Monday | November 12, 2018 | Volume 89 | Issue 30
COMPANY AND BREW ON GRANT AVENUE »PAGE 8
DIVERSITY » PAGE 4
MIRROR MIRROR, YOU’RE THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL
DIVERSITY » PAGE 14
WAT MISAKA: SOLDIER, POINT GUARD, WILDCAT
2 | MyWeberMedia.com | November 12, 2018
WSU AND OGDEN EVENTS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL By DARYN STEED A&E Editor
On Nov. 12, come to Dee Events Center to watch WSU’s women’s basketball team take on the Portland Pilots. The game with Portland will be the second of the season, following their season opener game on Nov. 9 agaisnt the University of La Verne. General admission starts at $3. As the first game of the 2018 - 2019 season, the Wildcats are eager to get out there. Get your tickets now at weberstatetickets. com.
YOUTH RODEO
On Nov. 13, watch kids compete in rodeo events at the Golden Spike Arena. Rodeo is a sport that grew out of the cattle industry in the American West. Its roots reach back to the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors created the event from a combination of too much free time and an abundance of wild cattle. The rodeo continued to evolve from competitive cowboy contests to a professional sport for men and women and finally to an event perpetuated by youth rodeo organizations.
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UTE LIFE TODAY EXHIBIT
WC OPENDANCE HOUSE ORCHESIS
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JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost
The Gallery at Union Station is set to feature Native American photographers on Nov. 13. The images and words in this exhibit will provide visitors with the opportunity to experience the vitality and significance of enduring Ute traditions. The featured photographers are Miya Cerno, Tirrell Gardner, Valentina Sireech, Larry Cesspooch, Curtis Cesspooch and Koralene Tapoof. The exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PARENT/DAUGHTER ENGINEERING On Nov. 15, bring your parent or daughter to Parent/Daughter Engineering Day. The College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology hosts this event, which is for girls grades 7-12 and their parents. You’ll work together in various exercises that will engage you in scientific activities. The day is meant to encourage girls who might be interested in pursuing engineering. Because this is a field dominated by men, engineering can be an intimidating career path, so it’s important to encourage an interest in the subject as early as possible.
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From Nov. 15-17, come support Orchesis Dance Theatre’s new show, “FORM.” Browning Center Eccles Theater will host the show, which explores the body in time and space. Amanda Sowerby, dance professor and director of WSU’s Moving Company, presents the first part in a year-long collaboration with music professor Dr. Carey Campbell and sculpture students. The show will begin each nights at 7:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $11 at can be purchased at weberstatetickets.com.
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By DANYA GIL
Diversity Reporter
The keynote speaker of Weber State University’s 13th annual Native Symposium, Matika Wilbur, challenged Native American stereotypes through narrative photography Nov. 8 in the Wildcat Theater. Wilbur is a visual storyteller and creator of Project 562. She has spent the past five years traveling and doing photography to showcase over 562 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. to change the way the public sees Native America. Wilbur began her keynote “Ellen style” by asking attendees to dance along to Canadian electronic music group A Tribe Called Red. Wilbur said she wanted to start differently because Ogden was the sixth city she had been to in the last week, and she believed dancing was a great way to welcome someone into the room. Before starting Project 562, Wilbur was a teacher on a reservation. She was asked to create a curriculum that represented a wide majority of tribes, using photographs solely taken from within the community. “When I started trying to pull together the curriculum, I could only come up with enough content to fill three months of comprehensive curriculum,” Wilbur said. She went back to the leadership of her community and told them she could not find enough images made by her own people. The leadership told Wilbur someone should make a textbook that represents all the tribes in the U.S. “We’re still doing this thing where we teach third graders all of the states and their capitals, but not all of the indigenous territories,” Wilbur said. “In a couple of weeks we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving, and we’ll reiterate a false narrative of Indians welcoming pilgrims. As though Indian people were like ‘You know what? I think I want you to take all our land. Here, come eat at my table.’” Wilbur calls this “American historical amnesia,” saying that this retelling of history creates a false reality and narrative for children. Wilbur taught for four years. She said it was during this time that she realized she could not continue showing her students images or telling them stories that did not represent them. “If I kept showing them images where they don’t belong, where they don’t see themselves and tell them stories where they don’t recognize themselves,” Wilbur said. “I’m going to continue to perpetuate
