Utah agencies prepare for the “big flood”

Posted on April 21, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia video about Salt Lake County’s flood preparations.

Story and multimedia by ROBERT CALLISTER

Salt Lake County Flood Control is preparing for the potential upcoming flood season due to last year’s heavy flooding. The floods resulted in millions of dollars of damage and the removal of a 20-foot-long bridge in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Experts from Flood Control Services say the levee failure was due to cracks and spillage from unattended creeks.

Salt Lake County Flood Control is preparing for the potential upcoming flood season. Politicians, police and fire authorities and county safety officials met today to coordinate efforts for this year’s possible flooding.

Nearly $3 million were appropriated to the state’s Flood Control and Emergency Services during this year’s legislative session to prepare for and prevent possible flood damage.

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon believes county officials will ready and have learned from 2010’s experience.

“Mother nature will ultimately decide what the flooding will be like this season,” he said. “But we have learned from last year and we want to be prepared. We will be prepared.”

Due to the rising concern and last year’s damage, the county currently has over 5,000 sandbags filled on pallets and plans to have 10,000 by the end of this month. It also has over 400 tons of large, angular rocks (rip rap) stockpiled and ready for distribution.

Scott Baird is the director of Salt Lake County Flood Control and Engineering. He is encouraged by the cooperation among the various active organizations.

“The most significant change of this year from last is the preparation and coordination system among the counties and local safety organizations,” he said.

Last year, the Little Cottonwood Creek flooded over its banks, causing millions of dollars of damage to surrounding residential areas. Over 1,500 volunteers helped by laying down sandbags to control eroded areas.

City officials are worries that this year’s weather patterns are much like that of last year’s. Intense snow storms, especially in the mountain regions, followed by rapid warming caused last year’s flooding. Officials say this year could possibly produce similar snow-melt patterns.

Baird believes there has been an adequate amount of work done to repair affected areas.

“We have done repair work to the channel,” he said. “We have got about $2 million of repair work that has gone in so far. With all of the resources we have stockpiled over the few months, there is not doubt we will be ready.”

Even though there were sizeable budget cuts this legislative session, there was still money appropriated to fund this moderately expensive project. This money has been used to coordinate efforts to gather thousands of tons of supplies and prepare heavy machinery.

Salt Lake County’s Flood Control and Operations Divisions have inventoried numerous pieces of heavy equipment, including back hoes, track hoes and more than 60 trucks available for hauling.

“We have been coordinating with surrounding cities to get their inventory of resources that we can use to augment our resources. On top of that we have contracts with contractors who can haul mobilized equipment and bring in materials.”

Michael Jensen, chief for the SLCO Fire Department, said they learned from the devastating floods of ‘83 and are ready for this year.

“It is night and day from the intense floods of 1983 and right now. We will be ready for whatever mother nature has to throw at us.”

County officials have advised citizens to be specifically cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. Also, the instructed parents to never allow children to play around high water, storm drains, viaducts, or arroyos.

Additional safety tip information can be found in the Utah Department of Public Safety website.

Filed under: Environment, Politics, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

Tuition increase: Parents worry about narrowing education opportunities

Posted on April 21, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia video about parent’s concerns about rising tuition costs.

Story and multimedia by ARMIN HAMZA

A college degree just keeps getting more difficult to get, and more expensive for the students and parents.

Parents are worried their child will not have the opportunity to go to college because of tuition hikes at all colleges and universities, which mean degrees will be followed by more debt. One of the reasons parents are worried is that the Legislature in Utah, which decides how much of the tuition load is paid from taxpayer money, has cut state school funding in recent years.

This year’s budget cutting, the third year of cuts that legislators blame on the recession, resulted in student tuition increases ranging from 5 to 11.8 percent at the various institutions. Still Utah tuition is reasonable when compared to other states.  For example, last year South Carolina charged students $9,156, which is more than double the tuition students paid in Utah. Legislators must realize they are forcing some future students out of college, and that means a less educated workforce, something that will hurt the economy in the future.

“I am worried my child won’t be able to go to college because the way the tuition keeps rising, I don’t think I will be able to afford paying for him to get through school,” said Norma Rodriguez, parent of a sophomore student at West High School. “The recession hit us really hard so my son will have to find a way to pay for his education and now the tuition increase is not helping him.”

The cost of attending the University of Utah will go up another 7.8 percent next year under tuition hikes approved in March by the Utah Board of Regents, adding another $38 million to students’ share of running the state’s eight public colleges and universities.

According to higheredutah.org, tuition at Utah System of Higher Education institutions is approved in two tiers: Tier I tuition is an increase applied equally system wide to assist institutions in covering different needs related to all institutions. The second tier comes as a recommendation from institution presidents only after discussion with Boards of Trustees and student hearings, as a means of covering institutional priorities and initiatives. The State Board of Regents must also approve Tier II tuition.

Tuition has more than doubled over the past decade. For example, in 1990 the tuition at the University of Utah was $1,884 per year. Now the tuition for a whole year is $6,274. Rising costs could become an obstacle to the parents’ goal to send their children to college. Parents who are not able to pay for their children’s education will have to force them to work while they are going to school in order to be able to afford it.

