Taking a stroll in Ogden Nature Center: The Signpost 02/22/2024

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS?

By BRISA ODENTHAL Section Editor

1. 2.

What two stuffed animal brands are involved in a legal battle regarding “knockoffs?”

A. Webkinz and Build-a-Bear

B. Squishmallows and Jelly Cat

C. Jelly Cat and Build-a-Bear

D. Squishmallows and Build-a-Bear

Which type of animal is pregnant in a North Carolina aquarium even though there are no males of her species in her enclosure?

A. Shark

B. Stingray

C. Clownfish

D. Octopus

3. 4.

Caitlin Clark, who just broke the NCAA record for hoops scoring, is a member of what college basketball team?

A. The University of Utah Utes

B. The University of Kansas Jayhawks

C. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes

D. The Creighton University Bluejays

Which Davis County city is getting a new playground, designed by an 11-year-old?

A. Clearfield

B. Layton

C. Bountiful

D. Kaysville

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS ON PAGE 15

Weber State University is proposing a tuition increase of 2 - 3.5% meaning an additional $55 - $96 per semester for a full-time resident undergraduate student for the upcoming school year. It is proposed this tuition increase be used for the following:

· Required Legislative Match: $1,400,000 - $2,000,000

Mandated Costs: $250,000 - $700,000

· IT Security + Support: $0 - $300,000

A public hearing on the proposed increase will be held on:

MONDAY, FEB. 26, 2024

2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Weber State University Shepherd Union Room 404 or via Zoom: https://weber.zoom.us/j/97372478033

By SARIA HARRIS Reporter

Over 4,000 years ago, the Lunar New Year was created in China to shape agricultural seasons, but also as an urban legend to ward off evil spirits for the new year.

This year is the Year of the Dragon. Each Lunar New Year, a Chinese Zodiac animal, also called Shengxiao, changes to a new sign that represents a person’s personality and love compatibility.

The Lunar New Year is the biggest and old-

est holiday celebrated in China. Other countries such as Singapore and Japan as well as New York City celebrate Lunar New Year as well.

Weber State University celebrated the Lunar New Year on Feb. 9. The celebration was held in the International Student and Scholar Center with free dumplings, snacks, crafts and music. Pan-Asian members and anybody interested came together to celebrate Lunar New Year.

“For most Asian countries, it’s like the biggest day for people, especially families, to get together to celebrate the whole year’s life and everything to celebrate for the next year,” Xiao Song, program director for the Pan-Asian Cultural Center, said. “I think it’s a very big event that brings people together

to share the same culture, heritage and traditions, so it’s very important.”

Song said the Lunar New Year celebrations include a gala that usually has four-hour performances, plenty of food and time to recollect with family members and friends. Each day is dedicated to different relations.

The first day is spent with family members, and if you’re married, you spend the second day with your partner’s family. The third day is spent with relatives, then the fourth day is with coworkers, the fifth day is for business owners and the sixth to 10th day is spent with extended family and having a big lantern festival.

Food is an important part of the Lunar New Year. If you’re hosting, you must serve at least 12 dishes. There’s never an odd number of

dishes served for the celebration because odd numbers bring bad luck.

Serving fish as a dish symbolizes plentiful resources, serving tofu symbolizes happiness and serving chicken symbolizes a happy family. Those three main courses are always served for the duration of the two weeks the celebration is being held.

Red envelopes, also known as Hongbao, are pocket-sized gifts elders give to children and young adults as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Elders, like grandparents and parents, get the most red envelopes gifted to them. The color red in decorations and clothes symbolize passion, enthusiasm and good luck. With this, people clean and decorate their houses to prepare for the new year.

Last year, WSU had a Lunar New Year cel-

Student Journalist Saria interviews Xiao Song, program director for the Pan-Asian Cultural Center.

AJ Handley The Signpost

ebration with a small committee of international students familiar with Lunar New Year traditions. Shannon Sandau, International Student Program coordinator, had the idea to bring students together to brainstorm what foods and activities should be held for the celebration.

This year was planned around last year’s celebration but Song was involved with making crafts for multiple students who attended.

“Students from the Masters of Education program, the International Students Office and the Education Department have a partnership with the university in Shanghai [Shanghai Normal University], and so we bring a group of students to Weber State every year to do the Masters of Education,” Sandau said. “They were helping cook and monitor the event.”

On Feb. 23, there will be a Meet and Greet to connect with Song and Student Asian Senator Mackey Lin to recruit students with Asian involvement, make new clubs and involve faculty and staff. It’s a chance to help be involved in building up the biggest PanAsian program.

