Tuesday | January 22, 2019 | Volume 89 | Issue 41

Tuesday | January 22, 2019 | Volume 89 | Issue 41

WORLD RENOWNED WRITER RONAN FARROW VISITS WSU » PAGE 8

JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost

NEWS » PAGE 6

JOE MCQUEEN AND BOOKER T. MEET AT PEERY’S EGYPTIAN

SPORTS» PAGE 11

’CATS BEAT BEARS AND BENGALS IN BIG SKY BOUTS

2 | MyWeberMedia.com | January 22, 2019 2 | MyWeberMedia.com | January 17, 2019

WSU AND OGDEN EVENTS JAMMIES NIGHT

YULE BALL

By ALYSON JOHNSON Desk Editor

Weber State University’s Student Association will host “JAMmies Night” in the Shepherd Union’s Waldo’s Corner Pocket on Wednesday, Jan 23. Students can come jam out with fellow Wildcats. Breakfast food will be provided for all students that attend. The event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Weber State University’s Student Association will host the Yule Ball on Friday, Jan. 25 in the Shepherd Union Ballrooms from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The dance is wizard-themed and students are encouraged to wear formal attire.

Entrance is $2 or free with a Wildcard ID.

Weber State University

The annual Gospel Music Festival, “Make a Joyful Noise: Shine Your Light,” will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The festival is hosted by WSU’s Diversity and Inclusivity Program and will be held in the Browning Center Austad Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Weber State University

Unsplash.com

LET’S ROLL

2019 ARTS INTEGRATION CONFERENCE The 2019 Arts Integration Conference, Arts as a Catalyst for Change, is hosted by the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities. The event will provide hands-on integrated learning workshops with guest artists in dance, drama, music and visual art. Entrance is free for WSU students, faculty and staff, and $10 for the general public. Registration is required beforehand. The event is on Friday, Jan. 25 at 8 a.m. in the Shepherd Union.

Shepherd Union Wildcat Lanes will be hosting a free evening of bowling, billiards, board games and playstation games. The event will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All students are welcome to attend.

Weber State University

Weber State University

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2019 | 3

By JENNIFER GREENLEE Desk Editor

in the room or sign of marijuana. By the time the officers left, the smell in the hall had dissipated.

One of the door locks at Tracy Hall Science Center was broken, and officers responded to secure the door. It appeared that someone had put something in the door to prevent it from locking. The door was fixed and locked appropriately.

A blue Subaru Outback hit a white Honda Accord. There were no reported injuries, and the owner of the Subaru left a note on the Accord, who filed an incident report for the damage of the car.

Police received a call that there was the smell of marijuana in Wildcat Village. They responded to the call and located where the smell was reported. The two residents let the officers in to look around. There was no smell

Freepik.com

An employee on campus had some issues with their ex-husband and wanted to make the Campus Police aware of the issue.

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APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR

Harrison Epstein current editor-in-chief

THE SIGNPOST 2019-2020 editor-in-chief and section editors

The Signpost, the news organization at Weber State University, is seeking students who are passionate about news for the 2019-20 school year. Applications are being accepted for editor-in-chief and section editors.

Qualifications for the editor-in-chief include: • • • •

Experience in journalism, student or otherwise Ability to lead students Commitment Ability to spend about 30 hours a week on The Signpost

Section editors lead teams of reporters, photographers and graphic designers in gathering and producing news for the print and online publications.

Sections include: • • • • • • • • •

News Sports Arts & Entertainment Science & Technology Diversity Photography Copy editing Graphic design Webmaster

The Signpost publishes twice a week on and off campus and online daily at signpost.mywebermedia.com Applicants can be any major, but news experience is preferred.

To apply, pick up an application at The Signpost office, Shepherd Union, Room 401, or download it from our website, signpost.mywebermedia.com. If you have questions, email Dr. Jean Norman, jeannorman@weber.edu.

Deadline for applying for editor-in-chief: Friday, Jan. 18.

Deadline for applying for section editing positions: Friday, Jan. 25.

4 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2019

Kim Kardashian has become an advocate for prison reform

The people v. celebrity activism DANYA GIL Columnist

Black Lives Matter and The #MeToo Movement united to fight for Cyntoia Brown’s release from prison. She was granted clemency on Jan. 7. Alice Marie Johnson was granted clemency after Kim Kardashian West pleaded Johnson’s case to Trump. The system cannot serve justice based on a who-youknow basis.

