Thursday | November 07, 2019 | Volume 90 | Issue 27
MONIKA CLARKE | The Signpost
2 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
By JENNIFER GREENLEE Section Editor
Weber State University Student Michael Moreno uploaded 43 minutes of selective content about Debate Coach Dr. Ryan Wash onto YouTube on Oct. 26. The video described Moreno’s concerns with the debate prep and curriculum that Wash had been presenting to his team. This video’s — the first of three — content was selected by Moreno from his reported 12 hours of audio he had obtained, recording class discussions without the knowledge of other students or the professor. The audio was once available on his original Dropbox link in the description of the video, but is no longer available. In addition to the audio, research files — including some of the debaters' names — were shared. Moreno has denied taking it down and stated that Dropbox does not support the amount of people who were attempting to download the audio and files. Two days later, Moreno uploaded a second video, this one approximately 14 minutes in length. The upload included footage of several debate students and Wash, not just audio. This was obtained without consent of those in the room. The two videos have a combined viewership of over 500,000 views in total. On Oct. 31, student group The Never Neutral Union announced that they were forming in response to Moreno's video. They announced themselves by emailing their statement to university officials, deans and the WSU Police Department. In their statement, they stated that Moreno had misconstrued the debate team as "'anti-white' and 'racist,' specifically targeting Director Wash as a bad professor and coach.” The statement goes on to say that the YouTube comments have “suggested Ryan get a lobotomy, be assaulted and physically removed from campus. There have been death threats against Director Wash. We are afraid for our safety.” The group stated there was no action on the part of the university for safety measures for debate students and Wash beyond an increased police presence. Through the statement, the group asked for the expulsion of Moreno from WSU for breaking the Student Code of Conduct. On Nov. 1, a statement from WSU President
Brad Mortensen was released, stating “As an institution of higher education, we owe it to all members of campus to take a deliberate approach to issues like this and do our best to learn all the details involved. Regardless of one’s personal views on the subject, no one benefits from a hastily reached conclusion.” Mortensen continues that some of the campus community “have received emails and voicemail messages that have been construed as discriminatory, harassing or threatening” and to visit Safe@Weber for resources for personal safety. On Nov. 2, Moreno released a third video, addressing the university’s statement. Since the videos' releases, some debate students have been escorted to their 6 a.m. debate practices. Although these events have unfolded in the past week, Moreno said these recordings were taken between Aug. 24 and Sept. 5. Before this, Moreno had taken these recordings to Communication Department Chair Sheree Josephson who directed him to the Affirmative Action Office. “Barry Gomberg, the Director of (the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office) said he was going on a trip to South Africa. I said, 'no, I’m not waiting any longer,'” Moreno said. “I was planning to expose this. That’s why I recorded it. I waited to see if the school would do anything.” Moreno has not received threats beyond YouTube comments that have disagreed with his stance. He has felt his academic career is at risk. “I don’t know what the university is going to do. They hinted at possibly disciplining me in the statement they released,” Moreno said. “My academic career in the debate world, I mean, that’s been in jeopardy since I released the Arizona debate round nine months ago.” Nine months ago, when Moreno was debating in high school, he released a video of a round at the Arizona State University High School Speech and Debate Tournament. In this tournament, Moreno was stopped during his argument because, according to the judge, his sources and point of view were racist. The video released was of minors and resulted in the doxxing — the publishing of private or identifying information about individuals on the internet — of minors and their families. After the speech and debate tournament video was published, and the additional
follow up videos in response to the incident were released, Moreno has been iced out of the debate community. Currently, WSU students on the debate team and Wash are being doxxed, a result of Moreno's videos. Crystal Legionaires is an alum who works with the debate teams whose address was doxxed earlier this week. Legionaires talked to the individual who originally posted the addresses of her and other debaters, and it has since been taken down. The doxxing was exposed after the individual accidentally tagged Rei Olsen, another member of the WSU debate team. There may be more doxxing happening that Legionaires and Olsen have not seen about other members of the team. Despite the doxxing, Legionaires and Olsen were steadfast in their support for Wash. “There were a couple instances in the video where Michael represents Ryan’s arguments as being his beliefs when he is identifying that these are arguments people might use in debates. First is the ‘space is not real argument,’” Legionaires said. “Ryan is not saying that space is not real. Rather he actually says in that discussion, according to Rei and others in that discussion, ‘so my friends this argument is ridiculous; I think it’s kind of fun.’” Wash discusses pushing his students and asking them questions from various positions to demonstrate what a cross examination may feel like for the student. "What I don't want is for one of my students to have their subject positions put on the line with people who honestly don't care about them at all and have not have any experience doing so," Wash said. "So i question my students to prepare them on how to answer the best versions of some arguments. In my mind, that's my job as the coach and prepare them for the best versions of these arguments. Both Olsen and Legionaires continue to describe the idea behind the argument, talking about what it can mean for the black community to trust white people as the sole arbiters of science when there have been racist and harmful experiments done to black people in the name of science. "One of the things that I've been trying to teach these students and something that they have to know when dealing with debate or people in the world is that perspective matters," Wash said. "People's experiences and cultures guide the way they view the world.
