Cover Photo By: Gracie Stephenson | The Signpost
FOR AND AGAINST: TRANSGENDER RIGHTS
By GRACIE STEPHENSON Reporter
The Shepherd Union atrium has housed many events over the years including markets, fairs, cooking competitions and even protests. The afternoon of Nov. 20 was no exception. In light of Transgender Day of Remembrance, the Young Americans for Freedom organization decided to hold an anti-trans protest. In response to this, the College Democrats at Weber State University held a counter protest in support of transgender individuals.
The Young Americans for Freedom had a trifold presentation board containing all the information they hoped to share. Their table, though constantly surrounded by individuals, had significantly less participants than the Col-
lege Democrats who protested directly next to them.
The College Democrats held up over a dozen multi-colored signs ranging in size and messages. Throughout the hour that both protests ran for, the College Democrats shouted chants that loudly echoed through the atrium, making it difficult for bystanders to hold side conversations.
The Young Americans for Freedom president, Jared Caldwell, chose to hold their protest on the Transgender Day of Remembrance because he thought it would be an impactful day to spread awareness of the dangers of being transgender.
The basis of their message was that transgenderism can be extremely harmful, and they used examples of individuals that had
de-transitioned to amplify this notion.
On the reverse side, Tessie Violet, member of the College Democrats at Weber State and driving force behind the counter protest, found the choice of day to be incredibly distasteful.
Many of the individuals within the College Democrats know either firsthand or from someone close to them how damaging transitioning can be, and they chose to counter-protest in support of their transgender brothers and sisters.
The protest gained a lot of traction, summoning the eyes of almost 50 bystanders. The crowds of students and faculty watching the protest didn’t waiver throughout the entirety of the outcry of opinions. The bystanders lined the stairs and surrounding areas, many times
warranting the interference of campus police to keep them from blocking the walkways. Each group measured the success of their protest differently. Caldwell was pleased with the turnout and with the amount of individuals he got to speak with. However, Violet believes that they won’t be successful until the human rights of transgender individuals stops becoming a topic of debate.
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Students gather in Shepard Union to protest a tabling and advocate for Transgender Rights on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
HOOPS WE DID IT AGAIN: WILDCATS LOSE TO RAINBOW WARRIORS
By COLLYN COWLES Editor
Weber State University’s men’s basketball team traveled 2,993 miles and fought valiantly but fell short in a 73–68 overtime loss to the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in Honolulu on Nov. 17. The last time these two schools faced off in a regular season basketball game was back in 1975, when Hawaii took the victory 106–88.
The Wildcats entered the matchup against Hawaii looking to rebound after back-to-back road losses to Oregon State University and the University of Nevada. Against Oregon State, Weber State struggled to find a rhythm offensively, shooting just 36% from the field in a 76–48 defeat. The trip to Reno offered little reprieve, as the Wildcats fell 88–58 to a hot-shooting Nevada team that capitalized on Weber State’s 20 turnovers.
Against Hawaii, Weber State dominated the first half, shooting an impressive 59% from the field and heading into halftime with a 38–31 lead over the Rainbow Warriors. Blaise
Threatt continued his stellar form, posting a career-high 27 points, nine rebounds and five steals.
“I would say that Blaise, Alex [Tew] and Dyson [Koehler], those guys are emotional leaders,” head coach Eric Duft said. “They’re returning, and they know how we do things. They’re very invested in our program.”
Threatt’s offensive showcase, paired with sharp shooting from Miguel Tomley and contributions from the supporting cast, gave Weber State a 10-point lead early in the second half. However, Hawaii fought back with a determined effort on both ends of the floor. Tanner Christensen was unstoppable for the Rainbow Warriors, scoring 25 points on near-perfect shooting, including the game-tying layup with six seconds remaining in regulation.
Overtime proved decisive, as Hawaii capitalized on Weber State’s struggles from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. The Wildcats managed only four 3-pointers on the night and shot 60% from the charity stripe, compared to Hawaii’s 65%, including a dominant 26-for-40 performance in the extra period. A
10–0 Hawaii run in overtime put the game out of reach, though the Wildcats battled until the final buzzer.
The loss highlighted growth areas for the Wildcats, who forced 13 turnovers and held Hawaii to just 20% shooting from 3-point range but struggled to maintain defensive consistency down the stretch. Key blocks and steals kept Weber State competitive, but Hawaii’s ability to dominate the paint and capitalize on free-throw opportunities proved too much.
“We just have to keep getting better, and we have to find an identity of who we are, and we’re developing that,” Duft said. “We have those three new transfers, we have some freshmen, we have to find an identity of what we are, who we are; we’re getting there. We’ve made great strides. I’m really proud of this team right now for how hard they practice, how hard they work. It’s just a process of getting ready for conference play.”
Returning home after a long road trip, the Wildcats will host the University of California, Irvine, on Nov. 22 at the Dee Events Center.
Guard Blaise Threatt (#0), dribbling the ball down the court against Hawaii.
ROBERT CASEY Weber State Athletics
Symposium NATIVE
Sunrise Ceremony
Rios Pacheco, a respected Northwestern Shoshone/Kewa Pueblo Spiritual Representative Cultural Analyst and Elder of the tribe
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Stewart Bell Tower, WSU Ogden
Hoop Dance Performance
Terry Goedel, 9-time Native American Champion
Noon- 12:30 p.m. Shepherd Union Atrium, WSU Ogden
Learn and Experience Native American Hoop
Dancing by Terry Goedel and N8tivehoop
Terry Goedel, 9-time Native American Champion
1 - 2 p.m. Wildcat Theatre, Shepherd Union, WSU Ogden
Native Symposium Keynote: Meg Singer
Learn about the legacy of the boarding school era, the resilience of its survivors, and how to support The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalitaion movement for truth, healing, and justice.
Sponsored by Stewart Library and Student Success Center.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Hetzel-Hoellein Room, Stewart Library, WSU Ogden Also available via Zoom
Workshop: Organizing Your Digital Footprint For Impactful Professional Personal Brand Identity
Lorato Lee, Utah Native American Chamber of Commerce. Students please bring your resumes, LinkedIn and social media accounts.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Shepherd Union 316, WSU Ogden
Film Screening: RezMetal
A compelling story of the heavy metal scene on Navajo reservations. Food will be provided
5 - 7 p.m. Hetzel-Hoellein Room, Stewart Library, WSU Ogden
O W H I R I N G
T h e S i g n p o s t i s h i r i n g !
A l l p o s i t i o n s a v a i l a b l e
A l l m a j o r s w e l c o m e
S c h o l a r s h i p s a v a i l a b l e
S c a n M e !
Scan QR code to apply or email: b
&
d e a n n c a r v e r @ w e b e r . e d u for more info.
WEBER CAN HELP DESTRESS BEFORE FI NALS
By HAMPUS IVARSSON Reporter
As finals week approaches, many Weber State University students will prepare to take their finals. Many students spend several days and nights studying to make sure they get a great final grade in their classes. However, some students might feel a lot of anxiety and stress surrounding taking their finals.
“Every Finals week, you are bound to see a little stress, but as long as you make sure you show up with enough time for the exam, eat well beforehand and give yourself time to prepare mentally. It sounds silly, but I think just make sure you studied what you need to and give yourself enough rest beforehand,” Jaeger Schuelke, the library testing center coordinator said.
Many students even neglect sleep and some meals during finals week, which can heavily impact exam performance.
Weber State offers resources for students who are facing stress during finals. One of those resources is the Stress Relief Center in the Swenson Building. The stress center offers massage chairs, tea, hot chocolate and various other stress-relieving tactics.
“We usually have an increase in students that come down here two weeks before finals week,” Megan Chamber, an intern at the Stress Relief Center, said. “The center gives them time to unwind and to work on their mental and physical health. Some people stay for five minutes and some for a couple of hours — it depends on what they need or want.”
Finals week can be stressful, but it’s important to remember that preparing both mentally and physically is key to performing the best one can. By prioritizing sleep, maintaining good nutrition, and taking advantage of resources like Weber State’s Stress Relief Center, students can better manage anxiety and approach their exams with confidence.
However, it’s also worth considering whether finals, as an age-old tradition, truly measure the full scope of a student’s knowledge. As former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme once said, “Society is the work of men. If something is wrong, we can change it.” Perhaps this is an opportunity to reflect on the way we approach education and whether there might be alternative ways to assess learning that are more inclusive and less stressful. Regardless, taking care of one’s well-being and using the resources available is the best way to navigate the challenges of finals week.
TOP RIGHT: Students study in Stewart Library for finals. BOTTOM LEFT: Students lined up for the Tracy Hall testing center. The academic peer coaching office is home to the Tracy Hall testing center. BOTTOM RIGHT: Students sitting in chairs to study in the Stewart Library.