Brown was a runaway living with her then 24-year-old boyfriend, a pimp known as “Kut Throat”, according to NBC News. Brown said he raped her and forced her into prostitution.

While forcibly in bed with a 43-year-old man, 16-year-old Brown shot him out of fear that he was reaching for a gun, according to NBC News. Brown was tried and sentenced as an adult.

On Dec. 9, 2018, The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Brown must

serve 51 years before she could be eligible for release. The ruling ignited outrage online among lawmakers and celebrities. LeBron James, Rihanna, Meek Mill and others rallied for Brown’s release.

Johnson was convicted on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine, according to nonprofit CanDo. Johnson served 21 years for a non-violent drug offence.

Brown and Johnson are victims of circumstances. Brown was being trafficked as a teenager, raped and abused, according to The New York Times. Johnson lost her job, got divorced and lost her youngest son before she got involved in drug trafficking, according to Mic. There are vastly too many statistics to list to persuade the case that the prison system is broken.

According to the NAACP, 1 in every 37 American adults is under some form of correctional supervision. African Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of whites. African Americans and whites use drugs at similar rates, but the African American imprisonment rate for drug charges is six times more than whites.

According to a Guardian investigation, prisons across the U.S. are

being utilized by pimps to find their victims. This results in a revolving door for select women between prostitution and incarceration.

People in cases like Brown's and Johnson's cannot wait for someone like a Kardashian to be bored and decide to pick up prison reform as a hobby. Lives are wasting behind bars and moments are being stolen from these women and men.

Brown was living a life where her body was someone’s business. She was being degraded and taken advantage of at an age when people are getting their drivers licenses and worrying about acne. Her crime was a result of her fight for survival.

Johnson was filing for bankruptcy and losing her house when she got involved with a group of people transporting cocaine. Yes, this was a conscious decision. However, she, like Brown, did what she had to do for survival.

The system incarcerates people like Brown and Johnson without looking at circumstances. A crime is a crime, but our system is punishing these people at alarming rates and for unreasonable amounts of time.

Garnering celebrity attention should not and cannot be the only way wrongfully imprisoned or improperly sentenced people have

their stories shared and judged fairly. It should not be their only hope for a way out.

Celebrities shining a light on the broken system is important, but they cannot be the only influences on decision makers. This creates an imbalance of fairness based on whose story will be picked up.

Kardashian West did not simply rally for Johnson and meet with Trump for her, but she paid for Johnson’s legal team, according to NBC News.

Since Johnson’s release, Kardashian West has received thousands of letters from inmates, pleading she take on their case, according to Complex. The system is so broken, we need a Kardashian to bail us out.

While the releases of Brown and Johnson are imperative toward the national discussion of prison reform, it proves that the system is not working.

These women served a combined 36 years in prison. Thousands are in the same situation, and they cannot wait for a Kardashian or two massive movements to come and make them the poster child of prison reform.

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Wikimedia

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2019 | 5

KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost

By ASHLYND GREENWOOD Reporter

Spectators witnessed a rare lunar phenomenon on Jan. 20 during the only total lunar eclipse of 2019.

Referred to as a super blood wolf moon, this event featured both a super moon and a total lunar eclipse. The event began at 7:36 p.m. MST, its climax occurring at 10:12 p.m. MST. The eclipse was visible along all of North and South America.

Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth's shadow blocks the light from the sun.

There are three different types of lunar eclipses: penumbral, partial, and total. A

total eclipse is when the Earth's shadow covers the moon entirely.

According to NASA's website, the process of a total lunar eclipse is quite special, the last one having occurred on Dec. 21, 2010. It requires perfect alignment among the sun, Earth and moon and only happens when the moon passes through two specific shadows of the Earth: the penumbra and umbra.

Starting at 7:36 p.m., the moon entered the penumbra, and its light begun to fade as it moved behind Earth. Exactly one hour later, the moon entered into the umbra shadow. This caused the moon to turn a

reddish-orange color, giving it the name "blood moon." “Lunar eclipses are fun to view when the sky is clear because the moon literally changes color," Weber State University Physics Professor Stacey Palen said.

"It's definitely worth going outside several times during the eclipse to watch it happen.�

In addition to requiring the perfect alignment, a super moon must occur at the right time of year in order to appear slightly bigger than usual. January is typically the most common time, as this is when the moon is closest to the

Earth's orbit.

Lunar eclipses are known as one of the easier celestial events to view, as they only require a pair of standard binoculars.

