OBITUARY: WALDO THE WILDCAT
OCT 14, 1964 - MARCH 25, 2025
By MEGAN SWANN Editor
Waldo the Wildcat was a dreamer; that’s what most people loved about him. He had a goal and a vision, and we are all worse off without his kind spirit in this world. It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our great mascot.
The beloved Weber State University mascot tragically died in the early hours of March 25, following a wound gained from a fight with President Brad Mortensen. While not much is currently clear about the situation, it appears that Waldo was killed in pursuit of a riot.
“Waldo had big plans. He was too ambitious for this world,” the deans of Weber State wrote in an open letter.
“We will forever be cursed to ponder what might have been if Waldo had
succeeded in his goals.”
Students around campus have come together to memorialize the famous wildcat. A few students from the art program are currently putting together plans to paint a large mural of Waldo on the side of the Kimball Visual Arts Center. Further memorial sites have been started near the duck pond and on the football field.
The Wildcat was known for his gravity-defying stunts around campus during events like the Homecoming pep rally and on the sidelines at football games. He was also known for scaring small children in the stands. Perhaps his most lasting legacy on this campus is a small restaurant he started from scratch: Waldo’s Cheesie Grill.
The restaurant was a passion project for Waldo. At an early age, he developed a strong interest in cooking
and grilling. By the time he came to Weber State, he was engrossed with the idea of creating the world’s best grilled cheese. Throughout the following years, he worked tirelessly perfecting his recipe, and finally got the courage to open his own shop right in the heart of Shepherd Union.
“It is certainly one of the restaurants on campus,” a student who asked to remain anonymous said.
Waldo is survived by his good friends, rivals and fellow college mascots Big Blue, Swoop, Thor, Willy and Brooks. He had recently celebrated his 60th birthday. Funeral arrangements will be held on April 1 at the Dee Events Center. In lieu of flowers, Waldo’s family has requested that guests send Wildcat Store gift cards.
Waldo will be best remembered for his action poses, which have been loved by fans for generations.
Weber State University
“A MINECRAFT MOVIE”: THE GREATEST MOVIE OF 2025
By COOPER HATSIS Columnist
When talking about the greatest films of the 21st century there are many movies that come to mind. “The Social Network,” “No Country for Old Men,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — the list goes on. Now, a new film has entered the conversation as a historical document in the world of filmmaking: Jared Hess’s “A Minecraft Movie,” which opens in theaters on April 4. The film is based on a popular video game franchise released in 2009.
“A Minecraft Movie” first made noise on the internet when the conversational teaser trailer released last fall. It has since become one of the most anticipated films of the year due to astounding performances from well known actors Jack Black and Jason Momoa, as well as the film’s groundbreaking special effects.
Critics and film scholars alike agree, “A Minecraft Movie” is the best film to come out since “The Godfather.” Early projections estimate that this new blockbuster film will not only be the highest-grossing video game movie of all time, beating “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” 1.36 billion record, but also the highest-grossing film ever. As it currently stands, James Cameron’s 2009 film “Avatar” has generated $2.9 billion in the worldwide box office, but “A Minecraft Movie” might triple that.
“A Minecraft Movie” will push new boundaries in terms of box office. If the film continues at this rate, it could cause an economic disturbance within the United States. Within 2-3 years, we could live in a world with a new currency: “Minecraft bucks.”
Box office aside, the film features groundbreaking special effects. Not only will this film one-up “Avatar” with its box office, but it is also pushing the boundaries of CGI in a way that James Cameron never could. When “A Minecraft Movie” comes out,
Cameron will have no choice but to cancel the next three films in his “Avatar” franchise. There will be no point in those films coming out now, not in a world where “A Minecraft Movie” exists.
“A Minecraft Movie” will be the most successful and acclaimed film to be adapted from a video game. It says a lot that such a powerful film was created from an openworld video game with no story. This further proves this is what audiences want in modern day blockbuster movies. Jack Black gives a performance for the ages. It is the type of performance we don’t see in movies anymore. Similar to how
Margot Robbie played Barbie, Black brings depth and meaning to the character of Steve, but it is also poppy and quotable. An instantly-iconic performance. This is a performance that will shake up the Academy Awards, forcing the nearly 100-year-old institute to change how it approaches Best Actor. Jack Black will win one Best Actor award for every dollar that the movie makes. The film questions what audiences understand about the basic elements of storytelling and creates something entirely new. “A Minecraft Movie” is truly one of the movies of all time.
