My Page: Amy Seigel

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Of Mice and Men

A bill that calls for more severe punishment for the crime of animal torture passed committee last week in Salt Lake City. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, attempts to outline which acts of animal cruelty go beyond neglect to a more heinous level of abuse. Such things as intentional neglect, abandonment and injury, as well as the despicable practice of dogfights are defined as “torture� in the language of the bill, and will now be worthy of a felony rather than misdemeanor charge. [more]

History Goes to the Dogs

Not too long ago, the City of Salt Lake decided to do a very nice thing. They actually listened to the petitions and pleas of a very well organized, socially conscious animal advocacy group called Mill Creek FIDOS (Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space), and created an official (one-year trial basis only) off-leash park out of an area that had long been a de facto off-leash space—Parley’s Historic Nature Park. Now the words “historic"? and “nature"? should be an immediate tip-off as to what sparked the ensuing controversy over what would otherwise seem a generous and inoffensive act on the part of the City. As the Deseret News reports, several groups, including the rather nebulous Canyon Rim Citizens Association and The Sons of the Utah Pioneers, have raised an uproar over the new fido-friendly regulations. These concerned citizens seem worried that massive numbers of free-running mutts will do irreparable damage to wildlife, native plants, and most importantly, priceless Mormon Pioneer monuments. [more]

Keepers: Schools or Teachers?

Last week the Granite Board of Education voted to spare the three district schools slated for closure---Granite High, Wasatch Junior High (destroyed by a fire in July), and Hill View Elementary. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the School Board was considering closing these “under-enrolled� schools in order to save approximately $3.4 million a year in operating costs. Now, due largely to a rather vocal group of parents and students, it appears that the schools will not only remain open, but will be renovated and rebuilt to the tune of approximately $25 million. Baring any sudden increases in funding from the State Legislature, where will the money come from? [more]

She must Burn!

In Sevier County last week a jury of eight women and four men unanimously rejected Erin Jensen’s claim that the loss of her job as a sophomore English teacher in the Sevier County School District was directly related to both her religious beliefs and her gender. Despite proof of widely circulating rumors and concerns about the teacher’s “unconventional� views on such taboo subjects as Halloween and coffee drinking, Jensen’s attorneys were unable to convince jurors that bias—religious or otherwise—had anything to do with the District’s decision not to renew her contract for the upcoming (2002-2003) school year. Instead, the District was able to claim that their decision to fire Jensen had to do only with increased concerns about her ability to teach grammar and declining test scores. Furthermore, because Jensen was a “provisional employee,� the superintendent was not required to give a reason for selecting her as part of the mandatory staff reductions. [more]

No Teacher Left Behind?

The Deseret News reports that in Provo, Utah a group of 33 Provo School District employees (teachers and classified hourly workers) are suing their district, school board and other local and state organizations regarding the loss of health benefits and a corresponding decrease in salaries. According to the plaintiffs, school district administrators allayed concerns about a salary decrease by guaranteeing continued Medigap benefits, an insurance plan that helps defray the cost of medical expenses not covered by Medicare. However, employees argue that when it came time to examine the 2004-2005 contracts, they were faced not only with lower salaries but with no continued Medigap benefits, except for those few employees over 55 who have worked for the district for over 20 years. In its defense, the school district contends that the contracts were voted on and passed by a majority vote among PEA members, and that since there is no federal law in place requiring school districts to set aside sufficient funds to pay for such continued benefits, they were well within their rights to cancel the Medigap plan. [more]

Please ask yourself: WWFSMD?

When it comes to choosing a side in the debate about God in the classroom, I always feel the need to ask myself WWFSMD? If you have no idea what the preceding acronym means you are probably not alone, though you may want to seek elucidation at the following website:
http://www.venganza.org dedicated to presenting an alternate theory of “divine design.� While I fear that I am a relative latecomer to Flying Spaghetti Monsterism (the acronym makes sense now, doesn’t it?), I applaud its creator for composing such an intelligent spoof of Intelligent Design. Bobby Henderson’s Flying Spaghetti Monster website is presented as an open letter to the Kansas School Board, but thanks to Senator Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, Henderson may soon have the opportunity re-address his letter to that same board in our fair state of Utah. [more]

Fireworks and Population Stats

The idea of a state holiday being celebrated with more of a bang (literally) than the 4th of July is something entirely new to me as a relative newcomer to this state of tall mountains, beautiful red rock, and Mormon Pioneer Days. It is a strange thing to feel like the national day of independence is a mere precursor—a warm-up show of measly fireworks displays and dutiful fanfare—to the real celebration only 20 days away. All it takes is one glance at the official website of Pioneer Days, to realize that, for a majority of Utahans, this is the real celebration. [more]

Paying for Search and Rescue?

It’s July, and by this time of the summer we’re all making regular trips outside to hike, camp, kayak, mountain bike, rock climb and generally attempt to find the most convoluted ways possible to get ourselves hurt, lost, or both while enjoying the mountains and canyons of Utah. While most excursions (extreme or otherwise) end uneventfully with nothing more than a few sore muscles and a sleepy car ride home, the risk of injury or even death is ever-present and usually under appreciated. [more]

Education Policy

It’s no secret that a significant portion of Utah’s history involves some not-so-subtle conflicts between the state and federal governments. Whether regarding religion or land use, Utah citizens have never been shy about standing up for their right to govern their territory and themselves as they see fit. And while it has nothing to do with land use, Utah’s recent challenge to the educational policy of No Child Left Behind looks like the most recent manifestation of the conflict between state and federal governments in the persistently independent West. [more]

Food, Fish, Fun

The weather in Salt Lake City over the past few weeks suggests we’re stuck in early April, but this Saturday’s events—the opening of the Downtown Farmers' Market and the statewide Free Fishing Day—represent two welcome indications that summer has indeed begun. As an avid angler and an incorrigible foodie, I take the convergence of these events as a sign of good things to come. Though Saturday’s activities might seem directed at two entirely different sorts of people, I see them as having much more in common than a mere date on a calendar.

Not only do markets and fishing signal the arrival of longer, warmer days best spent wading in western rivers or gathering with friends around a barbecue or picnic basket, they also provide us with ample opportunities to recall where our food really comes from. [more]

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