“I have always told my son that I will help him pay for college, but I am not sure if I can do that now,” Rodriguez said. “It makes me sad that I won’t be able to help him.”

“We understand that reasonable increases are going to happen, but we want to see the Legislature make that investment,” said Phil Johnson, graduate student at the University of Utah. “As the increases continue year after year, it’s hard to justify that to parents of students, so it will definitely also limit the ability of the state to grow economically.”

While a university education is less costly here than in other states, Utah’s community college experience is not that cheap either. According to higheredutah.org, the taxpayers’ share of running the state’s colleges and universities has fallen from 75 to 58 percent in recent years, with tuition increases making up the difference in recent years. This is also not helping parents that want their child to go to community college first.

“We need to reverse that trend so that all of our institutions remain affordable, particularly at the community college level. We can’t continue to cover increasing costs with tuition hikes,” said Blake Carling, parent of a senior student at East High School. “I will suggest to my daughter to attend community college first because it is at least a little cheaper even though she has the grades to go to schools such as the University of Utah.”

According to higheredutah.org, University of Utah tuition will raise $423, or 7.8 percent, including required fees. Salt Lake Community College will see the smallest increase, totaling $120, or 5 percent.

Even with rising costs, Utah students graduate with the lowest amount of debt, about $13,000 on average, and have the lowest student loan default rates because most students have a job while they are going to school. The increasing cost of college is also forcing many students to postpone graduation so they can work and pay off the debt they own on education already. Another reason why students are forced to work is because they are not able to get help from their parents they used to get.

“If you increase tuition you’ll lose students,” Carling said. “We want more educated people because it benefits everyone.”

According to higheredutah.org, the rise in tuition does not go well for Utah’s 10-year higher education plan, which envisions growing college enrollments by more than 100,000 by 2020.

State wide, the average total tuition increase for an undergraduate Utah resident is about 7.5 percent, or $247 per semester, in annual tuition and fees for 15 credit hours. The increase for 12 credit hours will be $211 per semester. The average total increase for a non-resident in Utah will also be 7.5 percent, or $783 per semester.

“Since 2008, Utah’s colleges and universities have faced yearly budget cuts now totaling roughly 14 percent,” said William Sederburg, commissioner of higher education. “For years our institutions have had to consistently do more with less, now in order to protect access and quality it is necessary that some of the costs will have to be passed along to students in the form of higher tuition.”

Commissioner Sederburg believes, that tuition increases would have been much higher if the Legislature had approved an original 7 percent cut rather than the 2.5 percent they decided on earlier this month.

“State support for our colleges and universities has been steadily declining over recent years,” said David Jordan, Board of Regents Chair. “We need to reverse that trend so that all of our institutions remain affordable, particularly at the community college level. We can’t continue to cover increasing costs with tuition hikes.”

Filed under: Education, Politics, Utah's Economy | 1 Comment »

Community-based art education gives children an edge in the classroom

Posted on April 21, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia interview with Dr. Beth Krensky about her work at the Pioneer Craft House.

Story and multimedia by MICHAEL OMAN

In South Salt Lake, parents are using community-based art education to give their children an upper hand in the classroom. Studies suggest such programs are actually a success.

A recent Dan Jones study concluded that such programs help improve academic performance overall. “They do better in math; they do better in science, history, when arts are woven into the curriculum,” Lisa Cluff, the director of Friends of Art Works for Kids, told KSL.

Utah hosts a number of after-school programs dedicated to introducing youth to the arts. The good news is that many of these programs slipped past state legislators’ guillotine and will receive funding for at least another year.

For seven years now Dr. Beth Krensly’s students, from the University of Utah, have facilitated a program she calls, “Art in the Community.” Each year her students design and teach various forms of art to participating elementary-aged youth through the Pioneer Craft House. Typically there are three classes children may choose from: mosaics, ceramics, and, for the last two years, animation. At the end of a five-week period the class hosts an opening to present the completed projects to the community.

“It gives them an opportunity to get exposed to a lot of different things that they probably wouldn’t have known,” said Myrna Clark, who enrolled her then 9-year-old son William in a pinhole photography class a few years back. She pointed out that many children do in fact have art classes during normal school hours. To her this usually means just doodling pictures with crayons or paint. That’s what made Krensky’s program stand out. It goes beyond the ordinary art class permitting children to work with a variety of materials.

In fact, Myrna Clark noted, not only was her son exposed to a new form of art, he had to build his camera from scratch. “I’m sure he never would have known how to put together a camera with a box of oatmeal,” she said. Constructing his own camera provided him with knowledge about the inner mechanics of a camera.

Innovation is the key skill classes like this teach, she said. “You can totally use different stuff other than going and buying a Canon for 400 or 500 bucks.”

Krensky explained that innovative thinking is indeed one of the key ingredients to a successful community art project. Participants learn to “try something, be willing to fail and then try it again and be creative in addressing something in an engaged kind of way,” she said. “I think that idea of stepping into the realm of being able to fail is very important for creativity and for invention.”

The Clark family said what kids learn through these programs goes far beyond endowing its students with creative ability. “Today most kids only know about digital cameras,” said Bill Clark, William’s father. “The concept of where this came from and what it’s all about, they have no idea.”

