A call for climate action: The Signpost 3/16/23

By LUCAS MOORE Section Editor

Rogue hockey puck

A hockey game attendee was struck in the head with a hockey puck that was deflected into the stands back on Feb. 16. A laceration was found on her head, but the bleeding had stopped and she appeared fully attentive. She refused emergency medical services and was transported to Mckay Dee Hospital by

her friend who attended the game with her. No further action was taken by the Weber State University Police Department.

Rivalry turned violent

There was a report made on March 3 containing information regarding an incident at the Dee Events Center, between fan bases of two high schools at a basketball game. One juvenile fan escalated manners to a criminal level. The juvenile in question will be

referred for the following charges: assault against a peace officer, interference with a peace officer and disorderly conduct.

No ski zone

On March 9, WSUPD responded to the northeast side of the Dee Events Center on a report of individuals making ski jumps. They were informed they could not continue to do the jumps, and both individuals were cooperative. No further action was taken.

Reminder for drivers

The WSUPD would like to remind individuals that driving in the OGX bus lane is prohibited. Parking should also only be done in marked parking stalls. WSUPD also wants to remind individuals parking in the parking lots and driving around campus to be vigilant and cautious.

By GRETEL MONJAR Reporter

Weber State University’s Academic Affairs held a recognition ceremony for retiring faculty and staff for the 2022-23 academic year. Colleagues expressed thanks for the work of those leaving WSU. Attendees shared laughter, applause and tears at the reception.

“We’ll always consider you our family here at Weber,” WSU President Brad Mortensen said.

Provost Ravi Krovi conducted the ceremony. In his opening remarks, he recognised the work of those retiring for their contribution in making WSU a student-centered university.

“We pride ourselves as being known for teaching and being very student-centered,” Krovi said. “This doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because they really, really

believed in it.”

Krovi invited colleagues to share a few words about their co-workers and friends who are now retiring. David Ferro, dean of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, became emotional as he spoke of Associate Dean Allyson Saunders, who is retiring after 23 years at the university.

“We’re just going to close the college down,” Ferro joked about working without Saunders. “You have been so instrumental.”

Saunders, who worked as a teacher before her current position, said she was drawn to WSU because of her love for students.

“I’ve worked at other places before here, but I really chose Weber because it’s student-oriented,” she said. “It’s just what I love.”

Ferro characterized Saunders as brave, smart, grounded and ethical.

“I have lifelong friends here,” Saunders

said. “It’s just been a great way to end my career.”

Catherine Zublin, a professor of theater who oversees costume design, is also retiring after 37 years at WSU.

Shortly after Zublin started working at WSU, the theater department grew into The Department of Performing Arts. The unexpected shift was overwhelming for Zublin.

“I moved 2,500 miles,” Zublin said “I bought a house. My husband’s unemployed and I’m pregnant. He said, ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.’ And he was right.”

Zublin has designed for over 70 shows for Weber, including the first costume for her then-student, now-colleague Andrew Lewis wore while performing at WSU.

Lewis, an assistant professor of theater, expressed his gratitude for Zublin’s work and dedication over the years.

“I’ve always had the most open-minded

students on campus,” Zublin said. “That’s made all the difference.”

A tribute to her work, “Catherine Zublin: A Legacy of Costume Design Stitched Together at Weber State University,” will open May 5. The gallery exhibit will feature Zublin’s works she has created during her time at the university. It will be held in the Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery in the Kimball Visual Arts Center.

“It is definitely hard,” Krovi said. “They’ve built the foundation of what we know as Weber State, whether you think about our curriculum or programs and so on … their contribution to what has become Weber State is immeasurable.”

