iraq
 (The College Times, July 30 2007)

How much computer is too much computer

Jason Adkins over at The College Times has just written a fine editorial piece on how much UVSC administrators are spending on their laptops. Adkins used a GRAMA request to get access to purchasing records.

The article brings up a few very good points, and we will let Adkins give you those, but it also shows the need for an independent news source on campus. In the past faculty and administrators have tried to reel in the school paper, and take editorial control away from student editors.

Articles like this exemplify that a vibrant and vital newspaper can serve as a check against potential corruption. Kudos to Adkins for using GRAMA to keep 'em honest. The Pipeline hopes future student journalists will learn how to use this powerful investigative tool.

The life of UVSC faculty

Over the weekend there were two rather interesting articles that look at UVSC faculty. One was an opinion piece in the Salt Lake Tribune and said that university professors are under-worked and over-paid. It is a response to UVSC's own David Keller, who wrote an editorial in last week's Trib calling for funding to match the school's new mission.

Obviously the author hasn't been around UVSC much (he says that it is located in Provo not Orem...a small mistake to be sure, but telling). He talks about his own experience as a professor at a research university, noting that his work day was over by noon, allowing him to enjoy free swimming and cheap golf. A tour of UVSC's, shall we say, spartan facilities would have been helpful before writing such an article.

There is no doubt that some professors, and let's go ahead and say some UVSC professors, take advantage of the unstructured culture common among colleges and universities. You won't find professors punching time clocks, or doing much heavy lifting. But I would say that the vast majority of professors at any college work hard and earn their salaries and any extra accouterments that get thrown their way.

The other article worth mentioning comes from the College Times and deals with the subject of tenure. This isn't a groundbreaking article, but is nice to let students in on an important part of college life. And you can gaurntee that as the school progresses to university status, the issue of tenure will become more heated.