CULTURE QUIZ
By MEGAN SWANN & COOPER HATSIS Editors Art, Entertainment & Lifestyle
Which album won Album of the Year at the Grammy’s on Feb. 2?
Which artist is performing at the Super Bowl on Feb. 9?
A. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
B. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
C. COWBOY CARTER
Which issue did Chappell Roan mention in her Grammy’s acceptance speech?
Kendrick Lamar
Beyoncé
Marvel Studios just released a trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” starring which actor?
A. Transgender rights
B. Immigration
C. Climate change
D. Paul Mescal 1. 2. 3. 4.
Drake D. Lady Gaga
D. Short n’ Sweet
John Krasinski
Pedro Pascal
Aaron Taylor Johnson
D. Livable wages and healthcare for artists
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS ON PAGE 15
A.
B.
C.
4 - 6 P.M.
Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein Room, WSU Ogden
Dinner will be provided.
Hybrid Event: V will speak virtually to an in-person audience
V Spehar is an award-winning, LGBTQIA+ podcast host and social media personality who puts complex news stories into layman’s terms for their 3 million + followers. A sought after speaker on authenticity and resilience, V is also a seasoned community builder and an advocate for civic participation and empathy on social media.
weber.edu/student-success-center/
be holding open deliberations Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 Noon - 4 p.m. in the Shepherd Union, Room 404A, to decide where your student fees will go beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Identify the power of asking for help.
2. Recognize the power of leveraging a student mentality to achieve success later in life.
3. Learn about report tools and strategies from V’s talk that students can use in their academic career.
This programming is for educational purposes and all are welcome.
weber.edu/student-access-success/student-fees.html
WEBER’S WASATCH CUP: AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE
By CORY MATER Reporter
Weber State University has secured backto-back Wasatch Cup championships in 2024 and now 2025. Over the past decade, the Wildcats have played in five Wasatch Cup title games. Their first appearance ended in a loss to the University of Utah in 2020, and with the 2021 season canceled due to COVID-19, they returned in 2022, defeating BYU to claim their first championship.
My first season with the team concluded with the 2022-23 campaign, where we reached the final again, hoping to defend our title. However, in a tightly contested overtime battle, we fell to Utah State in Logan. As a freshman, making it to the championship gave me confidence in our team and coaching staff. The toughest part of that loss was seeing
our seniors miss out on their final chance to lift the cup. I hadn’t won it yet, so I didn’t fully understand the heartbreak they felt.
Ahead of the 2023-24 season, we met as a team to establish our goals. Nearly everyone shared the same objectives: qualify for nationals for the first time in a decade, win the Mountain West Championship, and reclaim the Wasatch Cup.
From day one, we knew what was at stake. Practices were competitive, and we pushed each other to improve. However, we struggled in November as finals and the holiday break loomed. After regrouping in the second semester, our focus sharpened. We secured the No. 1 seed for the Wasatch Cup and opened the tournament against fourth-seeded Utah Valley, winning in dominant fashion by a score of 6-2 to advance to the final.
Meanwhile, Utah upset second-seeded
Utah State, securing their first title game appearance since 2020. The final was a backand-forth battle, with neither team able to pull away. Every time we scored, Utah answered. It felt as if the game might never end, but eventually, Weber State prevailed 7–5, bringing the cup back to Ogden.
Winning the championship game on our home ice as a sophomore in front of a sold-out crowd was unforgettable. The previous year’s loss in Logan was heartbreaking, playing in a hostile environment, but capturing the title in front of our fans made it even more special. Holding the cup for the first time was surreal; we had proven that the previous year’s loss was a fluke, and we deserved to be champions. Throughout the rest of the season and summer, we kept the cup in our locker room as motivation for incoming recruits, showing them what it took to win. As we prepared for
the 2024-25 season, we once again discussed our expectations.
As a junior, I now understood how special it was to be the best team in Utah. The freshmen hadn’t yet experienced the joy of winning a championship, and I wanted to help them understand the importance of never taking hockey for granted.
This season started differently. We struggled in the fall, starting with a losing record of 1–5 but rallied to finish 13–9 heading into 2025. That momentum reinforced our confidence. We believed that if we played our game, no one could beat us. All year, the Wasatch Cup sat in the center of our locker room, reminding us of what we were fighting to keep.