Those retiring from Academic Affairs are as follows:

Kristy Baron

Teri Bell

Kaylene Chalmers

Wendy Fox-Kirk

Ann Gessel

Kirk Hagen

Vicky Hansen

Dwayne Hansen

Rodney Hansen

Holly Hastings

Chris Housley

Rebecca L Johns

Betty Kusnierz

Diane Leggett-Fife

Karen Lindley

Allyson Saunders

William Lorowitz

David Malone

Thomas Mathews

Rick Orr

Marvin Orrock

Angelika Pagel

Stacy Palen

Susan Smith

John Sohl

Mikel Vause

Barbara Wachocki

Catherine Zublin

A group of retirees who attended the retirement reception standing together for a group photo.

ELLA MITCHELL | Courtesy photo

POR DANIELA IMBRETT Traductor

By GRETEL MONJAR Reportero

Asuntos Académicos de Weber State University realizó una ceremonia de reconocimiento a los profesores y personal que se retiran en el año académico del 2022-2023. Colegas expresaron sus agradecimientos por el trabajo de quienes dejan WSU. Asistentes compartieron risas, aplausos y lágrimas en la recepción.

“Siempre los consideraremos nuestra familia aquí en Weber”, dijo el presidente de WSU, Brad Mortensen.

El Rector Ravi Krovi dirigió la ceremonia. En sus palabras de apertura, reconoció el trabajo de quienes se jubilan por su contribución para hacer de WSU una institución centrada en el estudiante.

“Nos enorgullece ser conocidos por enseñar y estar muy centrados en el estudiante”, dijo Krovi. “Esto no sucede por accidente. Sucede porque realmente, realmente creían en ello”.

Krovi invitó a sus colegas a compartir algunas palabras sobre sus compañeros de trabajo y amigos que ahora se jubilan. David Ferro, decano de Ingeniería, Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, se emocionó al hablar de la

Decana Asociada Allyson Saunders, quien se jubila después de 23 años en la universidad.

“Simplemente vamos a cerrar la universidad”, bromeó Ferro sobre trabajar sin Saunders. “Has sido tan instrumental”.

Saunders, quien trabajó como maestra antes de su puesto actual, dijo que se sintió atraída por WSU por su amor por los estudiantes.

“He trabajado en otros lugares antes aquí, pero realmente elegí Weber porque está orientado a los estudiantes”, dijo. “Es justamente lo que amo”.

Ferro caracterizó a Saunders como valiente, inteligente, con los pies en la tierra y ética.

“Tengo amigos de toda la vida aquí”, dijo Saunders. “Simplemente ha sido una gran manera de terminar mi carrera”.

Catherine Zublin, profesora de teatro quien supervisa el diseño de vestuario, también se jubila después de 37 años en WSU.

Poco después de que Zublin comenzó a trabajar en WSU, el departamento de teatro se convirtió en el Departamento de Artes Escénicas. El cambio inesperado fue abrumador para Zublin.

“Me mudé a 2500 millas”, dijo Zublin. “Compré una casa. Mi marido está desempleado y yo estoy embarazada. Él dijo: ‘No te preocupes, todo estará bien’. Y tenía

razón”.

Zublin ha diseñado para más de 70 espectáculos para Weber, incluido el primer disfraz que usó su entonces estudiante, ahora colega Andrew Lewis, mientras actuaba en WSU.

Lewis, profesor asistente de teatro, expresó su gratitud por el trabajo y la dedicación de Zublin a lo largo de los años.

“Siempre he tenido a los estudiantes de mente más abierta en el campus”, dijo Zublin. “Eso ha hecho toda la diferencia”.

Un tributo a su trabajo, “Catherine Zublin: A Legacy of Costume Design Stitched Together at Weber State University”, se inaugurará el 5 de mayo. La exposición de la galería presentará las obras de Zublin que ha creado durante su tiempo en la universidad. Se llevará a cabo en la Galería Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw en el Centro de Artes Visuales Kimball.

