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January 15, 2010, Volume 204 >> Number 80 >> 40 cents >> iowastatedaily.com >> An independent newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890 FRIDAY

By Alexander Hutchins,Daily Staff Writer

The FIRST LEGO League event will bring children from across Iowa to the ISU campus Saturday to explore transportation and practical applications of science and engineering.

The FIRST LEGO League event has been held

in Iowa for about nine or 10 years, said Brandon Newendorp, graduate student in mechanical engineering. Newendorp is an event coach who helps the teams at competition time and helps organize the seven regional qualifiers.

Newendorp had been working in the FIRST

By Alexander HutchinsDaily Staff Writer

The state legislature, now in its fifth day of session, faces se-vere budgetary confinements and a shortened 80-day session.

Gov. Chet Culver kicked off the session with his address Tuesday, outlining his goals for the state legislature. Steffen Schmidt, professor of political science, wrote in an article for the Des Moines Register that Culver remained positive in the face of a difficult situation for the state, likely due to the upcoming gubernatorial race, in which Culver is likely to face steep competition from former Gov. Terry Branstad.

Culver promoted maintain-ing government support of edu-cation through the budgetary shortfall, a move Schmidt said was wise as a piece of promo-tion.

Schmidt was dubious about how well Culver’s lofty goals will be achieved in the current eco-

nomic climate.“Combining good policy

and good politics is the hardest thing to do,” Schmidt said.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, associate professor of econom-ics, spoke positively of the up-coming legislative session de-spite the 80-day duration and budgetary concerns.

Quirmbach said the main focus of the session will be on budget issues.

“We have a steep falloff in revenues,” Quirmbach said in a phone interview with the Daily.

Cutting spending is a major priority, but the senator said he would focus on maintaining the state’s quality of services while considering the cuts.

“We’ll also be examining tax credits,” Quirmbach said.

Quirmbach was one of two senators to vote against the Iowa Film Tax Credit, which he said has cost the state $37- or $38 million.

The Film Tax Credit would be one of the first programs on the chopping block, but Quirm-bach said the legislature would be careful not to cut tax credits that bring real investment to Iowa.

“We’ll have to make cuts I prefer not to make,” Quirmbach said. “Everyone will have to take a share of the pain.”

Quirmbach said he believes Iowa is still in a better position than most other states in the midst of the recession.

No specific funding pledges were mentioned by Culver in his speech Monday.

“Higher education is now forced to cut programs and raise tuition more to keep the univer-

“Team Venom” of Glidden-Ralston school district discusses robot design with judges. FIRST LEGO League is a robotics competition for students age 9-14, originally founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen to promote science, technology and engineering. File Photo: Iowa State Daily

Competitors strive for victory

Legislative session faces budgetary, time constraints

Culver Quirmbach

By Tessa Callender and Kyle PetersonDaily Staff Writers

On Jan. 12, Haiti took a devastating blow when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred, the largest the area has ever experienced. With family and friends still unaccounted for, Haitian students at ISU look to each other for support.

Their stories are diverse.“I was born here and two months after I was

born my mom took me to Haiti. I grew up in Haiti till I was 14 years old,” said Vanessa Philogene, se-nior in journalism and mass communication.

James Smith, graduate in liberal studies, was born in Haiti and came to the U.S. before being adopted.

But they are united by a common bond, and are helping each other through this agonizing pe-riod. Some have heard from family in Haiti.

“I just got word today that my two brothers and my mom, they’re fine.” Smith said.

Others still have not.“A few of my family right now is in Port-au-

Prince and we haven’t heard from them,” said Mikelange Olbel, graduate student in interdisci-plinary studies.

Philogene’s cousin is a doctor in Port-au-Prince at a hospital that collapsed during the quake.

“We still haven’t heard anything,” Philogene said. “She has three children, so we really don’t know.”

But in their adopted home, thousands of miles away, they’re determined to make a difference. The group is encouraging students and com-munity members to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti, and to donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501.

“If Iowa can elect the first black president and fight for same-sex marriage, then Iowa can also be the forefront of the aid to Haiti,” Olbel said.

They’ll be in front of Park’s Library tomorrow from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. raising awareness of the cause. They’re also organizing a canned food and clothing drive for Jan. 19 – Jan. 22. They also em-phasized the need for long-term support,

“This is a time to really help re-build a nation,” said Silentor Esthil-Henderson, senior in history. “There is a positive that can really come out of this tragedy, to tell you the truth.”

The disaster also bonded them to each other.“This experience really brought us together,”

Philogene said.Between them, their slogan has been Pa kriye,

kimbe lafwa, which in Creole, means, ‘Don’t cry, keep faith’.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the people of Haiti are going to get through this, because they’re very strong people,” Smith said.

In the midst of disaster, each student knows brighter times for Haiti lie ahead.

“I know that god makes everything happen for a reason, and he has a purpose for Haiti, and I know his purpose is nothing that is bad or small,” Philogene said. “I know it’s going to be bigger and greater.”

Haiti Earthquake

‘Don’t cry, keep faith’

Mikelange Olbel, graduate student in interdisciplinary studies, and other Haitian students draw on each other for support during a conversation about the Haitian earthquake Thursday. Olbel and the others said they believe that, despite the tragedy, Haitians can still be filled with joy. Photo: Logan Gaedke/Iowa State Daily

Interested in donating?To make a five-dollar contribution, text YELE to 501501 or go to yele.org. Text HAITI to 90999 to donate 10 dollars to the Red Cross, or visit www.cnn.com/impact to make more donations and find out how else you can help aid the recovery from this disaster.

State Government FIRST LEGO League

see STATE on PAGE 8 see LEGO on PAGE 8

Haitian students organize aid efforts in the face of disaster, awaiting word from families, friends

Building a futureISU football coach Paul Rhoads looks ahead to the 2010 season and beyond.

see SPORTS on PAGE 4

Vanessa Philogene, senior in journalism and mass communication, and James Smith, alumnus, share their concern for Haiti’s recovery. Photo: Logan Gaedke/Iowa State Daily