The Signpost Thursday | March 21, 2019 | Volume 89 | Issue 55

Thursday | March 21, 2019 | Volume 89 | Issue 55

>> PAGE 6

BLACKHAWKS TOUCH DOWN

$ OPINION » PAGE 4

UTAH REPS REWRITE PROMINENT BILL PROPOSITIONS

NEWS » PAGE 8

SCHOLARSHIPS SOAR UP TO 125% FOR STUDENTS

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2 | MyWeberMedia.com | March 21, 2019

By NIC MURANAKA

a. Guatemala

Desk Editor

1. Cyclone Idai hit what country on March 15, leaving an official death count of 84 and displacing upwards of 400,000 people? a. Kenya b. Mozambique c. Somalia 2. Which country just fired its governmental leaders and voted on new ones after only six months of leadership by the former?

b. Nicaragua c. Haiti 3. Following the massacre of 49 at a New Zealand mosque, which person, set to visit Australia later this year, has been banned from entering the country? a. Former Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulos b. President Donald Trump c. American radio host Alex Jones

4. Which potential Democratic presidential candidate has separated him – or herself – from the field by being the only one willing to directly attack Trump in speeches and on social media? a. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders b. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker c. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar

years-old tweets by Gunn surfaced where he joked about pedophilia, rape and the Holocaust. Which director, who has already worked within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was recently confirmed to be working on the movie now? a. “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi b. “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler c. James Gunn, again

5. Disney fired “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn from the third movie in the franchise last July after

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS ON PAGE 16

MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019 | 3

By KAINOA NUNEZ & SIERRA HAWKINS Reporter and Copy Editor

A flyer in Elizabeth Hall offered free pizza, like many events on campus, but this flyer also offered Weber State University students an opportunity not many get: the chance to test a video game.

Erick Mathews, a senior working on a Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS), created a horror game called “The Path of the Watcher.” It’s a first-person arcade horror game where the player tries to collect objects and complete a maze while avoiding the monster and its jump scare.

Horror is not Mathew’s favorite genre, but he picked it to challenge himself.

He mentioned as a young artist, it’s good to be challenged because challenges create growth. That growth can then be added to portfolios to show off to employers.

While this was supposed to be an opportunity for students who would be interested in taking a programming class, it also was a chance to advertise that Weber State offers support for video game development.

“We’re trying to get feedback from students on campus and advertise the fact that a WSU student was capable of doing this,” Dr. Richard Fry, a professor from the school of computing and host of the event, said.

Fry hopes this event could invite students to take a class on how to create video games no matter what major or degree they’re pursuing.

“We at the school of computing offer an intuitional certificate in video game development, so any student on campus that potentially is interested in video games should consider taking CS 1010, which is a general ed,” Dr. Fry said.

Fry said the program is trying to get the word out to reach students who would be interested in creating and programming video games of their own.

“Traditionally, our video game program, it hasn’t been very popular, and students aren’t really aware of it. For the last six years, we’ve only taught a few courses,” Dr. Fry said.

Historically, these classes are for programming students, but when Erick, who studies art as part of his BIS, approached Fry wanting to get into the program, it

changed the direction of the program. gram but to show WSU that there are stu- and our ideas to recruit more art students “Having an art major such as Erick trans- dents that would be interested on taking and build a game design studio on campus formed everything that we’ve done in the a programming class in the fall semester. where we can actually have the students video game program and why we are here What Fry is looking forward for the fall is working together,” said Fry. today,” Fry said. “By bringing a student like working side by side with Erik as his assisErick, we were able to create remarkable tri- tant.

Comment on this story at ple AAA quality games in a semester. I’m so “He’s going to be a recent graduate, he’ll signpost.mywebermedia.com impressed with his work and contribution.” be assisting me from an artistic perspective The flyer worked, as students from multiple departments showed up to test the game.

“There was a poster about this in the Lindquist Hall, and I saw that I had the time to come and participate and eat free food,” said Mitchell Aardema a sophomore who is studying general studies/anthropology.

“I like the vibe, which was pretty scary, but it was cool,” said freshman Taylor Dixon.

In addition, students could give Mathew their feedback, such as the difficulty of knowing what the objective was, although Mathew wanted students to use reasoning to solve the maze.

“I was a bit confused, but if that’s how he’s going to be — like figuring it out on your own — then that’s great,” Kelli Blanton, a senior who is studying media.

Mathew’s inspiration to create this game was from Pacman. It gave him an idea how to use a maze and transform it into a more horrific version of itself.

This is an arcade first-person horror game that was created in Unity, a cross-platform game engine software.

“Watcher is created in the same view that I have as a passionate gamer. I believe the experience of playing and watching should be social,” said Erick on his portfolio on Behance. “Everything from the art style, to the mechanics, and even the name “Watcher” tries to reflect this ideal.”