On April 13, the Pan-Asian program will be holding an open house for Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with dumpling eating competitions, food, dances and artists along with possible keynote speakers. There will also be an annual international banquet in April to raise money for international students and highlight West Africa.

The Pan-Asian cultural program along with other cultural programs will be expanding their offices this summer to give students a bigger space to study, socialize and have a spot to hold meetings and events for the next fall semester.

Xiao Song opens her door to Signpost reporters.

AJ

By LEXIE ANDREW Section Editor

The Engineering Technology building is in the process of being remodeled, despite several setbacks.

The remodel consists of two phases. Inside the building, there is a distinct line between the finished phase one and where phase two will begin.

Phase one covered the south end of the building on both the first and second floors. Classrooms, labs and the IT department office space were remodeled, a new ventilation system was put in and bright paint was added to lighten the building.

Jacob Cain, interim associate vice president for facilities management, said that planning for phase one started during the COVID-19 pandemic, making phase one take longer than anticipated to complete.

This was one of the hiccups the remodel had. Another was in the engineering labs.

During phase one, engineering professors were asked to move all their equipment to the center of the room and the contractors would work around them.

George Comber, professor of manufacturing engineering technology, works in the plastics lab. Comber moved all the equipment to the center of the room and covered it up.

“During the summer, they took it all outside and put it out there for six months without telling us. It destroyed equipment,” Comber said.

Comber said that plastics were melted and equipment stopped working from sitting in the heat and rain. Thousands of dollars worth

of materials were thrown out because they were destroyed.

Comber said that the contractors are helping to replace some of the equipment and materials.

Phase two of the project is in discussion. The biggest hold-up is the decision on how the rest of the space in the building is going to be used. The university wants the space to be used more efficiently.

Cain said that previously each college had their designated classrooms, but now they’re looking to see if they can find a better way to use those classrooms.

“We’re looking at classrooms and labs around campus, seeing how much they are being used and identifying opportunities to improve that,” Cain said.

Cain said they have to account for the growth of more students joining the engineering and technology degrees. However, the pandemic changed their perspective on classroom space and the importance of online learning.

Comber is worried that engineering might lose some of the space they need in this next phase.

Cain said that in these discussions, they are listening to everyone’s concerns and needs for the space. Cain wants to make sure that the space is remodeled in the most efficient way possible so it doesn’t have to be remodeled again or become a waste in money.

“We have most of the money ready to remodel ET, but we don’t want to do something stupid,” Cain said. “We don’t want to waste that money remodeling space and realize what we did doesn’t work for the students or the faculty.”

Computer from the plastics lab that was left outside all summer and melted.

LEXIE ANDREW The Signpost

POR MARIA JOSE MANTILLA Traductor

POR LEXIE ANDREW Section Editor

El edificio de Tecnología de Ingeniería está en proceso de remodelación, a pesar de varios contratiempos.

La remodelación consta de dos fases. Dentro del edificio, hay una línea clara entre la fase uno terminada y donde comenzará la fase dos.

La primera fase cubría el extremo sur del edificio, tanto en la primera como en la segunda planta. Se remodelaron las aulas, los laboratorios y las oficinas del departamento de informática, se instaló un nuevo sistema de ventilación y se añadió pintura brillante

para iluminar el edificio.

Jacob Cain, vicepresidente asociado de gestión de instalaciones, explicó que la planificación de la primera fase comenzó durante la pandemia COVID-19, lo que hizo que la primera fase tardara más de lo previsto en completarse.

Este fue uno de los contratiempos que tuvo la remodelación. Otro fue el de los laboratorios de ingeniería.

Durante la primera fase, se pidió a los profesores de ingeniería que trasladaran todos sus equipos al centro de la sala y los contratistas trabajaban a su alrededor.

George Comber, profesor de tecnología de ingeniería de fabricación, trabaja en el laboratorio de plásticos. Comber trasladó todo el equipo al centro de la sala y lo cubrió.

“Durante el verano, se lo llevaron todo fuera y lo dejaron allí durante seis meses sin avisarnos. Destruyeron los equipos”, dijo Comber.

Los plásticos se fundieron y los equipos dejaron de funcionar por el calor y la lluvia. Se tiraron materiales por valor de miles de dólares porque estaban destruidos.

Comber dijo que los contratistas están ayudando a reemplazar algunos de los equipos y materiales.

Se está debatiendo la segunda fase del proyecto. El mayor obstáculo es la decisión sobre cómo se va a utilizar el resto del espacio del edificio. La universidad quiere que el espacio se utilice de forma más eficiente.

Cain dijo que antes cada facultad tenía sus aulas designadas, pero ahora están buscando una forma mejor de utilizar esas aulas.

