Campus climate: The Signpost 11/9/23

Thursday | November 9, 2023 | Volume 97 | Issue 54 Cover Photo By: Weber State Marketing and Communnications

Sports | Pg. 6

Culture | Pg. 10

Nathan Michel

Norlito Ranchez | The Signpost

2 | NEWS | thesignpostwsu.com | November 9, 2023

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS? 1.

By BRISA ODENTHAL Section Editor

ship?

Which Utah representative was elected to House GOP Leader-

Who are the two candidates left in Ogden’s Mayoral Race?

What is the name of the Hunger Games prequel coming out on Nov. 17?

A. Burgess Owen

A. Taylor Knuth and Ben Nadolski

A. The Hunger Games: Sparrow

B. Mitt Romney

B. Ben Knuth and Taylor Nadolski

B. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

C. John Curtis

C. Mike Caldwell and Taylor Knuth

D. Blake Moore

D. Ben Nadolski and Mike Caldwell

C. The Hunger Games: The First Games D. The Hunger Games: Call of the Mockingjay

The FDA recently approved a new drug called Zepbound for weight-loss purposes. What was the drug originally used to treat? A. Acne B. Epilepsy C. Multiple Sclerosis D. Diabetes

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS ON PAGE 13

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By MCKINNA BAIRD Reporter

Weber State University administration recently announced the creation of a new Campus Climate Response Team. While this idea has been in the works for about a year, the team is ﬁnally being rolled out in the aftermath of multiple incidents of hateful vandalism on campus. “With increased incidents on campus, there was certainly a sense of urgency,” Jessica Oyler, vice president of Student Access and Success, said. The team will be composed of WSU faculty and students, instead of being its own position. “We want to have representation from faculty, staff and students on that group, [and] pull in folks that have expertise in climate and belonging on campuses,” Oyler said. The Climate Response Team would be responsible for communicating with students regarding incidents on campus as well as

looking for ways to improve campus climate in general. According to Oyler, the team will discuss how the university would respond when incidents on campus occur, and how on-campus administration is being trained. Oyler said the team will focus on how to balance the need for free speech on campus with the student code and the comfort and safety of all students. “One of the things that we’re doing on our campus is ensuring that we keep any sort of disciplinary process separate from the campus climate team,” Oyler said. “So it was really looking at where’s the gap of where we can do some things better and having that ongoing conversation is really what we settled on.” After the recent acts of vandalism and the dissent from students that ensued, Oyler said this new committee can help everyone at Weber State feel comfortable on campus. “What it comes down to with our campus climate teams is we want to be able to foster a sense of belonging for our staff, faculty and students,” Oyler said.

AJ HANDLEY | The Signpost

4 | NEWS | thesignpostwsu.com | November 9, 2023

Students voice their concerns about hate crimes on campus.

November 9, 2023 | thesignpostwsu.com | NEWS | 5

Traductor

POR MCKINNA BAIRD Reportero

La administración de la universidad de Weber State recientemente anunció la creación de un Equipo de Respuesta Climática del Campus. Han estado trabajando en esta idea por un año, y el equipo recién está comenzando a trabajar después de varios incidentes de actos de vandalismo odioso en el campus. “Con un aumento de incidentes en campus, había un sentido de urgencia,” dice Jessica Oyler, vicepresidenta de Acceso Estudiantil y Éxito (Student Access and Success). El equipo va a estar compuesto de WSU facultad y estudiantes, en vez de ser su propia posición. “Queremos tener una representación de facultad, empleados y estudiantes en ese grupo [y] atraer gente que son expertos en el cli-

