University Journal: December 2022

T-birds in the Wild

Derek Charles Livingston

THE UJ CREW

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASPEN ENGLISH

COPY CHIEFS

SHAURI THACKER

TARA DOLE

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

EMILY LOERTSCHER

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ANDEN GARFIELD

BRIA HANSEN

DEVAN CALL

LIFE EDITOR

ANDREA RODGERS

SPORTS EDITOR

PARKER HAYNIE

OUTDOOR EDITOR

JARED CLAWSON

NEWS EDITOR

LUKE MCKENZIE

ACCENT EDITOR

TESSA CHESHIRE

REPORTERS

ANTHONY COLASUONO

AUDREY GEE

BROOKLYN RUSHTON

CHEVY BLACKBURN

KALE NELSON

PODCAST DIRECTOR

NATE RISER

GABE SMALL

OPERATIONS MANAGER

MICHELE FOGG •••

“Hi, I’m the new Hayden!”

This is how I’ve been introducing myself to colleagues and students. Immediately, they know who I mean. Hayden Coombs managed SUU News and the University Journal for several years but is now the new Professor of Sports Communication. Everyone loves Hayden, and I can see why. He helped me prepare to take over his position with kindness and humor. I chuckled when he set me up on SUUNews.net with the password NewHayden1234. I figured I’d play along. “Hi! I’m the new Hayden!” And honestly, I’ve had mixed reactions, from the “no one can replace Hayden” glare to the “you’ve got to be kidding” stare when I try to talk shop with his hardcore sports writing students. It’s daunting to step into the shoes of a beloved, talented professor.

So, who is the new Hayden? I’m Michele Fogg. I taught at the College of Southern Nevada for 15 years in the communication department and served as lead faculty over the journalism/media studies program for most of that time. Since I primarily taught online during my last few years, I feel a little rusty returning to the classroom. This job change means I’m prepping again for classes, on campus braving this crazy Cedar City wind (no one warned me) and managing a group of budding journalists as they put together SUU News online and publish the University Journal. It’s exciting!

I have my work cut out for me. But I’m eager to make my own kind of impact. I’m old-school and remember when journalism was about objectivity, fairness and accuracy. For me, there’s no other way, and those fundamentals won’t change. I’m detail-oriented, with ideas and expectations that will maintain standards and maybe even set new ones. While I can be no-nonsense and driven, I’m also a sarcastic jokester who appreciates the camaraderie of a working team. I’m a wife, mother of two and even have a Dole Whip side hustle.

At the SUU News office, I work with students who take reporting, editing and design seriously. It’s refreshing. This news outlet is indeed student-run—by capable and determined prospective journalists who are a product of the many SUU educators diligently preparing them for a successful future.

I’m proud to be a T-Bird and look forward to a great first year and many more!

Michele Fogg

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELE FOGG

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2022

4|faces

of suu

“What is the best compliment you have ever received?”

T-birds in the Wild

10|So

what is the University Journal, anyway?

16|For the love of the Game

25|The Filmmaking BFA

6|The

Hidden Perks of College Clubs

Learn more about the short-term and long-term benefits to extracurricular involvement.

8|ISAIAH

WOODEN

Isaiah Wooden’s journey to SUU.

You probably picked this magazine off the shelf, but where did it really come from?

12|POETRY

ROCKS

Geology major Dillan Bryan uses poetry to manage his difficult emotions in a productive way.

14|SEMESTER

SNAPSHOTS

Photos of life on campus throughout the semester.

How five SUU undergraduates got the opportunity of a lifetime with the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

18|Roaming Art for the Roaming Heart

How two SUU alumni are using their graphic design talent to inspire people to get outside.

22|Crime on campus

SUU Police are required to release crime and safety statistics each year — here’s how.

An exploration of the first semester of the longawaited Filmmaking BFA and students’ hopes for the future.

28|Doing it all

How Derek Charles Livingston stepped forward during the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s time of need.

30|Saying Farewell

FACES OF

What is the best compliment you have ever received?

“I was at the dollar store where the people in front of me were being jerks to the clerk. When they left, I said to her, ‘Just so you know, you’re doing a great job.’ Then, she basically said, ‘Don’t stop being you.’ That was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.”

Hagen Tuft, criminal justice major

andKaitlyneIbay,marketing communicationmajor

“These glasses — somebody said they really liked the frames. I don’t think I’ve ever really been complimented on my glasses before. It’s one of my favorite pairs, too.”

SlaterEmery,mechanical engineering major

“You are everything I want to be and everything I want to be with.”

OF SUU

“Anyone that I really look up to, when they’re like, ‘I’m proud of you. You did a good job.’ That’s probably the best compliment.”

Sierra illustrationNewbold,major

EliePleaseLukau,computersciencemajor(left), Wamana,computersciencemajor(right)

“You are a good person.”

Mingyu Kim, aviation major

“One day, someone told me that I was the kind of person that made them want to feel better and be better.”

“You’re smart. [I’ve heard it] a couple of times, but it still feels good to hear.”

Want to be included in the next edition? Email life@suunews.net for your chance.

The hidden perks of college clubs

Have you ever thought of the short- and long-term benefits of doing something you enjoy from an academic perspective? While extracurricular activities are optional, there are many benefits to being an active participant in them, particularly as a college student.