“Estamos examinando las aulas y los laboratorios de todo el campus, viendo cuánto se utilizan e identificando oportunidades para mejorar eso”, dijo Cain.

Cain dijo que tienen que tener en cuenta el crecimiento del número de estudiantes que se incorporan a las carreras de ingeniería y tecnología. Sin embargo, la pandemia cambió su perspectiva sobre el espacio en las aulas y la importancia del aprendizaje en línea.

A Comber le preocupa que la ingeniería pueda perder parte del espacio que necesita en esta próxima fase.

Cain dijo que en estos debates están escuchando las preocupaciones y necesidades de espacio de todo el mundo. Cain quiere asegurarse de que el espacio se remodela de la manera más eficiente posible para que no tenga que ser remodelado de nuevo o se convierta en un desperdicio de dinero.

“Tenemos la mayor parte del dinero listo para remodelar ET, pero no queremos hacer algo estúpido”, dijo Cain. “No queremos desperdiciar ese dinero remodelando el espacio y darnos cuenta de que lo que hicimos no funciona para los estudiantes o la facultad”.

The plastics lab is still being put together and getting its materials back.

LEXIE ANDREW | The Signpost

By NORLITO RANCHEZ JR. Photographer

All information was taken from the Ogden Nature Center’s website: https://www.ogdennaturecenter.org/

The Ogden Nature Center is a 152-acre sanctuary for nature lovers nestled within the heart of Ogden. Open all year round and established in 1975, they provide environmental education, cultural appreciation and recreational exploration. It has remained dedicated to promoting a strong connection with the environment for over 50,000 annual participants.

The Ogden Nature Center consists of a dynamic landscape from an outdoor classroom and a breathing museum with live, curated exhibits. They feature Utah’s native animals and historical affairs, contributing to the rich

narrative.

Moreover, its facility is committed to accessibility. All visitors can engage in picnic areas, treehouses and walking trails or observe architectural structures. They also boast two of Utah’s greenest buildings, featuring sustainable practices and a special gift store, the L.S. Peery Education Center and the Visitor Center’s Discovery Room, with popular hand-woven African baskets and Folkmanis animal puppets.

The Ogden Nature Center even extends its reach through volunteering, community outreach programs and event hosting. From wildlife classroom presentations to monthly/ summer events, visual and performing arts or venue rentals. They are flexible for gatherings of all manners, inspiring lives to any species that passes through their gates.

Norlito Ranchez Jr. | The Signpost

Norlito Ranchez Jr. | The Signpost

Left: Guests can find a wide scenic view at the Avocet Pond Observation Center. Right: The Blackbird Pond has turned into ice during the cold weather.

Norlito Ranchez Jr. The Signpost

Norlito Ranchez Jr. | The Signpost

Norlito Ranchez Jr. | The Signpost

Top: A family posing for photos together at the LS Peery Nature Nook Playground. Bottom Left: There is a mouse hole on the way of the Meadowlark Trail. Bottom Right: The birdhouses exhibitions are displayed for both visitors and bird feeding.

POR NELLY HERNANDEZ TEJADA Traductor

POR NORLITO RANCHEZ JR. Fotografo

Toda la información es de la página web del Centro de Naturaleza de Ogden: https://www.ogdennaturecenter.org/

El Centro de Naturaleza de Ogden (Ogden Nature Center) es un refugio a los que les encanta la naturaleza en Ogden. Estab-

lecido en 1975 y abierto todo el año, educa sobre el medio ambiente, aprecia la cultura y exploración recreacional. Está dedicados a promover una conexión fuerte con el medio ambiente para más de 50,000 participantes al año.

El Centro de Naturaleza de Ogden tiene una vista dinámica como una clase afuera y un museo con exhibiciones vivos. Tiene animales originarios de Utah y asuntos de historia, creando un narrativo profundo.

Además de eso, la instalación está comprometida a la accesibilidad. Todos los visitantes pueden ir a áreas de picnic, casitas de árbol y caminos o observar edificios de arquitectura. También hay los dos edificios más ambientales, costumbres sostenibles y una tienda de regalos, el L.S. Perry Education Center (L.S. Perry Centro de Educación) y el Visitor Center’s Discovery Room (Sala de Descubrimiento del Centro de Visitantes), con canastas Africanas que son tejido a mano y marionetas de

animales de Folkmanis.

El Centro de Naturaleza de Ogden también tiene oportunidades voluntarias, programas de compromiso con la comunidad y alberga eventos. Desde presentaciones en clase de vida salvaje hasta eventos de cada mes/ verano, artes escénicas y gráficas o salones, es flexible con diferentes variedades de reuniones. Inspira las vidas de todas las especies que pasan por sus puertas.

