Pope demonstrated quality research, teaching and University citizenship and was selected as the recipient of the award, and was provided the opportunity to speak at the campus forum.

After graduating from BYU in economics, Pope went to graduate school at Berkeley and studied agricultural and resources economics. He developed an interest in poverty and malnutrition reduction and strived to enhance food security for  the world.

Chris Bunker

“As followers of Christ, we all wish for  the well-being of the world’s poor,” Pope said. “Developed economies also have their own version of food insecurity and programs to ameliorate suffering and malnutrition.”

Pope discussed the cause of food insecurity has previously been presented as a production problem, both through a detailed explanation he corrected the misconception and defined the food insecurity source developing from lack of adequate food distribution and economic growth.

Pope focused on how the demand of food production and combustion relate to Engel’s Law.

“The poorer a family is, the greater is the proportion of the total out which must be used for food,” Pope said. “The proportion of the outgo used for food, other things being equal, is the best measure of the material standard of living of a population.”

The law observes the lower the income of a family, the higher percentage of income will be spent on food.

Depending on the demand of a good, goods are titled “normal” or “inferior.”

“Ramen noodles may be a normal good for a missionary, he or she would buy more, hang a little more income,” Pope said. “But post-mission, after selling pest control or security services, Ramen noodles would likely be an inferior good.”

Pope concluded by listing five implications of Engel’s law.

First, the law denotes food budgets predict the well-being of a person or country and through economic growth solutions can be found to increase caloric deficits. Second, “the agricultural sector falls as a percent of economic activity as a country grows because income shares going to food gall with growth.” Third, an active agricultural sector is more important because it will help fund the economy and play a role in developing manufacturing. Fourth, the rise in agricultural products will reduce incomes more for the poor than for the wealthy individuals. Fifth, a 19th century lawyer Eugene Slutsky predicted “goods with larger budget share and larger responses to higher incomes will tend to be more price responsive.”

Engel’s Law ultimately implies the behavior of the poor will be more sensitive to price changes of food than the behavior of the wealthy.

“It is clear Engel was really onto something very important for an understanding of our changing world,” Pope said.

The immigration enforcement law passed in 2010 requires all alien immigrants over the age of 14 who stay within the U.S. for more than 30 days to register with the government and have their documents on them at all times. The law also states that law enforcement officers are required to determine an individual’s immigration status during a “lawful stop, detention or arrest” if there is reason to suspect that the individual is an illegal immigrant.

Arizona governor Jan Brewer stated in a news release in 2010 that “the truth is the Arizona law is both reasonable and constitutional. It mirrors substantially what has been federal law in the United States for many decades. Arizona’s law is designed to complement, not supplant, enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

Currently, 34 other states in the U.S. agree with this statement and are considering enacting this law pending the decision of the Supreme Court.

While these efforts may prove to be successful in cutting down the amount of illegal aliens in the U.S., many feel that it is an encroachment on privacy as well as racial profiling.

Stuart Jackson, a recent BYU graduate, will be moving to Phoenix for the Teach for America program. Jackson is weary about the position that Arizona has taken on immigration and the recently passed bill.

“I think that it gets in the way of people’s lives,” said Jackson. “I don’t think it needs to be so invasive. I can see how this plan works, but I don’t like that it’s at the expense of other people’s privacy. It’s not fair for those of foreign decent who are legally living here, but are still constantly asked to show their documents.”

The issue was taken to the Supreme Court in April after the Obama administration sued the state under terms that “Arizona exceeded its authority when it made a records check part of a state law aimed at driving illegal immigrants out of the state.”

The Supreme Court did not agree that the state was overstepping its boundaries and violating federal law, thus the issue is currently under review to determine if the law is constitutional, or if the Obama administration has grounds to sue.

A decision should be made this summer and, once made, will affect many states as they decide whether or not to take action and implement similar laws around the country.

Junior mid-distance runner Nachelle Mackie took second place to an unattached runner in the 800 meter run on Saturday with a time of 2:02.49, the second fastest time run by a female collegiate athlete this season. Mackie ran the fastest 800 meter time earlier this season at the Mt. SAC Relays with a BYU record of 2:01.11.

Senior pole vaulter Christian Guenther was one of two female Cougars to take first place with a vault of 4.03m (13-2.50). Teammate Rachel Fisher also cleared 4.03m but was awarded second place because she did it in more attempts.

Junior javelin thrower Amber Huntington was the only other athlete on the women’s team to take first place with a season-best throw of 47.31m (155-02). She was followed closely by teammate Allyson Anderson who threw 45.73m (150-00) for a third place finish.

For the men, long-distance runner Miles Batty was the lone Cougar to bring home a win. Batty competed in the 800m and took first with a time of 1:49.43. Ryan Waite, also from BYU, closed the race on Batty’s heels with a time of 1:49.48 to take second.

The BYU track and field teams will next compete at the NCAA West Regional track meet in Eugene, Oreg., beginning May 24.

BYU finished its season with an overall 43-13 record. Its victory in the WAC Tournament gave them an automatic spot in the bracket, and this will be its eighth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have not attended since 2009.

With a No. 33 ranking, BYU stands just above Mississippi State, which holds a No. 35 spot with an overall 33-22 record. The winner of the Cougar-Bulldog face-off will play one of the other two teams in the regional, Portland State or Oregon.