Lunar eclipses are also safe to view with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses. However, doctors still recommend observers to use protective eye wear during the moon's partial eclipse before and after totality.

If you missed it, NASA offers several highlights and photographs of the event on their website at https://www.nasa.gov/.

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Even approaching his hundreth birthday, Joe McQueen still performs regularly.

JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost

LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT

By JENNIFER GREENLEE Desk Editor

R&B legend Booker T. Jones and Ogden’s own jazz icon Joe McQueen met on stage at the historic Peery’s Egyptian Theatre on Jan. 18.

The two were invited by Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music, a non-profit that strives to bring music to those who don’t have access to it.

“Our mission is to bring quality, worldclass music to Ogden and to make it available to everyone,” Cherri Wallwork of OFOAM said. “We have a very specific mission to bring music to under-served communities, especially the youth.”

Both McQueen and Jones had performed earlier in the day and answered questions for a group of youth who had been invited to hear them play.

Jones, born Nov. 12, 1944, is a musical prodigy who entered into professional music at 16. He and his band, Booker T. & the MG’s, played in Memphis while he

studied music at Indiana University. They still often perform together today.

After nearly six decades of playing, Jones is still inspired by his passion for music that started at a young age.

“My mother was a beautiful piano player. I wish everyone could have heard her play,” Jones said. “I love it. If I didn’t play, I would listen to it all the time. I play for myself when I’m by myself.”

Much like Jones, McQueen entered the professional music stage at 16. McQueen had played in Count Basie’s band. When the band split up, McQueen reformed it in Ogden, Utah. He was the first African-American in Utah to play at previously white-only establishments and to have a mixed-race band.

McQueen has also worked as a truck mechanic and automotive technology instructor at Weber State University. In 2002, “Joe McQueen Day” was officially established on April 18.

McQueen opened the night by introducing his band: Dr. Don Keipp played drums, complemented by Ryan Conger

on the Hammond Organ and Brad Wright on the guitar.

During his set, McQueen played solos in many songs, which all raised thunderous applause from the nearly-full house in the theatre audience.

McQueen encouraged the crowd to get up and dance to his song “Tender Lady,” acknowledging there wasn’t much room in the aisles.

At the end of his set, he exited the stage to a standing ovation, which lasted for nearly five minutes.

Jones came on after the intermission and played his first song with his regular quartet. McQueen then joined him on stage to play several pieces with him, including classic covers.

Along with the dynamic duo, Jones’ son, Ted Jones, played beside him on the guitar, with Darian Gray on the drums and Lawrence Shaw on bass while Jones played the Hammond B3 Organ.

“Anytime you can spend time with family and work at the same time is a rare opportunity. So now, we have a family op-

eration, and it makes you live longer,” Ted Jones said.

At the end of his set with McQueen, Jones played “Happy Birthday” for McQueen, who will turn 100 years old in May. This brought the crowd back to their feet.

Jones then played several of the tracks that had made Booker T. & the MGs a household R&B name in the 1960s.

Jones picked up a guitar toward the end of the show and played next to his son; the duo sang “Purple Rain” by Prince.

For the last scheduled song of the night, Jones played his first-ever recorded song, “Green Onion.”

“The bass player said that ‘this tune is so funky that it smelled like onions’ so we wanted to call it ‘Funky Onion,’” Jones said. “But the record company owner said ‘Funky Onion’ wasn’t conservative enough, so let’s change it to ‘Green Onion.’”

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MyWeberMedia.com | January 22, 2019 | 7

CHAMPIONING CHANGE AND ENACTING EQUALITY

By DANYA GIL Desk Editor

Women and allies rallied to raise awareness, embrace diversity and empower future generations during Utah’s third annual Women’s March on Jan. 19 at the Utah State Capitol.

As women’s marches began all across the country, Salt Lake City’s started at Washington Square Park. Crowds marched, chanted and carried signs to in support of pay equity, women’s health, affordable child care and equal representation.

Steered by People for Unity, a student-led organization founded in 2016, the Salt Lake City Women’s March focused on embracing diversity and championing women’s rights.

Ermiya Fanaeian, co-founder of Utah’s March for Our Lives, was one of the march’s speakers.

“I am a proud, unapologetic transgender woman, immigrant of color,” Fanaeian introduced herself.

Fanaeian spoke about the necessity of intersectionality in regards to women’s liberation.

