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ASUW radio calls it quits

ksutherb — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:33:19 +0000

By the end of the semester, students will have to look elsewhere if they want to listen to a student-run radio. Based on concerns with consistency, some legal issues and general policies, ASUW executives and ASUW Student Radio General Manager Zach Taylor decided to establish a committee to evaluate the program, Taylor said. Until changes have been implemented, the student radio will not broadcast, starting May 8 and lasting until next school year, he said.

“The basic goal of this committee is [to] slowly build toward something that works. If you continue to do what we’re doing, which is implementing small changes while still trying to run the radio station and having enough of that carry over, it takes a really long time to build the radio station you want,” Taylor said.

The committee, which is still being formed, will hold its first meeting in a week, Taylor said.

ASTEC Coordinator Andrew Hays is heading the committee, with the goal of bringing consistency to the radio, Taylor said.

Hays said he has considered a few ways to increase consistency, but that he is also going to rely on committee investigations to create an infrastructure that could function within ASUW while still utilizing a student presence.

“Right now, I’m more interested in seeing what the students think is correct,” Hays said.

Whether the student radio will remain within ASUW is another consideration, Taylor said.

“I like being ASUW; it gives us a lot of strength,” he said, “but student radio also fits in kind of well with Student Media and I think that partnership, if it could be built, would be a very good partnership for us to have. Pursuing avenues like that is what’s going to be important to that committee.”

The possibility of the student radio joining Student Media is not a new idea.

“We were working with the representatives from the student radio a year ago on whether that was the direction the students wanted it to head, but it never got off the ground,” Student Media Supervisor Cary Berry-Smith said.

In case discussion reached the point of a possible merger, the Student Media board, governed by 11 members, would have to give its approval prior to any new media the department undertakes, she said.

Other considerations, such as feasibility, would also have to be considered by Student Media.

“Any time we add another product, there are resources that will be impacted. We have to consider how the new product fits with our present situation and how it might impact our future operations,” Berry-Smith said. “Adding the radio station could be beneficial or detrimental depending on how it’s done.”

The first step would be communication, she said.

“After initial discussion, then we would need to go back to our respective groups and discuss the possibilities,” she said. “Funding, oversight, resource and personnel issues would need to be resolved.”

Other than organization, the student radio has had to address other concerns, such as legality concerning music played by the student DJs.

“We have an FCC license,” Taylor said. “[But] the FCC is completely different from the groups that monitor music, and so I think we’re kind of figuring out where all that stuff lies. It turns out the university has an ASCAP [American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers] and BMI [Broadcast Music Incorporated] license, but we’re not sure as to what those actually cover, as far as formatting and things like that.”

The student radio received input from entities ranging from KCSU to the university lawyers, with varying answers as the outcome, he said.

“Trying to figure out where exactly that lies is a completely different problem in itself,” he said.

So far the university has not faced any charges, and Taylor said he did not expect that to change.

“Granted, I say that with a hope and a prayer, because I suppose it still could happen,” he said. “Honestly, I personally believe that it won’t happen, but at the same time, we couldn’t keep running that way. I mean in all good consciousness, among other things, it just wasn’t logical to keep doing that.”

Email the author: ddemic@uwyo.edu

ksutherb

Student skeptical on Laramie bus system

ksutherb — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 07:00:00 +0000

It would be excellent if a proposed bus system were successful in Laramie. There would be fewer cars on the road, less wear and tear on the city’s streets and even less pollution.

But I for one am skeptical that a bus system in Laramie is viable. I doubt very many people in town would actually use public transportation.

In a Jan. 12 article titled, “Commissioners agree to support public transit authority,” in The Laramie Boomerang, by Aaron LeClair, the author wrote: “The Albany County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to look into drafting a letter of support to form a public transportation authority that would be the first step in creating a city-county busing system.”

While it would be sometime before such a system would be in place, I have misgivings about any proposed city or county-wide public transportation system.

“It makes sense to get traffic off the street and save money,” Albany County Commissioner Tim Sullivan said in the article.

