The Signpost - September 17, 2018

Monday | September 17, 2018 | Volume 89 | Issue 15

MONARCH MURALS TAKE OVER OGDEN

JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost

S&T » PAGE 8

TESLA STOCK GOES DOWN IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE

NEWS » PAGE 10

STUDENT LIFE DISCUSSED AT TRUSTEES MEETING

2 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018

WSU AND OGDEN EVENTS DIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM

AUTHOR COMES TO WSU

WSU HOSTS SUU

The Weber State University women’s soccer team will be hosting the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds in their first Big Sky Conference match of the season. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. on the Weber State soccer field on Sept. 22.

Tickets are free for students and other attendees.

Last season, the Thunderbirds beat the Wildcats 2–1 in Cedar City.

By HARRISON EPSTEIN Editor-in-Chief

For the fifth straight year, the Allen Holmes Diversity Symposium will come to Weber State. This year, the event is “It’s not all in your head: Mental Health, Identity, and Athletics.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is WNBA player turned mental health advocate Chamique Holdsclaw. She become a mental health advocate after suffering herself from mental health issues. There is also a documentary from Rick Goldsmith entitled “Mind/ Game: The Uniquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw,” which focuses on her post-WNBA life.

She will speak twice on Sept. 18. The first speech is at noon at the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater and the second is at 6:30 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballrooms. The event is free and open to the public.

WC OPEN HOUSE

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Dan Flores, author of the New York Times Bestseller, “Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History,” will be speaking at the Garden Room of the Alumni Center. The speech will be taking place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19.

Flores’ speech is a part of the Weber Historical Society lecture series and will focus on the natural ability of the coyote to survive despite any ecological and environmental changes. Flores is also an A.B. Hammond Professor Emeritus of the History of American West at the University Montana-Missoula.

BELLA TORRES | The Signpost

BEN TAYLOR TO SPEAK AT BUSINESS BUILDING As a part of the Ralph Nye Lecture Series taking place at the Wattis Business Building, WSU alumnus Ben Taylor will be speaking about his experience where an apparent internet scam became a humanitarian mission.

The event will take place in room 206 of the Business Building and begin at noon. The lecture is also a part of the Weber State University Engaged Learning Series through CCEL..

MCT

Weber State University

MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018 | 3

ESTEEMED JAZZ MUSICIAN

SWINGS INTO WEBER

By ANA LICHFIELD A&E Reporter

The jazz stylings of the Sean Jones Quartet came to the Val Browning Center for the first time Sept. 14 with the performance of its leader and trumpeter, Sean Jones.

In addition to regularly touring with his quartet, Jones is an esteemed music professor at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. While having to play and teach music at the same time seems difficult, he said he manages to do both through careful scheduling and

a bit of luck.

Being able to teach inspires Jones’ performances, especially because he views it as teaching the future generations of musicians.

“My performance informs my teaching, and my teaching informs my performance,” Jones said. “I couldn’t really have one without the other.”

Jones’ experience teaching at Weber State University thus far has not been one-dimensional. He ventured beyond just jazz classes, even lecturing a tap class.

Dr. Scott Sprenger, dean of the LindWeber State University

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Sean Jones, pictured, performed at the Browning Center on Sept. 14.

quist College of Arts and Humanities, was inspired to bring Jones and his quartet to Weber after speaking with the WSU jazz program director. They both believed Jones was the best option to kick off the “Browning Presents!” series.

“Sean is one of the greatest living trumpet players, and there are many jazz aficionados in the local community,” Sprenger said.

Sprenger said the opportunity for students to have Jones in-residence and vie for the chance to perform onstage with him “will undoubtedly be the thrill of a lifetime.”

The Browning family, who are longtime WSU donors, made the Sean Jones Quartet event possible.

“Every time we organize an event like this, I am reminded of the supreme generosity and long-term vision of the Browning family,” Sprenger said. “The faculty and I are deeply grateful to be the stewards of these funds. We can never thank them enough.”

To find other tour dates for the Sean Jones Quartet, visit https://www.sean-jones.com/.

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FOOD, FRIENDS AND FANS UNITE AT DESTRUCTION ZONE

WATCH PARTIES

The Signpost Archives

By BRANDON MAY Sports Editor

Weber State University’s student section, the “Destruction Zone,” will be hosting watch parties for each away football game at Steiny’s Family Sports Grill this fall.

WSU student Devon Jennings and the Destruction Zone held their first watch party when the Wildcats traveled west to to take on Big Sky Conference rival Cal Poly on Sept. 8.

“We are hoping to have a community

watch party for each away game this year,” Jennings said. “It allows us to get together and cheer on our team and get the community and students excited about our sports.”

Steiny’s was one of several restaurants to host watch parties around Ogden last December when the ’Cats took on James Madison in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.

“We would like to keep the watch parties at the same place,” Jennings said.

“Steiny’s is right across the street from campus, making it an ideal place for We-

ber State fans.”

