The Forum Issue 2, November 1, 2023

N OV EM B ER 1, 2023

PODCASTS THE FORUM

TWITTER

@WUFORUMMEDIA

FACEBOOK

@WUFORUMMEDIA

INSTAGRAM

@WUFORUMMEDIA

YOUTUBE

WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY FORUM MEDIA

DREW MENIFEE

Outdoor Program trip leader and senior environmental studies major Lilli Eckberg guides a yellow 16-foot raft full of gear along the Colorado River while two students in red life vests look at the scenic views of Moab, Utah on Sept. 16. “That was the first time I've ever done anything like that,” said Clara Miramontes, a senior elementary education major who embarked on the rafting trip. “It was really fun to learn how you function completely disconnected.”

Outdoor Program completes first ever student-led rafting trip

Red rocks ascend from the desert soil towards a cloudless blue sky. Two yellow rafts with “Westminster” stamped on the side float along the Colorado River in Moab, Utah. After paddling through 10 miles of whitewater rapids, the boats finally pull off to a small, scenic beach – accessible only by watercraft.

The trip leaders dock the boats along the river bank and begin passing out gear to students. Within minutes, the kitchen is put up, tents are pitched and students have branched off to enjoy the unique outdoor space.

(Continued on page 3) CAREER READINESS

PERSONALIT Y Q&A

FEATURE

POD CAST

WESTMINSTER CENTER EXPLORES LEADERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

'I DEBATED IF IT WAS WORTH ALL THE HARD WORK': STUDENT-ATHLETE LEFT UNRECOGNIZED AFTER FOURTH-PLACE FINISH

CAMPUS SAFETY AT THE FOREFRONT OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY'S MINDS

BUTTERSLABS BUSINESS OWNER, WESTMINSTER ALUM REFLECTS ON BRAND'S GROWTH

PAG E 4

PAG E 5

PAG E 6

PAG E 8

Find more at wcforummedia.com

2

AT H LET I C S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRODUCTION MANAGER ZIDIA GIBSON MANAGING EDITOR LALISÉ ESHETÉ VIDEO & PODCAST DIRECTOR MADI GODDARD BUSINESS DIRECTOR, SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR KAYLA DIXON ADVISER MATT BAKER EDITORIAL

forumeditor@westminsteru.edu

The first issue of The Forum is free; additional issues cost $1.

Pay to The Forum office.

Content published by The Forum does not reflect official views of Westminster University.

SHANNON BRENNAN

The Westminster University men’s golf team poses after winning a tournament at the Golf Club at Red Rock in Rapid City, South Dakota on Sept. 20. Zach Dallimore, a member of the men‘s golf team and double major in marketing and management, said the new coach is another step in the right direction.

Men's golf team welcomes new coach to the greens

was willing to take on more responsibility, according to Zach Dallimore, a member of the men’s golf team and double major in marketing and management.

Dallimore said he’s seen positive changes and improvement with the team attitude, and that

“You want someone who’s positive, who’s available Westminster University and understands the time Athletics announced David commitment,” Jarrard said.

Tottori as the new men’s golf Jarrard is “confident [the new team coach Oct. 12, according to coach, David Tottori] will bring a press release by Athletics. immense value to our studentTottori is the latest hire to athletes,” according to the press join the team since Denise announcement made by Larson, director of golf, was Athletics. elected to oversee both the Dallimore and men’s and women’s team, Ahlstrom are two players according to a separate who said they have seen a YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO'S POSITIVE, press release on Aug. 18 by silver lining in this process.

WHO'S AVAILABLE AND UNDERSTANDS THE Athletics.

A valuable lesson is learning TIME COMMITMENT. The previous coach how to navigate change, from the last two years according to Dallimore.