WEBER PUEDE AYUDAR DESESTRESARSE ANTES LOS EXÁMENES FINALES
POR NELLY HERNANDEZ TEJADA
Traductor
POR HAMPUS IVARSSON
Reportero
Mientras se acerca la semana de los exámenes finales, bastantes estudiantes en la Universidad de Weber State van a prepararse para tomar los exámenes finales del semestre. Bastantes estudiantes pasan día y noche estudiando para asegurarse de terminar el semestre con un buen grado en sus clases. Pero algunos estudiantes quizás sientan ansiedad y estrés alrededor de tomar sus exámenes finales.
“Cada semana de exámenes finales, puedes asegurarte de tener un poco de estrés, pero si llegas con suficiente tiempo para el examen, comer bien antes y darte suficiente tiempo de prepararte mentalmente. Suena raro, pero yo creo que nada más necesitas estudiar lo que necesitas y darte suficiente descanso antes de tomar los exámenes”, dijo Jaeger Schuelke, un
coordinador en el centro de exámenes en la Librería Stewart (Stewart Library).
Bastantes estudiantes no le dan tanta importancia dormir o comer durante la semana de exámenes finales, que puede drásticamente impactar el desempeño de los estudiantes durante los exámenes.
Weber State ofrece recursos para estudiantes que están sintiendo estrés durante la semana de los exámenes finales. Uno de esos recursos es el Stress Relief Center (Centro de Alivio del Estrés) en Swenson Building (Edificio Swenson). El centro ofrece sillas de masaje, té, chocolatada y una variedad de tácticas de antiestrés.
“Normalmente tenemos un aumento de estudiantes que vienen aquí dos semanas antes de la semana de exámenes finales”, dijo Megan Chamber, una interna en el Stress Relief Center. “El centro les da tiempo para relajarse y enfocarse en su salud físico y mental. Algunas personas se quedan por 5 minutos y algunos por un par de horas — depende en lo que quie-
ren o necesitan”.
La semana de los exámenes finales puede ser estresante, pero es importante acordarse que prepararse física y mentalmente es lo más importante para poder desempeñar lo mejor que pueden. Priorizando dormir, comer saludable, y usar recursos como el Stress Relief Center, los estudiantes pueden controlar la ansiedad y tomar los exámenes con confianza. Pero también vale la pena considerar que la semana de los exámenes finales, como una tradición antigua, realmente miden el alcance completo de un estudiante. Como dijo una vez el ex primer ministro sueco Olof Palme: “La sociedad es obra del hombre. Si algo está mal, podemos cambiarlo. Quizás esta sea una oportunidad para reflexionar sobre cómo enfocamos la educación y si podría existir alternativas para evaluar el aprendizaje que sea más inclusivo y menos estresante. De cualquier manera, cuidar el bienestar personal y utilizar los recursos disponibles es la mejor forma de enfrentar los desafíos de la semana de exámenes finales”
The Fireplace Lounge is a cozy study spot with a lit fireplace and piano with the occasional pianist, is a relaxing place for stressful study sessions.
THANKSGIVING WITH WEBER HOUSING: 21ST ANNUAL FEAST OF GRATEFULNESS
By TENAYA HYDE Reporter
Weber State University housing staff will host the 21st annual Feast of Gratefulness on Nov. 29 at noon at the University Village Community Center. The meal is free, but the staff asks that each student respond to the event invite or by calling Wildcat Village so they can plan enough food for everyone. The food will be catered by Cracker Barrel.
“I think it’s an honor,” Conley McCabe, the area coordinator for housing at Wildcat Village, said. “It’s exciting, heartfelt, heartwarming and it’s just a fun thing to get to do with the students.”
Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and
EL DÍA
gratitude, but students living on campus might not be so privileged. The university is home to over 1200 students from around the globe. Usually, these students study away from home, which might be many miles away. The housing staff want to make the Thanksgiving holiday memorable for those who will be separated from their hometown without everyone they love.
For some students, this feast put on by staff is their first experience with Thanksgiving.
“They’re happy that there is somewhere to go on campus where they can eat,” Angie Betancourt, associate director of housing, said. “It is a very American tradition to do Thanksgiving, so for some, that’s a new thing.
They’re like, ‘What is the turkey? Why are we eating turkey?’ So I think maybe this year, we can capture more of what they have felt when they’ve come. It’s just been a very nice experience for them to have this college experience but also do things that American families do.”