For fans who wear Weber State gear, Steiny’s will be offering discounted food and drink specials on game day. The restaurant offered fans a six dollar chicken plate when the Wildcats kicked off with the Mustangs.

Jennings said he believes the specials might change from week to week, offering fans something different on their menu.

For closer games, Southern Utah University and Idaho State University, the “Destruction Zone” hopes to travel but also have watch parties for students and

fans who can’t make the trip.

“For away games that are closer, we plan to travel and support our guys,” Jennings said. “We also want to have watch parties in place for those who can’t make the trip.”

The Destruction Zone’s next watch party is October 6 when the Wildcats travel south to take on the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks.

Students are encouraged to follow the Destruction Zone on social media, and are urged to attend their meetings every Tuesday at 8 a.m. at the Stewart Stadium.

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KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost

Dr. Stacy Palen talks to an audience about the significance found within the movie’s use of astronomy.

STARS SHOW THE WAY AMONG THE WAVES IN ‘MOANA’

By JENNY GUZMAN Diversity Editor

It’s no lie that Walt Disney Animation Studios spent years trying to perfect their knowledge of Pacific culture for their 2016 motion picture “Moana,” but their exceeding attention to detail, even within a film of fiction, delivered a film with attention to detail beyond what audiences could’ve anticipated.

In a film discussion on Sept. 12, Weber State physics professor and director for the Ott Planetarium, Dr. Stacy Palen, educated students and faculty about the accuracy “Moana” presented, especially regarding the heart of the film: the protagonist Moana’s world-spanning journey across the waves.

The movie primarily focuses on Moana and her journey across the sea to find the demigod Maui. She discovers the history

of her ancestors’ voyaging journeys before their permanent settlement on her home island of Motunui.

“The Polynesians and the Pacific people used to navigate by boat for a long time and they went from west to east and then for about 1000 years they didn’t, and nobody knows why,” Palen said. “So, this story of ‘Moana’ trying to rediscover this (tradition), is an actual thing that happened.”

Palen discussed the book “Hawaiki Rising” by Sam Low and a Hawaiian navigation conference to give detailed information regarding star alignments, wind directions, ocean swells and hand navigation, all of which is shown in the film.

One fact Palen explained was Hawaiians’ use of a star compass, which sections the sky into 11 degree increments. However, the names repeat and are symmetrical from right to left and top to bottom. For example, the Big Dipper will appear in the

“house” Nalani, and will set in Nalani on the other side, according to Palen.

“So, they don’t have the concept of latitudes or meridians, but they know there’s this pattern,” Palen said. “When you’re in Tahiti, these two stars (meridian pair) are the same distance above the horizon as there is between them, and then you can ask ‘Were they measuring in degrees or radians?’ and they weren’t; they were measuring in knuckles and thumbs and hand thickness.”

The movie also demonstrates that specific practice during Moana’s attempt to sail and measure distance in the night sky by lifting her hand up to see how it aligns with the stars.

Palen’s presentation brought students and faculty from various departments who aren’t necessarily in the science department.

“I didn’t know how accurate it (the nav-

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igation from the movie) was until (Palen) explained today that it really was accurate, and you don’t know that when you’re watching the movie,” said Anneke Allot, a current WSU student working on completing an associate degree and a physics enthusiast.

Chad Holbrook, who works as a program administrator for continuing education, was interested in Palen’s seminar after discovering it on the events calendar.

“I kind of figured they (the filmmakers) were pulling from historical fact, but I didn’t understand what they were measuring or how they were measuring, and that was interesting to hear,” Holbrook said.

For more information about events like this happening within the science department, students can visit weber.edu/cos/ COS_calendar.

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W I L D C AT VILLAGE

Three facilities provide the lastest amenities in oncampus living. Made-to-order restaurant, convenience store, gym, volleyball court, outdoor fire pit, meeting hall, printer station, and much more.

For more information: Stop by the Stewart Wasatch Hall housing office Visit us at www.weber.edu/housing Call 801-626-7275

6 | MyWeberMedia.com | Septmeber 17, 2018

MONARCH MURALS

SET TO FLY AWAY

ON OGDEN WALLS JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost

By ALYSON JOHNSON A&E Reporter

In collaboration with Ogden City and the Ogden Nature Center, Weber State University will welcome artist Jane Kim to create an inspiring art project throughout the city.

Kim received her master of fine arts from Rhode Island School of Design. Then, with journalist Thayer Walker, she founded Ink Dwell studio in 2012.

Kim has participated in different productions throughout the country with the intent of creating art that inspires and educates the public on the natural world.

After originally meeting Kim last year at the Artist and Residency Program, Weber State invited her back to Ogden to create multiple large-scale murals throughout the city.

“Bringing in notable artists is always a great thing because not only does it mean that our town is gaining interest nationwide, but it also means that it activates and gets local artists interested and involved,” said Todd Oberndorfer, Weber State’s Visual Arts Outreach Manager.