ma y pertenecer al campus,” dice Oyler. El Equipo de Respuesta Climática del Campus va ser responsable por comunicando con estudiantes con relación a incidentes en campus y también maneras de mejorar la clima de campus en general. Según Oyler, el equipo va a hablar de cómo la universidad va responder cuando incidentes ocurren, y cómo la administración de campus va a ser entrenados. Oyler dice que el equipo va a enfocarse en cómo encontrar la balanza en la libertad de expresión en campus con el código de estudiante y con la comodidad y seguridad de todos los estudiantes. “Una de las cosas que vamos hacer en campus es asegurarnos de que quedemos cualquier proceso disciplinario separado del equipo campus clima,” dice Oyler. “Entonces fue mirando adonde está el hueco en qué podemos hacer algo para mejorarlo y tener esa conversación en curso es lo que buscamos.” Después de los recientes actos de vandalismo y el disentimiento de los estudiantes, Oyler dice que esta nueva comisión puede

ayudar a todos un WSU sentirse más cómodos en campus. “Lo que importa con nuestro equipo de clima de campus es que queremos atraer un

sentido de pertenencia por nuestros empleados, facultad y estudiantes,” dice Oyler.

AJ HANDLEY | The Signpost

POR NELLY HERNANDEZ TEJADA

Jessica Oyler, Vice President for Student Access & Success, addresses WSU Senate.

6 | SPORTS | thesignpostwsu.com | November 9, 2023

By JACOBA JONES Reporter

up, but no conference games. This season, we now have about 24, 25 guys. So, there’s been great growth within the past three years,” Lee said. With the growth of more players for men’s rugby here at Weber, they were able to join a conference in the spring of 2023 and even make it to nationals. Although they had more players than in past years, at that time, they were still a little short, having 10 players when they needed 15, which made it not possible to play at nationals. “We are the director of operations. We’re in charge of all the DNC work, the registration,

and just making sure people are filling out the right paperwork, and registration with the conference is good as well,” Lee said. “It has been difficult learning how to manage having more guys, especially being filled with a bunch of new guys.” There are challenges that arise when teams begin to expand. Since the men’s rugby club has been getting bigger, the presidency has learned about building foundations and building for the future. Most importantly, the presidency focuses on the bond of the team. “I’ve been a part of other rugby teams since I started playing at Weber State, and it’s Nathan Michel

Rugby is a physical, strategic and versatile game. There is a camaraderie among teammates that is unlike any other sport. Here at Weber State University, the men’s rugby club has been able to be an example of that. JJ Lee, President of the men’s rugby club, plays scrum-half on the ﬁeld and is a junior studying construction management and business administration. He has been on the team since 2021 when the team was coming back together after the COVID pandemic.

“I’ve been playing rugby for two or three years now,” Lee said. “I just got started when I came to college. Some guys asked me if I wanted to play, and I felt like I could succeed in it. So far, it’s been really fun, I love it. Especially with the guys and bonding with them and developing my game to become better.” When Lee ﬁrst joined the team, there were eight guys, and rugby needs 15 players on the ﬁeld at a time to play. Weber’s rugby team was not in a conference, so they did not play any games competitively. “I think the hardest part was just practicing and playing whatever game we could pick

Weber State rugby player, JJ Lee holds his hand over his heart as they recite the National Anthem.

November 9, 2023 | thesignpostwsu.com | SPORT | 7

years, played for a year in high school, and then I went on my mission, and then I found the rugby team here last year,” Long said. “Last season, there weren’t many returning players, and JJ wanted to make me vice president, and I agreed to help him in any way I could. So, this season has been a lot of building and finding people who will commit.” At Weber, sacrifice and commitment are some of the core values of men’s rugby. Especially when it comes to clubs, there needs to be a dedication to the sport because, unlike the athletic program, clubs do not have scholarships for the players. It requires the athlete to have a sincere desire to do something they love. “I sacrifice so much to play this sport, and I love rugby at Weber State, and I sacrifice a lot of my time and effort for it,” Long said. “And I hope that the Weber State community can come to love the sport as much as the players love it. I feel with any rugby team, we provide a different feeling to the community on cam-

pus. We try to show as much love and support to other people as much as possible. We get involved with other teams and communities and support others. We want to engrave ourselves in the foundation of Weber State.” The men’s rugby team has been involved with a variety of service projects on campus and around the community, and Long has a goal for the team to attend sporting events at Weber to help support other athletes. More recently, the team helped clean up a corn maze in Morgan. Through different service projects, the team has developed in many ways: problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and character development are characteristics in which the players have improved, and this has been apparent on and off the ﬁeld. The men’s last game of the fall season is on Nov. 17 against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Henderson, Nevada. The game starts at 11 a.m.