Bill Clark said he likes the idea that Krensky’s program encompasses every aspect of education. It may be an art class but through this class his son also gained a thorough history lesson. “You can see it in a different light. […] And you can appreciate the art of the past,” he said.

“Collectively, you can put all your core classes into an art project,” Myrna Clark added. With the photography class kids also learned how to take measurements and how to properly prepare the chemical used to develop the photos, adding both a math and science aspect she said.

“It was fun,” William continued, “just to go into the dark room and process them.”

In addition, it’s also a place of possibility.

Audrey Livingston, a University of Utah student facilitating the mosaics class this semester,  said, “I think that this environment gives a great opportunity to the children to learn about art in particular but also it is a great opportunity for us as students at the University of Utah to get them excited about going to college and continuing their education.”

There are other programs similar to Krensky’s in Utah. The Beverly Taylor Sorenson Art Learning Program (BTS) is a program that works with 56 schools statewide. As explained on the Davis School District website, its goal is to integrate all varying fields of study into a single art class.

Despite all the good programs like BTS and Krensky’s “Art in the Community” class do, it can be a struggle to find funding. BTS faced the possibility of budget cuts state legislators proposed in early February as a remedy to the $313 million shortfall. Luckily, that’s no longer the case. Lawmakers decided not to make any cuts to the program.

It’s a bigger struggle for Krensky’s class, however. The number of students enrolling in the course determines the class budget. This means anywhere between $400 and $1200 each year she teaches the course. “This needs to cover all of the art materials […] and paying mentor artists,” she said. To cover the art materials alone is a minimum of $600.

University policy prohibits using class funds to purchase food provided at the event’s opening and to pay the artist mentors, forcing the class to seek additional outside funding. “The year-to-year looking for additional funds makes the course difficult to teach.” Krensky said. “We often rely on donated materials and I write additional grants to support mentor artists.”

Seeking outside support isn’t easy. During a fundraiser earlier this month on the university campus, the class outreach group only managed to raise $30. In addition, the group hoped to receive donations from local bakeries as a thank you to those donating. That effort fell through. Many backed out at the last minute needing more time to fill the order.

The Clarks say it would be devastating if the course were to disappear. They say the exposure to university students children receive through Krensky’s class is priceless. “Yeah, I can grab a group of kids from junior high and walk around the U of U but they see them once and then they come back,” Myrna Clark said. On the other hand, programs like Krensky’s last for several weeks she said, giving children repeated exposure to university students.

“I think it’s great that he had exposure to University of Utah students who have a passion for what they do,” Bill Clark added.

Reflecting on his experience, William, now 12, has one message to the university: “It’s one of their best programs and just continue it on as long as they can. Maybe longer.”

Filed under: Arts, Entertainment, Culture, Education, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

Ultimate volunteers: Youth baseball league survives with volunteer efforts

Posted on April 21, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia video about Farmington Baseball League President John Wendt.

Story and multimedia by JORDON CAHOON

What makes one person willing to do what others are not? It’s hard enough to make someone take a well paying job that isn’t appealing. Imagine just how hard it is to make someone volunteer for a stressful, non-paying position, especially in a down economy. This is a position where the only acknowledgement you will receive is for what you haven’t done or what you did to benefit yourself and your family. Sounds like a winner right?

John Wendt is the volunteer president of the Farmington Area Baseball League, also known as FABL, and has been now for the past three years.

“I’d be lying if I told you it was easy,” Wendt said, “but there is some satisfaction that comes from knowing I can give back, and help kids today play ball.”

The league is led each season by a group of parents that are elected by their peers for the positions of league President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Umpire Director. All of these positions are unpaid and take quite a toll on the members’ time.

“I kind of fell into the role of president,” said Wendt, “we had attended a leadership meeting where the former President and Vice, both announced they were going to resign.”

Wendt, having two young boys ages three and six at the time, both just entering the league, was a perfect candidate for FABL’s next President. After a few hours of pointing out how and why someone else would make a good president, all that had attended the meeting had come to agree that Wendt would take over the following year as the next league president.

“To be honest I didn’t know what I had just got myself and family into,” Wendt said. “Not to mention that I had no idea of what I was going to do and how I was going to do it.”

FABL began in 1991, when a group of parents were unhappy with the way their city-ran league was being led. They put together the money and organized a self-sustaining league that over the past twenty years has seen a meteoric rise, becoming and maintaining the standing of one of the top leagues in PONY Baseball since 2000.

“The parents just weren’t happy with what was and wasn’t getting done,” said Gaylen Perry, former FABL vice president, “so the parents took over and the league has never looked back.”

FABL has its opening ceremonies April 16, which means there is a lot to get done in short time leading up to the events. With the weather the way it’s been this year, the task of getting the fields prepared for opening day is becoming even more time consuming for these volunteer parents.

“There were weeks where I spent a good 40 plus hours working on the fields just trying to get them going,” Perry said. “Between leveling out the fields, to building new dugouts, even just getting rid of the water to make it playable is a lot of work.”

Wendt and his son have been spending a few hours each day, after school, work, and practice to get the fields prepped for the events on Saturday.