The mural Kim and her team are currently working on in downtown Ogden is on the external walls of The Monarch building on the corner of 25th St and Ogden Ave. The Monarch, which is projected to open its doors for the first time in spring 2019, will provide a coffee shop, bar, restaurant and over 50 creative studios and makers spaces for local artists.

The building is also a part of the Nine Rails Creative District, which is an initiative started in 2015 with the hope of bringing innovative and creative work and projects to downtown Ogden.

“What the Creative District is going to try to do is bring more artists into the area to live and to work,” Oberndorfer said. “Which will make it more attractive for people to walk through the area and do work in the area.”

The goal of this collaboration is that it will create a convenient and affordable facility that will attract artists

from all over to participate and partake in what Ogden city has to offer.

“The mural of the monarch butterfly is an amazing symbol; it is a butterfly rising and spreading its wings; it is colorful and beautiful and creative. It is a great flag to stick in the middle of the Nine Rails Creative District,” said Thaine Fischer, developer and owner of The Monarch.

The mural at The Monarch is the second of three installations throughout Ogden City featuring monarch butterflies.

The first stage of the murals began with the installation of unique banners at the Ogden Nature Center depicting the life of a monarch butterfly. This stage is currently open to the public to view.

After the mural downtown is complete, the last stage of the project will be a monarch mural in Weber State’s Kimball Visual Arts building, expected to be completed by the end of October.

The purpose of the monarch murals throughout Ogden is not only to beautify the city, but also to educate and inform the community about the rapid decline of Monarch butterflies’ population.

The Ogden murals are part of a nationwide campaign called the Migrating Mural, an ongoing project led by Kim and Ink Dwell, which follows migration corridors of different wildlife as they intersect with people.

Kim and her team traveled to multiple cities throughout the country to display their artwork including Florida, California and Arkansas.

“Our murals show what’s happening to a lot of other different species and insects. We try to make each one unique to the location by adding something specific about the area,” said Fiorella Ikeue, artist at Ink Dwell.

In addition to creating the largescale mural at Weber State, Kim is offering a free public lecture on Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. in Lindquist Lecture Hall of the Kimball Visual Arts Center.

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RAPTORS’ QUEST FOR

REPEAT FALLS SHORT

By CALEB HINTZ Sports Reporter

Bella Torres | The Signpost

Coming off their first Pioneer League championship in 2017, the Ogden Raptors aimed for a repeat in 2018. Ogden finished the regular season with 46 victories, the second-highest total in franchise history.

However, the Raptors met their match as they were defeated two games to one by the Grand Junction Rockies in the first round of the playoffs.

Following a Raptors defeat in which Grand Junction scored six runs in the ninth inning game one at Lindquist Field, the Raptors came in with determination on Sept. 8 to force a game three. Ogden kept their season alive with a 7–5 victory in front of 2,857 fans.

Raptors manager Jeremy Rodriguez said he was proud of the fight his team showed as they faced elimination.

“This team, you know, we’ve been down before and we came back,” Rodriguez said, “This team probably has the most fight I’ve seen in a team that I’ve managed.”

The fighting spirit was evident early on, as starting pitcher Joel Inoa set down the Rockies in order in the first inning. In the bottom of the first, second baseman Jeremy Arocho lined the first pitch up the middle for a single. Arocho later stole second base and scored on a base hit by first baseman Dillon Paulson.

Ogden slugger James Outman led off the second inning with a home run over the center field fence, a prelude of things to come.

After Grand Junction battled back to tie the game, the Raptors responded in the bottom of the fourth. Then, after Paulson reached on an error and right fielder Niko Hulsizer drew a walk, Outman electrified the crowd once again. His three-run blast to right-center gave the Raptors a 5–2 lead, one they did not relinquish.

The Rockies plated two in the fifth inning to close within a run, but right-hander Orlandy Navarro came in from the bullpen to escape a bases-loaded jam. Again, the hosts had an answer in the bottom half. After a free pass to Paulson, Hulsizer blasted a Colton Harlow offering 475 feet to left field to make it 7–4.

The rest of the night featured close pitching for the home team, who managed to hold a potent Grand Junction lineup to just one run in the final four innings. Elio Serrano closed it out by retiring all four batters he faced to keep Ogden’s season alive.

The following morning, the Raptors traveled to Grand Junction, Colorado for a decisive game three of the first-round series. The Rockies took a 6–0 lead after two innings. Ogden then fought back, led by home runs from third baseman Moises Perez and shortstop Ronny Brito. Alas, the comeback fell one run short as the Raptors fell 6–5 to end their 2018 campaign.

With the victory, the Rockies advanced to the Pioneer League championship series for the first time in franchise history. Grand Junction will take on the Great Falls Voyagers in a best-of-three set this week.

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MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018 | 9

By CAMERON GIFFORD

S&T Correspondent

It’s been a tumultuous couple of months for serial entrepreneur and philanthropist Elon Musk.