Get Involved! Find friends and amazing college experiences: weber.edu/studentlife

Nathan Michel

something different here because it’s a family feel,” Lee said. “Everyone knows each other, everyone’s with each other, we’re able to speak our own mind and thoughts with each other and be receptive to that feedback. We care for each other because we are family.” The men’s rugby team has two seasons, fall and spring. This fall season, the team is 6-21. Overall, they have scored 40 tries, 30/40 conversion kicks, 50 steals, and over 200 tackles. They are looking to make it to nationals again, which will take place in the spring. On Nov. 4, Weber traveled up to Pocatello, Idaho, to face Idaho State University. The men played four games and won all of them. They played three 7s matches, which had final scores of 38-7, 11-0, 40-5, and one 10s match with a final score of 38-5. Dalan Long, Vice President, plays forward/ lock on the field and is a sophomore studying exercise and sports science along with criminal justice. “I’ve been playing rugby for about three

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8 | NEWS | thesignpostwsu.com | November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023 | thesignpostwsu.com | CULTURE | 9

Reporter

The Noorda Engineering, Applied Science and Technology Building hosted Noreen L. Herzfeld, a professor of science and religion at Saint John’s University, as part of Weber State University’s Peterson Speakers Series on Oct. 31. Herzfeld’s presentation, titled “The Artifice of Intelligence: Divine and Human Relationship in a Robotic Age,” focused on human/AI relationships and how they might evolve. One aspect of human/AI relationships Herzfeld brought up was elderly and child care. Human birth rates are slowing down. It is possible that robots will be needed in the future to care for children and elders. Herzfeld questioned how that might affect care received and relationships with loved ones. The topic of romantic and sexual relationships between humans and AI was a prevalent topic during Herzfeld’s presentation. AI love is something that can be safe and personalized, but it leads to questions of whether it’s ethical. Questions like these are brought up with apps such as Replika, an AI chatbot that mimics talking to a real person. Herzfeld said one common fear with romantic chatbots is that you don’t know who is on the other side. There have been cases of chatbots being used in phishing schemes. Herzfeld also talked about how human/AI relationships parallel divine/human relationships. She brought up three different views of how humans were made in the image of God. The oldest idea says that human reason and logic mirror God’s. The next is that humans are a representative of God. The third interpretation says that our relationships with others are how we are in the image of God. Herzfeld said the progression of understanding the concept of humans in God’s image parallels the thinking behind how humans create AI in their image. First, giving AI the ability to reason, then giving them the ability to work and finally trying to make them lovable and capable of holding relationships. Herzfeld then brought up Swiss theologian Karl Barth’s four key points of an authentic relationship and claimed AI cannot fulfill all four

points. Barth’s four points are being able to look the other in the eye, speak and hear the other, help each other, and do it gladly. Herzfeld’s analysis is that it is possible to to look at the “eyes” of a robot or AI, but a screen or plastic eyes may feel slightly off. Programs such as Siri and Cortana can be spoken to and can speak back. AI can be programmed to aid others. However, AI can never accomplish the fourth point, doing it gladly, because it doesn’t have emotion. Herzfeld cited American psychologist Jerome Kagan’s four aspects of emotion: perception of a stimulus, a change in feeling that

is sensory, appraisal, and response. Herzfeld said an AI or robot could be made to achieve all aspects aside from a change in feeling, and thus are unable to feel emotion. Herzfeld’s reasoning is that an AI could perceive an issue, appraise how to handle it and respond, but without a physical shift, such as a kick of adrenaline when in danger, it is not possible to have an emotion, only an imitation of one. Share this story at thesignpostwsu.com

MGN

By TERRA BELL

A photo of a robot hand and human hand reaching out towards each other.

