The Signpost Celebrates Black History Month, 2/4/25

Page 1


“I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS A PERSON WHO WANTED TO BE FREE... SO OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE ALSO FREE.”

“THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.”

“The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.”

The signpost celebrates

Black History Month

AI for hire

On Jan. 21, the Weber State University Police Department received an email request through the Red Flag System, an anonymous reporting website for Weber students, faculty and staff. The email regarded concern over a Weber State employee using AI to obtain a staff position. After investigation, police found no evidence supporting the claim and closed the case as a false report.

Deer on the run

On Jan. 22, a WSU officer responded to a report of an injured deer near the Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building. The deer moved toward the Annex 2 building, where Weber Police located the deer and described it as having an obviously broken leg, but they were unable to restrain the animal. WSUPD contacted the Department of Natural Resources the following day.

Suspicious person call

On Jan. 23, WSU police received a call informing them of a man acting with suspicious behavior toward women on campus. The informant claimed to have met the man on a dating app but was suspicious of his claim of being a student due to him claiming to take classes not part of Weber’s curriculum. The informant said she observed him at the Silent Disco on Jan. 17, where the man acted with unusual behavior toward her and other women. The reported man is now under police radar. WSU police ask students to report any suspicious activity on campus.

Telephone harassment

On Jan. 23, Weber police officers responded to a call about telephone harassment of a student on campus. The victim received multiple texts and phone calls from a student at Utah Tech University despite repeatedly telling the student to stop. The victim informed police she had blocked the individual.

Broken relationship

On Jan. 23, WSUPD conducted a welfare check on a self-harmed individual at the Dee Events Center parking lot. A call came from the Counseling & Psychological Services Center, where the informant expressed concern for the individual after getting into an argument in a campus parking lot. The two parties were reportedly arguing over a breakup, where they split ways after the argument. Officers were able to make arrangements for both parties to get help and safety.

GET MONEY FOR SCHOOL!

Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find federal scholarships, work-study and loans available to you. Do this every year. It only takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Financial Aid Verify allows you to view your financial aid requirements and submit your requirements electronically. If you have not yet created a Financial Aid Verify account, it only takes a few minutes and you only have to create it once. This account cannot be created until WSU has received your FAFSA, so wait 10 business days from the day you submit your FAFSA to create this account.

Fill out the Planned Enrollment Levels

This only takes a moment to report your planned enrollment, living arrangements and your interest in work study. This will help us award you more accurately.

State & National Scholarships

Find WSU and national scholarship opportunities by completing the Scholarship Universe Application, under Financial Aid and Scholarships in your eWeber Portal. Scholarship applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. This account takes 30 minutes to one hour to set up, but you only have to create it once and update the questions as needed to ensure that the program is finding all of the scholarships you are qualified for. You will have to go in every year to apply for the scholarships you want to apply for.

weber.edu/pay-for-school

Scholarship Universe has WSU and approved nationwide scholarships that you are eligible for. Search Financial Aid and Scholarships in your eWeber Portal.

EXPERIENCING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT WEBER AFTER HB 261

2025 marks the first year Weber State University celebrates Black History Month without the Black Cultural Center. With big shoes to fill, students, clubs and organizations prepare to answer the call.

In the United States, Black History Month occurs every February to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black men and women throughout history and recognizes struggles endured by Black communities in the past - a tradition dating back to the summer of 1915.

Students at Weber set out to prove this year will be no different than the past as clubs and organizations unleash a flurry of events across campus. Some groups, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, have already begun their campaign.

The NAACP jumped into Black History Month on Jan. 31 with a conference called “Expect the Great,” a two-day event focusing on college career readiness. The event gave both college and high school students tools and advice in committing and progressing through college.

“We really want to showcase support and overall just let people know we’re here,” Isabel Adame, WSU branch president of the NAACP, said. “In order to feel seen, you need to be seen.”

The NAACP won’t stop there, as they have various events with local Black businesses and licensed professionals throughout the month of February.

“From hair braiders to health care services and anything in between,” Adame said. “ It’s a really good opportunity to support and discover businesses that directly benefit the people of color in Ogden and Weber State.”

