Utah Offers ‘Wildcat’ Plates The University is hoping sales of Utah collegiate license plates will generate money for scholarships. The license plates feature a logo of a Wildcat and can be purchased for a donation of $40. Alumni can designate which scholarship they wish to fund with their donation. The license plate may be renewed each year with an annual $40 donation, said Edie George, executive director of the Alumni Association. “This is an excellent way to show your Wildcat pride while helping deserving students,” Ms. George said. Those interested in purchasing a “Wildcat” license plate should send $40, their name, address and daytime phone number and the college or area they wish to fund to: Wildcat Pride, WSU Alumni Center, Ogden, UT 84408-3701. The Alumni Association will mail back an authorized, signed tax commission form that may be presented to the county assessor for the plates. County property tax and state license-plate fee will be additional charges. More information may be obtained by calling the Alumni Association at (801) 626-6564. Oil Contaminates Campus Pond Environmental officers of Weber State, Ogden and Weber County cleaned up a small oil slick that leaked into a campus pond in February from an unknown off-campus source. 24 = ered the contamination early and have kept the impact to an absolute minimum.” The diesel fuel was discovered in the pond by a grounds keeper who noticed discolored water and the odor of diesel fuel. Tests indicated concentrations of diesel fuel were well below limits established by the Environmental Protection Agency. # Zoologists would use equipment to train students in molecular genetics and for student and faculty research, according to Dr. Amelia J. Ahern-Rindell, assistant professor of zoology. In addition, personnel in the University’s crime lab would use the lab to analyze evidence in criminal cases and for student training. “We could have used the lab in 133 cases last year,” said DE Internship expert in the crime lab. Currently, crime lab samples of DNA are sent out of state. It takes six months to get back test results, Mr. Patrick said. The lab will cost approxi- Weber State offers “a solid liberal arts foundation coupled with real world practical experience,” the study said. “(It is) a Kevin Patrick, a forensics DNA Norman H. Bangerter Alex Hurtado : Of Note: Four Will Receive Honorary Degrees at Commencement Weber State University will award honorary degrees at graduation ceremonies in June to former Utah Gov. Norman H. Bangerter, state Supreme Court Justice Christine Meaders Durham, Ogden entrepreneur Alex Hurtado and Utah Research Institute director David G. Norton. Ms. Durham will deliver the ~ commencement address June 11 in the Dee Events Center. Some 10 to 15 gallons of diesel fuel contaminated the pond south of the Miller Administration Building, discoloring the edges of ice in the pond and coating some ducks with an oily film, said Jerry B. Jones, a campus environmental specialist. Workers used peat moss to Christine M. Durham David G. Norton Gov. Bangerter left office in January after serving two terms as governor. Ms. Durham became an associate justice of the Utah Supreme Court in 1982. _ Mr. Hurtado, an Ogden real estate executive and businessman, was director of National Hispanic Affairs in the Reagan administration. Mr. Norton became presidential assistant for the Utah Research Institutein 1987. He founded Iomega Corp., a computer firm in Roy, Utah. » soak up the diesel fuel, Mr. Jones said. They left approximately 80 feet of narrow absorbent pads in the pond until March to soak up any residue. “Weber State officials reacted quickly and responsibly,” said Capt. Robert Brian of Ogden’s hazardous materials response team. “They discov- Tonya Johnson, a political science senior from North Ogden, is the first Weber State University student to be awarded an internship by the U.S. State Department. The 25-year-old left campus in January to teach Portuguese to American diplomats at the Foreign Services Institute in Washington, D.C. She also will work as a political liaison at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon. Ms. Johnson’s experience not only opens the door to her career, but also is cutting a path for other Weber State students to follow. Another political science student has already been notified of his selection for a similar internship in Brazil. “Having a top student who will undoubtedly perform well will help the school enormously when it comes to future selections,” said Nancy Haanstad, associate professor of political science. Ms. Johnson learned Portuguese during a Mormon mission in northern Portugal and four quarters of study at Weber State. Scientists Plan For New DNA Lab Campus scientists and forensic experts hope to have a DNA lab in the Science Laboratory Building by next fall. mately $150,000 to build and equip, Dr. Ahern-Rindell said. “The proper