“Definitivamente es difícil”, dijo Krovi. “Ellos han construido la base de lo que conocemos como Weber State, ya sea que piensen en nuestro plan de estudios o programas y demás, sus contribuciones a lo que Weber State se ha convertido es inconmensurable”

Aquellos que se retiran de Asuntos Académicos son los siguientes:

Kristy Baron

Teri Bell

Kaylene Chalmers

Wendy Fox-Kirk

Ann Gessel

Kirk Hagen

Vicky Hansen

Dwayne Hansen

Rodney Hansen

Holly Hastings

Chris Housley

Rebecca L Johns

Betty Kusnierz

Diane Leggett-Fife

Karen Lindley

Allyson Saunders

William Lorowitz

David Malone

Thomas Mathews

Rick Orr

Marvin Orrock

Angelika Pagel

Stacy Palen

Susan Smith

John Sohl

Mikel Vause

Barbara Wachocki

Catherine Zublin

GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE

With the recent ending of the Utah legislative session earlier this month, there has been a lot of focus around the worsening effects of the climate crisis being felt by Utahns everywhere.

During the legislative session, Senate Bill 277 was passed, which will provide funding for agricultural water use and water conservation measures. However, proposed emergency measures to get water back to the Great Salt Lake were pushed back, with legislatures stating the reason is due to the extreme levels of snow Utah has experienced as of lately. Issues regarding the climate crisis affect-

ing Utah, whether addressed by the recent bills or not, are exactly what protestors are hoping to highlight to the public and politicians alike with the recent Global Climate Strike.

The Global Climate Strike is an annual, worldwide organized protest to bring awareness to the ongoing climate crisis. The movement is led by Fridays for Futures, a youth-led organization meant to encourage students and youth all over the world to take charge and make their voices heard.

One of Weber State’s own students, Raquel Juarez, was responsible for organizing Utah’s part of the Global Climate Strike alongside the Utah chapter of Fridays for Future.

“I’ve been organizing since 2018, but

more so as I’ve learned how to organize and facilitate meetings, really just through what my mentors have taught me, I’ve been able to actually fulfill facilitating and organizing and really it’s because there’s not a lot of other youth organizers who know how to do this,” Juarez said. “So it’s kinda been like breaking through my own barriers as an individual young person learning how to organize. That’s why I organize this — because I know how to do it now over the years I’ve learned.”

The strike took place on March 3, with marches taking place at Washington Square Park, JP Morgan Chase Bank and the Utah State Capitol.

Once the march ended on the steps of the

state capitol, student activists and speakers came together on the steps of the capitol to make their voices heard by the Utah politicians, who were inside during the last day of the legislative session.

“Student-run protests allow young people to find their voice,” Juarez said. “It allows young people to have motivation towards something that they are inspired by and hopefully can shape what their future endeavors will be, including what they’re going to study in college. So these are all important things and facets that being in a strike and becoming an activist shapes for when it gives one a purpose.”

PHOTOS & STORY BY ANNA KUGLAR

Asst. Section Editor

The protestors marching to the front steps of the Utah Capitol building to hear those speaking at the event.

Left: The protestors gathering on the front steps of the Capitol to listen to speakers and hold up their protest signs.

Bottom Left: Protest signs at the march to the JP Morgan Chase bank.

Bottom Right: A banner reading ‘Invest in Our Future Not Climate Change’ being carried at the front of the march.”

Con la reciente finalización de la sesión legislativa de Utah a principios de este mes, se ha prestado mucha atención al empeoramiento de los efectos de la crisis climática que sufren los habitantes de Utah en todas partes.

Durante la sesión legislativa de Utah se aprobó el proyecto de ley 277 del Senado, que proporcionará financiación para el uso del agua en la agricultura y medidas de conservación del agua. Sin embargo, se aplazaron las medidas de emergencia propuestas para devolver agua al Gran Lago Salado, y

los legisladores declararon que la razón se debe a los niveles extremos de nieve que ha experimentado Utah.

Las cuestiones relativas a la crisis climática que afecta a Utah, se aborden o no en los recientes proyectos de ley, son exactamente lo que los manifestantes esperan poner de relieve tanto al público como a los políticos con la reciente Huelga Mundial por el Clima.