Tesla stock plummeted by over $17 per share on Sept. 7 following Musk’s appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.

Host Joe Rogan gave Musk a chance to wax eloquent on some of his future potential projects, including an electric VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) plane, a computer-brain interface Musk referred to as Neuralink and the future of sustainable energy.

The interview concluded with Rogan and Musk sharing a “spliff” (marijuana and tobacco cigarette), once Rogan assured Musk that recreational marijuana was legal in California.

Rogan’s assurance aside, the six percent single-day drop in share prices is likely due to Musk’s use of illicit drugs according to Weber State University Interpersonal and Family Advisor, Brent Warnock, who makes his living in the stock market.

“Elon Musk is Tesla. It’s Elon. Period.” said Warnock. “A drop of that significance only happens occasionally, and it’s only with company news: earnings reports every quarter. If they meet or miss expectations, you can have a six percent swing. Otherwise, a six percent swing is unheard of for a regular business day.”

Above and beyond the state-level legality of cannabis, as a contractor Musk is subject to federal restrictions. According to a CNBC military source, Musk’s podcast cannabis session may end up costing him a number of Air Force contracts with SpaceX. The United States government prohibits any personnel with a security clearance from the use of illicit drugs.

Musk may have also violated his own company’s standards.

Tesla’s Health and Safety section of its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics promises each employee a “safe and healthy work environment” and encourages each employee to report any unsafe behavior, specifying “use of illegal drugs.”

Regardless of legal or ethical violations, Musk represents an entire company, and public relations student Parker Crawford posits Musk is doing an effective job at keeping people talking about Tesla.

“While some of the things (he does) might be boneheaded in some peoples’ view, the bigger thing is that he’s getting things out there. PR, whether it’s negative or positive, is PR. It’s going to get your name out there,” said Crawford.

PR student Tim Romney says Musk is too risky to consider a prospective employer.

“He’s the face of the company, and the way that he acts he’s not someone I’d want to represent. I know that in PR, there’s always going to be the negative and the positive ... and it’s just getting harder and harder for those executives to cover his tail,” said Romney.

Romney’s views may not be far off: two more Tesla executives, the chief accounting officer and human resources chief, have announced their departure from the automobile manufacturer. Dave Morton, who acted as Tesla’s chief accounting officer, had only been in his position for a month.

The executives’ resignations came on the heels of an “Electrek” report claiming that Tesla not only failed to meet their Model 3 production goal of 6,000 vehicles per week by the end of August, but is struggling to reach 5,000 cars per week.

Tesla is known for a comparatively high turnover rate, but 2018 alone has marked the departure of 41 executives according to a CNBC report. This number doesn’t include roughly nine percent of its workforce laid off in June.

This type of turnover is extremely uncommon for top-level executives in other well-established companies, according to Associate Professor Dr. Randy Boyle at the WSU Goddard School of Business and Economics.

“You’d never see this type of turnover in a traditional automobile manufacturer. Why would good smart people that know the most about a company all quit en masse? That’s the literally multi-billion dollar question.” said Boyle.

Boyle went on to say that Apple is the perfect foil for a company like Tesla. Steve Jobs was undeniably the face of Apple the same way Musk is for Tesla. People who worked at Apple, according to Boyle, were often scared of Steve Jobs; but you never saw the same large number of departures.

“You look at Steve Jobs, and he was a fairly turbulent personality. The boards, and some of the smart people around him, disagreed with what he was doing. But it turns out he was right, and he created the most valuable company in the world, hands down,” said Boyle.

Boyle believes the key difference is stability. Because of the volatile nature of the industry in which Tesla operates, everyone’s looking at Musk for stability as the physical representation of the company. If he appears unstable, Tesla appears unstable.

In an Aug. 16 interview with the New York Times, Musk spoke about how exhausting this past year has been for him, the family obligations he’s nearly missed and the 120-hour work weeks he’s put in to try to ensure the future of his companies.

Musk’s emotional turbulence was due in no small part to his attempt, according to the interview, at complete transparency.

Musk was referring to the Aug. 7 tweet in which he announced, “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.”

The funding Musk was talking about, according to the interview, was a potential investment brought up in talks regarding a

$250 billion fund within the Saudi Arabia government.

The tweet, which incited a surge in share prices of more than 13 percent, has prompted an SEC investigation according to CNBC, seeking to determine whether Musk used the tweet as a method to burn out short-sellers.

Traders, who ended up losing more than $1.3 billion, are now filing lawsuits against Musk based on similar claims.

On Aug. 24, Musk tweeted a link to a Tesla blog post, in which he clarified the future of the company.

“Given the feedback I’ve received,” Musk wrote, “it’s apparent that most of Tesla’s existing shareholders believe we are better off as a public company … I met with Tesla’s Board of Directors yesterday and let them know that I believe the better path is for Tesla to remain public. The Board indicated that they agree.”