What Erick brings is an upgrade for the program to show that it doesn’t matter if you’re studying anything that’s not computer science related. It’s about the compassion and contribution to create video games.

Computer programming is about problem solving for students to be challenged and maybe be interested in enrolling in this program. Having programming classes on learning how to create video games sounds appealing, but getting the word out MARISSA WOLFORD | The Signpost to students is difficult.

Mitchell Aardema filling out a survey after testing How this event helps for not their pro- the game “Path of the Watcher.”

4 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019

DARYN STEED Columnist

On Nov. 6, 2018, I lined up outside my city council building to vote. Though the race for Senate and my local representatives seemed airtight, Utah had several propositions up in the air.

Prop 2 aimed to legalize medical marijuana, Prop 3 would expand Medicaid to cover low-income adults and protect children and Prop 4 would create an independent redistricting commission with the aim of mitigating gerrymandering.

After voting for all three measures to pass, I went home to watch election coverage, and I watched votes come in a state of near-disbelief. Even after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publicly opposed Prop 2, it passed. Prop 3 passed with the biggest majority of the three, while Prop 4 passed with razor-thin margins.

When Democrat Ben McAdams managed to defeat Republican Mia Love in Utah’s fourth district, it seemed Christmas had come early. Utah voters had shown up and voted with empathy and understanding.

A month later, Utah’s legislative session began, and most of the November victories were wiped away quietly and succinctly.

The Utah Medical Cannabis Act replaced Prop 2. The replacement legislation overhauled the medical cannabis distribution system. The LDS Church advocated for the bill change and worked with the Utah Patient Coalition to find an initiative they could both agree on.

While medical marijuana is now legal, the new bill has strangled Utah’s medical marijuana program in red tape and blocked many patients from being able to receive cannabis treatment.

After the new bill passed, medical cannabis advocates announced they would be suing the state. The heads of Epilepsy Association of Utah and Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education accused legislators of ignoring voters to appease the LDS Church.

The lawsuit argues that the church’s involvement in the legislation violates the constitution, which reads: “There shall be no union of Church and State, nor shall any church dominate the State or interfere with its functions.”

The Utah State Supreme Court took the case and will hear arguments against the state, scheduled for March 25 in Salt Lake City.

After Prop 2 took a beating, legislators tackled Prop 3. SB 96 replaced the proposition and was signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert. Legislators claimed the sales tax hike proposed by Prop 3 would not have been enough to cover everyone, and the expanding costs would have hurt the state budget.

Ultimately, the new bill cut healthcare for tens of thousands of Utahns and helped social interests and politicians. If The Utah State Supreme Court decides in favor of Prop 2, the decision could also affect Prop 3.

Prop 4 is alive, but not for long. Because redistricting won’t begin until 2021, legislators left it out of this year’s session. Several Utah lawmakers have raised concerns with Prop 4, claiming their conflicts have nothing to do with personal objection.

But when you’re a representative elected in a conservative area that was carved out of Salt Lake City — for example, say, Rep. Curtis Bramble, who opposes Prop. 4 — your personal interest would be to keep Prop 4 far away from the law. Gerrymandering is the process of manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class, and several Utah legislators likely have their seat solely because of gerrymandering.

Lawmakers slice liberal sections of certain cities to keep the majority conserva-

tive. Salt Lake City is cut into four parts, with conservative areas like Provo absorbing more liberal neighborhoods.

Gerrymandering is a process that only favors lawmakers. Voters are being manipulated into sections to silence their vote.

There’s no need to wonder why America lower voter turnout than almost any other developed nation. Why did I wait in line last November if my voice was going to be ignored anyway? Utah voted for medical marijuana, Medicaid expansion and an independent redistricting commission.

Lawmakers took it into their own hands to wipe out the first two propositions, and the third won’t last another legislative session.

I was told that if they won’t listen to my voice, they’ll listen to my vote. It’s now clear that my local lawmakers won’t listen to either. Luckily, I have one power that they can’t rewrite: the power to vote them out of office.

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AUBREE ECKHARDT | The Signpost

MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019 | 5

JUST A BILL ON

CAPITOL HILL

By JENNIFER GREENLEE Desk Editor

With the 2019 Utah Legislative Session having ended on March 14, it’s worth a look at which of the 844 bills will impact Weber State University.

President Brad Mortensen hosted a summary of what went down on the hill and which bills have an impact on the university.

Tuition increases almost every year following the legislative session typically depending on how much money the university gets from the legislature. In the academic year 2019-2020, tuition is going up two percent, about $49 per semester.

Senate Bill 2 contained funding for the Noorda building, a new STEM building that will replace the Science Lab next to the Lind Lecture building after its demolition. Throughout the session, it was unclear whether the building would receive the full $659,200 from the legislature.