SHELLEY JARRARD resigned, leaving the men’s “I think as with anything associate athletic director team without a full-time in life, nothing’s gonna go coach, according to current exactly how it’s initially members of the team. planned, and this was just “[Being] without [a] another piece of adversity coach has been nice because that we’re gonna have to we’ve all kind of got tighter overcome,” Dallimore said. as a unit,” said Andrew Ahlstrom, the new coach is another step in “We never want to rush a Hard work and unity was a golf player on the team and the right direction. process. We want to make sure we another lesson highlighted by junior applied mathematics major.

Shelley Jarrard, the associate get a good fit,” Jarrard said.

Ahlstrom.

“We’ve had to work together, athletic director, said the men’s Jarrard also said there are Even though golf can be we’ve had to communicate more golf team handled adjustments qualifications on the applicant viewed as an individual sport, the with ourselves.” well. page they have to meet, such as team is willing to work hard and Everyone “stepped up,” “Our golf team is wonderful, adequate release time from their cheer each other on, according to assumed a bigger role and they’re great guys,” Jarrard said. other jobs.

Ahlstrom.

JAMES KNIGHT STAFF REPORTER

“A couple of them have [already] gone through coaching changes.

Coaches don’t stay at schools forever and ever. There [are] changes inevitable, but they've been wonderful.”

Jarrard said the university takes hiring seriously.

O U T D O O R RE C RE AT I O N KAYLYNN GONZALEZ

3

which is made possible through a people learn,” Allen said. “They're on the trip because she had no combination of training with full- coming out on these trips with us prior experience with camping or (Continued from page 1) time staff and peer mentorship, and they’re having a great time. rafting.

And through having a great time “That was the first time I've Some sprawl out on the soft according to Verkouw.

“The peer mentorship aspect doing this new activity, they’re ever done anything like that,” sand while others swim in the is vital in passing down the learning.”

Miramontes said. “It was really river. knowledge required to run these Allen said she hopes by fun to learn how you function Isabelle Allen and Lilli Eckberg, both in their third year trips,” Verkouw said in an email. sharing her love of rivers with completely disconnected.”

Other participants said they of leading trips for Westminster “Learning from each other is such other students they will have fun a special and University’s Outdoor Program, completed the first student-led powerful way for student rafting trip.

The Outdoor Program is a leaders to grow THE PEER MENTORSHIP ASPECT IS VITAL community focused space that and develop in IN PASSING DOWN THE KNOWLEDGE aims to connect students to the their skill sets.”

REQUIRED TO RUN THESE TRIPS. Allen said outdoors and to create leadership opportunities for students, she agrees peer AJ VERKOUW according to AJ Verkouw, the m e n t o r s h i p Outdoor Program director is vital to the director of the OP. of “The trips create incredibly success authentic leadership opportunities future Outdoor for student trip leaders,” Verkouw P r o g r a m trips. Allen said she hopes that trying new activities and make were more accustomed to trips said in an email.

Allen, a senior environmental first-year trip leaders, Kiva Call- connections with students they run by the Outdoor Program.

For Drew Menifee, a first-year science major who's been a Feit and Ashlyn Gnoyski, who may not have otherwise.

“I just want it to feel like a outdoor education and leadership commercial rafting guide for four accompanied her on the trip, will continue to lead the Moab rafting group of friends who are going on major, the rafting trip was his years, said she took advantage the river,” Allen said. third trip with the OP. of the leadership opportunities trip in future semesters.

“I was so thrilled that Kiva Some students who Menifee said the rafting trip is offered by the OP when she and Ashlyn were there,” Allen participated in the Moab river different from other trips offered pitched the idea of running a said. “Hopefully, they take that rafting trip said it opened a door by the Outdoor Program, such student-led river rafting trip.

