Weber State set for tuition increase: The Signpost February 29th 2004

COFFEE, CHEESE, CHEERS! THE MERCANTILE JOINS OGDEN’S 25TH STREET

Culture | Pg. 6 Sports WSU SET TO FACE TUITION INCREASES

Pg. 9

By BRISA ODENTHAL Section Editor

1.

Which senator will step down from their seat as Senate Majority Leader in November?

A. Bernie Sanders

B. Mitt Romney

C. Sarah Palin

D. Mitch McConnell

Which two branches of professional sports are talking about making their entrance into the Salt Lake City market?

A. NFL and NHL

B. NHL and MLB

C. MLB and NFL

D. UFC and NFL

Which school received a $1 billion donation, making medical school free for all students?

A. Albert Einstein College of Medicine

B. The Johns Hopkins University aaSchool of Medicine

C. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

D. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Which U.S. state is currently facing their second-largest wildfire in the state’s history?

A. California

B. Arizona

C. Texas

D. New Mexico

By BRISA ODENTHAL Section Editor

Throughout its time as an institute of higher education, Weber State University has branded itself as an affordable option for higher education. With average in-state tuition being around $6,391 and being one of the best schools for return investment in the country, WSU’s tuition costs are a selling point for the university.

However, on Feb. 26 WSU held a meeting titled “Truth in Tuition” regarding the possibility of tuition rising at the university. This comes after the Utah state legislature allocated only $20 million to public universities in the state instead of the originally proposed $35 million. With this decrease in funding for the year, that leaves $834,000 in funding for WSU, which begins July 1.

WSU administration, including Jessica Oyler, the vice president of Student Access and Success, and Ravi Krovi, provost & senior vice president of Academic Affairs, were leading the meeting to show WSU’s perspective on the situation.

With student retention and population growing steadily over the past few years, the

decrease in state money allocated to the university comes at a time when money is needed now more than ever at the university. Because of this, WSU will likely have to increase tuition costs to make up for the discrepancy in funding.

Krovi and Oyler told attendees of the meeting that the percentage raise will likely be around 2%, or about $110 per year for the first increase. The university plans to increase this to a 3.5%, or about $192 per year.

Currently, 70% of WSU students are receiving some sort of financial aid from the university, with the average aid amount being just over $5,000 per student.

WSU has not announced specific or certain tuition raises but students should check their eWeber portal for tuition increases for the following semester.

Weber State University has resources and scholarships available for students who may not be able to afford this increase in price, including the WSU Specialized Scholarship form and the Financial Aid office.

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Brad Mortenson discusses the possible changes regarding student tuition for next year.

NORLITO RANCHEZ JR. The Signpost

WSU INSTRUCTOR LEADS BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE: AFRICA AFTER WWII

By REAGAN WHITING Reporter

By ADAM MONTGOMERY Editor at Large

A special lecture series conducted by Weber State University criminology instructor Jean Kapenda came to a close on Feb. 22. This lecture series focused on African history from pre-World War II until the present. This final installment of the lecture series was specifically focused around what occurred in Africa after World War II ended.

Before WWII, many of the countries in Africa were under the control of France, Britain and other European countries. It wasn’t until 1941 that decisions were made regarding what would happen to those African countries after WWII ended.

In August 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill met aboard the U.S.S. Augusta and drafted the Atlantic Charter.

The Atlantic Charter created the guiding principles for African countries to follow while deciding on their respective forms of government. In his lecture, Kapenda highlighted three clauses in particular: the third, fourth and sixth clauses.

Clause three outlines “the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live,” and clause six states a desire to “see established a peace which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries.” While clause four requires African nations to create

larger trade boundaries.

Following the creation of the Atlantic Charter, the Brazzaville Conference of 1944 was held under the authority of Charles de Gaulle. The goal of this conference was to bring the French colonies in Africa under de Gaulle’s control.

According to Kapenda, they also aimed to abolish forced labor, decentralize certain powers and elect local advisory assemblies.

Though the War didn’t end until 1945, the Atlantic Charter played a very important role in reconstructing once peace was agreed upon. Towards the end of WWII, the U.S. began making independence movements around the world.

