Be Heard by Legislators

Faculty, staff and students have the unique chance to not only be seen, but also heard by more than 60 state legislators visiting Cache Valley over the next two days.

 

Legislators have invited university faculty, staff and students to join them in a special Town Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Ellen Eccles Theatre at 43 South Main in Logan. The agenda will follow a question-and-answer format, and the public is encouraged to attend.

 

The tour is an intensive site visit to Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties. The two-day agenda includes a variety of stops and public meetings across northern Utah.

 

"This is a valuable educational opportunity for state officials to recognize and experience issues unique to northern Utah and, more generally, to rural areas in the state," said Julie Hollist, member of the legislative visit planning committee.

 

"There is public policy and there is ground truth," said Peter Knudson, state senator from Brigham City and Utah's Senate majority leader. "Trips like this help bridge the gap."

 

Tours of the area will emphasize five categories: transportation, agriculture, economic development, public education and higher education.

 

While visiting campus, legislators will witness new technologies that sniff bombs, guide the blind, clear cell phone static and create power from manure. They will be demonstrated by students and professors Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Space Dynamics Lab’s Calibration and Optical Research building, 489 East Research Parkway.

 

This special show and tell includes:

Other campus visits include stops at the South Farm in Wellsville, the Water Research Lab, and Innovation Campus. Legislators will also take a walking tour around the main campus, including Edith Bowen Lab School and other new facilities such as the Living/Learning Center, library and recital hall.