OGDEN’S DEADLIEST TORNADO YOU’VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT
By BRYCE ODENTHAL Contributor
The North Ogden tornado reached estimated wind speeds of 165mph, marking it as a “severe tornado.” This tornado killed eight and injured 52 people, taking out power for days and leaving hundreds homeless. 173 homes were destroyed along with industrial and commercial buildings. The worst of the damage would be toward the end of the tornado’s life in North Ogden. The peak width of the tornado would reach 0.3 miles, or around 1,600ft in diameter. Witness accounts from this time describe the twister as large, destructive and loud. A survivor of the tornado, Emilie Hart was 21 at the time of the tornado, and her house was completely destroyed.
“I thought it was just a bad storm until the walls started
The Aug. 11, 1999, Salt Lake City tornado often overshadows a lesser known, more destructive tornado that just hit a few miles north of Weber State University. On June 23, 1951, at 5:33 p.m., an extremely rare and violent tornado, later rated as an F3, touched down on the west side of Ogden, near Warren, marking a 25-mile track into the neighboring town of North Ogden. Storm prediction at the time was difficult and was typically localized. Doppler radar was in its infancy, and there were only two doppler radars in Utah. Storms were typical around this time of year, but tornadoes were nearly unheard of in Utah.
to cave in. Next thing you know, I woke up in the street with no house and no idea what to do. I had never seen anything like it,” Hart said. Some of the other damage included 3-inch ground scouring, trees toppled and missing large branches. One large grocery store suffered major damage and was forced to shut down due to the cost of repair. Large-scale recovery and rebuilding efforts went underway in the days following the storm. The damage cost of the tornado came out to be $563,000 or around $7 million today adjusted for inflation. This was the most severe tornado in Utah’s history, and the impact would last with locals for years to come. Today, there are plaques and memorials around North Ogden, and many residents still remember the day, Nov. 14, 1951.
Damage in caused by the tornado in North Ogden (1951).
Radar images of the storms that produced the North Ogden tornado (1951).
Contributed by Bryce Odenthal
Contributed by Bryce Odenthal
By HAVEN DI ATENE Reporter
WALDO THE WILDCAT: FALLEN PROTECTOR OF THE CAMPUS GEESE
Waldo the Wildcat was the overused and underappreciated mascot of Weber State University for longer than most of its students have been alive.
Waldo had witnessed many great presidents come into term over the years he spent at the university, waiting and watching as president after president does good by the students they’re meant to represent.
That was until President Brad Mortensen came into office as the 13th president in 2019, and with that choice, the university began to change. Most of the changes were seen as necessary, something the students and staff could understand, until Mortensen spoke out about the feathered friends that use the pond as their home.
“He said he hated the geese, once,” a bystander said.
“I lost all respect for him then and there. The geese are associated with this college; how could he hate them?”
Waldo, who was known for his lively and fun personality and who had become a staple across the university and well-liked by everyone, started paying more attention to the president after that, and then decided to take it into his own
hands.
Waldo spoke out against the president, saying Mortensen’s hatred for the geese is the reason to elect a new president to the university.
Students and staff agreed with him, and soon, Waldo’s message started spreading, and more students and staff paid attention. A flyer was distributed around campus grounds, demanding that Mortensen be held accountable for his transgressions toward the beloved geese.
Riots erupted across the campus on the night of March 24, with students and faculty members dressed in various shades of purple in support of Waldo, flooding the walkways and streets between buildings, while calling for amends to be made as Waldo led them.
Mortensen, who was seeking refuge in his office in the Miller Administration Building, watched as purple flooded the streets, from Lindquist Hall all the way up to Stewart Stadium. The sheer amount of people caused roadblocks and delays to be made across campus, with many of the streets being swarmed to the point that vehicles were getting stuck.
The WSU Police Department’s vehicles were all spraypainted in neon purple., with Chief of Police Seth Cawley’s
vehicle wasbeing glitterbombed in protest, along with the University’s personal vehicles.
Mortensen, with the help of WSUPD, managed to leave his office, and headed toward Ada Lindquist Plaza, the home of the geese, where Waldo was giving a speech about better treatment toward them.
“It was madness,” another bystander said. “I’ve never seen that many people on campus at once. Everyone was cheering, everyone was clapping for Waldo. They all believed in him. It just got worse when the president came to talk.”
Mortensen, who had originally been trying to come to Ada Lindquist Plaza to approach a deal with the Wildcat, had become enraged, and had pushed Waldo into the pond. Waldo, who couldn’t swim, tragically sank and couldn’t be recovered.
Waldo the Wildcat was officially declared dead at 3:25 a.m. on March 25.
Mortensen did not face charges that night, and his reign over Weber State University is still active. Students and staff were discouraged to not talk about Waldo the Wildcat again, but his legacy remains on, every time someone heads to the pond to watch the geese.
Waldo as he prepares to defend everything he holds dear.
By JARED MITCHELL Reporter
WEBER STATE’S NEW MISSION IS TO SLAY … AND SERVE
Weber State University is making a change to its mission statement and mascot for the upcoming 2025 fall semester. The old mission statement is being replaced simply with “Slay, Serve, Smile.”
Ravi Krovi, the provost of Weber State, thinks this new mission statement will help attract new students to the university.
“Gen Z just doesn’t read,” Krovi said. “Our old mission statement was 38 words long. That’s far too much reading for the modern generation to get through without falling asleep.”
Krovi said the new mission statement will help get across what Weber is all about to students with its three simple words. Krovi said the new statement’s first word summarizes the success that the university wants to help its students achieve.
“We want all of our students to slay,” Krovi said. “We want them to be able to conquer the many challenges that life throws their way.”
The statement’s second word encapsulates a value Krovi
said is essential for every student.
“The reason we chose the word ‘serve’ for our new mission statement is because we want everyone at Weber to walk through life with confidence, no matter where they are,” Krovi said.
Krovi said the final word in the statement will help students remember that their attitude matters.
“Life can be hard, but even when we’re up against big challenges, we still need to recognize that there are good things in life,” Krovi said.
In combination with the new mission statement and in lieu of the recent passing of Waldo the Wildcat, Weber State will also be updating its mascot for the fall semester. Weber State’s new mascot will be pop singer Chappell Roan. “Chappell Roan has inspired our new mission statement and it only seemed fitting that she becomes the school mascot as well,” Krovi said.
Chappell Roan won Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards and was nominated for five other awards. Even with these awards and nominations, she’s decided to step away from music and focus on her new career as Weber State’s new
mascot.
“Music is fun and all, but it just can’t compare to the feeling I get when I’m helping inspire students to slay, serve and smile,” Roan said. “Those awards are just objects. The impact I can have on students is far more valuable to me when compared to a hunk of metal.”
The change in mascot will also change the way sports events are done at Weber State. Roan will be performing at every sports event for the 2025-26 school year. Her performances will each be an hour long with pyrotechnics, costume changes and 20 backup dancers.
“I can’t inspire students by just sitting at a piano,” Roan said. “I need to be able to really put on a show.” Roan’s performances won’t be free, but Weber is doing all that it can to help fund her shows. The 2025-26 budget has been adjusted to allocate 80% of the college’s budget to Roan’s performances.
“Who needs computers, books, or staff?” Krovi said. “Everything our students need to learn is going to be demonstrated in Chappell’s performances.”
Chappell Roan performs at Block Party in 2025.
WALDO CAUGHT STEALING SNACKS FROM WSU DORMS
By WIKTORIA KOLODZIEJCZYK Reporter
Residents of Weber State University’s dorm have noticed their snacks mysteriously disappearing in the past weeks.
There has been a series of incidents of students reporting missing ramen, half-eaten sandwiches, Doritos, gummy bears and even a full case of Dr. Pepper and other favorite soda.