Warnock suggested that Tesla needs some serious help in managing their future.

“The whole company has a big problem,” said Warnock. “There have been a lot of analysts who say that Tesla is ‘un-investable’ until Elon Musk either steps down, or he gets some help in there so he’s not the sole face of this company.”

According to the New York Times interview, those members of the board are currently searching for an executive to help relieve some of Musk’s intense workload.

As far as Warnock is concerned, however, the bottom line is Musk needs to stop acting like the CEO of a private company.

“When you’re the CEO of a public company with public shares, which Tesla is, he doesn’t work for himself,” said Warnock. “This is not his company anymore, this is a public company. This is for shareholders, he works for them. He has forgotten that.”

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MADISON OSBORN | The Signpost

10 | MyWeberMedia.com| September 17, 2018

Weber State University

By JENNIFER GREENLEE Assistant News Editor

Once a month, the powers-that-be convene to determine the fate of all Weber State University students. Well, they at least discuss the finances, academic changes and policy changes at WSU. These powers-that-be are the Board of Trustees, eight of whom are appointed by the governor, one of whom is the president of the WSU Alumni Association and one of whom is the president of the WSU Student Association.

This month, they met Sept. 13 to hear a presentation by the Dean of the College of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, to discuss student mental health, to hear a report on the Weber State University Student Association and to take a few other actions.

Dave Ferro, dean of the College of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, discussed the goal of the college in front of the board. Ferro emphasized getting a strategic division plan for the college, a plan to help ensure the college meets its goals and outcomes.

“It started a couple years ago when we went through every department and we did a strategic plan,” Ferro said. “Before that we had done a strategic plan at the college level, and now we need to do a bottom-up, up to the top-down plan that is reflective of that at the college level.”

Ferro stressed that the organization of the college tries to bridge both community and student needs. The college is focused on working closely with the community to match students as either interns or graduates with projects and people, to give students the most experience and value from the job or internship.

As part of focusing on the needs of the students and the community, the college has made changes to the mechanical engineering degree. Hill Air Force Base has been hiring WSU’s mechanical engineering technology students for a long time, but there are two tracks for mechanical engineering students: they can either take the track of a technician or the track for engineering.

To help narrow the focus, there is now a track for Mechanical Engineering and separate track for those who wish to specialize as Mechanical Engineering Technicians for other companies who need graduates with those degrees.

In 2016, the Engineering Initiative Request added a large amount of graduates to these programs, which encouraged the state of Utah to fund another initiative to bring in more graduates. Between all schools, excluding BYU, WSU has made

MyWeberMedia.com| September 17, 2018 | 11

its mark among Utah schools, with large increases in enrollments and graduates throughout degrees in the college.

With the increase in students majoring in these subjects, however, the Board noted that new spaces would need to be built to accomodate them, including a space on the Davis campus and a space that would eventually subsume the Noorda building on the main campus.

The next topic the Board of Trustees discussed was student mental health, unarguably an important facet of college life.

The American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, a nationally standardized survey, is done every other year in the spring, to help assess student mental health.

In one section of the assessment, the test gathers data on what symptoms of depression have been experienced by college students in the past 12 months.

42 percent of students at WSU reported that they had “felt so depressed it was difficult to function.” 20 percent were “diagnosed with depression.” 15 percent reported that it had “affected their academic performance.” Two percent reported that they had attempted suicide — nearly 500 students. The majority of the results were equal or higher than the national and state average.

While these statistics may seem startling, Dr. Dianna K. Abel, director of the counseling center and licensed psychologist, stated that depression isn’t actually the biggest issue: it’s anxiety, which students have reported in even larger numbers.

“Just in the last 12 months, 62 percent of our students have said that they have felt overwhelming anxiety,” Abel said. “23 percent say they have been diagnosed, 14 percent say that they have taken a medication and more than a quarter, 26 percent, say that their anxiety has impacted their academic performance.”

Again, on nearly all of these measures, WSU students report much higher percentages than students in other parts of the state and in other parts of the country.

In another section of the ACHA NCHA, it surveys the lifetime of the student, rather than just the past 12 months. 29 percent of students have been diagnosed with depression, 29 percent have seriously considered suicide and 14 percent reported a suicide attempt.

Even though the numbers of students that suffer are high, there ‘s a variety of resources available on campus. The counseling center offers individual, couple and family counseling. There are also several group therapies and support groups to

help students through hard times—same-day crisis intervention.

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) for Suicide Prevention is a nationally standardized program that helps train faculty and staff what to do when in the company of someone in a suicidal crisis. By taking a public health approach to mental health, the hope is more students can be reached and helped.

Students will be able to take Psychology of Adjustment and Growth starting in the spring. As a half-block class, it will teach students the QPR methods, helping peers in crisis and making effective referrals. The second half of the semester, in a course that is not yet named or numbered, will be for select students who will then be trained to run support groups.