You have to sit your opinions aside, literally slice a port of your existence and table that for the sake of having the debate." Legionaires then turns to the topic of how an argument is selected to go into a debate round and that only complete and evidence-supported arguments go through into the debate rounds. “You can run any type of argument, you just have to make sure you’re running it well. There’s a standard,” Legionaires said. “If you’re on the football team and you’re not doing what you’re supposed to, they’re going to say ‘What’s going on?’ We have a standard for what is necessary for our team. If you are going to cut that, then we’re going to put you on a different string. Ryan, as a coach, is the arbiter of making sure those standards are upheld.” Not every proposed debate argument makes it into the final cut to move to the actual debate competition. Arguments are cut and refined into the best debate possible. Wash stated that no debates brought over the summer made it into the plans for the rounds. “Michael had pestered Ryan about the argument for over a week, asking him the same questions. Ryan said, ‘No, I have given you the standards of the team. If you don’t meet the standards we can’t work with that. I don’t think you understand that this argument is fundamentally broken, that it’s not going to work,’ Legionaires said. “Ryan is a person. Sometimes he gets frustrated. Even when he’s in a classroom setting where people are asking him questions that are offensive or problematic.” WSU's statement was disappointing to Wash, Legionaires and Olsen. "Weber has an opportunity to protect its faculty in terms of academic freedom. They knew exactly what kind of coach I was. They knew exactly who I was as a coach," Wash said. "We have less than one percent African-American faculty and staff here at this university, and, that, I think says a lot in regards to this very conversation. If WSU has any kind of desire to preserve their values of access learning and community, then they must be willing to accept those who exist on the fringes of those in that community who feel excluded almost 365 days out of the year, right here. It doesn't take us a YouTube video to see that in regards to a student." Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
NIKKI DORBER | The Signpost
MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 3
President Mortensen shakes hands with the keynote speaker, Matika Wilbu.
NAVAJO CODE TALKERS IN WORLD WAR II
By LANDIN GRIFFITH Assistant Section Editor
Peter MacDonald — influenced by a “beautiful blue” Marine Corps. uniform and with the aid of his cousin — enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. at the age of 15 in 1944. His cousin, Tom, and he traveled to Farmington, New Mexico, where MacDonald met with a Marine Corps. recruiter. MacDonald told the recruiter that he was seventeen years old, didn’t have a birth certificate and was born in the boondocks following the sheep. “Well somebody has to vouch for you to prove that you’re 17,” the recruiter told MacDonald. MacDonald introduced the recruiter to his cousin, telling him he’s a Marine. His cousin signed the paperwork needed for MacDonald to become a Marine. Shortly after, MacDonald was recruited by military personal along with 28 additional Navajo Marines to take part in Navajo communication school, a secret operation formed to create a new type of code using their native language. Considered the “unbreakable code” today, Navajo Code remains the only military code, in modern history, never broken by an enemy. It was also the fastest form
of communicating messages through telephones and radios during that time. MacDonald and his companions created 260 code words, which were used as “weapons” and transmitted across every major battle in the pacific theater. This led the U.S. to many naval victories and largely helped draw the conclusion to the second World War. Featured in TIME magazine as one of 200 “Rising Leaders of America” in 1974, MacDonald, at age 90, continues to remain an activist among Native Americans. He serves as the current President of the Navajo Code Talkers Association, raising funds to build the National Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veteran Center to honor the legacy of those heroes of World War II. As part of Native American Heritage Month, WSU’s Diversity and Inclusive Programs hosted MacDonald during the 14th annual Native American Symposium, the theme of the year being Coded Stories through a Forbidden Language. Andrea Hernández, Diversity & Inclusive Programs coordinator, said they had been working extensively to have MacDonald speak. She thanked attendees for participating in the celebration. “I hope that Weber State is a place where you feel at home and hopefully always feel welcome here,” Hernández said.
