'Unusual' IT error affects multiple pages

Several pages on the Utah State University server were down this weekend as a result of an unusual error. The main index page was dead, affecting at least the counseling, student services and access center pages.

IT system administrator Blake Rich said www.usu.edu has a front-end load balancer through which pages from different areas are served. The issue came as a result of a failure between the load balancer and one of the back-end servers, and the pages would not configure correctly.

The URL would change from page to page, but the error
was consistent. This error is from usu.edu/accesscenter.

“We have extensive monitoring for a variety of failure modes to try to ensure a solid web presence,” Rich said. “This particular issue was a strange one, which didn’t trigger any of our alerts.”

The IT Service Desk has a variety of alerts, from basic alerts if the web server stops responding to metrics that help see how the server is performing. Usually, if a system stops responding, a network monitor will check every minute and alert IT administrators via email or text. Additionally, Rich said sometimes students will call the service desk, but that did not happen this weekend either.

The failure this weekend was the first time that this particular problem has been seen, and it was related to the new load balancer software put in place when the new USU template was launched in July. The template is a framework in which to manage web content. The university server supports three different templates, but many departments are switching over to the newest version.

Student involvement director Linda Zimmerman was one of the first to notice the error Monday morning.

“A student called and made us aware that our website was down, and we called John Reynolds, who does our back-end on our website,” Zimmerman said. “In the meantime, the same student contacted me and let me know the whole system was down. Within two hours, it was up and running again.”

At the same time, student services system administrator Brent Colledge noticed something was off, as well.

“First thing in the morning, I was getting on to do a webpage update,” Colledge said. When he was checking his changes, he received an error code. “I started digging around and found it was on multiple pages, multiple sites… it was unusual.”

Other than the URL, the error was consistent — the same orange-yellow box appeared on the screen at all the different pages. Colledge said it was new, but not remarkable. This was the first error he had seen since the new template was uploaded to the university server.

“It’s been really stable, I think – at least from what I’ve seen,” Colledge said. He hasn’t put any of the student services sites on the new template yet, but will do so this year.

Rich said the IT Service Desk is adding more checks to trigger alerts in case this problem happens again. He encourages anyone who sees an issue that persists more than five or 10 minutes to call the service desk at (435)797-HELP.

“We’re still evaluating what would be the best way to add metric and monitors to ensure that this doesn’t happen in the future,” Rich said.

Grease from Hub blocks septic lines, causes odor

A combination of factors are clogging the Taggart Student Center septic tanks and causing an odor to permeate the first floor.

According to TSC night manager Jeff Brann, the ovens from the Hub expel grease into the septic lines. Normally, this would not be a problem, but because the TSC is so old, the grease forms plugs in the well-worn pipes.

Brann explains that the top of the tank is usually caked with fat.

“Everything’s not flowing the way it ought to,” Brann said. “If it sits there long enough without moving, it starts to smell funky.”

Brann said “butthole” is an accurate description of the smell.

“We complain all the time about it,” he said, referring to the custodial staff. “It’s more noticeable later on in the night. We’ve filed multiple work orders for it.”

When the Hub starts to shut down around 9 p.m., there is less water flushing through the pipes, which allows blockages to grow. Brann said Hub customer service manager Anthony Linton is working with the TSC maintenance to find a solution.

“We’re kind of hitting it from a couple different ways, but it’s not going very quick,” he said.

Both the Hub staff and management declined to comment, only saying in an email that, “The Hub has no control over any of the systems in the TSC. Whatever was causing the smell was a TSC issue, and they are the ones that controlled the smell and also the ventilation system. There is nothing our employees can do about it because it was something that had to do with the building, not The Hub.”

Somehow, the Hub manages to maintain its patronage during the septic tank issues. Freshman Robert Pymm said that normally, the Hub smells like “garlic, cheese and hard work.” He studies in the Hub about every other day, but has not been around in the evening to experience the smell.

Brann is seen opening the trap door to the grease-trap vats.

The grease-trap vats are in the same room as several air ducts, which sends air to the hallways on the bottom floor of the TSC. Julie Richins is a staff assistant in the student services office, which sits on the second floor, across from the stairs leading down to the Hub.

“The smell was only on the first floor,” Richins said. “You couldn’t smell it on the second floor, but as you would go down into the first floor, you could smell an awful smell. It was nasty.”

As a short-term solution, TSC maintenance workers will occasionally flush the pipes with water to clear the blockage.

USUSA officers share results of summer collaboration

Utah State University Student Association officers are ready to share the product of four months of collaboration after a controversial election held in April.