The tournament is double-elimination, which means even if the Cougars lose during the regional, they could still have a chance to win the Women’s College World Series at the end of the bracket. Starting in the Eugene Regional gives BYU the potential to compete against equally talented teams as well as No. 11 Oregon.

“Every regional is a tough regional and this is no exception,”head coach Gordon Eakin said. “But we’re confident that if we continue to play BYU softball that we’ve got a chance to win.”

Playing BYU softball is what these girls do best, and they head into the tournament with an optimistic outlook despite their all-time 0-2 record against Mississippi State.

The Cougars and Bulldogs will play Thursday at 4 p.m. Mountain time. The game will be broadcast live on BYU Radio and the tournament will continue through Saturday.

Four years ago Rampton was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a disease that causes liver failure. Although he received treatment, he took a turn for the worse within a year and was moved to the top of the transplant list.

Rampton, who used to joke about needing health insurance because he was in such good health, experienced a “daily degeneration.” His skin and eyes turned yellow as jaundice set in. He lost weight because he couldn’t eat without vomiting. And then he started to lose his memory because of the built-up toxins in his body.

“That’s when it hit me that this was really serious,” Rampton said. “I was scared. It was like we lived in a constant prayer.”

Just when he thought he couldn’t hang on any longer, the call came for Rampton’s transplant.

Each day, an average of 18 people die waiting for a heart, liver or lung transplant. Although many organ donor registries encourage people to sign up when they renew their driver’s licenses, only 43 percent do. Recently, Facebook has changed that number dramatically.

Individuals can now share their organ donor status on their timelines, prompting many of the 800 million users to encourage their friends do to the same. The new timeline feature has links to organ donor registries throughout the United States.

Rampton said he was relieved to hear Facebook’s announcement.

“This is exactly what we need,” he said. “It’s such a simple thing that can promote something so important, something that can change lives.”

With the support of his wife, friends and ward family, Rampton made a full recovery. In fact, he started setting goals while still in the hospital.

“It’s like you have a second lease on life,” he said. “The things you thought mattered before don’t matter anymore.”

Just under one year later, he ran with his wife in a Salt Lake City marathon. Rampton, who said he never used to cry before getting sick, choked up while remembering what it was like to look back on the other participants running towards the finish line.

“It was the most amazing thing to see where I was and where I am now,” he said. “I thought this was a great way to dedicate all that I had been through to my donor, his family and my family.”

Within the first day of the announcement, Facebook reported six thousand people had registered to become an organ donor throughout 22 states. More than 100 thousand members shared their organ donor status within 48 hours, according to an online Bloomberg report.

Utah’s donor registry also saw a big increase in organ donors since the announcement. Dixie Madsen, public education coordinator for Intermountain Donor Services, said an average of eight people a day sign up to become an organ donor in Utah. In the week following Facebook’s announcement, 455 people signed up.

“People are going, ‘oh yeah, I do need to look into this,’” Madsen said.

Madsen said visitors to  Intermountain Donor Services’ website has also increased since the announcement, helping people to become informed of organ donation. She sees this as a long-term trend that will increase awareness and interest.

“It has given people an opportunity to talk about it,” Madsen said.

Lisa Osmond knows first-hand the power of talking about organ donation. Her oldest son was “always looking out for the underdog,” and it wasn’t surprising when the high school sophomore came home and announced he had signed up to be an organ donor. Little did she know that within two weeks, that would become a reality.

Osmond said Adam came home from a class not feeling well. Quickly losing consciousness, Adam was taken by Life Flight from St. George to Salt Lake City. Hours later, he was declared brain dead. She said knowing Adam’s wishes made it possible for her to gain peace out of the tragedy.

“It gave me a mission, gave me a reason, something to hope for,” she said.

Osmond, who now lives in Orem with the rest of her family, became a volunteer for Intermountain Donor Services. She travels throughout Utah educating junior high and high school children about organ donation and the impact it has.

“I just want to shout it out from the rooftops,” she said. “And as long as I can, I’m going to.”

Osmond said she was thrilled to hear the announcement and posted her organ donor status on her timeline that day. The first person to “like” her status update was Steve Bird, the man who received Adam’s liver.

“We can work for years and do the best we can,” Osmond said, “but social networking can reach so many people in just one day. When we get exposure like that, it can only go up from here.”

Many organ donation decisions, like Rampton’s and Osmond’s, are a result of discussions with family and friends about beliefs and where they stand on the issue. For several, peer pressure leads them to get informed so they can make a decision as well.

Travis Olsen, a senior from Alpine studying public health, said Facebook’s new addition will help many overcome the barrier of signing up as an organ donor by involving friends and making it easy to do.

Last year alone, BYU students logged 121,957 hours of service. According to Y-Serve, 22,184 volunteers provided service in a variety of fields. However, many students are not aware of Facebook’s announcement, allowing them to provide a valuable service in a matter of minutes.

“Social media is an integral part of public health,” Olsen said. “Encouraging each other can help someone who needs organ transplants.”

People just like Alec Rampton.

“I used to think that it was only Oprah who could tell people to do something and so many would do it,” Ramptom said. “Now, it’s Facebook.”