NORLITO RANCHEZ | The Signpost

10 | CULTURE | thesignpostwsu.com | November 9, 2023

The entrance of the Study Abroad ofﬁce. By MEGAN SWANN

Asst. Section Editor

Up to 15 Weber State University students will embark on a study abroad trip to Cuba this next summer. This trip, led by Assistant Professor Aaron Atkins, is aimed toward communication students, and will focus on mass communication in Cuba, as well as the culture. One question may arise for students considering the trip: Is traveling to Cuba safe? Due to the turmoil during the Cold War, travel to Cuba was prohibited for United States citizens in 1962. However, this has changed in recent years. According to the U.S. Department of State, travel to Cuba for tourism purposes is still unauthorized, but there are 12 authorized types of trips that are allowed. One of them is educational activities, under which this trip falls.

Eric Hunter, director of WSU’s Study Abroad ofﬁce, is working with Atkins to ensure that students will have a safe, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hunter acknowledged there is a fear of traveling to countries previously closed to tourism. He said people might worry about lodging, transportation and safety. “It’s important to note that we never go anywhere unsafe,” Hunter said. To prepare for the trip, Atkins identiﬁed the locations of the U.S. embassies in Cuba, and will provide contact information to these embassies to all students on the trip. Atkins also encourages students to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. STEP, run by the U.S. Department of State, provides critical information and updates about the country in which the traveler enrolls, helping alert them of any potential threats they might be otherwise unaware of. Once students sign up for the trip, they will attend a few safety meetings. First, Hunter

will hold a meeting about general safety for all study abroad students. “Basically, we just talk about the do’s and don’ts when traveling abroad,” Hunter said. “I think of it as common sense knowledge, but for somebody who hasn’t gone outside of the United States, it might not be.” Then, there is a smaller meeting with trip leaders and their students to discuss safety concerns specific to their country. Hunter said for the Cuba trip specifically, they will be talking about what students can and cannot say while on the trip. “We go over safety protocols, we go over legal elements, we go over cultural norms, we go over acceptable practices,” Atkins said. “We go over things like situational awareness in any given situation.” One thing they will specifically be going over is avoiding petty crime. The Department of State currently lists Cuba as a Level 2 travel advisory, citing petty crime as a primary reason. However, Atkins pointed out that coun-

tries like France, Germany and the U.K. are also listed as a Level 2 travel advisory. “There’s always going to be a risk going anywhere,” Atkins said. Media in Cuba has been traditionally staterun. While on the trip, students will get the opportunity to have lectures and discussions with some journalists to get their perspective. Another concern students might have for the trip is the cost. Hunter expressed that there are scholarships available through the study abroad ofﬁce, and not many students take advantage of them. This trip will run May 3-15, 2024. Applications are open now on the Study Abroad department’s website. Due to the limited number of spots on the trip, priority will be given to communication students, but any student is welcome to apply.

November 9, 2023 | thesignpostwsu.com | CULTURE | 11

POR MEGAN SWANN Editor de Sección

Hasta 15 estudiantes de Weber State University embarcarán en un viaje de estudios a Cuba el próximo verano. Este viaje, liderado por el Profesor Adjunto Aaron Atkins, es para estudiantes de comunicación, y se enfocará en los medios de comunicación de Cuba y su cultura. Los estudiantes tal vez se pregunten algo al considerar este viaje: ¿es seguro viajar a Cuba? Debido a la agitación durante la Guerra Fría, viajar a Cuba fue prohibido para los ciudadanos estadounidenses en 1962. Sin embargo, esto ha cambiado en los últimos años. Según el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, viajar a Cuba con fines turísticos todavía no está autorizado, pero hay 12 tipos de viajes que están permitidos. Entre estos tipos, se puede viajar por actividades educativas, como este viaje es. Eric Hunter, director de la oficina de WSU de Estudios en el Extranjero, está trabajando con Atkins para asegurarse de que los estudiantes tengan una experiencia única y segura. Hunter reconoció que hay un miedo a viajar a países previamente cerrados al turismo. Dijo que la gente tal vez se preocupe por el alojamiento, el transporte y la seguridad. “Es importante remarcar que nunca vamos a lugares que no son seguros”, dijo Hunter. Para prepararse para el viaje, Atkins identificó las ubicaciones de las embajadas de EE.UU. en Cuba, y proporcionará información de estas a todos los estudiantes del viaje. Atkins también anima a los estudiantes a inscribirse en el Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. STEP, dirigido por el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, proporciona información crítica y actualizaciones sobre el país donde el viajero va, ayudando a alertarlos de cualquier amenaza potencial que de otra manera podrían perderse. Una vez que los estudiantes se inscriban al viaje, asistirán a algunas reuniones de se-

