Thursday | January 9, 2020 | Volume 91 | Issue 2
WIKIMEDIA
COMMONS
obamawhit ehouse.arch ives.gov
pxfuel
NEWS » PAGE 11
SPORTS » PAGE 14
INAUGURATION LAUNCHES WSU INTO A NEW ERA
‘CATS VOLLEYBALL ENDS SEASON WITH NEW RECORDS
BENJAMIN ZACH
ROBERT LEWIS | The Signpost
2 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
By JENNIFER GREENLEE Section Editor
Some Late-December Theft
Officers were sent to Wildcat Village after RAs called about a drug violation in building three on Dec. 31. When police arrived, they were able to smell drugs, but there was no one at the dorm, and police were unable to verify if drugs had been used. On Jan. 4, RAs who knew an underage student was in the dorms reported they
dent stated they would turn down music which was not playing. The students were placed in the common area, except for the resident of the dorm. When officers arrived, they could smell alcohol on the student. The students were warned and informed of housing policy.
Editor’s Note
Family Problems On Jan. 2, WSU officers assisted South Ogden police with a family disturbance. They were on site in case there were issues when the mother picked up her child. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
On Monday, Jan. 6, The Signpost published a story on the loss of Weber State University Vice Provost Bruce Davis. There was a mistake in one of the photo captions of this story, which incorrectly identified Davis as the one signing the land expansion for WSU Davis Campus when it was actually Vice President Norm Tarbox. We apologize for this oversight and will take action to avoid mistakes like this in the future.
Photo by Matt Popovich on Unsplash
A vehicle was broken into on Dec. 30, 2019. The victim, who filed a report with police Dec. 31 after getting her car window replaced, reported that her window had been broken and her backpack taken from the vehicle. No fingerprints were able to be lifted from the car.
Even Over the Break, You could smell alcohol. When the RA went to Have to Follow the Rules the door to discuss the complaint, the stu-
MyWeberMedia.com | January 9, 2020 | 3
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4 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
By IAN SYME Reporter
After a challenging 2018-19 season, the Weber State women’s basketball team looks to grow this year as they compete for a Big Sky championship. The Wildcats’ 2019-20 roster contains an even mix of under and upperclassmen, with over half of the roster entering as either freshmen or sophomores. Despite a small streak of losses to begin the season, the 'Cats look to rebound behind head coach Velaida Harris and her starters. Here is a look at those who have started for the Wildcats at the beginning of the season. Ula Chamberlin joins the Wildcats as one of five freshmen on this year’s women’s basketball team. During her four years at South Medford High School, Chamberlin played all four for the Panthers girls’ basketball team, lettering in the sport each year. In addition to her basketball success, Chamberlin also lettered three seasons in track and field as well as one season in soccer. In her first three games with the Wildcats, Chamberlin currently leads the team in scoring average with 11.3 points while also totaling nine rebounds and five steals. After a freshman season that included an average of over 20 minutes played per game, Kori Pentzer looks to improve her game and continue to assist the Wildcats this season. In her first season, Pentzer also averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while also scoring in double digits in three games. In her sophomore season, she has been perfect at the free throw line while averaging three points a game. Before coming to Weber, Pentzer was named 2A Idaho State Player of the Year in backto-back years as well as being named the Idaho Press Tribune Player of the Year in the 2016-17 school year for her play at Melba High School.
Ciara James also looks to improve on her freshman season, which saw her enter all 31 games for the Wildcats, including one start. In her first year at Weber State, James averaged 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 points in just over 16 minutes per game. In her first three starts, James is second in scoring average with nine points per game along with five steals and 19 rebounds. During her time at Clackamas High School, James received a first-team all-conference in 2016-17 while playing for the Cavaliers. Liz Graves enters her first season of play with the Wildcats after sitting out the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Graves officially joined the Wildcats after transferring from BYU in April 2018. In her two seasons with the Cougars, Graves played in 42 games, averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds playing in just over eight minutes per game while shooting 30% from behind the three-point line. In her first three games as a Wildcat, Graves has achieved an average of 7.3 points per game with 11 rebounds and a 40% field goal percentage. As one of the more experienced players on the team, Kayla Watkins looks to lead the Wildcats to success during their 2019-20 season. Last season, Watkins started 30 games for the Wildcats, averaging 12 points per game in. 30.7 minutes per game. Watkins also scored in double figures 20 times, including three games over 20 points, and had 10 or more rebounds in nine games. Watkins also led the Wildcats with nine double-doubles last seasons. So far this year, Watkins has averaged 5.3 points per game to go along with 13 rebounds.
Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
ULA CHAMBERLIN
Class - Freshman Position - Guard Height - 5’9” Hometown - Medford, OR
KORI PENTZER
Class - Sophomore Position - Guard Height - 5’9” Hometown - Melba, ID
MyWeberMedia.com | January 9, 2020 | 5
CIARA JAMES
Class - Sophomore Position - Forward Height - 6’2” Hometown - Clackamas, OR
LIZ GRAVES
Class - Redshirt junior Position - Guard Height - 5’10” Hometown - Mapleton, UT
ART BY AUBREE ECKHARDT | The Signpost
Class - Junior Position - Forward Height - 6’2” Hometown - Seattle, WA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY
KAYLA WATKINS
6 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
Studio 76 WSU digital media studio
hands-on.
real-world.
experience.
Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 7 p.m.
Hurst Center Dumke Legacy Hall FREE | Everyone Welcome
A panel discussion kicks off Weber State’s participation in the 2020 Census. The census, which is Constitutionally mandated, determines how billions of dollars of federal funding flow into states and communities. The results also establish the number of seats in Congress from each state. Census data also helps historians and genealogists tell the American story.
Participants can ask questions, share concerns, and learn how they can help join WSU’s efforts to get people counted!
For more info contact Eric Swedin at eswedin@weber.edu.
Hosted by: Weber Historical Society Lecture Series
& WSU Political Engagement Coalition
COMMUNICATION Monday, Jan. MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES
7 p.m
Hurst Center Dumk
weber.edu/communication
FREE | Everyone W
INTERPERSONAL & FAMILY COMMUNICATION ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
A panel discussion kicks off Weber St 2020 Census. The census, which is C COMMUNICATION TEACHING determines how billions of dollars of MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM states and communities. The results CIVIC ADVOCACY of seats in Congress from each state DIGITIAL MEDIA historians and genealogists tell the A Find your
PUBLIC RELATIONS & ADVERTISING
opportunity Participants can ask questio weber.edu/communication and learn how the join WSU’s efforts to get
For more info contact Eric Swedin
Hosted by: Weber Historical Society Lecture Series
&
MyWeberMedia.com | January 9, 2020 | 7
GODDARD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
WELCOMES DEAN MOURITSEN
By MARISA NELSON Asst. Section Editor
Weber State University selected Matthew Mouritsen as the Dean for the John B. Goddard School of Business on Dec. 19, 2019. While Dean Mouritsen has been a member of the WSU faculty for some time — serving in an interim dean position since June 2019 — he is devoted to his new position and hopes to be able to help make the “school even more relevant to its students and the communities we serve.” One of Mouritsen’s main goals is to stick with the initiatives defined during a faculty retreat in September. According
to Mouritsen, these initiatives are building bridges to Goddard, transforming the learning environment, integrating and expanding technology, analytics and critical thinking across the curriculum, and connecting students to curriculum and community. After graduating from Weber State and working with Continuing Education as an accountant, Mouritsen had the opportunity to teach an introductory accounting course. “It only took a few class sessions for me to realize that I wanted to become a full-time professor,” Mouritsen said. Mouritsen went on to get his Ph.D. and returned to Weber to become a full-time accounting and MBA professor. He says
that being able to work as a professor has sponsored many meaningful interactions with students. Mouritsen said teaching and leading in the MBA program have been some of the most rewarding times of his career so far. Business Economics and Economics Department Chair Brandon Koford said, “Dr. Mouritsen has a strong reputation among students as a fantastic educator. His experience in the classroom and close relationships with students will benefit the college as we create the curriculum of tomorrow.” Koford went on to say that Mouritsen’s experience in leadership will allow him to connect with students, faculty and staff
as well as the community. This will lead to new and meaningful programs for the school. Mouritsen's time as interim dean and his short time as dean is off to a great start, according to Koford. “The University, generally, and the Goddard School, specifically, are abound with devoted professionals who care deeply about the WSU mission and providing the personal touch to teaching and serving students. I look forward to what awaits as I serve as Dean of the Goddard School of Business and Economics,” Mouritsen said. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com WSU Archives