To sign up as an organ donor on Facebook, click on the “Life Event” button on the profile page. Under “Health and Wellness” select “organ donation.” The feature also allows users to add a personal story to the update.

In 1993 she found that friend in an unexpected form — a dog named Charlie.

The friendship that De Vynck found with Charlie served as inspiration for Save a Dog and Kids, the non-profit organization she formed in 1999 that has rescued over 1,200 dogs since.

“I had a parent come to me one day and say her kids did not like the after-school programs and wondered if they could correlate something with the dogs,” said De Vynck. “That’s when it occurred to me that I could have children help the dogs and in turn the kids would be helped.”

De Vynck has worked with children from every kind of background, but said she especially enjoys working with troubled youth. Once she gained her passion for animals, De Vynck said she realized dogs could further help the youth that she works with, and decided to pair the two together.

Aubrey Steenhoek

Save a Dog and Kids allows troubled youth to train and trust dogs.

“Kids who have been through difficult situations have to feel needed,” said De Vynck. “All types of children can benefit from learning how to train and trust dogs. Those children who are troubled, have been abused or have depression learn to trust again. ”

Save a Dog and Kids does not just work with children, but anyone in need of a new friend. De Vynck explained that Charlie, her first rescued dog, helped her regain her health, and after gaining this happiness she realized she wanted to share it with others.

“Animals are such a gift, such angels,” said De Vynck.

Programs all over the United States have paired up with Save a Dog and Kids to transport the animals to their new homes. Flying Paws is a non-profit organization that flies animals to homes all over the country. Their rescue railroads consist of people volunteering their time and gas to transport animals from one state to the next.

“Bailey, one of the dogs, was transported across 15 states, with 15 different drivers to get to her new home in Chicago,” said De Vynck. “It is really cool to see people come together and help.”

De Vynck has found homes for over 1,200 animals all over the U.S., and those who work with the animals love seeing their progress. Kristen Queen is a new volunteer at the rescue and a student at BYU.

“It feels so good to see the progression of our work,” said Queen. “The process shows Denise’s love for the animals and it just feels good to know we are making a difference. ”

Kevin Harrington, Luke Duffield and Brett Gottula are the BYU students behind TriggerHappy, an iPhone and Android app that acts as a camera remote for a DSLR or high-end point-and-shoot camera.

They were excited and overwhelmed by the amount of support TriggerHappy received with 3,710 backers supporting the product. Harrington said the reason behind their success was no accident.

Kevin Harrington

Luke Duffield and Brett Gottula work on the TriggerHappy app and cable

The TriggerHappy remote lets photo-enthusiasts take better shots with only their smart phone and a small cable.

Inside the one-meter long cable is a small signal processor that connects the camera to the smartphone through the phone’s audio jack. The app is a simple camera trigger but also includes bulb functionality for longer exposure, time-lapse mode, HDR mode with up to nine shots and 16 stops of dynamic range and bulb ramping for time-lapses from day to night.

The TriggerHappy app can be used on the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch along with select models of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Samsung, Kodak and FujiFilm cameras.

The app and cable are $49.95 and pre-orders will ship on July 1.

“Marriage is the recognized union between one man and one woman only. That is all that needs to be said, ” Herbert said.

Cooke made a similar statement in a press release on May 10, citing the basis for his own commitment came from the Utah State Constitution.

“As your governor, I will uphold the Utah State Constitution which defines marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman,” Cooke said.

Cooke committed to uphold existing civil rights ordinances in Salt Lake City, addressing discrimination in housing and hiring practices based on an individual’s sexual orientation. He wants to extend the impact of these ordinances to the state legislature, hoping all Utahns will support his anti-discriminatory position.

“As your governor, I will not tolerate any kind of illegal discrimination against any faction of our citizens, ” Cooke said.

After losing three pitchers and losing the last six conference games, the Cougars baseball team is rallying together to get their spirits high for this upcoming series. After a close series against Pepperdine, BYU had to recover from losing all three games.

“We’ve tried to dwell on the positive aspects (of last week’s games), but at the same time address a couple of the mistakes we committed this past week that could possibly have determined the outcome the other direction,” Coach Vance Law said.

After analyzing previous games in the season, the team has focused on bunt defense and pitching this week to prepare for the Santa Clara series.

“We have spent more time on bunt defense this year than any other year that I’ve been here,” Law said.

Not only have the Cougars (19-24, 7-11) been working on bunt defense, but they have been trying to improve on their pitching as well.

“We’ve also covered trying to speed up our pitchers to the plate because we allowed too many stolen bases,” Law said. “Consequently, the catcher gets blamed but usually it’s because the pitcher takes too long to get rid of the baseball.”

Since the suspension of Mark Anderson, Chris Capper and Chris Howard, BYU’s pitching staff has had to adjust to the changes.

“It has definitely changed what peoples’ roles are, they are in different situations than the past, ” Pitching Coach Wally Ritchie said.  ”The only thing we can do is help them get comfortable.”

For the series, Desmond Poulson is set to open Thursday, with Marc Oslund on Friday and Adam Miller on Saturday.

Santa Clara (22-23, 3-15) just returned from playing the University of San Francisco and suffered a tough loss, losing all three games in the series.