Norlito Ranchez Jr. The Signpost

A family observes the birdhouses decorated the Ogden Nature Center as they walk the trails.

Norlito Ranchez Jr. | The Signpost

Norlito Ranchez Jr. The Signpost

Norlito Ranchez Jr. The Signpost

Top Left: Colorful banners surrounding the entrance into the Ogden Nature Center. Top Right: A couple of children look around for animals in the Birdhouse Trail together. Bottom: A Bald Eagle that resides at the Ogden Nature Center.

By JACOBA JONES Asst. Section Editor

The 73rd NBA All-Star Weekend, held Feb. 16-18 in Indianapolis, Indiana, showcased 24 of the league’s star players competing in skill challenges, games and contests. The weekend resulted in multiple record-breaking events.

On Feb. 17 the Skills Challenge, Starry 3-Point Contest, Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge and the Slam Dunk Contest took place.

In this year’s Skills Challenge the home team, team Pacers, won. Three All-Stars vs. three players from the Pacers who are the host of the event compete in passing, ball handling, jump shooting and speed challenges. This was the third straight year the home team has taken home the victory.

The Starry 3-Point Contest followed the Skills Challenge, and our very own Damian Lillard defended his title. This being his second year in a row winning and the first repeated winner since 2007 and 2008. The 2024 3-point Contest consisted of four racks located in four different locations with five balls on them. The racks had four NBA game balls that were worth one point each, and the fifth ball was multicolored worth two points.

The final round of the 3-point contest Lillard nailed four buckets in a row on his second to last rack and jogged over to the final rack where he only needed one more point

to win.

New to this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend was the Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge. Last year Sabrina Ionescu in the WNBA’s 3-pointer shootout scored 37 points which broke Stephen Curry’s NBA record of 31 points. The Golden State Warriors guard Curry and New York Liberty guard Ionescu came to face each other, finishing with a score of 29–26 for Curry.

“For us to deliver a show like that, it was perfect,” Curry said to ABC 7. “As much excitement as you can build in that short amount of time with two great shooters going at it. This is something we’ll remember for a long time.”

Ending the day off with the Slam Dunk Contest, Mac McClung for the G League, Osceola Magic, became the defending champ, winning his second year in a row. For his last attempt he did a reverse dunk while jumping over Shaquille O’Neal who wore McClung’s Gate City High School jersey, and received a perfect score of 50.

The All-Star game held on Feb. 18 ended with a final score of 211–186, with the Eastern Conference All-Stars coming up on top. Not only did the East win but their total is the most points scored by a team in an AllStar Game, and the East made 42 3-pointers in the game which passed the record set in 2019 by Team LeBron.

The Western Conference All-Stars and the Easter Conference All-Stars totaled a com-

bined score of 397 which set a new mark as well.

Damien Lillard, playing for the East, scored 39 points with 11 3-pointers, and was named MVP. Karl-Anthony Towns, playing for the West, had a game-high of 50 points on 23-for-35 shooting. He, along with Jayson

Tatum, Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis, are the only players to ever score 50 points in an All-Star Game. Towns also had 40 points after halftime which broke the record for the most points scored in a half.

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets walks in the back hallway amongst a throng of fans after the NBA All-Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, February 18, 2024.

Tribune News Service

POR CHRISTIE GUTIERREZ Traductor

POR JACOBA JONES

Asistente de Editor de Seccion

El 73 fin de semana de las estrellas de la NBA, celebrado del 16 al 18 de febrero en Indianápolis, Indiana. Un escaparate en el que 24 de las estrellas de la liga compiten en desafíos de habilidad, juegos y concursos. Durante el fin de semana se batieron varios récords.

El 17 de febrero se celebraron el Desafío de Habilidades, el Concurso Estelar de 3 Puntos, el desafío de 3 Puntos Stephen vs. Sabrina y el Concurso de Mates.

En el desafío de Habilidades de este año ganó el equipo local, los Pacers. Tres All Stars contra tres jugadores de los Pacers, anfitriones del evento, compitieron en pruebas de pase, manejo del balón, tiro en suspensión y velocidad. Es el tercer año consecutivo que el equipo local se lleva la victoria.

El concurso Estelar de Triples siguió al Desafío de Habilidades,y nuestra Damia Lilard defendió su título. Este es su segundo año consecutivo ganando y el primer ganador repetido desde 2007 y 2008. El concurso de 3 puntos 2024 consistió en cuatro estantes situados en cuatro lugares diferentes con cinco balones en ellos. Los bastidores tenian cuatro balones de juego de la NBA que valían un punto cada uno, y el quinto balón era multicolor y valía dos puntos.