“It’s kind of amazing how the whole thing just comes together, for a long while it just looks and feels like you are getting nowhere,” Wendt said.  “Then, next thing you know, you are laying chalk down and marking your batter’s box and ready to play ball. “

Aside from just trying to get the fields ready for opening night, Wendt and his wife, Becky, spend a considerable amount of time preparing for the season and planning out concessions and fundraisers to help generate some revenue for the league.

“We’re going to have a radar-gun-challenge, people from the Salt Lake Bee’s, our own FABL merchandise, as well as our concession stand running for opening day.” Becky Wendt said. “The whole process of planning it out has been a lot of work but should turn out worth it in the end.”

The Wendt family as a whole is generally at the fields five nights a week, whether playing in games or not. The total amount of hours worked each week by the family is on average 60 hours between John, Becky and their eldest son.

“Sure other places do it different and that may in fact be easier,” Wendt Said, “but this gives you a sense of ownership and accomplishment. Plus at the end of the day hanging out at the ball park isn’t that bad of a place to be anyways.”

Volunteering that much time doesn’t come easy, let alone in an economy like the one we’ve seen the past few years. Running a league and having to field the complaints of what isn’t going well and what should be fixed, and little Joey’s coach doesn’t play him enough, is sure to take a toll on someone. How much longer is can or will someone continue holding the torch?

“The former president was here for quite a while and did some really good things,” Wendt said. “I’ll probably stick around as long as my kids are playing or wanting to play in the league, unless someone else decides they want to step in and run it.”

For a league built and maintained by volunteers, it’s not easy to find the time and funding to keep a league running as smoothly as FABL does. Despite a poor economy, so few volunteers, and having to work themselves, they get it done.

“The league has taken off and seemed to be able to carry itself,” Wendt said, “sure it would be easier if we could have some positions paid, but when it comes down to it we almost always are ready for the games.”

Filed under: Organizations, Sports & Recreation, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

Pac 12 change worries some athletes

Posted on April 14, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia piece on the Pac 10 change.

Story and multimedia by JANITA BADON

The University of Utah is honored to join the PAC 10.  Along with Colorado University, the University of Utah will be joining what is now known as the PAC-10 in the fall of 2011.  They will be one of 12 schools in the conference, which will soon to be known as the PAC 12.  While most seem happy with the decision, it is not smiles for everyone.

Most people take pride in the fact that the athletes at the University of Utah are going to be moving up into this dominating conference. Many talk about how much more money they’ll be receiving and how it’s going to be better for the football team, but it’s not the same thought for all the other varsity teams at the U.

Allison Gida is a freshman on the women’s track team at the University of Utah, and she’s worried about the competition and changes in her scholarship opporutnities.

“I just don’t understand this,” Gida said. “I came into this conference with confidence and understanding that I would compete in front of my family and dominate my competition at the MWC level. Since I only have half my scholarship paid for, I might be stuck at that same amount instead of receiving more based on my performance in the MWC.”

Gida wasn’t the only person with concerns about this sudden change; fans are also worried about how the running Utes will match up to the competition in the PAC 10 conference.

“Yea, there’s more money involved, but am I going to be as entertained as I’ve been in the past?” Jill Roberts a member of the Crimson Club said. “Ticket prices are going up, and I’m fine with that, but will it all be worth it?”

Questions like Roberts’ circulate the campus, but only time can tell.

With all these mixed emotions on campus, it’s important to note some athletes have actually been waiting anxiously for this change. The football team has dominated the MWC in recent years. The basketball teams have been very successful in their years of being in this conference. The volleyball team has a great resume as well, and many of its members simply thought it was perfect timing for a change.

Brittany Knighton, a freshmen on the women’s basketball team, is looking forward to going home to Oregon and playing in front of her loved ones. She also believes in her varsity teams here at the U, and thinks they can compete with the best of the best.

“I’m ready to just compete, I’m a competitor, so whoever I’m thrown upon I’ll be ready to play.” Knighton said. “I know going home will be fun, especially playing against schools that recruited you.”

University officials have said that joining the PAC 10 is going to add to the college experience for student athletes and non-student athletes alike. Student-athletes will enjoy competition at the highest level, while non-student athletes will enjoy being grouped together with academic institutions known around the world like Stanford and Cal-Berkeley.  Since the University of Utah switched conferences, ticket sales are going up and the student body is expanding on campus.

According to local members of the Crimson Club, the University of Utah athletics budget is currently at $25-$30 million dollars. But the budget for most PAC 10 schools is more than $40 million dollars, so this deficit will have to be made up in order for Utah’s teams to compete with the other PAC 12 schools.

Many schools budgets vary depending on their gross revenues and where they are located.  USC has a budget of $76 million and Stanford is right behind them with a $75 million budget.  While Utah is much lower right now, they will receive more money in the future from ticket sales and television revenue.

“The addition of the University of Utah as the conferences 12th member continues to strengthen the PAC 10’s goals of becoming the country’s leader in college athletics,” Larry Scott the commissioner of the new PAC 12 said. “The University of Utah is a great academic and athletic fit, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the PAC 10.”

While some student athletes still question the move, the president of the university is fully behind the change.

“I have no doubt that, speaking for the entire Utah family, we could not be more pleased to accept this invitation to join the PAC 10,” Micheal Young said. “The University of Utah will be a great contributor to an already great conference and this will be a tremendous in both academically and athletically for the University.”