KEYNOTE DISPUTES NATIVE NARRATIVES
a reality that they don’t feel safe in. And so I decided I had to hit the road.” Wilbur set out to capture what a contemporary indigenous identity looks like today. She asked people she photographed what it meant to be Native American. John Trudell, a Native American political activist, poet and musician changed the question she asked. Trudell told Wilbur to ask people “How (do) we become human beings?” Wilbur asked this question moving forward, and responses changed. People began to tell her their original understandings of themselves. People defined themselves as the people of the blue-green water or the people of the tall pine trees and other land-based identities. This is why, Wilbur explains, Native American people are typically at the forefront of environmental protection movements. It’s not merely environmental to them but an effort to maintain their original understanding of themselves. Wilbur told stories of her time with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline. She KELLY WATKINS | The Signpost had never seen civil disobedience before or had participated in protest. She was Matika Wilbur documented 562 federally recognized tribes in the supposed to be there only three days but U.S. to shatter conceptions of what these tribes look like. wound up staying for six months. Despite the uproar Standing Rock made during this time, the only coverage Wilbur saw of Native American people in mass media was when the Cleveland Indians were in the World Series. People “dressed up” as Native Americans were on television while actual Native Americans were protecting their primary water source. Rosa Rodriguez, WSU sophomore and history major, attended the keynote to further her understanding of Native American culture. “Not understanding one another is really what has defined America. That’s why we have so many issues now,” Rodriguez said. Anahi Silva, WSU sophomore, said attending events like Wilbur’s keynote makes her realize how much she does not know about other cultures. Both Rodriguez and Silva said understanding different cultures and avidly including people from various backgrounds is essential. Looking to the future, they recognize some of their classmates will be the leaders of the U.S. and events like the Wilbur keynote will strengthen their knowledge and possibly help them lead a more inclusive country. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
4 | MyWeberMedia.com | November 12, 2018
By ALLY NELSON Diversity Reporter
Students took part in an activity called “Mirror Mirror” at Sister Circle on Nov 7, led by the Social Justice Program Assistants of the Women’s Center and Safe@Weber Mary Jarvis and her associate. In the activity, Jarvis wanted each partner from the six groups to express what they thought of themselves while looking in a mirror. Afterward, students elaborated on what they told their partner about themselves to the circle. Couples were surprised and defen-
sive when their loved ones had negative things to say about themselves. Jarvis shared an example of when she was bikini shopping with her best friend. Her friend made a comment like, “I’m so gross and fat,” while grabbing the fat on her thigh. “I couldn’t believe she said that,” Jarvis said. “My feelings were hurt because I love her so much. I would never let anyone say anything bad about her like that.” When participants shared what they said in their groups, four women said they thought they were too fat while
AUBREE ECKHARDT | The Signpost
looking in a mirror. Three women said if they could just change a few small things, they would feel better about themselves. The goal of the exercise was to get students out of their comfort zones and to admit the types of negative language that they would only say to themselves. Hopefully, because of this exercise, students would realize that if they wouldn’t say a mean comment to a stranger, let alone someone they cared about, then they should question why it would be okay to say negative things about themselves. It was a demonstration that every-
one, no matter how secure they seem, struggles with insecurities about body image. The last hour of the event focused on uplifting students. Everyone scrapbooked 10 self-love cards they could refer to when feeling down. Students chose quotes that resonated with their feelings. Some of those were, “Self-respect is underrated,” “My needs are just as important as anyone else’s,” and “Not everyone has to like me. I just have to like me.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com | November 12, 2018 | 5