She said her — and everyone’s — liberation is directly tied to undocumented mothers seeking refuge, indigenous women fighting to have their existence valued and black, transgender women fleeing violence.

“There will not be a single one of us liberated if each and every single woman is not liberated,” Fanaeian said.

Fanaeian and other speakers reiterated that women will no longer be satisfied with being discussed at the table but rather sitting at the table and leading the discussion.

Salt Lake City mayor Jackie Biskupski said Utah must pass the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens. Utah is one of 13 states that has not ratified the amendment.

“Utah has, in recent history, been dubbed one of the worst states in the country for women to live. Why are we settling for inequality when we have our own pioneers of gender equality to look up to?” Biskupski said.

Student activists Mishka Banuri, who helped convince Utah legislature to recognize climate change, and Saida Dahir shared experiences about the injustices leveled against women of color and challenges they faced being taught to be polite in the face of unwanted flirtation.

Reading her poem “Don’t Cry,” Dahir said she had been taught crying was a form of weakness that ignited and fueled her opponents. People around her viewed cat-calling as praise that should be appreciated.

“You take the whistles on the street as a compliment; you wouldn’t get cat-called if you weren’t pretty,” Dahir writes.

Banuri was taught to be quiet and never disagree with a man, especially if he was white. She recalled being forced to laugh along as white boys told her they loved South Asian girls, who were their secret fetish.

Banuri said she grew up seeing Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Aniston on the cover of magazines, never having the chance to idolize someone who looked like her. However, today she said she watches Hasan Minhaj speak her language on Netflix.

“I’m here to fight the systems that make kids like me feel like they don’t belong. I am here to remind the people of the importance of defending your community and all the people in it,” Banuri said.

Aria Beard, a WSU freshman, attended the march with her mother and sister to support the community.

“I hope little girls watching this learn to get involved and be proud of who they are,” Beard said.

Shiann Smart attended the event to march and be a voice for her friends who do not feel comfortable attending. Smart said she has transgender friends who have been denied their identity.

With rallies happening across the U.S., Smart hopes the Trump administration is watching.

“We’re not going to sit down and shut up about it anymore,” Smart said. “We’re here to be heard, and they’re going to listen.”

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KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost

Women gathered at the capitol to make their voices heard.

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2019 | 9

RONAN FARROW GIVES LONG-AWAITED SPEECH AT WSU

8 | MyWeberMedia.com| 2019 delivers a speech and Q&A. Investigative journalistJanuary Ronan22, Farrow

By HARRISON EPSTEIN Editor in Chief

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Val A. Browning Center’s Austad Auditorium on Jan. 19. Farrow came to Weber State University as a part of the ongoing “Browning Presents!” series.

A graduate of Bard College and Yale Law School, Farrow is now a reporter for the New Yorker. He also worked for UNICEF for several years before joining the State Department under then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After his work concluded with the federal government, Farrow began a new life as a journalist and author.

He was brought to WSU by the Telitha Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities in conjunction with the Women’s Center.

Farrow’s reporting on the sexual misconduct cases of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, cited as one of the instigating factors of the #MeToo movement, helped earn him his Pulitzer.

Before delivering his speech, Farrow spoke with an intimate group of 30 students from WSU’s Honors Program and The Signpost. The honors students in attendance read his best-selling book, “War on Peace: The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence,” as part of their course curriculum. In the discussion, Farrow disputed the notion that he was responsible for the #MeToo movement.

“I didn’t really found any movement. I can’t take credit for that at all. There were great grassroots activists doing wonderful work on sexual violence going back years.

The phrase ‘Me Too’ goes back years,” Farrow said. “Tarana Burke, a wonderful activist, created that concept and was already getting traction around it a while back and it kind of got revived in the JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost

wake of my stories.”

He was then asked how he finds stories worth writing. Farrow said his team of researchers sift through his emails for news tips and decide what’s worth giving more attention.

“There are plenty of individual stories that are powerful and important but maybe don’t have some of those other qualities,” he said. “They don’t look like they’re going to lead to something that’s bigger in scope that’s going to affect a lot of people, and each of us only has so much time. You have to pick your battles carefully.”

Doing most of his work on stories of private espionage and surveillance, he has almost been forced into the world. Farrow described crossing paths of traffic to meet with sources and having to move because he was being followed. Even though he made a name for himself with the written word, Farrow had no formal education in journalism.