MacDonald is “very happy” to see so many Native Americans going to school at Weber State. Being the 14th Native American Symposium, he recalled the number 14 being a special number. “I want to congratulate all of you Native Americans who are here today, and I understand this is your 14th annual symposium of Native Americans,” MacDonald said. “Fourteen is a special number. August 14 was the official day that World War II ended and also a special day for Navajo Code Talkers. In 1982, the president of the United States and congress declared that day as Navajo Code Talker’s Day. So August 14 has a special meaning for so many of us.” MacDonald wasn’t fully be recognized for his efforts in the war until 23 years after the war had ended. When he was honorably discharged with a rank of Corporal, he was told by his command that he couldn’t speak about Navajo Code until it was later declassified in 1968. Then, he said, “I couldn’t stop talking about it.” MacDonald was the chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1971 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991 and was re-elected to the Office of the Chairmen four times, which remains unprecedented in Navajo history. He continues to give speeches at schools, clubs, political organizations,
government agencies and businesses to talk about his experience contributing to the multi-cultural development among military personal and across the U.S. Weber State President, Brad Mortensen, said the university holds tight to the ideal of personal inclusion. Having MacDonald share his story and the impact that Navajo marines had on the war is what Mortensen believes WSU events strive to spotlight. “We have the opportunity to learn the value of different cultures, languages and the interaction that brings together each of us and how important that perspective can be as we go about our own efforts to work together for a common good and a common cause to really find inclusion and acceptance among each other’s lives,” Mortensen said. MacDonald is one of five remaining Navajo Code Talkers alive today. MacDonald reflected on his experience as a marine and a Navajo Code Talker and is grateful that he was able to serve with so many “great people.” “Someone said it’s not the win that makes our flag fly,” MacDonald said. “It’s the last breath of all so many soldiers who have died defending the flag. We must remember that.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
4 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
By RAYMOND LUCAS Assistant Section Editor
A 50-minute road trip, a rowdy student section and the 17th ranked team in the country will be what awaits the Weber State Wildcats as they prepare to open their season in Logan to tangle with the Utah State Aggies (1-0).
Here is a look at the starters that WSU is expected to roll out against the Aggies. While basketball only has five starters, there are six listed due to Jerrick Harding who normally starts, having an injured foot and he likely will not play. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
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Dima Zdor
Bio - Dima Zdor played in 28 games for the Wildcats during his first year in the program. The athletic forward will have a larger role as he enters his second year with the program. Dima’s best game came against Bethesda where he had a career-high 14 points and pulled down 9 rebounds. He went 22-36 from the field during the year which was good for an efficient 61% shooting. Class - Sophomore Position - Forward Height - 6’10 Hometown - Yalta, Ukraine
Israel Barnes
Bio - Israel Barnes played heavy minutes his first year in Ogden. He saw action in every game of the season and started the final 27 games. He averaged 6.5 points per game and surpassed double figures in scoring as many as ten times. Barnes knocked down 33 three-pointers throughout the year, including one in the Bahamas against Central Michigan as the buzzer sounded to give WSU the win. Class- Sophomore Position - Guard Height - 6-4 Hometown - Wichita, Kansas
MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 5
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Kham Davis
Bio - Kham Davis is a newcomer for the Wildcats after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh after spending two years with the Panthers. WSU was not expecting his services this year but the NCAA cleared him and he is now eligible immediately. Davis played in 58 games for Pitt and started in 23 games during his freshman year. He finished at Pitt with 36 steals and 21 blocked shots. Class - Junior Position - Guard Height - 6-4 Hometown - Denver, Colorado
Michal Kozak
Bio - Michal Kozak has never missed a game in his Wildcat career and during his freshman year, he started 30 of their 31 games. He blocked 28 shots on the season which was good for sixth-best in the Big Sky, he also pulled down 4 rebounds a game and shot 50% on the year. Kozak’s best game came in the Wildcats win against BYU on Dec. 1, 2018 when he dropped 14 points to help secure a win. Class - Junior Position - Forward Height - 6-8 Hometown - Pilsen, Czech Republic
Athlete Photos Courtesy WSU AUBREE ECKHARDT | The Signpost
6 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
WEBER STATE RETENTION RATE UP FROM LAST FALL
By MILES SHAW Reporter
Retention rates are a statistic that colleges or universities look at, in hopes of finding ways to increase and improve them. The retention rate of a college is the percentage of new incoming freshman students who decide to come back the next year. This is critical information for any school. Although many students stop attending college every year due to financial, academic or personal reasons, at Weber State University, the retention rate is gradually improving. Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Madonne Miner said, “According to the Report Gallery, our 1st-Time Student retention was up 0.9 percent from fall 2017 to fall 2018. Also, from Fall 2014 to Fall 2018, the overall retention figure moved from 53.7 to 55.2 percent. We will continue to work harder to increase these numbers.”