The NAACP is not alone, as multiple other groups, such as Black Scholars United, the African Student Union and the Student Success Center, contribute to a month of recognition.

“We work together with ASU and BSU quite a bit,” Adame said. “They have a lot of events coming up as well.”

Students can learn more about these events in multiple ways: flyers posted around campus, joining email announcements via Weber State clubs and organizations page, or club websites. The Student Success Center also posts detailed, week-to-week information on the official website.

Students on campus have expressed interest in the upcoming celebrations, saying that events are a good way to recognize the importance of Black history.

Malcolm Rolling, WSU student and advocate for Black History Month, claims he has personally witnessed classmates lost during class discussions, saying students were never taught or never impactfully taught about Black history and Black culture.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t really understand the impact that black history had,” Rolling said. “I understood a lot more as I grew older that Black History Month, for just my

culture, it’s 28 to 29 days of celebration of all of the ones who helped us get to where Black culture is today.”

Student engagement with those unfamiliar with Black culture has been a common goal among supporters of the cause.

“I think it’s important to learn our culture and the way that we see the world,” Kalijah Robinson, vice president of Weber State’s NAACP branch, said. “People can kinda step in there and learn about it, hear about it, see it, maybe possibly feel it.”

Despite a month filled with celebration, some members of

Adame doesn’t stand alone in this belief.

“We can’t just start the last week of January and end right before February ends,” Rolling said. “It’s gotta be a full effort, 365 days out of the year.”

This issue has sparked another debate as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has reemerged in headlines, causing many to believe celebrations like Black History Month are the only tools left to have a voice.

A little over a year ago, Gov. Cox signed HB261 into law, which forced all educational institutions to make changes to DEI school centers and programs. Weber State complied, removing and replacing centers like the Black Cultural Center with the Student Success Center.

“I think the Student Success Center has done a great job supporting the cause,” Student Engagement Program Manager Maryan Shale said. “HB261 doesn’t let you have programming that’s only for one demographic, but I think with the Student Success Center, they still have importance.”

Supporters of the removal of DEI programs argue it would allow job offers and educational opportunities to be given to individuals who are most qualified, regardless of race and gender. Critics of this decision contend that rescinding this act would lead to a resurgence of prioritizing “white-male” interests, mirroring a Jim Crow era.

“This is not gonna be the last of it,” Rolling said. “Now they’re saying it’s about merit and equal opportunity. Next, they’ll say it’s because they want to allocate the right funds to the right places.”

Rolling stands amongst a crowd feeling these set of changes gives a glance of what’s to come.

“If anything, enough people have enabled this behavior that people in the future are going to use this as a stepping stone to keep doing stuff like this,” Rolling said. “They’re just gonna find other ways to put a mask on it and label it whatever they want.”

Others, like Robinson, have a different perspective hinting opportunities for change and empowerment.

“I’m not really so much worried about history repeating itself just as much as more people learning about it and learning that people do have a voice and that your voice can make a big change, no matter whether it’s about civil rights, civics, politics, anything like that,” Robinson said.

Regardless of how you see Black History Month, Weber State proves it’s alive and well, ready to launch off.

the Black community claim the holiday won’t be enough to force an impact.

“I understand that February is Black History Month, but as much as I’d like to say ‘Hey, support Black-owned businesses,’ it should not just be during Black History Month,” Adame said.

“There are seeds of people who have been able to break through,” Rolling said. “Students who are still here on this campus, and another campus around the state, are going to propel themself and really want to make a difference. Students, like myself, really want to be a part of that difference as much as we can but it all starts with being able to celebrate the ones who did it before us.”

American Sociologist and one of the founders of the NAACP, W. E. B. Du Bois.

EXPERIMENTANDO EL MES DE HISTORIA NEGRA EN WEBER STATE DESPUÉS DE HB 261

2025 es el primer año en que la Universidad de Weber State celebra el Mes de la Historia Negra (Black History Month) sin el Centro Cultural Negro (Black Cultural Center). Los estudiantes, clubes y organizaciones se preparan para cumplir su misión.