“On paper it looks like a win, but in the game of baseball you have to go out and compete everyday” Ritchie said.

Although BYU could expect a win this weekend, Santa Clara could potentially come on top.

“I think that baseball is more unpredictable than most sports,” Law said. “It’s a different game, very unpredictable, especially in this conference. There hasn’t been easy games, every game has been competitive against very good teams top to bottom. Santa Clara has beaten some good teams”

With only six games left in the season, this may be some of the final games the seniors play competitively.

“We want to make it a successful final two series,” Law said. “Especially, being able to play at home again. We’ve been a little road weary, it will be nice to be back home.”

The Cougars will face the Broncos Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m and Saturday at 1 p.m.

“We have to come ready to play and give it our best shot,” Law said.

Competitions ranging from the 10M assisted walk, 25M dash, wheelchair races and field events will provide participants with an opportunity to show off all their hardwork and practice.

BYU’s Y-Serve provides students with an opportunity to volunteer with the Special Olympics throughout the year by holding weekly trainings and practices for the local physically and mentally disabled athletes.

Y- Serve special olympics program director Nicole Lawrence, a senior majoring in family studies, has loved learning from the athletes.

“Even with their struggles they can have such a positive outlook on life,” Lawrence said. “It helps me to have a better outlook on life.”

There are three Special Olympic seasons — basketball in the fall, bowling in the winter and track and field, soccer and softball in the summer.

Y-Serve program director Peter Barnes enjoys his experience building friendships with the athletes.

“The relationships that I’ve made with the athletes have by far been the most rewarding part of my service,” Barnes said.

Student volunteers feel they are more blessed by their service in helping run the Special Olympics than those they are serving and enjoy the love the athletes bring.

“I look forward to practice and competitions because I love being around them,” Barnes said. “It doesn’t matter if we are doing drills, cheering each other on or joking around and dancing after practice, being with the athletes is always a blast.”

Janae Barnes, from Spokane Wash., studying special education,  is also a special olympics program director in Y-Serve and enjoys simply being around the athletes.

“Our athletes are the most incredible people you will ever meet,” she said. “When we are with them and the amazing volunteers in the program, everything else tends to go away and you feel like you are with your closest friends and family.”

This Friday BYU will have 17 athletes competing in the area track and field games. This event prepares athletes for the Utah Special Olympics state competition taking place later this summer, on June 7 and 9 at Herriman High School.

The Utah’s Special Olympics has provided people with disabilities an opportunity to develop skills, build self-esteem, have fun and enjoy year-round sports and competition since 1968.

More information can be found and registration is available at www.sout.org/volunteer-overview.

Brigham Square will be fenced off to resemble a baseball diamond, complete with a home plate and foul ball lines. The male with the most home runs, the female with the most home runs and the participant with the longest home run will receive Jamba Juice gift cards.

Samantha Coffey, program coordinator for the SAB said all participants will receive a free T-shirt as well as Otter Pops.

“It’s going to be a ton of fun,” Coffey said. “And it’s free.”

Students will have at least 10 pitches to hit a home run.  The five competitors who have the most runs after the first round will advance to the next round to compete for the Wiffleball Home Run Derby champion. Competitors will help retrieve wiffle balls while volunteers measure hits to determine the longest home run.

“Everyone can easily hit several home runs,” Coffey said. “If you really want to be competitive, you can practice on your own, but there is no skill level required to compete.”

Acoustic Explosion performers Ben and Jake Tenglesen will also perform live throughout the event.

“We keep Ben and Jake on hand for our activities,” Coffey said.  ”They really get the audience involved.”

Students who’d like to participate can come to Brigham Square to register with their student ID before the event.

Wednesday’s event will be the only Wiffleball Home Run Derby this year.

“If you want a chance to show off your batting skills, this is your only chance,” Coffey said.

Coffey has worked for the SAB since 2010 and said the SAB helps give students a break from classes and work.

“The Student Activities Board works to really get students involved on campus,” Coffey said, “It helps students realize their opportunity to be involved beyond classes and their jobs.”

Student Alumni is a volunteer-based, student-run organization within Alumni Services, whose focus is to help students become successful alumni who are willing to give back to the university one day. They offer various seminars and networking programs for undergraduates to prepare them for life after college.

The Student Alumni coordinator, Curtis Isaak, emphasized the importance of networking for students of every major when it comes to finding a job. Student Alumni tries to help mentor undergraduates because it will impact their future careers and lives.

Kaitlyn O’Connor

Alumni and students participating in the Take a Cougar to Lunch program

Erika Nash, next year’s executive vice-president of Student Alumni, got involved at the end of her freshman year because she liked the purpose of Student Alumni.

“The thing that I really love about Student Alumni is how it’s not just fun activities,” Nash said. “It’s a really worthwhile group because we’re making connections with alumni all the time.”

Three of the annual networking activities provided are the Professional Etiquette Dinner, The Networking Event and the year-round Take a Cougar to Lunch program.

Nash was the program director for some of these events.

“Essentially what we do is create opportunities for students to connect with former alumni,” Nash said.

The Professional Etiquette Dinner is an event that will be held again Fall 2012. The dinner not only includes instruction on etiquette when dining out, but also has alumni table hosts who attend and network with students. This event is targeted at preparing students who will be interviewing for internships and talking with future employers.