This information is great news for the university, as it shows that more students are deciding to come back and continue their pursuit towards a degree without taking significant time off from school. “We know that students who complete degrees are more likely to move into successful careers, contribute to their communities, earn more, and, in general, have better futures than those who do not complete,” Miner said. According to the American Institutes for research, studies have shown that students who stop attending college after they have already started have a hard time returning to school. Weber State has taken some new steps to help students continue attending college. Miner said, “These actions include hiring eight new retention advisors, making orientation mandatory for new students, implementing Starfish to provide early alerts from faculty members to students who may be struggling in classes, and bringing at least
three speakers to campus each year to talk with faculty and staff about student success initiatives." For students who may be thinking about taking some time off due to financial or academic reasons, first they should be sure to talk with their academic advisers and the financial coaches available at Weber State. These advisors and counselors may be able to help come up with a plan that includes staying in school and not taking time off which can prove to be very beneficial to the student. For students interested, financial coaches are also available at the Money Management Center located in the Shepherd Union Building. They are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
Retention Rates
2017 : 54.2% 2018 : 55.2%
FALL 2018: 28,247 students
FALL 2019: 29,644 students
8 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com 8 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
Diversity and Inclusive Programs looks forward to supporting the continuation of this program with each new WSUSA VP for Diversity & Unity as we seek to establish connections and build community at Weber State, in Utah, and across the globe.
Find out more at weber.edu/diversity
Stop the Hate works to increase inclusiveness on campus by decreasing stigmatization and bringing awareness of disenfranchised populations to the Weber State campus and community.
Find out more at weber.edu/diversity
MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 9| 0
Scholarship Opportunity! WSU Teacher Education students –Apply now for our Terrel H. Bell Scholarship for the upcoming academic year! How to apply: - Go to weber.edu/teachered - Click under student resources - Download the scholarship application - Fill out and return to Kristin Radulovich located in the McKay Education Building Room 231 Application deadline: February 1, 2020
Exclusive New Grad Membership $20 FREE ATHLETIC TICKETS
JOIN TODAY:
DISCOUNTS ON EVENTS
CAREER WEBINARS
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alumni.weber.edu/join promocode: GRAD
10 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
Reporter
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Weber State University football team is pushing for its third consecutive Big Sky Championship as they welcome the 22 ranked North Dakota Fighting Hawks the afternoon of Nov. 9. “I want this place rockin’; that is what we expect, that is what we want,” head coach Jay Hill said. “I want the whole city of Ogden to rave about what we have at Weber State.” The third-ranked Wildcats enter this game after a convincing win on the road last Saturday against sixth-ranked Sacramento State. The Wildcats defeated the Hornets 36–17 behind sophomore running back Josh Davis’s 177 rushing yards and redshirt freshman Kris Jackson’s two rushing touchdowns. Freshman cornerback Ja’Kobe Harris had two interceptions to anchor the Wildcat defense. “We’re pretty happy with where we’re at right now, but never content,” Hill said. “We know that we had better stay humble, and we better stay hungry because we’ve got good opponents the last couple weeks and we’re going to have to play well.” Weber State’s offense continues to play a prominent role in the Wildcats’ season. Davis and Jackson lead the team in rushing yards and touchdowns. Junior quarterback Jake Constantine has 450 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ last two games. Sophomore wide receiver Devon Cooley has become a target for Wildcat quarterbacks this season, averaging over 50 receiving yards a game and bringing in two touchdowns so far. “We’re just prepared for North Dakota,” senior offensive lineman Xavier Stilson said. “We’re prepared for them offensively, defensively and on special teams. We’re just ready to go and take it to them and have a fight.” Weber State’s defense remains the key part of their success on the field. The
defense ranks first in the Big Sky in both points and yards allowed. At the national level, the Wildcats enter this week tied for fifth in recovered fumbles and tied for second with an average turnover margin of 1.56. The Wildcat defense has many notable individuals heading their efforts. Redshirt sophomore defensive end George Tarlas leads the team with six sacks while junior lineman Jared Schiess leads the way with eight tackles for loss and junior safety Preston Smith ranks first on the team with 53 total tackles. Three different players lead the Wildcats with two interceptions each. North Dakota comes to Ogden after a bye week. The Fighting Hawks defeated ninthranked Montana State 16–12 in their last game played on October 26. Redshirt senior quarterback Nate Ketteringham threw for 220 passing yards while senior wide receiver Travis Toivonen had 84 receiving yards and one touchdown. Freshman linebacker Mitchell Maxfield commented that North Dakota’s offense plays in a physical way similar to the Wildcats. “We know their receivers like to be aggressive and really push down the field,” Maxfield said. “We’re working on that in drills and matching up personnel to take it to those guys.” Through eight games in 2019, the Fighting Hawks are averaging just over 25 points per game. The passing game is the biggest part of the Fighting Hawks’ play, averaging almost 250 passing yards per game with their running backs averaging 116 rushing yards per game. As the Fighting Hawks’ starting quarterback, Ketteringham has thrown for 1,456 yards and nine touchdowns in six games this season. Senior running back James Johannesson leads all North Dakota rushers with 409 rushing yards and six touchdowns. In the air, senior wide receiver Noah Wanzek leads in yardage with 570 while Toivonen tops the Hawks’ receivers with four touchdowns. Defensively, the Fighting Hawks have
proven to be a challenge, totaling seven interceptions and 18 sacks in 2019. Three different players have tallied two interceptions, while junior linebacker Jaxson Turner leads the team with 4.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Donnell Rodgers leads North Dakota in both tackles for loss with 6.5 and yards for loss with 18. “(North Dakota head coach) Bubba Schweigert does a great job,” Hill said. “Their offense, defense and special teams are going to fight you to the bitter end. They do things right and they play the game well.” Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between the Wildcats and the Fighting Hawks. The Wildcats lead the all-time series with a record of 3-1, with the most recent matchup resulting in a 35–30 Wildcat win in Grand Forks last year.
