Campus News Briefs including stories by J.D. Petty, and Eric Ripley.

Karli Bulloch and Krista Liljenquist offer two perspectives on meeting the challenges of college life.

The University’s rugby club offers student athletes a chance to hone their scrumming skills–all with a Hibernian accent. Cooper Field reports.

A traumatic, June 2008 brain injury tipped Kyle Peterson’s cognitive world upside-down.  Kyle suggests that his recovery is much like fitting the puzzle back together, one piece at a time.  The junior from Cedar City continues to work toward a degree in chemistry at SUU, while progressing through that long, slow recovery.

Access previous stories on Friday Journal below.

In our Campus News Briefs, Friday Journal introduces the SUU men’s and women’s basketball teams.  Both started official practices in the last weeks, and both begin play in the next two weeks.

On October 15 an exhibit opened featuring the awe-inspiring work of Cedar City native, and Springdale resident Jimmie Jones.  As a part of the exhibit is the showing of a 30-minute video documentary, Jimmie Jones-Red Rock Painter by University professors Jon Smith and James Aton.

Friday Journal shines the spotlight on Jones and the documentary using audio clips from the video. Jones is most known for his works on Grand Canyon (above) and Zion (below) National Parks.

A group of 12 students from Southern Utah University recently returned from New York City. These 12 young academics joined 100 additional college students from across the country in a diplomatic cultural exchange with influential world leaders and political groups.  Chris Holmes reports.

(Photo: First Wind)

A Massachusetts company called First Wind announced a scholarship program to benefit high school students from Millard and Beaver counties.  Meanwhile, the company continues construction on its wind turbine project north of Milford.  Chris Holmes reports.

Ben Peterson’s film Dado: Southern Utah University in Mexico was screened as a University Convocation on October 13.  The film chronicles the experiences of SUU students participating in Alternative Spring Break in March of 2009.

Amid injury and personal issues, Cassie Jones, the 6′3″ forward/center with Lady Thunderbird basketball, left the team in the middle of last season.  Jones is back on the court, and while the personal problems appear to be ironed out, the nagging injury persists.  Friday Journal talked with Cassie about a very trying time, and offers information for others, generally, who may be struggling in their first year away at school.

Friday Journal features KSUU’s original program “Cowboy Country”. Hosted by retired school teacher and music historian Art Bohman for more than two decades, “Cowboy Country” is a three-hour program of vintage country, bluegrass, singing cowboy, and traditional country music airing every Saturday morning from 7-10am (MT).

Cowboy Country Podcast Page

Friday Journal visits with Michael Leavitt and others about new directions and the expanding influence of the Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at SUU.

In mid May, Chrysler Motor Company announced a reduction involving 789 of its dealers nation-wide.  After a 75-year relationship with the U.S. automaker, Cedar City’s Lunt Motor Company, along with Sun Country Chrysler in St. George, learned that they were among the dealers to be eliminated.  Chris Holmes of Power 91 News reports on the local impact of America’s auto woes.

(L) Lunt Motors on Cedar City’s Main Street. (R) Jim Lunt stands next to a 2009 Chrysler Charger SXT.  After June 9, 2009, Lunt lost the rights to sell this and other new Chrysler-made cars and trucks.

Throughout his football endeavors, 5′9″ wide receiver, kick return specialist, and former Thunderbird Nick Miller has had to prove himself.  His latest exploits have put him at the pinnacle of the American football world–the NFL.  Pictured above is Nick as a Thunderbird in 2008 (left), and as an Oakland Raider in 2009 (right).

With the September 3 reunion of SUU and Dixie State’s football teams–the first meeting in nearly 47 years–Friday Journal explores the storied gridiron rivalry between Southern Utah’s two institutions of higher learning.  We thank Dr. Steve Lunt, not only for his comments, but for valuable information on the records of SUU v. Dixie games.  We also thank Mr. and Mrs. Dixie and Anne Leavitt for sharing their experiences, and Mrs. Leavitt, whose book Southern Utah University: A Heritage History (SUU Press, 1997) also proved helpful.

(The photos above are both from Mrs. Leavitt’s book.  Prominent in the background is the Braithwaite building.  The Branch Agricultural College football field is now occupied by the Dixie Leavitt Business Building and the Business Quad–placing Mr. Leavitt in this photograph, very near where an impressive building would one day stand bearing his name.  Spectator stands were along the hillside to the east.)

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