“The U.S. wanted to decolonize territories in Africa and other places in the world,” Kapenda said.

They were joined by the Soviet Union and China, which proved to be a prelude to the Cold War.

The Cold War began in 1947, lasted until 1991 and brought with it many changes.

“African countries were born in a context where the world was divided into two blocks,” Kapenda said.

Political ideologies were split between the Eastern Bloc and Western Bloc, Africa became very divided and the U.S. created new policies to try and contain communism while also supporting their European allies. This also resulted in many proxy confrontations between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

After the Cold War ended on Dec. 25, 1991, changes in the African governments became more apparent.

According to Kapenda, there were four main

effects. The U.S. became progressively more disengaged in African affairs, Africans began demanding for more democracy and political pluralism, China became a primary trading partner for Africa and the U.S. passed the African Growth and Opportunities Act in 2000. Since then, African populations have been booming, providing a silver lining for them.

“The best market is in Africa,” Kapenda said. “Because they have more young people.”

Kapenda plans to repeat this lecture series soon. Keep an eye out for more information.

“History is crucial to understanding the present,” Kapenda said.

Weber State University criminology instructor Jean Kapenda held the Black Lecture series that discussed African history after the events of World War II.

INSTRUCTOR DE WSU DIRIGE UNA LECCIÓN SOBRE EL MES DE HISTORIA NEGRA: ÁFRICA DESPUÉS

POR MARIA MANTILLA Traductor

POR REAGAN WHITING Reporter

El 22 de febrero se clausuró un ciclo especial de clases dirigidas por Jean Kapenda, profesor de criminología de la Universidad Weber State. Esta serie de conferencias se centró en la historia de África desde antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial hasta la actualidad. Esta última sesión de la serie de charlas se centró específicamente en lo que ocurrió en África tras el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, muchos de los países africanos estaban bajo el control de Francia, Gran Bretaña y otros países europeos. No fue hasta 1941 cuando se tomaron decisiones sobre lo que ocurriría con esos países africanos una vez finalizada la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

En agosto de 1941, el Presidente Franklin D. Roosevelt y el Primer Ministro británico Winston S. Churchill se reunieron a bordo

del U.S.S. Augusta y redactaron la Carta del Atlántico.

La Carta del Atlántico creó los principios de guía que debían seguir los países africanos a la hora de decidir sus respectivas formas de gobierno. En su conferencia, Kapenda destacó tres cláusulas en particular: la tercera, la cuarta y la sexta.

La tercera destaca “el derecho de todos los pueblos a elegir la forma de gobierno bajo la cual quieren vivir”, y la sexta declara el deseo de “ver establecida una paz que proporcione a todas las naciones los medios de vivir con seguridad dentro de sus propias fronteras”. Mientras que la cuarta cláusula exige a las naciones africanas la creación de fronteras comerciales más amplias.

Tras la creación de la Carta del Atlántico, se celebró la Conferencia de Brazzaville de 1944 bajo la autoridad de Charles de Gaulle. El objetivo de esta conferencia era poner a las colonias francesas de África bajo el control de de Gaulle.

Según Kapenda, también se pretendía acabar con los trabajos forzados, descentralizar

ciertos poderes y elegir asambleas asesoras locales.

Aunque la guerra no terminó hasta 1945, la Carta del Atlántico influyó mucho en la reconstrucción una vez acordada la paz. Hacia el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Estados Unidos comenzó a realizar movimientos independentistas en todo el mundo.

“Estados Unidos quería descolonizar territorios en África y otros lugares del mundo”, explicó Kapenda.

A ellos se unieron la Unión Soviética y China, lo que resultó ser el preludio de la Guerra Fría.

La Guerra Fría comenzó en 1947, duró hasta 1991 y trajo consigo muchos cambios.

“Los países africanos nacieron en un contexto en el que el mundo estaba dividido en dos bloques”, señaló Kapenda.

Las ideologías políticas se dividieron entre el Bloque del Este y el Bloque del Oeste, África quedó muy dividida y Estados Unidos creó nuevas políticas para intentar contener el comunismo, a la vez que apoyaba a sus aliados europeos. Esto también dio lugar a muchos

enfrentamientos por poderes entre Estados Unidos y la Unión Soviética.