One notable area to watch during Saturday’s game will be how each team plays in the red zone. So far this season, the Fighting Hawks rank second in red zone offense with 23 out of 24 drives resulting in points while the Wildcats are tied for third with 29 out of 31 drives ending in a score. Stilson anticipates a great battle on the field and good support in the stands. “We love it when we have fans,” Stilson said. “When we pack the stands, it’s huge, especially for defensive stops. It’s just great seeing everybody out.” With weather expected to sunny and 60s, the Fighting Hawks and the Wildcats will kickoff at 2 p.m. on a beautiful fall day. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
INSIDE THE NUMBERS Passing Jake Constantine #8 114-180 for 1044 yards and 5 TDs and 4 INTs
Receiving
Passing Nate Ketteringham #8 147-229 for 1456 yards and 9 TDs and 6 INTs
Receving
Devon Cooley #3 40 receptions for 453 yards and 2 TDs David Ames #19 30 receptions for 246 yards and 1 TD
Noah Wanzek #31 45 receptions for 570 yards and 2 TDs Garett Maag #89 39 receptions for 415 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing
Rushing
Josh Davis #20 132 carries for 867 yards and 9 TDs
Defense
20 points per game 351 yards per game
James Johannesson #33 90 carries for 409 yards and 6 TDs
Defense
29 points per game 372 yards per game
AUBREE ECKHARDT | The Signpost
By IAN SYME
MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 11
Sessions on
the
Ledge
Sessions on the Ledge are onehour performance sessions in the Shepherd Union Atrium that showcase music, dance, spoken word, and other routines that space racial ethnicity, culture, class, gender and more.
Find out more at weber.edu/diversity
LGBTQ+ AWARE NESS In collaboration with Weber State University’s LGBT Resource Center, LGBTQ+ Awareness programming shed light on issues and concerns of the Queer & Transgender student body.
Find out more at weber.edu/diversity
CLARIFYING COURSE VS STUDENT FEES
12 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
By CAITLYN LARSEN Reporter
Understanding how tuition affects student life is crucial in college. An important part of tuition are student fees and course fees. Both of these fees are used for resources on campus, but not everyone knows the difference between the two. Student Fees At Weber State University, student fees are paid to fund different student resources across campus such as transportation, the Writing Center, tutoring, the Shepherd Union building, student computer labs, the Stress Relief Center, the Swenson Gym and other facilities in the Stromberg Complex. Student fees also go towards campus activities such as the Foam Bash party and the Homecoming Dance. Course Fees Course fees, however, go towards specific classes for purchasing the supplies and equipment needed in that specific class that may go above what the University is expected to provide — consumable items, practice mannequins, machines, telescopes, etc. Course fees do not go towards faculty and staff. A benefit to students in paying for course fees is that universities can often save or get deals by buying necessary equipment in bulk. Vice Provost Bruce Davis said that this saves money for the student, rather than the alternative of each individual tracking down and paying for their own equipment at a higher
price per item. Provost Madonne Miner said that, while a little bit can be saved to go towards larger purchases, large amounts of money from course fees cannot be saved and hoarded from year to year. There is debate whether course fees should be lowered and combined with tuition, but it comes with the counter-argument that that would make tuition for all students more expensive, whether or not the classes they take require more expenses. However, there are some courses that, by nature of the subject, have rather high fees attached which can be hard for the students in those programs. Dr. Miner provided the example of the dilemma that Utah State University faces in their aviation program which can charge course fees of $900 to $1,000 because they work with airplanes and helicopters. Is it fair to the students interested in that field that they have to pay so much for their education? Is it fair to the rest of the students not in that program if those costs are spread into university-wide tuition? WSU has committees set in place to continually keep track of and scrutinize the use of student fees and course fees. “I would hope that (students) know that we have their best interests at heart,” Dr. Davis said. “We’re trying to balance affordability with a quality higher education, and that’s sometimes a challenge. Sometimes to preserve quality your expenses are gonna rise a little bit. You’re trying to balance those two things, quality and affordability. You don’t
want to give a second-rate education; that’s not fair to them.” Student Fee Committee A student fee recommendation committee meets once a year to hear petitions from various groups about receiving more funding. For example, Miner said that the Arts and Humanities college recently petitioned to receive more funding for the performances they put on, and in exchange they would offer free tickets to students. The committee then decides where to contribute the money and how much for the next academic year. WSU’s student fee allocation chart, showing what percentage of the fees goes where, can be found online. For the current year, the student activities receive the highest percentage of those fees, at 25.62%. Course Fee Committee Similarly, there is a Course Fee Committee to approve changes to course fees and new course fees. Dr. Miner said that course fee applications go to this committee, who then scrutinize the applications and pass their recommendations on to the President’s council, which can scrutinize the recommendations. The chair of the committee is always a Dean of one of the colleges — currently serving is Yas Simonian of the Health Professions department — and included with them in the committee are various faculty members representing the different colleges of the University and a couple of students. Members serve three-year terms. Dr. Miner said that there is some discussion