The staff wants to make the students feel as at home as possible, which is why they organize events and special celebrations. The staff regularly holds student activities and loves seeing them enjoy themselves. Betancourt said they have gone around the table in previous Thanksgiving feast years and voiced their gratitude, celebrating with a cider toast. They’ve also watched the Thanksgiving Day parade and the football game together.
DE ACCIÓN DE GRACIAS EN LA VIVIENDA DE WEBER: EL 21º FESTÍN ANUAL DE GRATITUD
Por NATHANAEL STOUT
Traductor
Por TENAYA HYDE Reportero
El personal de vivienda de la Universidad de Weber State presentarán el festín de agradecimiento anual número 21 el 29 de noviembre al mediodía en el centro de comunidad de University Village. La comida es gratis, pero el personal pide que cada estudiante responda a la invitación del evento o llame a Wildcat Village para que pueda planear una cantidad adecuada de comida. La comida será proveída por Cracker Barrel.
“Creo que es un honor”, dijo Conley McCabe, el coordinador del área de vivienda en Wildcat Village. “Es emocionante, sincero, alentador y simplemente una cosa divertida hacerlo con los estudiantes”.
El Día de Acción de Gracias es un tiempo para la familia, la comida, y la gratitud, pero los estudiantes que viven en campus tal vez no tienen tal privilegio. La universidad es el hogar de más de 1200 estudiantes de todas partes del mundo. Usualmente, estos estudiantes estudian fuera de la casa, la cual puede estar lejos. El personal de vivienda quiere que el Día de Acción de Gracias sea memorable
para los que estarán apartados de su ciudad natal y todos que aman.
Para algunos estudiantes, este festín proveído por los empleados será su primera experiencia con el Día de Acción de Gracias.
“Están felices que hay un lugar en el campus donde pueden comer”, dijo Angie Betancourt, la directora adjunta de vivienda. “Es una tradición muy Estadounidense hacer el Día de Acción de Gracias, así que para algunos es una cosa nueva. Piensan: ‘¿Qué es un pavo? ¿Por qué comemos pavo?’ Entonces creo que tal vez este año podamos capturar más de lo que han sentido cuando han asistido. Simplemente ha sido una experiencia muy buena para ellos tener esta experiencia universitaria pero también hacer cosas que las familias estadounidenses hacen”.
Los empleados quieren hacer que los estudiantes se sientan como en casa tanto como sea posible, y eso es porque organizan eventos y celebraciones especiales. Los empleados regularmente tienen actividades y a ellos les encanta ver que los estudiantes disfrutan. Betancourt dijo que en años pasados uno a uno todos en la mesa expresaron su gratitud, celebrando con un brindis de jugo. También han visto el desfile del Día de Acción de Gracias y el partido de fútbol americano juntos.
Un pavo siendo despiezado para un banquete de Acción de Gracias como parte de la tradición de la festividad.
By TRISTIN RAMAGE Reporter
Weber State University’s women’s basketball traveled to Burns Arena on Nov. 16, where they fell to the Utah Tech University Trailblazers 81–78, putting them 1–3 this season.
The game started with the Trailblazers, who are 2–2 this season, winning the tip-off. Seconds later, they took an immediate 3–0 lead after scoring a 3-pointer off a steal. Weber was quick to follow when graduate student guard Margarita Satini scored a 3-pointer to tie the game 3–3.
Weber was trailing from behind, but with the assistance of five 3-pointers, including senior Kaitlin Burgess knocking down a 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining, the Wildcats were able to bounce back, ending the first quarter tied 24–24. Not long into the second quarter,
THE WILDCATS EXPERIENCE A TRAILBLAZING DEFEAT
the Trailblazers went on a 6–0 run. Weber was able to counter with senior guard Kendra Parra’s first 3 of the quarter at 3:32. A jump ball was given to the Wildcats, and Parra quickly sank another 3-pointer, tying up the game 36–36.
To continue the hot streak, junior guard Lanae Billy hit a 3, putting Weber in the lead for the first time in the quarter, 39–36. Both teams exchanged points, one 3-pointer after another. To end the half, Utah Tech took the lead once again, ending with a score of 44–41.
The Trailblazers took another 6–0 run to start off the third quarter, but Weber came back with their own 6–0 run to put them at 50–47. This was just one of a few times where the game turned into a one-possession game. The fifth team foul on Utah Tech gave Weber a chance to come back 55–54, but were unable to take the lead, ending the quarter
60–58.
Despite their efforts during the fourth, Weber continued to play from behind, and the Trailblazers’ defense held Weber, resulting in another defeat for the Wildcats.