He told the group of students and faculty that he got his start by writing and submitting op-eds to newspapers across the country and that before he became the investigative journalist he is now, he used to write magazine features — specifically mentioning a profile he did on Miley Cyrus for W Magazine in 2014.

Farrow described his writing in depth after a question about how he works around emotion in his pieces. He said emotion is valuable when it adds understanding and that naked emotion works in fiction writing.

“If you’re dealing with a topic that’s intrinsically very emotional, like death or sexual assault, topics where people’s fates are wrapped up in these facts, it can actually be more powerful to strip out the on the nose description of those emotions,” Farrow said.

With just minutes left, Farrow took the opportunity to list some of his favorite authors and those he’s reading now. While Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” and several of Kurt Vonnegut’s works made the list, Farrow said he tries hard to make sure their voices don’t influence his own work.

After the small session concluded, people began to pour into the Austad Auditorium to hear Farrow speak. In addition to theater seating, additional seats were set up on the stage for VIP guests, including Scott Sprenger, dean of the Lindquist College, and WSU President Brad Moretensen.

“It’s a great opportunity to not only highlight, for our students and community, what’s happening on the national level with these conversations,” Mortensen said, “but it helps to convey that Weber State’s a place where these important conversations can happen.”

His speech itself was short, coming out to just under 20 minutes. He discussed members of the Weber State community who have made impacts, naming Dr. Forrest Crawford as one of the influential members as a professor and civil rights champion. Farrow also mentioned Jessica Miller, a WSU alum and fellow Pulitzer Prize winner for the Salt Lake Tribune, as a part of the fabric of Weber State.

After a short break, Farrow was joined

by Doug Fabrizio, the host of KUER’s Radio West. Fabrizio then interviewed him for the audience with an occasional peppering of submitted questions. Routinely, Farrow used humor to convey his messages. He mentioned that in college he was originally a pre-med student.

“Like many lawyers I hit organic chemistry and said, ‘I’ll be a lawyer,’” Farrow said.

At one point in the conversation, Farrow was candid about the lowest point of his

professional career — just one month before he became a household name. In the midst of reporting on the Weinstein story, in September of 2017, he described sobbing in the back of a taxi cab, thinking his future was in doubt with NBC News.

Around the same time, Farrow learned that another news organization was close to scooping him on the Weinstein story.

Farrow gambled on himself, saying at a certain point, you have to go all the way in. On Oct. 10, as a staffer for the New Yorker, Farrow concluded his 10-month effort and published “From aggressive overtures to sexual assault: Harvey Weinstein’s accusers tell their stories.”

Over the next year, Farrow reported on the misdoings of former New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and former CBS President Les Moonves, as well as the story of Deborah Ramirez.

Ramirez was one of the women who accused Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

Despite President Donald Trump having relieved career diplomats of their jobs, Farrow said he had been working on “War on Peace” for over five years, since before “Donald Trump as president was a twinkle in Roger Stone’s eyes.”

One question that came up during both sessions was whether or not Farrow would ever run for office. He had the same answer both times.

He said in his prior meeting, “No, and I’m really flattered to get asked that with regularity. I think I’m flattered, at least.

I don’t know what it means with politics now. You constantly hear ambitious people answer this question in this demure, evasive way, like, ‘Oh, I don’t know about that, but maybe,’” adding an exaggerated wink. “This is not one of those answers.”

Farrow and Fabrizio also discussed his book and several of its main subjects,

including Tom Countryman — whose name elicited laughter from the crowd — as well as lifelong diplomat Richard Holbrooke and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

He told stories ranging from the professional, like Countryman’s final days on the job, to the personal, like Holbrooke’s penchant for briefing his superiors in restrooms. Kissinger, Farrow acknowledged, is a complicated character in the history of the United States.

While granting that many people consider Kissinger a war criminal for his actions in Cambodia, Farrow told stories about interviewing him for the book that revealed sides of the diplomat few private citizens ever saw. Farrow said whenever Kissinger got bored during their phone calls, he would periodically hang up, sometimes mid-interview.

Farrow would then have to call his assistant back, and Kissinger would go right into the interview. When the Q&A ended, Farrow was given a roaring ovation as he exited the stage.

His trip to Weber State was, in part, an act of procrastination; the first draft of Farrow’s next book is due to his publisher

by Feb. 8. He is also working on a series of documentaries for HBO. Despite all his successes and praise, Farrow saw a lot of himself in the groups of students.