Southern Utah University has always been an avid promoter of extracurricular activities. The SUU Student Association, the university’s student government organization, and its Student Programming Board, the on-campus event planning group, regularly hold events and club fairs that advertise a variety of opportunities for every student’s interests, cultural engagements and hobbies.

Clubs can improve your personal well-being

Students typically join clubs and organizations to participate in an interest they already enjoy, such as video or board games, music or various forms of art. However, participating in a fun hobby also helps students with their mental health and personal fulfillment.

Extracurriculars give students time to step away from rigorous study. By engaging in an activity that does not require as much mental concentration, students can recharge their brains and return to their work invigorated.

“Let’s be realistic,” said Amber Sui, an SPB assistant director and intern for the Health and Wellness Center. “No one can work on just homework and studying without somehow just shutting down towards the end and not giving your best effort. Psychologically, you need to take breaks.”

When students dedicate time to something they enjoy, they are able to build their motivation. That drive will not only help them in their hobbies but also in their academics and other life pursuits.

“[Involved students] appreciate school for more than just homework, and I have seen the passion start inside them,” said Courtney Glad, the SUUSA vice president of clubs. “I watch them go out and make friends, start initiatives and have something to care about that keeps them going through the hard times.”

Clubs can build a sense of community and belonging

Clubs and extracurricular activities also give students a chance to interact with their peers outside of a classroom setting. They can find people who share the same interests and create meaningful connections.

“People go [to clubs and events] to be with their friends,” said Sui. “They know they’re part of that community.”

Plus, most organizations require creativity and team collaboration, which encourages students to develop and strengthen social skills. While there is a stigma against group projects amongst college students because of the workload imbalance, people in clubs participate because they want to. By working together on a project based on their interests and passions instead of academics, students can develop team building skills and enjoy working with others without the pressure of getting a good grade.

However, some students don’t feel comfortable enough to join a club because they feel shy or are insecure in social situations, especially when interacting with strangers.

“It might seem scary at times, but just remember there are a lot of people here on this campus that are looking out for you,” said Glad. “The second you take a step forward, people will be there to scoop you up and make sure that you feel as involved as possible and as loved as possible. I know that because I’ve experienced that, and I’ve seen it happen with other students. It’s scary to take the first step, but after you take the first step, people will take you from there.”

Clubs can help you develop life skills

A lesser-known but no less important benefit to being involved is the positive impact it will leave on you after you graduate from college.

Because clubs usually take place outside of regular school hours, students can develop lifelong time management skills in order to balance classes, homework and their extracurriculars.

“You have to be more detailed and intentional with how you’re using your time,” Sui said.

By participating in clubs, students can also enhance skills they already have or develop new ones, especially in areas outside of their field of study. By widening their areas of experience, they become more flexible toward the different situations life might throw at them.

“Part of college is to be more of a well-rounded person,” Sui added. “You can excel at this one area in life, but life isn’t going to just be studying. You have to learn how to socialize and work with a team and be a professional.”

These types of skills are especially useful to students trying to enter the workforce or graduate schools, who seek out collaborative, adaptive and versatile individuals for their programs. Involvement in clubs and organizations can build up a good resume, and students can reap the benefits even years later.

Clubs can enhance college life

Being an active participant in clubs and extracurricular activities has no shortage of benefits for a student. They are able to create a balance in their life, enjoying both work and play, rigor and relaxation, socializing and self-discovery.

“School is not everything,” Sui said. “Most of the college experience is getting to know people and getting to know yourself more. You should experience it.”

- Written by Andrea

Rodgers

Where to find a club for you:

• Visit T-Bird Connection through your SUU myPortal account under Resources. It lists school clubs, events and contact information. If there isn’t a club that encompasses your interests, T-Bird Connection also allows you to register your own club.

• SUUSA hosts themed “Meet the Clubs” events every second Friday of the month in the Sharwan Smith Student Center Ballroom.

• Clubs and organizations selfpromote during school and community events such as Paint the Town Red and Forever Red.

• Visit the SUUSA event calendar at www.suu.edu/events.

ISAIAH WOODEN A professional on and off the field

Student-athletes have their hands full; balancing academics and athletics is a full-time job. For star receiver Isaiah Wooden, the journey to Southern Utah University has been a masterclass of balancing responsibilities, obligations and more.

During the 2022 season, Wooden emerged as SUU’s primary threat on offense, leading the team in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns while contributing to the team’s rushing attack. But Wooden’s goal is to be a star off the field, as well.

Growing up in California

Wooden grew up in San Diego, California, with his parents, Prescilla and Roland Wooden. His father served in the U.S. Navy at Naval Base San Diego, where Wooden played football for Helix High School.

Since his sophomore year, Wooden played varsity and worked his way to the starting wide receiver position by his senior season. He posted 922 receiving yards and hauled in 14 touchdowns to help his team win the Open Division State Championship.

“Football is a big thing out there. We have so much talent, but it’s not really seen like that because of the bigger cities like Los Angeles,” Wooden explained. “It’s a whole melting pot with athletes, but we are really known for football.”

The next level

Although Wooden had many accolades, he didn’t receive offers from Division I schools after graduating high school. Utah Tech

University gave him his first opportunity when it was a Division II college in 2019. After having 288 return yards, 177 receiving yards and four total touchdowns in his first season, he decided to transfer to Kent State University.

“It was a drastic change,” said Wooden. “Coming from a school where you are idolized, you play a lot, people know you, and to just leave and go to another school — obviously, the decision wasn’t easy.”

Jumping from a smaller school like Utah Tech to a Division I school such as Kent State was no easy task. Wooden had few opportunities to play for Kent State during the 2021 season. One standout performance was against Bowling Green State University, where he recorded 83 receiving yards and his first career touchdown as a Division I athlete.

After not seeing much playing time, Wooden entered the transfer portal and had the chance to talk to SUU head coach Delane Fitzgerald. Right away, he knew that SUU was where he wanted to continue his career.

“Playing this game, you only have so long, and what I want to do is go to the next level if the opportunity presents itself,” Wooden stated. “That’s why I got into the portal, hoping to find someone that will cherish what I do and what I could bring to the team. I talked to Coach Fitz, and immediately on the phone, I knew this was the guy — this is where I needed to be.”

Balancing football and academics

Football can be considered a job because of all the team meetings, practices, recovery, preparation and games a player has on their weekly schedule. On top of that, Wooden took 16 credits during football season with plans to graduate in spring 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in communication.

All athletes aspire to make it to the NFL one day, but without a support system, it can be a challenge. Wooden and his teammates hold each other accountable, both academically and athletically.

“I’m trying to get a 4.0, and I am doing pretty good right now,” Wooden said. “We have a whole group together because it’s an 8 a.m. class, and [we] let each other know that we have to go to this class and be the model student-athlete.”

Support that keeps him going

Wooden’s story wouldn’t be the same without his wife, Aunesty. She and Wooden began dating before he transferred to Kent State in 2021, and for nearly three years, she has been his best friend and biggest supporter. Aunesty was there for him throughout the transferring process and the two got married in March 2022.

It has not been the easiest year for the Thunderbirds on the gridiron; through eight weeks, the team has gone 3-5. Though improved and far from last year’s single-win season, SUU lost by an average of 5.4 points during a five-game losing streak. Hitting a lull in the middle of the season takes its toll on players, physically and mentally. Aunesty helps Wooden stay levelheaded through the hard times that student-athletes endure.

“I go home after a game, and I just feel like I am rambling about what happened,” Wooden stated. “But sometimes, I realize that she doesn’t want to hear this, and it helps me get off of football.”

Next step

While it may be uncommon for SUU football players to be drafted to the NFL, it’s not entirely unheard of. Since 2016, NFL teams have drafted three football players from SUU’s program, and Wooden plans to be the next.

“There are a lot of people on the team that want to go to the next level,” Wooden said. “It all starts right now with accountability and responsibility. Basically, doing what you have to do without anyone telling you.”

Although Wooden is set to graduate this spring, he has a year left of eligibility. His final year at SUU will be the biggest balancing act he will have to perform. Working on a graduate degree while putting his best efforts on tape for NFL scouts is what Wooden aims to do.

- Written by Chevy Blackburn

So what is the University Journal, anyway?

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you picked up this magazine from a stand or shelf somewhere on the campus of Southern Utah University. For years, the University Journal has been a source of news for the SUU community — but where did it all begin?

SUU’s student-run media began before the school was even called SUU. The original student newspaper, labeled “The Student,’’ was written and produced in the 1920s by the college yearbook staff. Back then, SUU was the Branch Agricultural College, or BAC. The acronym prompted the newspaper’s second name in the 1940s: “The Bacian.” When the school became the College of Southern Utah and adopted a new mascot, the newspaper renamed itself to “The Thunderbird.”

Finally, in 1992, the school was granted university status and officially became Southern Utah University, and the University Journal was born. The then newspaper was printed every Monday and Thursday of the academic year.

“This is a paper for everyone at SUU,” wrote Vale White, the University Journal’s editor back in 2006. “Although we welcome input and opinion from the community, this is an SUU newspaper first. Your voice is encouraged and welcome here.”

Then, on Sept. 6, 2017, SUUNews.net was launched. The world was moving online, so the University Journal followed. Beginning that school year, daily stories were posted online and shared to social media, and the University Journal transitioned to a monthly magazine rather than a newspaper.

Today, the University Journal is a printed publication written, edited and designed entirely by undergraduate students at SUU News twice per semester. The student journalists still write and publish digital articles on the SUU News website, but University Journal stories are longer and focus on specific students, faculty or organizations at SUU. Reporters have also covered more heavy-hitting topics such as sexual assault, student wage rates and Cedar City’s housing crisis.

“At SUU News and the University Journal, we expect all to approach the duties of this trust with fervor,” says the SUU News mission statement. “We expect all to carry forth the banner of truth and the willingness to let all the people know it. While doing so, we expect the staff to seek excellence at all times: excellence in writing, in design, in photography, in reporting truth.”

- Written by Aspen English

POETRY ROCKS

Students at Southern Utah University are so much more than what they show on the surface. Many have hobbies, dreams and ideas that their classmates, professors and even family don’t know about. The way they outwardly present their lives can also conceal difficulties that they battle unnoticeably.

Seemingly average freshman Dillan Bryan is one of these students. His path to success appears clear and direct: he intends to study geology to prepare him for his future career as a professor of mineralogy. However, Bryan’s life is far more complicated than just studying rocks. He jokes that he lives a double life because he likes to spend his free time exploring his other interest: poetry.

Bryan first discovered his love for the art form in high school. As a young student, he struggled with his writing endeavors before finding solace in the simplicity of poetry thanks to an inspirational English teacher.

“At first, I felt I was incapable as a writer. I went for poems because they were brief, and I knew I would be able to finish,” Bryan said. “I used it as an emotional release. It allowed me to express my feelings when I was in a depressive or angry mood.”

Using poetry to purge his emotions became a powerful healing process that he turned to on a regular basis. Bryan used writing to cope with loneliness, anxiety and depression.

“Realizing I was dealing with intense emotions that often left me feeling completely and totally alone, the only thing I had to resort to was myself,” Bryan said. “I read a quote once that went along the lines of ‘Write the words you need to read.’ So I did. I figuratively bled out on those pages and learned about myself. Writing allowed me to leave the hard feelings on paper instead of in my mind.”

Bryan adamantly encourages those struggling with managing their emotions to find a coping mechanism that works for them individually. Any personal activity that someone can immerse themselves in, such as exercise or music, can be a powerful way of calming the soul.

Bryan intends to minor in English with an emphasis in creative writing so that he still gets experience in both of the fields he’s passionate about.

While Bryan’s two worlds seem disconnected, he actually believes that his writing and academic pursuit of geology interact very closely. According to Bryan, his love for both geology and writing are built on the foundation of a will to understand the world.

“Most of the time, my brain thinks in poetry, but the feeling has to be strong enough for full phrases to form,” Bryan said. “When I am learning about geology or other scientific topics, I find connections in the way the world works and the way I process the emotions I experience. The two collide, and I learn about the world we live in, the people around me and myself.”

Learning hasn’t always been easy for Bryan. Growing up homeschooled, he relied heavily on educating himself on difficult topics. This contributed in part to his feelings of loneliness but also helped him to develop independence and intrinsic motivation. This drive, combined with the encouragement of his English teacher, pushed Bryan to apply for SUU despite having very little education in a public setting.

When he transitioned to university, Bryan promised himself to start focusing on constructive thoughts that would lift him up. He was intimidated and nervous at first, but the change of scenery helped him to distance himself from the feelings of his past and grow both as a person and a writer. He noticed a positive shift in his poems as he quickly adapted to his new life and fell in love with the college community.

In addition to Bryan’s studies, he is also an honors student, an intramural volleyball player and the secretary of the Geo Club. These keep him busy, but Bryan still manages to set time aside for writing. He likes to journal regularly before going to bed to clear his mind and provide ideas for future poems.

Bryan has a goal to publish at least one refined body of writing in his lifetime, whether that be a short story, novel or collection of poems. He hasn’t received an opportunity to publish a large work yet, but in an effort to get on the path, Bryan has submitted five poems for consideration in the 2023 edition of Kolob Canyon Review as an attempt to share his work with the SUU community.

“I want people to see my poetry and understand that, even though certain obstacles may seem insurmountable, there’s always a way to overcome it or find a new trail to follow. I never intended to write, but here I am today, sharing how writing could have quite possibly saved my life,” Bryan said. “I want to encourage my community to always be open to the possibility of positive change in cases that seem impossible.”

- Written by Kale Nelson

SEMESTER SNAPSHOTS

For the love of the game

Southern Utah University women’s soccer head coach Kai Edwards has spent many years of his coaching career as a volunteer, viewing no opportunity as too small or unimportant. Whether it’s coaching a U8 team or traveling across the world to learn from the best coaches, Edwards is all about one thing: saying yes.

His path to a successful season started with a canceled practice and an expensive bus ticket home.

When Edwards was in junior college, he essentially stumbled upon an opportunity to coach. His team was scheduled to train at a sports complex, but when he showed up, he found out that his training had been canceled. Instead of taking the bus back home, he stuck around and helped with the training of a girls’ club that was on a field next to his. He returned the next week to continue helping, and the head coach asked if he would like to assist them at a tournament the following weekend. Edwards said yes and ended up helping coach the girls to a championship.

After graduating, he followed his thengirlfriend to her hometown of Bellingham, Washington. Before he moved there, he called the Division II school in town, Western Washington University, and asked if he could help coach their soccer team. They told him they didn’t have any money to pay him, but he was welcome to volunteer. This is where he fully immersed himself in soccer.

“I was volunteering for Western, playing semipro in Canada, coached a middle school girls team, coached for Blaine High School boys team, helped coach two club teams and was training a team in Seattle,” said Edwards.

Edwards had set a goal for himself: he was going to be a Division I head soccer coach by

the time he was 30. In the spring of 2009, he accomplished that goal; at just 28 years old, he took over as the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Saint Mary’s College of California. While there, he led his team to multiple winning seasons and seven top 25 wins.

Over time, Edwards formed a relationship with Franz Hoek, a previous assistant coach for FC Barcelona and many Dutch national teams. Hoek would set up tours with 15 or so coaches, and they would travel overseas to experience things that they had never thought possible.

“Franz could get you in rooms that you should have never been in,” said Edwards. “I sat in a room with the director of methodology for FC Barcelona, and he gave us the ‘why’ of everything at Barcelona for four plus hours.”

He has taken multiple trips to Europe and slept on friends’ couches while learning from some of the most experienced minds in all of soccer.

“A couple years ago, I went to Croatia. I had a buddy who was the youth director at Dinamo Zagreb, the top club in all of Croatia,” said Edwards. “I slept on his couch. I took their U11 and U18 coaches out for drinks and picked their brains about everything having to do with soccer.”

After a few different volunteer jobs and traveling overseas, Edwards got a call from the head coach at the University of California, Berkeley. He informed Edwards that his volunteer was leaving, and he would love Edwards’ help. “I want you to do well here, and then move on” is what the head coach told Edwards. So, when it came time to interview for the position at SUU, Edwards knew it was what he wanted.

Edwards took the job at SUU and was initially just grateful for the opportunity.

“At the time, I was only the third or fourth Black coach on the women’s side to ever have two Division I coaching jobs,” said Edwards.

Now that he has been on campus for three years, he has his sights set on breaking records and winning championships.

In the 2022 season, Edwards did just that. The Southern Utah women’s soccer team set nine team school records, including most wins in a season with nine, most goals scored in a season with 31 and most consecutive wins in a season with five.

“I love to win. I love the process it takes to win,” Edwards said. “I am preparing my troops, you are preparing your troops — let’s see who did it better. It is the ultimate mano a mano for me.”

Few men can say that they have done everything in their power to achieve their dreams, but Edwards can. He has truly dedicated his life to soccer, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

-

Written by Parker

Haynie

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAMRI CORDERO

Roaming art for the Roaming Heart:

Kamri Cordero and Audrey Tran have always been fond of the outdoors, and today they funnel that passion into a growing business that helps people keep a little piece of the wild with them always.

Roaming Heart is a Utah-based, online company that produces stickers, apparel and other memorabilia inspired by the great outdoors. Put in their own words, Roaming Heart is a “community of adventure-seekers, nature lovers and inspired individuals seeking to live their life in meaningful ways.”

The business was created by Cordero and Tran in 2019 with the mission of inspiring people to get outside, experience nature and discover their unique purpose. Each product is crafted with passion, aiming to capture the essence of the wild and the special feelings that nature has to offer.

The pair grew up in the Salt Lake Valley, where they became best friends in high school in 2014. The two engaged in lots of hiking and biking together, as well as kayaking, caving, rock climbing and rafting. Cordero began studying strategic communication while Tran studied hotel, resort and hospitality management in 2017 when they both came to Southern Utah University.

A major reason they decided to attend SUU was due to its established branding of being the most outdoorsy school in the nation, so when they arrived in Cedar City, they spent every weekend exploring the outdoors in its vicinity. Both graduated in April 2020 with outdoor recreation in parks and tourism minors.

“The outdoors are natural medicine for me. I feel so much peace and calm when I can go outside and get some fresh air,” said Cordero. “There is so much beauty in being outside and experiencing all it has to offer. The outdoors are quite literally magical, and if you sit there long enough, you begin to see more of that magic.”

It was this very magic that the friends spent so much of their time chasing during their time at SUU. While they loved their classes — one of which was about graphic design — and university events, the highlights of their three years in Cedar City were their outdoor explorations. They looked forward to their weekend road trips, on which they would collect stickers from places visited to remember them by.

There were times, however, when stickers were unavailable or the art on those that were was just not what the friends were looking for. Their solution: create their own.

“We decided to start making our own designs inspired by the places that we roamed,” Cordero remembered. “It started with a lot of desert landscapes, and then we got into state stickers, wildflowers, niche stickers like rock climbing and skiing, all because of those road trips and that time at SUU that we got to explore and get outside.”

When a friend in SUU’s Sustainability Club approached them with an opportunity to sell some of their stickers at a club-held “Bargain Bash” in the spring of 2019, they agreed. They gathered some of their designs, set up a booth and ended up making over $300 in an hour. That is when they decided to begin marketing their talents.

“We worked between sketches in sketchbooks or doodles in class and newfound graphic design skills to make our first 20 sticker designs, two shirt designs and a hat to prepare for our debut event,” Tran recalled. “The student body reacted so positively, and we almost sold out of some of our sticker designs that first day. From then on became the birth and slow growth of Roaming Heart, whose first loyal fans and customers were kindred-spirited SUU students.”

They have since expanded their range of products to include hats, hoodies, pins, patches, keychains and more, all inspired by their travels. From traveling to new places whenever they need to spark the next line of designs, Cordero and Tran have products representing coasts, canyons, deserts, mountains and every place in between. Cordero’s personal favorite line, which happens to be their biggest and most memorable, is the “Scenic Route Collection,” a compilation of designs inspired by a 10-day road trip through Alaska.

The future of the company looks bright. Initially crafting each product painstakingly by hand, they now have over 8,000 sales, 3,400 followers on Instagram, @roamingheart, and have shipped their products to every state in the

How two SUU alumni are using their graphic design talent to inspire people to get outside

T-birds in the Wild

U.S. They have shared their products and story with thousands of people at conferences, conventions, markets and events all across Utah and Arizona. Their products can be found in gift shops and national parks throughout the country.

Tran remembers being told at an entrepreneurship conference that their idea would never be profitable, but as the pair learn more about running a business each day, they look forward to fulfilling some big dreams for Roaming Heart.