La Huelga Mundial por el Clima es una protesta anual organizada en todo el mundo para concienciar sobre la actual crisis climática. El movimiento está liderado por Fridays for Future, una organización dirigida por jóvenes cuyo objetivo es animar a estudiantes y jóvenes de todo el mundo a tomar las riendas y hacer oír su voz.

Una de las propias estudiantes de Weber State, Raquel Juárez, fue responsable de organizar la parte de Utah de la Huelga

Climática Global junto con el capítulo de Utah de Fridays for Future.

“He estado organizando desde 2018, pero más a medida que he aprendido a organizar y facilitar reuniones, realmente solo a través de lo que mis mentores me han enseñado, he podido cumplir realmente facilitando y organizando y realmente es porque no hay muchos otros organizadores jóvenes que sepan cómo hacer esto”, dijo Juárez. “Así que ha sido como romper mis propias barreras como joven individual aprendiendo a organizar. Por eso organizo esto, porque ahora sé cómo hacerlo gracias a los años que he aprendido”.

La huelga tuvo lugar el 3 de marzo, con marchas en Washington Square Park, JP Morgan Chase Bank y el Capitolio del Estado de Utah.

Una vez finalizada la marcha en las escaleras del capitolio estatal, los estudiantes

activistas y oradores se reunieron en las escaleras del capitolio para hacer oír su voz a los políticos de Utah, que se encontraban en el interior durante el último día de la sesión legislativa.

“Las protestas estudiantiles permiten a los jóvenes encontrar su voz”, dijo Juárez. “Permite a los jóvenes tener motivación hacia algo que les inspira y que, con suerte, puede dar forma a lo que serán sus esfuerzos futuros, incluyendo lo que van a estudiar en la universidad. Así que todas estas son cosas importantes y facetas que estar en una huelga y convertirse en activista moldea para cuando le da a uno un propósito.”

PHOTOS & STORY BY ANNA KUGLAR Editor adjunto de sección

POR MARIANNA LOPEZ-LURITTA Traductor

Handmade protest signs lined up on the sidewalk for protestors to carry throughout the march.

Left: Protestors marching through the streets of Salt Lake during their Global Climate Strike.

Bottom Left: Darn Air, an organization at the event, passing around petitions for Clean Air to be put on the next voting season’s ballot.

Bottom Right: Climate advocacy organizations set up tables to speak with those in attendance at the strike.

MEN’S MARCH MADNESS: WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

the bracket challenge spawns bragging rights as well as frustrations. March Madness is infamous for its unpredictability, making a perfectly-predicted bracket a near impossibility.

By SIMON MORTENSEN Columnist

Few tournaments capture the attention of fans like the NCAA’s March Madness. While the tournament features iconic traditions like laurel cuttings, one tradition is undoubtedly the most famous — the bracket challenge.

Filled out by the gurus and the clueless,

For those looking to make last-second bracket decisions or those trying to find which team to watch, it’s time to analyze the madness.

Will a No. 1 seed reign supreme?

In 2016, Villanova University became the last non-first seeded team to win it all. The last five men’s basketball NCAA champions were considered the best teams in their region, something that hasn’t been done

since 1996.

While some No. 1 seeds have validated our pre-tournament predictions, there have been a few bracket-busters in March Madness history, including the University of Virginia’s loss to the No. 16-seeded University of Maryland, Baltimore, in 2018.

2019 was the last year to feature all No. 1 seeds in the sweet 16. This year’s men’s No. 1 seeds are the University of Alabama, University of Kansas, University of Houston and Purdue University.

Who’s under-seeded?

Whether it’s a No. 14 seed making it to the Final Four, like Loyola University Chicago did

in 2018, or a No. 8 seed making it to the national championship, like the University of North Carolina did last year, there are often surprises in the final rounds. Bracketologists are striving to spot the teams to be careful of.

A No. 6 seed, Creighton University’s statistics are eye-catching. The Bluejays’ basketball power index ranks 11th amongst tournament teams and just one spot under the No. 2 University of Arizona. They’ve also had an impressive 5–7 record against Top-25 teams.