The Networking Event will take place winter 2013; the event brings together students with 40 to 60 alumni of different professions for a presentation on how to make connections, and to speed network.

The year-round Take a Cougar to Lunch program is a face-to-face mentoring session over lunch with an alumni of a student’s choice. Alumni volunteer and sign up online through Student Alumni and students can go on to the website and choose an alumnus who is a professional in the field they want to work in. Lunch is provided by the alumnus and students are encouraged to ask questions to decide if that career path is right for them. Students may participate in this program as many times as they wish.

Student Alumni president Jared Colten said these programs are a connection tool.

“The programs help you connect with alum who are where you would like to end up in 10 to 15 years,” Colten said.

These programs have been successful enough that students have been offered internships, jobs or gained a mentor.

Four BYU players experienced this feeling after recently signing free-agent contracts with NFL teams following the draft. Terence Brown — who played center and guard — signed with the Miami Dolphins, McKay Jacobson — a wide receiver — signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo signed with the Houston Texans and offensive lineman Matt Reynolds signed with the Carolina Panthers.

Terence tearing it up with the Dolphins

Miami hosts a young team, and by signing the free-agent contract with the Dolphins, Terence Brown hopes to help the growing process.

“It’s a new coaching style,” Brown said, “but I think it will be fun to be part of an up and coming team.”

Brown offers an impressive stance for the developing Dolphins. Brown played in 50 games during his college career, playing on an offensive line that allowed zero sacks in five games. He can cover several spots across the line and hopes to show the Dolphins how he can contribute to the team.

“I just want to show that I can play multiple positions and show athleticism and improve as a blocker up front,” he said. “My strengths are versatility and knowledge of the game.”

By displaying these strengths, Brown has a chance to play on a special team. The Dolphins’ roster includes a number of talented lineman, but Brown aspires to provide the stamina the Dolphins need as they expand their skill set and record.

“This is exhilarating, and not many people have this opportunity — I feel blessed to even have it,” Brown said. “They don’t wait for you to catch up, I just have to go out and learn the playbook and make sure I’m on the right track.”

Jacobson soaring toward the Eagles

Most everyone thought the Eagles would play in the Super Bowl last season. When the talent-stacked team did not even make it to the playoffs, football fans across the nation gasped. Free agent McKay Jacobson hopes to play with the Eagles as they strive to redeem themselves this season.

Jacobson finished his college career with 113 passes for 1,836 yards and nine touchdowns. He played 48 games. He signed with the Eagles after they drafted All-Americans Fletcher Cox and Mychal Kendricks and third draft pick quarterback Nick Foles.

Training with a talented team like the Eagles as a free agent means opportunities for development. Though the training camps will be intense, Jacobson may even learn from one of the best wide receivers in the league, DeSean Jackson.

Jacobson may not receive much playing time, but working with a developed player like Jackson should help him to improve the skills to land him a spot on the official roster.

Playing for the Eagles would place Jacobson on a list of several former BYU players to do so, including Chad Lewis, Ty Detmer and Eagles coach Andy Reid himself.

Hebron for Houston

The Houston Texans have a history of incredible defense, and defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo said in an email he hopes to carry on that legacy.

“I’m excited to compete with a top-notch offense and defense,” Fangupo said. “I’m ready to learn all I can from coaches and players, and I believe being able to compete with such great players can help my game tremendously.”

Fangupo played on BYU’s rushing defense, ranked 19th nationally, and that experience will serve as preparation for working to make the Texans roster.

“I’m excited to get to Houston and work hard,” he said. “I will do everything in my power to learn the plays and be physically fit.”

The Texans recently lost first-round draft pick Mario Williams and replaced the defensive lineman with Whitney Mercilus. While the Texans will not need defensive help immediately, Fangupo looks for a chance to impress the coaches during upcoming rookie camps.

“I can’t speak to what chances I have to play, because honestly, that will be up to the coaches,” he said. “I can say that I will take care of the things I am in control of. I will give all my effort towards the workouts, plays and studying film. I want to make the most of the opportunity that God has given me.”

Reynolds pursues the Panthers

The Carolina Panthers signed twelve undrafted players this season, and among that number is BYU’s offensive lineman Matt Reynolds. Of all the free-agents from BYU, Reynolds’ records and skill set position him as the most likely candidate to land a spot on the official roster in the NFL.

Reynolds started every game of his college career, tying the BYU record for playing 52 games. He contributed to the offensive line, playing in five games which ended with 200+ passing yards. Even without a helmet, as in the Armed Forces Bowl last season when he blocked for a touchdown pass after his helmet got knocked off, he does what it takes to work for the victory.

According to Carter Chow, Reynolds’ agent, Matt is prepared for the challenge of proving he deserves a spot with the Panthers.

“It is difficult to make an NFL roster regardless of how you enter the league,” Chow said. “Matt has had a productive college career and is well-prepared for the challenges of the NFL.”

Reynolds left for Carolina this week and already faces those challenges. As only one of two offensive linemen who signed free-agent contracts with the Panthers and the only tackle, Reynolds feels optimistic about his playing opportunities.