“We have always had the hope that Roaming Heart would become more of a community than just a company,” said Tran. “As a community of adventurers, we feel we have a responsibility to be good stewards over the natural places wherein we adventure.”

One major goal for the two is to someday create a nonprofit or similar organization that will help them give back to the outdoors. They also hope to open an outdoor sanctuary that allows people to learn about the outdoors in a safe, motivational environment.

“A big impact that I have noticed from running Roaming Heart is that our communities seem a lot more grateful for the outdoors and aware of the effects they have on it. We share a lot about leaving no trace and what you can do to help,” Cordero said. “It’s super cool to take that knowledge we gained from our outdoor recreation minors and share it so in turn the whole community is staying educated about the outdoors and their effects.”

Tran is currently serving a mission in Vietnam for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leaving Cordero temporarily operating Roaming Heart alone, but she remains optimistic about the company and what it is doing.

The business released its Halloween line in October, and Cordero looks forward to what is in store next — a potential June 2023 summer launch. Roaming Heart products can be found at roamingheart.co.

“We love hearing how our art is part of people’s adventures, their gifts and connections to others, their memories of their greatest adventures,” Tran said. “We love seeing how Roaming Heart truly has inspired people to go live their adventures and leave the people and places around them better.”

- Written by Jared Clawson

Crime on campus

A review of the 2022 fire and safety report

As with many other college institutions around the country, having an idea of the crime rates near campus is considered essential knowledge for students.

The Southern Utah University Police Department, guided by the Title IX Office, has helped provide this information on an annual basis by creating a yearly fire and safety report. The report, which is required by law for all state colleges and universities to complete, was released to SUU students and faculty on Sept. 28.

While the report may go unchecked in students’ email inboxes after it’s released, the 84-page document details the statistics and standards for both crime and fire safety for the previous year. The statistics include violent crimes such as murder, manslaughter, rape and aggravated assault and other, more simple charges such as liquor, drug and weapon law violations.

SUU Police Chief Rick Brown explained that the basic aspects of the report are governed by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act.

The Clery Act states that universities must include four main categories of crime reporting in their annual report, including criminal offenses, hate crimes, Violence Against Women Act offenses and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action.

The criminal offenses category includes homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson. The mandatory hate crimes include theft, simple assault, intimidation and vandalism of property.

Meanwhile, VAWA offenses include any kind of domestic or dating violence as well as stalking. The final category includes any arrest or referrals made to students involving weapons, drugs or liquor abuse.

For a university to accurately follow the Clery Act, it must include all four of these categories in its annual report. Universities also have the option to include crimes that are not mandatory on the report, such as simple assaults that do not fit under the hate speech category.

“You have the minimum requirements, but you can put in any crime you want as long as you include the minimum,” Brown said.

According to this year’s fire and safety report, the total instances of crime filed under the Clery Act went up from 36 instances in 2020 to 59 in 2021. Of the 59 incidents, 29 were due to liquor law violation referrals.

Brown believes that SUU is still one of the safest universities in the state.

While there were no instances of domestic violence or rape, there was a single case of stalking. During the previous year, there were two rape cases, one case of domestic violence and three stalking incidents.

Among the incidents not required to be reported under the Clery Act, there were eight simple assaults, 56 medical emergencies, three instances of trespassing and 51 traffic-related instances on campus in 2021.

According to the monthly reports for 2022, there have been three simple assaults, 53 medical emergencies, five instances of trespassing and 66 traffic-related instances during the year, as of Sept. 29.

However, with only five criminal offenses, no instances of violent crimes reported and many of the documented crimes being alcohol-related in 2021, Brown believes that SUU is still one of the safest universities in the state.

“In the past, we have always been on the lower end of crime rates compared to the other universities,” Brown said. “So, yes, I think that we have continued that trend of being safer that way.”

Brown believes it is important for students and faculty to read through the report to better understand both what is happening on campus and how to find available resources.

“Part of that report is not just what has happened but what are the resources available on campus,” Brown said. “So, as a faculty member, if you’re dealing with a student who has some questions, you can say, ‘Hey, have you tried going to the police? Have you tried going to CAPS? Have you tried going to the dean of students? Did you know there’s a tutoring office?’ There are all of these kinds of resources right here.”

According to Brown, the report is created in an ongoing process, and when crimes are filed, they are quickly recorded in the safety report.

“It’s something that we work on all year long,” Brown said. “Every morning when I go through the reports, I flag which ones need to be counted in that data.”

The police department, the Office of Equal Opportunity & Clery Compliance and the Title IX Office also meet once a month to review the statistics and to determine what should be counted in the report.

Total Crimes: 29

Liquor Law Violation

Drug Abuse Violation

Total Crimes: 54 2021

Theft

Motor Vehicle Theft

Liquor Law Violation

Rape

Drug Abuse Violation

Burglary

Stalking

Fondling

Criminal Offenses

Arrests

Disciplinary Referrals

VAWA Offenses

Drug Abuse Violation

Stalking

Burglary

Drug Abuse Violation

Liquor Law Violation

The report is heavily utilized by students that are considering university enrollment to gauge the safety of the campus.