The University of Connecticut has also been seen as a solid sleeper pick. A No. 4 seed, the Huskies’ basketball power index ranks sixth in the tournament. While the Western region is stacked with teams like Kansas, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Gonzaga University, UConn has an impressive resume that includes a 15-point win over Alabama.

Who will the slipper fit?

Although they destroy brackets, Cinderella stories are a beloved part of March Madness. Last year, Saint Peter’s University made an iconic run as the first No. 15 seed to ever reach the elite eight.

While betting on the upsets is tricky, there are a few teams that could make some surprising appearances in the second round.

For those analyzing the No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchups, the University of Charleston could be a team to watch out for. Led by a strong starting five who all average double-digits, the No. 12-seeded Cougar’s explosive offense may be too much for San Diego State University to handle.

Furman University is another low-seeded team with an explosive offense. Although they struggle defensively, the No. 13-seeded Paladins are matching up against a Virginia team that’s used to low-scoring games. Furman has the potential to advance if they can break through the Cavalier’s defense.

The round of 64 begins with a matchup between the University of Maryland and West Virginia University on March 16 at 10:15 p.m.

Boilermakers celebrate the 25th Big Ten Championship.

Purdue Sports

By SIMON MORTENSEN Columnista

Pocos torneos captaron la atención de los fanáticos como el March Madness de la NCAA. Mientras que tiene varias tradiciones icónicas como cortar los laureles, sin duda una tradición es la más famosa: el reto del diagrama.

Llenado tanto por los sabios como los desinformados, el reto (en que se pone las predicciones de cuales partidos ganarán) da la oportunidad de jactarse o da frustración. El March Madness es famoso por su impredecibilidad, lo que hace difícil crear un diagrama perfecto.

Para los que hacen las predicciones al último minuto o los que necesitan decidir cuál equipo seguir, es tiempo para analizar la locura.

¿Ganará un equipo de valoración más alta?

En 2016, la universidad de Villanova llegó a ser el último equipo sin la valoración más alta que ha ganado el torneo hasta ahora. Los últimos cinco ganadores eran considerados los mejores de su región, lo que no sucedía desde 1996.

Aunque algunos equipos de valoración más alta ha cumplido nuestras predicciones, habían sucedido algunas pérdidas inesperadas como la de la universidad de virginia en 2018 contra la universidad de Maryland, Baltimore que tenía la valoración más baja del torneo.

El año 2019 fue el final que tenía todos los equipos de valoración más alta cuando quedaban 16 equipos. Los equipos de esa valoración de este año son la universidad de Alabama, la universidad de Kansas, la universidad de Houston y la universidad Purdue.

¿Cuales equipos tienen una valoración demasiada baja?

Si es un equipo de valoración muy baja que llega a los cuatros finales, o si es un equipo de valoración medio que llega al campeonato, como hizo la universidad de North Carolina el año pasado, a menudo hay sorpresas durante las rondas finales. Los que predicen esperan saber los equipos prometedores.

Un equipo de valoración número seis, la Universidad Creighton, tiene estadísticas notables. Llamado los Bluejays, su índice de poder de baloncesto es undécimo de los equipos del torneo y son sola una posición bajo de la universidad de Arizona que tiene valoración número dos. También han tenido un récord impresionante de 5-7 contra los mejores 25 equipos.

La universidad de Connecticut también ha sido notable. Un equipo de valoración número 4, su índice de poder de baloncesto es sexto en el torneo. Aunque la región occidental tiene equipos poderosos como Kansas, la universidad de California, Los Ángeles, y la universidad Gonzaga, la universidad de Connecticut tiene un currículum impresionante que incluye una victoria de quince puntos contra Alabama.

¿A quien caberá la zapatilla de Cinderella?

Aunque rompen las predicciones, las historias de Cinderella son una parte amada del March Madness. El año pasado, La universidad de Saint Peter tenía un rendimiento icónico como el primero equipo de valoración número quince que ha llegado a la ronda de ocho equipos.