“I knew that we had boats and trip over and lead it next year. It’s for them to meet people they as backpacking or climbing trips, we weren’t running trips,” Allen kind of like the legacy that I get never would have met on campus. because the rafts offer more space Clara Miramontes, a senior to bring gear and food. said. “So [Verkouw] had asked to leave behind at the [Outdoor Program].” elementary education major, Menifee said the extra gear me if there were any trips I was Allen said part of the goal of attended the Moab river rafting allows for better food options, but interested in running, and so I was the trip is to allow participants to trip and said her favorite part was also makes the trip more appealing like, ‘Let's do a rafting one.’” to participants who may not be as Student trip leaders are learn new skills through unique meeting new people.

“Once you get really into familiar with outdoor recreation. responsible for planning, and exciting experiences.

“We hope that is how we help what you’re studying and into “It’s less strenuous,” Menifee preparing and executing the trip, that program it’s hard said. “It makes it more inclusive, to meet other people more interesting, to just a random outside of that,” said person that might go to this Miramontes. “Some school, rather than an outdoor of the people started enthusiast. [school] when I started Menifee said that the trip and it was my first time has a “great balance,” because it’s meeting them.” “made so that outdoor enthusiasts Miramontes said can have a really great time.” the conditions of the Isabelle Allen, a senior trip made it easy for environmental science major and the group to get to trip leader, said she was pleased know each other in a by the overall outcome of the trip. meaningful way.

“More than anything, I'm “I got to know really happy this trip was as people on a much successful as it was,” Allen said. deeper level than I “We don't often have trips [that] would ever get to get completely full. It made me meeting people on happy to see that this trip [was] campus,” Miramontes full and that people were excited about it.”

DREW MENIFEE said.

Senior trip leaders Isabelle Allen (front), a senior environmental science While Miramontes Allen said she hopes the major, and Lilli Eckberg (back), a senior environmental studies, talk to is happy she attended tradition of the rafting trip, “carries each other from their pack rafts on the Colorado River in Moab on Sept.

16. The pair are taking a break from guiding the 16-foot rafts to allow the the trip, she admitted on through coming semesters and younger trip leaders to experience guiding. she was hesitant to go into future years.”

STAFF REPORTER

4

CA REER RE A D I N ES S

Westminster center explores leadership with community conversations

ELLLA CHEMINANT STAFF REPORTER

The Gore Giovale Center for Innovative Leadership collaborates with the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business to assemble panel discussions for students and the Westminster University community to attend.

“The goal of the center is to connect students with community leaders to create hands-on learning opportunities and to foster meaningful conversations,” said Lindsie Smith, the director of the Gore Giovale Center for Innovative Leadership and an adjunct communication professor.

These conversations aren’t just for the students, according to Smith. The center wants to connect with the Westminster University community and have larger level conversations about leadership.

“I really [try to] create broad partnerships across campus with different programs because there’s leadership conundrums we all want to dig into,” Smith said.

Each conversation includes a “post-panel Connections Reception to encourage continued dialogue among attendees and grow professional relationships,” according to the Gore Giovale Center for Innovative Leadership webpage.

The events are free, and students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend, according to the webpage.

“Leadership doesn’t live in one program,” Smith said. “It’s across campus, across disciplines, from communication, to art, to public health, everyone is engaging in leadership.”

ELLA CHEMINANT

Students and faculty gather on the first floor of Florence J. Gillmor Hall during a reception after the Entrepreneurial Leadership Community Conversation held Oct. 5. Director of Gore Giovale Center for Innovative Leadership Lindsie Smith said, “[Leadership lives] across campus, across disciplines, from communication, to art, to public health, everyone is engaging in leadership.”

Ashley Anderson, founder of performance journal and dance criticism blog loveDANCEmore; Ashley Kinney, founder and executive director of nonprofit organization Girl & Her Backpack; Hoang Nguyen, managing partner of Sapa Investments; and Lizzy Da-Silva Agnello, president of Onesta brands.

The panelists shared their experiences in the entrepreneurial world, and gave insight on what it’s like to be a woman in leadership positions.

The next Community Conversation, titled “Leadership and Burnout,” will take place Nov. 9, according to the Westminster campus events webpage.