Following the mental health discussion, the Board of Trustees went over the WSUSA report.

New events with WSUSA have begun, starting with “Taters with Slater.” These events cater french fries, baked potatoes and other types of potatoes at different colleges across campus and will include the opportunity to speak with WSUSA President Jordan Slater.

The first one is planned for Tracy Hall.

“I just want to have the opportunity to meet with students,” Slater said. “I want to figure

5TH aNNual ALLEN HOLMES

DIVERsITY SYMPOSIuM

out what their needs are and what they want to say. I’m looking forward to these events.”

WSUSA is also giving students a chance to learn how to register to vote and helping them engage in their civic duties. The goal is that by having registration forms where students can access them, the student body will have a greater voter turnout.

Finally, the Board reviewed actions taken. Among these actions, Sherri Cox was appointed and confirmed as the Board Secretary. Francis A. Davis was confirmed as the December 2018 commencement speaker.

The Business Committee moved to approve, among other financial requests, the fiscal year 2020 facility budget, namely the Noorda building budget and the fiscal year 2020 budget requests.

A new academic program was proposed: Computational Statistics and Data Sciences. It was confirmed and will be a new bachelors of science program starting in the 2019-2020.

Finally, the dean of the Moyes College of Education, Jack Rasmussen, asked for administrative or special leave. He has served as dean for 17 years. With this announcement, WSU can begin to look for a new dean for the College of Education.

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It’s NOT alL IN YOuR HeaD MENTAL HEALtH, IDeNtItY, & ATHLeTICS

sept. 18 kEYNoTE spEakEr: CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW

MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE & FORMER WNBA PLAYER

Athletics • Diversity and Inclusive Programs Access & Diversity • Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Chief Diversity Officer • Allen Holmes Endowment

weber.edu/diversity

12 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018

PROFESSORS PONTIFICATE

Public Lands

POLICIES

By JESSICA DOUGALL News Reporter

By JOHN WISE S&T Reporter

On Tuesday in the Wildcat Theater, Weber State University’s Sustainability Practices and Research Center (SPARC), along with the Center for Community Engaged Learning hosted “Matter of Fact: Lands of the West,” a panel discussion about native people and public lands as a part of the Engaged Learning Series on campus.

Dr. Alice Mulder, WSU assistant professor and director of SPARC, opened the event before turning the microphone over to the panel.

The discussion started with an introductory speech from each panelist to give some background on public lands in the west.

WSU professor and chair of history Dr. Sara Dant spoke regarding the five organizations that are in charge of maintaining, managing and monetizing the public lands. She explained how the National Park Service was originally managed by the U.S. military and how the Forest Service was created to preserve timber harvests.

Dant explained that 57 percent of Utah is federally owned and over 85 percent of the western United States is considered to be public land.

Dant’s recently published book titled, “Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West” discussed the

interaction between people and nature, and how the relationship has evolved.

Daniel McCool, professor emeritus from the University of Utah, gave an overview of legislation and laws affecting Native Americans and federal land management. As the director of environmental studies at the U of U, McCool spoke on the mistreatment of Native Americans and the Enabling Act of 1894 saying, “Indian lands are

“The whole point of this series — ‘Matter of Fact’ — is exactly that,” Dant said. “We have to find out what the facts are.” small remnants of (what they used to be).”

The third panelist, State Rep. Timothy Hawkes of Utah’s 18th district, displayed an image of what types of public lands in Utah are managed by the state and for what reason.

Hawkes explained to the audience the difference between lands such as state parks and lands managed under the School Institute Trust Lands Administration. Hawkes detailed the process of selling and renting public lands.

The idea behind renting and selling these lands, is not for governmental

profit, but to have money to manage and maintain the lands. He referred specifically to lands that the government has set aside to build schools, hospitals and other public services.

“I think that one of the biggest challenges to (managing) public lands is the fact that, and this was eluded to, that we love them so much,” Hawkes said. “So when we talk about loving them to death, it’s real.”

The panel then addressed three questions from Mulder about the challenges of administration and doctrines followed by different sides of the debate over public land management.

After the first half of the event, the audience was given an opportunity to ask the panel questions.

When given the microphone, McCool offered insight to the disparities facing the indigenous people in the west.

“The problem with collaboration,” McCool said, “is it only works when all the stakeholders are at the table and what happened in public lands policy over the last hundred years is they left out the Native Americans.”

The contested reduction to Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument was brought up several times. Hawkes was asked to clarify his characterization of the Antiquities Act as, “not that strong of a protective tool.”

Regarding the monument’s re-designation Hawkes said, “When you read the Antiquities Act it really comes down

to the word ‘designate.’ Once given the power to designate land it would be hard to argue that land couldn’t be re-designated.”

WSU botany major Jake Eiting asked the panel how the narrative of a “land-grab” from the federal government originated. The panel seemed to have difficulty answering the question objectively, making several tonguein cheek comments. “Can we mention names?” McCool asked in jest.