Along with the Noorda building, there will also be a new building on the Davis Campus that begins construction in May 2019.

This will be dedicated to the automotive and computer science degrees and certificates available on campus.

In addition to SB 2, SB 102 also passed, which rewrote how universities can apply for funding for new buildings. Sponsored by State Senator Ann Millner, a former president of Weber State, the bill outlines that regents will annually allocate amounts for new buildings based on enrollment, performance, projected growth, existing square feet per students, facility age and condition and utilization of academic space.

Based on appropriations to the newly-created “Higher Education Capital Projects Fund”, each university will be able to use the money as it stipulated under the guidelines of the new bill.

Within the legislative session, there were 14 passed bills that directly impacted Higher Education and WSU and another seven bills that bills that didn’t pass.

HB 45 calls on the Utah State Board of Regents to facilitate the transfer of credits across in-state institutions that are members of the Utah System of Higher Education. The bill requires that general education classes become defined and have the ability to transfer across institution, so students don’t have to repeat classes they have already completed.

Currently, Concurrent Enrollment is only completely available to grades 11 and 12, with limited availability otherwise. However, HB 146 now allows for all high school students, regardless of age to enroll in CE courses.

WSU offers a “Dream Weber” program that funds tuition for any full-time student who qualifies for Pell Grants and lives in a household with income under $40,000 per year. HB 260 is taking the Regents Scholarship and using that money to fund the “Access Utah Promise Scholarship,” which is modeled after Dream Weber.

Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com WSU President Brad Mortensen.

6 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019

ROTC CADETS

LIFT OFF AT ANNUAL

BLACK HAWK RIDES

KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost

By COLTON HEWARD Reporter

As part of Weber State University’s ROTC program, Black Hawk helicopters paid their annual visit to offer helicopter rides to ROTC cadets on March 14.

The ROTC program was established at Weber State in 1971 and has provided the ground work for students to excel as leaders in the community and as officers in the U.S Army.

This year’s cadets and other dignitaries from the college and community who rode in the Black Hawks enjoyed beautiful spring weather. Blue skies and a warming sun added to the anticipation and experience of the participants.

The Black Hawk helicopters are a remarkable piece of American history.

They have been used by the U.S Army since 1979 and continue to serve the

nation. Before take off, the Black Hawks were open for onlookers to get an upclose look at the impressive helicopters.

The Black Hawks took off simultaneously and took its passengers for a ride up Ogden Canyon, around Pineview Reservoir, and back down the canyon.

Each flight lasted roughly 15 minutes.

The opportunity to go for a ride in a Black Hawk is one of many highlights for Weber States ROTC cadets, but it is more than just a joy ride.

“At a basic level, this is training for our cadets,” said Tyler Guest, a marketing officer for Weber State’s ROTC program.

The Black Hawk flight is also a lab for ROTC students and a selling point for recruitment.

“This was my first time in a helicopter, and it was an incredible experience,” said Chuck Holland, Development Di-

rector for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The ROTC program currently has about 100 students enrolled. Aside from Black Hawk helicopter rides, Holland said there are also numerous scholarship opportunities for ROTC cadets.

Some of these scholarships include full tuition, room and board, allowances for books and fees and a monthly stipend to offset living costs.

Colonel Webb, the department chair for Weber State’s ROTC program, gave perspective of what the ROTC program provides. Webb said the biggest draw for students to join the ROTC program is the “opportunity to serve our country” while also continuing their educations.

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KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost

LEFT: ROTC students were given the opportunity to ride in Black Hawk helicopters.

ABOVE: Since 1979, Black Hawk helicopters have been used by the U.S Army.

RIGHT: The helicopter rides serve as both training and recruitment for the ROTC program.

KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost

8 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019

SCHOLARSHIPS REWORKED TO 125%

BENEFIT STUDENTS 100%

By JENNIFER GREENLEE Desk Editor

Scholarship changes have been rolling out since fall 2018 when Weber State University first announced changes to the financial aid policies regarding scholarships.

The changes began with how academic awards would be given. The old model sported one- and two-year academic awards that had to be renewed; the new system guarantees four-year awards, which do not have to be renewed.

Along with the changes to the length of the award, the GPA requirement was lowered to a 2.5 minimum for all scholarships except the presidential, which remains at 3.25. In addition, the amount of semester credit hours was lowered from a 15 minimum to a 12, also for all but the presidential scholarship.

In order to compensate for the guaranteed fouryear awards, however, the awards cap was lowered from 150 percent to 125 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.

Original plans called for a further shift from 125 percent to 100 percent in the 2019-2020 school year, although an announcement in Sept. 2018 allowed for an extra year before the 100 percent cap was implemented.