I question whether a possible bus service will have any noticeable effect on the amount of traffic on the streets of Laramie.

As it stands, the very nature of this state and the long distances between our cities and towns makes Wyoming a car (if not a truck) culture.

The vast majority of Laramie locals own automotive vehicles. The fact that so many UW students come from all of the far-flung communities that make up the state’s population means most of them also have cars. And—while not to be redundant—most Wyoming Technical Institute students who are here have automobiles too.

What I find doubtful is that all of these people are going to opt to ride a bus when they have their cars and trucks at their disposal. Even considering that taking public transportation would save them money, I still don’t seem many of them doing so.

Such a system seems unfeasible in terms of the lack of potential riders for another simple reason; most of those people who are interested in riding a bus are already doing just that.

Those people in Laramie who are most likely to want or need to ride a bus are UW students, and they can already use the TransPark busses. Laramie residents can currently take the P.A.T.S. bus, which already has a set route with a number of stops, to get around town.

That is not to say there are not those in town who don’t own a motor vehicle who could be using the current options for public transportation.

It’s just that these people are choosing not to. They are walking, riding their bicycles or getting rides from other people.

I believe most of those who live their lives absent the ownership of an automobile will continue to get from point A to point B as they currently are—whether or not there’s a new transportation system in town.

So while on the surface it may seem like having a new bus system in Laramie would be a good thing, I question the viability of such an endeavor.

And if a bus system is to be created, I would predict that the busses that will be a part of it will probably be empty most, if not all, the time.

ksutherb

UW works to accommodate all students

Branding Iron — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:02:34 +0000

Many people live with physical, emotional or learning disabilities. The university’s goal is to help in whatever way possible, while still keeping the fundamental tasks of each class the same.

UW offers many different options to help all students. Some of these options include alternative formats for reading assignments, test taking and note taking accommodations, real time captioning, interpreter services and extended time for test taking and assignments.

Chris Primus, the associate director of Student Educational Opportunity, said, “UDSS also has an assistive technology lab with software designed to make use of computers more efficient and possible for students with different disabilities. For example, we have a program called Dragon Naturally Speaking, a voice recognition program designed to respond to voice commands. Students who express themselves better orally than they do when they type may find DNS handy, as will students with hand function limitations.

“We have software that will read back what is written on the screen, a handy tool for students with low vision or blindness, or those with learning disabilities affecting reading.”

UW’s disability program also ensures that every student is evaluated on a case-to-case basis.

Amanda Hearne, a coordinator for the University Disability Support Services, said, “We gather self report information and documentation to decide what accommodations will be most efficient for them and most effective for their academics. So, just because we offer things like alternative format doesn’t mean that every student that comes to UDSS is eligible for that.

“It really depends on their documentation and their self-report says. And we look at that every semester for every class for every student. So, it is very much personalized to each student.”

While these services are readily available, students with disabilities still need to seek the help themselves. “In high school or elementary school, students are sought out with disabilities and they have [Individual Education Plans] created, or 504 plans, and they have a team working with them. Students who come to the University have to self identify. That is the difference between high school and college,” Hearne said.

IEPs are a set of goals a student sets for a year in school. A 504 plan refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and helps make sure students are involved to a certain extent with the normal activities of a school day.

A lot of the services that UDSS offers pertain to students with emotional or learning disabilities, but Hearne said that UW is fortunate to have good facilities for those with disabilities.

“With all the construction on our campus, we’ve seen a lot of increase in accessibility in our buildings, which is really cool. We have a very accessible campus for small town Wyoming,” Hearne said.

Branding Iron

The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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Friday Night Fever to Offer Free Laser Tag

Branding Iron — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:07:34 +0000

To welcome back students, FNF is offering the traditional Friday movie as well as another special treat.

Free laser tag for all UW students will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight on Friday January 14 in the Union Ballroom. Also there will be three showings of “The Social Network” at 6:30, 9 and 11:30 p.m. in the Union Family Room.

“Students should attend FNF events because we put on free, quality entertainment every Friday night,” Lead Student Programmer for FNF Julianne Friesen said.