“Maybe the sane thing would be to back off a little and say no to some things here and there, and, eventually, I’m probably going to have to do that a little more, but I made the choice to not have a life and not have structure,” Farrow said. “I end up wasting plenty of time, but in a panicked, undisciplined way.”

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HARDING,

10 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2019

‘CATS KNOCK OFF BENGALS

By RAYMOND LUCAS Reporter

Cody John pushes passed defender toward the basket.

Junior Jerrick Harding poured in 28 points, and senior Brekkott Chapman secured a double-double to lead the Weber State University men’s basketball team to a 76–59 victory over Idaho State University on Jan. 17 at the Dee Events Center. The win came with Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell in attendance, among other teammates.

Harding, the junior point guard, scored over 20 points in a game for the ninth time this season.

“I just have to come out and be aggressive and do whatever for my team,” Harding said.

The Wildcats opened up the game on fire, scoring seven points on three consecutive makes from the field in the first two minutes of the game.

The Bengals quickly recovered, and the ‘Cats found themselves trailing 14–10 at the 15-minute mark.

The high-powered offense slowed down on both sides, but WSU soon gained control of the game.

Harding drove on three Bengals in transition for a crafty layup. Moments later, senior forward Chapman faked out his defender, driving baseline where he finished strong on a two-hand slam.

He converted the free throw, which gave the Wildcats a 27–25 lead with five minutes left in the first-half.

As the half came to a close, Chapman started to deny any layup Idaho State attempted, and Harding found his groove.

With 4.4 seconds remaining, Harding caught an inbounds pass and took the ball to the other end, pulling up for a JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost

three-pointer at the buzzer to give Wildcats a 39–29 advantage.

Early in second half, the Bengals were struggling to stop Weber State. They found themselves trailing 49–37 with 16 minutes left. At this point in the game, the Bengals had only 17 more points than Harding alone.

Idaho State found a spark and briefly cut the Wildcats lead to six points, but again, the hosts had an answer. Freshman guard Caleb Nero connected on backto-back jumpers to give the ‘Cats a 12-point lead with just over five minutes remaining.

WSU was able to milk the clock and finish off the eventual 17-point victory to move them to 5–1 in the Big Sky Conference, a half-game behind first-place Northern Colorado.

The Wildcats shot 54 percent from the field while also playing solid defense. Idaho State came in ranked 27th in the nation in three-point percentage yet went only 6 for 26 in Ogden.

“We held them to six threes and that was big-time for us,” Chapman said. “It’s focus and energy. When we do that, we can take away the three.”

WSU head coach Randy Rahe was also pleased with his team’s defensive effort.

“Teams that play with more energy that night usually win the game,” Rahe said. “How do you play with more energy?

You be hungry to be successful.

If you are hungry to be successful, you are going to out every night and play with that energy which then leads to playing with edge, which then leads to playing tough. Guarding better, rebounding better. It all starts there.”

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MyWeberMedia.com | January 22, 2019 | 11

MARISSA WOLFORD | The Signpost

Guard Cody John looks for a pass as center Zach Braxton hovers behind the 3-point line.

‘CATS TOP NORTHERN COLORADO TO TAKE

FIRST PLACE IN BIG SKY

By CHRISTIAN JOHNSON Reporter

Anticipation filled the Dee Events Center as the Weber State University men’s basketball team faced off against the University of Northern Colorado on Jan. 19. Both teams came in tied for first place in the Big Sky Conference with identical 5–1 records in league play.

After a tight first half, the Wildcats pulled away in the second half and soared to a 78–64 victory over the Bears.

WSU now sits in sole possession of first place for the first time this season.

“We’re not worried about the standings right now,” head coach Randy Rahe said. “It’s way too early. All we want to do

is keep getting better.”

Neither team was able to gain separation in the first half, as the biggest advantage was when the Bears took a 31–26 lead in the closing minute. WSU sophomore forward Michal Kozak answered with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two heading into the break.

UNC senior guard Jordan Davis came in averaging 24 points per game and led all scorers with 11 first half points. The ‘Cats offensive charge was guided by junior guard Jerrick Harding, who finished the half with eight points and two assists.

The Wildcats started the second half invigorated on the offensive side of the ball. Senior forward Brekkott Chapman gave the home team a one-point lead

with a three, then junior guard Cody John drained two consecutive triples of his own for a 9–0 run.

“We just kept shooting our shots,” John said. “We trusted each other.”

John continued to lead the charge for the remainder of the game, finishing with 20 points. Kozak chipped in with 12 points off the bench, including two second-half threes.