about whether course fees should be approved by the institution’s Board of Trustees or even the state’s Board of Regents, which could potentially make the process even longer and more difficult. On top of these ongoing committees, the President of WSU can choose to form temporary task forces to scrutinize certain current issues of the University. They have a Dean at the chair and are made up of people the President thinks would be interested in the subject. Last spring, President Brad Mortensen initiated two task forces: one for the question of requiring proof of vaccination from incoming students, and one about course fees. The purpose of the course fees task force is to make sure that the course fees aren’t growing too quickly, make sure that money is going where it should go, and to assess the process to see that it’s being done right and assess whether it needs to be sent higher up the administration. “Everyone on the task force and on the course fee committee has student interests at heart, and every single member is trying to figure out what is the best way to provide a quality education that sometimes requires expenditures and equipment…at the same time trying to ensure that students aren’t overwhelmed with debt,” Miner said. “It’s a very tricky balance beam, but that’s what we’ve been trying to do.” The Utah State Higher Education System also performs audits on universities in the state every year. Dr. Miner said that this year
WSU is going under an audit specifically about course fees and making sure that they are being used correctly. The audit is not yet complete, so there are no results yet. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
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FINANCIAL AID EXPLAINED 14 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
By ASHLYND GREENWOOD Assistant Section Editor
For many students, finding ways to pay for school is essential to the continuation of their education. Whether this is through academic scholarships, work-study programs, housing scholarships or receiving tuition waivers, students are offered many forms of financial aid. When first applying for scholarships, many students tend to feel overwhelmed by the duration of time it takes to apply, and the amount of information needed.
DELANEY NYE | The
Signpost
Weber State University Sophomore Jessica Powell emphasizes this, “My first year at Weber State, I didn’t consider filling out the FAFSA. At this time, I didn’t think that I would receive any compensation. This year, I applied for the FAFSA, and I received money that I had no idea I would qualify for.” Powell also mentioned that her advice to any freshman is to just spend a few hours applying for scholarships and financial aid every year. According to the Financial Aid Office,
Weber State University offers more than $90 million in financial aid and scholarships each year. Aside from the University’s allotted money, FAFSA is a separate application that allocates $185 billion each year to students. The money comes from government funds, colleges/universities, and private sources. The FAFSA awards scholarships and grants, loans and work study. Scholarships and grants are offered as “gifts,” because students can take this money and do not have to repay it. These are based on financial need, academic responsibility, and athletic involvement. Within the FAFSA, there are also thousands of scholarships offered from private sources. Many of these include, research projects, essays and community involvement. Loans, on the other hand, are borrowed money that students must pay back in a specific amount of time. The downside of loans is that you gain interest on the original amount of the load and graduate with debt. Another option within the FAFSA is Work
Study. This offers students campus-based part time work. These students will receive a check, and can use this money towards on-campus living, books and tuition costs. The first step is to fill out the FAFSA. This document requires your tax information, job information and various personal information. Then, students can create their Financial Aid Verify Account through the eWeber app. Finally, students need to complete the Specialized Scholarship Application. The Financial Aid webpage walks students through each of these steps. “The Specialized Scholarship Application opened on Sept. 1 2019 for the Fall 2020 award year. Although, the earlier the application is completed the better. The Financial Aid priority deadline to have financial aid ready for Fall semester is Apr. 1, 2020 for the Fall 2020 award year,” said Jed Spencer, director of financial aid and scholarships. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 15
cultural cult ural CONNECTIONS CONNE CTIONS
COMMUNITY Cultural Connections works to collaborate with our ethnicbased organizations, as well as, organizations that want to collaborate to promote and educate around issues on diversity and inclusivity.