CHANGE THE CHANNEL ON OBJECTIFICATION TIANA PACK Columnist
In 1965, Congress passed the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act, which required tobacco companies to issue a surgeon general’s warning on cigarette labels, stating that smoking may be hazardous to consumers health. Four years later, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act of 1969 banned cigarette marketing in broadcast media. Government officials, healthcare professionals and concerned citizens worried what effect blind advertising could have on uninformed consumers. Almost 50 years later, an enduring advertising plague has infected our nation. The evidence of this disease lurks on billboards, buzzes on our TV and flashes on our Instagram feed. This rampant perforation in our nation is the sexualization and objectification of women. Although this has been an issue in media for decades, a scantily-clad woman smoking a cigarette in the 1960’s is practically G-rated when compared to the way women are exploited in modern advertising. By simply searching ‘women in advertising’ online, it becomes clear how vast this issue is. Ads feature women using objects that imply blatant sexual references and gender stereotypes. Some ads normalize violence against women, and many even turn women’s body into the item being marketed. Despite the centuries of progress that have been made in the field of gender equality, the objectification of women in mass media and modern advertising continues to grow. Jean Kilbourne is a pioneering activist who is internationally recognized for her
work in this field. “Woman’s bodies continue to be dismembered in advertising,” Kilbourne said. “Over and over again just one part of the body is used to sell products, which is one of the most dehumanizing thing you can do to someone.” Objectifying women in this way has had a detrimental impact on society. Many of these ads feature extremely underweight women in vulnerable positions while men are usually featured in positions of power. Domestic violence, sexual assault and battery are all showcased in the name of selling a product. The media has created a frequent narrative that women are powerless and subservient to the desires of men. This dangerous narrative incites violence in society. “Objectifying a woman creates a climate where there is widespread violence against women,” Kilbourne said. “Turning a human being into a thing is almost always the first step toward justifying violence against that person.” According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in three women are victims of sexual violence and one in five women will be raped at some point in their lives. It’s time to ask the same question asked in 1965: What responsibility does the government and the media have to citizen health and safety? Not only does objectification normalize violence against women, it has led to real women questioning their worth and value. Because advertisements paint a picture of normalcy, they tell us who we should aspire to be. In an era where a single woman is digitally altered by an entire production team into something anatomically impossible, it’s become nearly impossible for real women to know what is real and attainable. What responsibility does the law and the media have to these girls and women? As a young seventh-grader, my sister had a picture of an impossibly skinny model in her bra and underwear hung up in her lock-
er. She thought the picture represented the gender ideal. It served as a goal for what she hoped to someday become. For the next 15 years, she strived for that impossible ideal and battled eating disorders and depression daily because of it. A 2007 report from the American Psychological Association concluded that girls exposed to sexualized images from a young age are more prone to depression, eating disorders and low self-esteem. Another study conducted by Media Psychology examined the effects highly edited photos have on users. The study specifically observed teenage girls and the impact social media has on how they view their bodies. After looking at photos that had been edited excessively, as well as the original photo,
it was found that seeing the edited picture led to lower self-image. In 1965, Congress chose to inform and protect the American people. The leaders of this country have the same responsibility today as they did then. But for this change to occur, citizens must first seek to inform themselves and others. Informed citizens must vote for passionate government officials and local leaders who will stand up and speak out. Media literacy must be taught at home and in schools. Media outlets must take responsibility for their role in this devastating problem and take action to fix it. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
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SENIORS SELL THEIR SKILLS DURING SPEED INTERVIEWING By TORI WALTZ News Reporter
Graduating students interview with prospective employers in a form resembling speed dating.
