- The Daily Utah Chronicle

Trying to Understand the ‘Rulers of the Earth’

By By Cris Brockway, By Cris Brockway, and By Cris Brockway • March 7, 2002

As a chemical engineer, I've grown accustomed to the conversational fallout that can follow from one simple, seemingly innocent question: "So what's your major?" An honest response brings the inevitable gapes, smirks and quizzical queries. My personal favorite: "Wow, are you some kind of genius?" No, not some sort of genius (although Mensa may say otherwise).

Majerus Says Utes Aren’t a Lock for NCAA Tournament

March 7, 2002

Although the Utah men's basketball team has reached the magic win number at 20-7 and are owners of the highest RPI ranking in the conference (21, a formula heavily considered by the NCAA Tournament selection committee), coach Rick Majerus contests the assumption of hoops analysts that the Utes already have a spot locked up in the NCAA Tournament.

U Men Open MWC With Colorado State

March 7, 2002

With the U men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament bid in question, there's only one thing the Utes can do at the Mountain West Conference Tournament this weekend in Las Vegas to raise their stock. "We should be able to go down there and win three games," said forward Britton Johnsen.

Women Bounced in MWC First Round

March 7, 2002

While the youth and inexperience of the supporting cast had been a bane of the U women's hoops team all year long, it was just as often the inconsistent and uneven effort of the entire roster?the quad of ballyhooed seniors included?that detonated the Utes' season into mediocrity.

Councilman Joins House Rep. Race

March 7, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY?Winston Wilkinson, a Salt Lake County commissioner, has joined the list of Republicans who want to challenge U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, for the 2nd Congressional District. Wilkinson is also a member of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee's Board of Trustees.

Bush Raises $20B Cap on NY Relief

March 7, 2002

WASHINGTON?President Bush on Thursday delivered the $20 billion in federal aid he promised to seek to help New York recover from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "It is essential that New York City come back, and come back strong,'' Bush said. Bush stood with New York's mayor, the state's governor and its congressional delegation to announce proposed new spending that brought the federal package to nearly $21.

Judge Finds Snake Owner Negligent

March 7, 2002

GREENSBURG, Pa.?A man whose 8-year-old daughter was squeezed to death by the family's 11-foot python while she was home alone was found innocent Thursday of involuntary manslaughter but guilty of endangering the girl's welfare. Robert Mountain, was negligent, but not grossly reckless, in leaving Amber Mountain alone with the snake last August, a judge ruled in the non-jury trial.

European Union Slow to Back Terrorist Raid

March 7, 2002

WASHINGTON?As the United States moves beyond blocking funds of Osama bin Laden's network to include other terrorist groups, America's most important bloc of allies is being less aggressive. The European Union has frozen assets of just two of 28 groups on a U.

U Faculty Serve as Legislators: An Engineer Moves A Little Closer to the Middle

March 7, 2002

Lamont Tyler failed to convince anyone to run for the state House seat in his East Millcreek district. Finally, he declared himself a candidate. This time he was successful. Campaigning and fundraising were tasks the U professor of chemical engineering found formidable, but he still wound up occupying a seat in the state House of Representatives in 1994 and has served all three terms since.

Suicide Bombing Spurs Air Strikes

March 7, 2002

RAMALLAH, West Bank?In a widening conflict, 11 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 injured in fighting Thursday. A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel at the entrance to a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and an Israeli motorist was seriously wounded.