As the 2025 Wasatch Cup approached, the bracket mirrored the previous year: Weber State vs. Utah Valley, Utah vs. Utah State. Our semifinal matchup was a grind, but we edged
Weber State hockey players celebrating a goal made against the University of Montana.
out a 3–2 overtime win against a red-hot Utah Valley goalie. On the opposite side of the bracket, Utah once again beat Utah State, setting up a rematch of the 2024 final.
All season, we had battled Utah, winning three of four meetings. However, the Utes entered the championship on an 11-game win streak. Before the game, Head Coach Yosh Ryujin gave us the confidence and motivation to defend our title. From the opening faceoff, we played with intensity. Though the game was fast, physical, and penalty-filled on our
end, we stayed composed per the words of Coach Ryujin, 2024’s West Region ACHA CoCoach of the Year.
Unlike the previous year’s back-and-forth contest, we built a 3–1 lead. Still, Utah refused to back down, tying the game late. Then, junior forward Jaden Hewes delivered the game-winning goal, securing a 4–3 victory and another Wasatch Cup championship for Weber State.
Going back-to-back with this group of players made the win even more special. For 60
minutes, we executed our game plan and did what was necessary to keep the Wasatch Cup in Ogden. Winning never gets old, and we don’t take it for granted. You never know
when your next championship opportunity will come, but for now, Weber State remains Wasatch Cup champions for another year.
TOP RIGHT: Weber State and Utah State players clash against the wall.
TOP LEFT: The Signpost Staff photo of Cory Mater.
BOTTOM: Kevin Norwood (#19), ready for the face-off against a Utah State Aggies player.
LA COPA DE WASATCH EN WEBER: UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE EL INTERIOR
Por DAVID ROMAN AROS Traductor
Por CORY MATER Reportero
Weber State consiguió de nuevo el campeonato de la Copa Wasatch Cup 2024 y ahora en 2025. En la última década, los Wildcats han jugado cinco veces en el juego por el título de la Cup Wasatch. Su primera aparición terminó en una derrota contra The University of Utah (La Universidad de Utah) en 2020, y con la cancelación de la temporada de 2021 a causa del COVID-19, volvieron en 2022, derrotando a BYU para reclamar su primer campeonato.
Mi primera temporada con el equipo concluyó con el campeonato del 2022-23, durante el cual nuevamente alcanzamos llegar al final, esperando defender nuestro título. Sin embargo, en una reñida batalla durante en el tiempo extra, caímos contra Utah State en Logan. Como estudiante de primer año, llegando al campeonato me dio confianza en nuestro equipo y entrenadores. Lo más difícil de aquella derrota fue ver a nuestros compañeros de último año perder su chance final a levantar la copa. Yo todavía no la había ganado, así que no entendí
completamente la angustia que sintieron. Antes de la temporada de 2023-24, nos reunimos como equipo para fijar nuestras metas, casi todos compartieron los mismo objetivos: calificar por las nacionales por la primera vez en una década, ganar el campeonato del Mountain West, y recuperar la copa Wasatch.
Desde el primer día, sabíamos lo que estaba en juego, los entrenamientos eran competitivos, y nos empujamos para ser mejores. Sin embargo, luchamos en noviembre cuando se acercaban los exámenes finales y las vacaciones. Después de reorganizarnos para el segundo semestre, nuestro enfoque se afinó. Aseguramos la cabeza de serie número uno para la Copa de Wasatch y empezamos el torneo contra la cabeza de serie número cuatro Utah Valley, ganando en forma dominante con una puntuación de 6-2 para avanzar al final.
Mientras tanto, Utah derrotó inesperadamente al cabeza de serie número dos, Utah State, asegurando su primera aparición en el juego de título desde el año 2020. La final fue una batalla de idas y venidas, en la que ninguno de los dos equipos logró imponerse. Cada vez que metimos un gol, Utah contestó. Sentía como si el juego nunca se acabara, pero eventualmente, Weber State
se impuso 7-5, trayendo la copa de regreso a Ogden.
Ganar el campeonato en casa cuando era estudiante de segundo año ante un público que agotó las entradas fue inolvidable. La derrota del año pasado en Logan fue desgarradora, jugando en un ambiente hostil, pero capturando el título a frente de nuestros aficionados lo hizo aún más especial. Sosteniéndola por primera vez era algo surreal; habíamos demostrado que la derrota del año pasado era un error y merecíamos ser los campeones. En todo el resto de la temporada y verano, guardamos la copa en nuestro vestuario como motivación para los nuevos jugadores, mostrándoles lo que hizo falta para ganar. Mientras nos preparábamos para la temporada de 2024-25, volvimos a hablar de nuestras expectativas.