En la ronda final del concurso de 3 puntos,

Lillard encestó cuatro balones seguidos en su penúltimo estante y corrió hasta el último donde solo necesitaba un punto más para ganar.

La novedad del fin de semana de las estrellas de NBA de este año fue el Desafío de los 3 puntos Stephen contra Sabrina. El año pasado, Sabrina Ionescu anotó 37 puntos en el concurso de triples de WNBA, batiendo así el récord de 31 puntos de Stephen Curry en la NBA. Curry, escolta de los Golden State Warriors, e Ionescu, escolta de los New York Liberty, se enfrentaron, terminando con un marcador de 29-26 para Curry.

“Para nosotros ofrecer un espectáculo así, fue perfecto”, dijo Curry a ABC 7. “Tanta emoción como se puede crear en ese corto espacio de tiempo con dos grandes tiradores enfrentados. Es algo que recordaremos durante mucho tiempo”.

Para terminar el día con el concurso de mates, Mac McClung, de la G League, Osceola Magic, se convirtió en el defensor del título, ganando por segundo año consecutivo. En su último intento hizo un mate invertido saltando por encima de Shaquille O’Neal, que llevaba la camiseta de McClung del Gate City High School, y recibió una puntuación perfecta de 50.

El partido de las estrellas celebrado el 18 de febrero terminó con un resultado final de 211-186, con las estrellas de la Conferencia Este como vencedoras. No solo ganó el Este, sino que su total es el de más puntos anotados por un equipo en un Partido de las Estrellas. Este hizo 42 triples en el partido, lo que

superó el récord establecido en 2019 por el Equipo LeBron.

Los All-Stars de la Conferencia Oeste y los All-Stars de la Conferencia Oeste. Este sumaron una puntuación combinada de 397 que también estableció una nueva marca.

Damian Lillard, jugando para el Este, anotó 39 puntos con 11 triples, y fue nombrado MVP. Karl-Anthony Towns, del Oeste, logró 50 puntos con 23 de 35 tiros de campo. El, junto

con Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry y Anthony Davis, son los únicos jugadores que han anotado 50 puntos en un Partido de las Estrellas. Towns también anotó 4 puntos tras el descanso, batiendo el récord de puntos anotados en una mitad.

Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, was named MVP of the NBA AllStar Weekend after scoring 39 points.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS?

QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 2 2. 1. 3. 4.

The answer is D, Squismallows and Build-a-Bear.

According to KSL, Squishmallow has filed an intellectual property lawsuit over a new line of stuffed animals from Build-aBear called “Skoosherz,” which Squishmallow claims is too similar to their own product line.

The answer is B, Stingray. According to AP News, in a case that is baffling marine biologists, a stingray in an aquarium in Charlotte, North Carolina, is pregnant though there are no male stingrays in her enclosure. Scientists have theorized that either she is the first case of stingray asexual reproduction or one of the male sharks in the enclosure has gotten her pregnant. This case cannot be solved until she gives birth and they can conduct a DNA test on the offspring.

THE SIGNPOST TEAM

Editor-in-Chief

Kennedy Camarena kennedycamarena@mail.weber.edu

Managing Editor

Marianna Lopez-Luritta mlopezluritta@mail.weber.edu

Design & Graphics Editor Star Neil starneil@mail.weber.edu

Design & Graphics Editor Emilie Hart emiliehart@mail.weber.edu

Photo Editor Anna Kuglar briannakuglar@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Photo Editor Norlito Ranchez norlitoranchezjr@mail.weber.edu

Chief Copy Editor Justin Steed justinsteed@mail.weber.edu

News Editor Brisa Odenthal brisaodenthal@mail.weber.edu

Asst. News Editor Gretel Monjar gretelmonjar@mail.weber.edu

Sports Editor Collyn Cowles collyncowles@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Sports Editor Jacoba Jones jacobajones@mail.weber.edu

Editor at Large Adam Montgomery adammontgomery1@mail.weber.edu

The answer is C, The University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

According to ESPN, Iowa basketball player Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA record and her team’s single game scoring record on Feb. 15 in a game against the Michigan Wolverines.

The answer is A, Clearfield. According to FOX13, Clearfield’s Bicentennial Park will be getting a new playground designed by an 11-year-old girl after seeing designs for another park.

Culture Editor Lexie Andrew lexieandrew@mail.weber.edu

Culture Editor Megan Swann meganswann@mail.weber.edu

Translation Editor Nathanael Stout nathanaelstout@mail.weber.edu

Advisor Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu

Business Manager Rob Steedley robertsteedley@weber.edu