Tras el final de la Guerra Fría, el 25 de diciembre de 1991, los cambios en los gobiernos africanos se hicieron más evidentes.

Según Kapenda, hubo cuatro consecuencias principales. Estados Unidos se fue apartando progresivamente de los asuntos africanos, los africanos empezaron a exigir más democracia y pluralismo político, China se convirtió en el socio comercial principal de África y Estados Unidos aprobó la Ley de Crecimiento y Oportunidades para África en 2000. Desde entonces, la población africana está en crecimiento, lo cual les brinda esperanza.

“El mejor mercado está en África”, afirma Kapenda. “Porque tienen más gente joven”.

Kapenda tiene previsto repetir esta serie de conferencias próximamente. Manténgase atento para más información.

“La historia es crucial para entender el presente”, dijo Kapenda.

By JACEY ROE Reporter

DEEPENING OGDEN’S SENSE OF COMMUNITY

By ADAM MONTGOMERY Editor at Large

Ogden’s 25th Street will get a delicious makeover as Beehive Cheese, Kaffe Mercantile and Roosters Brewing Company come together to open The Mercantile, a restaurant and bar for coffee enthusiasts, wine connoisseurs and foodies alike.

The Mercantile is located in the historic Union Bus Depot building, which was originally constructed in the 1940s. It was used as the Greyhound station until the 1990s and the space has been carefully restored and decorated for The Mercantile.

The building was even gifted a real vintage Greyhound bus seat that has been reupholstered and placed in the eatery for use.

The building was purchased in 2021, after sitting empty for several years, to become payroll offices and other company spaces, but the company collectively decided to build something unique out of the depot. Kym Buttschardt, the co-owner of Roosters Brewing Co., recognized that Ogden needs more places to come together.

“Knowing that 25th Street needs life and not just office spaces, we wanted to make something really cool out of the front of this building,” Buttschardt said. “We knew immediately who we wanted to ask to join us in making something super special down here.”

The decision to open the cafe was a deliberate one for Roosters Brewing Co. The company purchased the depot with the intention of deepening its roots in the Ogden community and how that positively impacts these companies.

The sale of the building became final just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.

“It just felt right that we’d close on Valentine’s weekend, since our whole plan was to dig even deeper into our love for Ogden and what that means for our company,” said Buttschardt.

The eatery is not just a cafe full of pastries and coffee; it also offers beverages for wine and beer enthusiasts. Sprawled out among

the many seats are table games such as tictac-toe. This offers the business the opportunity to host pairing events and cheese-centric educational events, making the location an exciting addition to Ogden’s culinary scene.

The Mercantile’s menu offers local flavors and ingredients that make Ogden’s culinary scene unique. The cafe’s menu includes a variety of breakfast and lunch options from biscuits and gravy to a reuben on rye, as well as a selection of wine and beer to complement the cheese boards.

The mixed use eatery hosts a full espresso bar, offering a range of classic cafe options, including the Kaffe Egg Sandwich, scrambles, turnovers and scones.

However, what sets The Mercantile apart is its lunch and late-night menu, featuring salads, sandwiches and cheese boards that show Beehive Cheese’s award-winning cheddars and Roosters Brewing Co.’s culinary and local beer expertise.

“Our motto is ‘making friends with cheese,’ and The Mercantile project is the brainchild of the great friends we have made through our adventures in cheese,” Britton Welsh, president of Beehive Cheese, said.

The combined owners are excited to be part of the Ogden community and are committed to creating a welcoming and exciting space

for all.

“We want The Mercantile to be a place where everyone feels welcome,” Buttschardt said. “Whether you’re a local or just passing through, we hope you’ll stop by and say hello.”

Just as excited to open up and share new culinary experiences with the Ogden community, the co-owner of Kaffe Mercantile and partner, Lance Smith, appreciates the opportunity to be included.

Kaffe Mercantile is a self-described neighborhood coffee shop with two locations, one in Ogden and the other in South Ogden, creating craft coffee and serving an array of pastries.