Kozak also sent the crowd into a frenzy with a posterizing dunk halfway through the second half to extend the lead to double digits.

“It feels great to have these moments, but it’s all a team contribution,” Kozak said. “We came out of the locker room at halftime and knew what it was going to

take to win.”

Bears head coach Jeff Linder voiced his opinions to the officiating crew all night, and the frustration finally boiled over with two minutes remaining as he was given a technical foul. Harding subsequently made both free throws, and Kozak followed with a tip-in to give WSU a 73–58 lead with 1:42 left, icing the game.

With the victory, Weber State improved to 12–6 overall. WSU now faces a road trip north to take on Montana State University and the University of Montana on Jan. 24 and 26.

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12 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2019

MONIKA CLARKE | The Signpost

FIGHTING STRESS, SUCCEEDING IN SCHOOL

MyWeberMedia.com | January 17, 2019 | 13

By ALYSON JOHNSON

Desk Editor

College students often find themselves overwhelmed juggling adult life and staying on top of their schoolwork.

These high expectations can lead to increased stress levels, which ultimately affect their academic performance and overall well-being.

According to the Stress Management Society, the body responds to stress by switching to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a cocktail of hormones and neurotransmitters.

Stress can, of course, be positive, keeping the body alert and motivated, but too much stress can have a negative effect on the body.

A study published in the medical journal Depression and Anxiety reported that three out of four college students nationwide admit to having high levels of stress.

The study also found that mounting expectations, an evolving sense of self-identity and the shock of leaving home make college students vulnerable to higher stress levels and mental health risks.

For college students, stress can be caused by a variety of triggers: financial problems, highly demanding classes, problems and an overwhelming workload.

We’ve heard numerous times that the best way to cope with stress is to get enough sleep, eat well and exercise. Taking care of yourself while in

college is important, but what that may look like is different for all of us.

While hundreds of studies indicate numerous ways to deal with stress, Wildcats have, and handle, their own unique stressors.

“I feel like there is so much pressure to be involved, get good grades, get your assignments done on time and also work. It’s just a lot of pressure to get things done all at the same time,” said Gibson Green, a junior at Weber State.

Weber State student Cody Griffin said his source of stress came from deadlines.

“I wish I had more time in a day to do all the things that are expected of me and then work part time. It’s hard to fit in all those things and then also get good sleep,” Griffin said.

Stress is a completely normal occurrence in the lives of college students, and while its common, it shouldn’t be ignored.

The 2010 American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment reported that more than 25 percent of college students’ low grades, or inability to finish a course, was directly related to stress.

High levels of stress can lead to a variety of symptoms that affect a student’s academic performance. Some of these symptoms include frequent headaches, nervous habits and even an upset stomach.

Griffin said when he is stressed, it affects him in all aspects of his life, so-

cially and mentally.

“When I have so many other things to do, I get frustrated or overwhelmed and I just can’t think clearly,” Griffin said.

Prioritizing tasks and making sure that you have enough time to complete schoolwork is important but also harder than it may seem.

Alyson Mcnearny, a student at Weber State, said that now that she has progressed in her degree, her main concern is keeping straight the new information she has learned.

“I just have to make sure to manage my time well. I also have work after my classes, so I have to make sure I have enough time to get studying done,” Mcnearney said.

As a result of setting aside extra time to do well in classes, many students claim their relationships and social life have little to no existence.

“I think relationships will get pushed to the side because I have to focus on getting good grades,” Green said.

“So, even my family and friends get neglected because I’m so focused on getting all my tasks done.”

Mcnearny has experienced the same issue as she focuses more of her time on studying and classwork.

“I’m using all of my extra time to study and so I don’t really get to hang out with my friends because school is my priority right now,” Mcnearny said.

Although dropping a few things off your plate may help your situation, learning to manage stress is a skill im-

portant for all college students.

With how busy our schedules can be these days, it can be difficult to find time for yourself. But making time for yourself is just as important as making time for your classes and work.

“Trying to get my mind off of the things that are stressing me helps, not having to think about it all day everyday, and just having time to myself,” Griffin said.

Recent research from the University of Rochester says that being bored or alone will shut off parts of the brain that promote heightened awareness, which in turn leads to less stress.

Spencer Duncan, the Event Liaison on the Presidential Cabinet and a WSU Alternative Breaks Leader, said that although he has multiple responsibilities at school, he specifically tries to do homework while on campus, so that he doesn’t have to worry about it afterwards.