Filed under: Education, Sports & Recreation, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

Student programming a victim of budget cuts

Posted on April 14, 2011 by comm5775

Story by JANITA BADON

Cotton candy machines, face painting, photo booths, and every other activity that you could enjoy with your friends. Bringing the student base together, meeting new people—all sounds fun, but it could be a victim of budget cuts.

Crimson Nights is a place where a young adult could simply be a kid again.

Last Friday was the first Crimson Nights in about four months. Crimson Nights is a school dance put on by the student body that’s filled with activities for the students to enjoy. Every Crimson Nights is themed and just built for the students to come out and enjoy. But lately there hasn’t been that many Crimson Nights to go to, and the students at the University of Utah are worried.

Junior Iwalani Rodgruies has been attending the University of Utah for three years now and claims she has never went this many months without Crimson Nights.

“When we went on our Crimson drought, I felt like something was missing,” Rodgriues said. “I kept asking people when the next Crimson Nights is.”

People at the University of Utah really missed Crimson Nights, and noticed differences from previous years than the times now.

“When you’re at a certain place for three years, of course you’ll notice differences,” Rodgriues said. “But I thought it would simply be differences and changes for the better. But speaking about Crimson, its gotten worse.”

With fewer activities Crimson Nights still continues, but only so often. Jamie Matteiu, a junior at the University of Utah, wants Crimson Nights to continue but is worried about the budget that the University of Utah has to work with.

“We love putting on Crimson Nights but we like doing other events as well,” Matteiu said “ Crimson is our best event but if we spend all the money at one Crimson Nights, than we don’t have enough for more than Crimson.”

With the budget being cut by one-fourth, the future for Crimson doesn’t look too bright.

“That’s when we have to think, do we have less Crimson Nights during the year and more activities during it, or do we have like three a year, with the best activities any event can offer,” Matteiu said.

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Utah venues and bands hope 2011 will be a better year for live, local music

Posted on April 12, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a video of Utah’s live music scene.

Story and video by HELEN COX

Hard times have presented themselves, but Salt Lake City’s performing hard rock bands hope 2011 will be much more promising than 2010.

For decades Utah’s counterculture has loved and supported heavy, aggressive music. This is evidenced by a multitude of local bands, consumer support of the Heavy Metal Shop since 1987 and the recent re-opening of Raunch Records, the local punk and metal store that was popular during the eighties and nineties.

Local musicians and venue workers say times have been tough for Salt Lake City’s comparatively small nightlife since the recession set in. In regards to live performance turnouts in Utah’s underground music scene, 2010 was particularly difficult. But many are seeing changes happening already in 2011.

Jeremy Sundeaus, manager of Burt’s Tiki Lounge, has undoubtedly seen the economy’s effects on the venue that has employed him for more than a decade. Burt’s, which is often described as the CBGB of Salt Lake City, is a live music mecca. With cheap cover charges, cheap drinks and specializing in punk, hardcore, stoner rock, metal and rockabilly, the bar and venue has been in business for nearly 20 years ­– long enough to see a number of highs and lows.

“In the past year-and-a-half or so, it’s been really hard to get people out to shows. Some shows that I thought would be no-brainers, nobody shows up for. And sometimes you get lucky and have a good show,” Sundeaus said. “In the past month or two, it’s actually started to pick up – it kind of feels like old Burt’s again. I feel like maybe the economy’s taking a turn.”

Not only is Sundeaus pleased 2011 has started out well for his venue, he is also excited to see a lot of support for his band Muckraker and the stoner rock genre itself – a hybrid of psychedelic rock, blues rock and doom metal – which has become quite popular in Salt Lake City.

Bassist Dave Jones of locally-based, stoner rock groups oldtimer and SubRosa has also noticed the same economic struggles and successes in Salt Lake’s live music industry.

“I don’t know exactly what has happened, but just in January I started noticing a difference where people were coming out to more shows,” Jones said. “Maybe it’s due to weather, maybe it’s tax refund season and people are feeling like spending some cash – I’m really not sure.”

Jones’ bands play at bar venues like Burt’s on a regular basis, oldtimer’s guitarist even works there, but they can also be found gigging at more do-it-yourself (DIY) types of shows. This is an alternative idea that has recently become more popular in Salt Lake City, particularly at locations such as Salt Lake Recording Service and Raunch Records.

Brad McCarley opened Salt Lake Recording Service three-and-a-half years ago. With a love for music and a passion for recording bands, he said he had a goal of making “solid recordings of some of the great local music we have in town.” Salt Lake Recording Service has recorded over 110 bands to date.

What McCarley did not know initially was that his studio would soon double as somewhat of an underground venue. About a year after opening, Jones suggested having a show there. It was successful, and similar small performances have continued to occur ever since. Shows at Salt Lake Recording Service are free to attend, with a recommended donation. This type of setup gives bands a place to play, and the donations benefit the studio and touring bands.

“Having shows is mostly about keeping the music going, but it’s not what we normally do here,” said McCarley, who is focused on recording, but happy to have a symbiotic relationship with bands looking for a place to play.

Many locals like this type of relationship too, and perhaps it is the answer to getting more people out to see live bands.