“They would say, ‘We looked at this report, and we’ve seen the low crime rate around here, and that’s one of the reasons we came here,’” Brown said. “It’s definitely a factor for a lot of parents.”

Brown wants students to emphasize respect in their daily lives. He feels that simply being respectful can be effective in keeping the crime rate low.

Liquor Law Violation

“If people respected each other, that would take care of sexual assault, that would take care of theft, that would take care of burglary, criminal mischief, assaults — all of that stuff can be resolved through respect,” Brown said.

The most recent fire and safety report can be found on the SUU website at suu.edu/clery. Specific crime statistics can be found on page 74. Students and staff may also view monthly crime logs at suu.edu/police/monthly.html

- Written by Luke McKenzie

Southern Utah University’s long-awaited Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking program is finishing its first semester.

The program is an integration of art and design, communication, media, English, music and theatre, as well as content unique to the discipline of film. Notable photographer and producer Harun Mehmedinovic, English professors Todd Petersen and Kyle Bishop, and communication professor Bill Kershisnik currently head the major and teach a majority of the classes.

This first cohort of 19 students will be different from most future ones because many are sophomores, juniors and seniors who have been working on different majors throughout their time at SUU. This semester, each of these students submitted a portfolio of their past work for faculty review, but future cohorts will take a class that will serve as their audition for the program.

“The entire time I have been here [at SUU], I’ve been preparing for the film program,” Sarah Hutchings, a senior in the program, stated. “We’re the guinea pigs, and I’m okay with that, and I understand that this is going to be a learning experience for everyone.”

The filmmaking BFA: Reviewing the past and looking towards the future SUUFILM

Students like Hutchings have been working to hone their filmmaking skills on their own through campus jobs and video production classes.

Carson Blickenstaff, another SUU senior and prior applied mathematics major, is a member of the Thunderstruck Film

Club, a student-led club that votes on a script and works together to create it throughout the semester. This is another way students have been getting a taste of film outside of the program. Blickenstaff is currently working with the club to create a short film written by another member of the cohort, Tatelyn Clark.

“The club is operating on a level where you are able to learn the basics and shadow other students as they do production,” Blickenstaff said.

It is involvement like this that has propelled many students out of the beginning stages of camera operation and into a basic understanding of how making a short film works. The club has served as both an introduction and as a space for continued practice while new and experienced students alike wait for the program to take off.

As they have worked through the semester, many students attend all of their classes with one another. With each class, bonds are formed and the cohort begins to form relationships that will continue to benefit them long after graduation.

Mehmedinovic explained that filmmaking is not the place to be introverted. Because film is the most collaborative art form, it is about who you know.

“That’s one of the great things about film school,” Mehmedinovic said. “Everyone who comes in should become good friends with one another, and they need to work together and support one another because it’s not a one person situation out in the field.”

Madeline Bradley, a junior in the filmmaking program, is looking forward to the connections she will form with her classmates. Because she has always been a solo filmmaker, she is excited for the team aspect of future projects.

“I’m really looking forward to everyone settling into their personal niches and then everyone coming together to work on films,” Bradley said.

As the semesters move forward, teamwork will become more important as thesis films are pitched to and selected by the class and the cohort is placed into teams to fulfill the vision of each project.

However, there is a notable threat to the smooth continuation of the program: the building.

The new classroom building has been in progress since June 25, 2021, as setbacks relating to COVID-19 and supply shortages postponed construction. With the new building comes a large amount of equipment for the program, including filming kits for students to check out, lighting, a foley stage and film cameras.

“The building is a space where the concepts can be taught and then dialed in once [they] enter the industry,” Tiger Funk, the assistant vice president of facilities management, explained.

Many of those involved in the program have expressed both their frustration and excitement over eventually getting their hands on the equipment that is currently waiting for a home.

However, despite delays, SUU is unique in the sense that film buildings and film programs are rarely created at the same time. Many other programs use whatever space they have available, often moving in and out of temporary settings and working outside of a professional environment.

“There are maybe five or six film schools across the country that have proper facilities,” Mehmedinovic said, “and that’s something I’m looking forward to — I’m not speaking theoretically, I’m actually showing people what to do.”

The current schedule for the building has faculty and equipment moving sometime in March and April, respectively. If all goes to

plan, classes should begin in the summer, and the filmmaking program will be able to utilize the space in fall 2023. This means that the program will no longer be spread across campus, and students will have the opportunity to use the equipment.

The future of the film program is easily summed up by Hutchings: “We’ve been waiting for this major for years; we’re ready to go!”

- Written by Audrey Gee

Andrew Whyman, Sam Howarth, Jake Norton, Naomi Ogden, Sarah “Graveey” Hutchings, Elias McDaniel, Carson Blickenstaff, Megan Newbold, Rhys Kaiser, Madeline Bradley, Lilly Sowell, Sophia Molino, Tatelyn Clark, Alyx Fryer, McKenna Murphy. Not pictured: Maddison Fait, Bailey Giles, Ambrose Hu, Sally Johnstun

Group picture from left to right:

Doing it all: Derek Charles Livingston steps up for the Shakespeare Festival

It’s no easy job to direct a Tony Award-winning theatre festival, much less with minimal warning … but that’s exactly what Derek Charles Livingston had to do this year at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

On May 25, 2022, it was announced by the Utah Shakespeare Festival that Brian Vaughn was stepping down from his position immediately. From 2011, Vaughn operated as the festival’s coartistic director, and in 2017, he began to perform the role alone. No direct reason was given for Vaughn’s departure, but it was a choice he made himself.