Find out more at weber.edu/diversity
awareness Community Awareness collaborates with community organizations and entities to create events that promote Diversity and Inclusivity.
Find out more at weber.edu/diversity
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MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 17
UNION UNITES FOR DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
By SHARON VALVERDE VARGAS Reporter
Uniting to learn about the Latinx culture through festivities, the Union Station held their Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 1. Beyond the traditional skull and flower decorations, Día de los Muertos unites families to commemorate their ancestors. Various attendees came to the festivities to learn about the deep-rooted history of the day and enjoy and support a different culture. “It’s fun and different than American culture,” said Ogden resident Alisha Bradbury. “It’s fun to see what different cultures do for different holidays.”
The Union showcased the traditional Día de los Muertos altar. Often, an altar includes a large photo of the deceased relative or friend one is celebrating, water, pan de muerto, papel picado and sugar skulls. “It was cool to see the altares because you usually just see it in pictures, but to see it live is different,” Bradbury said. The Latinx culture often emphasizes teaching children about Día de los Muertos, showcasing that it is a day of celebration, not a day to be afraid of. Children’s faces were painted with traditional calaveras — skulls — and flowers at the Union’s middle fountain. Booths were dedicated to teaching children how to make papel picado, perforat-
ed paper. Different colored paper have varying meanings, with some signifying mourning and others purity. The booths also helped children make paper flowers that look like Día de los Muertos cempasúchil flower. Children and families were able to build their own miniature altars. Families brought photos of loved ones who passed away to honor them. In the midst of the activities, food trucks maintained lines during the 38 degree Nov. night. Attendees stayed warm with tacos and pozole, a traditional Mexican soup. Girls with painted faces and tehuana dresses, a traditional garment known for its embroidery, provided entertainment
as they danced inside the Union to classic Latinx music. Gabriela Mendoza, an Ogden local, said the occasion was a perfect opportunity to gather with the community and indulge. “We gather as a family; we never let them slip off, ever,” Mendoza said. “We gather all our memories and everything we want to share with them, and we carry those memories and Nov. 2 we indulge together.” Mendoza urges people to see the beauty within the Latinx culture, celebrate those who’ve passed and not allow time to let the memories fade away. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com NIKKI DORBER | The Signpost
Altar on campus honoring loved ones who have passed away
UNION UNIDO POR EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
By SHARON VALVERDE VARGAS Reportera
By ANDRES RODRIGUEZ Traductor
Uniéndose para aprender sobre la cultura Latinx a través de las festividades, el Union Station celebró la festividad del Día de los Muertos en Nov. 1. Más allá de las decoraciones tradicionales de calaveras y flores, el Día de los Muertos une familias para conmemorar a sus antepasados. Varios antepasados que asistían a estas festividades para conocer la arraigada historia del día, disfrutar y apoyar una diferente cultura. “Es divertido y diferente de la cultura
Americana,” dijo Alisha Bradbury, una residente de Ogden. “Es divertido ver lo que hacen otras culturas en sus dias especiales.” La cultura Latinx a menudo enfatiza la enseñanza a los niños y niñas sobre el Día de los Muertos, demostrando que es un día de celebración, no un día para tener miedo. Las cara de los niños y niñas fueron pintadas de calavera y flores en la fuente situada en el centro del Union Station. Los stands fueron dedicados para enseñar a los niños y niñas a como realizar papel picado. Los diferentes colores de papel tienen diferentes significados, algunos significan luto y otros pureza. Los stands también ayudaron a los niños y niñas a
hacer flores de papel que se parecen a la flor de Cempasúchil del Día de los Muertos. Los niños y las familias pudieron construir sus propios altares en miniatura. Las familias trajeron fotos de sus seres queridos que fallecieron para enaltecerlos. En medio de las actividades, los camiones de comida mantuvieron filas durante los 38 grados de la noche. La audiencia permaneció caliente con los tacos y pozole. Las niñas con sus caras pintadas y vestidos de tehuana, una prenda tradicional conocida por sus bordados, brindaban entretenimiento mientras danzaban dentro de la Unión con música clásica latina. Gabriela Mendoza, una persona local
de Ogden, dijo que la ocasión era una oportunidad perfecta para reunirse con la comunidad y disfrutar. “Nosotros nos reunimos como una familia; nunca dejamos a alguien fuera,” Mendoza dijo. “Nosotros reunimos todos nuestros recuerdos y todo lo que queremos compartir con ellos, y llevamos esos recuerdos en el 2 de noviembre y nosotros los simplificamos juntos”. Mendoza impulsa a las personas a que vean la belleza de la cultura Latinx, celebren a los fallecidos y no permitan que el tiempo desvanezca las memorias. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
18 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
WSU ONE OF THE BEST
pixabay.com
FOR VETS By DEBORAH WILBUR Reporter