“It’s very comfortable, it’s DIY, and everybody pulls together as a community to throw shows and help each other out,” said Alex Ruiz, guitarist and vocalist of doom metal/crust punk band, Doomed to Extinction.

As an unemployed musician, Ruiz has felt the harsh blows of the recession. Still, he remains optimistic for local music because of people’s willingness to collaborate through the tough times.

“It’s just honest people having a good time,” Ruiz said. “I think that’s all that matters.”

In fact, most musicians seem strangely optimistic these days. While most cannot afford new instruments, they are still buying new guitar strings, renting jam rooms and playing gigs around town – whether people are showing up or not. Perhaps Salt Lake City’s music scene really is going in a more favorable direction.

“It’s just hard times right now,” said multi-instrumentalist Alejandro Gomez, who is known for his work in Incendiant, Yaotl Mictlan, Trigon Aion and others. “But people will figure it out. They’ll find a way. It’s worth it. I think it is.”

Filed under: Arts, Entertainment, Culture, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

Utah women combat domestic violence

Posted on April 5, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia slideshow about two Utah women’s shelters.

Story and multimedia by WHITNEY BUTTERS

Helpless. Violated. Traumatized. Overcome with fear so pervasive she was afraid to close her eyes at night, not knowing what he would do next or of what he was capable.

“I kept hoping that it would go away,” Kristine said with a somber look in her eyes. “But it didn’t go away.”

Kristine, who chose to use an alternative name to protect her identity, lost her income, house and way of life when she became a victim of domestic violence.

The reality is that domestic violence situations like Kristine’s happen more often than many realize. These cases affect all aspects of life, including economic, emotional and physical security.

While many men are also experience domestic violence, women make up 85 percent of all victims. Moreover, one in every four women will experience domestic violence at some point during her lifetime, according to statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Almost 40,000 domestic violence crisis calls were made in Utah in 2009-2010, and approximately 4,800 people across the state spent time in domestic violence shelters and transitional housing, according to the Utah Domestic Violence Council (UDVC).

A six-week survey conducted by the National Domestic Violence Hotline found 54 percent of victims reported a “change in their household’s financial situation in the past year.” But dismal financial situations do not directly produce domestic violence. “Bad economy doesn’t cause abuse,” said Judy Kasten Bell, UDVC executive director. “It exacerbates it in already existing unhealthy relationships.”

Whether a couple is rich or poor also does not signify that an unhealthy or abusive relationship is more likely to develop.

“We know that abuse is no forgiver of socioeconomic status, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation,” said Tallie Viteri, shelter manager at the Your Community Connection of Ogden/Northern Utah. “It’s straight across board.”

Physical and sexual abuse are the most perceptible forms of abuse, but abusers use a variety of behavior tactics over their victims. Economic abuse, which can include preventing the victim from getting a job or controlling his or her own money, and using children as leverage to keep victims from leaving are two common strategies used to make women in particular think they are trapped in their situation.

“Women are afraid to leave for financial reasons because the abuser is their source of income,” said Pamela Soren, victim advocate with the Davis County attorney’s office. “They don’t know what do without financial support, especially with children.”

Regardless of which methods are used, abusers have the same underlying motivation. “Abuse is really rooted in power and control,” Viteri said. “The abusers just use different tactics to control the victim.”

Beyond gaining power and control, abusers often further oppress their victims by altering their perceptions of self worth. “These abusers are very manipulative and know how to get control and get into their head and convince them that they deserve the abuse and that they are not capable of being on their own,” Soren said.

Multiple reports cite personal insecurity and fears of economic uncertainty as factors that make it difficult for women to gather the courage to remove themselves from the situations permanently. “For some people, it takes one time trying to leave,” Kristine said. “Some people it takes 16 or 20 times. Sometimes people die.”

Despite the number of times a woman may return to her abuser, Kristine said that each attempt further prepares a victim to be ready to accept help. “If they do go back, it’s not necessarily a failure,” Kristine said. “It’s just one time closer.”

Kristine said she will always remember the relief she felt when she finally sought help from her local domestic violence shelter. “When I lay down, I knew that I could sleep,” she said. “I felt so safe because there was no way he was going to get in to me.”

Even after the initial relief, Viteri believes the real struggle for victims of abuse comes after they get out of an abusive situation. “They kind of have to start their life over from scratch, which is especially difficult with children,” she said.

Shelters across the state seek to help women rebuild their lives. The YWCA in Salt Lake City, like many other shelters, provides a variety of resources to help victims get back on their feet, including crisis intervention, advocacy programs, daycare and employment seminars.

In addition to shelter facilities, the YWCA also houses the Family Justice Center, which is a centralized location for access to the Department of Workforce Services, Division of Child and Family Services, the Salt Lake Police Department and various other legal services.

Transitional housing is also available for both single women and mothers to lease without the obligation of room checks or curfews.

Constance Hassell, shelter coordinator of the YWCA, said the housing and other programs offered are structured to give the victims flexibility. “It’s all about choice, which many of these women have never had,” she said.

Kristine now has the opportunity to give back after her own experience recovering in a domestic violence shelter. She works as an intake specialist at a shelter in Utah to help victims heal emotionally, find affordable housing and become financially independent.