Cuando yo era estudiante de tercer año, pude entender lo especial que era ser el mejor equipo en todo Utah. Los de primer año todavía no habían experimentado el gozo de ganar un campeonato, y yo los quería ayudar a entender la importancia de nunca dar por vencido el hockey. Esta temporada empezó diferente. Luchamos en el otoño, empezando con una racha perdedora de 1-5 pero nos recuperamos
para terminar el 2024 con un récord de 139. Aquel impulso reforzó nuestra confianza. Creímos que si jugaramos nuestro propio partido, nadie nos podría ganar. Por todo el año, La Copa Wasatch se sentó en el centro de nuestro vestuario, recordándonos que estábamos luchando mantener. Al acercarse la Copa Wasatch 2025, el cuadro reflejaba el del año anterior: Weber State contra Utah Valley, Utah contra Utah State. Nuestro partido de semifinales fue difícil, pero logramos ganar 3-2 en tiempo extra contra el talentoso portero de Utah Valley. Al otro lado del cuadro, Utah de nuevo logró ganar a Utah State, preparando la revancha de la final de 2024.
Por toda la temporada, habíamos batallado contra Utah, ganando tres de los cuatro partidos. Sin embargo, los Utes entraron en el campeonato con una racha ganadora de 11 partidos. Antes del partido, el entrenador principal, Yosh Ryujin nos dio la confianza y motivación para defender nuestro título. Desde el primer cara a cara, jugamos con intensidad. Aunque el partido fue rápido, físico y lleno de penalizaciones de nuestra parte, nos mantuvimos compuestos a causa de las palabras del entrenador Ryujin, coentrenador del año de la ACHA en la región oeste de 2024.
A diferencia de la contienda de ida y vuelta del año anterior, creamos una ventaja de 3-1. Aún así, Utah se negó a quedarse atrás y empató casi al final del partido. A continuación, el delantero de tercer año Jaden Hewes marcó el gol de la victoria, asegurando una victoria por 4-3 y otro campeonato de la Copa Wasatch por Weber State. Ganar dos veces seguidas con este grupo de jugadores hizo que la victoria fuera aún más especial. Por 60 minutos, ejecutamos nuestro plan de juego e hicimos lo necesario para mantener la Copa Wasatch aquí en Ogden. Ganar nunca pasa de moda, y no lo damos por vencido. Nunca sabes cuando tu próxima oportunidad a un campeonato vendrá, pero por ahora, Weber State sigue siendo el campeón de la Copa Wasatch por otro año más.
Jugadores saludan con el puño a fanaticos jovenes cuando entran al campo.
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ICE SIGHTINGS IN OGDEN: HOW WEBER IS REACTING
By HAVEN MILLER Reporter
Since President Donald Trump took office, raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been on the rise in Ogden, with documented sightings reported throughout the city and surrounding areas.
With tensions rising, it brings to light questions about the safety of students on campus, especially with it being a statefunded college. States can be ordered to work with federal agents, including immigration agencies such as ICE.
This means that students can be stopped by ICE on campus, which Weber State University has acknowledged could happen in an email that was sent to only international students. The email contained “good practices” that international students should abide by, like having multiple valid forms of identification on them, including an I-20 and I-90.
An anonymous source affiliated with Weber State claimed that the university had found out that certain centers and faculty had been keeping Red Cards on hand. The university ordered those specific locations and people to dispose of the Red Cards, stating that they weren’t authorized to have them.
Weber made faculty and staff throw away valuable resources that were created to help immigrants and undocumented individuals understand what their rights are. On the card, it includes basic rights that state what to do if a person is ever stopped by an immigration officer.
“Do not open the door. Do not answer any questions. Do not sign anything. Ask the agent if you are free to leave. Give this card to the agent,” is written on one side of the Red Card, with an available script on the other side that can be read.
While the higher-ups within the university took part in censorship, that doesn’t mean it was entirely successful; many believe that the students are the most powerful entity in any university.
Students are allowed to distribute flyers and educational materials around campus, with Red Cards being the most passed around in the past few weeks, especially since Trump took office again on Jan. 20.
Multiple students who wish to remain anonymous due to fears of retaliation have been behind the passage of Red Cards to various international and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Dreamer students. They have even organized various secret phrases that can be used to request access to a Red Card, along with information on websites that have Red Cards translated into different languages to be used.