The last-minute special election — which garnered the participation of just 236 students —  added the position of Student Alumni Association president to the USUSA Executive Council. Despite a petition from students for a re-vote, USUSA President Trevor Sean Olsen has moved forward with the merger, meeting "a few times" with SAA President Oakman Kennedy over the summer to discuss logistics.

“The bulk of the meetings up to this point were to see who’s advising them, where the budget’s going to be and how to work with the two traditions directors,” he said. “It’s mostly just planning meetings.”

Kennedy said the culture of SAA and USUSA are different, in that SAA directors are not elected and are united by common interests. Some directors in particular were concerned about getting along with programming officers in USUSA, as they both deal with traditions.

"There were fears, but at the end of the day, it's the right move to make," Kennedy said. "I don't think either group is losing."

The funding for the SAA president’s scholarship will continue to come from University Advancement, and beginning next year, the SAA president will receive equal compensation to other USUSA officers. Additionally, the Division of Student Services recently hired development officer Mike Bowen, who – under the direction of student services director James Morales – will be advising Kennedy. Funds for the position will be housed with Bowen.

"There's definitely growing pains," Kennedy said. "Especially with getting charters established for the new position."

Olsen agreed that while there are still kinks to work out, they have an advantage after having the summer to collaborate.

"I think during school, when you've got classes to worry about and work, we couldn't have done what we were able to do, really," Kennedy added.

In addition to the some of the officers meeting over the summer, their advisers – with their new responsibilities – were able to meet and coordinate. In previous interviews, Olsen and Kennedy emphasized that it was important the change happen when it did, despite the low voter turnout.

Some students were concerned about the special election being held during finals week, which likely contributed to the low voter turnout. Just 1.5 percent of the student body voted in the election — nowhere near the 23 percent that voted during the last student election cycle. 63 percent voted in favor of the change, with 37 percent against. Seth Merrill, a senior at the time of the election, authored the petition for a re-vote.

"I felt like USUSA was constantly saying throughout the elections that they valued student voices and wanted everyone to be heard, but when people were bringing this to their attention, they weren't actually listening," he said.

Merrill wasn't impressed with the way the election was carried out, specifically that all the amendments were voted on as one. Olsen, however, wasn't concerned.

“I feel confident that it was the right decision, and I think if the numbers were larger, the percentages would still be the same,” Olsen said. “If there are students who don’t feel they got to voice their opinion on the matter, I’m more than happy to talk with them and see what steps we can take to help them feel comfortable about the decision.”

Aggies fall to Utes in rivalry match-up

The USU Women’s volleyball squad lost to the University of Utah 3-1 on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

This match marks the fourth year in a row the Aggies have fallen to the Utes, their longest-running rivals. The teams met for the 70th time in front of packed bleachers on the Kirby Court in the Wayne Estes Center.

The Utes trailed during the entire first set, but managed to keep up and end the set at 20-25. The Aggies had several close blocks and looked composed compared to the Utes, who were overly aggressive in their passing and serving. On several occasions, the Aggies gently dropped the ball into the gaps in the Utes’ defense.

The Utes stepped up during the second set, leading the Aggies to a score of 23-25.

“They finally lined up in the right spots, started getting some stuff going with the blocks,” said USU head coach Grayson Dubose. “We kept hitting them low, low. We needed to go high, high. It’s tough for us to simulate that in practice, because we don’t have anybody that big.”

Dubose said the Utes “always seem to have gargantuan women.” Indeed, only three USU starters were above 6-foot, while the five of Utah's six starters measured up.

The Aggies couldn’t seem to get under the ball in the third set, which ended 16-25 in favor of Utah. The real breakdown came when hitter Erica Moscoso got caught under a teammate, injuring her own ankle. She walked off and was replaced by freshman Kassidy Johnson.

In the fourth set, the teams started fairly balanced. At 11-15, the Aggies called for a time-out. With the sets at 1-2, this was the last chance for Aggies to make a comeback.

“Great teams don’t make that many errors, and they did that,” said outside hitter Kaylie Kamalu. “It’s just the little things that made a big difference in the game.”

The Aggies came back with power after the time-out, but it wasn’t enough to bounce back. The fourth and final set ended at 19-24, Utah.

USU sided out at .59 percent, marginally missing their goal of .60 percent.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” Dubose said. “We’re getting more competitive and minimizing errors.”

The Aggies played three games last weekend and have three more this coming weekend. Dubose said he is trying to get the team as much match experience as possible.

“We’re figuring it out with trial by fire,” he said.