Kristine’s experience came full circle the first time she put someone in one of the shelter’s rooms for the night. Kristine listened to the woman detail the abuse she had endured, helped feed her children and set the family up with pillows and blankets for the night.

“Seeing that look of, ‘I know I’m safe tonight. I can sleep,’ I knew that feeling,” Kristine said. “I felt so good that I could do that for somebody else.”

Empowering victims is the goal of every domestic violence program. The UDVC motto states, “There is no excuse for abuse,” and there are people and programs throughout the state and country trying to combat it. “It’s important to get the word out that it’s not a secret and there are resources available,” Viteri said.

And that assurance of help and hope is what Kristine wishes all of her fellow victims could hear. “There are people that do care and there is support out there,” she said. “You don’t deserve to live that way.”

Filed under: Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

U’s communication department rebounds from tough times

Posted on April 5, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a multimedia slideshow about the department.

Story and multimedia by SCOTT WISEMAN

The University of Utah’s department of communication is unique in the fact that it is constantly adapting its curriculum to new developments in technology. Along with the conflicts of adjusting to increasing technology, the future of the department was in jeopardy when the recession struck just two years ago.

The department of communication is responsible for teaching approximately 1,500 undergraduate students the ins-and-outs of several different fields including media, public relations, journalism, speech communication, argumentation and conflict studies and organizational communications.

In the present day, the communication department is seeing signs of a healthier economy. The department will not see any budget cutbacks for the upcoming year, as the Utah legislature stepped up state funding.

“Two years ago, we lost many faculty members and their positions,” said Craig Denton, a professor in his 34th year in the university’s communications department. “That’s the way we made our budget cuts.”

Although the department never laid off a single employee, employees who retired or quit their jobs were never replaced. The department spends almost all of its funding on faculty, and the staff was asked to teach extra classes and take more students into their sections without a raise.

“Two years ago, personally I agreed to teach an extra class to help out,” Denton said. “I would’ve preferred not doing it, but I’m a member of a team. Everyone stepped up in a different way, including teaching more classes and taking more students into their classes.”

The recession not only affected faculty, but students as well. The department placed a restriction on the amount of paper each student was allowed to print in the computer labs. The students were asked to bring their own paper to print assignments, said Louise Degn, associate department chair of the communication department.

“This is the first year in two years, projecting into next year, that we will not have any budget cutbacks,” Degn said. “The legislative session just ended and the tax revenues were up enough that they were able to provide funding.”

This is great news for the department, which will look for replacements in the positions lost during the recession. The department can also use extra money to increase the budget for technology and classroom development.

“Our future is looking good, because while we gave up all of those positions to the budget cuts, we’re starting to get them back real quickly,” Denton said. “The university has always seen us as a very important department, so it has always been very supportive in moving new resources to the department.”

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the university’s communication department is the smaller class sizes. Since the department offers a lot of smaller classes, the demand for faculty rises. If the economy is in a stable state, the availability of faculty to teach small classes rises, therefore making it easier to accommodate more students.

The reason that the class sizes are usually 20 is because they’re writing intensive, Degn said. The classes are kept small for the benefit of the students so they can receive individual attention from professors. The computer labs are also physically limited to only 20 slots.

Students in the communication department regularly enjoy smaller class sizes for a variety of reasons.

Chris Leeson, a junior in mass communication, said he enjoys small communication classes because of the individual attention he received from his professors. He said this method of teaching was conducive to learning.

While the communication department focuses on making small classes available to students in media and writing classes, the larger lecture hall style classes are also prominent. Whether one is more effective than the other is up to debate.

“About 5 years ago, I would have said the small classroom setting is by far the better teaching method,” Denton said. “Now, I’m not so sure because of the problems that I am experiencing in the computer labs due to students’ access to the internet. I feel as if I have more attention in a large lecture hall without electronic distractions.”

Along with small and large classrooms, the department offers two to three online classes per year. The department is currently striving to improve in its online department, Degn said.

“Online classes are effective for some people in some classes,” Degn said. “Classes where you have to interact, think critically and give opinions are strained.”

Offering online classes does not save the department money. Instructors are paid the same amount to proctor an online class as they would receive to teach a live classroom.

Another distinguishing characteristic of the communication department is the wide array of technologically advanced equipment available to students. Students involved with photography, video production, convergence journalism and several other classes are given the privilege to borrow equipment for the semester.

“Funding for technology is crucial— we couldn’t do without it,” Denton said. “Although in the past few years there haven’t been any equipment budget cuts, there hasn’t been any new money flowing into it.”

Equipment funding tends to come from a variety of three main sources. These include soft money, money generated by the communication department, or special requests sent to the U tech committee or the research vice president. The main source of funding in recent years has been the generous donations from benefactors.

“We’re really hurting right now for equipment money, and if it wasn’t for the good will of our donors, we would be in very serious straits,” Denton said.

The gracious gifts from donors have provided the communication department with several technology improvements such as two new Mac computer labs, an entire set of portable digital video cameras and a few cameras, all available for students to use.

“The new Mac lab is absolutely gorgeous,” Leeson said. “I had three classes in there, and I loved being able to use them.”

Technology is a crucial tool for all mass communication majors to develop skills applicable in a job, Leeson said. Without the ability to practice concepts learned in class, students would not be able to gain as much experience.