Starting in 2020, non-resident transfer student scholarships will increase from $5,000 to $8,000 at the highest level. International students will also have a $2,000 increase from the current $6,000.

The way scholarships currently stack is that all institutionally-controlled funds are used first. Then federal grant or loan dollars are used. Under the new system, academic awards will be used first, then federal grant money will be used. Finally, all other institutional funds have a descending order in which they are applied.

If both the academic and federal grant money are equal to 100 percent or more, all of the remainder will be paid out to the student, but it also will make the student ineligible for all other waiv-

ers and most departmental awards.

Since the announcement, there have been revisions the above plan, which began to take place in Fall 2018. This plan will continue making incremental changes until Fall 2020, with the scholarship stacking change being the last aspect to change.

“Since September, we have reexamined the cap that initially we had intended to move down to the 100 percent cap on tuition and fees,” Provost Madonne Miner said. “We heard a lot of concern about that, so have pushed the cap back up to the 125 percent. It will remain a 125 percent ongoing.”

There was large outcry among students and faculty about the 100 percent cap. Many students use over-capped scholarship money for living expenses, books and other school-related monetary commitments.

“We’re hearing from faculty and staff on both ends of the spectrum, whether the policy was disadvantaging underprivileged students or disadvantaging students with really high academic records,” WSU President Brad Mortensen said.

“There was concern about moving to a 100 percent cap and Norm Tarbox, when he was president, said ’let’s freeze this and take time to hear from folks and hear their concerns.’”

Although the 125 percent cap remains, not every scholarship can be applied to students above 100 percent of tuition and fees.

Waivers, both academic and activity, cannot be applied above 100 percent. This is because waivers reduce money students need to pay, rather than paying for the student in his or her stead. In other words, rather than pay money for the student, waivers appease the need for payment for a student in place of fees.

Cash awards will be eligible to be paid above the 100 percent cap. Department scholarships that pay out hard cash to the institution, rather than by waiving tuition and fees, can be paid out up to 125 percent as well since it’s money paid by the department to the school.

All private donor scholarships paid through the institution are bound by agreements signed by the donor. Some of the scholarships allow for the student to receive the entire amount no matter how much money they have earned — even if it is above the 125 percent cap.

Others have agreements that the scholarship only pays out to 100 percent of tuition and fees.

Each private donor scholarship varies. However, students who enrolled in Fall 2018, except for non-residents, are not eligible for the four-year awards.

“We have to start somewhere,” Associate Provost Bruce Bowen said. “We can’t grandfather everyone in.”

Additionally, all scholarships, including the presidential scholarship, will have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and only require 12 credit hours. This was specifically advocated for by the Honors Program.

According to Miner, the 3.75 GPA intimidated students and discouraged exploratory class-taking.

The Honors program argued for a lower GPA to allow students to take harder classes without risking their GPA. “After considerable discussion and after hearing from the Honors program, we have moved to the 2.5,” Miner said Though there was support from the Honors Program for the lowering of the GPA, it was not universal. Many argued that students at this level should be held to a higher standard. However, in the interest of the students, the GPA minimum to retain scholarships was lowered.

“One of the things that Jed Spencer did was to look at the number of students last fall who’re receiving scholarship, who if they had been held to the 3.75 and the 15 credit hours, would not have been able to keep the scholarships this spring,” Miner said. “It was a pretty large number. Most of us that reviewed the data went ‘oh, we don’t want to penalize students that way.’”

The change does not affect every student. Those who are enrolled in or before Spring 2018 are

not eligible for the GPA minimum change. Those who are residents who enrolled for the Fall 2018 semester are also not eligible. Non-residents who enrolled in the Fall 2018 semester are eligible for the minimum GPA change.

“Students who entered under an old program are bound to those requirements, kind of like the catalog of entry,” Miner said.

The reason for the GPA change was also the reason the credit hour requirement was lowered from 15 to 12. In order to stay on a four-year graduation track, it is necessary to take 15 credits in the fall and spring or to take 30 in an academic year.

The original program, 30-in-3, will be phased out as the credit hour requirement has been lowered. Part of the reason for this program was not only to help students graduate on the four-year track, but also to provide summer funding, as the federal government had stopped allowing Pell Grants to be applied during summers. This provided funding for those finishing their 30 credits.

Because of the rigorous nature of some of these courses, it was decided that it should not be necessary for every student to take 15 credits every semester to maintain a scholarship.

A large reason behind these changes has been helping retain students over time. The hope is that with the four-year award, students will be able to stay at Weber State and get to graduation.

“Our main goals are to recruit new students, retain our students, and get them to graduate,” Bowen said.

Retention in 2018 was 75.5 percent, up from 74.6 percent in 2017 and 73.8 percent in 2016. By keeping students at WSU, the intention is to help them graduate faster and with less debt.