Even though Weber shot a solid 3-point percentage of nearly 40%, it was not enough to counteract the 20 turnovers they had throughout the game.
Despite the team coming up short, Weber’s guard Parra shot 6–11 from the 3-point range and scored 22 points altogether resulting in her being the highest scorer of the game. Following right behind her was freshman forward Mata Peaua, who scored 19 points. Together, they scored over half the overall points. The Wildcats will continue on the road and head to Reno, where they will face the University of Nevada on Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
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Weber State Women’s Basketball Forward position, Taylor Smith (25), dribbling the ball down the court while avoiding an opposing team member.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S XC REGIONALS
By CORY MATER Reporter
Weber State University’s men’s cross country finished the 2024 season strong and remained on a roll as they finished third in the Big Sky Championships and punched their ticket to the NCAA Mountain Regionals in Reno, Nevada.
The Wildcats were led by senior Peter Visser, who finished fourth in the race with a time of 23:22.4 while the squad tallied 68 points for an overall thirdplace team finish during the 10K course. They fielded a team with their top runners who also put up impressive numbers, ending with six top-21 finishes. Ty Davis finished in 14th with a recorded time of 24:16.6, Wesley Kallgren finished in 15th at 24:16.6, Taylor Knight finished in 19th with a time of 24:40.3, Evan Harris was right behind with a 24:44.6 and Hanokh Gailson finished 21st for a time of 24:46.0.
The women’s cross country team competed in the 6K course during the Big Sky Championships and placed third, scoring a total of 78 points.
THE SIGNPOST TEAM
Editor-in-Chief Brisa Odenthal brisaodenthal@mail.weber.edu
Managing Editor Emilie Hart emiliehart@mail.weber.edu
Design & Graphics Editor
Star Neil starneil@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Design & Graphics Editor
Alyssa Nelson alyssanelson2@mail.weber.edu
Photo Editor Anna Kuglar briannakuglar@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Photo Editor
Norlito Ranchez Jr. norlitoranchezjr@mail.weber.edu
They were led by junior Laurie Murphy, who placed 12th for the ‘Cats with a time of 17:25.6. Saga Hagelin finished in 15th place with a time of 17:47.5, Danielle Brow came in 17th place recording 17:51.4 and Courtney Earl came in 18th with a 17:52.0. Having four members from the women’s team finish the race in the top 18 runners helped Weber to
Chief Copy Editor Justin Steed justinsteed@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Copy Chief Mindy Brown mindybrown1@mail.weber.edu
News Editor Gracie Stephenson graciestephenson@mail.weber.edu
Sports Editor Collyn Cowles collyncowles@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Sports Editor Brayson Brown braysonbrown@mail.weber.edu
Culture Editor Megan Swann meganswann@mail.weber.edu
secure a spot in the Mountain regionals along with the men.
The men’s cross country team came in 12th place at the NCAA Mountain Regionals on Nov. 15 with a recorded combined score of 327 points. Visser once again led the Wildcats by coming in with a 15th-place finish with a total time of 29:39.8.
Asst. Culture Editor Cooper Hatsis cooperhatsis@mail.weber.edu
Translation Editor Nathanael Stout nathanaelstout@mail.weber.edu
Translation Editor Nelly Hernandez Tejada nhernandeztejada@mail.weber.edu
Collaboration Editor Marianna Lopez Luritta mlopezluritta@mail.weber.edu
Adviser Deann Carver deanncarver@weber.edu
Business Manager Rob Steedley robertsteedley@weber.edu
Visser’s numbers for the Mountain Regional helped him qualify for the NCAA Championships in Madison, Wisconsin, on Nov. 23. He is only the fourth Wildcat to go to back-to-back national championships.
Kallgren finished in 59th place with a time of 30:36.3, Davis came in 80th with a recorded time of 31:27.1, Tanner Rogers finished with a 31:36.8 for 86th and Gailson finished right behind Rogers for 87th with a 31:42.8 finish.
The women’s cross country team came in 13th place with a total of 337 points during the 6K course at the NCAA Mountain Regionals. Weber was led again by Murphy, who came in 43rd place with a time of 20:50.4. Hagelin came in 55th with a time of 21:05.7, Brow finished with a 21:20.9 for 67th, Earl was 79th with a time of 21:37.6, and Trisha Davis finished with a time of 21:58.7 for 93rd.
Weber State Women’s Cross Country runners competing at the NCAA Mountain Regionals.