Weber State Police Department and Weber State University’s PR team declined to comment on the rights of students, only sending out an announcement that states, “The federal government engages its officers specifically to enforce immigration matters. The WSUPD does not ask anyone about their immigration status and does not detain anyone solely on the basis of their
immigration status.”
While on-campus police won’t ask about a student’s immigration status, if a federal agency demands to step onto campus grounds, they have to be admitted. The rights of students on campus are a muddled affair and one that university officials don’t seem keen on answering.
Weber State is a university that prides itself on welcoming everyone and will do everything it can to help its students, but the limited protection for ICE raids leaves many international students feeling that the university’s care expires when it comes to them.
An ICE agent dressed in protective clothing. Some WSU faculty and students are preparing for the possibility of ICE officers stopping students on campus.
AVISTAMIENTOS DE ICE EN OGDEN: COMO WEBER ESTÁ REACCIONANDO
Por DAVID ROMAN AROS Traductor
Por HAVEN MILLER Reportero
Desde que el Presidente Trump asumió el cargo, ataques del servicio de Inmigración y control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos han estado subiendo de frecuencia en Ogden, con avistamientos documentados por toda la ciudad y áreas circundantes.
Con tensiones crecientes, salen a la luz preguntas ligeras sobre la seguridad de los alumnos en el campus, especialmente siendo una universidad fundada por el estado. Los Estados pueden ser exigidos a cumplir con los agentes federales, incluyendo agencias de inmigración como ICE.
Esto quiere decir que los alumnos pueden ser parados por ICE en campus, el cual Weber State ha reconocido podría pasar en un correo que enviaron solamente a los alumnos internacionales. El correo electrónico contenía “buenas prácticas” que los alumnos internacionales deberían cumplir, como
tener varias formas válidas de identificación consigo, incluyendo un I-20 y I-90.
Una fuente anónima afiliada con Weber State afirmó que la Universidad se enteró de que ciertos centros y facultad habían estado guardando Tarjetas Rojas a mano. La universidad hizo que estos lugares y personas específicos dispusieran de los Tarjetas Rojas, diciendo que ellos no fueron autorizados tenerlos.
Weber hizo que facultad y personal botaran recursos valiosos que fueron hechos para ayudar inmigrantes e individuos indocumentados a entender lo que son sus derechos. En la tarjeta, se incluyen derechos básicos que indican qué hacer si alguna vez hay que pararse por un oficial de inmigración.
“No abrir la puerta. No contestar a ninguna pregunta. No firmar nada. Preguntar al agente si se puede ir. Dar esta tarjeta al agente”, esto está escrito por un lado de la Tarjeta Roja, con un guión legible en el otro lado de la tarjeta.
Mientras superiores dentro de la universidad participaron en la censura, no quiere decir que fue todo un éxito; muchos creen que los alumnos son la entidad más
poderosa en cualquier universidad.
Se permite que alumnos distribuyan folletos y material educativo sobre campus, con Tarjetas Rojas siendo la cosa más distribuida en estas últimas semanas, especialmente desde que Trump tomó oficina nuevamente el 20 de Enero.
Varios alumnos los cuales desean permanecer anónimos a causa del miedo de represalia han estado detrás de la repartición a varios alumnos internacionales y de Dreamer. Incluso han organizado varias frases secretas que se pueden usar para solicitar permiso a una Tarjeta Roja, junto con la información en sitios web que tienen traducciones de Tarjetas Rojas en diferentes idiomas para usar.
Weber State Police Department (el Departamento de Policía de Weber State) y Weber State University´s PR team(equipo de relaciones públicas de Weber State) han negado hacer comentarios con respecto a los derechos de los alumnos, solamente enviaron un anuncio que dice lo siguiente: “ El gobierno federal ocupa sus oficiales específicamente para aplicar las normas de inmigración. El WSUPD no pide que ninguna
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persona les cuente su estado inmigratorio y tampoco detienen a nadie basado solamente por su situación de inmigración”.
Mientras la policía de campus no le preguntará a un alumno su situación de inmigracion, si una agencia federal exige entrar al campus, tienen que ser admitidos. Los derechos de los alumnos en el campus son un asunto turbio y uno que los oficiales de la universidad no parecen querer contestar.