Dant was more succinct in her answer. “We want it to be good guys and bad guys,” she said. “It’s a good argument to make, and it makes the argument simple.”

The discussion remained mostly civil except for a brief moment of disagreement between an audience member and Hawkes regarding the discrepancy between facts and unproven scientific hypotheses surrounding climate change.

“The whole point of this series — ‘Matter of Fact’ — is exactly that,” Dant said.

“We have to find out what the facts are.”

All three panelists made the same final point: these lands are our lands. If something corrupt or immoral is being done to our lands, they urged students to contact their U.S. Congress representatives and senators.

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TABOO TALKS MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018 | 13

TACKLES IMMIGRATION

By DANYA GIL

Diversity Reporter

Students and Weber State University staff learned about current immigration policies and discussed their viewpoints at the first taboo talks event of the semester on Sept. 12.

The event was hosted by the diversity and inclusive program. Eduardo Franco, taboo talks chair coordinator, spoke about the timeliness of the subject.

“We see a lot in the news, we see these two extremes. Both of these extremes can actually talk and be able to agree to disagree,” said Franco.

Franco also mentioned that Taboo Talks is not meant to change anyone’s individual opinions, but create a safe environment to share different viewpoints.

The discussion started with a presentation by Liliana Castrellon, a doctoral candidate working with the department of educational leadership and policy at the University of Utah.

“I want to ground my discussion in the fact that I believe immigration is not a topic to be up for debate,” Castrellon said.

“It’s not a topic that should be considered taboo.”

Castrellon spoke about what she considers taboo as “the denial that immigrants bring millions of dollars to the American economy.” She gave examples on how immigrants contribute to the U.S. tax base.

Castrellon also spoke about racist nativism and gave examples on how the current administration is exercising this act through arrests and deportation of non-criminal immigrants and family separation.

Lais Martinez, college access coordinator for StepUP, facilitated a discussion amongst students and WSU staff after Castrellon’s presentation. Martinez asked questions on topics ranging from refugees, immigration policies’ impact on education, and the eth-

ics and morality surrounding immigration and DACA. Weber State senior Kylie Wilson came to the event to see where fellow students stood on these issues. Through the discussion, Wilson learned that DACA was not a pathway to citizenship, rather protection from deportation and a work permit for those who qualify.

“So the government’s putting all this money into work permits and not citizenship?” Wilson asked. “That’s crazy. I think that’s a misuse of resources.” Wilson added that it would be cheaper and more beneficial in the long run to help immigrants receive citizenship.

Under the Trump administration, the United States Department of Homeland Security rescinded the expansion of DACA in 2017. DACA is currently in place, but there is fear surrounding the status of DACA and its future, Martinez said.

Diversity and inclusive programs coordinator, Andrea S. Hernández, said that DACA is not enough, and it acts like a Band-Aid. “We need a good, solid immigration policy to allow immigrants to be able to have citizenship faster than having to wait 10 years for the system to work,” Hernández said.

Juancarlos Santisteban, a licensed family and marriage therapist at the WSU counseling center, brought the conversation back from policies to a human perspective.

“Imagine yourself being in their shoes, the uncertainty those students have to walk with every single day,” Santisteban said. “We have privileges that they don’t have. Every day they have to be consciously aware that tomorrow that right can be taken away from them.”

Diversity and inclusive programs will hold more Taboo Talks during this semester. For more information, go to https:// www.weber.edu/diversity/taboo.html.

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BUGS BURGLED IN 14 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018

PHILADELPHIA

By KAINOA NUNEZ S&T Reporter

More than 7,000 living insects and spiders were stolen from the Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion in Philadelphia Aug. 28.

Surveillance cameras recorded the suspects carrying plastic containers out of the building in broad daylight.

The suspects took $40,000 worth of specimens, including a sand spider, one of the most venomous spiders in the world.

More than 80 species of spiders, scorpions, centipedes, tarantulas, millipedes, mantises and grasshoppers were taken.

That equates to roughly 80 percent of the

facility’s collection.

“This doesn’t happen very often with live animals, but on the other hand, it’s not surprising because there’s a market for just about everything,” said Dr. John Mull, entomologist and professor of zoology at Weber State University.

Mull said it was highly unlikely these thieves were keeping the insects for themselves, but intended to sell them.

John Cambridge, CEO of the Insectarium, said it would be easier to sell the insects than people might think.

“The enthusiast market is quite strong — exotic pet shows and that kind of thing,” Cambridge said in a public statement.

“There’s no way they took these to be part of their personal collection.”

It’s been two weeks since the heist, and the FBI is now involved in finding the suspects and retrieving the insects.

“I’m not sure there’s ever been a larger live-insect heist,” said Cambridge. “Our insurance doesn’t cover this. Why would they? This is unprecedented.”

As news spread about the heist, the museum has been receiving donations of live insects from collectors and institutions around the country.