This discussion will “explore Community Conversations leadership burnout and figure out at what point wellness and as events self-care fall short of addressing A Community Conversation the deeper-rooted issues that on Leadership with an emphasis contribute to burnout,” according on entrepreneurial leaders took to the webpage.

The conversation will be held place on Oct. 5.

The panelists featured were in Florence J. Gillmor Hall from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a

Connections Reception to follow, up and you listen to what people according to the webpage. say to you because everybody brings a different skill set to Advice from community the table,” said Lizzy Da-Silva leaders Agnello, a panelist also present at the Entrepreneurial Leaders Being a leader is about Community Conversation. listening to your team and hearing The other panelists talked different opinions and viewpoints, about their personal leadership according to panelist Hoang styles and reflected on how they’ve Nguyen, who spoke at the Oct. grown in their roles.

5 Community Conversation on “I started building deep entrepreneurial leadership. relationships with each of my Nguyen is running for House [teammates] and volunteers and District 23 in Utah and is the first creating more of a community,” minority woman to run for that said Ashley Kinney, founder and seat, according to her campaign executive director of nonprofit manager and Westminster organization Girl & Her University alum, Janessa Jimoh.

Backpack. “Once our volunteers “Leadership for me has always were able to see more as a person been collaborative,” Nguyen said. that makes mistakes, that made Additionally, Nguyen said them feel more comfortable to she recommends finding a good show up as their full selves and do mentor and role model, and not to good work.” put too much pressure on finding After the conversation, a career path right away.

Agnello said she encourages Being a leader also involves aspiring leaders to take charge. being receptive and evaluating “Be unafraid,” Agnello said. what everyone has to offer, “This is the time if you’re ever according to the panelists. going to try something.”

“You lead from the bottom

5

P ERS O NA LI T Y Q&A

'I debated if it was worth all the hard work': Student-athlete left unrecognized after fourth-place finish

impact me because I’ve already throwing coaches in the world.” accomplished this for myself,” Dan John, volunteer throwing Malouf said.

“So that was very coach for the Westminster track Emily Malouf, a senior and field team, said Malouf is sociology major and public beneficial to hear.”

Despite Malouf not garnering a diligent worker, one who any health minor, placed fourth in as much traction as she thought coach would want to work with. women’s discus throw at the NCAA Division II track and field national championship on May 28 at Colorado State University Pueblo. Malouf said [DAN JOHN] IS A BIG REASON she “definitely felt hard work went WHY I'M AT THE LEVEL I AM unrecognized” after her win.

TODAY [...]. I'M TRAINED BY “I feel like track is a sport ONE OF THE BEST THROWING where it’s hard to appreciate it COACHES IN THE WORLD. until you do it,” Malouf said.

Malouf said she was sad about EMILY MALOUF the lack of recognition from senior sociology major Westminster University because she felt like she and her other teammates helped make a good name for the university.

“I debated if it was worth all “It’s like buy low, sell high,” the hard work, coming back and she deserved, she said she is everything staying the same as if grateful for the coaches who John said. “She’s always early, nothing happened,” Malouf said. helped her grow into the athlete always asks for extra work, so I realized how amazing she is and Words of encouragement she is today.

“I’ve had the great opportunity what an honor it has been to helped revive her joy for track, to work with Dan John,” Malouf coach her.” according to Malouf.

John said he hopes Malouf “My mom told me if I said. “He is a big reason why truly loved the sport, then I’m at the level I am today […]. continues to pursue discus the unrecognition shouldn’t I’m trained by one of the best throwing because she can become COLE KADOGUCHI STAFF REPORTER

very good. No matter what she decides to do, John said he knows she will be successful because of her continuous positive mindset.

Addie Gardner, a senior international business major, said Malouf has been one of her best friends since starting at Westminster.

No matter how negative a situation is, Malouf will always be kind-hearted and make people around her feel heard and loved, according to Gardner.