Weber State University ranks as one of the best institutions for student vets in the nation. Marine Corps veteran Robert Brito, who works for Veteran Services at WSU Davis, received the news while interviewing with The Signpost for his upcoming Veteran’s Day event. Out of the 134 public four-year colleges reviewed by the Military Times, WSU came in at 17. Cheers of excitement broke out among veteran services staff upon hearing the news. “Oh yeah, we’re in the A group,” Veterans Services Acting Coordinator Sheila Simko said. Never before in WSU’s history has it been up for national review, not because WSU didn’t meet the standards, but rather because no one filled out the 100-plus pages of paperwork required. Brito took it upon himself to gather the information and file it with the Military Times. The five categories used in the evaluations included university culture, student support, academic policies, academic outcomes/quality and cost and financial aid. Only one other institution in Utah made the list: Dixie State University in St. George. University culture and student support carried the most weight in the evaluation, and Dixie came in at 116.
This did not come as a surprise to Caili Gosnell, who left her home in Layton to attend Dixie. Using her father’s benefits through Veterans Affairs Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program, Gosnell gave up on her studies after one year. As a single mother with limited funds, she found herself struggling to find support at Veteran and Military Student Services at Dixie State. “The connection on campus wasn’t there,” Gosnell said. “They didn’t seem to care, so I didn’t.” Gosnell did not return to her studies for four years, but when she did, she found Brito and Veteran Services, which helped her every step of the way to get established at WSU. As Brito prepares to graduate in 13 days, he and Simko work to provide Gosnell with the skill set to fill Brito’s position. Gosnell is looking forward to the ability to support veterans, not only with their education but with any life circumstances with which they may need help. Army veteran Adam Darby is grateful for his Veteran Services family at WSU because they pull together to help their fellow brothers and sisters. “We’re all veterans, it’s just what we do,” Darby said. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com | November 07, 2019 | 19 unsplash.com
COUNTING THE POPULATION By KENLEE EAST
Assistant Section Editor
April 1, 2020 is the next national census day. People everywhere can respond online, and it is said to be easier than ever before. The United States Census Bureau said in press release that “in 2020, we will implement new technology to make it easier than ever to respond to the census. For the first time, you will be able to respond online, by phone, as well as by mail. We will use data that the public has already provided to reduce followup visits. And, we are building an accurate address list and automating out field operations — all while keeping your information classified and safe.” The U.S Census Bureau is the federal
government’s largest statistical agency. Each decade, it is required by the U.S Constitution to do a nationwide census. The census helps decide how many representatives each state gets in Congress and whether or not to create bigger or smaller district boundaries. Due to the census, the government distributes more than $675 billion to states each decade. The census is based across all 50 states. It counts every person in every household. It is said by the U.S census that 95 percent of the population will receive it through mail. Almost 5 percent will receive it when a census taker drops off the form at their house. Less than 1 percent will be counted in person when census taker comes to their door. “Every decade since 1790, the U.S. Census Bureau has conducted a constitution-
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ally mandated census to determine the number of people living within the United States and our territories,” Cathy Lacy, Regional Director U.S Census Bureau in the Denver Region said. “These data are used by our nation’s leaders to help make vital decisions on behalf of all residents, including reapportionment and redistricting. Census data also affects how federal funds are distributed to tribal, state and local governments each year. The 2020 Census is confidential and your answers cannot be used against you. The census is only looking for statistics in the information that you give. One of the statements that the U.S. Census 2020 gave was, “When you trust us with your information, our goal — and legal duty — is to keep it safe. Our mission is to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data and
about its people and economy.” Utah’s population estimate as of July 2018 was 3,161,105. The population count for the United States was 327,167,434 as of July 2018. From the last census in 2010, Utah’s population has grown by 397,214 people. Lacy also said, “One of the primary goals of the 2020 Census is to maximize the self response to the census. This not only reduces the overall cost of the census, but it also increases the accuracy of these data as well. Tribal, state and local governments, as well as community and business organizations can help us achieve this goal by bringing local knowledge and expertise to the process.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
20 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
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22 | November 07, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com
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16 | November 04, 2019 | MyWeberMedia.com