The one underlying issue is that donors do not usually provide financial support to help provide repairs and service to the equipment when needed, Denton said.

“Without the technology, you wouldn’t be able to gain experience by working hands on with the equipment,” Leeson said. “A lot of jobs and internships are looking for prior experience learned in a university setting.”

The department of communication has seen its tough times in recent years due to the recession. The faculty members survived potential layoffs, minimal funding, overtime work and shortages on items as miniscule as paper. Due to the increase in funding from the Utah legislature, things are looking up for the department.

“The guiding circumstance seems to be the economy, although tuition increases every year, the legislature drops the percentage of the cost of education because they have competing interests,” Degn said. “Students still see the value of a college education and continue to come to learn.”

Filed under: Education, Media, Organizations, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

Utah education: Getting creative with technology

Posted on April 5, 2011 by comm5775

Watch a video about the Unity Computer Clubhouse.

Story and multimedia by FLOR OLIVO

On most afternoons you can find groups of children and young adults in computer labs at libraries, schools or internet cafes. Other children use computers and technology every day at home. But at the Unity Computer Clubhouse, technology for children comes with a twist.

The Unity Computer Clubhouse is located at the Sorenson Multicultural and Unity Fitness Center in Salt Lake City. Colorful flags and paint adorn the venue. Housed in the center of the Glendale community it’s name represents the diversity that surrounds it. The center strives to provide after school programming for children and youth.

The basis of the technology program there, is to spark the love for creating, says program director, Janette Nelson. “Most students are consumers, but if they can learn to create they can make money,” she said.

They may be unto something: According to Jay Vesgo’s report for the Computing Research Association jobs in the information technology fields are expected to increase by about 30 percent between 2004 and 2014, for an addition of more than 1 million jobs nationally. In present times, over half (56 percent) of employed Americans over age 18 use a computer at work in the state of Utah, according to the US Department of Commerce report on Computer and Internet Use in the US.

President Obama at a town hall meeting on education in late March 2011 said, “Actually, the truth is ‘technology’ can make a difference. If the schools know how to use the technology well, especially now with the Internet, it means that students can access information from anywhere in the world. And that’s a powerful tool… what we want to do is encourage schools to use technology.”

The Unity Computer Clubhouse isn’t as concerned with molding entrepreneurs as it is in inspiring children to build, and learn. The program gives a fun, positive after school experience for local kids, where they can work in teams and pursue their interests. Nelson says, the program “serves the needs of our community.” We are “planting the seed of technology and providing a wide range of choices to create.”

The Unity Computer Clubhouse provides classes for children and youth from ages 8-17. It’s easy to enroll, students “just need to sign up and get a signed media release form from parents,” says Nelson. Classes are held different days of the week.

Funding for the Clubhouse comes through a partnership with the Sorenson Center, and the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network. In the last couple of years funding has dwindled and they have been unable to use some of the software that has been donated because the computers are so outdated says, Nelson.

There have been many success story that have come from the early immersion to technology.  Some students have gone on to be professional web masters and graphic designers. Many of these students return to volunteer, teach and give back what the Clubhouse gave them. With this structure and partnership the Clubhouse has been able to continue it’s work regardless of what the economy looks like. The computers may not be the newest but the commitment and desire to bring technology to these kids is there.

On their website you can access the times and locations for the classes that include graphic design, video production, electronics and circuits and even a digital music class.

Most schools in Northern Utah school districts also provide a computer lab for their students where they have access to computers and in some cases the internet for at least 15 minutes a day. Even though this exposure does not compare to the opportunities the Unity Clubhouse provides, “the exposure to technology in public schools is beneficiary”, said Nelson.

At Elk Meadows Elementary, in South Jordan, even the kindergartners get time to learn to maneuver the web.  Some school districts go a step further providing teachers and parents with additional tools to digitize their lives in order to catch up with the young wave of technology savvy youth.

Through the Jordan school district program “Transforming Teaching Through Technology” a group of Technology Curriculum Specialists is available to assist teachers in technology curriculum. Their website has numerous links and resources to enable this process.

Local parent, Vivian Catten has been able to also use technology to teach and entertain her children as well. She’s found many of her ideas on “mom blogs.” Catten has found suggestions for less pricey activities, information for free admissions, daily deals and even coupons on other mother’s websites. Her favorite example “deals on dollar store crafts”, she says. At the same time, she has been able to connect and meet “amazing people in other parts of the world all through blogging.” There are service providers that link “mom blogs” by state, topic or even popularity. Some common sites are Mom Blogs, Top Mommy Blogs, Babble and this only names the first couple that appear on a search. Literally there are thousands of mom blogs out there.

Most federal and local state agencies have blogs that divert information to the public. Some of these include, the White House blog, the Utah Senate blog and the State of Utah blog where you can find links to numerous State of Utah blogs, education blogs, as well as, city and county blogs.

Through a simple Google search parents can get tutorials and resources from numerous sites. Its all free, if there is access to a computer and the internet.  The City Library, Salt Lake County libraries, Universities, Colleges and some K-12 schools provide free access for those who don’t have a computer at home.

Like Nelson emphasized, “the importance of technology is that it opens the kids minds to creating” once they know what they are capable of making, they are unstoppable.

Filed under: Education, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

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