“Emily is genuinely the biggest ball of sunshine,” Gardner said. “She is the most determined and hardworking, yet selfless and humble person [...]. She’s someone that you can always count on.”

Bridget Conkling, a senior psychology major, said similarly, “Emily truly has the brightest personality I have ever met.”

Even without receiving recognition, Malouf said she is still very grateful for what the university has given her with life-long friends and impactful coaches.

COLE KADOGUCHI

Emily Malouf, a senior sociology major and public health minor, practices discus throw by herself in preparation for her next meet in December, taken Oct. 4 on Dumke Field. Even without receiving recognition, Malouf said she is still very grateful for what the university has given her with life-long friends and impactful coaches.

6

FEATURE

Campus safety at the forefront of Westminster community's minds GABE OLIVEIRA STAFF REPORTER

Safety on college campuses is one of the main factors that influences a student when choosing where their new home will be, according to Blaise Wikstrom, a junior history major.

Wikstrom said a safety-related concern of his is the possibility of gun violence on campus.

“I see all [this] news about school shootings, and I worry about my safety if something like that happens here,” Wikstrom said.

A Campus Patrol officer is on patrol for every day of the year, Russell said. They conduct routine checks of all buildings, dorms and parking lots, according to the Westminster Campus Security webpage.

The webpage also lists Campus

business major, said she feels “very concerned” when walking on campus at night.

“I do not feel safe when it is dark and always ask for a friend to walk with me,” Leidinger said.

Some institutions in Utah have sworn officers as campus

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE [REMAIN] AN OPEN CAMPUS, BUT [ARE] STILL SAFE AND SECURE.

instance, carry firearms. We do not have firearms on campus, we don’t allow it.”

Therefore, Westminster’s Campus Patrol is not directly connected to law enforcement in the way some other schools are, according to President Dobkin.

Official crime log reports on campus

Students can track the safety of campus by accessing the crime log Westminster University is required to publish as a result of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure BETH DOBKIN of Campus Security Policy and Gun violence at schools Westminster University president Campus Crime Statistics Act, across the country according to rainn.org.

The college’s official crime More than 307 instances of log reports 8 cases of suspicious gunfire on college campuses have persons/activities and trespassing been documented by Everytown for Gun Safety from 2013 to 2022, Patrol escort services as an option security, according to President in 2023, which includes every according to an article published available 24/7 to students who call Beth Dobkin in an interview count of people (or people in cars) and request assistance walking Sept. 28. being escorted off campus. by bestcolleges.com. from one campus location to “[Westminster does] not,” Campus Patrol reported Forms of gunfire include another.

President Dobkin said.

“A 76 incidents in 2021 and 2022, individual attacks, unintentional Kristin Leidinger, a senior sworn officer is one that can, for with 16 and 13 of them being gunfire, legal interventions and self-harm, according to the article.

Excluding mass shootings, gunfire on college campuses has killed 94 people in total and injured another 215 since 2013, according to the article.

Between 2013 and 2023, six mass shootings were registered, killing 23 people and injuring 37, according to the article.

Westminster Campus Patrol

University’s

“I heard someone in Stock Hall was kicked out last year for having a weapon in his room,” said Matthew Ampil, a sophomore business major. “I think [Campus Patrol] dealt with it, but it is scary.”

Tony Russell, director of Campus Patrol, said Westminster’s security team consists of nine members who split work amongst themselves in rounds.

“Our main goal is to keep students safe,” Russell said. “I would really like to have two more officers on the team [...] but you do what you can with what you have.”

KAYLA DIXON

A graph displays Westminster University’s crime log statistics from 2021 to 2023. This shows the yearly number of recorded incidents on campus. The 2023 stats show the recorded incidents that have occurred thus far. These statistics are published on westminsteru.edu under the Crime Reporting page.

7

F E AT U RE

GABE OLIVEIRA

A lone student walks at night near Black Bridge in the Residential Village on Westminster University’s campus. ”I feel very concerned when I am walking on campus at night,” said Kristin Leidinger, a senior business major. ”I do not feel safe when it is dark and always ask for a friend to walk with me.”

theft-related reports respectively, Westminster’s Title IX program. according to Westminster’s official In order to give affirmative crime log. consent, it must contain the follow elements, according Title IX implementation at to Westminster’s prevention Westminster University guidelines: • Ongoing: Which states that One in five women and one people can change their mind at in 16 men are sexually assaulted any time. while in college, and 90% do not • Specific: Saying yes to one report it, according to statistics act does not mean yes to any other published by the National Sexual act but the one stated.

Violence Resource Center.

• Freely Given: Yes is “One of my main concerns just considered if there is no when thinking about my safety is manipulation or pressure. sexual assault,” said Mara Alden, • Enthusiastic: There should a first-year student psychology not be a feeling of having to do major. “Sexual assault is no joke.” something, but to want to do Westminster University offers something.

Title IX as a support against sexual • Informed: Not lying or assault to students, staff or faculty, deceiving. according to Westminster’s website.

Maintaining a safe open Another way Westminster campus at Westminster attempts to avoid sexual misconduct on campus is by President Dobkin said she educating the community on acknowledged there are some affirmative consent, according to challenges with being in an urban

environment and being a relatively open campus.

“It’s not always easy to tell who is a student or staff or faculty, versus someone who is a community member enjoying the facilities,” said President Dobkin in an interview Sept. 28. “So most of the kind of patrolling and monitoring that we do is making sure people are consistent with their own regulations.”

The school will continue to be “as diligent” as possible in terms of keeping campus safe, according to President Dobkin.

“We want to make sure that we [remain] an open campus but [are] still safe and secure,” President Dobkin said. “That can be challenging sometimes, but I have not seen any significant issues in the recent past.”

I SEE ALL [THIS] NEWS ABOUT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, AND I WORRY ABOUT MY SAFETY IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS HERE. BLAISE WIKSTROM junior history major

8

THE FORUM

P O D CA S T

Podcasts

Available on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and Spotify

Butterslabs business owner, Westminster University alum reflects on brand's growth DRAKE MIDDLETON

rejected, the logo lived on when friends of Spaeth made a few Mike Spaeth, a Westminster clothing items with it, according University alum who graduated to Spaeth. They sold out within last May, said his clothing brand, 15 minutes of selling them at his Butterslabs, originated from an high school, Spaeth said. entrepreneurship class in high “It was like we had a pop-up school. event at school,” Spaeth said.

Spaeth said he entered a From there, Spaeth said competition with the business they promoted the business by proposal and lost. creating videos on Instagram “We actually got last place in while working on the clothing this competition,” Spaeth said. items.

“No one believed in the idea and “It just kind of continued how it could make money.” to grow and get a little bigger,” Spaeth pitched a proposal to Spaeth said. “We had a little bit create a platform where people more funding and money that we could “watch our stuff and our could put into designs and our short music videos,” and compared marketing and stuff like that.” it to TikTok. The business continued in Though the original idea was college, and Spaeth said he had STAFF REPORTER

the support of his teammates on the lacrosse team to help promote the business.

Jamie Hawkins, a senior business major, and Joe Kerval, the men’s lacrosse head coach, said they were some of Spaeth’s supporters.

“We set up classes for [Spaeth] to get direction on leadership and professional development,” Kerval said.

Spaeth’s teammates have built a strong bond amongst each other and felt compelled to support their teammate and his brand, Hawkins said.

“I played with Mike on the lacrosse team for a year, and we all knew about his brand,” Hawkins said “Knowing who Mike is, it’s

hard not to want to support the guy, and I feel like it’s our job as a team to support each other’s dreams and passion.”

Spaeth said post-graduation he continues to pursue his passion of running Butterslabs while working at a finance job in Salt Lake City.

KAYLA DIXON