“We just feel like we’re the kids that got picked for the team,” Smith said. “We’re so excited to be in with the cool kids. We just love Beehive and Roosters so much, it’s an honor to get to do this all together.”

The Mercantile is a place where people can come together, whether it’s for a coffee, a work session or a glass of wine and a cheese board. During the month of February, The Mercantile had soft open hours. Starting in March it will be open seven days a week. More information can be found on The Mercantile’s instagram page @themercantile_on25th.

The Mercantile Market and Eatery on the corner of 25th Street.

AJ HANDLEY The Signpost

Top: The building of the new Mercantile Market and Eatery also houses the offices of the Roosters Hospitality Group. Right: Business hours are posted on the front doors of the new Mercantile Market and Eatery.

AJ HANDLEY The Signpost

AJ HANDLEY

The Signpost

By JACOBA JONES Asst. Section Editor

By COLLYN COWLES Section Editor

Women’s Basketball:

Weber State University’s women’s team, currently standing at 7–21 overall and 4–11 in the Big Sky Conference, is vying for a stronger finish as they occupy the eighth spot in the conference standings.

Their recent clash against Idaho State University on Feb. 24 resulted in a 57–72 loss, despite a spirited effort.

Even though the Wildcats faced an uphill battle against a determined Idaho State squad, Kendra Parra showcased her offensive dominance with 19 points, including five suc-

cessful 3-pointers, and Jadyn Matthew contributed 12 points alongside six rebounds. The Bengals, led by Halle Wright’s impressive 20-point performance, managed to maintain control after securing an early lead.

As the regular season nears its end, the Wildcats are gearing up for their final road trip. They are set to face Northern Colorado University in Greeley, Colorado, on Feb. 29, followed by a matchup against the University of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on March 2. The team will conclude their home games with a fixture against Montana State University on March 4 before setting their sights on the Big Sky Tournament.

Men’s Basketball:

On the men’s front, the Wildcats are embroiled in a pivotal stretch as they continue to

have success in the Big Sky Conference. With an overall record of 18–10 and a conference standing of 9–6, the Wildcats, currently sitting in the fourth spot, are determined to make a statement.

In a showdown against Northern Colorado, scheduled for Feb. 29 at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Weber State aims to capitalize on home advantage. Led by standout player Dillon Jones, who boasts an impressive 16 double doubles this season, the Wildcats are primed for an exhilarating matchup.

Jones leads the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals, showcasing his multifaceted skill set. His exceptional performance has solidified his position as a key player in the Big Sky Conference and beyond.

With the support of seasoned players like KJ Cunningham, who recently etched his

name in Weber State history by playing his 135th career game, the Wildcats are poised for success in their remaining fixtures.

As they prepare to honor their seniors in the upcoming home game against Northern Arizona on March 2, followed by a clash against Montana State on March 4, Weber State is determined to leave an indelible mark in the Big Sky Tournament.

As the regular season draws to a close, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Weber are prepared to unleash their full potential, as they get ready for the Big Sky basketball tournament from March 9-14.

Share this story at thesignpostwsu.com

Weber State Women’s Basketball Guard and Forward position, Laura Taylor (0), going for a basketball as an opposing team member attempts to block.

Blaise Threatt making a shot for Weber State.

SARA STAKER The Signpost

ROBERT CASEY Weber State Athletics

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS?

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

The answer is D, Mitch McConnell. According to NPR, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will be stepping down from his position as Senate Majority Leader this year in November.

The answer is B, NHL and MLB. According to KSL, with conversations about a potential NHL or MLB team coming to Salt Lake City running rampant the last few years, the Utah Senate passed SB272 in a 21-7 vote which sets up a reinvestment zone in the city dedicated to entertainment and sports. This will prepare the city for possible arenas for an NHL and/or MLB team.

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 A, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. According to AP News, former professor of the university, Ruth Gottesman and her late husband, a Wall Street investor, donated $1 billion to the university, making the university tuition free.

The answer is C, Texas. According to The Standard, Texas is in the midst of a major wildfire spreading amongst small towns in the state’s panhandle.

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