sobre seguridad general para todos los estudiantes que estudian en el extranjero. “Básicamente, solo hablamos de qué hacer y qué no hacer cuando se viaja al extranjero”, dijo Hunter. “Yo lo veo como conocimiento de sentido común, pero para alguien que no ha salido de los Estados Unidos, podría no serlo.” Luego, hay una reunión más pequeña con los líderes del viaje y sus estudiantes para hablar de preocupaciones sobre la seguridad específicas de ese país. Hunter dijo que específicamente para el viaje a Cuba, van a hablar de lo que los estudiantes pueden y no pueden decir durante este. “Repasamos los protocolos de seguridad, elementos legales, normas culturales, prácticas aceptables”, dijo Atkins. “Repasamos cosas como la conciencia situacional en cualquier situación dada”. Una cosa que específicamente se comentará es evitar delitos menores. El Departamento de Estado actualmente pone a Cuba en el nivel dos en asesoramiento de viajes, citando los delitos menores como la razón principal. Sin embargo, Atkins señaló que países como Francia, Alemania y Reino Unido también están en el nivel 2. “Siempre va a haber algún riesgo vayas donde vayas”, dijo Atkins. Los medios de comunicación en Cuba tradicionalmente fueron llevados por el estado. En el viaje, los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de asistir a conferencias y charlas con periodistas para ver sus perspectivas. Otra preocupación que los estudiantes pueden tener puede ser el costo. Hunter expresó que hay becas disponibles en la oficina de estudios en el extranjero, y que no muchos estudiantes se aprovechan de esta oportunidad. Este viaje tendrá lugar del 3 al 15 de mayo de 2024. Las solicitudes ya están abiertas en el sitio web del departamento de Estudios en el Extranjero (Study Abroad). Debido al número limitado de plazas para el viaje, se dará prioridad a los estudiantes de comunicación, pero cualquier estudiante es bienvenido a aplicar.

A photo wall of Wildcats’ Study Abroad exploration and community engagement. NORLITO RANCHEZ | The Signpost

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NORLITO RANCHEZ | The Signpost

POR MARIANO MARTINEZ MARTINEZ guridad. Primero, Hunter creará una reunión

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12 | PUZZLE | thesignpostwsu.com | November 9, 2023

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November 9, 2023 | thesignpostwsu.com | NEWS | 13

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS? QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 2

The answer is A, Taylor Knuth and Ben Nadolski. According to Fox13, the election, which originally had seven candidates, is now down to Knuth and Nadolski.

The answer is D, Blake Moore. According to KSL, Moore is now the vice chairman, the seventh-highest position in the House of Representatives. He was voted into this position on Nov. 8 after Mike Johnson was promoted to Speaker of the House.

The answer is B, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. According to People, the fourth movie in the Hunger Games series will come out on Nov. 17 and takes place before the events of the original movies and book series.

The answer is D, Diabetes. According to KSL, the FDA approved Eli Lilly’s drug, similar to the popular weight loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro, on Nov. 8 to help users lose about a quarter of their weight, or about 60 pounds.

THE SIGNPOST TEAM Editor-in-Chief Kennedy Camarena kennedycamarena@mail.weber.edu

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