Students in the Weber State University Department of Professional Sales learned to promote a different type product at this year’s Speed Interviewing event: themselves. Graduating seniors gathered on Oct. 7 in the Shepherd Union Ballroom for the chance to interview with, and possibly be recruited by, local employers seeking sales talent. “It’s a really great opportunity for us to showcase what it is that Weber State has taught us,” participant Landon Street said. Inspired by speed dating, the educational event was organized to give seniors the opportunity to initiate contact with as many employers as possible before graduation. Getting their names out there in a short period of time both shows off their professional skills and allows for some quick networking. Students had four minutes to advertise their strengths to each company. Company representatives then decided if they wanted to continue the recruitment process with a second interview. “For a student to walk away tonight with 8 or 9 appointments is very common,” said Steve Eichmeier, a professor of professional sales for WSU. Before suiting up on the night of the event, students spend months workshopping their resumes, perfecting their interviewing skills and building social media profiles under the instruction of WSU professors. In Sales Career Seminar (PS 4993), a course exclusive to seniors, students
receive instruction on sales- and service-related dilemmas while simultaneously preparing for the job market and potential career opportunities. “Any aspect as far as the interview process goes, this class prepares for. It all leads up to this moment today,” Street said. One of the class’s many requirements is student participation in the Speed Interviewing event, ultimately contributing to the sales department’s track record regarding student success. Known for its successful job placement of 99 percent of students, over 150 graduates per year and over 60 partnered sales companies, the program has helped numerous students jump-start their careers following graduation. “My wife got hired through this exact same program last year, and she loves her job,” Street said. “For students who are looking to see what’s out there career-wise, this is a great way to network and get your name out there.” In addition to providing an outlet for connecting with some of Utah’s prominent businesses and companies, the event also allowed graduating seniors to develop their communicative abilities for future professions. “It’s always good to have these skills,” Street said. “If I can sell myself to companies, then I can sell myself to my customers.” Speed Interviewing is held twice every academic year at WSU, with the next event set to occur in the spring of 2019. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com | November 12, 2018 | 7
‘PHENOMENAL’ SEASON ENDS
ABRUPTLY FOR WILDCATS By JOE TRAUB
Assistant Sports Editor
The Wildcats finished with a 7–1–1 Big Sky conference record, tops in the conference. In the eyes of Tim Crompton, the Weber State University women’s soccer team made vast improvements this season. Despite the regular season success, WSU dropped their first game in the conference tournament to end the season. Crompton, the ‘Cats coach, said he was proud of his team’s effort. “It was a fun group to be around,” Crompton said. “(The season) was gratifying for the seniors, and the younger players played very well. The overall cohesiveness of the team as the season went on got better and better.” Weber State went 3–12–3 in 2017 and missed the postseason. The Wildcats lost
nine games by one goal last season, but were 7–2 in such contests this year. Sophomore defender Haley Thomas said the turnaround can be contributed to her squad having extra motivation. “This year, we stayed focused for a full game,” Thomas said. “Last year, we would get scored on in the last two minutes. Our want and desire was stronger this year, and we played more as a team.” After the Wildcats finished the regular season on Oct. 19, it was a full two weeks until they played another game. WSU lost 2–0 to the University of Montana in the conference tournament, and Thomas said the layoff did not help her team. “We practiced hard during the two weeks, but the intensity of a real game is different,” Thomas said. “I will give Montana credit, because their bench had an unreal energy. I think it motivated their players on the field to work hard.”
Freshman midfielder Taylor Scadlock scored four goals for the Wildcats in 2018. She said her initial season exceeded expectations. “It really helped my confidence,” Scadlock said. “I am so glad I got to be a part of the team this year.” Thomas highlighted an Oct. 5 overtime win over the University of Northern Colorado as her most memorable experience of the campaign. “Madi Garlock had the game-winning goal and I was so glad,” Thomas said. “I started crying because I was so happy we won. Beating a tough team is a great feeling.” Scadlock said she will use this season as a learning experience going forward. “It’s going to help me grow because I want to get better every year,” Scadlock said. “I not only want to make myself better, but help the team improve.”