“We are trying to help as many students as we can,” Vice President of Student Affairs Brett Perozzi said. “The four-year scholarship will benefit many students and help keep them here at Weber State.”

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MONIKA CLARKE | The Signpost

10 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019

ATLAS WAS CURSED TO HOLD UP THE WORLD.

NIC MURANAKA Columnist

The world, pretty much inarguably, is warmer than it was. Climate deniers like to fall back to the claim that local temperatures fluctuate year-to-year, so the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-reported global rise in temperature of one-and-a-half degrees is insignificant.

Meanwhile, Chicago’s coming out of another polar vortex; in late January, the city was sitting at temperatures around 20

SPECIAL

degrees or lower with a minus 15 wind chill, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The planet can’t possibly get warmer.

It sounds like a smart argument, so people listen.

The problem is that 1 degree, globally, is significant. NASA reports the global temperature only had to drop by 1 to 2 degrees before the world experienced the Little Ice Age. Go back 20,000 years ago, and scientists estimate the world was about 5 degrees colder than it is now. During that time, pretty much all of North America was chilling under a glacier.

So yeah, the world’s getting warmer.

Should we care?

As of last October, Veronica Cordóva Soria says we should. Most people will remember her as the United Nations ambassador from Bolivia who famously said, “We are reaching a critical point of no

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*This special edition is delivered to all graduating high school seniors in Ogden City,Weber County and Davis County. That is an additional 10,000 COPIES to get your message out.

For more information or to book your ad contact: KC Sanders, kcsanders@weber.edu | o- 801-626-6359

return,” regarding climate change, referencing the IPCC report that said we have about 12 years left to adapt our behavior.

If we do nothing, bad things happen.

Like, more bad things than what has been happening.

We still get snow, though, so we’re fine.

Right? Wrong.

The 2014 National Climate Assessment told us that extreme weather patterns and climate change are not-so-strange bedfellows. Maybe that’s why citizens of New York and New Jersey got sucker-punched by a hurricane they should have been relatively sheltered from last year.

The 2014 NCA report predicted that the American West (point: us) will suffer a few major issues if the world keeps warming up.

One, our snowmelts all melt, depriving us of water, which causes a myriad of economic and ecological problems. Two,

the oceans get acidic, so marine life dies, again, an economic and ecological problem. Three, forests catch on fire, causing, you guessed it, economic and ecological problems.

The UN maintains that the ways to counter climate change, or — realistically — play damage control, include finding renewable energy sources and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The world’s been getting noticeably warmer since around the Industrial Revolution, according to NASA, so we’ve pretty much got the cause dead to rights. The solution then makes logical sense.

The problem when fighting climate change one person at a time, though, comes down to scale. No one person wields the kind of individual power necessary to change the world in this context.

Say I want to become more energy-efficient, so I change all the light bulbs in my

SHOULD WE BE?

MyWeberMedia.com | March 21, 2019 | 11

house to spiral CFL ones. Actually, recent evidence claims LED lights are even more efficient, but you get the idea.

I’ve got my house outfitted in energy-efficient bulbs. I use anywhere from 25 to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights. My energy costs go down and the world becomes a little better.

However, while well-intentioned, I’m certainly not doing enough to effect a change when everyone else on my block uses incandescent lights. The weight of their energy consumption dramatically outweighs my energy conscientiousness.

So then, we have to wonder at what point it becomes enough to make a difference. If I don’t use plastic straws, I’m a drop in the literal plastic ocean of 7.5 million other straws lining the American coastline.

If I use reusable grocery bags, I’m reducing my 150 plastic bags used yearly to zero, but there’s still the 499,999,999,850 billion bags other people get rid of.

Now, I’m not going to try and act like this argument isn’t just about one degree of separation away from nihilism: the abyss is certainly staring back. But it’s staring back at all of us.

We’ve created this problem. Fighting it, though, has to extend far beyond the individual, particularly since the creation of the problem did.

We have to make a realization. It’s one that we all know but one we seem to have yet to accept. The fight isn’t fair. In fact, it’s fixed. We’ve got a literal deadline, over a hundred years of backlog work to catch up on, and a combination bystander effect and general futility on the individual level working against us.

We’ve also got a president who pulled us from the Paris Climate Accords and scientists and UN diplomats saying Paris Climate Accords aren’t enough, and the world has to step it up.

Conversely, climate deniers only need wait until we’re crushed under the collective weight of non-biodegradable items or suffocated by gas emissions.

If an individual can’t effect enough change, then can an organization? Weber State University’s Sustainability Office, frankly, kicks ass. They’ve created the Sustainability Practices and Research Center to educate the community on how to save the planet and are working at

having WSU carbon-neutral by 2050.

Does WSU’s plan offset the factories around Salt Lake that turn the sky black?

In Greek mythology, Atlas was cursed to hold the world on his shoulders for all of time. On the one hand, since we have to live here, we should bear Atlas’s responsibility. On the other, no one of us can complete a task a Titan struggled to perform.

I’m mostly concerned with what happens when our metaphorical Atlas decides to drop the world. Atlas had already been cursed, condemned for time eternal. What does it matter to him if the world falls?

The solution has to go beyond the individual, but what that looks like right now is beyond me, beyond many of us. Maybe we need a kumbaya moment where we all come together and agree to shoulder this responsibility.

Like, literally, all of us. Honor systems, though, aren’t effective for a reason, and the bystander effect is a real problem. Maybe the answer is abandoning this world and heading to Mars.

Maybe I just like using plastic straws.

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MONIKA CLARKE | The Signpost

12 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 21, 2019

By KAINOA NUNEZ

Reporter

pixabay.com

Junior high and high school students gathered in the Swenson Gymnasium on Feb. 23 to participate in the 2019 FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition.

Hosted by Weber State University’s College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, the event challenged students grades seven through 12 to design, build, program and code robots.

A total of 36 teams from Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming competed for two spots to move head to the FIRST world Championship in Houston, Texas.

The event sold out to a total of 820 people including families, friends, students, volunteers and faculty members.

“It’s exciting to bring all these students here, but it’s also great that as a community, we can provide this service to our

university,” said Dana Dellinger, director of the Center for Technology Outreach.

This year’s theme was “Rover Ruckus” and centered on the idea of using autonomous robots to explore other planets.

Teams participating in the competition performed certain tasks before switching alliances and competing against one another, encouraging a collaborative and competitive atmosphere.

During the autonomous period, the robots operated using only pre-programmed instructions and sensor input before they moved to the the driver-control period.

Alliances earned points by placing minerals into their cargo holds. The more minerals that each team collected, the more points they earned.

Park City’s Checkmates won the com-

petition and received the Inspire Award, which is a strong ambassador for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology programs. They will move on to compete at the world’s competition.

“It’s fantastic to see them working together and everyone brings their own skill set to a project,” said David Ferro, the dean of the College of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology.

“What makes FIRST stand out is that it’s a very holistic approach,” Dellinger said. “It’s not just about being the best coder or designer. It’s about being a person who can work with others and treat each other well with respect.”

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EX-WSU COACH TO PAY BILLS

IN WASHINGTON

By JOE TRAUB

Desk Editor

For the second time this offseason, the Weber State University football team has lost an assistant coach. This time, it is quarterbacks coach Kelly Bills who is on his way out. He is headed to Ellensburg, Washington, where he will be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Central Washington University.

Bills made his announcement in a tweet in which he expressed apprecation for Weber State.

“I have so much gratitude to have coaches at Weber State football for the last three years,” Bills wrote. “The relationships are everything to me and make it so hard to

leave. I can’t tell you how much of a bet- State head coach Jay Hill since 2016, ter coach I am because of Jay Hill and the which marks the best three-year stretch in men on our staff.” school history. He was Bills will remain a “I couldn’t have asked wide receivers coach in Wildcat, as that is also for a better first hire to 2016 and 2017, workthe mascot for CWU. start my coaching career ing with wideouts such “I couldn’t have as Cameron Livingston, asked for a better first than to get Kelly Bills on Darryl Denby, Drew hire to start my coach- staff. Coach Bills is a man Batchelor and Rashid ing career than to get of high character who will Shaheed.

Kelly Bills on staff. do a great job leading our Bills was quarterCoach Bills is a man of backs coach in 2018 young men.” high character who will and helped guide Jake CHRIS FISK do a great job leading Constantine to imCWU Head Coach our young men,” CWU prove throughout the head coach Chris Fisk season. After a rocky said in a press release. start, Constantine had a five-game stretch Bills had served on the staff of Weber near the end of the year where he threw

10 touchdown passes against just two interceptions.

This departure comes after longtime assistant Colton Swan left in January for the linebackers coach position at the University of Utah. Dave Schramm, who joined WSU last season as offensive coordinator, will assume the role of quarterbacks coach while also keeping his play-calling duties.

Weber State went 28–11 with Bills on the sidelines, a stretch that included two Big Sky Conference titles and three trips to the FCS Playoffs. The ‘Cats have fallen in the quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons.

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MyWeberMedia.com | March 21, 2019 | 13

FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS

MIX IT UP

By ALLY NELSON Reporter

First-generation students united to celebrate similarities in being the first in their family to pursue higher education on March 15 in the Wildcat Lanes.

According to Sarah Herrmann, WSU assistant psychology professor, the majority of first-generation students feel intimidated by college because of the unfamiliarity and are deemed most likely not to complete their degree.