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MyWeberMedia.com | January 9, 2020 | 9
8 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
DARYN STEED Columnist
Dividing generations by abstract dates might seem senseless, but the first generational terminology was born from the baby boom post-World War II. After the war, birth rates across the world spiked; between 1946 and 1965, 77 million babies were born in the United States alone. After a sharp dropoff in birth rates in 1965, researchers classified babies born during that period as Baby Boomers. The next generation, Generation X, started in 1965 but didn’t have as clean of a cutoff; most researches typically cut Gen X off at 1980, though some classify Gen X through 1984. Then came Millennials. Typically regarded as those born between 1980 and 1996, Millennials are defined by growing up in the Internet Age, and the generation has experienced the largest variety of social and economic conditions thus far. Though young people are often widely
referred to as Millennials, the reality is that most people starting college now aren’t Millennials, but part of Generation Z; kids in Generation Z were born between 1995 and 2010 and, therefore, make up most of the freshmen demographic. According to Chuck Underwood, the founder of a generational consulting firm, Gen Z does not exist yet. Technically, a new generation comes of age when they can vote, and the majority of Gen Z cannot yet do so. Like Generation X, Millennials don’t have a specific birthdate cutoff. However, Millennials and Gen Zers are defined and divided by drastically different life events, which shaped the separate generations. Millennials were between the ages of 5 and 20 when the 9/11 terrorist attacks shattered the nation and were generally old enough to understand the significance of that moment. Most members of Gen Z either don’t remember the event or hadn’t been born yet. As a result of the attacks, Millennials grew up in the shadow of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which sharply divided the nation and contributed heavily to the intense political polarization that shapes the current political environment. Millennials were teenagers or young adults during the 2008 election, and they contributed mightily to the youth vote that helped elect the first black president. Beyond politics, the majority of Millennials entered the workforce during an economic recession. As a result, Millennials’ life choices and attitudes have been shaped by the recession in a way that those in Gen Z have not. The way Millennials interact and communicate with the world around them is another defining feature. Baby Boomers grew up as the television industry expanded, Generation X saw the computer revolution take shape and Millennials came of age during the explosion of the internet. What makes Gen Z unique is that all of the above have been part of their lives from the start. The first iPhone came out in 2007, when the oldest Gen Zers were ten. The primary means of communication for Gen Z have been mobile devices and the internet. Millennials had to adapt to social media and con-
stant connectivity; Gen Z grew up with both as the norm. The implications for Gen Zers having to constantly perform on social media are not totally defined yet. Recent research has shown youth behaviors have shifted dramatically from generations past, in both positive and negative aspects, but as some Gen Zers are as young as ten, only time will tell how the Connected Age impacts youth development. As the 2008 election shaped the political landscape for Millennials, so did the 2016 election for Generation Z. For many, Donald Trump is the first U.S. president they’ve ever known. The contrast between George W. Bush and Barack Obama formed the political debate for Millennials. The current political environment may have similar effects on Gen Zers. The Columbine shooting in 1999 shocked Millennials and the nation; the effects of that shooting are still rippling through the U.S. today. For Generation Z, gun violence in schools is the status quo. Nobody claims to be shocked by mass shootings anymore. How can we be surprised when there were more mass shootings than days of the year in 2019? Millennials paved the way for Generation Z to take the mantle and disrupt national conversation about our youth. As the past several years have shown, Generation Z can mobilize. Five million youths marched to protest gun violence. They are not limited by local events or even national events. Widespread connectivity gives the new generation access to global events and crises, which led to millions of young people marching to protest climate change. Recent research has shown that as adults, Millennials are forging a distinct path. They are idealistic and confrontational. Thanks in large part to Generation X, they are selfish and entitled. They are confident and assertive. They are generally unattached to organized religion, linked together by social media, burdened by debt, distrustful of politics, in no rush to marry and largely unable to afford the white picket fence and two cars that their parents had. Still, Millennials are optimistic for the future. They vote. They have a higher life expec-
tancy than any previous generation. Meanwhile, still growing up, Generation Z unites behind the search for truth. They value individualism and avoid labels. They mobilize quickly and effectively for a variety of causes. They believe profoundly in their individual ability to solve conflicts and improve the state of the world. Gen Zers don’t just tolerate diversity — they expect it. They are accepting of gender and sexual identity. They’ve lost some of the optimism from the Millennial generation. They are less idealistic and less hopeful for economic prosperity. Generation Z is widely considered to have cut off in 2010, meaning children being born today are part of a whole new generation. Though they’ve yet to be named, researchers estimate that they will be the most formally-educated generation and most technology-supplied generation ever. In time, we’ll understand the national and global events that will shape their worldview. For now, we watch Generation Z take their first steps into adulthood, taking the torch from the Millennials before them. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MONIKA CLARKE | The Signpost
8 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
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MyWeberMedia.com | January 9, 2020 | 11
CHARGING INTO A NEW ERA By ADAM RUBIN Reporter
“Sign up and show up. The world is run by those who show up.”
The inauguration of Weber State University’s 13th President, Brad L. Mortensen, will be permanently marked in the records of Utah’s education history and will be remembered as the start of a new chapter for WSU, Ogden and Utah’s education at large. Mortensen's official inauguration as President of WSU took place in the Austad Auditorium in the Val. A Browning Center on Jan. 7, WSU’s Founder’s Day. It was 131 years to the day when WSU was founded. Erin Kendall, WSU alum and a member of the office of undergrad research at WSU commented on the attendance, noting that a large crowd showed up for the inauguration. “It’s great to see a lot of … community people here," Kendall said. "It doesn’t appear to be the normal crowd that you’d see on campus. A lot of people have taken time to visit and support President Mortensen today.” The building was full of laughter, greetings and support, from freshman to former colleagues of Mortensen and state legislature. Ruth Watkins and Laura Snow, both of
Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
WHAT’S NEXT
January
WSU Campus Recreation
6
6
Spring Group Exercise Classes Begin!
Kat is a Junior from sunny St. George studying Interior Design with a focus in Professional Sales. She is the current Senator for the Davis Campus. Kat loves being involoved because of the friends that she makes and the new things she gets to experience with them. She is honored to be awarded with the first ever Wildcat of the Month Award.
the University of Utah and both former colleagues of Mortensen’s, attended the inauguration. “We really want to be a part of honoring him and the important work that he does as a leader for higher education in our state," Watkins said. "It really matters.” Watkins expanded on why she believes in Utah’s higher education system, referring to higher education as one of our society’s greatest assets. Watkins stressed that higher education enables innovation and creates jobs, and WSU is at the front, leading the charge. She also said that Mortensen's work is important and will continue to lead WSU into the future. Snow, who has known Mortensen for 15 years, described him as a personal friend and a professional colleague. She was pleased she was to be able to attend Mortensen’s inauguration. “He has a lot of support," Snow said. "People are genuinely happy for him and excited for the future.”
7&9
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For more information go to Weber.edu/CampusRecreation or contact us at CampusRecreation@Weber.edu *All events/times are subject to change
WEBER REC
12 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
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14 | January 9, 2020 | MyWeberMedia.com
By BRANDON MAY Section Editor
It was a record setting fall for the Weber State University volleyball team. For just the second time in school history, the Wildcats made it into a postseason tournament after finishing second in the Big Sky. For the seventh time in Wildcat volleyball history, WSU finished with 20 or more wins on the year. With the ’Cats finishing 26-9, the 26 wins stands as the second highest in WSU’s history. The last time Weber State made it into a postseason tournament was in 1988, the only time the ’Cats won the Big Sky Tournament, with WSU receiving the auto bid to the NCAA Tournament. Over the Thanksgiving break, the Wild-
Other Side of the Hill
cats took down Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, which set them up for the championship game with the number one seed Northern Colorado Bears. The ’Cats and Bears proved to be the top two teams in the Big Sky, going five sets and ending with the Bears taking home the hardware. But the season wasn’t over for WSU. The National Invitational Volleyball Championship, originally played between 19881995, was reborn. The NIVC, a tournament with 32 teams, is in just its third year. Weber State drew the Wyoming region and took on Boise State in the first round. The ’Cats stabled the Broncos in four sets to advance to the second round. This was WSU’s first postseason win. The ’Cats were set to take on the host, the University of Wyoming, in what proved
to be a thriller. Both teams traded point for point and set for set, a matchup that showed each team’s talent matched the other. The ’Cats took the Cowgirls to a fifth set victory, in a hostile environment, for their second win in the postseason and moved onto the third round. With winter break officially beginning, the ’Cats were on a flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to take on the University of Tulsa, where the quarterfinals were on the line. WSU’s slow start saw them fall in five sets, and the 2019 season was over. Head coach Jeremiah Larsen is now the second most winningest coach at Weber State. Larsen is now 73-74 overall and 5044 in the Big Sky. Weber State finished the season with
by B.C. Sterrett
two in season tournament wins; the Wildcat Invitational and the Missouri State Fall Invitational. Junior setter Ashlyn Power ended the season with 1,459 assists, pushing her career total to 3,703 and breaking a record that stood for 35 years. The Wildcats finished the season nationally ranked in the top 10 in team assists (8), team digs (6), team kills (9) and total blocks (7). Senior Megan Gneiting, freshman Dani Nay and Power all received first team honors. Nay also received the Big Sky Freshman of the Year. Weber State brings back Rylin Roberts, Nay, Kennedy Williams, Sam Schiess and Power for the 2020 season. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com | January 9, 2020 | 15
ROBERT LEWIS | The Signpost
Hannah DeYoung, #11, stops the Grizzlies from scoring against the Wildcats Thursday night.
THE SIGNPOST TEAM Editor-in-Chief Tori Waltz waltzvictoria@gmail.com
Asst. Photo Editor Kalie Pead kaliepead@mail.weber.edu
Sports Editor Brandon May brandonmay1@mail.weber.edu
Managing Editor Nic Muranaka nicholasmuranaka@mail.weber.edu
Chief Copy Editor Sierra Hawkins sierrahawkins@weber.edu
Asst. Sports Editor Raymond Lucas raymondlucas@mail.weber.edu
News Editor Jennifer Greenlee jennifergreenlee@mail.weber.edu
Culture Editor Daryn Steed darynsteed@gmail.com
Asst. Design & Graphics Editor Monika Clarke monikaclarke@mail.weber.edu
Asst. News Editor Francia Henriquez De Benson fhenriquezbenson@weber.edu
Asst. Culture Editor Francisco Ruiz franciscoruiz@mail.weber.edu
Photo Editor Isabella Torres isabellatorres@mail.weber.edu
Asst. News Editor Marisa Nelson marisanelson113@gmail.com
Design & Graphics Editor Aubree Eckhardt aubreeeckhardt@mail.weber.edu
Webmaster David Morris david.lee.morris@gmail.com
Social Media Manager Kalli Prendergast kandidkalliP@gmail.com Adviser Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu Ad Manager KC Sanders kcsanders@weber.edu 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 9, 2020 | 16
MARY MAPES
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