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November 2018 | Vol. 4 Iss. 11

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SUGAR HOUSE’S NEW, ENERGY-EFFICIENT fire station opens

By Spencer W. Belnap | s.belnap@mycityjournals.com

ugar House has a brand new, environmentally-friendly fire station—Station No. 3 located at 2425 S. 900 East. On Oct. 10, Salt Lake City Fire Department, construction developers and partners, the mayor and city council members were all on hand to dedicate the new building. Tours were provided for the public throughout the day and offered the chance for neighbors to explore the new space. “The new station three is a great addition to Sugar House, and its energy efficiency is a marvel,” said City Council Member for District 7 Amy Fowler. “I also love the local artwork inside that represents some of the familiar signs in our neighborhoods.” The grand opening day bustled with excitement and plenty of kids tested out the fire truck whistles and basketball hoop outside. There were free hot dogs, soda, and snacks and stickers and hats for the children. Fire department personnel led guided tours, but also allowed folks to meander around the building. Adults asked firefighters about home safety tips, and thanked them for their service. Salt Lake City and the Fire Department are committed to sustainability, and the new fire station is a prime example of their commitments made under the Climate Positive SLC plan. Station No. 3 is the second fire station in the nation to be built as a Net Zero energy building. With its array of more than 300 solar panels, the building will generate its own power. It also features triple-pane glazing throughout, and a high-performance envelope to better protect against the elements and whatever exterior conditions may arise. The energy efficiency measures will contribute to a reduction of 220 tons of coal burning every year. Over 80 percent of all construction waste materials was recycled and diverted from landfills. All these details and more combine to ensure the building will become LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). “This fire station is a tangible example of how a sustainable city designs and builds infrastructure,” Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said in a news release. “Station three represents what is possible today, with existing cost-effective technologies.” The new building was constructed in just over a year, with Blalock and Partners being the local designer in the project. They expanded the station to 18,100 square feet and two stories, and included a three-bay garage that is over 4,500 square feet. It was an ambitious project, but one that happened on schedule and on budget. The old Station No. 3, located at 1085 E. Simpson Avenue, closed on Oct. 12. It will be demolished to make room for another commercial or residential project. Station No. 3 will house one company, with three platoons.

The mayor and members of Salt Lake City Fire Department and City Council attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 10 for new Station No. 3. (Courtesy Dan Weist/Salt Lake City Council)

The living areas include 10 single-bunk rooms and two officer suites. There is administrative office space, a kitchen, and a training room. The designers were able to include a public meeting room as well. This room will be made available for outside

groups from Sugar House and beyond to use as needed. “This station has been an exciting undertaking,” Salt Lake City Fire Deputy Chief Robert McMicken said. “It’s state-of-theart energy capabilities, ample apparatus Continued on page 5...

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Westminster Theatre explores old territory with all-female cast in ‘Men On Boats’ The Sugar House City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Sugar House. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals. com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.

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By Spencer W. Belnap | s.belnap@mycityjournals.com

estminster College’s Theatre Department is in the midst of its 2018-2019 season and will perform a mixture of modern and classical works until the end of spring. The first two weekends of October brought the college’s take on Jaclyn Backhaus’ “Men On Boats” to the Dumke Black Box Theatre located on campus. This play is a somewhat true slice of history brought to life by a contemporary bent on casting. It featured an all-female cast playing real life historical figures. What is typically considered and depicted, as actual cisgender white males in history, the show demanded all the male characters be played by anything but males. “Female-identifying, transgender-identifying, genderfluid, and/or non-gender-conforming” actors are the only eligible performers for this ensemble, according to the playwright’s casting note. College-aged women performers, offering a different type of history lesson for the audience, played the likes of explorers William Dunn, John Colton Sumner, and Frank Goodman. These and several other men were the first to traverse many of the West’s mightiest rivers as well as the Grand Canyon. “It’s unusual for me to be loud and unapologetic on stage,” Westminster junior Mina Sadoon, who played expedition leader John Wesley Powell, said. “There are not a lot of strong female roles that allow me to do this. I am grateful for the opportunity to tell this story through a different perspective.” If playing such a commanding and vocal man wasn’t challenging enough, Sadoon had to give up use of her right arm for the role. Powell lost his right arm in the Civil War, and still led guided expeditions across various rivers and valleys. Sadoon had to steer boats, write in a journal, and perform other tasks in the show without her predominant arm. “That was probably the most challenging obstacle to overcome,” Sadoon said. “I never realized how important my dominant hand was until I had to tie a rope around a boat or even write in my journal without it. Even simple

The cast of Westminster Theatre’s “Men On Boats.” (Courtesy Mina Sadoon)

things like putting my hair up or holding anything were difficult.” The cast of 10 Westminster students was comprised of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. The women are pursuing degrees in theatre performance, English, and secondary education. For some, it was the first show of their college careers. Adjunct instructor and director Mark Fossen pitched the idea of “Men On Boats” to the department for this season. “Working with the cast was just outstanding,” Fossen said. “There was a wonderful energy in the room. We worked on ideas of taking up space, being aggressive and confrontational, closing off a bit emotionally—more than just walk and talk. We looked at the gender performance of masculinity and it was a joy to see them inhabit it.”

There was a palpable energy amongst the group of performers, and it was evident they had all grown comfortable with each other and their historical personas. Each actor had at least one moment to stand out on stage, and show an interesting or humorous detail about her character. Two of them had an elaborate and choreographed handshake that had the audience laughing. Westminster’s theatre season will continue in November with a production of “The School For Scandal.” This show runs the weekends of Nov. 8-10, and Nov. 15-17 at the Jay W. Lees Courage Theatre. Tickets can be purchased by calling 801-484-7651 or visiting Westminster’s event portal online. l

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...continued from front page storage, and modern design is a beautiful, spacious replacement of one of the older stations in Salt Lake City. We absolutely needed this as we anticipate a significant population growth within the Sugar House area.” The building hopes to serve as an example for other future stations across the country, both in design and energy efficiency. Salt Lake’s Fire Department has been gaining more national recognition. In December of 2017, they were awarded a Class 1 rating, the highest safety and risk evaluation rating possible by the Insurance Services office. The Fire Department services about 94 square miles, and now employs more than 320 sworn firefighters. l A wall decoration at the station—Sugar House spelled out in old signs from the neighborhood. (Spencer W. Belnap/City Journals)

A new floor emblem displayed at Salt Lake City Fire’s Station No. 3 in Sugar House. (Spencer W. Belnap/City Journals)

The exterior of the new fire station. (Spencer W. Belnap/City Journals)