If he claims a spot on the roster, Reynolds would block for the 2011 Rookie of the Year, Cam Newton. Newton’s skills combined with those of two talented running backs, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart, make an enticing option for Reynolds as he progresses with the Panthers.

“In addition to his versatility, Matt is very intelligent and has played in a lot of games,” Chow said. “These traits will serve him well as he competes for a roster spot this year.”

To even sign a free-agent contract is an honor for college football athletes. The BYU players will train with their respective teams throughout the preseason before finding out if they make the official roster in September.

Jacoby teaches the GE political science classes, Introduction to Comparative Politics and Introduction to European Governments, and the capstone course on the EU and NATO. He also has a background in teaching social movement and international security and currently runs the Center for the Study of Europe.

Q: What got you interested in the world of political science? Was it that you grew up knowing what you wanted to do, or a talent that you found you had?

WJ: The collapse of communism. I was working in Washington, D.C., in politics, but not political science, and all of the sudden Tienanmen Square happened in June of 1989, then the East European revolutions in the fall of 1989. And here I was sitting in this policy job in Congress, and I was interested in questions like “What were the long term reasons these European systems collapsed? What’s the historical importance of change? What’s going to come next?” In Washington, the questions were “What should the United States do this week? What should my boss do tomorrow?” That’s when I started looking at political science. I thought, “Well I should go to graduate school, because that’s where those kinds of questions are more useful, and get out of politics — at least for a while — where those kinds of questions just annoy people.”

Q: What surprises have you encountered in your 12 years at BYU?

I didn’t anticipate how much of an advantage it is to teach international politics in a place where so many students have international experiences, and not just transient international experiences, but long-term, two-year international experiences. That was an even bigger benefit than I had counted on. At the same time, once I came to understand that, I was then surprised at how little so many students did to build on those skills. So you come back from a Russian-speaking mission. Great. You can bear your testimony in Russian. Also great. What are you going to do with that next? How are you going to further develop those skills? More students need to press forward to learn new vocabularies, learn substantive knowledge about the history and culture and politics and economics they can then use in their subsequent career — deepen their understanding of how that country works.

Q: Have you developed certain strategies you feel work well with the students here?

Sure. First, BYU students appreciate a good story — I think everybody does. So when I give a lecture, I want there to be an argument in there. I want there to be a narrative in that lecture — a beginning, a middle and an end. Every class has a kind of art to it, and if I get that right, students walk away thinking “Now I understand how it fits together.” And so every class, there should be a narrative there. I also want there to be an argument in the lecture — a real point of view. I’m not in the business of the neutral recitation of dry facts, because I didn’t enjoy that when I was a student, and I don’t know many students who do.

The other important thing I’ve learned is that BYU students are a bit unused to argument. Actually, though, I also was unused to argument before I got into higher education. Where I come from, an argument is a prelude to a fist fight. But in higher education we think of argument as a chance for two or more well-thought-out positions to rub up against one another. And it’s in that rubbing the learning takes place. Proving simply means ‘trying things out,’ testing them in tension with one another. And that’s why so often in LDS theology we come to big questions about works versus faith, mercy versus justice or individual integrity versus obedience. The answer always turns out to be both. But sadly, and ironically for a culture that really values this, we get out of the business of proving contraries. We want to hear what the right answer is; we want our faculty to stand up and tell us what the answer is. That doesn’t serve our students as well as older LDS traditions serve them — exposing them to the complexity of truth.

Q: Many students claim their favorite part of your class is your lecturing. Is that your main focus — keeping the lectures interesting?

The lecture has to be good, but that’s not enough. What happens when you tell a story around a campfire? You know it’s a successful story when, instead of going back to their tents, everybody says “Oh, I’ve got a story that reminds me of.” My job is to tell a story to make an argument that doesn’t shut down the conversation and send everyone back to their tents, but instead sparks people to say “Hey, I’ve got a view on that.” I work very hard on getting it right, but right means not giving the students the answer. Right means trying to spark them to say what it is that they know, what it is they think can contribute to a larger conversation. And there has to be room in the classroom for that, too, so if I begin yammering when the bell rings, and I’m still yammering when the bell rings again, that’s not a successful class no matter how fun the lecture was to hear. There’s got to be some time in there for people to process, to argue back, to get a sense of what it is that they honestly are convinced of.

Q: Why did you choose to teach at BYU?

As we say in political science, “that outcome is casually over-determined.” The fishing and the bow-hunting are unbelievable, my students and colleagues are great and I think we have a really strong department. And, as I said before, when you’re trying to teach students about the broader world, it’s a lot more fun to teach people who have languages and cultural experiences, even if they don’t fully understand them. Their optimism matters too. It’s important to me to teach politics to students who’ve had a sense from the time they were small that they matter in the world, that they can do something positive, that it’s not all decided.

So it’s a combination of things: it’s a great place to work, it’s a great place to live and really a great place to teach.

There are two types of passes. One includes admission to all NCAA sporting events, the other offers admission to everything except football.

Football is the only sport where seating is assigned. When students purchase their passes, they can form groups of up to 30 people to sit with at the games. You can also choose rotated seating where your group is rotated around the student section to different seats every game, or non-rotated seating so your group sits in the same seats every single game. Non-rotated tickets are more expensive. Your ticket is emailed to you before each home football game, and don’t forget your student ID when you head over to the stadium.

Kirstin Anderson, a junior from Davis, Calif., and a die-hard BYU sports fan, buys her pass every year. She said football tickets are the main reason for getting a sports pass.

“I go to every sporting event I can to show my sports fan-hood,” Anderson said. “BYU sports rock, and that always puts me in a good mood.”

For all other sports, admission is first come, first served. Men’s basketball is notorious for fans camping out days in advance for front-row seats. Volleyball matches usually have long lines outside the Smith Fieldhouse waiting for the doors to open and the BYU women’s soccer team always plays for a packed stadium at the South Field. Gymnastics gets a good showing of fans, and the seats are excellent. You can also get prime seats at the nationally ranked women’s basketball games.

Having an All-Sport Pass gives students the opportunity to socialize and experience different sports they would otherwise miss.

David Willis, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., became a basketball fan since coming to BYU because his pass gave him the opportunity to see many games.

“You gain an appreciation for the team and you enjoy the environment at the Marriott Center,” Willis said. “It’s a good way to meet people who have the same interests as you.”

Sporting events that are NCAA, but do not require an admission charge or an All-Sport Pass, include swimming, diving, golf and men’s and women’s tennis. Tennis matches are three to five hours long and provide free pizza.

Other BYU sports that are not NCAA — like men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, ice hockey and rugby — require a small admission charge that a sport pass does not cover.

All-Sport Passes go on sale for the 2012-2013 season on Aug. 6. All students eligible to register for classes can purchase an All-Sport Pass online and then pick it up at the Marriott Center ticket office. Each eligible student is allowed to purchase three guest passes for family members.

Despite our efforts, many things keep us from using our time wisely. Distractions, multi-tasking and being in a hurry are just a few of the perpetrators. These problems leave most people with 60 percent or less of their time available for getting things done, according to a Microsoft survey.

Using your time effectively will leave you relaxed and enjoying your extra hours. This time management can be learned by single-tasking, planning and prioritizing.

Only about 2.5 percent of the population can successfully multi-task, that is, perform multiple tasks equally well, according to Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. These “supertaskers” are not the norm. Yes, we can do multiple things simultaneously, but each thing suffers. Multi-tasking is less efficient and more complicated.

To avoid feeling like you need to multi-task, write down a to-do list that is manageable. This doesn’t mean you should aim low to reach your goals, but it does mean you should not plan to do eight hours of work in a four-hour chunk of time.

If you are like most people, you often overestimate your capabilities, which leaves you with unchecked boxes on your list at the end of the day. Lynn Gross-Cerf, a professional organizer working out of San Jose, Calif., said on her website organization will end up giving you more time.

“Better organization results in increased efficiency, improved quality of life and better use of time,” she said.

Fewer distractions means more productivity. By focusing your time, you will actually accomplish more tasks quickly and well. You will learn to identify what uses of your time are effective and ineffective .

As the adage goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” About 43 percent of Americans categorize themselves as disorganized, according to an Esselte survey. Almost half of them said disorganization makes them work late at least twice every week. Organizing your time and planning your schedule will mostly likely reveal extra time you did not realize you had.

The key to planning successfully is having only one planner for everything. Whether it be a planner, online calendar or an agenda in your phone, pick one and stick with it.

Laura Stack, a professional organizer, said it is important to plan to succeed.

“Don’t tackle a job without drawing up a plan of attack,” Stack said. “List all the steps it will take to execute your plan in a logical sequence. Each night, draw up your plans for the next day so you are focused and purposeful.”

When planning your day, do so in half-hour or hour blocks of time. This will ensure not a moment is wasted. Grouping similar tasks together will save time because transition time will be shortened and save you from redundancies. However, change activities fairly often. This will keep you moving and motivated.

“Taking on too much and feeling scattered in a million directions are typical symptoms of having unclear goals and priorities,” said Julie Morgenstern, founder of Organizing from the Inside Out, a professional organizing company.

Cami Eberline, an assistant learning specialist at BYU, suggested making lists and numbering the tasks in order of importance.

“Your life will be so much easier if you prioritize because you’re not going to be stressing about all the things you have to do,” Eberline said. “You can focus on the most important thing and not worry about anything else until it’s done.”

By prioritizing, planning and doing only one task at a time, you will be productive and complete the tasks you need to. You will be surprised at the extra time on your hands when you spend less time worrying and trying to complete a multitude of tasks. Effective time-management allows for more time to be spent on extracurricular activities, church callings, service and relationships.

3 tips for single-tasking:
Get rid of distractions and use only the supplies you need.
Choose one thing to focus on. You will be surprised at the power of 100 percent focus.
Make a realistic to-do list so you don’t feel overwhelmed and tempted to multi-task

3 tips for planning:
Plan important items at times when you are distraction-free.
Do harder tasks when you have more energy.
Complete difficult or less-than-exciting tasks first.

The goal of the party was to introduce children and members of the community to the science of archeology, said Kari Nelson, Curator of Education for the museum.

“We want to teach people about archeology and history through fun, related learning,” Nelson said.