Weber State es una universidad que se enorgullece en dar la bienvenida a todos y hará todo lo que pueda para ayudar a sus alumnos, pero la protección limitada por los ataques del ICE deja a muchos alumnos internacionales con el sentimiento de que el cariño de la universidad ha terminado a respeto a ellos.
Se comparte esta historia en thesignpostwsu.com
CAREER SERVICES EMPLOYS NEW STRATEGIES FOR THIS YEAR’S CAREER FAIR
By SKYLER MUNDELL
Records were broken and professional relationships were forged on Jan. 30 as Weber State University students took to the Shepherd Union’s ballrooms for WSU’s annual Spring Career & Internship Fair.
This year’s career fair saw a record number of students attend, with WSU Career Services citing a final count of 572 students who came to the event.
According to Mitchell Keahey, WSU Career Services’ events and promotional media specialist, an integral part of the career fair’s success this year was embracing a willingness
to pioneer new approaches in marketing the event to students.
“We’ve dedicated more marketing dollars, more effort and incorporated more brandnew ideas towards marketing the career fair in the past year and a half than ever,” Keahey said.
Working toward the future, Keahey said he hopes to increase attendance numbers at WSU’s career fairs in the future to 1,000 or more students, and he is looking for new strategies to achieve that goal.
“I try to be maximalist in our approach to advertising to students,” Keahey said.
Keahey said his goal was to reach WSU students who are juggling busy lives and
incentivize them to attend the career fair.
This year, Career Services spent $500 marketing the career fair to students through geo-fenced social media ads and other forms of advertisements like promotional A-frames set up around campus. Additionally, a brandnew Macbook was raffled off to students who interacted with employers at the event.
“I got like three emails about the fair,”
Alexander Schott, a WSU computer science student who attended the fair, said. “I also like Handshake a lot, so it was nice to see exactly what positions the employers here are hiring for ahead of time.”
Another new innovation employed at the career fair this year was color-coded maps
that outlined what employers were present and which colleges they were looking to hire new employees from.
“This is something that we’ve never done before,” Keahey said.
Keahey said the map was designed for students who had a limited amount of time to spend at the career fair, and the goal was to help those students maximize their time spent at the career fair.
While students remain the primary focus at Career Services, Keahey said he recognizes how important career fairs are to the employers who attend, and extensive efforts were made to reach out to employers from Logan to just south of Salt Lake City.
Students visiting employer booths at the Spring Career & Internship Fair.
SKYLER MUNDELL
Contributor
“Weber
-Mitchell Keahey
Fifty-six employers attended the career fair this year, highlighting a decrease in the number of employers present at the event in comparison to previous career fairs.
However, while WSU’s career fairs have seen a decrease in the number of employers in attendance, attendance data from the past two spring career fairs suggest that WSU’s career fairs are experiencing an increase in student engagement.
According to WSU Career Services, the 2024 career fair saw a 75% year-over-year increase in student attendance, and employers at the event interacted with an average of more than 60 students throughout the event — indicating that student interest in career fairs at WSU is increasing.
“My message to employers is that they have a really great opportunity here,” Keahey said. “Weber State students are second to none when it comes to work ethic, and they have the opportunity to meet a lot of students at events like this who are willing to work hard for their company.”
Jennifer Calderon, talent acquisition lead for Associated Regional and University Pathologists Inc., commented positively about the inquisitive nature of the students
“Since 2022, we’ve seen a meaningful decline in the number of employers attending our events,” Keahey said. “PostCOVID, we’d have 75 to 95 employers attend our career fairs.”
she interacted with that day.
“Weber State students are driven, want to know what to work toward and are curious,” Calderon said. “We’ve met a lot of students from the majors we’re interested in, so the experience has been really fruitful.”
Keahey, who is a WSU alum, said he believes in the importance of career fairs on university campuses, and he hopes to continue to innovate his approach to organizing WSU’s career fairs in order to continue to maximize student engagement in the future.
“Personally, by not taking advantage of career fairs and the opportunities at Career Services while I was a student, I realized how hard it was to enter the job market in 2021,” Keahey said. “As somebody from the alumni side who’s working with students a little bit younger than me, I view it as a blessing and a fun opportunity to hook students up with those opportunities I feel like I didn’t have.”
HOW SUNDANCE’S DEPARTURE COULD IMPACT UTAH
By MEGAN SWANN Editor
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival came to a close on Feb. 2, bringing an end to 11 days of independent artists and filmmakers showcasing their work in the snowy hills of Park City. Its end brings the countdown to one last guaranteed festival in Utah.