Thomas said her team is going to be motivated to win the conference tournament in 2019. “We are going to do whatever it takes,” Thomas said. “We might have come out a little flat (against Montana), and we weren’t playing as intent as we normally do. If we get back to that point, we are going to keep everyone motivated and come out with an unreal intensity.” Crompton said he will look back on the season for the accomplishments instead of lamenting what could have been. “The girls had a phenomenal year,” Crompton said. “There are only two trophies you can earn, and we got one of them. The loss to Montana doesn’t take anything away from our overall performance.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
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Chai Latte with a swan design at Wasatch Roasting Company.
By SARAH CATAN Photojournalist
Cups, coffee, hats and art for sale at Wasatch Roasting Company. SARAH CATAN | The Signpost
Teenagers, adults and the elderly alike enjoy drinking coffee and visiting coffee shops. Whether someone is there specifically for coffee, to meet a friend, to go on a first date or do homework, coffee shops have always been a popular location to hang out. Ogden houses a variety of coffee shops ranging from national brands like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to individual coffee hosues. There are also smaller chain coffee shops like Beans and Brews, Grounds for Coffee, Daily Rise and Kaffe Mercantile. Although these chain coffee shops are great places to go, as well as well known by most people, there are coffee shops one can only find in Ogden. Located at 3525 Grant Ave., Hub City Coffee isn’t an everyday coffee shop, according to Holly Hill, co-owner and manager. “Our shop is unique because 17% of every cup goes to support community development in Ethiopia,” Hill said. “Also, 100% of the tips we get on Sundays are donated
to local non-profit organizations. Aside from coffee, community is our main focus.” Coffee isn’t the only reason why people head to Hub City Coffee. “I love their various drinks, especially their Chai Latte,” Weber State student Brinley Grandstaff said. “I also love the relaxing vibe their cafe gives off and the fact that they give back to the community.” Just down the street, you can find Wasatch Roasting Company at 2436 Grant Ave. Jake Love, the manager at Wasatch Roasting Co., said many of their brews just as local as they are wordly. “We roast all of our coffee in house, and we get it from all around the world,” Love said. “We have 17 origins including Indonesia, Africa, and places in South America.” Wasatch Roasting Co. also has art for sale hanging on the walls. Love said their shop acts as a gallery, and all profits go straight to the artists. Each coffee shop in Ogden is unique, be it a chain or single cafe. Whether you are there to drink coffee or meet someone, coffee and coffee shops always seem to bring people together. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
Hub City interior is nicknamed “Ogdens Living Room” due to its quaint seating.
Hub City Coffee cup. SARAH CATAN | The Signpost
SARAH CATAN | The Signpost
SARAH CATAN | The Signpost
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Orlando Sentinel
THIS WEEK IN POLITICS NIC MURANAKA Columnist
Midterms are over. The last results in races too close to call on Nov. 6 came in on Nov. 9. On the national stage, Republicans flipped seats over weak Democratic candidates but lost a seat in Nevada on a toed-the-line candidate who squeaked out a win in 2012 by one point. Democrats took enough seats in the House to gain majority control. If you were a betting person, you probably made a lot of money because everything happened as betting markets said it should have. What does any of it mean, though? You’re going to hear the term “gridlock” a
lot in the coming weeks. A divided Congress means nothing happens, for the most part. Under former President Barack Obama, Democrats held control in both chambers of Congress until Republicans won House majority in 2010 and then Senate majority in 2014. With Congress suddenly controlled by Obama’s political opponents, things ground to a halt. By Dec. 2016, he had held only 60 bill-signing ceremonies. For comparison, the other recent two-term presidents had held 95 (H.W. Bush) and 91 (Clinton). Reagan, under whom the Republican party never controlled Congress, held 61. For Obama, progress was bogged down after the first two years of his second term, during which he passed the stimulus bill and Obamacare. After Republican control of Congress took effect, he butted heads with Congress over judicial nominations and government spending until the end of his term. Similarly, Republicans held both chambers of Congress entering President Donald Trump’s term. Out of the 117 bills Trump signed in his
first year, however, the major standout was only the tax plan, with much of the legislation aimed at dismantling Obama-era legislation. Now that Democrats hold the House, it’s unlikely the Trump administration will be able to deliver on any more campaign promises. Why nothing happens in a divided Congress is simple: we’ve all seen the “How a Bill Becomes a Law” song. When a piece of legislation gets approval from the president and both chambers of Congress, it becomes enforceable law. Bills begin in the House and travel to the Senate if the House approves them. If the House doesn’t want to draft bills, they simply don’t. If members in the minority power in the House draft bills, it’s an uphill battle to get them past the majority party. That leaves presidential executive orders, like the recent one to deny asylum to border crossers. Executive orders are still subject to judicial review, like legislation. Executive orders are tricky because they bypass Congress and can cause unrest; FDR famously wrote 3,522 executive orders to circumvent a Congress that continu-
ously stymied him. Ultimately, in the remainder of Trump’s term as president, it’s unlikely that much, if any, significant law changes happens beyond executive orders. That’s not to say nothing is going to happen. Democrats have expressed excitement at the opportunity to exercirse oversight against Trump, and Trump already fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions this week and replaced him with Matthew Whittaker, who has said he believes the Russia probe should be dialed back. Looking to the future, 2020 brings a big election: the presidential, in addition to another 33 seats in the Senate and every House seat. In order for Republicans to regain control of all Congress, they first would need to win back the House. Additionally, they have 20 seats up for reelection in 2020, and would need to defend up to 18 of them, or win some of the 11 Democratic or 2 blank seats. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
HALE PASSES
MyWeberMedia.com| November 12, 2018 | 11
1000 KILLS IN FOUR SET WIN
By DERREK BALLARD Correspondent
As the fall season nears it’s end, the Weber State University volleyball team picked up a vital win against the Sacramento State Hornets 3–1 on Nov. 8. Senior outside hitter Andrea Hale passed 1000 kills, becoming the 12th Wildcat to pass the milestone. Weber State took a four point lead, ealry before the Hornets tied the game up at 23 a piece. Weber State finished off the set when sophomore Rylin Roberts had a kill, followed by an attacking error that gave WSU a 25–23 victory. Playing each other close for the bulk of the set, the Hornets and ’Cats were knotted up at 14 in the second set. Weber State went on a 8–1 run, going inot the break with an overwhelming 25–18 win. “I’m happy with the way we competed,” head coach Jeremiah Larsen said in a press release. “We found some consistency that has been missing. Beating a program with the caliber of Sac State is a huge accomplishment for our program and where we are trying to go.” The Wildcats put the Hornets in a win or go home set three. Sacramento State did just that:jumping out to a 14–7 lead and not looking back, finishing set three 25–18 and carrying momentum
into the fourth set. The Hornets continued their momentum in the fourth set, jumping out to a 6–3 lead. Weber State answered back, eventually settling the score at 10–7 lead. Sac State wouldn’t go away and tied things back up at 10 points apiece. Junior outside hitter Megan Gneiting eventually brought the game into match point. Sophomore Kennedy Redd finished things off with a kill to give Weber State a 25–19 win in the fourth set and the match Gneiting recorded 16 kills for the game to lead the Wildcats, followed by Hale with 13, including her 1000 of her career. Sophomore setter Ashlyn Power had a double-double, with a match high 13 digs and 43 assists. Junior libero Helena Khouri also added 12 digs. Weber State improved to 15-9 on the season and 10-5 in the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats are in third place in the Big Sky behind Northern Arizona University and University of Idaho, and they are just two games behind the Vandals. The Wildcats will travel north to Missoula to take on Montana before returning home to finish out the season at home against the Montana State Bobcats on Nov. 17. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
Andrea Hale reaches for the ball. SARAH CATAN | The Signpost
12 | MyWeberMedia.com| November 12, 2018
BESTSELLING AUTHOR SPEAKS TO WSU STUDENTS
By JOE TRAUB Correspondent
“We’ve come to appreciate a bit more of what it means to have been treated poorly,” Vause said. Grann has visited universities in Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Connecticut. He said he was in awe of the reception by WSU students. “I was struck by how engaged this community was,” Grann said. “You can always feel if a crowd is following or not. There seemed to be a real genuine interest and engagement in the subject matter.” Grann believes topics in his book are critical for students to take to heart. This includes learning from past historical mistakes and injustices to reform the world we live in. “It’s a cliche to say you’re doomed to repeat (history), but I don’t think you can understand the present and the world we live in unless you understand the past,” Grann said. Grann also hopes his audience will gain a sense of awareness from his speech. “I want them to be acutely aware of the greed and prejudice that impacted the (Osage),” Grann said. “I hope they come away with a better sense of the world.”
David Grann is a New York Times best-selling author who has visited several college campuses across the country. Now, he can add Weber State University to his list. Grann appeared on Nov. 7 to discuss his book “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.” The book, which was released in 2017, details over two dozen murders of members of the Native American Osage tribe. “This story is about one of the worst racial injustices in American history,” Grann said. “For me, going to places and sharing the story with people is part of the continuing process of making sure we know this part of our history and learn from it.” The event was part of the 2018-19 engaged learning series, led by Michael Vaughan, the director of the Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at WSU. Vaughn said he thought Grann’s speech was a success. “The book is connected to issues of poverty and inequality,” Vaughan said. “I think he made those connections very clear.” Mike Vause, an English professor at Weber State, attended the event and was intrigued by the story. “It amazes me that human beings can so easily rationalize and justify their behavior,” Vause said. “The bloodthirstiness and greed that were demonstrated is unbelievable.” Vause comes from a diverse family. He has three African American grandchildren, along with five Samoan, two Mexican, and several Caucasian grandComment on this story at children. He said his own family should be able to signpost.mywebermedia.com learn a lesson from Grann’s book.
Wikimedia Commons
David Grann, author of “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders”
Correspondent
“Ruthless,” a musical that follows the journal of a determined eight-year-old girl on her quest to get the lead in her school play, hit the Val A. Browning Center on Nov. 9. Andrew Barratt Lewis, the director of “Ruthless,” thinks the musical is refreshingly humorous. “‘Ruthless’ is a great parody of the old musicals from the 40’s, 60’s and 70’s,” Lewis said. “The great lengths that Tina goes to in order to get the lead makes it highly comedic.” A variety of colorful characters help “Ruthless” hit the mark. The lead is 8-year-old Tina Denmark. Drag queen Sylvia, however, is one of the cast’s favorite characters. “If I didn’t get cast as Tina, I would have loved to play Sylvia,” said Landry Thomas, who plays Tina Denmark. “I love Sylvia because she is such a flamboyant and over- the-top character.” “Ruthless” is filled with flashy characters. Judy Denmark is Tina’s mother, and in the first act, she appears to be a typical middle-aged woman and perfect housewife. However, according to Katelynn Ostler, who plays Judy, there is more to the character than meets the eye. “In act two, she goes through a change and goes after her dream of being a Broadway star,” Ostler said. “She becomes boisterous, confident and outrageous.” Making “Ruthless” took the effort of an entire cast and crew who all learned something from the play. Riley French, a choreographer, found an opportunity in the show to hone her craft. “I learned how to better choreograph tap,” French said. “It’s a totally different experience choreographing musicals. I used to see dancing in musicals as gratuitous, but now I get it and know how to make it seem not gratuitous.” Thomas drew from her [personal life expereiences to bring a broader version of her character to the stage. “I’ve really learned that there’s more to life than your dream,” Thomas said. “It’s about the journey as well. I’ve learned that I am enough, and to look forward to my dream, but to have fun on the journey too.” Lewis believes there’s something in the musical for everyone, that it can be used to take your mind off the monotony of everyday life. “It’s a really good laugh and a great way to have an escape, even if it’s just for a little while,” Lewis said. The musical runs in the Browning Center at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 to Nov. 10 and Nov. 14 to 17. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8.25 for students. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
RUTHLESS MUSICAL HITS WEBER’S STAGE
By SHANIA EMMETT
MyWeberMedia.com | November 12, 2018 | 13
MONIKA CLARKE | The Signpost
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FROM SMALL-TIME BASKETBALL
TO BIG-TIME ACHIEVEMENT
By DANYA GIL Diversity Reporter
Wataru Misaka, Weber State University alumnus and the first non-white player in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), returned to his alma mater for the screening of “Transcending - The Wat Misaka Story” on Nov. 7 in the Lindquist Alumni Center. Weber State University Archives co-sponsored the event with Alumni Relations. “Transcending” follows the trajectory of Misaka’s life, centering around basketball. The film includes interviews with Misaka, his family, previous teammates and sports aficionados. Misaka was born and raised in Ogden under the roof of Japanese-born immigrants. He attended then-named Weber Junior College, leading Wildcats to the Intermountain Collegiate Athletics Conference (ICAC) championship in 1942 and 1943. Beyond basketball, Misaka was involved in the track team, he was secretary of the Wildcat
Club and he earned his associate of science degree, graduating with high honors. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, Misaka was selected as the first draft pick for the New York Knicks in 1947. Misaka was drafted to the Knicks despite the anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II, in part because of his performances at tournaments in Madison Square Garden. The film drew attention to Misaka’s special brand of play. In his collegiate years, players sat on the court and couldn’t talk to their coach during timeouts. Players during this era needed a leader on the court, and Misaka played that role at the collegiate level. “Transcending” directors Bruce Alan Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson learned about Misaka while sitting in Paul Osaki’s office in 2006. Osaki worked for the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. “Paul told us (Misaka’s) story, and we were just immediately drawn to it. We thought that story is not known widely enough, and we want
to make sure it is,” Johnson said. Osaki contacted Misaka’s wife, Katie Misaka. She acted as a liason between the directors and her husband. “Wat’s reply was ‘Well it’s no big deal. Nobody outside the state of Utah really cares, but if you want to come talk to us you can’,” Bruce Johnson said about his initial call with Misaka. Misaka’s professional career with the Knicks lasted three games, totaling seven points. He returned to Utah to earn his degree and work as an engineer. Despite his short-lived career in the precursor league to the NBA, Misaka remains the first person of color drafted into the BAA, a claim not universally accepted. Bruce and Christine Johnson didn’t think calling Misaka “the first person of color in the NBA” would be met with push back, but it was. Christine Johnson credited this to discussion of race in the U.S. being polarizing. Christian Phomsouvanh, WSU junior and president of the Asian Students Involvement Association, said the event was an opportunity
Wataru Misaka, number 77, was the first non-caucasian player in NBA history
to not only learn about WSU history, but also about ethnic minorities. “I think it’s important for a lot of multicultural groups and ethnic minorities to be proud of who they are and celebrate things like this because he has so many great accomplishments, and I feel like not a lot of people know who he is or what he’s done,” Phomsouvanh said. While Misaka is not a household name like Jackie Robinson, and although he believes only Utahns would care about his story, he has begun to receive recognition for what he accomplished. He was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and into the Weber State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. President Barack Obama welcomed Misaka to the White House in 2009. During the summer, Ogden named a newly resurfaced public court at Liberty Park the “Kilowatt Court” after Misaka’s nickname. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
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MyWeberMedia.com | November 12, 2018 | 15
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OUTDOOR PROGRAM-MARKETING SPECIALIST The position performs the following functions and duties: • The Outdoor Program Marketing Specialist will work solely on marketing and graphic design projects for the Weber State Outdoor Program, a program area of the Campus Recreation Department.
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TYPEWELL TRANSCRIBER/STUDENT OFFICE WORKER The position performs the following functions and duties: • Provide communication access and notes to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. • The trained transcriber will use sophisticated software on notebook computers to listen to class lectures and discussions and rapidly record
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