Chris Bunker

Artifacts displayed at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures Annual Block Party

Peggy Stavast, from Orem, has been making bobbin lace for almost 15 years and has been demonstrating at the block party for 10 years. To make the lace, she loops the threads around a series of pins in a pattern untraceable to the untrained eye. What results is lace trim for baby blessing dresses. It takes her about an hour to complete one inch of lace.

“Bobbin lace making came from all over Europe,” said Stavast. “Each country had their own variation of it.”

She was joined by several other women and children in the demonstration.

This was Tottie and Andy Hatfield’s first year attending the block party. They brought along their two small children.

They said they enjoyed the circle dance at the end of the Morningstar performance, in which all audience members were able to participate in.

On the first Friday of every month, downtown Provo hosts an event allowing artists to share their work with the community. A cluster of local shops and businesses open their stores to share a variety of art collections. The art comes in different mediums, such as painting, sculpture, pottery, weaving and woodwork. While much of the art is visual, music and theater are large parts of the First Friday festivities and include the Rooftop Concert Series and performances held at the Covey Center for the Arts.

“I was shocked by how many people came in and looked around,” said Annie Farley, a new artist presenting at the Window Box Gallery on Center Street for her first time at the Gallery Strolls.

Elizabeth Hollingshaus

A local artist displays his artwork at the First Friday Gallery Stroll.

“If I had to choose a style, I would say it is really a blend between impressionism and realism,” she said of her artwork, which is made of thick swirls of paint.

As Farley stood by her paintings, patrons shared their opinions of her work and often showed curiosity about her artistic process.

“[People] want to know how it was done, even down to building my supports,” Farley said. “It’s good because someone is engaged in what we are doing, and that is where the beauty of [First Friday] lies.”

Sharing a space with Farley at the Window Box Gallery is woodturner Paul Russell from Lindon. Russell is no rookie when it comes to displaying his creations during First Friday. The close proximity between the two artists does not cause confusion because of the unmistakeable difference in mediums. Russell’s collection includes hand-turned woodwork formed into bowls, vases and decorative plates. The careful construction of each piece is a testament 0f the skill of the artist.

Russell’s hobby for woodturning started in his high school shop classes and has developed over the years. During his time at BYU, Russell was mentored by a professor who was also a professional woodturner.

“He transitioned what I was doing in high school to what I am doing now,” Russell said.

Russell had seen success during the Downtown Gallery Stroll.

“In my show I have done quite well,” he said. “Some do really well, some don’t.”

Pointing over at Farley, Russell commented she had already sold a few pieces during the evening.

The First Friday Gallery Strolls provide an opportunity for local residents to share an intimate evening with local art and entertainment.

“I really enjoy that it is exposing people of the community to the art of the community,” said gallery patron Paul Rasmussen, a BYU student majoring in construction management with a minor in art history.

According to Rasmussen, the Gallery Stroll is beneficial to the artists as well as the viewers.

“You are just there to interact and enjoy each other’s company and enjoy the atmosphere,” he said.

The next Gallery Stroll will be Friday, June 1 in downtown Provo.

Instagram is bringing the photography and mobile world together. In fact, Mashable reported taking photos is the third most common creation on university students’ smartphones, just under sending texts and emails.

Brendan McLeod, a senior from Las Vegas majoring in history, joined Instagram over a year ago as a way to easily share photos with his friends on Facebook and Twitter.

“A picture is worth a thousand words and Twitter only gives you 140 [characters],” he said. “Why say it when you can show it?”

Social media professionals are also finding it useful. Brendan Lowry, marketing manager at Curalate in Philadelphia, works extensively with visual social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. He uses Instagram as a creative outlet, also connecting with friends and family.

“I’ve always been a fan of photography,” Lowry said. “Instagram allows me to continue this hobby in a much more casual way, while also adding a light-weight social layer.”

Lowry said although many people are using the app, he doesn’t see it making a significant change to the photography industry. Instagram is mainly a social tool. But what do professional photographers think about it?

Stephanie Jarstad, a senior from Federal Way, Wash., majoring in photography, said there are two tiers to the mobile photography trend. Some take pictures to casually share artistic ideas, and others use camera apps, including Instagram, as a way to expand their professional portfolio. Although professional photographers are still set apart, the industry is being affected by current technology.

“I think it’s a funky trend,” Jarstad said. “The photo industry is going towards amateurs taking pictures with their phones.”

She receives additional requests from clients for vintage and distressed looks due to the rising trend of Instagram filters. Jarstad said it is a trend that will come and go, pointing to the 80s, which was known for its “punchy colors” in photographs and art. Ultimately, everyone must find their own style.

“If you can capture beauty through your phone, that’s great,” Jarstad said.

Facebook recently purchased Instagram for $1 billion, and although some Apple and Android users worry that the acquisition will negatively affect the app, Facebook will not make any changes for at least a year.

There are also several apps that help users enjoy Instagram even more. A few highlights:

• Postagram: This app allows you to create postcards from Instagram photos and send them to friends and family for $.99 each.
• Squaready: Instagram photos are retro square designs, and taking photos outside of the app means resizing is necessary. Squaready makes any photo in your phone instantly ready for Instagram.
• Olloclip: Although not an app, this iPhone attachment lens allows users to take wide-angle and fish-eye shots.

How do you think apps like Instagram are affecting the photography world? Let us know about it on Twitter or Facebook.