En los Estados Unidos, el Mes de la Historia Negra se celebra cada febrero para celebrar los logros y contribuciones de los hombres y mujeres de la cultura negra durante la historia y reconoce las luchas sufridas por las comunidades negras en el pasado, una tradición que se inició en el verano de 1915. Los estudiantes de Weber decidieron demostrar que este año no será diferente a los anteriores, y los clubes y organizaciones organizaron un montón de eventos por todo el campus. Algunos grupos, como la Asociación Nacional para el Progreso de las Personas de Color (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP), ya han comenzado su campaña.

El NAACP inició el Mes de la Historia Negra el 31 de enero con una conferencia llamada “Expect the Great” (“Espera lo mejor”), un evento de dos días enfocado en la preparación para las carreras universitarias. El evento dio a los estudiantes universitarios y de secundaria las herramientas y consejos para comprometerse y progresar en la universidad.

“Queremos mostrar nuestro apoyo y sobre todo que la gente sepa que estamos aquí”, dijo Isabel Adame, presidenta de la sección de la NAACP en WSU. “Para sentirse considerado, hay que ser considerado”.

El NAACP no parará allí. Tienen varios eventos con negocios locales negros y profesionales licenciados durante todo febrero. “Desde trenzadores de cabello hasta servicios de atención médica y todo lo demás”, dijo Adame. “Es una muy buena oportunidad para apoyar y descubrir negocios que benefician directamente a las personas de color en Ogden y Weber State”.

El NAACP no está solo, ya que muchos otros grupos, como Escolares Negros Unidos (Black Scholars United, BSU), el African

Student Union (ASU, Unión de Estudiantes Africanos) y el Centro de Éxito Estudiantil (Student Success Center), contribuyen a un mes de reconocimiento.

“Colaboramos bastante con ASU y BSU», dijo Adame. “Ellos también tienen muchos eventos en camino”.

Los estudiantes pueden aprender más acerca de estos eventos de muchas maneras: volantes publicados en todo el campus, anuncios de correo electrónico en la página de los clubes y organizaciones de Weber State, o las páginas web de los clubes. El Centro de Éxito Estudiantil también publica información detallada semana a semana en la página web oficial.

Los estudiantes de la universidad han expresado su interés en las próximas celebraciones, diciendo que los eventos son una buena manera de reconocer la importancia de la historia negra.

Malcolm Rolling, estudiante en WSU y defensor del Mes de la Historia Negra, afirma que él personalmente ha sido testigo de compañeros de clase perdidos durante las discusiones en clase, diciendo que a los estudiantes nunca les enseñaron o nunca les enseñaron el impacto de la historia negra y la cultura negra.

“Cuando estaba creciendo, realmente no entendía el impacto que tenía la historia negra”, dijo Rolling. “Entendí mucho más cuando crecí que el Mes de la Historia Negra, sólo para mi cultura, es 28 o 29 días de celebración de todos los que nos ayudaron a llegar a donde la cultura negra está hoy”.

La participación de los estudiantes con los que no conocen la cultura negra ha sido un objetivo común entre los que apoyan la causa.

“Creo que es importante conocer nuestra cultura y nuestra forma de ver el mundo”, dice Kalijah Robinson, vicepresidente de la sección del NAACP de Weber State. “La gente puede entrar ahí y conocerla, oírla, verla y quizás hasta sentirla”.

A pesar de ser un mes lleno de celebraciones, algunos miembros de la comunidad negra afirman que la festividad no será suficiente para causar un impacto.

“Entiendo que febrero es el Mes de la Historia Negra, pero por mucho que me gustaría decir ‘Oye, apoya a los negocios de propietarios negros’, no debería ser sólo durante el Mes de la Historia Negra”, dijo Adame.

Adame no está soólo en esta idea.

“No podemos empezar la última semana de enero y terminar justo antes de que acabe febrero”, dijo Rolling. “Tiene que ser un esfuerzo completo, los 365 días del año”.

Esta cuestión ha provocado otra discusión, ya que la Diversidad, la Equidad y la Inclusión (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; DEI) ha resurgido en los titulares, haciendo que muchos crean que celebraciones como el Mes de la Historia Negra son las únicas herramientas que quedan para tener una voz.