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November 2018 | Page 5

Officials look for solutions to housing shortage By Lana Medina | l.medina@mycityjournals.com

ousing costs are rising throughout the Salt Lake Valley, and both renters and buyers are struggling to manage. But it’s low-income families that are getting hit the worst. In a recent study by the University of Utah Gardner Institute, Utah’s housing unaffordability crisis was found to be reaching alarming levels as a rising population comes up against a shortage of new apartments and homes for sale. While high-income and middle-class families are paying more for housing, low-income families are turning to subsidized programs, only to find a years-long waiting list. “I think that happens often, the people who need the housing, they don’t get it. I think it’s frustrating for all involved,” said Janice Kimball, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake. Kimball explained the Housing Authority manages a program called Section 8, which helps place low-income families with subsidized rent. There are 1,200 units of affordable housing, but the waiting list to get one of those apartments or homes is six to seven years. There’s another public housing program that has another additional 600 units with a shorter waiting list — only two to four years, Kimball said. “Think about the average family who calls us with an emergency who gets told that,” Kimball said. “We’re a great long-term solution but we don’t have any short-term solutions.” In Salt Lake City, the Housing and Neighborhood Development office is spearheading a five-year plan called Grow SLC, which is dedicated to addressing the problem with affordable housing, specifically for low-income families. “In Salt Lake City, we have a gap of about 7,500 units for those making about $20,000 a year — that’s anyone working a minimum wage job,” explained Melissa Jensen, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development in Salt Lake. “In Salt Lake City, you have to make $20 an hour to afford a $950 apartment. That’s $20 an hour just to find an apartment in the city.” Jensen said half the people in the city are paying more than 30 percent of their income toward housing, and one-quarter are paying more

One housing solution, experts say, is transit oriented development, such as this apartment complex (in the distance and now built) in Midvale, right across from a Trax station. (City Journals)

than 50 percent. But the city has a plan. Within the next one to two years, the city plans to have three permit-supportive housing buildings — that’s 262 units — available for low-income housing applications, specifically designed to help people struggling with substance abuse disorders or mental health issues. Jensen said over the next two years, they also plan to have an additional 1,000 units that are affordable at different rates. For example, some would be available for low-income families and others available at market rate. But while that helps Salt Lake City, the rest of the state is facing the same affordable housing crisis. In the last legislative session, Utah lawmakers developed a housing commission to discuss the current housing shortage and rising costs to find a solution. But Jonathan Hardy, division director for housing and community development for state

of Utah, says the problem is vast. One of the solutions on the table is transit-oriented development. “If we can produce more housing within half a mile of a transit stop, we can reduce affordability,” Hardy explained. “Some households might not have to have a second vehicle. They might pay more in housing if they don’t have to pay as much for transportation.” But Hardy admits while it may cut down on some housing costs, it won’t solve the problem for many families. Hardy says the easiest way to solve the low-income housing crisis is subsidized housing, but it’s an expensive solution. For low-income families at a 30 percent area income, it costs $175,000 per housing unit, Hardy explained. “That’s the reality. (For each) new apartment creation is $200,000 per unit. That’s what we’re seeing along the Wasatch Front,” Hardy said, explaining that low-income families

would pay the remainder in rental costs every year. Kimball said the families who need those low-income housing units don’t need them forever. “Thirty-eight percent of the people on public housing stay less than two years. Another 25 percent stay less than five years,” Kimball explained. But with housing costs rising, it’s unclear if those numbers will rise as well. Jensen says affordable housing is important for everyone, because even families who are making higher than minimum wage can struggle with unemployment or other emergencies that force them to seek low-income housing. “Affordable housing is really everyone at some point in their life, whether they’ve lost a job, whether they’ve just graduated and living in their parent’s basement, or whether they’re elderly,” Jensen explained. “People jump to a conclusion. But it’s for everyone.” l

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Disney on Ice slips into the Vivint Smart Home Arena celebrating 100 years of Magic By Christy Jepson | christy@mycityjournals.com

eld Entertainment brings Disney on Ice presents “100 Years of Magic”, a skating spectacular to the Vivint Smart Home Arena for just four days. And with the show comes Mickey Mouse and the gang and almost 50 other Disney characters. With Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse and his three best friends, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, together they help audience members relive the magic of popular Disney movies such as “Frozen,” “Toy Story,” “Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid” and many more. Feld Entertainment mixes beloved Disney characters and almost 30 popular songs to make a magical memorable show. “I would encourage everyone to come see this show,” said Kirstie Nelson, a cast member and skater from Canmore, Alberta, Canada. “This show has everything from classic characters to modern Disney characters. This show has something for everyone to enjoy.” Nelson has been skating since she was five years old and was the Alberta Provincial Freeskate champion in 2000. She joined Disney on Ice in 2013 and has been touring with them ever since. “I feel like a kid again every time I see Mickey Mouse on the ice. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy are really the Fab Four and that is what Disney is all about,” said Nelson. Even though Nelson’s main character is Cinderella, she is also in about five to six additional numbers. She explained this is a unique variety show with 14 different stories in which she never gets bored performing. “I love feeding off the energy in the crowd and there is something just so exciting and exhilarating about going out on a stage and performing in front of large crowds of people who are there to see you. There is nothing else like it! I love being able to do what makes me so happy and what I am good at while entertaining the crowd through it,” said Nelson. So what does it require to take a Disney on Ice show on the road? Here are some fun and interesting facts about the show:

Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Magic will celebrate 50 characters and songs from classic to modern Disney films. (Photo credit: Feld Entertainment)

tion

• It takes 19 trucks to transport the produc-

• It takes four buses to transport the cast, crew and staff • It takes about 12-14 hours to set up the production and about five hours to take it down • There are five staff members and 15 crew members that tour with the production • While some costumes can weigh only a few pounds, others can weigh up to 50 pounds or more • Some costumes have 10 or more pieces that make up the total costume

• Each cast members usually has four to five costumes • There are four costume shops that make the costumes with 40 employees working on the costumes • There are 225 costumes in the show with each costume using six to eight yards of fabric • Anna and Elsa’s capes weigh around 20 pounds each • There are 57 props used in each show • The largest prop in the show is Elsa’s Ice Palace • There are 274 different lighting fixtures

and 980 lighting cues • The total weight of a castle set is about three tons Disney on Ice presents “100 Years of Magic” will be at the Vivint Smart Home Arena Nov. 15-18. The show begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday plus additional matinees on Saturday at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Vivint Smart Home Arena is located at 301 W. South Temple in Salt Lake City. Tickets start at $15 each. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000 or at the box office. l

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November 2018 | Page 7

Come play at Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum as they celebrate 40 years By Christy Jepson | christy@mycityjournals.com

his year marks the big 4-0 birthday for Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, one of the most popular museums in the state. The museum has come a long way since 1978 when founder Paulette Stevens and her husband saw a need in the Salt Lake area for a place where children could play, imagine and discover. Thanks to the vision of Stevens and her husband, in the last 40 years more than 6.3 million children and families have visited the museum and have also participated in their community outreach programs, after-school enrichment programs, field trips, free days, and many other programs the museum offers to the community. In 1980, the Salt Lake City Council decided to let the museum use the empty Wasatch Warm Springs building at 840 N. 300 West on Beck Street for $1 a year. Getting the actual building was just the first step in making Stevens’ vision a reality. From 1980 to 1983, volunteers, parents, educators, community leaders, and the board of directors were dedicated to raising funds for the museum, which was originally called The Children’s Museum of Utah. After intense fundraising, the grand opening for The Children’s Museum of Utah happened in 1983 with only 12,000 square feet of exhibits. The original exhibits included: a sabertooth tiger skeleton, a medical discovery exhibit, a Delta 727 cockpit, computers, a sight and sound exhibit, and a traveling exhibit from the Holography Museum of New York. Years later, the museum started to add new exhibits and programs and soon the small space was not enough to house their growing needs. But thanks to the voter approval of Proposition 2 in 2002, voters approved a $15 million county bond on a $30 million project for Proposition 2 that included the building of a new children’s museum. Three years later, construction began on the new museum which was moved into the heart of Salt Lake City at The Gateway. Along with a new location, now at 444 W. 100 South, also came six times the amount of space and the name of the museum was officially changed to Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum. The grand opening celebration was on Sept. 16, 2006. Since that time, the museum has hosted many events and programs. It has brought in traveling exhibits like Sid the Science Kid and Children of Hangzhou. Discovery Gateway was the first children’s museum to be certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to effecting change for those with sensory needs. “Discovery Gateway will continue the important work of providing educational experiences for everyone in our community, expanding our reach through new programs, and continuing to update and add new interactive exhibits,” said Laurie Hopkins, executive director. Just two months ago, the museum’s newest exhibit, the Mark Miller Subaru Express

Page 8 | November 2018

The newest exhibit at Discovery Gateway—The Mark Miller Subaru exhibit. (Photo/Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum)

Service exhibit, made its home at Discovery Gateway. This hands-on exhibit allows children the chance to pretend to be a mechanic while discovering a child-sized 2019 Subaru Ascent. Children can pretend to change the oil, tighten lug nuts on the tires, work under the hood, and fill the car with gas. Another exhibit, Water Play, recently opened in late June. This huge 38-foot water table has nine interactive components which include: racing rivers, a water wall, ramps, wheels, tipping buckets and a water vortex. Children won’t get in trouble for playing in water in this exhibit. Other interactive exhibit galleries at Discovery Gateway are: SkyCycle (seasonal), Reading Nook, The Garden, Kids Eye View, Story Factory and Sensory Room, Block Party, DG Derby, STEAM Studio and Lab, Move it!, and the Intermountain Healthcare Saving Lives exhibit. Before Thanksgiving a new exhibit will open called the Honey Climber. Children will be able to climb from the lower level of the museum to the upper level inside a beehive-type structure while climbing across bridges, a flow-

The original Children’s Museum of Utah on Beck Street. (Photo/Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum)

er tower, hex steps and through a hex maze. According to Senior Marketing Manager Shanna Sheline, the museum will continue to upgrade and add permanent exhibits over the next year including an exhibit that explores the science of light and color. Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum is opened Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-

7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. General admission prices are $12.50 for everyone ages 1 to 64; Sunday admission is $10 for everyone, and senior citizens ages 65 and older $10. Discovery Gateway is located at 444 W. 100 South at The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City. l

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Utah mayors sign agreement to work on idle free initiatives By Heather Lawrence | heather.lawrence@mycityjournals.com “It’s so very important for our citizens to understand the impact of idling on their children,” said Diane Turner, Council Chair of Murray. Murray and other cities were recognized Sept. 18 for idle free initiatives at the 11th annual Idle Free Governor’s Declaration event. Also showcased was the winner from this year’s student poster contest. Eight Utah cities were recognized by the governor’s office at an event held at the City and County Building in Salt Lake City. Seventy-one Utah cities have committed to put idle free practices into effect. The eight cities recognized for their clean air efforts were Alta, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Logan, Murray, Park City, Salt Lake City and Sandy. The event also highlighted a poster contest for students in the Cache Valley area. The contest, sponsored by Professors Roslynn Brain McCann and Ed Stafford of Utah State University, who encouraged students to make posters with idle free and clean air themes. This year’s poster contest garnered 550 entries. “The contest engages students who are just learning to drive, so it’s a great opportunity for education. We gave those who participated a post evaluation, and all of them reported improved understanding of idle free practices,” said Roslynn McCann. The contest also gave them an outlet to practice marketing skills. Entries came from art, business and environmental science classes. Brain McCann hopes the contest will be available to more school districts in the future and urges schools to reach out to her at roslynn.mccann@usu.edu if they want more information. Other speakers at the event included Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Dr. Laura Nelson of the Governor’s Energy Office, Thom Carter of UCAIR, Representative Patrice Arent of the Bi-Partisan Utah Clean Air Caucus, Steve Bergstrom of Intermountain Healthcare

and Brain McCann. Intermountain Healthcare’s representative said that they have 750 fleet vehicles which do 12 million miles annually. “Idling is costly because idling equals zero miles per gallon,” Bergstrom said. With improved monitoring and education, some numbers have improved. “Where home care was idling their vehicles a total of 120 hours per month, now they are down to 45 hours per month. We see the effects of poor air quality every day in the patients we treat, and would rather not have to be treating the results of bad air,” said Bergstrom. Mayors who were recognized were quick to give their constituents the credit for clean air efforts. “I think the idle free ordinance sends a message that every individual has a part to play and it can’t just be someone else’s problem. You can be a part of the solution. For example, we have a mom here in the Holladay area, Crystal Bruner Harris, who has started idle free events at schools,” said Mayor Rob Dahle. (See Holladay Journal’s article on Crystal Bruner Harris titled, “Clean Air Crusader.”) Murray Mayor D. Blair Camp agreed. “We have a very tenacious council member Diane Turner who made a promise when she was running for council that she would push through an ordinance on idle free. She has really raised the awareness of other council members and the community. That’s what it’s really all about — awareness,” said Camp. The mayors also put emphasis on children as the leaders for this issue. “The real impetus for us came from our residents. They approached us. We had several groups of young students come to city council meetings and say to us, ‘Hey, this is what we want to see happen.’ That’s why we jumped on board,” said Mayor Mike Peterson of Cottonwood Heights. The mayors agreed that when you educate

Eight cities were recognized Sept. 18 for the idle free efforts. L to R, back row: Mayor Mike Peterson of Cottonwood Heights; Vicki Bennett, Director of Sustainability, Salt Lake City Mayor’s office; Zach Robinson of Sandy City Council; Mayor Rob Dahle of Holladay; Luke Carlton, City Manager for Park City. Front row: Mayor D. Blair Camp of Murray; Dr. Laura Nelson, Energy Adviser, Governor’s Office of Energy Development. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

kids they will enforce it with their parents. This concept was demonstrated in a winning poster from 2015 by then Logan High student Hailey Dennis. On a blue background, there is a single image of a child in a bold pose. The caption reads, “My mom idles less than your mom!” Representative Arent’s comments echoed this idea. “We want to make idling as socially unacceptable as throwing litter out the car window. Education has always been a big part of

what we are working on. This whole effort is about education and teaching the public about idling: why it’s not good for their health, their pocketbook, or their car,” Arent said. “The air we breathe is not Republican air, it’s not Democratic air. It’s everyone’s air.” The past winners of the contest can be seen online at cleanaircontest.usu.edu/past-winners/. l

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Highland holds first speech and debate tournament By Allison A. Moore | a.moore@mycityjournals.com

imberly Hunter, Highland High School speech and debate coach, was excited to host the first tournament held at Highland. “This event was for novice speakers and debaters,” she said. Eighteen schools from several districts competed in the event held on Oct. 5 and 6. This event kicked off the season, which will include a minimum of 14 additional tournaments throughout the year. “For the very first tournament, I prefer it to be all novices, the intimidation factor is a lot less,” explained Hunter. Speech events included impromptu, extemporaneous, original oratory and interpretation. Competition was held in classrooms and judged by varsity speech and debate students. The debate portion of the tournament included three main debates—policy, legal and public forum—as well as congressional debates, where students divide into the house and senate respectively and debate bills. The topics are chosen by the National Speech and Debate Association and are the same nationwide, centering around current world and national events. “The congressional debate is just like Congress, except with less emotion, they leave the emotion at home,” explained Hunter. Because public speaking is the No. 1 fear of adults, speech and debate are an excellent class for students of all ages. One of the biggest

misconceptions of debate is that it is simply arguing. “That’s where people get it wrong. It isn’t arguing, well it is, but it’s structured argumentation. It’s very structured so that you can learn how to analyze something better and you have to have your evidence. The key is having evidence to back you up. You can say whatever you want, but unless you have evidence you have no proof. Debating is a skill and it is not just random arguing for argumentations sake.” Hunter said the class teaches basic skills such as maintaining eye contact and articulation, which is a key, especially in teenagers who tend to mumble a lot. Students also learn how to control themselves, their speaking manner and how to analyze situations. These skills come in handy in job interviews, or in real world situations when conflicts occur. Students are encouraged to dress in a manner that is professional. “You want the judges to focus on what you are saying, not what you are wearing,” explained Hunter. Teenagers are different at home compared to class but when you see them in speech and debate it blows your mind, Hunter added. “The kid that can’t change the toilet paper at home, can give this awesome speech on the president of Zimbabwe. Who knew? It’s amazing. It gives you hope. It’s super rewarding, the students are

Samantha Reynoso, West High School and Sofia Price, Highland High School. Both students are in the 9th grade and gave speeches on bullying and imaginary friends, respectively. (Allison Moore/City Journals)

awesome, they work hard and when you see them get it and the light bulb goes on, all the pieces come together and you can tell these kids are going to go far.” Because this is the first tournament and for novice students only, there were 11 participants

from Highland in the tournament. Highland has a speech and debate class and club and more students will participate in upcoming events. Another tournament will be held later this month, hosted by Hunter High School. l

RE-ELECT SENATOR JANI IWAMOTO

Representing you has been   an honor and my highest priority. Having served as your Salt Lake County Council member, and Senator, I know our district   and issues important to it.   I will continue to put your ﬁrst.

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“If you are voting Democrat or Republican and expecting a different result welcome to the status quo. Vote independent party candidate David Else for District 40. I’m listening and will shake things up.”

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Rams narrowly miss berth in girls soccer tournament

7 costly mistakes could cost you thousands when selling your Sugar House home.

By Josh McFadden | josh@mycityjournals.com

n other regions and in other seasons, the Highland Rams may have won a region title. They were just a couple of points away from claiming the Region 6 crown this season. The Rams were impressive this season, putting together a 4-1 mark in Region 6. They were also 7-2 overall heading into their last game at home against first-year school Farmington in a non-region clash that took place on Oct. 17, after our press deadline. Highland was runner-up to Olympus, which went undefeated and wasn’t challenged all year—except by Highland. The Rams went toe to toe with the Titans, causing their potent offense fits by holding Olympus well below its season average in points and yardage. In the end, Highland came up just short, falling 13-12 in the Sept. 28 contest. Ultimately, this heartbreaking loss cost Highland a region title. It was the second year in a row Highland took second in league play. Last season it was a game behind Region 6 champion (and eventual state champion Lehi). In the game against Olympus, Highland

stifled a Titan offense that had been averaging 45 points a game, limiting the Titans to just seven points through three quarters. Trailing 7-6 in the fourth quarter, Highland scored on a 1-yard run from Trajan Benson with under 10 minutes to go. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 12-7 for Highland. Olympus regained the lead with under a minute to play, but Highland raced down field only to come up just short in the final seconds. Highland held Olympus to just six pass completions and 95 yards on the ground. Niela Lehauli had an interception, while Tevita Tuha had a sack and eight tackles. Other than the slim loss to Olympus, the Rams had their way with three of the other four Region 6 foes. Highland’s wins in league play were by an average score of 36-8—and that includes a close 28-24 victory over Lehi on Oct. 5 Another significant win Highland had came in non-region play against Lone Peak on Sept. 7. The Rams handed the perennial state powers from the 6A ranks a 21-9 loss. Highland limited Lone Peak to 250 yards of offense

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and had two interceptions. The same Lone Peak team later defeated nationally ranked Bingham, handing the Miners their first regular loss to an in-state foe in six years. For their efforts, Highland gets a home game in the first round of the 5A tournament. It will host Timpview, the third-place team from Region 7, on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. Running the ball well will be critical for Highland in the postseason. The Rams have had little trouble doing that this season in its ground-focused attack. Numerous players have seen time in the backfield. Colton White leads the way with 94 carries for 549 yards and eight

touchdowns. Bronson Olevao isn’t far behind at 476 yards. Quarterback Trajan Benson hasn’t had to throw much. He has 291 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns to go along with 80 yards on the ground. Defensively, Kaufusi Pakofe has been a force on the team’s strong unit. He entered the final game of the regular season with five sacks and 20 tackles. Last season, Highland blew out Wasatch 61-24 in round one of the state tournament. It then fell to Corner Canyon 37-0 in the quarterfinals. l

Peli-can You Help Us? By Renae Preston (’19), Westminster College Did you know there are pelicans in Utah? The thought of pelicans likely conjures an ocean scene, hours away from the salty, dry and very much not-marine environment that is Salt Lake City. And yet, every year an average of 11,000 American white pelicans migrate to and nest on Gunnison Island located in Great Salt Lake, making up one of the largest

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breeding colonies in North America. The Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster College is interested in understanding the effect of our human population on the Great Salt Lake, as both our need for water and our contribution to the changing environment has resulted in lower lake levels that have impacted the pelicans. Their precious Gunnison Island breeding grounds are no longer much of an island and is now more of a Gunnison Peninsula. The Great Salt Lake Institute (GSLI) at Westminster College has worked with organizations like Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Tracy Aviary and MesoWest at the University of Utah to install 15 cameras called PELIcams on Gunnison Island starting in 2017 so the birds can be seen in action. Previously, it was nearly impossible to study their natural breeding and nesting behaviors in close quarters or for long periods of time since pelicans, large as they are, are extremely shy birds. The PELIcams have captured over 200,000 images, and each image now needs a pair of eyes on them. As you could guess, researchers here at Westminster College don’t have that many eyes, which is why we need your help. If you’re an aspiring scientist, avid bird watcher, general animal lover or someone with just a few minutes on your hands, you can become a citizen scientist and visit www.GSLIPELIproject.org to sign up on Zooniverse. Watching these charismatic

birds take selfies and argue with gulls is an entertaining pastime that contributes to real research being done right here in Salt Lake City. But hold on—we didn’t stop there. Education is crucial to our project, which is why GSLI has worked with science teachers to design free curriculum to help sixth grade teachers explore the ecology of Great Salt Lake with their students. The lessons and activities give students the opportunity to learn about the interactions between pelicans and their environment so they can learn how these animals spend their time and why. If you’re a teacher, visit www.greatsaltlakeinstitute.org for ideas on including Great Salt Lake ecology in your lesson plans. “Pelicans are Great Salt Lake’s polar bear,” said Jaimi Butler, director of GSLI. “Like the iconic polar bear, pelicans can connect the world to the effect of water diversion and climate change. It begins here, with education, community-based science and the PELIcams.”

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Behind school walls: Schools, districts address students’ concerns, needs and safety Schools and school districts provide more services than buses, textbooks By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com

ast year, a female student in a Granite School District secondary school broke up with her boyfriend. However, before the breakup, she sent inappropriate photos of herself to him, which he then threatened to send them to others. District officials were able to seize the devices, collect images and be able to put a stop to the potential spread of child pornography and at the same time, provide comfort to the female student that those photos weren’t spread. “It was brought to our attention, so we were able to act quickly,” Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said. “We need our students to be able to feel safe to be able to learn and once someone violates that, such as with Internet safety, it impacts our school environment.” Internet safety is just one of many concerns school administrators and school district officials are managing these days: not having enough school bus drivers, increasing enrollment resulting in not having enough lockers, textbooks or seats for students in class, and being concerned about going over the student limit assigned to teachers. School districts need to be concerned with medical and food issues, content material, sexual harassment concerns and safety matters that aren’t seen by the general public. “We’re dealing with issues that didn’t even exist 10 or 20 years ago,” Horsley said. “But we’re wanting to create an environment and a community that is safe and all-encompassing and provides resources, skills and knowledge.” Internet Safety Horsley said about 80 to 85 percent of Granite schoolchildren carry a cell phone — even many from low socio-economic families. “It’s considered a must-have item, but with parents working, there are many students using it without supervision and that’s when cyberbullying, sexting, viewing pornography on school property comes about,” he said, adding that the district does provide a parents’ guide for smartphones. While Horsley said the district works with administrators and, when needed, law enforcement on a case-by-case basis, a positive with cell phones has come about with the use of the SafeUT app, which allows anyone to anonymously report tips of harassment, suicide, threats, family crisis, bullying and other issues. “Granite has a 24/7 police department that can follow up on tips that are threatening, drug abuse, cutting, suicide and welfare checks,” he said, adding that the district is receiving more tips — about 1,000 last year — than their anonymous text line that has been in place for years. “We’ve had three instances where classmates have tipped us off and saved lives.” At nearby Murray School District, spokeswoman D Wright said social media is a concern. “Messaging incorrectly is something everybody is concerned about,” she said. “Our

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principals have jurisdiction first, then if needed, the school district and others are brought in. We look at the individual and what the best outcome is for our student.” Elk Meadows Elementary’s Aaron Ichimura, who has been a principal for six years in Jordan School District, said he has occasionally had to deal with postings on social media. “Usually, it’s rude comments like so and so should have something bad happen because the student may be unhappy with something that happened at recess, but they could be back to being best friends the next day,” he said. “When it disrupts what’s going on at school, we bring in the students and parents and discuss respect, responsibility and safety. We’ve had a couple times where we can delete a post, but they also learn that once something is online, it can be there forever.” Alta High Principal Brian McGill, in Canyons District, said each grade level has a digital citizenship plan and policies are reviewed annually. The school hosts, as many do throughout the Salt Lake Valley, a Netsmartz assembly where students learn about the responsibilities of social media. While McGill said that sometimes the line is carefully walked with students’ First Amendment rights, there will be questions asked if there is a statement, for example to a teacher, that is defamatory or threatening. “We will ask questions on the intent and perception and note if this is a kind of message that people will take offense,” he said. Mental Health Murray School District Prevention Specialist Deb Ashton said mental health is becoming a big concern for their students as the district has instituted a national program to help with the social and emotional well-being of students. “A lot of decisions go into which evidence-base programs we use, and we research the issues being addressed and the need for bully and cyberbully prevention,” she said. Suicide prevention also has been part of Murray District’s push as suicide is the leading cause of death for secondary school students, Ashton said. “We work with students and parents getting referrals and the tools they need to get help,” she said. “This is our first year with schoolbased mental health clinicians in our schools. With the high rate of suicide, we see mental health issues intertwined with depression and our students are struggling with the issues, so we’re making it easier for them to get help. “The more we can help the students, the more they will succeed academically. We’re looking into helping the child in all areas. I don’t think everyone is aware of the goal to provide a safe education, in all aspects of the word, that prepares students for career, college and post high school training.”

In Jordan School District, spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf said that there is a health and wellness task force looking at ways to improve the social, physical and mental well-being of schoolchildren. “If kids aren’t taken care of, they can’t learn,” she said. Jordan district added 36 psychologists this year so every elementary has a full-time health and mental professional to match those already in place at the secondary schools. “We’re learning that students may be feeling down, but they don’t know why, or they feel they can’t live up to an image, or deal with peer pressure. We want them to talk about it, work it out, so they feel safe and secure,” Riesgraf said. Teachers also are trained to be aware of mental health and suicide as well as emergency safety, she said. School Safety Riesgraf said that a $1 million training was approved by the Jordan Board of Education in an effort to best provide students a safe environment. “We work intensely with local law enforcement, meeting weekly with police and finding ways to enhance students’ safety and how best to respond to an emergency,” she said. “We also want our students to know if they ‘see something, say something.’ We don’t want them to be afraid, but to come forward for everyone’s safety.” Elk Meadows Principal Ichimura said the training was beneficial. “We know what steps to take and we conduct regular drills from fire to intruder to earthquake so we’re all more familiar with what we should be doing,” he said. Canyons School District sends postcards home, explaining drills so parents are aware of what is being done. And while a number of schools have increased safety in their schools from more surveillance cameras and installing security vestibules, Corner Canyon High in Draper invited police to help prepare teachers for an intruder drill. “We had police fire simulated rounds in different parts of the school, so they would know what it sounded like and practice how they should respond,” Corner Canyon High Principal Darrell Jensen said. “We also had all our faculty become first aid trained, so if there is an emergency, they can respond.” Responsiveness Besides cyberbullying, in-person bullying still occurs in most schools. Last year, teenagers drove by a Viewmont Elementary boy walking to his Murray home, calling him names with racial slurs and hateful remarks. Led by his mother and coach, a large outpouring of support came to his aid, walking him home days later. Former Viewmont Principal Matt Nelson responded, planning to make tolerance part of

the school curriculum. “Together, we can stand up and rally together to show our acceptance and support for our students,” Nelson said. “We talk about intolerance and racism and the need for inclusion. It’s our differences that make us stronger. We need to embrace them.” While that occurred outside of the school, Wright said that each incident is a concern that they review. Similarly, Alta principal McGill addressed alleged racial slurs yelled earlier this year from fans at the Sky View girls soccer team during a game against Alta. After identifying fans who were at the game from photographs, he launched a 40-hour to 50-hour inquiry. “We fully investigated the situation,” he said. “I interviewed 25 individuals, 12 parents, both teams and coaches, the referee and although not one person sustained the comments, we didn’t stop there.” McGill issued an apology to the other team, their coaches and their families. He also had the two teams meet to have lunch together and he has worked with his entire school to focus on sportsmanship. “Many of the girls play club soccer together, so they know one another,” he said. “We’ve watched a USHAA video of what competition should look like at schools and our class officers and SBOs are having open, candid discussions.” Granite’s Cottonwood High School, which has a high population of diversity including refugees, said that if a student says something derogatory, it is addressed immediately. “We have a conversation right on the spot,” said Principal Terri Roylance, who has been an administrator for 10 years. “If the kids don’t understand their remarks, we call the parents in, but 98 percent of them understand after we talk with them.” Although teachers are required to have many trainings and attend professional development workshops, occasionally something slips through the cracks. As was the case with Indian Hills Middle School in Sandy earlier this year when a teacher gave students a survey to get to know them better. Although students’ answers were anonymous, Principal Doug Graham said it made students and parents uncomfortable and several questions — such as religious beliefs, mental health concerns and sexual preferences — shouldn’t have been asked. “We were honest and open,” Graham said about his handling the situation. “Things happen, but we also need to look at how we handle them. The teacher was trying to get to know her students, but in the process, mistakes were made.” The mistakes — from asking the inappropriate questions to Graham telling her to delete all parts of the survey and its responses — were made public.

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Students at Silver Mesa Elementary participate in anti-bullying classes in 2016. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“I was thinking about shredding the survey and answers when I learned it was all online. Then, I told her to delete it and all the data as well. So, when parents wanted to see the survey, I didn’t have it,” he said. “When put in context, it explains why we did what we did, but it doesn’t excuse it.” Graham said last year, when students were helping with a food drive, “students didn’t understand how these realities could affect classmates in their community.” Although the teacher was trying to make a connection with the survey and her heart was in the right place to help the students, Graham said better communication and training will be put in place. “We need to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “It’s best for our community, to admit to making a mistake, apologize, ask for their understanding and for them to have confidence in us.” Jordan’s Riesgraf said the first step for parents who may have a concern about their student is to contact the school. “Our parents and students are our custom-

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ers and we want to address their questions and answer their concerns,” she said. “If parents don’t like a particular book in class and don’t want their children reading it, the Book Review Committee has an approved list and they can work with teachers to find an alternative book. If there’s a fight, schools are best to handle it and if need be, the school resource officer, and can help provide intervention and counseling.” Assistance Roylance said that with the diverse Cottonwood High student body, there is a need to provide students with other assistance — food, personal hygiene, clothing and school supplies. “Two years ago, our studentbody president, Katie Metcalf, saw the need for our students,” she said. “Two parents, Robyn Ivins and Jane Metcalf, now oversee the pantry and if they put out the word that we need tuna, then an ocean of tuna floods our room in two days. Our community is responding to the need of our students.” Roylance said the pantry, fondly called the “cement room,” is open two days per week and an “army of students” get the supplies they

need. “We welcome anyone. I’ve had teachers bring their whole class down. I’ve opened up the door to a family on a special circumstance during spring break to load up with what they need. If someone forgets their lunch or they’re staying for a volleyball game, they can come in and grab food or if they need a notebook for class, it’s here for them,” she said. At Jordan District, distribution of pantry needs may be subtler, especially when the student is concerned about being identified. “We may take and fill a backpack full of food, personal hygiene, bus passes, clothing, whatever we can provide, and others are unaware of that student’s need,” Riesgraf said. “We want to provide the supplies they need. When students are hungry or worried about their next meal, it weighs heavily on them and it’s hard to study.” Pantries are becoming common place in many schools, mostly stocked with food or clothing — even at Ridgecrest Elementary in Cottonwood Heights, what is seen as a more affluent community than at Cottonwood.

“We deal with the homeless every year,” Ridgecrest Principal Julie Winfree said. “When I first came here, I didn’t realize it would be part of my job at Ridgecrest, but we work with other school’s supplies to provide our students in need with food and clothing. There are no boundaries for those in need. Everyone works together to make sure our students get what they need and share with our families in need.” Horsley said in Granite District, the need is present as is the need to provide workshops for students and families on several issues — mental health and suicide, substance abuse, bullying, internet safety, child abuse and college and career ready awareness. “Our goal is to help provide resources and information to our community,” he said. “The world has changed. We have 62 percent of our students in free or reduced lunch and, in reality, we have kids go hungry and often times, that translates into behavioral issues. If we can provide the resources, skills and knowledge, we can create a better environment for our students to learn and succeed.” l

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Rams make noise at state girls tennis tournament By Josh McFadden | josh@mycityjournals.com

hat a difference a year makes for the Highland High School girls tennis team. Coming off a season in which it finished last in region play, the Rams turned things around this year, not only competing well in region but placing fifth in the Class 5A state tournament. Highland’s region and state performances were its best in years. “We qualified our entire team for state, which has not happened in a long time,” said head coach Jeanine Elsholz. “I could only check back to the 2010 records, but it hasn’t happened since at least before then.” At state, held at Liberty Park Oct. 4 and 6, Highland shared fifth place with Woods Cross by accumulating eight points. The Rams narrowly missed out on placing higher in the standings; Alta and Corner Canyon tied for third place with nine points each. Elsholz was excited that her squad was the only team in 5A to win all of its first-round matches. First singles player Dylan Lolofie, just a freshman, got to the second round by defeating her opponent 6-1, 6-3. In second singles, sophomore Sophie Hastings got all the way to the championship match. She won her first match 6-2, 6-2 and then got to the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in round two. In the semifinals, she defeated Gwen Bryson of Timpview 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Third singles competitor Isapeli Huhane, a senior, prevailed in round one 5-6, 6-3, 6-0 but fell in the second round 6-1, 6-0. On the doubles’ side, the tandem of seniors Shannon Maughan and Lauren Mayeda reached the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the opener. They lost in the second round to a pair from Woods Cross by the score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-0. Second doubles players Abby Bradford, a sophomore, and Kate Creamer, just a freshman, picked a victory in the first round by getting past a duo from Farmington 6-2, 6-2. They had a tough time in the second round, losing to a team from Timpview 6-2, 6-2. Elsholz was thrilled with her team’s effort and accomplishments, especially considering the struggles the program has had in recent seasons. “We were hoping to get a few more players through to the semifinals, but I am so proud of how far this team has come since last year,” she said. “This year has been a very special one. The turnaround in one year, from not winning very many matches, to winning almost every match we played was pretty amazing. It is a season I don’t think any of us will soon forget.” Elsholz said she’s even more pleased with how her players carried themselves outside of practices and matches. “While I am very proud of what these girls accomplished on the court, I am even more proud of their reputation in the HS tennis community,” she said. “They are known for the great

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sportsmanship and kindness on the court, which is by far the most important thing to me. They all represented Highland well this season.” The Rams arrived at state on the heels of a runner-up finish to eventual state champion Olympus at the region tournament. At region, Highland has 37 points to Olympus’ 45. “The success we saw this season was truly a team effort,” Elsholz said. “Abby Bradford and [Creamer] added the final pieces to what became a great team. Every position did their part in carrying their own weight and adding to the success of the whole. Our seniors, [Huhane], [Maughan] and [Mayeda] were able to use their experience to win a lot of matches this year. I was really happy that they were able to have so much fun their senior year and be able to win so many matches after struggling for several seasons. They were able to end their careers on a high note.” Elsholz also credits the success to her assistant coaches Scott Olsen and Christopher and Brevin Elsholz (her sons). She’s also eager to see what next year’s squad can do, which will feature two freshmen and a pair of sophomores from this season’s team. l

Highland High School sophomore Sophie Hastings poses with her second-place medal she won at the Class 5A girls tennis tournament, held Oct. 4 and 6. The Rams finished fifth as a team. (Photo courtesy of Jeanine Elsholz.)

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20 safety tips for trick-or-treaters

ou’re never too old to trick-or-treat (unless you are 35 and going by yourself, then yes, you are too old to trick-or-treat). But being safe knows no age limits, especially on a night when most people are wearing disguises. While it’s time to get your costume and candy bag ready, preparation of another kind is required for kid and adult alike. Here are some tips to stay safe this Halloween. 1. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. 2. Costume accessories such as swords and knives should be short, soft and flexible. 3. Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. And as difficult as it may be, limit the amount of treats you eat. 4. Beware the homemade treats made by strangers. Better to eat only factory-wrapped treats. 5. Walk from house to house, don’t run. Doing so with a flashlight will help you see and others to see you. 6. Test makeup in a small area before applying. Then remove it before sleeping to prevent possible skin or eye irritation. 7. Look both ways before crossing the street. Do we even need to say this one? 8. Only visit well-lit houses. 9. Do not enter a home without a trusted adult. 10. Never accept rides from strangers. Strang-

er danger is a real thing. 11. By not wearing decorative contact lenses, you lower the risk for serious eye injury. 12. Wear well-fitted costumes, masks and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, falls and relentless mockery from your peers. 13. Drive extra safely on Halloween. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert during those hours. Slow down in residential neighborhoods. We all know how excited kids can be. Enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully. 14. Remind children to watch for cars turning or backing up and to not dart into the street or between parked cars. 15. Put your electronic devices down as you walk around. 16. Keep costumes bright, or add reflective tape, to ensure kids are easier to spot. 17. Be careful next to candles or Jack-o’-lanterns. 18. Keep an eye for allergies. If someone has serious allergies or food sensitivities, read any unfamiliar labels before handing over the candy. 19. Brush your teeth. Candy is sticky and cavities will scare you. 20. You can maximize your candy intake by planning your route. Stick to places you are familiar with so you can also circle back around to Halloween headquarters. l

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What makes a state champion in Utah high school sports? By Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com

all is an exciting time for high school sports. Every team starts with a clean slate and a new senior class of leaders eager to leave their mark on their school. Ask any coach and they’ll be positive that their team has made big improvements from the previous year and are ready to compete for region and state championships. But in reality, some schools have almost no chance of winning a championship in any sport. It’s no secret that competitive balance isn’t a prevalent feature of high school sports. Some schools are really good. Others aren’t. But what makes the difference? The size of the school? The coaching? The program’s history? Money? All these factors contribute, but some are much more important than others. To figure out which are the most important, we took all the schools that currently compete in 5A and 6A and counted the number of state championships they have won in the last five years across all team sports. Then we compared those totals to various criteria like enrollment, graduation rates and levels of wealth. Enrollment Obviously there are different classifications in Utah high school sports, from 1A to 6A, that are largely based on enrollment. A team from 6A is always going to be better than a team from 1A because you’re going to have more athletes when pulling from a pool of 2,000-plus students than when pulling from a pool of a couple hundred students. But what about within a single classification? Do schools with a higher enrollment have an advantage over smaller schools within the 5A or 6A divisions? Not really. In 6A, the school with the highest enrollment, Granger High School, hasn’t won a single state championship in the last five years. (Enrollment numbers taken from publicschoolreview.com.) And in 5A, the top 50 percent of schools in terms of enrollment account for 36 state championships, while the bottom 50 percent account for 45 state championships. Graduation Rates People often think about athletics and academics as two completely different spheres, perhaps even antithetical to one another (as in the old nerd vs. jock stereotypes). But it turns out there’s a strong correlation between graduation rates and on-the-field success for Utah high schools. Of the 24 schools with a graduation rate of 92 percent or better, only five have failed to win a state championship in the last five years. Of the 20 schools with a graduation rate of 91 percent or worse, half of them have failed to win a championship in the same span. And the top 50

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Alta High celebrates its boys soccer championship in May 2018. (Ron Bevan/City Journals)

percent of schools by graduation rate account for nearly three times as many state championships as the bottom 50 percent (100 to 35). Those numbers didn’t surprise Rob Cuff, the executive director of the Utah High School Activities Association, the governing body of Utah high school sports. “Your best students are usually also your best athletes,” he told the City Journals. “I think they go hand in hand.” Cuff also said that the UHSAA committee charged with handling reclassifications has considered incorporating graduation rates into their decision-making progress. Of course, correlation does not equal causation. Perhaps there is a third factor that contributes to both athletic and academic success. Wealth of Student Athletes Wealth is a difficult metric to measure for a school body. School boundaries don’t often align with the areas (cities, counties, zip codes) for which you can access public data like median household income. Instead, like others who have considered this same question, we looked at the rate of students that qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a “federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions.” To qualify for the reduced or free lunches, families need to be under a certain poverty level. Schools that participate in the program report the percentage of their students that take advantage of the program, making those reports a relatively convenient method of comparing affluence between schools. Of the high schools competing in 5A and 6A, those with a low percentage of students using the NSLP program have a large advantage when it comes to sports. The top 25 percent of high schools in terms of wealth (as measured by NSLP

participation) have 10 times as many state championships as the bottom 25 percent of high schools, and more than the bottom 75 percent combined. There also aren’t as many outliers as when considering graduation rates. Having a graduation rate of 95 percent or above is a strong indicator of success (the three schools with the most state championships all have graduation rates of 95 percent) but it’s no guarantee, as two other schools with graduation rates of 95 percent did not win a single state championship over the five years. However, when it comes to affluence, there isn’t really an exception. Of the 12 schools with a 15 percent NSLP usage rate or less, every single one has won multiple state championships, with the two most dominant schools being at the very lowest rates of NSLP usage. Conversely, of the 21 schools in which 25 percent or more of the student body uses the NSLP program, over half did not win a single state championship in the last five years. If one were to choose a single metric to predict which Utah high schools will win the most state championships in 2018, this is it. It’s not ideal for competitive balance that the least affluent schools have little to no chance of being in the best in the state, but competitive balance isn’t the end goal for UHSAA. “I think it’s important to maintain a level playing field,” said Cuff, “but our mission is all about participation. If teams are fielding sports teams and students have the opportunity to play, that’s the most important.” So as much as each high school student athlete is full of hope and as much as any coach thinks they’re going to finally turn their program around, in all likelihood the same schools will continue to win championships and everyone else will get the proverbial participation trophy. l

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Voting like it’s Black Friday

CASSIE GOFF

’Tis the month for voting. Utah’s 2018 General Election will take place on Nov. 6. Make sure to get your mail-in ballot post-marked by then or visit a polling station. If you’re not registered yet, don’t worry! You can register day-of at specific polling stations. I’ve been thinking a lot about voting recently with all the hype around this election. What does voting really mean? What do you really do when you color within the lines of your chosen bubbles? The conclusion I have come to is — voting is how I show support. There are a handful of propositions and amendments on this general election ballot. If I have an affirmative vote on a proposition, I am showing support. It’s in the name at that point. I’m a supporter of that proposition. The same goes for the candidates I vote for during elections. If I vote for a certain person, I am showing support for them. I’ve also been thinking a lot about the value of a dollar recently. What does the value of a price tag mean? When I hand my dollar bills or plastic card to the clerk, there’s more to that transaction than just the physical transfer of material. I am showing my support for that product, and/or company. In many of the “shop local” campaigns, a common slogan is “support local businesses.” That’s been reinforcing my idea. By shopping local, I am supporting local. Since both voting and spending money are ways of showing support, I’m starting to view dollar bills as a vote. I’d like to use a syllogism here. Spending money is showing support. Voting is showing support. Therefore, spending money is voting. With every dollar I spend, it’s another vote for the company I’m buying that product from. I’m effectively telling

that business, “Yes, I like your stuff, keep doing what you’re doing, I support you.” And that’s been really powerful for me. With the gift-giving season quickly approaching, I’ve been starting to exercise my vote a bit differently. There are only a few more weeks until shopping becomes a competitive sport. For Black Friday, I’ve usually scouted out stores like Target, Walmart, and Kohl’s. But this year, I’m starting to look for more local deals. Even though some local shops won’t be open as early or as late as some of the bigger corporations, I’m still going to make an effort to shop local for Black Friday. I’m especially considering where to show my support for Cyber Monday. Black Friday crowds are slowly becoming obsolete; because let’s be real, who

would rather go battle crowds of rowdy shoppers when the moon’s out, instead of finding the same, or even better deals through a screen from the comfort of home? Not a lot. Usually, Amazon is the hot spot for Cyber Monday deals. With some of the concerning reports in the news recently, claiming bad work conditions and general disregard for employees, I’m seriously considering withdrawing my support and changing my vote. Instead, I’ll be on the lookout for small business deals through other websites. One of my favorite websites to shop for gifts is Etsy. There are so many small independent artists selling their work. There’s also really cool stuff that’s hard to find anywhere else. I’d much rather vote for the Independent than the Dictator, money down. l

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Life and Laughter—Table Talk

Life

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PERI KINDER

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hanksgiving is a day of stress, even in the best of times, but Thanksgiving 2018 could take the cake. . . er . . pie. Dinner conversations have become landmines. Relationships are as strained as my jeans after five helpings of mashed potatoes. Families haven’t been this divided since the great Toilet Paper Orientation debate of 1954. Here are just a few topics that could escalate your meal from a civil discussion to Grandpa throwing cranberry sauce into the ceiling fan: The national anthem--Kneeling v. standing; The Presidency--Trump v. a sane person; Women’s rights v. Rich White Men; Nazis v. Not Nazis; and the most contentious subject, Marvel v. DC. Things are ugly, folks. People are tense. There are marches and demonstrations covering every perceivable issue. Even asking someone their view on mayonnaise could spark a worldwide protest. So, what can we possibly talk about around the Thanksgiving table so we can still get presents on Christmas? I gathered a group of unsuspecting family members to practice possible discussion topics. It didn’t go well. Me to Grandson: Tell me about

Fortnite. Great Uncle Jack: What’s Fortnite? Grandson: It’s an awesome video game! Great Uncle Jack: That’s stupid, you namby-pamby! Do you know what my video game was? World War II! So, I tried again. Me: Elon Musk plans to take humans to the moon in 2023. Second Cousin: The moon landing never happened. It’s a conspiracy to keep us docile. Me: I don’t think it’s working. Another effort. Me: How about those sports? Hubbie: Agents have ruined professional sports! Back in the day, athletes played the damn game. Now, it’s, “Oh, I need an extra $20 million before I can throw a pitch.” Okay then. Next. Me: What fun things should we do for Christmas? Brother-in-law: We should stop pandering to the commercialism of a pagan holiday that has no foundation of truth. Might as well celebrate rocks. I tried a different tactic. Me: A delicious roast turkey sure sounds good. Daughter: Do you know how

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turkeys are raised? It’s disgusting and inhuman. Me: Turkeys aren’t human. Daughter: You are dead to me. I was almost out of ideas. Me: What do you think about sweater vests? Everyone: We hate them! Well, that’s a start. I’m worried most families will end up sitting quietly, heads down, creating volcanoes with the mashed potatoes and gravy, and making NO eye contact for the entirety of the meal. At least dessert shouldn’t be contentious. (Dessert: Hold my beer.) There was a time when conversation was an art, a civilized form of

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