location and equipment are very important,” Dr. Ahern-Rindell said. “We need a laboratory that’s scientifically certified and usable.” Robert B. Smith, academic vice president, said the lab will help the University better fulfill its mission. “It ties into our applied technology training and bachelor’s degree programs in life sciences and criminal justice and also serves a community role with local law enforcement agencies.” ® Study Says Campus identity ‘Misunderstood’ Even though Weber State has provided Utahns with higher education for more than a century, it “remains very much misunderstood” by many citizens of the state, according to a comprehensive identity study released by the University. The study reported that many Utahns “hold a highly inaccurate view” of Weber State. As a result, “alumni and community pride haven’t blossomed | as they can,” the study said. But those who know Weber State best believe it is “a Reed M. Sringham Jr. Dean Receives Dixon Award Reed M. Stringham Jr., founding dean of the College of Health Professions, has received the 1993 H. Aldous Dixon Award, the highest honor given by the University’s Alumni Association. The Dixon Award honors individuals who have excelled in their careers and who have given a significant amount of service to Weber State and the community. It is given annually in memory of the late H. Aldous Dixon, president of Weber State from 1919 to 1920 and again from 1937 to 1953. Dr. Stringham joined the University in 1969 as assistant dean for medical sciences. He became dean of the health col- remarkable and very special institution,” the study said. They praised Weber State as “an excellent teaching and caring institution.” The identity study was conducted during a six-month period last year by Downey, Weeks & Toomey, a New York consulting firm. The company has completed similar studies for Penn State, Georgia Tech, Illinois State and Loyola University of Chicago. The study said there are lege when it was created in 1973. He also is a professor of health administrative services and dental hygiene. Dr. Stringham has taught many on-campus classes in health professions, developed a program for off-campus nursing education that reaches into many rural locations in Utah, conducted numerous workshops for health-care professionals, raised a significant amount of money for the college and helped plan and coordinate construction of the Marriott Allied Health Sciences Building. He is stepping down as dean in June. Dr. Stringham has been published often in professional journals and consulted for many health organizations. He is a practicing dentist. “Dr. Stringham has significantly impacted health-care education and delivery both on campus and throughout the state in the 24 years he has been at the University,” said Shaun Myers, president of the Alumni Association. “He exemplifies the attributes the Dixon Award recognizes.” Dr. Stringham will receive the award during a Founder’s Day banquet in May. some perceptions about the University that, though inaccurate, exist and impact the university in a negative way, the consultants said. Nevertheless, respondents familiar with the University described many positive and distinguishing qualities. They praised Weber State for providing small classes, a “beautiful” campus, excellent teaching by full-time professors who teach students in both lower- and upper-division classes. public university with something of a private college atmosphere, a fairly large institution with a smaller school feel and flavor.” For Weber State to establish an accurate reputation consistent with its distinctive qualities, the University should develop and disseminate “a more focused, defined, compelling message,” the study said. That would include creating a system of logos or symbols for stationery, business cards, publications, campus signs and official vehicles. Altogether, the study contains 14 recommendations to help Weber State improve its image. Among them, the university was urged to: ¢ Distinguish itself from major research institutions and emphasize its “special niche as a focused undergraduate school.” ¢ Downplay terminology that describes Weber State as a “metropolitan university” because the term is confusing and could “undermine the student-centered, faculty-accessible, personalized-attention environment that is the hallmark” of Weber State. ¢ Design a visual symbol that will “boldly project Weber State as a significant model for a new type of real-world-focused, community-oriented institution that combines the ‘sense’ of a small college with the ‘scope’ of a large university.” * Convey Weber State’s image as a large institution with a small-school feel by eliminating “State” from the official title and “adopting Weber University as the preferred communicative name.” Paul H. Thompson, president of Weber State, said faculty and administrators are studying the recommendations. @ a