“We always show first-run movies, which are movies that are still in theaters and have not been released on DVD yet. We try to put on events that Laramie doesn’t have such as laser tag, concerts, comedy shows, and different, unusual activities.”

There is no other opportunity for laser tag in Laramie. Buisness major April Hughes is excited for Laser tag.

“Bring it on, I will go Rambo,” Hughes said. “If Chuck Noris played this Laser tag I think I could beat him.”

All FNF events are made possible by student fees and take place on campus.

“FNF is great if you are looking for something to do and don’t have a lot of money—which is most college students. We aren’t just something for freshmen students to do; FNF is for every full or part time fee-paying student. Every week is completely different and 2011 is packed full with awesome events,” Friesen said.

Some other events that FNF will be hosting this semester include a performance by Dead Prez, a hip hop duo, known for their underground, political, and conscious hip hop style at 9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 21 in the Union Ballroom as part of MLK Days of Dialogue.

UW Idol will have open call auditions on Friday, Jan. 28 in the A&S Auditorium, with the semifinals and finals to follow later in the semester. Students compete for the chance to win prizes. 1st place receives $1,000; 2nd place, $500; 3rd place, $300; and Audience choice Award, $100.

Battle of the Bands, Triple Feature Movie Night and other events will also take place throughout the semester.

Email the author: lkottens@uwyo.edu

Branding Iron

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ASUW Begins Spring with 6 Empty Chairs, Only 2 Execs

Branding Iron — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 06:07:31 +0000

ASUW is starting the spring semester with several empty offices and a few new, big projects.

The office is seeking applicants for ASUW directors of policy planning, marketing and public relations and diversity and student outreach.

Last semester ended with the resignations of CJ Young, director of policy planning, Tyler Neasloney, director of marketing and public relations, and Liz Radar, chief of staff.

Dan Adams, former director of diversity and student outreach, immediately filled the chief of staff position.

Applications are also open for new senators from the Colleges of Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences and Law, according to the ASUW website. These resignations are just three more in a line of resignations that began the first week of last semester.

Applications for executive positions are due at noon Friday, and applications for senators are due at noon Jan. 19.

ASUW is also working to plan the ASUW Capitol Spring Break trip.

The trip is designed to give students a unique opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and see some of the activities behind federal governance.

ASUW recently passed a resolution dedicating funding to the project to subsidize the cost of the trip for the students; however, students may need to pay up to $500 for the experience.

Applications and participation agreements are due by Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.

Later in the semester, ASUW will sponsor Student Fee Day and Elect Her on Feb. 10.

Elect Her is a one-day conference that encourages women to run for student government leadership positions on their campuses.

The conference will help women with campaign strategies, developing a constituency and public speaking.

The event is free and open to students.

Branding Iron

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Theatre and Dance Holding Auditions for Number of Spring Plays, Musicals

Branding Iron — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:05:15 +0000

Back to school usually means buying textbooks, finding classrooms and learning about classes. For students in the Department of Theatre and Dance, the list also includes preparing and auditioning for the spring play and musical.

The department will perform three different shows this semester, and two of the shows host their auditions this week.

All students are welcome to audition, according to department chair Leigh Selting. Information can be found on the call board located outside the theatre and dance office inside the Fine Arts Building.

Monday night auditions were held for “Books on Tape,” a comedy written and directed by UW professor William Missouri Downs.

Theatre and dance student Noelia Antweiler preformed in Downs’ play “Seagulls and a Cherry Tree” last year and is prepared for this round of auditioning. “I definitely spend a lot of time alone so I can practice and prepare,” Antweiler said.

Antweiler also prepares by meeting with her scene partner and being physically and vocally ready for the audition.

Those who auditioned for “Books on Tape” will find out Tuesday if they received the part.

Auditions for “Chicago” will start Wednesday. The musical will be directed by Selting, conducted by Michael Griffith and vocally conducted by Patrick Newell.

Wednesday will consist of the singing audition, and Thursday will be dancing and singing. Callbacks can be expected on Friday.

Anyone interested in auditioning for “Chicago” can find information about the required songs by going to the theatre and dance office, Selting said.

UW student Corey Winfield will also be auditioning for both shows this semester. “It’s always good to have something ready, be it a monologue or a song. Always have something in your head that’s ready to go,” Winfield said. “That way you’re not tripping or stumbling over your words, even if it’s a spur of the moment ‘read this’-type audition.”

“Chicago” has been preformed on Broadway and has won six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy award.

Branding Iron

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Buchanan Honored for Alcohol Awareness

Branding Iron — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:00:23 +0000

UW president Tom Buchanan was honored Friday with the Presidential Leadership Award from Outside the Classroom and United Educators.

The award is given to a president who exemplifies leadership to create a campus environment where learning and campus life are not undermined by the misuse of alcohol, according to Outside the Classroom and United Educators.

“The award is managed by Outside the Classroom and United Educators. They are passionate about harm reduction and alcohol awareness so we can maximize the success of students nationally,” Sara Axelson, vice president of student affairs, said.

Nominators were asked to talk about how societal conditions drive alcohol use and the magnitude of the alcohol-related problems in universities.

Buchanan cited in his acceptance speech that, at UW, these examples are easy to find because 25 percent of students in Wyoming have reported drinking before the age of 13 and 72 percent of arrests and citations from the UW Police Department involve alcohol.

“Across the nation, college and university presidents have to face the fact that young people coming to the university are already experienced with alcohol,” he said.

Nominators were also asked to talk about how their president has taken an active stand on alcohol and made prevention of its misuse a priority for their institution, as well as created new initiatives to change student norms away from alcohol use.

“President Buchanan’s commitment to addressing alcohol issues and success in decreasing both alcohol use and its adverse effects are models for the entire higher education community,” Janice Abraham, CEO of United Educators, said in a press release.

Buchanan has implemented alternative late night programs for students, mandatory online alcohol education and AWARE, which is a nationally recognized alcohol education and intervention program.

He is also the leader of the A-Team, a coalition of campus and community members to change campus, local and state laws and policies surrounding alcohol.

According to a press release from Outside the Classroom and United Educators, from 2007 to 2009, student binge drinking dropped by 24 percent, in part because of Buchanan’s work.

There was also a 29 percent decrease in students reporting alcohol interfering with academics and a 40 percent decrease in drunk driving, according to the release.

“It’s really very rare for you to see something like what is happening here at the University of Wyoming,” Brandon Busteed, founder and CEO of Outside the Classroom, said.

“You have not only many staff across the university start to get involved in a very important way, but you also see a very committed and dedicated university president who doesn’t just talk the talk but is a very on-the-point leader in espousing his belief that this is an important issue to address,” he said.

“The kind words are humbling, but this is an award for the university. It is not an award for me, and it is an award for the hard work of our faculty, our staff and of our students,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan was given $20,000 for the university, which he dedicated for use by the AWARE program.

Branding Iron

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WyoOne I.D. cards to be redesigned for Spring 2011, will include emergency contact info

codyconnor — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:25:13 +0000

Starting this spring, the WyoOne identification cards all students receive will feature a new design. ASUW and the WyoOne office planned and executed the redesign in about three weeks, Liz Rader, ASUW chief of staff, said.

The new design affects the back of the I.D. and will include six phone numbers, which “will help students if they are away from other resources,” Lynne Swearingen, WyoOne I.D. manager, said.

The numbers are contacts for the Wyoming Union Info Desk, WYDOT Road Conditions, ASUW, UW Dean of Students, SafeRide and UW Police. Another new element will be the ASUW logo. The re-design was partly funded through $300 business discretionary funds, according to Rader.

The committee that decided what would be chosen to be displayed on the back included ASUW president Cameron Nazminia, vice president Liz Brown, Rader, adviser Matt Caires and dean of students Dave Cozzens, Nazminia said.

Some of the groups that were left out included Night Owl, I.D. Office, Residence Life and Dining, Student Health, Admissions, Financial Aid and Registrars Office, according to Rader.

The reason for picking the final six numbers were space restrictions and that the excluded services can be reached through the numbers included, such as the Wyoming Union Info Desk, she said.

“One more good [number to include] would have been a crisis hotline, such as a suicide prevention hotline.”

Rader, along with Nazminia and Brown, were the driving force behind the re-design this semester and, along with good timing, lead the swift implementation. “Our supplies were running low, so it was the time to order new card stock,” Swearing said, explaining why the I.D.s are being changed in the middle of the school year.

She also said that students who already own a WyoOne I.D. will not have to buy a new one, as well as “no [additional] charges for the cards.”

Swearing said she appreciates the convenience and safety ideas students brought to her office. “ASUW is willing to work with us and we with them. It is good for us to work with students,” she said.

The initial idea for the re-design came from Rader. “Originally, it was Liz [Rader’s] idea,” Swearing said. “I went to GASCA, a student conference at Texas A&M … and that’s where I got the idea for the I.D. cards,” Rader said. “I didn’t initially do it, since I didn’t have the contacts.”

Email: David Demic

codyconnor

2 ASUW execs., SafeRide coordinator resign

codyconnor — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:09:02 +0000

Recent shakeups within the ASUW executive branch have led to the resignations of two executives.

Unrelated to the executive resignations, Michael Pule, coordinator of SafeRide, also resigned last week. Pule was not available for comment on his reason for leaving.RECENT

Tyler Neasloney, a senior marketing major who served as the director of public relations and marketing during the 2009-2010 school year and again this fall, and CJ Young, a senior in criminal justice who also served in both this year’s and last year’s executive cabinet, both resigned last week.

Neither could be reached for comment regarding the resignations, ASUW president Cameron Nazminia cited, “Basic fundamental, philosophical differences between the two executives and the administration about what student government should and should not be focusing on.”

“We are simply going in a different direction,” Nazminia said.

ASUW vice president Liz Brown also commented on the resignations, saying that they were voluntary, and that the contributions that both Young and Nealsoney provided to ASUW were appreciated, and that they will be missed.

Brown said issues including “independent motivation”, and “production output levels” were factors involved in Young and Nealsoney’s decisions to resign.

While the former executives reportedly resigned out of their own volition, a number of ASUW senators and volunteers have expressed concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding the matter.

Chief among these concerns has been a question as to whether Young and Nealsoney were given the choice to resign or face termination.

Brown said that these were only rumors.

Although a number of ASUW senators did comment off the record to the BI regarding the resignations, none were willing to provide further details.

ASUW has struggled with maintaining a consistent executive branch this semester, with the resignation of former director of diversity and student outreach Paul Weaver earlier this year, as well as the resignations of many senators in the legislative branch.

Email: Bob Kubichek

codyconnor

Student Activities Council to continue Thursday Film Series next semester

codyconnor — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 05:26:41 +0000

The Student Activities Council (SAC) cancelled its usual Thursday night film this week in preparation for the end of the semester. However, due to the popularity of the SAC Film Series this year, the films will resume next semester.

The films hosted by SAC are unique from those shown at Friday Night Fever because the Thursday films are usually foreign films, Indy films, or just those that never came to a theatre in Laramie.

“Since the Film Series is in its first year, we are always looking for input from students and the community on how to make this program even better,” said SAC representative, Stephanie Long. “The Student Activities Council is made up of volunteer students who meet weekly to help bring diverse forms of entertainment to the student body, and anyone can join.”

Films next semester will begin with Black Swan staring Natalie Portman at 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 in the Education Auditorium. Just like this semester, films will show on the second Thursday of every month.

SAC film events are free for both students and members of the community. SAC meets every Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. in the Thunder Basin Room in the basement of the Union.

“Anyone is welcome and encouraged to stop by and give their input for new and ongoing programs sponsored by SAC,” said Long. The films are put on by the Film Committee, a division of SAC.

For more information or to sign up for the SAC email list, please contact Stephanie Long at shanson5@uwyo.edu.

Students can stop by the SAC information table every Wednesday in the Union breezeway.

Email: Cali Cravens