Upon Vaughn’s departure, a decision had to be made as to who would fill his position while a nationwide search took place to find a replacement. Livingston was chosen to lead in the interim — in addition to his existing roles as the director of new play development and an actor in the season.

“When Brian left, it made sense for either Tanya Searle, who is the festival stage manager/artistic associate, or me to step into that position because our work had been supporting Brian continuously and in everything for the last year,” said Livingston.

Staff supported Livingston in taking the position for the meantime, and he began fulfilling his duties in all three of his roles within the festival in June — right as the 2022 season began.

“I was humbled and a little frightened because it’s such an important responsibility,” said Livingston. “Not that I didn’t think I was up to the task, but I know what a special place this is for our community, for our patrons, for the state of Utah, for the artists who work here, and I am very mindful of caretaking. Stewardship is very important to me.”

In balancing all of his duties, Livingston lost sleep, ate poorly and couldn’t find time to go to the gym. He relied on the festival staff community to see him through.

“I can’t do what I do without the support of staff, and I particularly have to point out the great relationship I have with the artistic associate Tanya Searle, to whom I can turn to, with whom I have conversations about everything,” said Livingston.

USF isn’t Livingston’s first job on the managing side of theatre. He has produced many new plays and has worked as a theatre producer in San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York.

Livingston did his undergrad at Brown University, where he studied under Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel. Vogel encouraged Livingston to try his hand at directing instead of focusing solely on acting.

“If you look at a list of the last 25 years of Pulitzer Prizewinning playwrights, about half of them studied with Paula,” said Livingston. “That’s how good she is.”

After finishing college, Livingston worked as a casting associate for off-Broadway theatre Playwrights Horizons and was there when Stephen Sondheim developed “Assassins” during his tenure, as well as other shows like “Once on This Island.”

“I was a person for the original production to whom they set the lights because I was the only African American on staff who was the same color as the actors,” said Livingston.

Livingston was even seated behind James Lapine, one of the creators of “Falsettos” and “Into the Woods,” at an offBroadway opening night.

After his work in New York, Livingston took a number of years off before returning to acting. He went to film school at UCLA and followed that step of his education by spending many years working in the theatre industry.

At the Shakespeare Festival, Livingston has yet to make many artistic decisions for the 2022 or 2023 seasons since all of the shows were decided under Vaughn’s direction. Instead, he has focused his attention on deciding the 2024 season.

“Right now, we’re looking at 2024, and I can’t tell you what that’s going to be, but that’s where I’ll have the most influence

in terms of what’s going to happen,” said Livingston. “I cannot say even looking at that and spearheading that, that I will be looking to make any sort of radical changes.”

While the search for a new artistic director has not begun, Livingston has not yet decided if he would like to be up for consideration. He has strongly advocated having conversations with stakeholders, longtime patrons and long-term staff members to create a job description.

“If, when I look at the outcome of those conversations and those focus groups, and I’m not the person, it’s going to be very hard,” said Livingston. “But, I also recognize that that is the truth, and that is how things happen in the real world.”

More than anything else, Livingston tries to advocate for people to experience live theatre, particularly at the festival.

“It’s a really great opportunity to see world-class entertainment at an unheard of price in a beautiful setting, and you should take advantage of it,” said Livingston.

- Written by Tessa Cheshire

Saying farewell

The sad reality of an undergraduate student-run media publication? They all leave eventually! In December 2022, SUU News and the University Journal are saying goodbye to three longtime staff members who have left their mark on the Journal and all of Southern Utah University.

JARED CLAWSON - Outdoors Editor

Jared Clawson got his start at SUU News in fall 2021 when Hayden Coombs, former operations manager of the University Journal, recruited him from the news practicum class.

“Working in journalism has given me the opportunity to explore more of campus that I wouldn’t have otherwise,” Clawson said. “Plus, where else do you get paid to go on and write about outdoor adventures?”

Clawson will graduate with a degree in communication and a minor in outdoor recreation. He wants to work in adventure media in order to combine his two passions: writing and the great outdoors.

PARKER HAYNIE - Sports Editor

Parker Haynie has always loved sports. An established fan of football and basketball, Haynie started working for SUU News as a reporter in January 2020 after taking Coombs’ intro to sports writing class.

“This job has taught me so much about how the sports media world works,” said Haynie. “I’m lucky to have gotten this type of practical experience working with SUU News.”

Haynie will graduate with a degree in communication with an emphasis in media studies. He hopes to continue working in the sports world and one day have the nation’s top-rated sports podcast.

NATHAN RISER - Podcast Editor

After taking a few classes in audio production, Nathan Riser found himself being introduced to SUU News by the organization’s former podcast editor, Jadon Lamphear. Although he is a philosophy major, Riser found his true passion working with audio and film production.

“I have loved every second of my time here at SUU,” Riser said. “Learning audio production also helped me co-found the Film Club, which is what I want to do long-term.”

Because SUU’s film major is brand new this semester, Riser will graduate with a philosophy major and a minor in economics. He hopes to begin a career in the filmmaking industry.

- Written by Aspen English

NATHANRISER