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Tuesday, November 14, 2017
AdMINISTRATION
Campus Life
The UI’s story Staben shares updated strategic plan and focuses on enrollment and research Hailey Stewart Argonaut
Members of the Society of Women Engineers pose at the SWE Conference earlier this year.
Courtesy | Society of Women Engineers
Breaking boundaries
Student group aims to encourage and support women in engineering Elizabeth Marshall Argonaut
The Society of Women Engineers, or SWE, has a unique place on the University of Idaho’s campus. Its mission caters to a minority of students at UI — women in the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) field, SWE President Shelby Linafelter said. “The SWE mission is to stimulate women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life,” Linafelter said. “Our members are very passion-
ate about empowering women to become engineers. You can see it immediately when you get one of us talking about it.” Linafelter said the diversity of the group’s activities and events are what sets them apart from other groups on campus. Earlier this year, SWE sent eight members to a national conference in Austin, Texas. Linafelter said the conference inspired the group and gave members new ideas to implement in coming years. Linafelter said the group is fortunate to have SWE Treasurer Christine Page by their side, who found sufficient funds to take so many club members to the conference. “Our group is unique because we dedicate ourselves to creating a support system for women in STEM and a source of encouragement for girls to
continue thinking they can do science, math and engineering while in school,” SWE Secretary Bethany Kersten said. This fall, SWE hosted their 25th Women in Engineering Day event, which was designed to engage junior and senior in high schools in Idaho and Washington to learn more about engineering. Students received tours, attended educational talks and were challenged to create a water filtration system. Kersten said each team completed the challenge and created functioning contraptions. Kersten said her personal goal this year is to get SWE more involved in Moscow and the surrounding community. “I love that we always do Women in Engineering Day in the fall, and I am so happy we are reaching out to local
schools here in Moscow to put on smaller events,” Kersten said. At 6 p.m. Thursday in the ThinkTank room of the Janssen Engineering Building, SWE will host Alexa Aguilar, a recent UI Electrical Engineering graduate, and current graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The group will talk with Aguilar over video chat and discuss MIT, being a grad student and tips she has for graduate school applications. SWE is also planning an outreach event with elementary and middle school students, along with the group’s annual event, Dinner with the Dean, in April and another spring outreach event similar to Women in Engineering Day, Kersten said. SEE Outreach, PAGE 3
The University of Idaho is comprised of many students, faculty and staff with stories to tell, and President Chuck Staben said those stories are important to the success of the university. “Let’s tell our story to Idaho and the world,” Staben said. “Our progress has been, and will continue to be, a university-wide effort.” Staben spoke to UI community members Friday afternoon at the 2017 State of the University Address. Attendees filled the Chuck Staben International Ballroom of the Pitman Center and some watched via live stream video to hear from Staben the progress of the strategic plan. Addressing the complexities of the plan, Staben touched on four main goals — innovation, engagement, transformation and cultivation. But, before he commented on UI’s current success and future goals, Staben addressed his affiliation with the University of New Mexico as one of the university’s five finalists for the president’s position there. On Nov. 2, UNM announced another candidate had been chosen for the position, meaning Staben would continue to reside at UI. “I want to acknowledge the distraction I caused in the last couple weeks as a candidate at another institution,” Staben said. “This university is the work of many people — not one. Any distraction from our success and your hard work, I regret.” Staben said he wanted to make sure the UI community had a common and thorough grasp of where university money comes from and where it is spent. He showed a graph explaining the five sources of income for UI: State funds, tuition and fees, research grants, sales and services and private gifts. Staben said state funds available to higher education have decreased nationally, especially in Idaho, over the last 20 years. But, he said he will continue to advocate for state funding. SEE story, PAGE 3
TRAVEL
Awareness for weather warnings As cold weather approaches, basic travel preparation is recommended this winter Christopher Graham Argonaut
As the cold winter months approach, exposure to unsafe roads and traveling conditions becomes more prevalent — meaning students and faculty members traveling from the Palouse must take extra precautions to stay safe. With rain, snow and ice beginning to make headway on campus and in surrounding areas, traveling can become a hazardous task — particularly on the roadways. “In terms of getting ready for driving, make sure your car is completely serviced and ready to go,” said Parking and Transportation Services Information Specialist Robert Mitchell. “Any problem you experience ordinarily with your car — whether it’s getting stranded or a mechanical difficulty or a lack of performance is exacerbated a
million times when you’re in the snow … It’s a whole different ball game.” Mitchell said he suggests that travelers ensure they have a half-tank of gas as often as possible while driving in poor conditions. With slower driving conditions comes a higher chance of becoming trapped on the road to some degree — gas is always a major concern, he said. “It just doesn’t last,” Mitchell said. While driving in the winter, Mitchell said it is key to take things slow in order to play it safe, since winter driving can be far more dangerous than milder seasons. In terms of keeping a car mechanically sound and fit for driving, always make sure the vehicle has chains equipped when forced to drive through snow, even with all-wheel drive. If possible, defrost the vehicle before driving to maximize your field of view. “Basically, just invest a great deal more time getting where you’re going,” Mitchell said. Kieran Dong | Argonaut
SEE weather, PAGE 3
IN THIS ISSUE
Delany Hopen is a true team player for Idaho volleyball. sports, 4 News, 1
Sports, 4
Arts, 7
Opinion, 9
UI’s future: What affects students most. Read Our View.
Bangladeshi students share culture at Bangladesh Night.
Opinion, 9 University of Idaho
ARts, 7 Volume 119, Issue no. 13
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