Hace un poco más de un año, el Gobernador Cox firmó la Ley HB261, que obligaba a todas las instituciones educativas a hacer cambios en los centros y programas escolares de DEI. Weber State obedeció, eliminando y sustituyendo centros como el Centro Cultural Negro por el Centro de Éxito Estudiantil.

“Creo que el Centro de Éxito Estudiantil ha hecho un gran trabajo apoyando la causa”, dijo Maryan Shale, Director del Programa de Participación Estudiantil (Student Engagement Program Manager). “HB261 no te permite tener programación que es sólo para un grupo demográfico, pero creo que con el Centro de Éxito Estudiantil, todavía tienen importancia”.

Los que apoyan la eliminación de los programas DEI discuten que esto permitiría que las oportunidades de trabajo y educación se dieran a las personas más cualificadas, sin importar la raza o el género. Los críticos de esta decisión afirman que la eliminación de esta ley podría provocar un resurgimiento de la prioridad a los intereses de los “hombres blancos”, reflejando la época de Jim Crow.

“Esto no será lo último”, dijo Rolling. “Ahora dicen que es por el mérito y la igualdad de oportunidades. Luego dirán que es porque quieren distribuir los fondos adecuados, en los lugares adecuados”.

Rolling está entre un grupo de gente que siente que esta serie de cambios da una idea de lo que está por venir.

“En cualquier caso, suficiente gente ha permitido este comportamiento que la gente en el futuro va a utilizar esto como escalera para seguir haciendo cosas como esto”, dijo Rolling. “Sólo van a encontrar otras maneras de ponerle una máscara y ponerle la etiqueta que quieran”.

Otros, como Robinson, tienen una perspectiva diferente que insinúa oportunidades de cambio y empoderamiento.

“No estoy tan preocupada de que la historia se repita como que más gente aprenda sobre el tema y aprenda que la gente tiene voz y que tu voz puede hacer un gran cambio, no importa si se trata de derechos civiles, civismo, política, cualquier cosa”, dijo Robinson.

De cualquier manera que se vea el Mes de la Historia Negra, Weber State demuestra que está vivo y bien, listo para lanzarse.

“Hay semillas de personas que han sido capaces de abrir un camino”, dijo Rolling. “Los estudiantes que todavía están aquí en este campus, y en otro campus en el estado, van a proyectarse y realmente quieren hacer una diferencia. Los estudiantes, como yo, realmente queremos ser parte de esa diferencia tanto como podamos, pero todo comienza con ser capaces de celebrar a los que lo hicieron antes que nosotros.”

Se comparte esta historia en thesignpostwsu.com

Periodista Investigativa, Socióloga, Educadora, y una de las fundadoras de la NAACP, Ida B.

Student Support & Resource Center

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

Have questions about college? Looking for support services?

Want to get involved and connect with others but don’t know how? Come

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MAKES BIG CHANGES

Jan. 20 marked the beginning of a new administration in the United States of America. The 45th and 47th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, began his inauguration speech by saying, “The Golden Age of America begins right now.”

Trump planned on wasting no time, saying, “Today I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.”

Trump then declared a national emergency at the southern border.

“All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens from which they came,” Trump said just before reinstating his “Remain in Mexico” policy, previously removed during

the Biden-Harris administration.

Tens of thousands of appointments at the border were canceled on the day of the inauguration. On the evening of Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order challenging the 14th amendment of the Constitution, attempting to deny babies born to illegal immigrants the right to be citizens of the United States.

As another step toward securing the southern border, Trump promised mass deportation of illegal immigrants across the country and hopes to achieve this through invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

“I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks,” Trump said.

Trump aims to make the United States selfsufficient in producing and manufacturing energy. The president claims the nation will

no longer rely on energy provided from outside sources, but drilling on U.S. soil will continue.

“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices,” Trump said. “That is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency.”

The 47th president declared the end of the Green New Deal and revoked the electric vehicle mandate, declaring his success in keeping his self-proclaimed “sacred pledge” to American auto workers.

On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on Mexican, Canadian and Chinese imports.

“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” Trump said during his inauguration speech.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by saying, “The actions taken

today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together,” before applying matching 25% tariffs on United States imports.

During his inauguration speech, Trump said, “I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

Trump then signed an executive order ending all diversity, equity and inclusion programs on a federal level.

Trump has called for all DEI staff to be put on paid leave and eventually laid off. The Trump-Vance Administration continues to work towards a society Trump describes as “colorblind and merit-based.”

Trump finished his inauguration speech with “Our golden age has just begun. Thank you. God Bless America.”

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20.

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/

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.

WSU ARCHIVES REFLECTS ON CULTURAL CENTERS AFTER HB 261

Weber State University closed the doors on its various cultural centers after House Bill 261 took effect in the summer of 2024. The campus culture centers aimed to connect people with similar backgrounds and to provide a safe space for marginalized communities.

Even with the centers closed, the impact they had on staff and students is still felt on campus. Weber State’s Special Collections & University Archives department is working to collect the oral histories of those who visited the centers in order to document their impact.

SCUA collects oral histories from people all over Ogden and surrounding areas. The histories collected a range of topics, such as LGBTQ history, the impact of women on Weber State and the stories of immigrants living in the Ogden area.

“Connecting Weber: History of the Cultural Centers” is the department’s current project to collect the histories of the cultural centers. Kandice Harris, archival

coordinator for SCUA, hopes this collection will capture the impact the centers had on students.

“We’re just trying to gather stories of people who have either worked or used the centers — what their favorite memories are and what the impact is with the centers now closed,” Harris said.

The project is still looking for more participants to share their experiences with the centers.

“Most of our questions are going to be geared towards their experiences with the centers, and those have been all positive,” Harris said. “One gentleman that we interviewed said he didn’t really find his community until he went to one of the centers. It was the Black Cultural Center, and he was able to connect with people that way.”

Many of the interviewed participants found safety and security within the community centers. Others found themselves able to explore their authentic selves within the community provided by the centers.

“Community means you have a place

that’s safe — you have a place where you feel like you belong,” one participant said. “You feel like you have a place that is judgmentfree, that people accept you for who you are — not in spite of your differences, or your past, or whatnot. They accept you 100% authentically.”

Though the centers are closed, the community they provided is still out there for students looking for a support system. One example of this is Weber State’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization focused on achieving equality and social inclusion for Black people and all people of color.

Weber State’s chapter of the NAACP holds events that help empower Black students and help create a community. One upcoming event is their Roots and Radiance Expo on Feb. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Atrium. This event will feature local Black-owned businesses and organizations located in the Ogden area. Students looking to volunteer and be directly involved in the community can volunteer to help tutor students at Project

Success every Tuesday from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Project Success office, located at 2909 Washington Blvd. Volunteers will get an opportunity to tutor students from elementary to high school, creating an opportunity to be directly involved in the community.

Weber State’s Special Collections & University Archives encourages students to share their experiences with the nowclosed cultural centers on campus.

La colección especial y los archivos de la Universidad alienta a los estudiantes a compartir sus experiencias ya que los centros culturales han cerrado en el campus.

The Black Cultural Center was located inside the Shepherd Union, but it is now the location of a Mentoring Programs center.
Weber State University students talking with each other inside of the Black Cultural Center.

LOS ARCHIVOS DE WSU HACEN UNA REFLEXIÓN ACERCA DE SUS CENTROS CULTURALES DESPUÉS DEL HB 261

La Universidad de Weber State cerró las puertas de sus varios centros culturales después de que la Ley 261 entrará en efecto el verano de 2024. Los centros culturales del campus tenían el objetivo de poner en contacto a personas con antecedentes similares y ofrecían un espacio seguro a las comunidades marginadas.

Incluso con los centros cerrados, el impacto que tuvieron en el personal y los estudiantes todavía se siente en el campus. El departamento de Colecciones Especiales y Archivos de Weber State (Weber State’s Special Collections & University Archives, SCUA) está trabajando para recopilar las historias orales de aquellos que visitaron los centros con el fin de documentar su impacto.

SCUA recoge historias orales de personas de todo Ogden y a sus alrededores. Las historias recogen una serie de temas, como la historia LGBTQ, el impacto de las mujeres en Weber State y las historias de los inmigrantes que viven en la zona de Ogden.

“Conectando con Weber: historia de los centros” es el proyecto actual del departamento para recopilar las historias de los centros culturales. Kandice Harris, coordinadora de archivos de SCUA, espera que esta colección capte el impacto que los centros tuvieron en los estudiantes.

“Solo estamos tratando de recolectar historias de las personas que han trabajado o usado los centros – cuáles son sus recuerdos favoritos y cuál es el impacto con los centros ahora que están cerrados,”, dijo Harris.

El proyecto sigue buscando participantes para compartir sus experiencias con los centros.

“La mayoría de nuestras preguntas se centrarán en sus experiencias con los

Lo que solía ser el centro de cultura negra es ahora la oficina del programa de mentoría. La oficina del programa de mentorías, conocida anteriormente como el centro de cultura negra, conecta a los estudiantes con mentores.

centros, y todas han sido positivas”, afirma Harris. “Un señor al que entrevistamos dijo que no encontró realmente su comunidad hasta que fue a uno de los centros. Era el Centro Cultural Afroamericano, y así pudo conectar con la gente”.

Varias de las personas entrevistadas consiguieron seguridad dentro de los centros comunitarios. Otros descubrieron que podían explorar su auténtico ser dentro de la comunidad que ofrecían los centros.

“Comunidad significa que tienes un lugar seguro, un lugar al que sientes que perteneces”, afirma uno de los participantes.

“Sientes que tienes un lugar donde no te juzgan, donde la gente te acepta por lo que eres, no a pesar de tus diferencias, tu pasado

o lo que sea. Te aceptan con autenticidad al 100 por ciento”.

Aunque los centros están cerrados, la comunidad que proporcionaban sigue ahí para los estudiantes que buscan un sistema de apoyo. Un ejemplo de ello es la sección de Weber State de la Asociación Nacional para el Progreso de las Personas de Color (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP), una organización centrada en lograr la igualdad y la inclusión social de las personas Afroamericanas y todas las personas de color.

El capítulo de la NAACP de Weber State celebra eventos que ayudan a empoderar a los estudiantes de color y a crear una comunidad. Uno de los próximos

eventos es su Roots and Radiance Expo el 7 de febrero de las 11 a.m. hasta las 3 p.m. en el Shepherd Union Atrium. Este evento contó con empresas locales de propiedad de los Afroamericanos y organizaciones ubicadas en el área de Ogden. Los estudiantes que buscan ser voluntarios y participar directamente en la comunidad pueden ser voluntarios para ayudar a los estudiantes en tutoría en el Proyecto de Éxito todos los martes de 4:30-7 p.m. en la oficina del Proyecto de Éxito, ubicado en 2909 Washington Blvd. Los voluntarios tendrán la oportunidad de ser tutores de estudiantes de primaria a secundaria, creando una oportunidad para involucrarse directamente en la comunidad.

KELLY NGUYEN

WSU MEN’S BASKETBALL STUMBLES IN RECENT GAMES

Weber State University suffered a tough week at home, dropping back-to-back games against the University of Idaho (82–74) and Eastern Washington University (72–49) at the Dee Events Center. Despite strong performances from Blaise Threatt, the Wildcats struggled to contain their opponents’ offense and faced issues with efficiency on both ends of the floor.

Weber’s senior guard, Miguel Tomley, will be sidelined indefinitely due to a health issue. Tomley, who averaged 11.2 points per game this season, has been dealing with the situation for some time and will step away to focus on his recovery. His performance this season included a dip in shooting, with 32% from three-point range and 9.3 points per game in Big Sky competition.

Sophomore Viljami Vartiainen is expected

to fill the starting shooting guard role in Tomley’s absence. Vartiainen scored a career-high 22 points in the Wildcats’ recent win against Sacramento State University.

Weber State vs. Idaho

Weber State opened the homestand against Idaho but couldn’t keep pace with the Vandals’ sharp perimeter shooting. Idaho knocked down 13 three-pointers, shooting 36.1% from three.

Threatt led Weber State with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Dyson Koehler added 13 points and Viljami Vartiainen finished with 11. The Wildcats shot 49% from the field but struggled at the freethrow line, converting just 15-of-24 (62.5%).

Tyler Mrus fueled Idaho’s offense with 21 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Kristian Gonzalez added 14 points, going 10for-13 from the free-throw line. Idaho’s ability to get to the free-throw line and control the

tempo proved decisive.

“We let them get too many open looks,” head coach Eric Duft said. “You can’t win close games when you give up that many threes and don’t convert your free throws.”

Weber State vs. Eastern Washington

Hoping to rebound against Eastern Washington, the Wildcats instead suffered one of their worst offensive performances of the season. Weber State shot 27.3% from the field and couldn’t overcome early shooting struggles as the Eagles took control.

Threatt once again led the way with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists, but he lacked offensive support. Vartiainen was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 13 points, while the rest of the team struggled to find a rhythm.

“We’ll have nights where we’ll obviously shoot better than that, and right no,w I think we have a team that’s trying so hard that

we’re playing worse,” Duft said.

Eastern Washington dominated the rebounding battle, outboarding Weber 44–34, and got a game-high 27 points from Andrew Cook, who shot 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. The Eagles took a double-digit lead early in the second half and never allowed Weber to recover.

With the losses, Weber State falls to 8–15 overall and 2–7 in the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats are tied for last in the conference with Sacramento State and are down 4–0 at the Dee and down 3–2 on the road.

The ‘Cats will host the University of Northern Arizona on Feb. 3 and Idaho State University on Feb. 8 at the Dee Events Center; both games start at 7 p.m.

Blaise Threatt chooses between passing or evading on Jan. 30 against Idaho.

EL EQUIPO MASCULINO DE BASKETBALL DE

WEBER STATE ENCUENTRA DIFICULTADES EN SUS RECIENTES JUEGOS.

La Universidad de Weber State ha sufrido una semana difícil en su hogar, jugando contra la Universidad de Idaho (82-74) y la Universidad de Eastern Washington (72-49) en el Dee Events Center. A pesar del desempeño fuerte de Blaise Threatt, los Wildcats lucharon contra la ofensiva del equipo opuesto y enfrentaron problemas en los dos lados del equipo.

El jugador de cuarto año de Weber, Mi-

partido en la competencia de Big Sky.

El jugador de segundo año Viljami Vartiainen, ocupará el puesto en ausencia de Tomley. Vartiainen anotó 22 puntos en la reciente victoria de los Wildcats contra la Universidad de Sacramento State.

Weber State contra Idaho

Weber State se estrenó en casa contra Idaho, pero no pudo seguir el ritmo de los Vandals en el tiro desde el perímetro. Idaho anotó 13 tiros de 3 puntos y tiró un 36,1% desde la tercera línea.

Threatt dirigió a Weber State con 19 puntos, 8 asistencias y 6 rebotes, mientras que Dyson Koehler añadió 13 puntos y Viljami

guel Tomley, será apartado indefinidamente por problemas de salud. Tomely, que hizo un promedio de 11,2 puntos por cada partido esta temporada, ha tenido esta situación por un tiempo y va a alejarse para enfocarse en su recuperación. Su desempeño esta temporada incluyó un bajón en los tiros, con 32% de tiros de tres puntos y 9,3 puntos por cada

capacidad de Idaho para llegar a la línea de tiros libres y controlar el tempo fue decisiva. “Dejamos que tuvieran demasiadas oportunidades”, dijo el entrenador Eric Duft. “No puedes ganar partidos igualados cuando permites tantos tiros de 3 y no consigues convertir tus tiros libres”.

Weber State contra Eastern

Vartiainen terminó con 11. Los Wildcats tiraron un 49% desde el campo pero tuvieron problemas en la línea de tiros libres, convirtiendo sólo 15 de 24 (62,5%).

Tyler Mrus dirigió la ofensiva de Idaho con 21 puntos, anotando 4 triples, mientras que Kristian González añadió 14 puntos, yendo 10 de 13 desde la línea de tiros libres. La

la Universidad de Idaho State el 8 de febrero en el Dee Events Center; ambos partidos comienzan a las 7 p.m.

Blaise Threatt se mueve hacia la cesta en el partido en contra Idaho el 30 de Enero.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GOES THROUGH THE HOOPS AT BIG SKY

Weber State University’s women’s basketball team started a stretch of four away games in the Big Sky Conference with a 77–62 loss to the University of Idaho on Jan. 30, but they quickly bounced back with a 62–48 win against Eastern Washington University on Feb. 1.

Already off the ground, Antoniette Emma-Nnopu aims her shot.

THE SIGNPOST TEAM

Editor-in-Chief Brisa Odenthal brisaodenthal@mail.weber.edu

Managing Editor

Emilie Hart emiliehart@mail.weber.edu

Design & Graphics Editor

Star Neil starneil@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Design & Graphics Editor

Matthew Holland matthewholland@mail.weber.edu

Photo Editor

Anna Kuglar briannakuglar@mail.weber.edu

Chief Copy Editor

Justin Steed justinsteed@mail.weber.edu

Weber State vs. Idaho

The Wildcats broke their two-game winning streak on Jan. 30 as they fell 77–62 to the Idaho Vandals at the ICCU Arena in Moscow, Idaho. Weber’s slow start to the game allowed Idaho to score nearly double their points in the first quarter, but the Wildcats could not recover.

Senior forward Rose Bubakar and sophomore forward Taylor Smith led Weber State’s offensive efforts with 17 and 16 points, but the Wildcats shot 29.7% from the field and 25% from behind the arc. On the opposite side, Idaho managed 44.3% overall and 41.7% from the 3-point-line while out rebounding Weber 50–35.

Weber State’s defense had a difficult time stopping the Vandals’ offensive prowess. Senior guard Olivia Nelson consequently shone for Idaho with 30 points, three assists and four rebounds in the match.

The Vandals’ record improved to 15–5 overall and 7–2 in conference play to claim third place for the time being in the

Asst. Copy Chief Mindy Brown mindybrown1@mail.weber.edu

News Editor Gracie Stephenson graciestephenson@mail.weber.edu

Asst. News Editor Alfonso Rubio alfonsorubio@mail.weber.edu

Sports Editor Collyn Cowles collyncowles@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Sports Editor Brayson Brown braysonbrown@mail.weber.edu

Culture Editor Megan Swann meganswann@mail.weber.edu

Big Sky Conference. Weber fell to 7–11 on the season, with a 4–4 record in the Big Sky.

Weber State vs. Eastern Washington

The Wildcats got back to winning ways at the Reese Court in Cheney, Washington, with a 62–48 victory over the No. 8-ranked Eastern Washington Eagles on Feb. 1.

Weber outscored the Eagles in all four quarters of the game and significantly improved their shooting performance to 39.6% from the field and 38.9% from behind the arc.

Senior guard Kendra Parra was too much for Eastern Washington’s defense to handle, recording 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in a dominant outing.

With her eighth double-double of the season, junior forward Antoniette EmmaNnopu’s 10 points and 13 rebounds were crucial for Weber’s victory and illustrated the commanding style of play she has become known for.

Eastern Washington’s overall offensive display was highlighted by their 5.3%

Culture Editor Cooper Hatsis cooperhatsis@mail.weber.edu

Translation Editor

Nelly Hernandez Tejada nhernandeztejada@mail.weber.edu

Asst. Translation Editor Nathanael Stout nathanaelstout@mail.weber.edu

Collaboration Editor

Marianna Lopez Luritta mlopezluritta@mail.weber.edu

Adviser

Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu

Business Manager Rob Steedley robertsteedley@weber.edu

record from the 3-point line. Senior forward Peyton Howard scored the Eagles’ only 3-pointer. From the field, they shot 27%.

Despite the loss, freshman small forward Kourtney Grossman had another impressive night for the Eagles, making 15 rebounds and scoring 11 points, second only to junior guard Ella Gallatin’s 13 points.

The loss brought Eastern Washington’s record to 7–15 overall and 3–7 in the Big Sky, ranking them No. 8 in the conference. The Wildcats remain No. 4 in the Big Sky with a 5–4 record and are 8–11 overall. Weber State’s road trip is only halfway over, as they will meet Northern Arizona University on Feb. 3 and Idaho State University on Feb. 8 before returning home to the Dee Events Center to face the University of Montana on Feb. 13.

Share this story at thesignpostwsu.com

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.