However, students who feel more involved in school will be more likely to want to go to school, which is one of the reasons why the first-generation club exists.

“Knowing there is a community of people like you, and that there are alumni, faculty and staff who have also shared those experiences helps you validate that identi-

ty,” Herrmann said.

Although first-generation students are more likely to drop out of college, Herrmann said there are a list of skills first-generation students bring to the table, and that is why it is imperative they continue to pursue their degrees.

“They are hardworking and excited to learn,” Herrmann said. “They are in the position of becoming a role model for future generations and obtain the desire to share their successes with their family and community.”

First-generation club member, Kylee Treseder, said being the first to experience higher education in her family is intimidating, but special. She is grateful she can be a role model for her younger siblings and cousins to show them that anyone can accomplish their goals, even if seems unobtainable at times.

“We had a rough childhood, but our mom really held us together. She has an associates degree, so she has always made getting an education one of the most important things,” Treseder said. “Although it is a lot to take on, it is very rewarding.”

According to Laurie Huntington, Davis Testing Services coordinator, the first-generation club’s goal is to help guide students with signing up for classes, applying for financial aid and scholarships and getting them involved with school.

“All the complicated processes involved in college are a lot easier if there are people backing you up,” Treseder said.

Treseder said she wished she had known about the club before she became a junior; not only are resources more accessible to her, she said, but she enjoys going to school with fellow club members.

Besides providing resources, the club organized an alternative spring break to Seattle for club members. Treseder saw a flyer for the opportunity, took it and has

built bonds with like-minded students.

“Even though there are over 700 members in the club, I think if more first-years knew about it, they would join because it really is so helpful,” Treseder said. “I used to be very introverted and kept to myself, but this kind of took me out of that.”

Amy Blunck, WSU coordinator of mental health initiatives, said she would like to see more advertising for events.

“I love when we can hold events like this to show first-generations we are visible and accessible to students,” Blunck said.

“There needs to be more marketing and outreach to show we are here, and this club offers help to those who need guidance.”

Treseder said she would never ask for help, especially in a setting like college, where most students keep to themselves.

Finding the advertising for the alternative spring break provided by the first generation club created an impact on her education and college experience.

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ALLY NELSON The Signpost

First-generation students gathered at Wildcat Lanes on March 15 to celebrate being the first in their family to pursue higher education.

ALLY NELSON The Signpost

14 | MyWeberMedia.com | March 21, 2019

QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 2

Tribune News Service

Mozambique Minister for Environment Celso Correia (2R) talks to rescue team on the tarmac of the airport in Beira on March 19. More than a thousand people are feared to have died in a cyclone that smashed into Mozambique last week.

1. b. Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique on March 15 before traveling to Zimbabwe, according to dpa international. According to dpa, the Mozambique president has expressed concern that the true death count may be over 1,000. As many as 400,000 people have been displaced by the cyclone and subsequent flooding, according to the American Red Cross.

2. c. After just six months of leadership

by Prime Minister Jean Henry Céant, the Haitian Lower Chamber of Deputies fired Céant and his government on March 18, according to the Miami Herald. In an interview with the Herald, Céant called the de-

cision “illegal and outside the constitution.”

Céant was not present at the hearing where his government was overthrown because he was at a Senate quorum discussing the arrest of armed Americans in Haiti and their release through the help of the Justice Department.

Lower Chamber President Gary Bodeau proceeded with the vote to oust Céant despite knowing Céant would not be present, according to the Miami Herald.

3. a. Yiannopoulos was banned from entering Australia after making claims on Facebook that attacks like those in Christchurch happen “because the establishment panders to and mollycoddles

extremist leftism and barbaric alien religious cultures,” according to the New York Daily News. The New York Daily News reported that immigration minister David Coleman said that he would not allow Yiannopoulos into the country in the wake of the comments and denied his visa, just one week after approving it.

4. a. Sanders has made a point of calling Trump out by name on the campaign trail and having advisers publicize Sanders’ route to victory in a general election, according to the McClatchy Washington Bureau, a tactic that has separated him from a field of Democratic challengers

who have largely focused on promoting their own political and policy agendas.

At a speech in Brooklyn earlier this month, Sanders decried Trump, calling him “the most dangerous president in American history.”

5. c. In a move the Los Angeles Times described as an “about-face,” Disney has rehired Gunn to direct “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3.” According to the Los Angeles Times, Disney made the decision to rehire Gunn months ago but kept the decision quiet until recently.

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HELP WANTED

MyWeberMedia.com | March 21, 2019 | 15

FEATURED JOB

FEATURED JOB

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST I

The position performs the following functions and duties:

The position performs the following functions and duties:

• Advanced Degree (Master’s degree or other).

• Proven experience in project management and building effective relationships in a complex organization.

• Demonstrated expertise in developing engaging communication strategies across a wide range of

audiences and media.

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze, summarize, and effectively present information. $E34

Requisition Number: S00281P

Equipment Manager Athletics Admin $E31 Requisition Number: S00283P

Office Assistant for Student Involvement & Leadership-Summer/2019-20 School Year Student Involvement and Leadership $9.00 Requisition Number: H00193P

Davis Campus Service Specialist Vice Provost $9.00 Requisition Number: H00001P Office Assistant, Law Enforcement Academy, Center for Continuing Education CE Law Enforce Academy $10.50 Requisition Number: H00590P Customer Service/Copy Clerk 1 Wildcat Design and Print $8.75 Requisition Number: H00593P

THE SIGNPOST TEAM

•Individual in this position will perform general clerical/secretarial and office duties in a non-academic department (Office for Student Involvement & Leadership-Davis Campus).

•Manage customer service desk; hire, train, and supervise student workers; handle hourly payroll.

• handle hourly payroll; order office

Public Relations Representative Non-Trad Student-Hrly Child Care $10.00 Requisition Number: H00123P

supplies; reconcile purchase statements.

• prepare correspondence; maintain files; schedule appointments • prepare correspondence; maintain files; schedule appointments

$N23 Requisition Number: S00278P

Testing Proctor Testing Center $TBA Requisition Number: H00401P Sustainability Coordinator–AmeriCorps Service Year Energy $TBA Requisition Number: H00631P

WSU PREP Program Assistant Department: Dean Eng Appl Science and Tech $10.25 - 10.75 Requisition Number: H00640P

Herbarium Curator Assistant Botany $10.00 Requisition Number: H00632P

Accounts Clerk Bursar Services $9.50 Requisition Number: H00179P

Botany Lab and Field Research Assistant Botany $10.00 Requisition Number: H00633P

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

Chief Copy Editor Cole Eckhardt eckhardtco@gmail.com

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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.

MyWeberMedia.com | March 21, 2019 | 16

HOW TO GET INTO GRAD SCHOOL

By HANNAH OLSEN Reporter

Graduate students from a variety of fields came to answer questions about grad school on March 15.

The fields represented were the social work, psychology, criminal justice, philosophy, sociology and geography departments.

Representing sociology were Andrew Hyder, Jay-Paul Werner and Stephanie Quinn. Quinn encouraged students thinking about graduate school to attend, even if it means taking out loans.

“Don’t let loans scare you,” Quinn said.

“I love what I do, so I am willing to work to pay it off even if it takes ten years.”

Hyder commented on the stereotype of being too forward when it comes to the admissions process. He said students should not feel guilty about being eager to get into the program.

Hyder gave advice when it comes to

choosing a graduate school. He said to consider all factors that seem trivial but matter in the long run. The environment, culture and opportunities outside of the classroom are vital to the decision-making process.

“Don’t just look at the programs that are listed top ten in the nation or whatever,” Hyder said.

Werner added that he looked at the people who came out of the school and where they ended up. He encouraged prospective graduate students to find current students or alumni and sit down and pick their brains about where they are now, where they are headed and what they would’ve done differently.

“You have to look at whether you would be happy being where they are now, one day,” Werner said.

The criminal justice department was represented by Christoffer Binning and Cooper Maher. Maher pointed out that the Master’s of Criminal Justice degree has no required standardized test; often,

graduate programs require applicants take a standardized test to get in.

Program representatives generally agreed that the test is nothing like the actual program and is often much harder than the work in the program. Representatives also agreed that graduate school is easier material than undergraduate programs but requires more work of students — with the exception of Binning, who maintained that law school increases in difficulty.

Political science had the largest representation with Michael Hepworth, India Nielson, Colt Jarvis and Zachary Stickney.

Stickney is a PhD candidate at the University of Utah.

Jarvis drew laughs from attendees after bluntly stating a common issue he sees among graduate students. He said he was asked what type of research he’d like to perform, and he said since he was studying political science, he’d like to write about political science.

His overall message was to not sweat the small stuff. He recognized that stu-

dents may change their minds multiple times and have no idea what they will specifically study, but that’s okay.

Stickney noted the importance of being involved while enrolled in the program. As a research assistant, he was able to obtain his degree with nearly no debt.

Psychology program representative Emma Mark added on to that idea, noting that it is important to find a good balance between work and school.

“Sometimes you have to decide to go part-time at work to be able to get that part-time internship that will get you the connections and experience you need,” Mark said.

Ammon Fawcett, also representing the psychology program added on to what Werner said about researching graduate programs. Fawcett maintained the importance of looking and the day-to-day lives of graduate students and deciding if that’s a good fit.

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