Last year, the Sundance Institute announced that it was searching for new host cities for the annual festival, stating that after 40 years, its contract with Park City and Salt Lake City was coming to an end. In September, it announced its three finalists to take over in 2027: Boulder, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Salt Lake City/Park City.
A decision will be made in late winter or early spring, “well after the 2025 festival,” the institute said in a press release.
The uncertainty leaves many questions for Utah film lovers and business owners.
Scotty Petty is the manager of Sock City in Park City, a novelty store that sells a large variety of unique socks and apparel. Petty said that while business doesn’t necessarily increase during the weeks of the festival, the fame of the festival itself is an intrigue for visitors year-round.
“Despite not being this monumental shift in business, it’s still really nice to have eyes on Park City,” Petty said. “Not being able to have that tagline I feel like will diminish the city’s reputation.”
While Park City is known for its ski resorts, its reputation is bolstered by having such an exclusive, star-studded event occur within its theaters. It places Utah on the map as a key area for film.
Rachel DeHerrera, a Weber State University student studying digital media and sound production, thinks Sundance’s absence could diminish the film community.
“If Sundance is no longer associated here, it’s not going to be on the forefront of people’s minds,” DeHerrera said. “I might make a connection here. Maybe my career could be built, and if I don’t have that here anymore, that only disadvantages local filmmakers that want to get networking opportunities.”
DeHerrera has spent the last two years volunteering at the festival, dedicating over 40 hours of service to ensure everything runs smoothly. She believes the atmosphere of the festi-
val could not be replicated in Boulder or Cincinnati.
“Park City is such a special place,” DeHerrera said. “You’re in the mountains. You’re isolated. They shut down Main Street, so it feels exclusive.”
However, Park City’s infrastructure may no longer be able to support the influx of crowds that the festival draws in. This is one of the factors the Sundance Institute is considering while selecting the new host city. The festival brings in tens of thousands of visitors every year, overwhelming a system meant for its regular population of just over 8,200.
As a Main Street employee, Petty said the festival can be rough to navigate. There are no parking spots set aside for employees during this time, leaving them to navigate other options to get to work.
“I feel like if they put better efforts into just building out the festival venues there instead of jumping ship, that might be the solution,” DeHerrera said.
Regardless of what is announced in the coming months, Utah will host the festival at least one more time next year on Jan. 22 to Feb. 1. Until then, local filmmakers and businesses wait eagerly to learn what’s in store for the festival’s future.
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LEFT: The Sundance Film Festival 2025 poster hanging outside of Peery’s Egyptian Theatre.
BOTTOM: The Egyptian Theatre showcasing 2025 Sundance Film Festival films on Park City’s Main Street.
ANNA KUGLAR The Signpost ANNA KUGLAR The Signpost
COMO LA DESPEDIDA DE SUNDANCE PODRÍA IMPACTAR A UTAH
By NATHANAEL STOUT Traductor
By MEGAN SWANN Editor
El festival de cine de Sundance de 2025 terminó el 2 de febrero, concluyendo los once días de cineastas y artistas independientes que mostraron sus obras en las colinas nevadas de Park City. Su fin llevó la cuenta regresiva para el último festival asegurado de Utah. El año pasado, el instituto de Sundance anunció que estaba buscando una nueva ciudad para ser anfitrión del festival anual, diciendo que después de 40 años, su contrato con Park City y Salt Lake City iba a terminar. En septiembre, anunció sus tres finalistas para la puesta en 2027: Boulder, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; y Salt Lake City/Park City. Una decisión se tomará tarde en el invierno o temprano en la primavera, “mucho después
del festival de 2025”, dijo el instituto en un comunicado de prensa.
La incertidumbre crea muchas preguntas para los dueños de empresas y a los que les encanta el cine en Utah.
Scotty Petty es el jefe de Sock City en Park City, una tienda de regalos que vende una gran variedad de medias y ropa únicas. Petty dijo que aunque no es cierto que las ventas aumenten durante las semanas del festival, la fama del festival por sí misma es una intriga para los visitantes durante todo el año.
“Aunque no es un cambio de ventas monumental, todavía es bueno tener ojos en Park City”, dijo Petty. “Siento que la falta de ese lema disminuirá la reputación de la ciudad”.