Aunque apostar a los equipos de valoración baja es difícil, hay algunos equipos que pueden tener apariciones en la segunda ronda.

Para los que analizan los partidos de equipos con números cinco y doce, la universidad de Charleston de valoración número doce puede ser un equipo notable. Dirigido por un grupo fuerte de jugadores primeros todos de los cuales tienen puntuaciones más que diez, los cougars tienen una ofensiva explosiva que podría ser demasiado para la universidad San Diego State.

La universidad Furman es otro equipo de valoración baja con una ofensiva explosiva. Aunque tienen dificultades defensivas, los Paladines de valoración número trece jugarán contra el equipo de Virginia que suele tener partidos con puntuaciones bajas. Furman tiene la potencia de avanzar si puede romper la defensa de los Cavaliers.

La ronda de 64 empieza con un partido entre la universidad de Maryland y la universidad West Virginia el 16 de marzo a las diez y cuarto de la noche.

POR NATHANAEL STOUT

Traductor

University of Connecticut Huskies gathering together before their game for a group fist bump.

NOAM WATT UConn Sports

By RAYSHAUN BAKER-LYNCH Asst. Section Editor

Football spring training is just around the corner, starting on March 16. New head coach Mickey Mental is set to take over after former head coach Jay Hill stepped down at the end of last season.

The Wildcats have 15 practices for spring training, with the spring game scheduled for April 15.

Mental, in the 2022 season, was the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Wildcats. Before that, he was the head coach of Division II Notre Dame college.

NEED

SOME

Mental said that he had a hard time at Notre Dame due to COVID-19 but wants to bring the culture of a big family and play at the highest level this season.

Mental’s first hire as the new head coach is Zach Larson as a new assistant coach, who will be coaching the quarterbacks. He has been with the Wildcats since 2020, assisting with the offense. He worked as a graduate assistant coach before Mental promoted him to assistant coach.

Jaylen Johnson is another new assistant coach, who will be coaching the defensive lineman this season. This season will be his first with the Wildcats. Johnson spent the last two years coaching at the University Of

Washington. He graduated there in 2018, making all Pac-12 honors his senior year.

“You take over a program, obviously, like Weber,” Mental said. “Things are in place. Obviously, you got to put your own spin on it as the head guy. Coach Hill and the rest of the staff have obviously left the cover very full.”

Weber has had four players sign a letter of intent. Six players made a hard commitment, and there is one student transferring from another team.

Keeping four of their five players who received All-American honors last season, the Wildcats will have cornerback Maxwell

sive lineman Noah Atagi and kick returner Abraham Williams returning.

“Bring energy and excitement each and every day. That’s my core values,” Mental said. “That’s one of the reasons that I came here. They had those core values in place trying to keep that ship going.”

Despite losing in the second round of the FCS Playoffs against Montana State last season, they had a 10-win season and are hoping to carry last season’s success into this one. The first step is this spring training with the new head coach, Mental.

THE SIGNPOST TEAM

Editor-in-Chief Breanna Hart breannahart@mail.weber.edu

Managing Editor

Alexandrea Bonilla alexandreabonilla@mail.weber.edu

Design & Graphics Editor

Star Neil starneil@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Design & Graphics Editor

Emilie Hart emiliehart@mail.weber.edu

Photo Editor Kennedy Camarena kennedycamarena@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Photo Editor Anna Kuglar briannakuglar@mail.weber.edu

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

News Editor Lucas Moore lucasmoore@mail.weber.edu

News Editor Tim Costello timcostello@mail.weber.edu

Sports Editor Simon Mortensen simonmortensen@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Sports Editor Rayshaun Baker-Lynch rbakerlynch@mail.weber.edu

Culture Editor Adam Montgomery adammontgomery1@mail.weber.edu

Culture Editor Lexie Andrew lexieandrew@mail.weber.edu

Translation Editor Marianna Lopez-Luritta mlopezluritta@mail.weber.edu

Advisor Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu