Campus and Community Briefs
Geology rocks at USU open house
Rock, mineral and fossil enthusiasts of all ages are invited to Rock and Fossil Day at Utah State University Saturday. Hosted by USU’s geology department, the free event will be held from 10 a.m. until noon in the Geology building at the northeast corner of the Quad.
“This is a bi-annual event to showcase geological studies and research at Utah State and introduce young people to geology,” said Tom Lachmar, associate professor of geology and event organizer. “We’ll have exhibits to interest adults as well as children.”
The gathering features hands-on examination of fossils, rocks and minerals; satellite maps; microscopic views of rocks and minerals; ground water displays; demonstrations of how to identify minerals with X-ray diffraction; and a traveling exhibit from the Utah Museum of Natural History.
“We also invite visitors to bring their own mystery rocks, fossils and minerals and have them identified by our students during the open house,” Lachmar said.
For more information, contact the geology department at 797-1273.
Pride light to honor academics Monday
To demonstrate pride in the many accomplishments of Utah State University faculty, staff and students, the Utah State Aggie Blue Pride Light will be turned on Monday, and the Carillon Bells will ring at 1:05 p.m.
Honorees this quarter are Utah State Cache County Extension Educator Hector Mendiola; Debra Spielmaker, USU Ag in the Classroom director; and the National Science Foundation Advance Grant Team.
Mendiola was given an award from the Mexican government for his work with Utah’s Latin communities.
Spielmaker, the Utah State Ag in the Classroom director, is reaching thousands of students and teachers across the country with the new Ag in the Classroom national Web site that was reviewed and recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The National Science Foundation Advance Grant Team is working to improve the climate for women at USU. Ronda Callister, a management and human resources professor in the College of Business, is the principal investigator for the grant.
The rest of the team includes Christine Hult, English department professor and associate dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; James Powell, mathematics and statistics associate professor; Kimberly Sullivan, associate professor of biology; and Christine Hailey, assistant dean for the College of Engineering and associate vice provost for women’s issues.
Every four months the university designates an Aggie Blue Pride Light night to recognize individuals for outstanding achievements.
Wind orchestra presents concert
The Utah State University Wind Orchestra will present its fall concert Oct. 31, in the Kent Concert Hall. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and includes an evening of all-American music. Admission for the event is $5 for adults and is $10 for a family. USU and school music students will be admitted at no cost.
The concert includes the music of American composers from the 20th century, beginning with Aaron Copland (Outdoor Overture) and continues with Vincent Persichetti’s 1951 six-movement Divertimento, opus 42. The program continues with the David Gillingham programmatic memorial to the fallen soldiers of Vietnam, Heroes, Lost and Fallen, followed by the United States Marine Corps salute, Esprit de Corps, by Robert Jager.
The Utah State Bands’ upcoming schedule includes the annual “Sounds of the Stadium” marching band concert Nov. 22 and the holiday concert Dec. 7.