“One morning I woke up and my Oreos were just gone,” one Wildcat Village resident said. “At first, I thought I ate them in my sleep.”
The problem has been growing over time, and has been very noticeable especially this spring semester. Students are becoming frustrated as housing officials struggle to find a solution.
“At first, I thought it was just my roommate stealing my food,” Jack, a University Village resident, said. The situation has created a lot of confusion and resentment
among the residents. Most of them felt extremely hopeless until last week when dorm security cameras captured the beloved mascot sneaking into fridges and rooms in the dark.
Further review of the footage is needed, but it has been confirmed by the housing officials that Waldo the Wildcat had been opening refrigerators and stealing the best snacks from the dorm rooms.
Many dorm residents expressed mixed feelings about the situation. Some joked that it must have been part of the Weber State University experience, whereas others find it very hard to forgive Waldo.
As Waldo’s consequences were being discussed, housing officials said the university might have granted Waldo an unlimited meal plan. Some proposed the idea of permanently banning him from the dorms.
Resident assistants have tried to ease the situation by providing resources for students and reminding them about the importance of clearly labeling their food or snacks. They also have been working with residents to find the best solution.
Some of the students have suggested that Waldo should volunteer at the Den or other campus food spots to make up for the stolen goods.
Waldo, when confronted, simply shrugged and said, “A Wildcat’s got to eat!”
Waldo said he did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but that he was trying to spread the idea that sharing is caring.
As the situation remains unresolved, many dorm residents and other WSU students are left wondering if their food will ever be safe. There is no doubt that Waldo has brought some extra fun and trouble to campus.
LEFT: In addition to the snacks, Waldo was also caught stealing the cake and balloons from 8-year-old Michael Brian Mortensen’s birthday party on Aug. 19 2018.
RIGHT: At the time of his arrest, Waldo had a stolen flower bouquet in his possession. Police are still searching for the rightful owners.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: APRIL FOOLS!
By BRISA ODENTHAL Editor-in-Chief
This year, The Signpost decided to participate in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sin & Win as part of their ethics week, which luckily lined up with April Fools’ Day. In this edition, we are actively violating the SPJ Code of Ethics. Though fun is definitely an incentive for producing this issue, it’s also a good reminder that ethics are absolutely essential to journalism. Journalists are tasked with providing information for the communities that they serve. We are trusted to report factual and timely information, and the SPJ Code of Ethics is one of the many guidelines that we use to do so.
Ethics violated in this issue include:
• Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible.
• Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.
• Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate.
• Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information. Clearly label illustrations and re-enactments.
• Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Regardless of all else, ethics is an essential part of journalism and ensures that the practice can continue. What can seem like a simple mistake can quickly evolve into something like this April Fools’ edition.
THE SIGNPOST TEAM
Editor-in-Chief Brisa Odenthal brisaodenthal@mail.weber.edu
Managing Editor Emilie Hart emiliehart@mail.weber.edu
Design & Graphics Editor Star Neil starneil@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Design & Graphics Editor Matthew Holland matthewholland@mail.weber.edu
Photo Editor Anna Kuglar briannakuglar@mail.weber.edu
Chief Copy Editor Justin Steed justinsteed@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Copy Chief Mindy Brown mindybrown1@mail.weber.edu
News Editor Gracie Stephenson graciestephenson@mail.weber.edu
Asst. News Editor Alfonso Rubio alfonsorubio@mail.weber.edu
Sports Editor Collyn Cowles collyncowles@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Sports Editor Brayson Brown braysonbrown@mail.weber.edu
Culture Editor Megan Swann meganswann@mail.weber.edu
Word Search
Culture Editor Cooper Hatsis cooperhatsis@mail.weber.edu
Translation Editor Nelly Hernandez Tejada nhernandeztejada@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Translation Editor Nathanael Stout nathanaelstout@mail.weber.edu
Collaboration Editor Marianna Lopez Luritta mlopezluritta@mail.weber.edu
Adviser Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu
Business Manager Rob Steedley robertsteedley@weber.edu