Aunque Park City se conoce por sus centros de esquí, su reputación se reafirma por tener un evento tan exclusivo y lleno de estrellas en sus teatros. Destaca a Utah como un área clave para el cine.
Rachel Deherrera, un estudiante de Weber State que estudia las medias digitales y la
producción de sonido, cree que la ausencia de Sundance podría disminuir a la comunidad de cine.
“Si Sundance ya no está asociado con este lugar, no va a estar presente en las mentes de la gente”, dijo DeHerrera. “Tal vez haga una conexión aquí. Mi carrera podría hacerse, y si ya no la tengo aquí, solo da la desventaja a cineastas locales que quieren recibir oportunidades de establecer contactos”.
DeHerrera ha pasado los dos años pasados como voluntario en el festival, dedicando más de 40 horas de servicio para asegurar que todo pasa sin problemas. Cree que el ambiente del festival no podría replicarse en Boulder o Cincinnati.
“Park City es un lugar tan especial”, dijo DeHerrera. “Está en las montañas. Es aislado. Se cierra la calle principal, entonces se siente exclusivo”.
Sin embargo, la infraestructura de Park City tal vez ya no pueda soportar el influjo de gente que el festival atrae. Es uno de los factores
que el instituto de Sundance considera mientras que selecciona la nueva ciudad. El festival atrae decenas de miles de visitantes cada año, lo que abruma un sistema creado para una población normal de solo un poco más de 8,200. Como empleado en la calle principal, Petty dijo que el festival puede ser difícil de navegar. No hay estacionamiento reservado para empleados durante ese tiempo, lo que hace que tengan que encontrar otras opciones para ir al trabajo.
“Siento que si ponen un mejor esfuerzo en expandir los sitios del festival en vez de abandonarnos, podría ser la solución”, dijo DeHerrera.
A pesar de lo que se anuncie durante los meses venideros, Utah será el anfitrión del festival al menos una vez más el próximo año desde el 22 de enero hasta el primero de febrero. Hasta entonces, las cineastas y empresas esperan ansiosamente para aprender lo que pasará en el futuro del festival.
Negocios pequeños y locales en linea for Historic Main Street en Park City para el festival de cine Sundance.
Gente pasando valientemente por la nieve pesada mientras caminan por Historic Main Street en Park city durante el festival de cine Sundance.
CELEBRATING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH THE KOREAN CLUB
By ARIANNA SALAS Contributor
The Korean Club at Weber State University gathered on Jan. 16 for a special card-decorating event to kick off the Lunar New Year.
Students were given colorful paper and markers to create personalized Lunar New Year cards. Korean snacks and candies were also offered for the students to enjoy as they decorated.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in several Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea. Each country
celebrates the Lunar New Year in similar and different ways.
The Korean Lunar New Year, also known as Seollal, was celebrated on Jan. 29 this year. It is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice to commemorate the first day of the lunisolar calendar.
Typically in Korean culture, the Lunar New Year is celebrated through family gatherings and rituals. Traditional food is also served during this celebration.
“In Korea, we usually eat tteokguk. It’s like Korean traditional food. So we cook tteokguk, and we eat tteokguk with many
people, like family and friends,” Minju Kim, an international student from Korea, said.
Tteokguk is a beef broth soup with sliced rice cakes, traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day as a way of granting good luck.
This year, the Lunar New Year celebrates the snake zodiac. The snake is the sixth zodiac out of 12 animal zodiacs in the lunisolar calendar. Students drew snakes on their cards and wrote “Receive a lot of luck in the New Year” in Korean writing.
Weber State’s Korean Club hosts many events like this throughout the semester
to encourage students to learn more about Korean culture and traditions.
The Korean club has been around since the fall of 2022 when it was created to bring students who like K-pop, Korean food and culture together.
“I wanted a place where people could just talk about their favorite things about Korea, and here we are,” Abigail Homer, Korean Club president, said.
The club plans on hosting a few more gatherings and events throughout the spring semester.
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CULTURE QUIZ
By MEGAN SWANN & COOPER HATSIS Editors
1.
The answer is C, COWBOY CARTER.
According to NPR, Beyoncé accepted her award for the first time in the Album of the Year category.
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The answer is D, Livable wages and healthcare for artists. According to Variety, Roan said she was dropped by her label as a beginning artist during the pandemic and could not afford health insurance.
3. 4.
The answer is B, Pedro Pascal. According to USA Today, Pascal will be starring as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic.
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