Cambridge said the surveillance footage helped the Insectarium identify the thieves as employees of the museum. He

said about a dozen of the insects were recovered from the home of a suspect, but the others remain missing.

“I think it’s kind of cruel in all honesty; those insects are worth a lot of money,” said Kelsey Lambirth, 22, a zoology major.

“It’s interesting that people felt the need to steal them.”

As the investigation continues to find the suspects and retrieve the insects, the Insectarium plans to reopen by Nov. 3 for its Oddities Expo.

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“Our insurance doesn’t cover this. Why would they? This is unprecedented.”

- John Cambridge, CEO of the Insectarium

MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018 | 15

HELP WANTED

FEATURED JOB

FEATURED JOB

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE The position performs the following functions and duties: • Individual will answer multi-line telephone • Greet walk-in customers.

• Input work requests into computerized database.

• Assist Customers with requests.

•Assists other FM employees with miscellaneous office duties.

•Run errands on campus each day.

PART-TIME DISPATCHER

Requisition Number: H00275P

$10.00

The position performs the following functions and duties: • Use a computer-aided dispatch system • Receive emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, medical or other emergency services.

• Determine the nature and location of the emergency; determine priority and dispatch police, or other emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures • Maintain contact with all units

on assignment, maintain status and location.

$15.00 Requisition Number: H00102P

Science Store Associate Chemistry $9.00 Requisition Number: H00059P

Childcare Teacher Non-Traditonal Student $10.00 Requisition Number: H00433P

Telecommunications Campus Operator Telecommunication Services $8.50 Requisition Number: H00396P

Graphic Designer Planning and Undergraduate Research $12.00 Requisition Number: H00502P

PR Intern Development Math Program $10.00 Requisition Number: H00500P

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Welding Lab Aide Dean Eng Appl Science and Tech Off $10.00 Requisition Number: H00011P $9.50 with a $0.50/hour raise after training Requisition Number: H00360P

Editor-in-Chief Harrison Epstein harrisonepstein@mail.weber.edu

News Editor Nic Muranaka nicholasmuranaka@mail.weber.edu

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The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees fund the printing of this publication. Opinions or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and to refuse to print any letters. Letters should be submitted online to thesignpost@weber.edu and read letter to the Editor in the subject box. Letters should not exceed 350 words.

16 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 17, 2018

Bella Torres | The Signpost

By HILLARY REILLY A&E Reporter

Bella Torres | The Signpost

WHERE DO YOUR STUDENT FEES GO? Apply to serve on the

STUDENT FEE RECOMMENDATION COMMITTEE to make recommendations for the distribution of your student fees.

To apply, pick up an application at the Shepherd Union Information Desk or online at www.weber.edu/studentaffairs APPLICATION DEADLINE: 4 pm, Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Submit completed applications to Student Involvement & Leadership, Shepherd Union 326 or email to jenniferbrustad@weber.edu Questions: Call (801) 626 – 8904

Giving Weber State University students a unique insight into the early 19th century, the French anti-war film “J’accuse,” was shown at the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater on the night of Sept. 13.

Dr. Brady Brower, who teaches modern European history at Weber State, has helped organized these film screenings for several years.

“The film has the distinction of being the first dramatic film about the war and may well be the first anti-war movie,” said Brower.

“J’accuse” was filmed in the final months of World War I by French director Abel Gance. J’accuse is a French term, meaning “I accuse.”

Gance used his perspective to make the film’s focus the intents of the war, the unfaithful women at home and the lives that were permanently changed because of the battle.

Gance became one of the most wellknown European directors of his time because of his work on the 166-minute silent film.

“J’accuse” focuses on a love triangle plagued by the horrors of war and violence commonplace in France at the turn of the century. The main character, Jean Diaz, suffered from shell shock in the war that eventually drove him to insanity.

Though this film is silent, there is so much to be said in the brutalization of war, leading to emotional distress. The emotion and despair of the film captured the tragedy the French faced in The Great War.

Diaz suffers the loss of his best friend, comes home to find that his mother has fallen ill and that the woman he was having an affair with, Édith Laurin, has birthed a child from German soldiers after their village was overtaken.

While the war was coming to an end, the filming had only just begun.

Gance combined staged portrayals and with real-life footage that was captured during the war.

Gance employed real soldiers in the film, many of them wounded or horribly disfigured, who had only just been sent home from the battlefield.

According to Brower, many of the soldiers who took part in the filming died after being sent back to fight in the trenches.

“J’accuse” was the first film to start off The Great War and Screen Memory Series, following this film will be seven more throughout the 2018–19 school year.

Brower said, “We’ll be looking at how the war was remembered and represented in different decades and in different national contexts.”

The films were created by American, European and Australian directors and will be aired in chronological order.

“J’accuse” was the first film in the series, which will culminate on April 4, 2019 with the 1981 film “Gallipoli.”

There is a full schedule for the upcoming films that can be found on the history department’s website.

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