“I also try to get all my work done during the week so that on the weekends I can go do something. I try to do something on the weekends that’s big and gets me away from home,” Duncan said.

Being aware of what causes stress in your life and understanding the negative affects it can have, makes a tremendous difference in your college experience.

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14 | MyWeberMedia.com | January 22, 2019

NOW PLIÉ!

WSU dance hosts auditions

By COLTON HEWARD Reporter

Students at Weber State University took the stage on Jan. 11 to audition for the Orchesis Dance Theatre’s 2019 spring concert.

Professor Amanda Sowerby, who has taught at Weber State for 17 years, is not only a dance professor and the director of the Orchesis Dance Theatre production but also the associate dean of the Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities.

“The auditions went really well,” Sowerby said. “We had a large group, which is always wonderful, and a really diverse group with a lot of new faces, which is great.”

Students also had the opportunity to audition for the dance choreography II class, as well as for tuition waivers for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Buzz filled the room while students waited patiently for their turn to audition. Many participants who tried out have danced their entire lives, while others have recently taken interest in the sport.

Tana Aders, a Weber State student, has been dancing since she was 2 years old but took a 3-year hiatus and had not danced since high school.

Aders auditioned in hopes of performing in the Orchesis Spring Concert, as well as receiving the tuition waiver offered through the dance program.

“I thought the audition went well, but I was

definitely panicking inside,” Aders said.

Sowerby said they try to give as many students as possible the opportunity to be involved with the work the dance program puts on.

“We do not limit ourselves to a set number.

We want to give as many students as we can the opportunity to participate,” Sowerby said.

The spring concert for the Orchesis Dance Theatre is titled “Resonance” and is the main production for the dance program. The Spring Concert will be held April 4 to 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Allred Theatre at the Val A. Browning Center.

Sowerby said the spring concert is made up of a variety of different works. Some of these include guest artists, seniors performing their thesis works and performances by the Moving Company, which is the dance program’s outreach group.

Sowerby will also be presenting the second part of a year-long collaboration with music Professor Dr. Carey Campbell and the Department of Visual Art & Design sculpture students, who are under the direction of Professor Jason Manley.

Tickets for the Orchesis Dance Theatre production can be purchased online with a discounted price for students at weberstatetickets.com.

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HELP WANTED

MyWeberMedia.com | January 22, 2019 | 15

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Responsible for giving tours of the college, contacting interested students, participating in our high school dissection program, provide presentations in recruiting scenarios, and finally to participate in college

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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 | January 22, 2019 | 16

WSU ADDS DSU TO SCHEDULE,

LOSES SECOND COACH TO PAC-12 SCHOOL

By BRANDON MAY Desk Editor

It’s been 10 years since the Weber State University football team took on the Dixie State University Trailblazers, but that’s all about to change come Oct. 10, 2020.

Dixie State announced last week plans to move from the NCAA Division 2 to Division 1 and will compete as part of the Football Championship SubDivision (FCS) Independents beginning 2020.

The two teams have met just once before as part of the NCAA. The Divi-

sion 2 Trailblazers came to Ogden to take on the Division 1 Wildcats in a 44–7 WSU rout at Stewart Stadium in September of 2008.

Shortly after the DSU announcement of moving up a division, they signed a three-year series with the Wildcats and two other Big Sky teams.

The first and last games of the series will be played in Ogden at Stewart Stadium. WSU will host the Trailblazers on Oct. 10, 2020 and again in 2022 with the date still to be determined.

Weber State will travel south to

St. George in 2021 for the first time since 1961, when both teams competed as junior colleges.

After the announcement of the Dixie State game, WSU completed their schedule for the 2020 season.

WSU will open at home against Dixie State before traveling to the University of Wyoming and the University of Northern Iowa in their non-conference games. WSU will compete against eight Big Sky teams to complete the end of the regular season in 2020.

After losing coach Colton Swan to the University of Utah two weeks ago,

vs

WSU has lost another coach to the PAC-12. Tight end coach Al Pupunu will go to the University of Colorado.

Pupunu, an alum of WSU, coached the tight ends the past two seasons under head coach Jay Hill.

Pupunu was an All-American at Weber State during his tenure in Ogden. He played nine seasons in the NFL before starting his coaching career at Utah, SUU and Idaho.

Pupunu only played two years with the Wildcats after tranferring — from Dixie State.

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